Release Day Blitz & Review::: Monster Chef by Margaret McHeyzer
Title: Monster Chef
Author: Margaret McHeyzer
Release Date: March 18, 2015
Synopsis
Holly Walker had everything she’d ever dreamed about – a happy marriage and being mum to beautiful brown-eyed Emma - until an accident nineteen months ago tore her world apart. Now she's a widow and single mother to a boisterous little 7-year-old girl, looking for a new start. Ready to take the next step, Holly has found herself a job as a maître d’ at Table One, a once-acclaimed restaurant in the heart of Sydney. But one extremely arrogant Frenchman isn't going to be easy to work with...
Twenty years ago, Pierre LeRoux came to Australia, following the stunning Aussie girl he'd fallen in love with. He and his wife put their personal lives on hold, determined for Pierre to take Sydney's culinary society by storm. Just as his bright star was on the upswing, tragedy claimed the woman he was hopelessly in love with. He had been known as a Master Chef, but since his wife’s death he has become known as Monster Chef.
Can two broken people rebuild their lives and find happiness once more?
Links to Buy
99c for a limited time
AMAZON US / UK
Rating: 5 of 5 Hearts
This is my first book by Author Margaret McHeyzer and it most certainly will not be my last! I devoured this book in two days. When I had to put the book down the characters were on my mind.
I fell in love with Margaret’s writing style, the vivid descriptions sucked me like I are part of her story. Her characters came to life as Holly went toe-to-toe with chef Pierre.
This book really had it all for me. Sexual tension to drove me mad! A plot that unfolded beautifully as the characters discovered love and acceptance in someone as broken as they were. And funny! The character’s had me rolling on numerous occasions.
Now let’s talk about these characters, Holly Walker was a woman who was trying to survive the death of her husband while caring for her daughter. She was merely going through the motions of life. She had my heart breaking when she talk about how her husband. Her love for him was unconditional.
What Holly did not expect was an over zealous, pompous chef to throw her for a loop. When these two first met I was laughing at how Holly put Pierre in his place. There was no way he was walking all over her.
When Holly realized their relationship was changing into something more than friendship Pierre always had the right thing to say. I was always swooning right along with her. Even when she would tell him to stop being a controlling alpha male. She may have loved how protective he was but when is bossiness came out she would not stand for it.
“Oui, next Tuesday is acceptable, but it is me who will take you out.” He's gone all chivalrous and alpha on me.
Pierre might have been a total butt to everyone, but the moment Holly walked into the picture his demeanor started to change. I loved watching him start to mellow and love again. He had a heart of gold under all that groughness. And lord mercy! When Pierre spoke to his dead wife I would either tear up or swoon at the love he still had for her. Looking to Eva for guidance with Holly and Emma I was a goner.
And when Pierre was not making me a swooning mess, he was making me a squirming mess. His filthy mouth and vivid thoughts were nothing short of HOT! He wanted Holly and did not hide it. The things he would say to her either set her cheeks on fire or groaning. He did not care if others were around when he showed his affection. He wanted her to know where he stood.
Pierre loved caring for Holly, he did not care what anyone thought. He wanted her and that was that. He would show her his love was real one day at a time. And when he finally got to meet Holly’s daughter Emma he knew they were it for him. He was home.
Emma and Pierre’s bond had me swooning. I think Emma was the only person who could really put Pierre in his place. She loved him unconditionally with no strings attached. She wanted him to be her dad. Watching Pierre teach Emma how to cook was adorable. She listened to everything he had to say.
“Is it you making all that racket, ma petite?” I asked as I fling the door open.
“Oui, I thought you weren’t here.”
I chuckle at Emma and her use of my french ‘yes.’
I must say little Emma stole the show more than once with her innocence and love of life. She was absolutely adorable.
By the end of this story I was already mourning that it was over. I wanted more. I really hope that Margaret continues this story one day. I can see it going a many different ways. HINT HINT!
Rating: 5 of 5 Hearts
I loved this book! I devoured it in 24 hours because I couldn’t put it down. Ms. McHeyzer made these characters people I was dying to get to know better. I wanted to delve into their psyches and make friends with them. This was my first book by her, but I can promise it won’t be my last.
Pierre and Holly are two broken souls not even sure what they are looking for. They meet at the restaurant where Pierre is the head chef and Holly has just taken the maitre-d position. At first glance, Pierre is an egotistical maniac who doesn’t want to be friends with anyone and really doesn’t even like anyone. Holly is recovering from the death of her husband and just getting back into the workforce and she refuses to take any crap from anyone- including Pierre.
Pierre does a great job of explaining what his life is really like in this passage:
However, sleep has been elusive. It’s a flickering candle. The wax is melting and the flame is a small, quivering spark. Soon it’ll simply vanish, and I’ll finally collapse into the black hole of eternal peace.
Everyone sees him as an a**, but the truth is he is just lonely and doesn’t know how to deal with his intense grief from his wife’s death. The truth is that he isn’t unlike Holly, but Holly is lucky to have her daughter and mother-in-law.
Once they realize that they have an attraction with each other, their love is hot and heavy. It isn’t without dips and it doesn’t go perfectly, but Pierre is capable of making my ovaries explode with his sexy accent and wonderful words like these:
“We have one opportunity to cherish what we love, Holly. To hold onto it and savour every moment with it. And you and Emma are what I love, with my entire soul, with my life. I do not want to let you go. I want to fall into the oblivion of your love and never return from it.”
This book is intense with emotions and love. I highly recommend that everyone read it and enjoy the dual POVs and the great love story that it is. I even loved the epilogue though I knew it meant the story was over. It’s a wonderful story that I will recommend to everyone I know that loves to read!
Author Bio
**Bound by custom
or unique by choice.**
There's something about the written word that's pure magic.
Possibly it's the fact that there are 26 letters in the English alphabet, and they can create something so beautiful or so empowering that they're able to change our lives.
How important is it that we break suit and stretch our minds?
I like to think of myself as 'unique'. My stories aren't for everyone, and sometimes I may push what you believe to be 'normal'.
Normal is subjective.
I prefer to be known as a person who's never been 'bound by custom' but is 'unique by choice'.
Until next time
There's something about the written word that's pure magic.
Possibly it's the fact that there are 26 letters in the English alphabet, and they can create something so beautiful or so empowering that they're able to change our lives.
How important is it that we break suit and stretch our minds?
I like to think of myself as 'unique'. My stories aren't for everyone, and sometimes I may push what you believe to be 'normal'.
Normal is subjective.
I prefer to be known as a person who's never been 'bound by custom' but is 'unique by choice'.
Until next time
Mxx
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