A DASH OF SALT AND PEPPER

Sparks fly in and out of the kitchen in this age-gap contemporary romance.

Following a disastrous two months in which Xavier Reynolds loses his job, his fellowship opportunity with the Carey Foundation, and his boyfriend, he moves back into his childhood bedroom in Harper's Cove, Maine. While his parents and longtime best friend, Mya, are happy to have him around, that doesn't stop them from meddling in both his professional and personal life. Xavier has already made a disastrous first impression on Logan O'Hare, an older local restaurateur who's a friend of his parents’, and word travels fast in such a small town. When the Carey Foundation calls to offer Xavier another spot in their program, he agrees, knowing that the cost to attend is pretty steep. He needs a job, fast. The Wharf, Logan's restaurant, is in desperate need of a sous chef, and Xavier's family legacy in the kitchen seems like a perfect match for a temporary solution. The two stubborn men dance around their attraction, their banter over delectable New England fare serving as foreplay. Xavier's point of view is charming and snappy; it's a delight to be in his head. But unfortunately, Logan falls short. With his smarmy attitude and frequent undermining, Logan often treats Xavier more like his preteen child than a grown man with his own wants and needs. Sadly, the romance element of the book feels unnecessary and even, at times, detrimental to Xavier's growth. Logan and Xavier eventually resolve their communication issues, but this is a romance in which the main character deserves so much better.

Though Jackson nails the tone and humor, the romance falters.