Luca McGrath may be returning to Napa Valley, California, as a promising chef with dreams of starting his own restaurant and winery, but his heart still lives with the bad-boy son of a billionaire, James Armstrong. Luca spent his childhood playing games with the golden boy of California society, so blinded by James he barely noticed the dark, quiet lure of his conservative older brother, Dylan … Armstrong.
But now Luca’s home, and his own powers of attraction are enough to make James question his dedicated heterosexuality and his promised marriage to a wealthy and powerful businesswoman. The obvious attraction between Luca and James spurs Dylan into action–but he’s fighting a huge secret. While Luca dreamed of James, Dylan dreamed of Luca. When Luca gets caught in the struggle between the brothers and gets accused of culinary espionage he’s ready to chuck the fairy tale–unable to even imagine Dylan’s power to make his dreams come true.
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Awww… Trust Tara Lain to do something wonderful like coming up with a Movie Magic Romances Series. This first book is ‘A Love Triangle, Choosing the Wrong Brother, Culinary, MM Romance’ remake of the movie ‘Sabrina’ (1954) starring Audrey Hepburn! Like the movie, the main character was raised in an apartment over the garage by the widowed father who serves as the chauffeur for a very wealthy family. But the writer puts her own very special stamp on this tale. The main character (Luca McGrath) moves from New York to accept a position in a Napa Valley restaurant to help them prepare for a prestigious cooking competition. He moves back in with his dad and renews his friendship with James Armstrong, a man he’s loved since he was a boy. But James has a hot, homosexual older brother named Dylan that’s more than a little interested in him. Rounding out this love triangle is the cutthroat nature of the cooking competition that’s about to take place and the hopes and dreams of one talented cook.
A bit older man, fake date, friends to lovers and a lot M/M provocative love triangle
Yum! This was such a good book I had a hard time staying away from it when “life” called. Well-written, at times humorous and others melancholic. Just enough steam for me, lots of longing looks and internal wishing.
Luca McGrath meets some older ladies on his plane back home to be sous chef at a prominent Napa Valley restaurant. They are so funny together. He meets up with his former playmate and dreamboat, James Armstrong on a wine tour. This part is quite cleverly handled. Luca has always lusted after his straight best friend James even though James was the son of the very wealthy Armstrong family and Luca is just the family’s chauffeur’s son. And then there is Dylan, older by about 10 to 12 years solemn, workaholic and gay! Hmmm…why doesn’t Luca being gay himself go for the obvious? Read the book and you will see.
James was so irritating at times, but we find out why later in the book. Dylan is the guy I loved. He is so right for Luca. Why can’t they both see it? There is also a wee bit of mystery about THE upcoming Festival of Food and Wine. If you like low steam but lots of titillation in your M/M books, read this one. I guarantee you’ll love it. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through Gay Romance Reviews and I give 5+ Stars!
I have read every book written by Ms Lain, so this book was a must read for me. I enjoyed so much the love triangule and how Luca found out love where he was not looking for. A sweet love story with many heartwarming moments. Easy to read and low angst is just perfect to spend a nice time while reading it.
I have read quite a few Tara Lain books lately as she is one of my favorite authors but this book I felt took her writing to a new and even better level. Something about working out a twist on romantic movies seems to have really inspired her. The setting in Napa and the work of establishing the winery and restaurant was so well drawn you felt like you were there. Then, add in three characters who simply leap off the page, put them in a romantic triangle and you have perfection. Luca is the hardworking, decent and determined chauffeur’s son of the title who returns to Napa to create his dream and get his dream man, James. Once there, however, he has to content with James’ brother Dylan and all sorts of complications ensue. There is the perfect low level amount of angst and the HEA is just what I hoped for. I cannot wait until January 21st when the next book in this series arrives!
This was a heartwarming story. At times a little intense but overall heartwarming. Dylan being the levelheaded older brother had a soft spot for Luca for years. Luca was bff’s with Dylan’s younger brother James mostly because Luca’s dad is the chauffeur for the Armstrong family and live at their residences. Dylan and Luca are gay and James is straight but that doesn’t stop Luca from viewing James as more than perfect. As they get older Luca’s dad sends him to school away from the family hoping distance will cause Luca to see James in a different light. Luca becomes famous and returns to the same town as his dad and the Armstrong’s. That’s when things change. James isn’t sure he is straight. Dylan still is attracted to Luca. Luca comes across as unsure what he really wants. There are secondary characters that bring so much to the story, Winnie, Nila, the Armstrong parents, Luca’s dad and more. The only thing I didn’t quite like, I felt Luca went from being obsessed with James to Dylan. It just seemed there was not a cooling off from James. I did enjoy the rest of the flow of the story and certain parts such as when Luca confessed to spying on Dylan. I liked the characters. Parts felt routine such as Luca winning the competition. I feel this is an enjoyable read. I was given a copy from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my opinion.