Stirring Up Love

A Novel (Taste of Love)

By: Chandra Blumberg

Narrated by: Keylor Leigh, Joe Arden

From the author of Digging Up Love comes a heartfelt story about two rivals whose passion for food and their communities brings them together in ways they never expected.

After doing her time in corporate Chicago, Simone Blake returns to small-town Illinois to tackle a new venture: her grandfather’s barbecue restaurant. The secret, as they say, is in the sauce. Simone’s plan is to sell Honey and Hickory’s signature sauce to put her hometown on the map.

But she’s not the only one with a recipe and a plan: chef Finn Rimes from nearby Springfield has a similar vision. To jump-start his dream of opening a culinary school, he shows up at the local farmers’ market with his own barbecue sauce.

When Simone’s plan to outsell Finn falls flat, she auditions for a reality show to pitch her brand. But she’s horrified to discover Finn’s had the same idea. As Simone and Finn wage barbecue war on television, their feud turns into an undeniable attraction.

With their livelihoods on the line, it may not be so much about making the best sauce - but finding their way to each other.

©2022 Chandra Blumberg (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Rival chefs are forced into a business partnership that sparks unlikely love in Blumberg’s sweet second Taste of Love romance…Readers will root for this couple in both business and love.”—Publishers Weekly

“She couldn’t surrender to love; he didn’t think he was lovable. And yet, they are drawn together. A gentle soul, he brings steadiness and steadfastness into her life. She brings caring and a sense of home to his. Together, they feel hopeful for their future for the first time. A moving story imbued with thoughtfulness and generosity of spirit.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Simone, the sister of Alisha, featured in Blumberg’s Digging Up Love (2022), gets her own love story in this fun enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity rom-com. This smart, sweet romance from rising star Blumberg uses favorite tropes in a deliciously entertaining adventure.” —Booklist

loved it

I really enjoyed reading this author.  I look forward to reading more books by this author in the near future.

Stirring up love

After recently reading Love is an Open Book and enjoying it so much I decided to venture on and continue check out more books by this author.

I was pleasantly surprised as to how much I enjoyed this second book and though it is book two of her Taste of Love series it could be read and enjoyed as a standalone alone.

This enemies to lovers, slow burn, forced proximity was the perfect touch for this book and the narrators did such a great job delivering each scene. The connection between the two main characters was fun and adorable. I just loved it all and you know I will definitely be recommend this book to other readers especially if they enjoy all the enemies to lovers angst.

Just so painfully boring

This story left so much to be desired. It was slow and the story fell flat. Annoyed I used a credit on it. I will not be exploring this author’s work.