Usually I adore romances with food content but sadly Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love didn't quite work for me. I cringed a lot during the story.

I think my biggest problem with Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love was the romance. It suffers a major case of insta-love. Eden has fond memories of Alexander so I can understand her crush but he had lusty thoughts about her way too soon. Considering Alexander didn’t remember her and he also recently became her boss, it was pretty inappropriate. In addition, some of the situations and dialogues between them was super cheesy. I just wasn’t convinced of their strong feelings.

What I did really enjoy about Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love was the cooking. Alexander may not have had the best temper but he was undeniably a skilled chef. Eden shined with the confident way she cooked and handled the kitchen. Every dish that was mentioned had my mouth watering. How I wish I could sample just one!

If not for Eden’s backstory, I probably would have put down Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love. But I needed to know! I feel a tad conflicted with the answer we got but I’m glad Eden received closure. It just goes to show that not every single thing in life can have a happily ever after.

While the romance in Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love wasn’t for me, the food lover in me, gobbled up every bit of cuisine in the story. Thank you for some delicious moments :)

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the ARC of *Knives, Seasoning and a Dash of Love*! This book was such a delightful read, blending romance and culinary drama in a way that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Alexander Chen, a fiery chef with a past, and Eden Monroe, his new sous chef with secrets of her own, create a tension that sizzles. Their dynamic is a perfect recipe for conflict, and I loved watching their relationship evolve from antagonistic to something much deeper. Eden’s determination to understand Alexander’s true self while navigating her own challenges made her such a relatable character.

The backdrop of the culinary world adds a unique flavor, and the descriptions of the kitchen scenes made me feel like I was right there among the chaos. This book is a wonderful mix of heat, heart, and humor. If you’re looking for a fun and tasty romance, this one is a must-read!

Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love struck a fantastic balance, satisfying my food-show-viewing and my romance-tales-loving passions. Grumpy / sunshine, genuine not-feeling-contrived conflicts, and stellar kitchen / serving scenes added up to a fantastic debut!

Alexander Chen is a highly renowned chef. He has his Michelin star, a successful restaurant, and a reputation as being tough a nails in the kitchen. Enter his new sous chef, Eden Monroe. Eden uses her slightly embellished resume to get her foot in the door at La Rouge where she rec0gnizes Alexander as her former culinary school classmate, a sweet and kind boy named Shang. Luckily for Eden, he doesn't recognize her. Eden uses her bubbly personality to work magic on the mood in the kitchen of La Rouge. Can she work her magic on Alexander as well and soften his tough resolve?

"Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love" by Katrina Kwan was a spellbinding read and I could not make myself put it down. While this book advertises as a "Grumpy/Sunshine Workplace Romance", it goes far beyond the trope. Kwan's writing is mesmerizing and sucked me right in on page 1. I was highly invested in the stories of these characters, and found myself cheering for them from cover to cover. This book had just the right amount of spice which was thoughtfully written into the story rather than propping it up. Readers of Christina Lauren, Emily Henry, and Abby Jimenez will love this read.

I enjoyed this book so much, it's definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. I loved the writing and plot, the writing flows really well and the plot was just *chef's kiss* (see what I did there). The characters were well written and very likeable and sometimes relatable. I also liked that the characters were written pretty realistically, not everyone can magically forgive, sometimes emotions get the better of us and we say things we don't mean.

I also want to mention all the bonus epilogues! They were so much fun to read, there were babies, which make for the best epilogues. I also loved that we got Peter and Freddie's story in the bonus epilogue, they are so cute together.

Overall, I really, really loved this book, it's a cute romance with lots of domestic scenes and a good plot with subplots.

Do you like office romance? Enemies to Lovers? this is the perfect book for you. A cup of banter, a dash steamy looks, and liberal amounts angst, it is the perfect recipe for a delicious romance.

As a lover of the grumpy/sunshine trope I truly found myself thoroughly enjoying this book. The tension, the angst between the 2 main characters was absolutely delicious, and honestly I could have easily enjoyed another 100+ pages of it! It was truly that good. The spicy talk was truly top notch, and the amazing play on food and the use of the word hunger had me kicking my feet and giggling.

The authors attention to detail was incredible - I found myself craving the delicious food as there was more than one scene where I was so invested that I truly felt as though I was there - in the chaos of the kitchen, waiting to be served the food. The representation, especially knowing how much food plays in the culture, was absolutely well done and beautifully written. I also really enjoyed the fact that culture identity was touched on at such a level - it was beautifully well done and it covered the topic so well that I truly felt immersed. I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait to read even more from this author!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Katrina Kwan for this e-Arc in exchange for my honest review!

