From New York Times Bestselling Author Caridad Piñeiro and Hallmark Publishing comes a story about rival quinceañeras, glorious Cuban cooking, friendship, family ties—and romance.Two chefs are catering the fifteenth birthday parties of two girls who are definitely not friends. Only one of the celebrations will be chosen to be featured in the local paper. And both chefs have something to prove. … both chefs have something to prove.
Tony Sanchez, the established executive chef of a New York restaurant, is on a long-overdue visit home to Miami. He’s committed to making the celebration the best it can be—for the sake of his niece, the rest of his family, and his reputation.
Sara Kelly hadn’t known much about quinceañeras before she agreed to cater one for her niece. It’s a chance to both help her family and to promote her brand-new restaurant in Miami. From her Cuban sister-in-law, Sara learns about quince traditions, appreciating the meaning behind them.
When Tony was growing up, Sara was his best friend’s little sister; now, he sees her in a very different light. But his last relationship with another chef ended in disaster…and Sara knows that, once the parties are over, he’ll be gone. Can either of them entertain the idea of a new romance?
This irresistible romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Tres Leches Cake with Banana and Coconut.
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Two chefs are pitted against each other, each determined to make their niece’s quinceañera the best Miami’s South Beach has ever seen. Tony Sanchez left Little Havana in his rear window a long time ago, but he hasn’t found happiness as executive chef of his own restaurant in New York. Being back in Miami is making him think maybe his heart is somewhere else… and that might just be with Sara, younger sister of his childhood best friend, now a successful chef in her own right running her restaurant Munch with the help of an all-female crew, many of whom Sara has trained herself after finding them at a local women’s centre.
The two nieces, Angelica and Samantha, are rivals of sorts, and a local journalist hypes up a ‘competition’ between two top chefs which set Tony and Sara at odds with each other, despite their willingness to work together. Sara, as a female chef, is up against barriers Tony has no idea exists, and I loved the way she called him on it and made him step back and think.
The descriptions of the food were absolutely amazing; lots of authentic Cuban recipes with some gourmet twists. If you’re not hungry when you start reading, you soon will be! This is a Hallmark so the action doesn’t get any hotter than a few chaste kisses, but the romance doesn’t suffer for it; I absolutely bought into Tony and Sara as a couple. Five stars for a thoroughly enjoyable foodie romance with strong Cuban flair!
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
Interested in a romance linked to a quinceañera?
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Caridad Piñeiro’s “South Beach Love. A Feel-Good Romance from Hallmark Publishing” takes place in Miami.
Tony Sanchez is a chef who runs his own Chelsea restaurant and likes to find down the finest fruits and vegetables at the Hunts Point Produce Terminal Market. Sara Kelly is also a chef, running her restaurant at another location. Both of them are asked by their families to cater the quinceañera for their respective nieces, Samantha Kelly and Angelica Rodriguez, two girls who are far from friends at school in spite of the fact that their families had grown up as friends in Little Havana. Both families encounter challenges in the preparations of the quinceañera and it is questionable if one or the other will take place. Tony and Sara new one another as children, but now they are rivals and the article in the South Beach Style magazine that is supposed to be written about the event does not help their relationship. But the attraction that they feel throws in even more dynamic and leads to the question of not only what will happen to the quinceañera but also to Tony and Sara.
This was the second book by this author which I read. It is funny and an enjoyable read with great characters and quite some surprises. Family and tradition are important components in the story. As usual in books by Hallmark publishing there is an original recipe again, this time for “Tres Leches Cake with Banana and Coconut”. So if readers look for a nice romance for vacation, then I recommend this book to them.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#SouthBeachLove #NetGalley
Tony has come back to Miami temporarily to help with this niece’s quinceaneras. At the same time Sara Kelly is also helping with her niece’s quinceaneras as well. Tony and Sara knew each other as kids. Tony was and is her brother’s best friend. Sara always had a crush on him. However, their niece’s are frenemies. They are rivals in everything they do. Tony and Sara are both chefs. They renew their friendship and it is on it’s way to something more until and magazine decides to create a rivalry between the two chefs through the quinceaneras.
This is a sweet, clean romance. There is also the growth between the to young girls. The story leaves you with a uplifting mood.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and to offer my honest opinion.
South Beach Love is a fabulous story and one I know will be a hit for Hallmark.
Caridad Piñeiro has done a beautiful job to bring these characters to life and make you want to join them on their journey. I loved the interaction between Tony and Sara along with the cast dynamics and an equal measure of sweet ‘n’ spice had me hooked.
I highly recommend this to readers and hope you love it as much as I did.
This is a cute feel good romance. I loved reading about these two chefs and what they can bring to their nieces parties. It was fun reading about Miami and the culture, which also lead me to learn a few things. The story is also about family connections and friends working togther. It’s an overall good read.
