Narelle here. Today I’m sharing with you my book recommendation for Tacos for Two, a new CCR release from Betsy St. Amant. Betsy was also our guest last week at StoryChats @ InspyRomance podcast/YouTube.
Book Description:
Rory Perez, a food truck owner who can’t cook, is struggling to keep the business she inherited from her aunt out of the red–and an upcoming contest during Modest’s annual food truck festival seems the best way to do it. The prize money could finally give her a solid financial footing and keep her cousin with special needs paid up at her beloved assisted living home. Then maybe Rory will have enough time to meet the man she’s been talking to via an anonymous online dating site.
Jude Strong is tired of being a puppet at his manipulative father’s law firm, and the food truck festival seems like the perfect opportunity to dive into his passion for cooking and finally call his life his own. But if he loses the contest, he’s back at the law firm for good. Failure is not an option.
Complications arise when Rory’s chef gets mono and she realizes she has to cook after all. Then Jude discovers that his stiffest competition is the same woman he’s been falling for online the past month.
Will these unlikely chefs sacrifice it all for the sake of love? Or will there only ever be tacos for one?
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Tacos for Two, a foodie contemporary romance set in a small town in north Texas. Rory believes she’s a terrible cook, and she has inherited her aunt’s food truck business called Salsa Street. Her sweet cousin, Hannah, has Down’s syndrome, and needs Rory’s financial support to help pay for her assisted living accommodation.
Rory relies on Grady, her friend and loyal chef, to keep Salsa Street going. Grady and his wife, Nicole, are like family, and Rory is working full-time with Grady in the truck to keep Salsa Street afloat. The annual town food truck festival includes a contest with a cash first prize that would fix Rory’s financial problems.
Jude is a lawyer who doesn’t want to sit the Bar exam and continue working at the family law firm with his ruthless father and self-absorbed brother. Jude’s grandmother was influential in establishing the town, and his father is the wealthy patron who regularly donates funds to support the town. Jude has a love for cooking, and he wants to learn how to make the tacos he loved from his childhood. Jude gets the bright idea to ask Rory for cooking lessons in order to remember their housekeeper’s traditional recipe plus gain the skills to open his own taco food truck.
The meet cute between Rory and Jude is fun, and the cooking lessons are hilarious. When Grady becomes sick with mono, his wife Nicole steps up to help Rory with Salsa Street. Trouble arises when Rory learns Jude is her competition for the food truck prize, and we see the enemies-to-more trope playing out in the story. For a lawyer, Jude wasn’t smart in not predicting how Rory would react to learning she was training her competition. But, considering how Jude’s family steamroller people to get what they want, it’s not surprising that Jude didn’t think through all the implications of paying Rory for cooking lessons.
A fun and rocky romance develops against the backdrop of their adorable and anonymous online messaging relationship. In real life both Rory and Jude are emotionally shuttered and slow to trust, but online they’re emotionally vulnerable with each other and moving from friends territory to something more. I loved the ending of the story and all the twists and turns along Rory and Jude’s path to happily-ever-after.
Being an Aussie, I loved learning more about traditional Mexican and Tex Mex food. Jude loved cilantro and Rory hated cilantro. I’m with Jude on this point, and in Australia cilantro is known as coriander. The minor characters were delightful, adding charm and many hilarious moments. I recommend Tacos for Two to readers who like fun foodie contemporary romances with a light faith element.
I received a complimentary ebook from the publisher. Many thanks to Revell and Net Galley.
Check out our StoryChats @ InspyRomance podcast/YouTube Episode 43 where we chat with Betsy St. Amant and talk about Tacos for Two here.
Questions for you: Do you agree with Rory (no to cilantro) or Jude (yes to cilantro)? Do you like tacos? Do you like reading foodie romances? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
Hi, Narelle! The foodie element for me is kind of like the wedding issue. Yeah, nice, but I don’t need down to the nitty-gritty for it’s own sake. The enemies to more trope is not my favorite but if handled gently or with humor, it can work.
My taster is weak enough that I can’t really tell if cilantro is present. So I guess I’m a “don’t care”. My sister-in-law hated it. She said it tasted like soap, lol.
On another topic, I’m currently reading The Bridesmaid’s Hero and enjoying it quite nicely. Thanks!
