Author: Melanie Summers
Narrator: Matthew Lloyd Davies; Esther Wane
Publisher: Indigo Group
Publication Date: April 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible
Description: He’s a rich, famous writer. He doesn’t work or play well with others. He’s under an insane deadline. And I’m stuck on a private island with him for the next two months.
I was supposed to be taking my rightful place as head chef at one of my family’s resort restaurants.
Instead, I’m stranded on our new private island getaway, where I’ll be catering to Pierce Davenport, an infuriatingly arrogant guest with a palate that’s about as adventurous as a plain boiled potato.
His personality leaves a lot to be desired, too—imagine if the Grinch and Oscar the Grouch had a baby.
That child would end up almost as grumpy as Pierce.
So when disaster strikes and he’s forced to rely on me to type for him, we wind up spending twenty-four hours a day together.
And when I have to transcribe a sexy time scene for him…well, let’s just say things heat up like a gas burner—fast and hot.
I can’t be falling for him, can I? I hate him. Like really hate him.
Only maybe I don’t…
Whisked Away is an irresistibly romantic, delightfully funny, enemies-to-lovers tale of passion, books, and food. It stars a writer who’s as talented as he is hot, a feisty chef who won’t put up with his crap, a ferocious iguana, and one of the most hilarious grand romantic gestures of all time. It can be enjoyed as a standalone. Strawberry daiquiris not included.
My Thoughts: I don’t know where this author has been—or why it took me so long to discover her and this series—but I’m loving both. Although several of Melanie Summers’s books have been languishing on my enormous to-be-read pile, the Paradise Bay series is my first experience with her work.
I loved the first book, and this installment was even better. I had no idea how enjoyable the grumpy-sunshine trope could be, but I’m now a confirmed fan.
The story centers on Emma Banks, sister of the male lead from the first book. Fresh out of culinary school, she returns to her family’s resort expecting to take charge of one of its restaurants. Instead, she is assigned to the resort’s private-island retreat, where she must serve as the personal chef for a VIP guest.
Although disappointed, Emma sees the assignment as a chance to prove herself to her brother—and as a possible stepping stone toward running a restaurant of her own.
The VIP is Pierce Davenport, a wealthy, successful author who has retreated to Paradise Bay to overcome writer’s block and finish the latest book in his popular series. With the novels already adapted for television, the screenwriters are threatening to take control of the story if he misses his deadline.
Private, antisocial, and undeniably arrogant, Pierce clashes with Emma from the start. The two get along like oil and water.
Their banter had me laughing out loud, while their chemistry had me reaching for a fan. Pierce causes several unfortunate mishaps entirely on his own, yet it is difficult not to feel sorry for him—even if the iguana remains unconvinced.
Emma was instantly likable. She appears briefly in the first book, but not long enough for readers to truly know her. Here, her relatable personality and feisty nature shine. My opinion of Pierce softened as his character unfolded. Beneath his arrogance is a man who uses that façade to keep others at arm’s length.
My Final Verdict: Whisked Away is a funny, steamy, and thoroughly entertaining grumpy-sunshine romance. Emma’s warmth and determination balance Pierce’s prickly personality perfectly, and their witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and gradual emotional connection kept me invested from beginning to end. With its memorable characters, island setting, and scene-stealing iguana, this installment was even more enjoyable than the first. I highly recommend it to readers who love enemies-to-lovers romances filled with humor, heart, and plenty of heat.
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