Release: October 13th 2020
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Amazon
Find it at: Amazon, B&N, Bookshop.org, Walmart
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In this finger-licking good rom-com, two is the perfect number of cooks in the kitchen.
Nikki DiMarco knew life wouldn’t be all sunshine and coconuts when she quit her dream job to help her mom serve up mouthwatering Filipino dishes to hungry beach goers, but she didn’t expect the Maui food truck scene to be so eat-or-be-eaten—or the competition to be so smoking hot.
But Tiva’s Filipina Kusina has faced bigger road bumps than the arrival of Callum James. Nikki doesn’t care how delectable the British food truck owner is—he rudely set up shop next to her coveted beach parking spot. He’s stealing her customers and fanning the flames of a public feud that makes her see sparks.
The solution? Let the upcoming Maui Food Festival decide their fate. Winner keeps the spot. Loser pounds sand. But the longer their rivalry simmers, the more Nikki starts to see a different side of Callum…a sweet, protective side. Is she brave enough to call a truce? Or will trusting Callum with her heart mean jumping from the frying pan into the fire?
About the Author:
Sarah Smith is a copywriter-turned-author who wants to make the world a lovelier place, one kissing story at a time. Her love of romance began when she was eight and she discovered her auntie’s stash of romance novels and continues for ever.. When she’s not writing, you can find her hiking, eating chocolate, and perfecting her lumpia recipe. She lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband and adorable cat Salem.
Simmer Down Review:
“Simmer Down” is an enjoyable young adult contemporary romance with food trucks, festivals, and Filipino dishes.
I had such a hard time with this one. Let me start by saying that I loved how the story began. I found the concept of the food truck life fantastic and immediately sparked my interest. I also learned terms like ‘lumpia’ and had fun reading about food blogging, Instagrammers, and Food festivals. Moreover, I also enjoyed Nikki’s feelings for Callum as they start as rivals in their food trucks. Furthermore, I loved how the author set the story’s backdrop in beautiful Maui, and I read about places like Kahului.
But, the story did not go as per what I had imagined. I wanted the author to continue the story with all the above-mentioned as constants. Instead, we see the characters go to Heathrow, where the story becomes a dramatic angsty drama. Don’t get me wrong, I still read the book and found the characters endearing. However, the tale sidetracks from how it had started so fast that it nearly gave me whiplash. The story then turned out to be your run-of-the-mill romance where the characters are scared to tell their feelings for each other.
Nevertheless, I still liked the characters. Nikki and Callum are engaging in the lead, and I enjoyed some of their moments. I found it challenging to like Callum initially but soon found him endearing, especially when he opened up about his family to Nikki. The two share some memorable moments, like the incident in the clinic or their time in the resort. I also liked Nikki’s relationship with her mother, and some of the scenes were heartbreaking to read.
Overall, I still liked reading “Simmer Down,” but it was not what I expected.