This was a cute rom com! I don't read many with cooking premises and so I was intrigued not just by the romance and chemistry but the setting and the job as well.

Would recommend for those looking for a little angst and a lot of banter.

All she has to do is fly under the radar. It's just a shame that she and her new boss butt heads more often than they fulfill orders. But what happens when things finally boil over, and they discover the feelings between them are spicier than they ever imagined?

Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love by Katrina Kwan is a sweet and spicy workplace romance that will make you hungry and thirsty! The characters were interesting, the workplace dynamic created great drama, the plot was mostly believable and the spicy scenes were HOT!

I enjoyed the spice in these 2 characters, Workplace romance always adds an air of taboo to the story. Making out in the walk-in freezer and sneaking around on their day off. I enjoyed those scenes.

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Country Press & Review, for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love is a spicy contemporary romance debut by Katrina Kwan.

When Eden fakes her way into a sous chef position at upscale restaurant La Rouge, she didn't know she'd be working for a former culinary school classmate. Alexander Chen is a force to be reckoned with inside his kitchen. He expects perfection and will stand for no less. When he doesn't recognize Eden, she realizes she doesn't recognize the nice guy she knew back in school.

Eden is a resilient character who, although short in stature, stands up to Alexander when no one else will. She's determined to last at La Rouge and save enough money to search for her parents. Alexander is a man with anger issues, who has lost his passion for cooking. Together, they make a great team...until owner Sebastian shows up. Rina, Freddie, and Peter, other kitchen workers, are great side characters.

This was spicier than I normally read, I'm more of a Hallmark-esque reader, but there a few spicy scenes. I would say it's maybe a three out of five on the spice scale. Not extremely graphic, but not closed-door either.

All in all, this was a great debut romance. If you enjoy a good kitchen story, banter, and interesting characters, then this is for you!

Thank you to @PenguinRandomHouse and @NetGalley for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

Alexander urgently needs a sous chef. Eden desperately needs a job- even if she has to lie on her resume a little. Neither of them expect to see each other, reuniting years after meeting at culinary school, especially since Alexander has changed his name, become an almost celebrity chef, and seemingly has no memory of Eden. In the heat of the kitchen, both struggle to balance family drama, workplace subterfuge, and the spark of romance between them that neither can ignore.

"There’s something ravenous in her eyes. Something seductive and dangerous. It’s pure, unadulterated hunger. They’re both chefs. They should know."

I had a good time reading this! Alexander and Eden were enjoyable to read, and I appreciated the amount of characterization they were given. Both had interesting, complicated backstories, which isn’t something I can say for a lot of fluffy romance books. The romance itself was very sweet and fast paced, and the plot prioritizes their relationship (to its benefit and detriment, depending on what you’re looking for as a reader). I’m not personally drawn to the fluffy romance genre, so most of my critiques are just a matter of taste. Events unfold very smoothly for the main cast, and the climax is settled cleanly and easily. The love interests fall for each other quickly and their issues are resolved just as fast.

That being said! This book absolutely has an audience that’s not me. I would definitely recommend this for romance readers who love a true HEA with very few conflicts. Even more so, I would recommend this to fans of The Bear, especially the ones who wish Carmen/Sydney spent their time a little differently in the kitchen lol.

Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love is a grumpy-sunshine, workplace romance and a wonderful debut for Kwan. I really enjoyed to story and the broody MMC only got squishy for the FMC, I also enjoyed that Eden worked hard even under false pretense to try and get head and held her own without backing down. The only thing I didn't care for was the third person POV but that's such a personal preference. I think many will enjoy this romance. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Loved this spicy chef romance by indie-turned-trad-published author Katrina Kwan! This book wasn't out for very long under indie publishing before it got pulled for traditional publishing, and I was so excited to get an ARC of this!

If you like The Bear but want more romance, look no further! I loved the two main characters, Eden and Alexander, and the struggles the two of them went through. They both had very singular issues to sort through, which made for some great angst and conflict between the two but also made for fantastic character development and relationship building.

The side characters were fantastic comedic relief but also showcased some really great friendships. I loved how easily these characters welcomed Eden into the fold.

The romance was great, although it did progress a bit too quickly for me. I tend to like a bit more slow burn, and this was pretty hot and heavy pretty quickly. I also felt like they fell in love extremely fast. I did like the angst and conflict between the two and felt like the struggles in the relationship were realistic, if maybe a tad dramatic. I enjoyed how the conflict was resolved and the two made up and laid plans for the future.

