but a table for two is so
much sweeter!
Leaving Paris -- and her cheating fiancé -- to return to
her picturesque coastal town was the best move Layla Williams ever made. The
chef and restaurateur has proven herself by transforming her longtime family
bistro into an upscale French eatery. But now her legacy is in trouble. Help
comes from an unexpected source: the boy Layla left behind. Wall Street wizard
turned EMT Shane Kavanaugh could turn Layla's homecoming into another chance for
them both. If they're ready to put their hearts on the line.
This was a sweet second chance story. Layla returned to
the small town of New Suffolk after her relationship and job in Paris fell
apart. She took over her grandparents' restaurant and turned it into the
upscale French restaurant she'd always dreamed of. As the story opens, she
discovers that her dream is in financial trouble, and she has no idea what to
do. Then she gets an offer of help from Shane, her schoolgirl summer crush.
Shane left his successful Wall Street job and returned to
his hometown to pursue his dream of becoming a paramedic. He's surprised to run
into Layla, the girl he had a crush on when he was younger and who broke his
teenage heart.
I liked Shane. He has a big heart that wants to help
people. His time on Wall Street was spent assisting businesses to turn around
when they were in trouble. When he began to bun out on that job, he realized it
was time to follow his original dream. Instead of starting over to become a doctor,
he focused on becoming a paramedic in his hometown. The downside was that his
wife wasn't interested in that lifestyle. Shane realized she'd never loved him,
just what he could give her, so they divorced and went their separate ways.
However, it left Shane with a mistrust of women, especially rich ones.
I had a hard time warming up to Layla initially, but that changed as the book continued.
She came home and turned her grandparents' popular restaurant into a fancy French
restaurant, then wondered why it wasn't doing as well as she wanted. She seemed
more focused on trying to prove something to her ex-fiancé than paying
attention to what her customers were interested in. Her experiences with
Antoine made her reluctant to trust any man.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Shane and Layla
develop. Both remember their teenage feelings and are surprised to discover they've
carried over to the present. Neither is happy about it and try to resist, with
their recent romantic disasters coloring their thoughts. They find themselves
working together on the emergency services gala, and things begin to change. I
liked Shane's desire to help Layla when he found out about her troubles with
the restaurant. Layla has a little difficulty accepting Shane's advice but
realizes its validity.
This begins the slow burn of their developing
relationship. The time they initially spend together gives them a chance to become
friends and see that first impressions aren't always accurate. Underneath that
friendship was a simmering attraction that continued to grow, and I enjoyed
watching that friendship become more. They have some terrific scenes together,
from painting to bowling to steamier activities. However, both still have their
insecurities, and when Layla's past comes calling, she and Shane must face
their pasts. Both get a little outside help to see the truth of their feelings
and get the courage to do something about them. I loved the emotional ending,
and the epilogue was terrific.
I enjoyed the restaurant setting and seeing some of the behind-the-scenes
activities. I could feel Layla's early frustration as she fought to keep her dream
alive, especially as some of the changes took on lives of their own. I liked her
epiphany at the end and the difference it made to her plans.
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