The Novel: Stirring Up Love (Taste of Love #2)

The Author: Chandra Blumberg

The Guest: Tamara, Host of Shelf Addiction

The Synopsis: After doing her time in corporate Chicago, Simone Blake returns to small-town Illinois to tackle a new venture: her grandfather’s barbecue restaurant. The secret, as they say, is in the sauce. Simone’s plan is to sell Honey and Hickory’s signature sauce to put her hometown on the map.

But she’s not the only one with a recipe and a plan: chef Finn Rimes from nearby Springfield has a similar vision. To jump-start his dream of opening a culinary school, he shows up at the local farmers’ market with his own barbecue sauce.

When Simone’s plan to outsell Finn falls flat, she auditions for a reality show to pitch her brand. But she’s horrified to discover Finn’s had the same idea. As Simone and Finn wage barbecue war on television, their feud turns into an undeniable attraction.

With their livelihoods on the line, it may not be so much about making the best sauce—but finding their way to each other.

Content Warnings: Mention of the foster care system, parental abandonment, cancer and the death of a family member (ALL off-page)

Show Notes:
- Romance books & murder shows
- A little bit about Tamara's podcast, Shelf Addiction - listen to me on The Night Shift episode
- "Gateways" into Romance: Fifty Shades of Grey and Twilight
- The overnight Twilight movie marathon
- When there's only one bed... but they don't use it
- Introducing today's book pick (00:12:28)
- A few paranormal & fantasy romance recs from Tamara
- Synopsis for Stirring for Love (00:18:41)
- Too many bad BBQ puns (ours, not the author's)
- Discussing the series as a whole (and making predictions for what comes next)
- When you find yourself connecting more with the male characters (00:25:53)
- Our obsession with sick bed/injury trope
- Tropes-a-palooza: only one bed, road trip, rivals, snowed-in, wedding shenanigans, reality TV competition
- When the relationship dynamic changes and SHE proposes (00:36:38)
- "Do not come up in here with a surprise teeny-home"
- A healthy conversation about remaining childless (00:41:42)
- No sexcerpts in this one, but...
- Do you know how weather works?
- An inconsistent timeline? Blame it on "romance reasons"
- Heart, Humor, & Heat Ratings (00:55:50)
- Finding romance recommendations on Booktok
- A bit on the "Why Choose" Booktok discourse - how many dicks are too many dicks?

Books & Other Media Mentioned:
- "Deadly Women"
- Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson
- Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
- Hidden Legacy series by Illona Andrews
- "Tiny House Hunters"
- Faking with Benefits by Lily Gold - don't let the sweet, illustrated cover fool you! It's spicy as hell.

Coming Soon:
- Pre-order your copy of my upcoming holiday novella, Meet Me in Los Feliz (Available October 25th).

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