Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Dine with Me
AUTHOR: Layla Reyne
PUBLISHER: Carina Press
LENGTH: 69,000 words
RELEASE DATE: September 16, 2019
BLURB:
Life never tasted so good.
Miller Sykes’s meteoric rise to award-winning chef is the stuff of culinary dreams, but it’s all crashing down around him. He’s been given a diagnosis that could cost him something even more precious than his life: his sense of taste. Rather than risk the very thing that defines him, Miller embarks on a last tour of his favorite meals while he still can.
But there’s a catch: he needs a financial backer to make it happen, and he doesn’t want anyone to know he’s sick.
Dr. Clancy Rhodes has two weeks to come to terms with putting aside oncology to work at his father’s thriving plastic surgery practice. When the opportunity to travel with a Michelin-starred chef presents itself, the foodie in him can’t believe it. It doesn’t hurt that Miller’s rugged good looks are exactly Clancy’s cup of joe.
As Clancy and Miller travel from coast to coast and indulge in everything from dive bars to the most decadent of culinary experiences, they’re suddenly sharing a lot more than delicious meals. Sparks fly as they bond over their love of flavors and the pressures of great expectations. But when Miller’s health takes a turn for the worse, Clancy must convince him he’s more—so much more—than just his taste buds. And that together, they can win a battle that once seemed hopeless.
REVIEW:
Miller Sykes is embarking on a sort of bucket list “last suppers” trip, but he needs someone to pay for it and accompany him. He’s just closed his wine country restaurant and he needs someone who doesn’t know that this is his last hurrah – so it can’t be his ex-wife/best friend or his other best friend (who he hasn’t been honest with either). Enter Dr. Clancy Rhodes. His parents have given him this culinary gift to enjoy himself before he settles down to join his father in his successful LA plastic surgery practice. He’s sad to be leaving his oncology patients, but he can’t disappoint his parents who have done so much for him. He loves his dad and his mom and step-dad. And he also really loves food. He cannot WAIT for this trip. He’s a big fan of Miller and is beyond excited.
As they begin their tour at The French Laundry, things get off to a great start. The food and service is incredible. Clancy has an amazing time and learns a lot about the gastronomy, wine and making a dinner service focused on the diners. They move along in the tour and Miller experiences some health issues which he passes off as altitude sickness and Clancy is suspicious but doesn’t have the data to call Miller on it. As they move through their next destinations, they receive word of a tragedy. Miller is devastated. He’s not sure he can go on. But Clancy convinces him to show him what he really wanted to at the stop, despite the different circumstances. This dinner really opens Clancy’s eyes as to what Miller always wanted to accomplish with food.
A stop in New Orleans (and to one of my personal favorite restaurants there) leads to Miller’s 2nd best friend. Greg and Miller’s ex-wife Sloan were the rocks for Clancy in the early days and they are now, so Greg can’t figure out why Miller won’t be the best person at his wedding and Miller isn’t talking. After Clancy finds Miller at a bar and they drink and dance, he’s got a pretty good idea of what’s going on and why Miller has said no to Greg and why he’s planned this trip. But he keeps it to himself.
New Year’s Eve proves to be another eye opener for Clancy as he enjoys it in an unexpected venue with Miller as well as Sloan and Greg. A mix up with the rooms has Miller and Clancy getting closer. When Miller falls asleep on the trip to DC, it turns out that Clancy has scheduled a bit of a detour – to LA. It’s time to make his feelings known as he admits that he’s fallen for the chef and he also knows he needs to make changes in his own life. But can they fight to make it all work together is the question.
I really wanted to like this book more. I especially did really like Clancy and his family a lot. I wish more people could behave like Clancy’s parents. I have had some friends who have divorced after many years who are still friendly – although they didn’t have children, so I think the dynamic is a lot different. For me, I think because I followed the Grant Achatz story (the real Michelin-starred chef of Chicago’s Alinea, trained at The French Laundry and who did have advanced cancer, survived and is still prominent in Chicago’s restaurant scene), this felt a little like voyeurism or chef slash which made me slightly uncomfortable with the story. This is my personal Chicagoan quirk and my guess is that will not affect other’s enjoyment of the story. I liked the food discussions – I am not a true “foodie” but I’ve had some amazing meals around the world and I’m in awe of those who really can produce fantastic food. I’m a big fan of this author and as usual, Layla Reyne has written compelling characters who are dealing with circumstances largely beyond their control that make them rise to the occasion. They have to fight hard for their happy ending and we are along for the journey.
RATING: 
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