Hot headed, no social skills and she knew more swear words than a sailor. I was beginning to think I had a thing for my boss.
It didn’t matter that she barely knew the name of her employees or that she worked more hours than there were in a day running her restaurants, as soon as I knew she liked to dance, I wanted a taste of more than just her summer menu.
But what you want isn’t always what you get, and the courses fate had lined up weren’t guaranteed to be tasty.
Heat is a sexy single dad standalone in the Callaghan Green series. Keep a fan handy.
Heat is definitely packing! We’ve met Simone as she is Vic’s friend and a friend to the Callaghan family in turn. Simone is an award winning chef who owns and runs two successful restaurants with a third restaurant in the process of being opened. She knows and is comfortable in the restaurant business and it’s consumed her life. Her head is down and she’s focused on her restaurant businesses. Jack is a valued chef in her kitchen and he’s a calm leader, he’s also a very talented chef. He’s attracted to Simone. But they are so very different. The story is very layered and these characters have real life issues to deal with, but it’s written in a very realistic way. There is a ton of heat, some dancing and a dash of suspense in this well written novel. 5 solid stars for me!
Oh boy, Annie Dyer turned up the fire in this book! Simone is a hot London chef who has been married twice and wasn't in the mood to get into another relationship ever again. Jack was one of her head chefs and slowly works his way into her heart, along with his daughter. They both have baggage, but they are both willing to figure it out. Add in the mystery of what's going on with the new restaurant and you have a great quick read with some smoking hot love scenes. If you have read the rest of the Callaghan Green books you will love this addition, there are plenty of pop ins from the others, so it's best to get those books read first to help understand. Another great book by Annie!
Simone captivated me from the first time we met her in the Callaghan-Green series. A top-notch chef who is clearly a work-aholic and on the edge of the group, I couldn't wait to get her story. Jack is this quiet, observant force who is the perfect compliment to Sim. He's a single dad to a teenage daughter and a loyal brother and employee. Bonus, the man can dance! The heat doesn't stay in the kitchen with these two. The chemistry is explosive.
Let's not forget the CG family. We get to visit with our favorite couples and have some girl time with Vanessa, Vic and Sophie. I appreciated the fact that even though exes of both main characters are part of the story, it's in a positive light. This series continues to exceed my expectations and I'm anxious for the rest of the books to come. While this book can definitely be read as a stand-alone, don't miss out on this remarkable family series. Overall the story was layered and well balanced with emotion, vulnerability, suspense and HEAT!
Simone is a badass female entrepreneur... she is a chef/ business owner who knows what she wants. Jack is to me her polar opposite he is a chef. Single dad force who wants Sim. These two definitely compliment each other in many areas and the chemistry is beyond scorching. These two both have past relationships that ended of course but neither ex is negative but rather supportive. I read Heat as a standalone with no problems. Get ready for a good read.
4.5+++ AMAZING stars to this new to me author. Jack and Simione are a couple that makes you want to go create magic in the kitchen. They show you that dancing without a care is sexy beautiful.
Heat packed alot of heat! Really enjoyed Simone & Jack characters both carrying alot of baggage, but they work through it together! The heat between these two was hot! Awesome ending!
From the very first encounter you read about between Simone and Jack, you can instantly feel the hot, steamy chemistry between the two characters. While they were endlessly bantering back and forth trying to push each other's buttons, I was becoming quite smitten with the hilarity of this duo. Simone is such a headstrong character and a complete workaholic. Jack is one of her best and most reliable chefs. He is not afraid to stand up to her and quite frankly he’s her perfect match. But it’s not quite so easy to convince Simone that, but between their sexy dances and late nights, the heat is no longer just in the kitchen.
This book is absolutely full of heat with the chemistry between these two being off the charts! It’s also full of sweet moments when they finally break down each others walls and are able to confide in each other. Sometimes our feelings shine through in the worst of times and these two are a testament to that. When things take a turn, they find each other and it is truly beautiful. As a bonus, the relationship that Simone and Jack’s daughter form is super sweet and they are definitely one and the same.
I hadn’t read any books in the Callaghan Green Series prior to this book, but I will definitely be going back and reading them now. Not because you need to in order to read this book, but because I truly enjoyed Annie’s characters and the Callaghan bunch seems like such an amazing group of people. I love seeing people who aren’t necessarily family coming together and supporting those around them as if they were and Annie truly captured that.
