She ruined his career with one review. Now they have to cook together.

A food critic who can’t cook. A chef who can’t let go. One cooking competition that changes everything.

Ava Harper writes restaurant reviews that can make or break careers—but she’s hiding a secret that would destroy her own. The daughter of celebrity chefs never learned to cook. When her editor forces her to compete in Jonathon Island’s Flavor Fest, she’s not just out of her depth. She’s partnered with Zach Sullivan, the chef whose restaurant her review accidentally ruined.

This should be a disaster.

Zach has nursed his grudge for years. He’s blamed Ava for every setback, every failure, every sleepless night. Now he’s stuck in a dead-end job under a tyrannical chef, and his only shot at redemption means working alongside the woman he’s spent years resenting.

The problem? She’s nothing like he expected.

Between burnt garlic bread, sabotaged flour, and the watchful eyes of celebrity judges, Zach and Ava discover that the truth behind that fateful review isn’t what either of them believed. As old wounds finally come to light, they’ll have to decide: Is forgiveness worth the risk? And is love the recipe they’ve both been missing?

A charming enemies-to-lovers romance about second chances, secret-keeping, and discovering that the sweetest dishes are made with grace. Perfect for fans of Denise Hunter, Becky Wade, and Hallmark cooking competition movies.

The Jonathon Island series is created by USA Today bestselling, award-winning author Susan May Warren.

Releasing May 2026 in ebook, paperback, and audiobook