A fun, entertaining story from Hallmark Publishing. I enjoyed the two main characters and their development throughout the story. I enjoyed the rivalry that develops and centers around chefs battling in the kitchen. I also enjoyed the cultural inclusion of Cuban traditions. Plenty of laughs, smiles and heartwarming moments to compel me to recommend to others who love sappy Hallmark romances. The narrator did well but was not my favorite male voice. Overall, still enjoyable, and recommendable.
I received a complimentary audio copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
Tony is a famous chef in New York City and is back home in Miami to cater his niece’s Quinceañera. Sara Kelly is an up-and-coming chef in Miami and is catering her niece’s Quinceañera. The two are childhood friends and reconnect during Tony’s month-long trip home.
This was an adorable romance. I loved the diversity and the descriptions of the Cuban food. Tony and Sara were such great characters. They had a good amount of growth both together and apart. I had a great time reading this book and I look forward to reading more from Hallmark!
I thoroughly enjoyed this audio and it had me listening and rooting for both of them to find their way. Tony has come home for his niece’s quinceañera and Sara and volunteered to cater her one for her niece. This wouldn’t be bad but a reporter is out for blood when she is assigned the story and tries to twist them against each other. There has always been something between them, first friendship and now maybe something more but with all the goings on, including the grumblings with the girls and then the make up of the girls, this is a wonderful story! Hallmark does it again! I was entertained from beginning to end.
What better time to “discover “ a new author, than with a Hallmark Publishing novel.
The story centers around two chefs, Tony Sánchez and Sara Kelly.
Tony, a respected chef in NYC, is back home in Miami for a visit and determined to give his niece the best “quinceañero” ever.
When he meets up with his long time friend, he finds out his friend’s sister, Sara, is also a chef, owns a restaurant and has agreed to cater her niece’s “quinceañero”.
When they finally meet again, neither realized they each had had a crush on the other.
This clean, sweet, touching story brought fond memories since I am a Latina and “quinceaños” were a part of my youth.
In this quintessential Hallmark story, filled with lots of food, we are reminded of the importance of family , new beginnings, hope and of course romance.
Always crowd pleasing and one you’ll enjoy from beginning to end.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Hallmark Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
The representation
and friendship in this feel-good romance is I wanted and more!
This book was such a happy surprise! A good clean romance with a focus on family!
I love how they talk about food so much and are chefs. I really like the idea of childhood friends coming back together and realizing they both had a crush on each other and that it can now become more.
The way that they speak about quinceañeras and Cuban heritage is beautiful. Something that especially hit close to home was that the families all grew up together in the neighborhood and everyone was kinda running in the same circles until they left Miami and came back. Everyone knew everything about each other, and I just love that closeness within the community. Even the journalist wasn’t trying to do anything more than her job and what she was assigned. And when she realized what she was doing was harming those around, her she did her best to try and sidestep that mistake.
The narration was amazing, and the accents were perfect. For those that weren’t fluent in Spanish, the words like , or other Cuban dishes weren’t perfectly pronounced. But you could really hear the difference when one of the characters with Cuban heritage said that same word with the correct pronunciation. I just think it’s small details like that that made the narrator fantastic.
I really love how it ended and I’m so excited to know that there’s room for spinoffs! I cannot wait to continue this book series!!
This book started a little slow for me but picked up as I continued to read it. I enjoyed reading about another culture, food, Miami, and family traditions as well as the growing romance between two people who had known each other for years. I cheered for Sara through the whole book, hoping she would get what she wanted. I liked how the story showed how Sara and Tony complimented each other and grew as individuals and a couple, and how their families worked together. I thought the author did a good job of explaining the meaning of the Spanish words and phrases peppered throughout the book. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book from Hallmark Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Repost of my original review on Amazon.com.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Attention all foodies! You will enjoy this Hallmark Publishing tale of chefs competing. The South Beach setting and the details of the food yum and fun.
Tony Sanchez and Sara Kelly grew up in Miami and were childhood friends. Life sometimes takes you in different directions but when Tony’s sister calls up and asks if he can leave his restaurant and help with his niece’s Quinceañera he agrees. When Tony arrives home he’s overtaken by how much he’s missed home and begins connecting with old friends including fellow chef and restaurant owner Sara Kelly. This is a sweet romance that makes you remember the importance of home and family.
This is the first book by Caridad Pineiro that I have read. It is from Hallmark Publishing and is a sweet clean romance written in true Hallmark fashion. The story was refreshing and I enjoyed it. A quick fun read with a HEA ending!
I was so hungry as I was reading this book! The receipes, the food, I could almost taste it! I don’t think I have ever read a book this focused on the food the characters were preparing, but I am here for it.