The epilogue(s) was very cute, although I'm not sure it was really needed.

Overall, I quite enjoyed this novel and will definitely be reading more from Katrina Kwan. I am excited to see how her writing improves with time, although it's already pretty great! I'm looking forward to her take on fantasy coming up next!

*I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I just loved this workplace romance so much! Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House Publishing for this ebook. If you are a Foodie and love romance all in one, this book is definitely it. Alexander (aka: Shang) is a Grump but with Eden coming along to make him bearable is so cute! They learn the hard way that family and love can make everything better in the long run. Such a great book.

Loved everything about this book, amazing . Definitely enjoyed the banter, the romance . The set up was really fun and engaging.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Alexander Chen is an established haute cuisine chef who has already received 3 Michelin stars. He runs his kitchen with an iron fist, quick to rise to temper and does not put up with mistakes or incompetence. His staff are afraid of him and as a result he loses his sous chef and without much time to interview a new sous, he offers the job to the person who seems to have the most experience - Eden.

Eden knows Alexander from culinary school a long time ago, but she didn't get to study there long so it's no surprise he doesn't remember her. But this works in her favour as he has no idea she lied on her resume. Luckily, she's a good chef with good instincts and an incredibly quick learner.

Almost from the start, the two of them click even without seeming to realise and Eden takes some of the edges off Alexander. She's not afraid to stand up to him and she helps to bridge the gap between him and the rest of the chefs in the kitchen, telling him that people respond much better to positive reinforcement. Alexander is amazed to find out she's right!

It doesn't take long for the two of them to acknowledge their feelings for each other and one night after a few drinks, things start to get hot and heavy between them but Alexander wants to do it right - he's never felt like this about anyone.

I loved both characters, they both had pasts they needed to reflect on and find closure about. With the support of the other, they're both able to achieve this and it helps them both to realise what it is that makes them happy and what they want from life. Eden helps Alexander realise he's lost his passion for cooking and food in general and that he needs to allow himself a chance to relax and find something that makes him happy again.

I thought they balanced each other out really well and even though they have a big argument early on in their relationship, they're actually able to reflect on it like well-rounded adults and realise they both said things they shouldn't have. Plus there is no third act break up!

I'd have preferred to have the story told in first person dual POV rather than a third person narrative but it worked as we still got to see things from the perspective of each character.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This was a beautiful workplace read that personally sent me back to when I was in catering and met my partner. Not too much spice and quite a descriptive read. I enjoyed the plot and the different characters and their relationships.

Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love
Book: Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love
Author: Katrina Kwan
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love is an entertaining debut novel by author Katrina Kwan. The characters were well-developed, and the story had me engaged the entire time throughout. It was refreshing to read about both an FMC as well as an MMC who were vulnerable and who were navigating their emotions in their respective lives and scenarios. I appreciated this as we normally see only one main character’s true feelings throughout a story, and it is usually female characters that this is portrayed from. All characters in the story were relatable and had their humorous moments which I also enjoyed.

It was also fun to learn more culinary terminology throughout and follow along with how the characters navigated their careers in the kitchen, as well as their coworker romance. The romance was portrayed tastefully, and I was rooting for them to have a happy ending from pretty much the beginning!

I enjoyed this book so much I had to pick up a physical copy! I would recommend it to anyone looking for a lighthearted contemporary romance.
It is more emotionally charged than I thought it would be, and I appreciated the depth of the writing that was put into the story.
I look forward to Katrina Kwan’s future books, and I will be following along with her author journey as this was one of my favourite reads of this year!

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read an ARC Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love.

Friends to enemies to lovers.
Found family.
3 spice scenes. 1 make out scene.
Alexander has sacrificed everything to make his spot in the restaurant world. Which has made him lose sight of happiness.
Eden is the new sous chef but has to hope he doesn't remember her from their past. She is so close to saving enough money and this 3 Michelin star restaurant is her key.

I thought their fears and hardships were real and understandable. Eden may have been a little delusional but I understood her denial and hope.
Shang and Eden complement each other and each give each other pieces of themselves that were lost. Shang's conversation with his uncle was powerful and showed having to work to repair damaged relationships, while others come more easily. Their coworkers seem to accept Alexander/Shang as soon as he puts forth the effort to spend time with them and know them. I loved how everyone came together at the end and made their own family unit.
I felt the presentation of each struggle was done very well and you felt the emotions of the characters and were rooting for them to find their happiness.