This book is absolutely a five-star read and I would suggest it to anyone looking for a sweet, steamy romance. Heat completely exceeded my expectations in the best way possible. It truly brings meaning to the quote, “If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.” The heat in Jack and Simone’s kitchen is off the charts and will definitely leave you wanting more! With that being said, make sure you click the link at the end of the story to read the extra epilogue! It’s packed full of super sweet moments between Jack, Simone, and a sweet new addition to the bunch!
Heat is my first read by Annie Dyer and now I am going to go back and read the others in the Callaghan-Green series because I loved the romance between the two lead characters, plus all the friendships and supporting characters. Simone is the chef/owner of two successful restaurants and is about the launch her third. Jack is a hot smokin’ chef, a single dad of a 15 year old, and is just about perfect. He’s smart, sexy, sweet, swoony, and above all, loyal, and only has eyes for his boss, Simone.
The author did a wonderful job portraying the professional and personal lives of both the hero and the heroine in this story. They are both characters that I admire. They have strong work values, ethics, are caring and compassionate, family oriented, talented and driven, and are people I would want to be friends with in real life! I loved how confident and assured Simone was and how she did let her guard down little by little once Jack earned her trust in the kitchen and in the bedroom!
I enjoyed getting to know the secondary characters and couples, especially her friends Vanessa, Vic and Sophie. And I liked the fact that she got along so well with her first ex-husband, and he got along with his ex-wife. It was refreshing to read this…they weren’t in love anymore but respected and supported each other. I loved Jack's relationship with his daughter and how level-headed he was. And I also really admire how open and honest Simone was with her feelings and her acceptance of his daughter.
This book was a slow burn that really took these two on a journey, there was a bit of mystery and suspense as she had a stalker, but no worries, this is a romance and Jack and Simone get their well deserved happily ever after! I liked that the book was set in London and reading the terms and syntax used in that part of the country. My only issue with the book was the errors (words missing and grammar).
Annie has done it again with this one! Heat is a stand alone book set in the Callaghan Greene series, this time with the Callaghan family friend Simone who is a chef & owns a few restaurants. Simone is very busy with running her restaurants and in the process of opening a new one that she doesn't seem to have time for personal relationships, etc. Jack is her main chef and a single dad to a teenage daughter. It was fun to watch Jack help Simone ease up & start to enjoy life as well as watching his relationship with his daughter. I also liked seeing how Simone related to his daughter & how they encouraged each other.
Well from an enemy to love relationship their is certainly a lot of steam in this book. The romance and heat brought within is magnificent and follows the previous books in the Callaghan Green series fantastic.
In heat we are looking at the relationship of Simone and single parent Jack, who is one of her top chefs. As we learn in previous books Simone has had 2 previous marriages with the second one being specifically being traumatic for her to learn to trust love again.
Jack has a wonderful teenage daughter and she is his world. Can they handle their working relationship and a physical one?
So happy Simone got her own story. Jack is a keeper....kind, patient, loving, not to mention a hot single dad who can cook...what’s not to love! I love the chemistry between these 2. Simone needed someone to push her from being just a workaholic to someone that has a better work/life balance and Jack is able to do just that! I loved catching up with the Callaghan Green characters...it felt like a family reunion ❤️
This is an OK romance, but I did have some issues with it. It gets 3.5 stars from me, rounded down to 3 stars.
It features a couple that have some hot scenes. It seemed to me like they were mostly in lust. I had trouble believing their confessions of love -- they were definitely in lust, and couldn't keep their hands off each other, but I just didn't buy that they were in love.
Simone and Jack were OK, but it bothered me that almost their entire relationship seemed to be based on sex. Sexual attraction is important, but a relationship needs more than sex to be healthy -- and I just didn't really see that they even knew each other very well before declaring their love.
I actually liked Jack better than Simone. He was even-tempered, and commanded respect without screaming at the restaurant employees that worked under him. He was also a great dad to his teenage daughter. Simone was hot-tempered, and treated her employees really bad at times. She was also a workaholic, who didn't trust her employees enough to delegate work to them -- the stress level that caused made her harder to get along with.
My rating system is below. 1 star -- Hated it, or did not finish. I usually only give this rating if some of the content is truly objectionable to me, like if one of the main characters does something really awful, and gets away with it. 2 stars -- Didn't like it. This rating usually means that I thought the writing wasn't very good, the editing was terrible, I didn't like the characters, or it had other major flaws. 3 stars -- I liked it, but had some minor issues with it. This rating means that there were minor editing issues, the story needed more character development, it was just too unrealistic, or had some other fairly minor issue. The majority of books I read get this rating – I do not consider it a bad rating. 4 stars -- I liked it a lot. This is a high rating for me, and I rarely give a higher one. 5 stars -- I loved it, and will probably read it again. Very few books are good enough to get this rating from me. The ones that do are usually classics.
