Review Scrumptious by Amanda Usen
Joe Rafferty is just as mouthwatering as the food he cooks. But if he thinks he’s going to waltz in and take over her kitchen, he’s denser than a thick slice of chocolate ripple cheesecake. Marly has invested too much of her life in Chameleon to hand off the restaurant to someone else—especially a cocky–as–all–get–out superstar chef. But there’s no denying the man knows how to light her fire. Question is: Can she have the sizzle without feeling the burn?
This book was like a bad relationship. It has so much promise before you open it up, then you get into it and you want to give up, then after you get into the book you are JUST about to give up there is just enough hope, just enough spark to keep you going to keep you interested just enough to get you to the end where you are disappointed yet again.
Initially the book captures your attention and gets you excited to read it, then you meet Joe and Marly and see the way the Chameleon functions and you get the sense that this will just be a complete waste of time. First Marly comes off as a slut which is well true, she’s promiscuous but she is not a douche about it, which makes you pity her instead of hate her. Joe comes off as a journeyman, a chef that doesn’t know how to stop or slow down, and one that doesn’t care to. He also comes off as a bit sanctimonious and its not the best combination.
Then once you begin to read about Chameleon and the way that the owner, her scumbag husband come off, and you wonder why Marly would have stayed, she had been so passive and doormat-ty but then she was supposed to be this free thinking free as a bird chick who flitted from place to place, yet that wasn’t her at all. She was as much of a punching bag and catchall for the difficult and crappy work that went on at The Chameleon.
Well if you get past the crazy owners, and the crappy work, and the unsympathetic characters, you wind up with a story that has some tender moments but as a whole is uninteresting and unoriginal. A girl who is sleeping with her co worker, dealing with a stupid boss and constantly getting the short end of the stick and refuses to stand up for herself, and when everyone else disappoints her she ends up coming to their rescue yet again. However the way she comes to their rescue is odd. Its off, it doesn’t make any sense.
It could have been so much better. The ending just completely underwhelming and annoying in its cutesyness. Just no.
Overall Rating: D+
