Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanagh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel’s other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum, he’s … sent packing to get his life in order. When he returns, career in shambles, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public’s good graces is to work alongside Hadley.As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along, but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love. In the meantime, hide the knives.Fan-favorite Bethany Turner serves up a heaping helping of humor and romance with this thoroughly modern story centered on cooking, enemies, and second chances.
more
This book had me reading into the late hours and into the next day. Although Max did not start off a likable person (Prologue was craziness!) I could tell soon he would be a redeemable hero. My heart melted towards him because I really love a redeemable hero. His growth captivated and pulled me into the story. Now to mention the nods to cooking shows!
If you’re a fan of Food Network, then this book is definitely for you. You’ll see bits and pieces from your favorite shows and grin with all the Pop culture references Bethany Turner is known for.
And y’all, #HadBeck had one of the best epilogues ever. Seriously adorable and just the icing on the cake of this delectable read.
Another 5 star read from Ms. Turner!
*I received complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.
I love Bethany Turner and her novels. The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck was my favorite RomCom read in 2017; I was blown away by Turner’s real-to-life characters, witty and hilarious dialogue, and timely themes. Then came Wooing Cadie McCaffrey and I fell in love with Cadie and Will, and could wholeheartedly relate to their unique (but not unrealistic) communication fails. Reading WooCaM was like taking a good look into a mirror for me! And now there is Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish, which I believe is Turner’s best book yet. Turner hit this one out of the park!!! Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish has a stellar storyline that is so engaging I read this book in ONE 24-hour period. I just could not put this book down. And, the characters are fantastic. Hadley is a genuinely sweet and wholesome heroine, yet she is also strong and smart and quick-on-the-uptake. And, Hadley is not afraid to stand up for herself when she has to. Max is the best RomCom hero EVER! He is straight-up awful at first, but then he isn’t. I’m so glad I gave his character a chance and read past chapter one. LOL! All in all, Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish is an excellent read that I won’t soon forget.
“He felt so thrown off his game when it came to romancing Hadley.” – Max Cavanagh
Hadley and Max’s relationship journey is perfect as far as fictional romance journeys go. Yes, at first, Max appears irredeemable. He is a punk who treats Hadley abominably. I wasn’t sure, after reading chapter 1, how Bethany Turner was going to change my heart in regards to Max … but she did, and she did so well! So, Max is the guy. He’s a world-renowned, masterful chef. He is wealthy beyond anyone’s dreams. He is super handsome. When it comes to women, Max can have his pick. He is smooth and debonair … until he meets Hadley and everything goes out the window. I’m not going to tell one single minute of Hadley and Max’s relationship journey because I don’t want to ruin anything. This story MUST be experienced! But I do want to talk about the idea behind Max’s quote above.
When we are first in relationships, we often do all we can to put our smoothest and best foot forward. We want to impress potential mates not make them run off into the hills screaming. We should never lie about who we are, but we do tend to force the uglier parts of ourselves onto the backburner when we first meet people. That baggage comes later! What typically worked for Max in the past with girls was not going to work with Hadley Beckett, mostly because they began their relationship with her witnessing Max at his absolute worst. This means that Max has to be real with Hadley from the get-go. Nothing about who is he, where he has come from, his personality traits (both positive and negative), etc., can be hidden from her. But being that open and honest and real, especially at first, is not an easy thing for anyone let alone a bad-boy, supremely popular, preeminent chef like Max. He admits that romancing Hadley has him feeling off his game because the typical games he would play won’t fly with her. To me, this is a testament to a REAL relationship. Once one realizes that old ways will no longer work AND he makes up his mind to actually change in order to be who that girl needs, you’ve got a serious romance on your hands. I absolutely LOVE that Turner wrote Max in a way that reflects this truth. His character change is glorious, and watching him become the man that Hadley needs is magical, and the BEST part of this fabulous novel.
