Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Yes, Chef
SERIES: Amuse Bouche #2, Dreamspun Desires #79
AUTHOR: T. Neilson
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 193 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 2, 2019
BLURB:
A savory slice of first love.
Simon’s dad died when he was young, leaving Simon to take the reins of the family restaurant business—and the responsibility for his mother and brothers. His commitment to his duty left Simon time for little else, least of all romance.
Argentinian celebrity chef Luke Ferreya has wanted Simon since their culinary-school days, but for Simon, family always came first. Now Luke’s back in Simon’s life—briefly before he returns to South America—and he’s determined to give Simon a sample of everything he’s missed out on.
Simon’s brothers are grown, and his mother is doing fine on her own, and Luke is offering a second chance for a future full of the pleasures of fine food, wine, and especially love. Without his obligations to hide behind, can Simon finally allow himself to say “Yes, Chef”?
REVIEW:
When you feel like you have to take over for relatives who have passed on to keep things alive, and when you bottle yourself up and hide who you are, you do yourself a disservice. You aren’t true to yourself, and it causes you to lose out on life, possibly love, and many other things. This is one of those stories. A kind of second chance story.
Simon and Luke met in their culinary days, years ago. In all that time, they’ve never forgotten each other. Luke has hope for a chance with Simon, but Simon only dated girls. Simon wasn’t sure what he wanted, until one night he caught Luke in a compromising position. And he ran. Back home to the family business where he took over. For tens years, they’ve been apart. Until now. Luke is burned out. Sold his business and went on vacation. Before he returns to Argentina, he wants to see Simon once more. Maybe see if there’s hope for a future. And Simon has to realize that maybe it’s finally time for him to be happy and who he wants to be.
I have to say, when I look back, I’m glad I was never put in the position Simon was. To be expected to run the family business or take over things when someone retires or dies, it’s not an easy thing. Especially if it’s not something you want to do. Your heart is never truly in it and you end up burned out or resentful. Completely unhappy. You never really get to be you, unless there’s a miracle. So, I can’t even begin to express how sorry I feel for Simon. Yes, it’s a book, but still. Feeling like there’s no way out. And the one person he felt something for, he ran from. Not knowing how to deal.
When Luke comes back along, looking for hope of a chance, it’s not an easy thing. Still thinking Simon is straight, he plans to leave. It’s a slow thing. They have to rebuild what trust was there and Simon has to finally acknowledge how he really feels. If he ever does. It horrible for Luke. That never quite knowing. The constant let down after so much hope and realizing maybe it’s finally time to move on.
It’s an emotional ride. It’s a good one, though. Full of Hope and the chance to make things new and better.
RATING: 
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