Good book. After her father's death, Lacy took his food truck and, after a new paint job and a change in name, set out on a new career. Her first goal was to get a contract to set up at a new construction site. She is dismayed to find out that the man her father had worked for has passed away, so she must convince his partner to take her on. Lacy surprised to discover that Zack was once the teenager she had a crush on when she accompanied her dad on his jobs when she was a kid. He's gotten better looking in the years since, which creates quite a distraction for Lacy.

Zach is a divorced single dad with sole custody of his ten-year-old daughter. His life is busy with running his business and taking care of Emma. The last thing he wants is an inconvenient attraction to the food truck lady, but he can't deny his fascination with her.

I liked the development of the relationship between Zack and Lacy. Her business gets off to a bit of a rough start when Zack isn't exactly enthusiastic about her proposal. However, the quality of the food gets him onboard pretty quickly. He also can't deny his attraction to her and asks Lacy to teach Emma to cook as a way of getting to know her. This is the first time in a long time that he has been interested in a woman, thanks to the actions of his ex-wife damaging his ability to trust. Lacy lost her fiancé during the war and hasn't been interested in risking her heart since then. As they spend time together during Emma's cooking lessons, the attraction between them grows, as does their friendship.

I loved seeing how their feelings for each other deepened, though neither was in a hurry to admit it. Zack realized it first, as his mind and heart kept picturing Lacy as a permanent part of his life. Lacy's rapport with Emma was a big part of her appeal, and there are plenty of sweet scenes involving the little girl. However, just as things look promising for a future together, an unexpected discovery causes Lacy to pull back. I ached for Lacy and the fear of loss that made her push Zack away. I hurt for Zack, who didn't understand what was going on, which brought back some unhappy memories. I liked that he didn't allow his fears to hold him back for long, and cheered when he went to confront Lacy.

Lacy was dealing with a lot of confusion and heartache. Some puzzling instances of mistaken identity made her question who she was and her relationship with her parents. I ached for Lacy as she tried to face those feelings at the same time that her heart pushed her toward Zack. There were times I wanted to shake her for not confiding in Zack and letting him give her the support she needed. I liked when she finally realized she was allowing her fears create the loss she was so afraid of and fought to overcome them. I loved the ending and seeing the two of them put their pasts behind them and move toward a future together.

The shock that Lacy received when she went through her parents' papers threw her life into turmoil. It went a long way toward answering some of the things she felt as a child, but she wasn't sure of the effect it would have on her life now. She was torn about what she should do with the information. I liked how Zack tried to help and his shock at what he found. The scene where the two women met was terrific, and I can't wait to see what is in store for them. ( )

Fabulous food and wonderful romance just naturally go hand-in-hand, and talented storyteller Lynne Marshall blends them together beautifully in "Cooking Up Romance"--a charming contemporary love story. Lacy Winters inherited her father's food truck, and after a hot pink paint redo for the truck, and a new business name with a cool logo, her kitchen on wheels was ready to roll. A major new construction site with lots of hungry workers seems like a prime location to set up shop. She would meet with the construction manager and win him over with her cooking, and then she would have a steady income as long as the construction project continued. She was surprised when the construction manager turned out to be Zack Gardner, whom she had briefly met many years before when she had tagged along with her father on his food truck runs. She had been a young girl struck by the golden looks of the teen-aged worker, and he had teased her about her pretty red hair. Zack had grown more handsome through the years. but she had to remain professional and not become distracted. A divorced dad with a with a ten-year old daughter, Emma, who loved to cook, Zack had his hands full running his business and caring for Emma. Lacy had been devastated when she lost the love of her life five years ago in a military accident. Now, with her food truck looking to be a hit and the growing friendship and attraction she felt with Zack, her days were brighter and filled with hope. She even began to give cooking lessons to Emma--and thanks to Lacy, Zack and his daughter had a new sense of joy in their lives. However, one mysterious incident would lead to revelations which would change Lacy's world forever: A guest at wedding where Lacy was one of the caterers called her "Eva", and when Lacy corrected her, the woman told her she looked just like "Eva" and snapped her picture. When truths come to light, will Zack and Emma still be a part of Lacy's life--and hopefully a part of a beautiful, loving future together? Lynne Marshall is more than a storyteller, she is a story weaver who builds worlds and creates in-depth characterizations. She then adds unexpected elements to real-life situations, and she always has a surprise or two in store for the reader. I look forward to the next two books in the series.

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