If you can’t tell yet, I highly recommend Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish. Bethany Turner does NOT disappoint in this story. She has absolutely brought her A-game, and I am one happy and satisfied RomCom reader. I implore you to purchase your copy today. You will not want to miss this read!!!
I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Revell, via NetGalley in order to review. I also received a paperback copy of this book from the publisher as well. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Hadley and Max’s story was absolutely delicious! I cannot even begin to express how delighted I was by their saucy banter, the deep friendship that blossomed from a flat out disgrace, and the underlying themes of forgiveness and taking a chance on each other. The more readers get to know #HadMax and the people in their lives (for better or worse) the easier it is to be totally charmed by their chemistry and the sparks flying everywhere. The spiritual aspect of the book is very subtle, but the comic relief is a force to be reckoned with! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a review.
What a fun read about a couple of rival chefs. But both of them have their demons, and it’s great to see how similar demons brings them together. Really fun read
Bethany Turner has done it again!
Take a sweetheart pastry chef and pair her with a Gordon-Ramsey-like and hero and watch the sparks fly! This author has a knack for addressing harder issues in light-hearted wrapping. Be prepared to chuckle and sigh! The cooking show setting is an amazing hook and this dialogue-rich story is sure to delight. This author is one to always place high on your TBR pile.
This is the perfect romantic comedy for foodies and those who love cooking competitions. Celebrity chefs, tantalizing dishes, and an equally fun and entertaining story. There’s a lot that I enjoyed about this book – the spunk, a bit of rivalry, second chance romance, the witty banter. But that epilogue, honestly made this story worth it. This sweet romance has plenty of laughable moments, a good message, and a bit of depth to keep it interesting. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a rom-com that I loved this much.
This is definitely my favorite Bethany Turner book! I love the chemistry between Hadley and Max! Be warned that this book will make you hungry! I love the humor in this, but also the message of forgiveness. This is a very enjoyable book!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish by Bethany Turner is the perfect book for foodies and fans of romantic comedies. In this novel, Bethany Turner takes readers on a fun and entertaining journey of romance and redemption. With the two famous chefs competing against each other on a reality show, the banter between Chef Hadley Beckett and Chef Max Cavanagh makes the whole novel a truly satisfying experience for readers.
Along with the developing romantic relationship in Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish, the novel takes readers to the heart of the reality cooking show experience and makes them feel like they are part of the journey. The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck still contains my favorite storyline of Bethany Turner’s, but Chef Max Cavanagh is definitely my new favorite hero of Bethany Turner’s. His handsome good looks, his charming personality (most of the time!), and his desire to change after a public meltdown make him an irresistible hero who readers will love. In the beginning of the novel, Max is not very likeable by anyone’s standards, but he will easily steal the readers’ hearts through his journey of redemption and second chances. Even if you are not a fan of cooking or fine dining, you need to read this book to meet Max!! He is just the best!!
With pop culture references sprinkled throughout this fabulous novel, readers will easily relate to the story and the wonderful characters Bethany Turner has created. Bethany Turner continues to bring a needed, powerful voice to Christian fiction, and I cannot wait to read more from this author! Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish is very highly recommended for readers of Christian fiction who love romance and humor.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
Enjoyed the storyline, top chef theme and the witty banter! A great read which I enjoyed immensely as an audiobook.
Bethany Turner has quickly become my go-to author for romantic comedy. Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish is another hilarious, laugh-out-loud funny, impossible to put down read from her. I loved it so stinkin’ much! It might just be my new favorite from her which is a tall order because her previous ones are some of my favorite rom-coms ever.
This one was full of lighthearted moments, but also a lot of depth, too, dealing with some deeper and more emotional issues. It struck the perfect balance between the two and made it feel more true to life.
I watch a lot of the Food Network, so I loved the fact that this featured characters from cooking shows. It was almost like getting a sneak peek behind the scenes. It was so fun!
