Sugar: A Novel

by Kimberly Stuart

Overview

After realizing her coworkers at L’Ombre, a high-profile restaurant in NYC, will never appreciate or respect her, Charlie Garrett allows her ex-boyfriend, Avery Michaels, to convince her to work for him as executive pastry chef at his new Seattle hotspot, Thrill. She’ll have her own kitchen, her own staff—everything she ever wanted professionally.

When she arrives at Thrill, however, she realizes that Avery wanted more than a pastry chef for his restaurant—he wanted a costar for the reality show they’re filming about the restaurant and its staff. Charlie is uncomfortable with the idea at first, but she soon realizes that this is her chance to show the world what women in the kitchen are capable of. She sets some ground rules with the film crew, signs a non-disclosure agreement, and promptly meets the man of her dreams, Kai, off-camera.

The show, and her demanding work schedule as head of the pastry kitchen, makes it nearly impossible for Charlie and Kai to spend time together. Drama on and off the set soon take a toll on Charlie’s well-being, forcing her to choose if life in front of the camera is worth sacrificing life behind the scenes.

Sugar is a contemporary romance, set in the high-pressure commercial kitchens of New York and Seattle. A funny and clever story of how a female chef learns to thrive in the ruthless world of premier restaurants.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781510714144
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	02/07/2017
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	248
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Kimberly Stuart has always treasured a good story and a good laugh. Her trademark sense of humor and love of storytelling shine through her novels such as Operation Bonnet and Stretch Marks. When she’s not engrossed in the charming chaos of motherhood, Stuart writes stories that are intended to make readers laugh often and cry once—maybe twice. When not concocting gripping author biographies, Kimberly resides in Des Moines, Iowa, with her fantastic husband and their three wily children.

Editorial Reviews

12/12/2016
The one-sided first-person narrative and lack of romantic chemistry make this romance difficult to swallow. Pastry chef and control freak Charlie Garrett is all work and no play. Her boss has been promising for years to make her the head pastry chef; tired of waiting, she accepts a job offer from her ex and moves to Seattle. Charlie’s best friends are determined to see her in a relationship, so they set her up with diner owner Kai Malloy, whom she’d only briefly encountered once. Despite her quirky, irritating ways, Kai likes her enough to be patient with her busy life, which soon includes a filming schedule. Readers aren’t privy to Kai’s past or his innermost thoughts, so it’s difficult to understand why he’s willing to stay with Charlie despite her refusal to make him a priority. The relationship feels forced rather than developed. Stuart (the Heidi Elliott series) has some talent with prose, but there’s nothing sweet about this bland romance. Agent: Chip MacGregor, MacGregor Literary. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

“When NYC pastry chef Charlie moves to Seattle, a hot new job—and guy—await. The catch: It’s all being captured on a reality show. Pairs well with popcorn.” —Cosmopolitan Magazine

“An irresistible mixture of humor and heart . . . fabulously funny, Sugar will leave you satisfied and wanting more.” —Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Weight in Silence and These Things Hidden

"The road to the sweet life is paved with butter and berries and . . . bacon? Kimberly Stuart’s story about a celebrity chef seeking success in Seattle is every woman’s story. Can we rise to the heights of our professional dreams and still find that certain someone to make it worth the climb? Sugar’s well drawn characters and a page-turning pace prove a reading delight. A truly yummy romance." —Pamela Morsi,two-time RITA winner and USA Today bestselling author

"Sugar serves up a winning combination of wit and heart in pastry chef Charlie Garrett, who reluctantly becomes a reality TV star. But as she tries to balance her ex-boyfriend, who is now her boss, and an intriguing man she just met, she soon discovers that sometimes the sweetest things in life are the most simple. Sugar is an addictive and delicious pleasure, meant to be savored." —Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, authors of The Year We Turned Forty

“A mouth-watering delight of a story about love, work, and yes, dessert! Like a perfect pastry, Sugar is a book to be devoured.” —Jamie Brenner, author of The Wedding Sisters

"Sugar is a deliciously relevant novel about one chef's struggle to balance the insatiable desire of food celebrity while remaining true to her craft. I ate it all in one sitting and loved it. Sugar satisfies in every way." —Lei Shishak, author Beach House Baking and owner of Sugar Blossom Bake Shop

“Sugar hits the spot! A ménage à trois between dramatic reality television, the merciless Michelin star chef’s competition, and a heart-fluttering romance. When Kimberly Stuart creates the marriage of true love and luscious pastry, the pages melt like chocolate between your hands. As an aphrodisiac chef, this is a must-read!” —Chef Fed, creator of FEDish and Love Bites

From the Publisher