This is a new author to me. I didn't realize that this was a series. I feel cheated. Not really because I can go rectify it. This is was a good solid book. It has a bit of everything in it. I also love reading a single dad where his daughter is everything to him.
You have Simone that is a workaholic and does not like to relinquish control to anyone. He needs to be in charge. She only ever has herself to depend on. HSe is a chef and owns numerous restaurants and is getting ready to open a Tapas.
Jack from the moment I read about him I loved him. He is what truly drew me into this book. He is a great guy with a big heart and isn't afraid to take a chance on love.
These two have good chemistry. I feel it ooze from the pages of my kindle. The banter between them is great. He is teaching her how to let go and giver herself a break. Everything is going great and I kept waiting for the shoe to drop and it does. It took me a bit by surprise. I liked Jacks daughter. She was a great addition and I liked how right away she looked up to Simone. The bond they formed was good and she is her fathers biggest supporter. She also has no filter and a no-nonsense attitude.
I loved all the players. I thought they were great. Simone has a great group of friends. They look out for her even when she thinks she doesn't need it. You get love, laughs, friendship and a little bit of heartbreak.
If you love a sexy single dad that can cook like no other this is the book for you.
Simone was introduced earlier in this series as she's a friend to the Callaghan family, so I already love her control freak a**! And now after her story, love her even more. See, she's a workaholic with 2 very successful restaurants, and a 3rd on the way to opening, not to mention being an award winning chef. However, when it comes to relationships, she has sky high walls. Her best chef, Jack, is a single father, and they have some serious chemistry, but a great professional relationship which they don't want to mess up. Of course, they both also have some serious baggage they're totin' around, so you already know that the push & pull is crazy frustrating, especially since that chemistry isn't going to be denied for long, and Simone is the more stubborn out of the two. And Jack has a big heart, so he comes around quicker to the idea of them being an item than Simone does, the bossy thing. Oh, and in the middle of all of this craziness comes some suspenseful twists that had my f-bombs forced to drop! Yeah I know, it sounds crazy that they were forced, but they were really minding their own business until they were shocked out of their vacation. So take a chance on this amazing story, as Annie Dyer never disappoints with her addictive stories! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ALL!
Heat is smokin’ sexy and an intriguing and suspenseful romance that literally lives up to its name! Annie Dyer is the queen of layers as she weaves together love, friendship, and lust all the while keeping you on the edge of your seat. Simone is a fierce and passionate chef who has spent years building her reputation and her business. Work has always been her escape from the world. Her star is on the rise and yet, something is missing. Unlucky in love, she keeps her walls up tall. She is stubborn, and bossy which helps to keep people at a distance. Jack is her ever dependable chef. He is sturdy, kind, and a great manager. He’s got the brawn, the brain, and the talent to make any restaurant great, and he is determined to help Simone both in and out of the restaurant. Jack wants Simone in his bed, and as a partner at work. He intends to build her trust and break down her shields. He quickly realizes that she fills the space that was empty in his life, and that he needs her just as much as she needs him. Both are faced with insecurities that may put an end to things before they get started, until Simone is threatened. As things become even more dangerous, the two of them learn to love again.
This Callaghan Green spin off can be read as a stand alone but readers will find the entire series more enjoyable if read together as there are recurring characters. Simone is tough with incredibly high defense walls. Jack is her employee, a single dad, and hotter than Simone's kitchens. There was no way these two would not come together without serious combustion. Simone has had two relationships in her life that did not work out, but she is a successful chef and business owner. Jack has been a single dad for a long time. When they get to know each other sparks fly. I really enjoyed some f the underlying stories in this book as well. It hits on single parenting, spousal emotional abuse, homelessness, and PTSD from military service. All of these are important topics and contribute to the story. Food is an important character in this story and Jack realizes that he shows how much he cares for people through cooking for them. Food to Simone is success, passion, and independence. Dance is also an important element in this story. Jack and Simone dancing in the kitchen, the living room, and anywhere is a way that they can connect with each other and I felt was incredibly romantic. This story was steamy and romantic and I definitely recommend
Annie has once again written a fiery hot story of two unlikely lovers. The character development and storyline pull at all the right heartstrings. You are drawn into the story the moment you meet Simone and you will love her even more as her story develops. Simone is a sexy, successful, posh restaurant owner, workaholic whose life revolves around control of her businesses. When we meet her she is opening her third restaurant. Simone is trying to hire a new chef for the location when we meet Jack her best chef and trusted employee with sexy tattooed biceps, single father of a teenage girl who effortlessly runs the kitchen in one of her most successful restaurants. Jack tries to loosen his uptight boss Simone up by inviting her to an off hours employee bowling event and it’s here that the chemistry begins to flame. This is their story as the two unlikely lovers address trust, attraction, family, overcoming the past and moving forward by opening yourself up to possibilities. This story is special and a page turner as these two souls fight insurmountable odds to find their happily ever after. My new favorite Annie Dryer book.
