Carley Mercedes

Melanie needs a new job. Her current one is awful. Spandex, blonde wig and a fake, sleazy Elvis. It's a waste of her cooking skills and she doesn't sing well enough to be his back up. Her best friend Sheila gives her a line on a new opportunity.

Erik is uncomfortable in his new house. As someone who grew up in the foster system, his sense of security is warped. Having found a blood relative, Aunt Stacie, he is convinced to buy a home and hire staff following the financial windfall bestowed on him and his foster brother Hunter, who he raised, after their app became successful.

Melanie is auditioning to be Erik's private chef. It is a live in position and she arrives with armfuls of food to audition with.
Then Erik, asserting his control, commits a cardinal sin by asking the chef for salt before tasting the food.
Melanie stands her ground and leaves when asked.

Days later Melanie returns to Erik with a salt shaker after being hit on one too many times by sleazy fake Elvis, which resulted in a small grease fire.

Erik hires Melanie and so begins their attraction and flirtation.

Melanie is a straightforward character. She doesnt suffer fools and enjoys chipping at Erik's ego.
Erik wants to know he won't be abandoned again, but he is reluctant to be completely honest. He is enamoured and baffled by Melanie.

Shells has a sister, Angie, who is an alcoholic. Angie spikes Melanies drink, steals her car, has fed her pot brownies without telling her and grabbed Melanie's older, relogious, rigid Mom and kisses her neck.

I was on Erik's side when he got angry about the drink spiking. Melanie gives no inches to Erik when he is less than honest but is reluctant to confront Angie until the incident with her mother. This seems out of character for this strong willed woman.

Erik's brother spills the beans about their time in the foster system and Melanie is incensed Erik lied. Erik can't see this of course. Cue separation and introspection. Melanie unfairly blames herself for Erik not being honest with her because of her only other relationship ended badly.

The sex is hot, especially the car scene, and well written and its gteat Erik doesn't sleep with Melanie when she is drunk. Given the cover and Erik expressing the desire, it was disappointing there was no scene with Melanie clad in only an apron.

Melanies dialogue and interactions flowed best when it was between her and Erik and Hunter, it felt less forced.
Once the two reconcile, it would have been great of the last word Melanie said was "Okay". She said it so often when she was saying yes to Erik that it would have been a perfect end to the book.… (meer)

Melanie takes a job as a live-in personal chef for Erik, a rich app developer. The lust is instant, but turning it into love will take a little longer. Overall, this book was exactly what you would expect based on the publisher's description. The writing was ok, but the book had a lot of fairly graphic sex. If you read the cover and think this is the kind of book you usually like, you probably will like it, but not love it. There is definitely a set up for a sequel with Erik's brother. The thing that bumped it down half a star for me was the writing for the side characters. Most of them were not very likable and I didn't think they fit into the story all that well.… (meer)