7 Louisa Edwards Books That Crank Up the Heat

Henry Beck earned his culinary stripes as a cook on a Navy submarine, preparing three square meals a day for hundreds of hungry cadets. That's nothing compared to the pressure of Rising Star Chef, the nation's most-watched cooking competition series, where he's now in the running for the top prize. 

His competition for the gold is Skye Gladwell, a talented chef... and his estranged wife. Ten years ago, he left her to pursue his dreams. Now, she wants a divorce, but he's not ready to let her go. Beck has a proposition: He'll give in to her demands, but if his team wins the RSC, he has a demand of his own—one last taste of the only woman who ever stole his heart. Will one taste be enough for either of them?

Danny Lunden is a legendary pastry chef whose sweet treats are renowned across New York City. His creations are his sole focus, which means he doesn't have much time for dating. With the Rising Star Chef competition approaching, he is determined to come out on top. No time for distractions, not even Eva Jansen, the the billionaire heiress in charge of the contest. 

Everyone, Danny included, thinks of her as Eva the Diva, the spoiled little rich girl who hasn't had to work a day in her life. But when the two meet up again in an elevator, it kickstarts a passion that one mere night together won't sate. Now, they're running to one another after hours, breaking all the rules. It's too delicious a prospect to turn down, but if anyone finds out, it could cost them both their careers.

Max Lunden is the kind of chef that foodies obsess over. He's a legend in the kitchen, he's traveled the world to hone his craft, and he's left a trail of heartbroken women in his wake. But when the prodigal chef returns home to his family's Greenwich Village restaurant, he discovers that his reputation won't carry him far when he has to face up against his own parents. 

Juliet Cavanaugh used to have a crush on Max when she was just a teenager, hanging out at Lunden & Sons Tavern, hoping to catch a glimpse of the owner's oldest, and hottest, son. Now she's a chef herself and she's landed a spot in the biggest culinary competition in America. Max will be cooking by her side, which could be a losing distraction if she can't keep her eyes off his perfect form. She's in it to win it, but their chemistry is undeniable and keeping your cool over the flames of the kitchen is no mean feat.

Miranda Wake is a food critic, the most feared in all the land. The right word from her can make or break a restaurant's future. Her latest assignment involves spending a month in the Manhattan kitchen of Adam Temple, a hotshot talent with an ego as big as his knives. He's not wild about having to be shadowed by a critic who seems to enjoy sass more than food. Maybe she'll acquiesce to a few private lessons. After all, he can do so much more with his hands than slice and dice...

Lilah Jane Tunkle fled from her dull life in small-town Virginia to the bright lights of New York City the first chance she got. This is the city of dreams, after all, and it seems like all her fantasies are coming true at once. She's just been hired to nanny the ten-year-old son of Devon Sparks, a gorgeous celebrity chef who headlines his own wildly popular TV series. 

But things are messy in Devon's life. He's just quit his show, his reputation is in tatters, and his kid barely remembers who he is most of the time. Maybe he needs a gorgeous nanny himself to keep him in line. Lilah's Southern spark and love of simple homespun food is exactly what he ordered. And she also oh-so-kissable...

Ella doesn't really want to reunite with her estranged mother, but her sister does, and it's only right that the Preston girls accompany one another for the journey. They find themselves in Sanctuary Island, a tiny refuge for wild horses tucked off the Atlantic coast. It seems ideal for a family get-together, one last chance to save their fractured relationship with their mom. 

Ella's not sure she's ready for that, nor is she ready for love. Handyman Grady Wilkes is great at fixing everyone's problems but his own. When he accepts the task of showing Ella the simple beauties of the island that healed him, he wonders if he has found a kindred spirit. Both have scars they've kept hidden for years, but Sanctuary Island might be ready to work its magic on them.