Simone is a Michelin-starred chef who owns two successful restaurants and is in the midst of opening up a third. She has kept the world - except for a very few friends - at arms' length since her divorce five years previously, burying herself in her work. Jack is chef at one of her restaurants, single father to 15 year old Lauren.
A budding friendship and flirtation blossoms into so much more, but Jack and Simone each have their own baggage and insecurities. Not to mention a professional relationship that neither wants to tarnish.
I really loved this book. Simone has been through so much, and has closed herself emotionally to protect herself from further heartbreak. Jack has been a single father for 12 years, and looks after his brother from a distance. A threat to Simone brings them even closer together.
There is so much I liked here. The characters were well written. Lauren is incredible and I loved her relationships with both Jack and Simone. As the title implies, there is a lot of heat but there is also much heart and sweetness with a little mystery to round things out.
Get ready to get hot! Heat is the next installment in the Callaghan Green series and it does not disappoint. Simone doesn't have time for relationships...she barely has time for a proper shower. She is too busy running two successful restaurants while also getting a third off the ground. They are her babies and as such she does not leave them in the care of anyone else. Jack is a sexy, talented chef that works for Simone. Not only is he handsome, but he has a body built for sin. On top of that he is a single dad who dedicates his free time to raising his 15 year old daughter. The chemistry between Simone and Jack is undeniable and their banter free and easy, but she doesn't want a relationship and he knows getting involved with his boss is wrong on so many levels. Will their attraction be too much to put on the back burner or will they take a shot and hope it doesn't go up in flames. The Callaghan clan makes appearances in this well developed story. Add in a dash of suspense and Heat makes for a must read.
Incredible read...loved it. Simone and Jack are burning up in more places than just the kitchen. I’m really grateful to be given some really great books to read. Both characters had a trunk full of baggage but they were able to weather the storms. It’s not just what you have but what you do with it.
What did I like? Jack was like the calm of the storm surrounding Simone. Simone was easily in the eye of a hurricane with stalkers, and loads of issues dealing with three restaurants. Control freak? Her restaurants were her babies as she had to learn to give up control and allow people in. What a amazing read.
Would I recommend or buy? This was my first in this series, and I truly enjoyed it. You don’t have to have read any of the other books to love this one. There is an element of suspense but a cute romance as well. I gave it five stars! Really entertaining.
Thoughts for the author? I received a copy as a part of a Facebook giveaway I believe....not sure. Congratulations to the author for a five star book. Thanks a bunch.
I admit: I’m a sucker for series of books where subsidiary characters are introduced, slowly fleshed out and then take centre stage in their own story. Annie Dyer does this exceptionally well: Heat is the latest in the Callaghan Green series and concentrates on Simone, chef and business woman whose outward success masks a lack of social life and insecurities stemming from her past. Enter Jack, one of her employees, and the heat that slowly builds between them isn’t confined to the kitchen... Dialogue is sharp and characterisation is spot on: the story deals with the very real challenges of starting a relationship in your thirties when there are physical factors (work, children, exes) and emotional barriers to take into account. Add in some deft commentary on social issues, a touch of suspense and the reappearance of some popular series characters, and you get a well-rounded book with plenty of heart. Recommend!
Heat definitely gave us exactly what the title said. I'm also a sucker for a book where the H is a single parent and h is a headstrong woman who knows what she wants and works her tail off to get it!
Simone is a successful chef and restaurateur. We have seen glimpses into her through the other Callaghan Green books, and I was very happy to see that she was getting a book of her own. Jack is one of the head chefs in a restaurant that he owns. The two have explosive chemistry that could not be contained. Slowly they begin to break down each others walls, their personalities complimenting each other in so many different ways.
One of the things I loved about this book is the layers that are weaved through the story. There is a little bit of everything - romance, steamy times, some suspense, love and a little bit of heartache. I don't want to give too away, but its a perfect addition to the already awesome Callaghan Green series.