I liked Hadley right off. She was sweet, kind, humble, relatable, and so down to earth. It felt like she could be a friend.
Max’s introduction was unforgettable, that’s for sure. Memorable, but not in a good way. He was definitely a pompous, self absorbed jerk in the beginning and I wondered how in the world he could redeem himself. But it wasn’t long, though, before he charmed me and by the end of the book, became one of my favorite leading men I’ve read about in a while.
I loved every second I spent with these characters and didn’t want my time with them to end. Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish gets a huge recommendation from me. It’s one of the best books I’ve read all year.
This was an entertaining read that was like a mash up of Hallmark meets the Food Network. I loved Max’s character arc the most and felt like he really grew throughout the story. The chemistry was fun between the two main characters especially after their enemy status start. The ending and epilogue were my favorite parts of the story. This is the first book I have read by this author and I am excited to go back and read her other novels.
A clean contemporary romance that has a touch of humor and will leave you wanting some good food.
I’m not a huge fan of cooking shows (or cooking in general), but I am a big fan of Bethany Turner’s humor. Her characters and her dialogue crack me up. So while I couldn’t exactly relate to these two main characters who for some crazy reason love spending tons of time in the kitchen, I found them very amusing and didn’t mind spending time with them in the kitchen. I’ll read about them cooking any day 😉
Culinary competitions, foodie highlights, and Chef Max Cavanagh! I LOVED this book!
On my list of must-read authors, Bethany Turner has earned a starred place. She writes delightful romantic comedy, but with a deeper meaning mixed among the smiles.
Chef Max! Why do I like him so much? He’s moody, self-absorbed, and arrogant……but then my heart melts…..at his honesty, vulnerability, and understanding. (And Beauty and the Beast IS my favorite fairytale.) When we add Chef Hadley Beckett, with her admirable qualities of enthusiasm and openness, topped with her ability to forgive, we’re served a sweet romance with the right amount of heat.
Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish gives readers a peek into the world of cooking shows. The chefs’ confrontations as they competed against each other for the top spot kept me laughing. But the deeper development of their relationship kept me intrigued. Author Bethany Turner is spot-on for what keeps a couple together. In my book, that’s true romance!
I highly recommend pound sign HadBeck by at symbol seebethanywrite!
A couple of my favorite quotes….this one is so me: “Remember, I have the nightlife of a sunflower.”
“I don’t think the key to healing is self-realization at all. I think you’ve got to realize that there are other people out there, and they matter more. And I think you realize that not by embracing nothing, but by embracing something.”
As the daughter of a now retired professional cook who could have given Gordon Ramsey a run for his money in the fiery temper stakes, I can attest to the volatile nature of professional kitchens *snorts*. Oh, the tales I can tell but I’ll save those stories for another time. Suffice it to say, it’s no secret where I get my potty mouth from *blushes*.
I love a good enemies to friends/lovers read. And, let’s face it, Max and Hadley couldn’t be more poles apart if they tried!
Hadley is all sugar and spice and all things nice. What you see is what you get. She’d be the best kind of bff. Just think of all those yummy sweet treats! Your love handles may not thank you for it though *chuckles*. Admit it – all the best recipes include butter!
But want to know the best thing about Hadley? Well, it’s this Southern girl’s heart and it shows in everything she does.
Then we have Max. Fame is a fickle fiend, is it not? Somewhere along the line, Max’s on-screen celebrity chef persona and reality have become blurred. Will the real Max Cavanaugh please stand up?
His spectacular fall from grace means he has a job and half trying to redeem himself in the eyes of the public. Fans can put you up on a pedestal but can strip you of it just as quickly.
Working together proves to be eventful to say the least! North versus South. Defences are dropped, truths are revealed, and questions are answered. Please note there was some fist waving at certain characters, but don’t worry, I didn’t do a Max *snorts*.