Award winning Chef Tony Sanchez is back in Little Havana for his niece’s big party. He is helping his sister plan and also prepare the food for the party.When he gets home, he realizes just how much he misses his family. He also runs into an old college friend, Rick, who tells Tony to go visit his sister’s restaurant, Munch. He remembers Sara from when they were younger and always liked her a lot. He wasn’t aware that she was a chef too, and when he tastes her food, he realizes she is amazing.
Sara has always had a thing for her brother’s friend Tony, so when he shows up at Munch wanting to taste her food, she is all flustered. She will also be cooking for her niece’s party, and the two girls are rivals. Feelings quickly become involved and Sara is left wondering how badly she will break when Tony goes back to New York.
Tony has other plans, he is taken by Sara and can’t let her go, but will the two of them be able to conquer all of the obstacles put in their way and a long distance relationship? This book was so heartwarming and cute, but did I mention the food? It made the book. This was a very clean romance, which is what I expected from a Hallmark book. I loved how it set us up for the rest of the characters in the book to get their own stories.
The narrator did a great job and I loved the accents. The book was very low angst and just a feel good listen. Thank you to Netgalley, Caridad Pineiro and Hallmark Publishing for an early audio copy.
Her brother’s best friend is back in town after almost ten years and it seems almost coincidental that both chefs are tasked with the food for their niece’s quinceaneras but Sara Kelly is excited to see the man Tony Sanchez has become after crushing on him so many hears ago.
Tony had never really noticed Sara as anything but his friend’s little sister but it is quite obvious she is no longer a little girl. Now grown with a restaurant of her own, Tony is amazed at how talented Sara is, and the full tables in Munch proves she is an excellent chef.
When Tony and Sara are pitted against one another in a food challenge for their respective nieces quinceaneras will growing admiration and adoration be stunted by a pushy writer determined to find trouble where it doesn’t exist?
Sweet and squeeky clean. This book was wonderfully entertaining, with fun characters and a heartwarming hea.
Mixing in Spanish phrases made following the book a little difficult as I kept stopping to look things up. I finally realized the author did a fairly good job explaining the Spanish in the following few sentences.
I received an ARC and voluntarily offer this review.
There are some things I expect from a Hallmark book. They are a romantic plot, engaging characters and a pleasing conclusion. South Beach Love by Caridad Pineiro delivers all three. It also has a number of supporting cast who are all affected by the outcome of Tony and Sara’s “Quinceañera Competition.”
Tony and Sara are great chefs who are also good people so the competition is difficult for both when others try to make it an all out rival event. Events transpire so that the rival teenage girls see the need to overcome their rivalry. I enjoyed this positive story that shows how people can learn to work together. Also it gave me a cultural lesson in quinceañeras which I knew nothing about but found to be a wonderful celebration. Then of course, I adored the romances, the main one and the subplots too.
An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Absolutely loved this story! Fun story about family , friendship, and lots of mouth watering food…Love the culture influence , two Chefs bringing in old family recipes to make the girls Quinceanera the best it can be , despite a local reporter trying to make it a competition, these two chefs may find that there’s a love connection brewing as well . I would love to see this made into a movie !
South Beach Love is a new book by Caridad Pineiro, a prolific writer and representative of the Cuban community who is best equipped to share a story such as this with American readers. The primary theme is the planning and orchestration of the quinceañeras for two rival young ladies. They compete in soccer, school governance, and academics.
Angelica Rodriguez, daughter of Sylvia Rodriguez, a high powered lawyer, and Esteban Rodriguez, a real estate mogul, and Samantha Kelly, whose Cuban mother, Delores, is the influence for the celebration. Delores is also a talented seamstress. Samantha’s father, Matt Kelly, would do anything for his wife and daughter, including bringing this tradition to fruition.
When Angelica’s famous New York chef uncle, Tony Sanchez, comes to Florida to carry out the meal for her quinceañera, and Samantha’s South Beach aunt, chef Sara Kelly, is brought on board to do the same for her niece, a South Beach reporter pits them, one against the other, in a competition for a major write up on their work. Both could use this publicity but at what cost? The Sanchez and Kelly families grew up in the same neighborhood, were friends and classmates, and, for Bridget and Sara Kelly the feelings were even deeper.
This is a delightful story with rich characters and a wonderful setting. Perhaps I am swayed because, although not of this descent, I am a child of South Florida. I don’t think so, though! It is because of the delightful storyline, wonderful dialogue, and lovely plot that I am a fan of this book. I very much enjoyed this book and wholeheartedly recommend it!!
I met Caridad years ago when we were placed next to each other at conference book signings. Not only is she a talented writer, but a super nice person. I know this new book is going to be awesome! 🙂