Title: A Catered Romance
Author: Cara Marsi
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book Blurb:
A taste of delicious, hot romance from Cara Marsi …
There’s more than business brewing between two old high school flames…
Stubbornly self-reliant Mary Beth Kendrick needs financial backing to keep her catering business cooking. A looming corporate buyout forces her to accept help from Tom Sackett, the man who broke her heart and left her with no appetite for love.
Unable to forget Mary Beth, Tom sets out to win her forgiveness. As he gets to know her again through their shared business interests, he realizes he wants more than forgiveness from her. He wants her in his life.
Grateful for Tom’s support but unwilling to trust him, Mary Beth vows to keep their relationship strictly business. But his attentiveness, culminating in a night of passion, starts to melt her icy resolve and shows her the caring, sensitive man Tom has become.
Can Mary Beth learn to love and trust again? Will she and Tom open their hearts to a second chance at love?
My Review:
Mary Beth and Tom sizzle in this steamy romance by best-selling author Cara Marsi.
Mary Beth never forgot Tom, her high school sweetheart, and the way he betrayed her in front of all of his friends at prom. She pledged her love to him only to discover it was nothing more than a prank. Betrayal, anger and heartbreak hardened her heart and she made herself a promise to never let a man do that to her again.
Flash-forward several years to find Mary Beth owning a catering business with her best friend, Gail. Competition is fierce and they’re struggling to make ends meet. Sackett Incorporated sees potential in the business and before you can say soufflé, Mary Beth is face to face with the one man who owns a piece of her heart: Tom Sackett. With gritted teeth, Mary Beth agrees to work with/for Tom Sackett.
Tom Sackett walks into Mary Beth’s kitchen and all the feelings he thought were long-buried boil to the surface. It’s Cat-Eyes (his affectionate nickname for Mary Beth) and the attraction between them is palpable. But she makes it clear that she will never forgive him and they will only be business partners, nothing else. Tom vows to make things right, no matter what Mary Beth says.
Romance heats up between these two, along with incredible food. Can Tom make amends for being a fool in his youth or it is too late for second chance love?
I’m a sucker for a steamy romance and if you add the spiciness of the culinary world, I melt like liquefied chocolate. Both Tom and Mary Beth are well-developed characters and I loved how realistic they were. They’re both hurt from past loves and are scared to let down their walls. Cara weaves an intoxicating romance fueled with slow-burning yearning and want. Like a classic risotto, A Catered Romance is layered with mistrust, desire, forgiveness, insecurity and opening up to love.
The only thing that prevented me from giving it five stars was the ending. It felt a tad rushed and it just ended. An epilogue would’ve been a perfect ending to this delightful steamy romance.
If you’re looking for a culinary or a contemporary romance, look no further than this book. I’ve read it twice so far and will be one of my go-to romances. I love Cara Marsi romances and highly recommend them all!
Favorite Character:
Mary Beth. While many romance readers like a strong heroine who is confident and without flaws, it’s refreshing to read a heroine who’s more like me. She’s been hurt before by not only Tom in high school but her father as well. Tom broke her heart and several walls are surrounding her heart. Insecurity keep her warm at night and has set up shop in her head as well as her heart. Her reactions to Tom are perfectly natural (realistic too) and I found myself smiling as I remembered how broken I was when I met my future husband, Mr. N. No insta-love here.
Favorite Quote:
“Happiness sang through her veins. The tenderness of his touch slowly dissolved the old hurts. She melted against him, pliant in his arms.”
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Buy it now:
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/172007
Author Biography:
An award-winning and eclectic author, Cara Marsi is published in romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance. She loves a good love story, and believes that everyone deserves a second chance at love. Sexy, sweet, thrilling, or magical, Cara’s stories are first and foremost about the love. Treat yourself today, with a taste of romance.
When not traveling or dreaming of traveling, Cara and her husband live on the East Coast in a house ruled by a formerly homeless cat named Tortie.
Read excerpts of her books and sign up for her newsletter at www.caramarsi.com
Social Media Links:
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Reviewed by: Mrs. N