I really enjoyed this story. The title is Heat and that's exactly what Annie Dyer gave us in this stand-alone companion to her Callaghan Green series. Simone is a chef and restaurant owner and Jack is a chef (and single dad) that works for her. These two are so different and both carry a lot of personal baggage but when they come together, the chemistry is explosive and the heat is not just in the kitchen. They both had a tough task at breaking down the walls of the other, since they both had some big insecurities and I loved watching the progression of it. I also loved the relationship that Jack had with his daughter--it's always fun to see a big burly man with a huge heart for his child. This book had so much heart (more than I expected--some tear-jerker moments, for sure), HEAT (of course,) and enough suspense to keep me reading late into the night. And I almost forgot to mention the dancing! Gah! I loved it. I didn't want to put this one down. Highly recommend!
We first meet simone during Engagement Rate and see her through the other 4 books in the series, In Heat we get to go more into who she is, what makes her tick and why.
We also get to meet Jack, a man who's protective (but not overly so), caring and can cook? (and is a caring loving parent?) SIGN ME UP
I loved watching them go from coworkers to friends, to lovers. im not normally a crier during books, but simone and jack's back story and present, and especially towards the end got me. Also watching Simone go from a kind closed off workaholic to someone who opened up and shared more with and made time for her friends, and actually took time for herself was really well done Also the fact their exes are mentioned and even show up in the book, and arent there to cause trouble, but are there to help and add to the story was refreshing and a nice change
Another great book from Annie! This book can easily be read alone, but i highly recommend the rest of the series!
Sophie has made an appearance in many of the Callaghan/Green books, so I was excited for her to find love despite her track record with men in her past. Enter Jack, the head chef at one of her resturants who is calm, cool, collected and leads in a way different way that most head chefs. I loved watching these two grow closer, watching Sophie discover Jack was a single father to Lauren, his teenaged daughter, and realizing that besides being an amazing chef and leader he was an awesome dad as well. There were so many sparks between them and despite Sophie worrying about what her staff would think, she also found that Jack was someone she could trust and count on when she needs help. I actually really enjoyed watching their relationship grow and they way there were there to support each other when needed.
An amazing story about Victoria's friend (who we met before) Simone. Simone is a successful restauranteur who is intertwined through a few of the previous books. Simone is a workaholic (shocking for this series we know), but it's her passion that makes her restaurants so amazing. Insert Jack one of her new chefs who would love to be more involved in the menus, but this is not something Simone can do, she has full control over every aspect of her life, and letting someone else have responsibility for her livelihood in unspeakable. Until crisis happens and of course, Jack steps in and helps out. As the two get to know each other, let's just say the steam is no longer only in the kitchen. Jack is such a thoughtful character and getting to know him more in this book was lovely, getting to see his past and understand him.
Heat A Callaghan Green Novel Annie Dyer “I didn’t like the way she said just Simone. No one was just anything.” Simone is a ballsy chef and business woman. She has no time to look sideways let alone hook up. She doesn’t know that she is stunning. Jack is Simone’s best chef, single dad and an all round good guy who keeps to himself, mostly. With twists, turns and a touch of suspense thrown in this is a well rounded novel with the most endearing characters. The plot effortlessly pulls you in and consumes you like only well written characters can. Congratulations Ms Dyer! This is part of the Callaghan series of novels that stands completely as a stand-alone novel with hea. A stunning 5 stars.
really enjoyed Simone and Jacks story. Simone owns two restaurants and getting ready to open her third. She has already been married twice and isn’t looking for someone in her life. Jack is a single father and works for her. He is always there when she needs help with the restaurant. She doesn’t want to depend on anyone but slowly finds herself getting closer to him. It is hard for her to open up about herself and let go of some of the control she has on her restaurants. Jack has a part of his life that he doesn’t want to open up about as well. As there relationship becomes more they have to find a way to trust each other with everything. Loved the writing and the characters. I cannot day enough good things. Pick this book up you will not regret it.
Annie dials up the sexy factor again in her newest book Heat! First you meet the heroine Simone. Shes a strong, career driven woman who doesn't have time for anything out side of working. Then you meet sweet, sexy single dad and her employee Jack, who is her total opposite in every way except in the kitchen! This book is sweet, but also jammed pack full of sexy moments. As the story progresses on, you fall in love with Jack's character, because he teaches Simone that life isn't just about work. You have to make time for love too. Jack and Simone grow so well as a couple by the end of the story. I wont spoil the ending, but let's just say it was amazing and ends with one of my favorite romance Tropes. Excellent book and addition to the Cahllagan Green Series.