IN THE FIRE
by Eileen Griffin & Nikka Michaels
Seize:
93K words / 433KB
Date:
23/10/2014
Grade:
4.5
Details:
no. 2 In the Kitchen
Received from Carina Press
Through NetGalley
Kindle
The
blurb:
Because the way to a man's heart…
Eight years ago, the world was their oyster. Until, that is, competing chefs Ethan Martin and James Lassiter's hot and heavy relationship fizzled after Jamie left for an internship in Paris. Even though Jamie's career has taken off since his return to the States, with his own television show and a lot of fame, his feelings for Ethan have never quite gone away.
Ethan's culinary career has developed more slowly, but he's almost saved enough to buy the restaurant where he works and re-open it as his dream spot, Bistro 30. If only he could get the sexy chef who loved him and left him out of his mind.
But when someone starts sabotaging the restaurant and a fire threatens to take away everything Ethan holds dear, his only option is to rely on Jamie for help. Back in close quarters, the two men will have to find a way to work through their past if they hope to save the restaurant and their future.
Eight years ago, the world was their oyster. Until, that is, competing chefs Ethan Martin and James Lassiter's hot and heavy relationship fizzled after Jamie left for an internship in Paris. Even though Jamie's career has taken off since his return to the States, with his own television show and a lot of fame, his feelings for Ethan have never quite gone away.
Ethan's culinary career has developed more slowly, but he's almost saved enough to buy the restaurant where he works and re-open it as his dream spot, Bistro 30. If only he could get the sexy chef who loved him and left him out of his mind.
But when someone starts sabotaging the restaurant and a fire threatens to take away everything Ethan holds dear, his only option is to rely on Jamie for help. Back in close quarters, the two men will have to find a way to work through their past if they hope to save the restaurant and their future.
My
thoughts:
What
a difference eight years make. When ‘In the Raw’ the first book in the ‘In
the Kitchen’ trilogy ended we left our two boys deeply in love. Sure,
Jamie was on his way to Paris to further his cooking career, but they would
only be separated for six months. Surely the deep connection and love between
them would survive the relatively short separation?
Apparently
not. When ‘In the Fire’ starts Ethan and Jamie have been living separate
lives for eight years. Over the course of Jamie’s six months in Paris they
drifted apart for reasons neither is completely sure about. When Jamie returned
to America he moved to New York rather than back to Seattle and the rest, as
they say is history. Jamie has become a famous television chef over the years
while Ethan is tantalizingly close to buying the restaurant he’s been dreaming
about for so long. When circumstances force Ethan and Jamie to meet again it
soon becomes clear that eight years were not enough to kill the feelings they
have for each other. They may not trust each other completely and may be filled
with doubts about the wisdom of their actions, the heat and love burning
between them won’t be denied.
Still,
it takes the thread of Ethan almost losing his dream for the two of them to
turn back into the solid and immovable unit they once were.
I
have fallen more than a little bit in love with Ethan and Jamie over the course
of ‘In
the Raw’ and ‘In the Fire’. They both have their
own distinct voice in these books and are fully fleshed out characters, easy to
recognise and even easier to fall for. When I first saw there was an eight year
gap in the story-line between books one and two I had my doubts about how well
that might work. I should have known better. I think giving Ethan and Jamie
those years to grow from boys into grown men was nothing less than a stroke of
genius. ‘In the Fire’ tells us enough about what happened during those
eight years to make the reader understand how they turned into the men they are
now, without us having to be present for every single minute. When we reconnect
with our two heroes one of them is on the brink of realizing his dream while
the other has discovered that what appeared to be a dream has turned into a
chore; a wonderful time for both of them to re-evaluate their lives.
Griffin
and Michaels have a wonderful writing style. They create characters with real
personalities and make them shine. Their descriptions are vivid (don’t read
these books while hungry) and their dialogue sparkle and occasionally leads to
laugh out loud moments. The easy flow of the narrative combined with two
characters who are extremely hot together, ensures a wonderful and captivating
reading experience.
If
I have an issue with this book it is that it took almost 70% of the story
before Jamie and Ethan spend some real time together. What I love most about
these books is the interaction between them and with them being apart I did miss
those sparks. But, I understand why the separation was necessary in the story
and I’m convinced my impatience with prolonged angst had a lot to do with my
reaction. Since I’m well aware my issues with angst are a-typical for readers
of this genre, I’m convinced others may love those parts I wished had been a
bit shorter.
Where
‘In
the Raw’ ended a bit ambiguously, ‘In the Fire’ has no such issues. In
fact the ending in this book is such that I have absolutely no idea where
Eileen Griffin and Nikka Michaels might be taking us with book three. If I didn’t
know for a fact they were already writing it I might doubt it was to come at
all. To say I’m curious and looking forward to that third book would be a
serious understatement. These two authors have once again confirmed their
status among my must read writers.
