It's been a disastrous two months for Xavier Reynolds. In that short period of time, he is sure that the "Gods of the Universe" must hate him, or he has really done something to tick them off. He has lost his job, lost his fellowship opportunity with the Carey Foundation, and has even lost his boyfriend. He has now moved back into his childhood bedroom, no less, in Harper's Cove, Maine. His parents and his longtime best friend, Mya, are very happy to have him around...almost "too happy"... and for some reason they think that they can meddle in both his professional and his personal life. Xavier has already made a disastrous first impression on Logan O'Hare, an older local restaurant owner who is friends with his parents. Word travels fast, after all it is a small town. The Carey Foundation calls to offer Xavier another spot in their program, and he agrees, knowing that the cost to attend is going to be really steep, so he needs a job, fast. The Wharf, Logan's restaurant, is in desperate need of a sous chef, and Xavier's family legacy in the kitchen seems like a perfect match for a temporary solution. Not at all a smooth start. Can you say, "Immediate attraction"? Sounds good but this situation is like putting a bull up against a brick wall. The two stubborn men dance around their attraction...their banter over delectable New England fare seems to be their idea of foreplay. Xavier's point of view is charming and snappy; but unfortunately, Logan's falls short. With his smarmy attitude and frequent undermining, Logan often treats Xavier more like his preteen child than a grown man with his own wants and needs. Sadly, the romance element of the book feels unnecessary and even, at times, detrimental to Xavier's growth. Logan and Xavier eventually resolve their communication issues, but this is a romance in which the main character deserves so much more. Though the author is right-on with the tone of the story and the humor, the romance parts seemed to get short changed. It was still a delightfully good read and well deserving of the 4.5★ rating. ( )

This wasn't for me, and I realized that early on, but I kept reading because I enjoyed Survive the Dome and Yesterday is History. This did not work for me. Especially the ending. I don't vibe with books where a character sacrifices an opportunity in exchange for a man--if it's a book, I want the character to have it all! Why couldn't Logan wait until Xavier got back from Berlin? Ah well. ( )

It was pretty decent until it bacame clear that Xavier was never going to tell Logan the truth about his intention to leave; and then to be less than truthful about how it really feels. ( )