HBND is a light entertaining read (despite the at times heavy subject matter); funny (Hadley’s Meemaw is a hoot!), charming, and at times frustrating (see fist waving above). Ultimately, it left me with a smile on my face. I’ll definitely be picking up a Bethany Turner book again.
Michelin stars mean nothing when it comes to matters of the heart!
Okay, people. Let me be clear before I leave a review on the characters and story:
This is not Christian fiction. This is a CLEAN romance. The comment below is toward the end of the novel, not at the beginning, not in the middle. This is how a main character responds to a question about finding religion:
“I don’t know. I don’t even know what that means. I’m not going to act like I have things all figured out, or that I even understand what all there is TO figure out. I just know that (person) has something that not everybody has. And whatever it is, I think it’s at the core of why were able to become friends. So, I’m grateful to whatever or whoever made that possible.”
NOT Christian fiction. BUT. It is a beautiful clean romance with many themes of redemption and hard issues that not every Christian book deals with. There’s one mention of Jesus, and a couples mentions of prayer. But that’s it. That was, honestly, a big disappointment. I am so thankful that this was a cute romance, but I have a huge pet peeve when something is advertised as specifically Christian and it’s … not.
Both characters had great storylines, great POVs (I liked the unique way of writing those), and the banter was gold – it even made me laugh out loud several times.
Read it, enjoy it, because Max’s storyline in particular is very well done. And the epilogue …. *my heart*
More than Cooking!
I really enjoyed the fun cooking show aspects of this book but it was the ‘enemies to love’ story that had me hooked!
I disliked smarmy manager Leo from his introduction, you will too.
The not always certain trust that develops between Hadley and Max was fun to see blossom.
The narration by Aimee Lily was very well done!
*Purchased using one of my Audible.com membership credits.
This was a fun book! I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes feel of all those cooking shows I watch. The characters were realistic, fun, and interesting. Great read!
This was an exceptional read from the tantalizing appetizer to the savory entree to the scrumptious dessert. I was swept away into a culinary dream of a story that had me from the start. I loved the banter, witty remarks, and the romantic tension. The characters were so interesting to get to know as the layers were peeled away and you saw what made them react the way they did to each other and situations. I laughed and yes teared up as I felt pulled into the story. Im thankful I won a copy of this book as I will now add this author to my must read list. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Um, I love Bethany Turner’s books. That is all.
Just kidding.
I really do love her books. They make my laugh, giggle, and snort – which is great when I’m reading on my lunch break because people wonder what the heck is wrong with me. And sometimes my family will look at me that way too. But Turner’s ability to include comedy into her stories so effortlessly is the reason I keep coming back to them. They bring me joy. They pick me up on a bad day. And they are just so fun to read!
Something else Turner is good at? Romance. It’s not your everyday, Hallmarky romance that you wish happened in real life. It’s today’s kind of romance – full of laughs, mistakes, broken promises, driving each other crazy, and the kind of sizzle you can’t make up! The characters are relatable, more so than I expected going into this. I mean, what do I have in common with a drunken chef? Or a female chef that has her own show!? Turns out, a lot! Both characters needed growth in their personal lives, which ended up bringing them together in such a sweet, unique way. There’s something to be said about a romance between two people that can’t stand to be around each other, at least on the surface. Yep, I loved it.
RomCom fans will easily fall in love with Hadley, Max, and their stories. Love, laughter, and second chances fill the pages of this delightful read. Highly recommend!! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish” was an unexpected and well received Christian romance novel that took me by surprise with the character development, heavily culinary focus plot that is typically pushed aside to focus on the romance aspect in other culinary romances and the thoroughly researched behind the scenes food industry details the author included that made the reader feel like they were right there alongside Hadley and Max on Renowned.
This was far more impressive than I initially thought it would be. It was a charming and riveting read filled with second chances, forgiveness, romance, humor, friendship and of course mouthwatering food! The believable characters and gripping storyline made this an instant page turner and a must read for 2020.