Simmer Down
by Sarah SmithSetting: Hawaii
Genres: Love & Romance
Published on October 13, 2020
Pages: 336
Format: eBook Source: Library
In this finger-licking good rom-com, two is the perfect number of cooks in the kitchen.
Nikki DiMarco knew life wouldn’t be all sunshine and coconuts when she quit her dream job to help her mom serve up mouthwatering Filipino dishes to hungry beach goers, but she didn’t expect the Maui food truck scene to be so eat-or-be-eaten—or the competition to be so smoking hot.
But Tiva’s Filipina Kusina has faced bigger road bumps than the arrival of Callum James. Nikki doesn’t care how delectable the British food truck owner is—he rudely set up shop next to her coveted beach parking spot. He’s stealing her customers and fanning the flames of a public feud that makes her see sparks.
The solution? Let the upcoming Maui Food Festival decide their fate. Winner keeps the spot. Loser pounds sand. But the longer their rivalry simmers, the more Nikki starts to see a different side of Callum…a sweet, protective side. Is she brave enough to call a truce? Or will trusting Callum with her heart mean jumping from the frying pan into the fire?
There are strict rules about where you can park for food trucks on Maui. Nikki learned that the hard way when she started out. So when a new truck is parked too close to her spot she decides to tell them the rules in a friendly way. Her advice isn’t taken in the spirit that she offered it and a feud develops. Soon the truck owners are pulling pranks on each other in an attempt to drive business away from their rival. Their daily screaming matches have gone viral. Business has never been better as people come in hopes of seeing a fight break out.
This was a cute romantic comedy. Both main characters are new to Hawaii and are helping relatives run their food trucks. Neither is exactly in the position that they expected to be in their lives. That adds to their stress. Both are micromanagers who are trying to fix everything going wrong around them but they are just making things worse.
There is a side plot that takes place in a vet clinic. Why do people have to torture me? I highlighted one section and put it in the office for my staff to read. There was cringing all around for the totally wrong medical treatment of the animal in question. Luckily the veterinary side plot disappears quickly and it was back to food truck fighting and escapism again!
