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Turning Up The Heat (2012)

by Laura Florand(Favorite Author)

3.69 of 5 Votes: 3

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

AOS Publishing

review 1: A top French chef spends his life working in his restaurant, appearing on a TV show and travelling - and the girl who married him and supported him becomes more lonely and depressed until she runs off to Tahiti.TURNING UP THE HEAT takes the couple on a belated voyage of discovery. As teenagers life took an unexpected turn and Daniel married Lei to secure her late father's restaurant in Provence. She gave up her degree to run the business side while he slaved in the kitchens, always striving for perfection and terrified of losing star ratings. Ten years later with fame achieved, Daniel returns from a business trip to discover that Lei has gone on an unexpected holiday, leaving her phone. Her friends and the sister she put through university don't think she had a lover or wa... mores kidnapped, they just think she needed a break. But Daniel can't rest until he knows for sure, and doesn't know if she is leaving him, so he traces her holiday purchase and follows.Tahiti is so scorching hot that even with sun block on Lei has got badly sunburned. As she slathers on aloe vera gel and covers up in loose cotton, she wistfully looks back at her isolated life. Daniel never has time for her any more, and she has time for only the business. Daniel's arrival is like a shock of cold water to her and her reddened skin is too painful to hug him. The couple have to work out their differences gradually, on beaches and under a waterfall rediscovering each other's bodies, while they reflect on their lives and see how they have misunderstood each other through never having time to talk.Laura Florand is an American who now lives in France, and this gently erotic romance with a French and tropical flavour would warm anyone's heart. We cheer for the lovestruck teens fighting to build their quality business - though I'd have liked to see that in flashback rather than reported in thoughts and speech - and wish this short tale was longer.
review 2: How much of ourselves should we give to the person we love? There is no doubt that Lea and Daniel are still madly in love, but in an effort to selflessly support and nurture each other, they both lose themselves without even realizing it. It took some distance for them to find themselves again. And why is it so hard to say the things we want to say? Communication is an important part of any relationship and Lea and Daniel's mixed signals are right on the dot. I loved the fact that Florand switches POVs from Lea and Daniel, to show both their thoughts. The frustration of Daniel, the hesitations of Lea were very close to reality. It was kind of like a "He Said-She Said" situation, where they feel the same thing, share the same thought, but since each say it differently, the wires get crossed.Really I would Blame it on Paris for my Laura Florand addiction. But this has got to be a very personal favourite of mine. Hitting very close to reality, she touches the truth of how a relationship in a marriage actually is. Giving wholeheartedly and selflessly is possible, but holding back a little of yourself is okay. It doesn't mean you love the person any less. Speaking your heart to avoid confusion is also part of the equation. Because no matter how much you love that person, you really can read minds.Of course, the romance is flawless, sweet and scorching hot and there really just has to be cooking. I love Laura Florand for all the chocolates and macarons in France (or in the world), but I love her more for writing stories about marriage. They are just as significant because it gives the readers a snippet of real life married couple's problems while still being absolutely romantic. More than the journey to the wedding, I have always wanted to know what happens after. Because working to keep the love is alot harder than earning it. less

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