Maggie Blackbird

Today, I’m hosting and reviewing author Marianne Arkins’ latest release Kitchen Matches, a contemporary romance. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

****

Title: Kitchen Matches
Series: N/A
Author: Marianne Arkins
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 73 pages
Release Date: August 12, 2008
Publisher: Samhain Publishing

A feisty auto mechanic and a hunky chef cook up chaos!

Blurb: Cori Weathers is a wizard with a torque wrench, but the moment she lays eyes on her cooking teacher, Micah DePalma, her lessons turn into a klutzy symphony of flying poultry and burning aprons. It makes no sense. He couldn’t be less her type: tall, skinny, and born with a silver spoon in his mouth. So why is her heart sputtering like a badly tuned engine?

Despite family pressure to date only women of his own social class, something about the cooking-challenged spitfire lights all Micah’s burners. Cori’s a complex dish inside a deceptively simple coating, one he’s willing to risk tackle football and jealous ex-boyfriends to sample.

His every attempt to crack her stubborn heart strikes sparks. Will they ignite the flame of love or explode into just another kitchen disaster?

Goodreads | Books2Read

“I’m fairly new in town and don’t know any good car repairmen.” Micah shrugged.

“I do,” Cori said.

“Oh? Do you get a kickback for referring me?”

“See…I knew you didn’t like me.” She smirked. “And, no I don’t get a kickback, exactly.”

“What’s ‘exactly’ mean?”

“I mean that it’s me.” She stuffed her cold hands into her jacket pockets and rocked back on her heels.

“It’s you, what?”

“I’m a reputable car repairman.”

He stared at her again, and that little habit of his was really making her uncomfortable. That look cut through her tough outer skin, right to her soft and easily embarrassed center. His gaze scooted up to her face, down to her toes and back again. The look was as soft as a caress and she fisted her hands, annoyed at her body’s reaction to it.

“You’re no man,” he announced.

“What? Are you some kind of Neanderthal? You think because of my chromosomes I can’t fix a minivan?”

“I didn’t say that.” The corner of his mouth turned up in a smile, the first real one ever aimed in her direction. “You called yourself a repairman, and I only said that you aren’t a man. That’s a fact. Despite your dress and demeanor, you are very much a woman.”

A thrill of attraction shivered up her spine and left her unable to speak coherently. She fell back on a simple, “Oh.”

His mouth widened into a full-fledged grin and he reached out to straighten the collar on her jacket, fingers brushing the skin of her throat as he did.

****

Cori’s been burned big-time by an ex.  She’s sworn off men, but when her pile of brothers dare her into taking a cooking class, she doesn’t expect to fall for a man her complete opposite.

Although Micha comes from a wealthy family, he doesn’t share their rich standards or snobbery.  He simply enjoys cooking and teaching others how to cook.  Even though he’s a little on the annoyed side with Cori’s hopeless attempts at learning how to cook, he can’t help his attraction.

I read a previous novel by the author and enjoyed it immensely.  She has a great voice and a wonderful writing style that brings the characters to life with great dialogue, paints a realistic setting with her words, and is great with a dash of humour.  So I naturally enjoyed this short story, too.  It’s the first in a series and makes me wonder what else lies in store for Micha and Cori.

Being complete opposites, and Cori surrounded by hulking brothers ready to jump in and protect her at all costs (which Cori does not need since she’s great at handling herself), it makes the story all the more fun to read.

I especially enjoyed her arc since she was making poor Micha pay for everything her ex had done to her.  Poor guy.  But he hung in there, even though he sure was far from a doormat.  It’s a quick delightful read.  Do yourself a favour and get a copy.

****

Marianne is originally from California but currently living in the lovely state of Utah with her daughter, two dogs, two cats and one adorable foster hamster. She can’t imagine a world without romance or not having stories rattling around in her brain. There are nights when she dreams a complete story and watches it acted out in her head. Those are the times she wakes up and grabs for a notepad to jot down the important parts – without turning on the light – and hopes it’s coherent in the morning.

She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and heavily involved and indebted to her group of writing friends.

Follow Marianne: Website | Facebook Profile | Facebook Author Page | Twitter | Goodreads

****

Enter for a chance to win a $10.00 Amazon or B&N Gift Card.
a Rafflecopter giveaway