Nikki Carmichael is an amazing restaurant chef, but an old
knee injury is forcing her into early retirement from the
place she worked since cooking school. Instead, she
advertises in Los Angeles neighborhoods that might be
interested in a private chef, hoping she can rest her knee
and avoid surgery. Her first inquiry comes from Jay
Buchanan, editor of a hip men's magazine and all-around
handsome charmer. Although he just needs a cook for the
next month, Nikki is surprised to find that the job also
requires that she pretend to be his girlfriend and keep an
eye on his teenage houseguest. As Nikki becomes more
involved in Jay's household, her employer becomes more
interested in the life of his chef, even though Nikki
doesn't talk much about herself, her past or how she
injured her knee.
To escape her new workplace drama, Nikki discovers a local
yarn shop -- Malibu & Ewe -- where she meets Cassandra, the
owner, and gets her first knitting lesson. Talking with
Cassandra gives Nikki some much-needed support and
friendship, especially after she joins a group of knitters.
When Jay decides that he wants to spice things up with his
personal chef, Nikki knows that if she can't take the heat,
she'll have to get out of his kitchen!
Christie Ridgway introduces readers to great lead
characters and includes a handful of supporting characters
with their own compelling stories. She takes a solitary
woman, without family and friends, who doesn't want to
depend on anyone for anything, and gives her both friends
and family when she needs them. The playboy charmer in the
big house turns out to be both sexy and sensitive. With the
rising popularity of yarn and knitting, Ridgway could have
just referenced the craft, but instead the yarn store and
its owner become an integral part of the story and the main
characters' lives. This fun and flirty romance has serious
undertones of modern social issues that will keep the
reader engaged and interested throughout the story.
The beachside knitting shop Malibu & Ewe is the perfect
place for L.A.'s hip young crowd to enjoy colorful yarn
and intimate conversation. For personal chef Nikki
Carmichael, it could be the softest place to land if her
new job falls through. Working for magazine writer Jay
Buchanan has come with some strange conditions—like
pretending to be his girlfriend. As for Jay, he finds
himself drawn to the kitchen, where he's intrigued by his
sexy cook's ability to withstand the heat between them.
And now he thinks it's time to turn up the flames.