Deep Autumn Heat: A Loveswept Contemporary Romance by Elisabeth Barrett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sebastian Greyson is a master chef and owner of the upscale restaurant, Helena. He was born in Star Harbor, Massachusetts and still likes to think of himself as a local, although he seems to be the only one that thinks that way as he has been gone for several years. He still comes back at least once a year to hook up with his brothers to honor their father who died twenty years ago on Labor Day weekend. Val is the oldest and became the man of the house when their father died, always the stable one, he still lives in Star Harbor. Cole is the next oldest and has served in Afghanistan, came home a little broken and now is the local sheriff after being a cop in Boston. Theo is Seb’s twin and an author living in San Francisco. While spending time with his brothers, Seb is also brainstorming a new menu for his restaurant and planning for a new cooking TV show.

Lexie Meyers is the owner of LM Kitchen which is a breakfast and lunch place in Star Habor, she will soon start a catering business and her first customer is her friend Emma who is getting married in a few weeks to another local boy, Jimmy. Lexie moved here a couple of years ago to start a new life. She needed to leave California and a bad relationship and has moved as far away as possible.

Lexie is working at her restaurant when Seb and his brothers come in for coffee, she knows who he is and thinks he is presumptuous and stuck-up. Seb on the other hand, enjoys her company and her special creation, coconut cake. He starts hanging out at LMK, disrupting the flow and bothering Lexie. He even goes so far as to challenge her to a cook off so he can spend more time with her.

While Lexie and Seb spend more time together their attraction grows and Seb keeps putting off several decisions and opts to stay for his friend's wedding in Star Harbor. Strange things happen to Lexie, enough that Cole, as local law enforcement, gets involved. They find out that Frank (Lexie’s ex-boyfriend) is no longer in California. Even though Lexie hopes she has moved on from her past, she takes out a restraining order on her ex; their past relationship had deteriorated so bad that in the end he tried to rape her. She does not believe he knows where she is at, but is always mindful of what could happen.

Deep Autumn Heat is a wonderful story that is compelling until the end. As the story unfolds we find out the fears that both Seb and Lexie need to overcome, Seb needs to think about where he wants his career to go and how far and Lexie needs to overcome the past, however when the past comes to meet her she needs help from the community, including Seb to get through it.


View all my reviews