Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Indulge Me

SERIES: Kitchen Gods #4

AUTHOR: Beth Bolden

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 363 pages

RELEASE DATE: April 8, 2019

BLURB:

Throughout the restaurant industry, Chef Bastian Aquino is a notorious control freak. For two very long years, Kian Reynolds has worked for Bastian as his special assistant, doing whatever he and his restaurant needs. The toughest part isn’t even all the impossible tasks he expects Kian to complete flawlessly—it’s the hopeless, endless love he feels for his older boss.
Falling for someone so far above him might be agonizing, but at least his feelings aren’t unrequited. Bastian fell in love right alongside him, but at the very beginning, they made the choice to abstain for logical, smart, professional reasons.
But love isn’t logical, it isn’t smart, and it definitely isn’t professional. It defies containment, even by Bastian. While he watches Bastian struggle with their attraction, Kian finally comes to the conclusion that he’s done.
He’s done standing off the side, done not getting any of the credit, done letting Bastian define the boundaries of their relationship. Most of all, he’s done waiting.

REVIEW:

Having worked in restaurants off and on for many years, I get what it means when you have to have a smooth running operation behind the scenes. Everyone has their place in kitchen and there has to be a line of leadership to keep it going. Sometimes those in charge go a bit beyond and sometimes it’s necessary.

Being known as the Bastard is kind of like a badge of pride for Bastian. He knows he has a hot temper and sometimes it goes too far. He never apologizes but what people don’t realize is he’s so tough to make people their best. For Kian, he didn’t even think of applying for Bastian’s famous restaurant after culinary school. He wanted to be in Europe at the best places he could be. Until he met Bastian. Bastian opened his eyes to a few things about the culinary world and a few things personal. Kian wanted this man with a passion. Bastian picks Kian as his intern and Kian is excited until he winds up in the dishroom first. But he soon realizes he has to work his way up like everyone else. For the next two years, several good people have left and Kian has become an asset filling in anywhere. When the opportunity arises he even becomes the #1 man in the restaurant. As well as Bastian’s #1 man personally. They try not to cross lines, but it fails. They have to figure out what’s more important in their lives. The culinary world and control or each other.

I have …I can’t say ‘hated’ Bastian, but man, he is one of those you love to hate. He rides that fine line. He’s cocky, self-centered, selfish and as Xavier likes to call him, a bastard. But he’s good at what he does. You don’t get Michelin stars unless you’re the best. You never get to see a different side to him really, until he takes on Kian. He was smitten with Kian from day one, but professionally it would destroy things if they crossed lines. But Kian brought out things in Bastian he never thought possible. He made him feel. Made him see things differently. I would never be able to work with the man lol, but he would be worth trying to get to know outside of it. Unless he got an attitude lol.

Kian, for me, I had a hard time with, too, at times. He’s often accused of being just like Bastian in ways, and sometimes it’s very true. But I feel for Kian, too. He’s not had the easiest of lives, and he’s worked damn hard to get to where he is. And there’s a specific asshole in this book that makes things about 5x worse. (And Kian gives him something he deserves. It made me very happy.) He’s got balls, though. It takes a while, but he pulls out all stops when it comes to Bastian. I also feel for him because Bastian’s put him in some impossible situations he’s not ready for. He works just as hard and does his best.

Restaurant work is never easy. Even if it’s fast food, it’s not as easy as some people try to make it out to be. When you run one like Terrior, it’s grueling. Adding personal things to it can cause friction and resentment amongst the crew. Sometimes it seems worse than a daytime soap opera. So to a point, I got why Bastian is the was he is. Kian too. It’s heady.

I have to say, I’m sad to see it end. This book was an intense way to go. And it ended perfectly.

RATING: 

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