Not really a foodie story fan! Nor Tex Mex, being a plain eater who doesn’t like hot and spicy. But it takes all types to make CCR, and I am sure the trope will appeal to many.
I agree with Jude (yes to cilantro)?
Do you like tacos? I love tacos. When I grew up in CA, we ate the real stuff
Do you like reading foodie romances? Yes I do. I find it fascinating the many different ways
food can be incorporated into a story. I love when recipes are included in the end.
This was a good book!
Hi Lincoln, Yes, I agree, the foodie details need to make sense and logically fit into the story. I’ve heard that cilantro can taste like soap for some people. I’m glad you’re enjoying The Bridesmaid’s Hero! Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Margaret, yes, the foodie books are popular with many readers. My son and I like spicy food, my husband and daughter not so much. Ordering takeaway that everyone in my family likes is always complicated, lol. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Lori, I’d love to visit California again and eat real tacos. The inclusion of recipes with the stories is always fun. Yay for cilantro! Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Toni, yes, it was a great read! 😊
I like food mentioned in books, and there’s a series that has recipes in each of the book! Those were fun! However, I really don’t want it to be ALL about the food! There’s got to be chemistry between the characters, faith, and so much more! I do like tacos, though I’ll admit I don’t fix them that much, I usually fix a taco soup or something.
Light on the cilantro but I do love tacos. I like traditional tacos, but Korean tacos with mango slaw are my favorite!
This book was soooo good! I too agree with Rory, no cilantro. Its too overpowering a flavor.
I especially love coriander with legumes like lentils.
I also love tacos!
I love cilantro! The more the better. I do enjoy reading foodie books and this sounds like a really fun one.
Hi, this book sounds like a very good read. I do like a little cilantro, I especially like it in beef soup. I like to make my tacos with ground pork and little diced potatoes added to it plus garlic salt . I also like fish tacos, I have never made them though, my daughter does make fish tacos and they come out very good. I like reading books with foods in the story. Have a great week and stay safe.
Foodie Romances can be fun. I’m not a fan of tacos however.
I’m with Rory not a fan of coriander or most herbs. I am a very plain eater and not big on Mexican food as I can’t eat spicy foods.
I don’t mind reading foodie books and I have been known to google names of recipies or ingredients (when they are different from here). As a kid I always thought Americans were strange eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. couldn’t for the life of me work out how you put jelly on a sandwich. It was only as I got older I found out what we call jelly they call jello and when talking about jelly for the sandwich it was jam. peanut butter and jam makes more sense but would never eat it.
I’m like Rory, I can’t stand cilantro! It has an odd flavor that I just can’t get over. But tacos….what’s NOT to love about them? You can make them so many different ways, soft or crunchy, add heat or no heat (peppers), use different meats, spices, toppings, etc! I think I love just about any Mexican food, enchiladas & tamales being my favorite.
Irene Hannon has written a CF series about a fictional town on the Oregon coast called Hope Harbor. It features a food truck owner and fish taco slinging character named Charlie. I wished it was a real town with a real character because I’d be eating almost everyday at his food truck!! It makes me hungry reading about it.
That’s the thing about reading stories with food in it because they always make me hungry!! Tacos for Two is one book that is on my very long list of must-read stories….not just for the tacos, but for the wonderful sounding characters :-)
I loved Tacos for Two. It was a fabulous light read. I am in the Rory camp. I do like tacos, but there are times they do not like me. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I like Jude’s idea. I don’t mind taco’s but not as much a fan as before. I read all kinds of books
I think Jude’s thinking the right idea. I love walking taco’s & am a big fan. I enjoy food books.
I like cilantro, tacos, and foodie romances.
Hi Trudy, I have no idea what taco soup is, lol. Yes, the other story elements definitely need to be there as well as the delicious food. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Denise, I haven’t heard of Korean tacos, but they sound fabulous! Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Megan, yes, it’s a great read. Cilantro can be overpowering. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Lilly, That sounds good to me! Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Jessica, yay for cilantro! I hope you’ll have an opportunity to read Tacos for Two. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Alicia, I hope you’ll have a chance to read Betsy’s book. I’ve heard of fish tacos but I’ve never seen them as a menu option in Australia. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Mary, yes, the foodie books are fun reads. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Jenny, yes, I’ve never understood the fascination with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as a combination. I also remember when I was younger watching American tv shows, possibly Sesame Street or the Muppets, and being totally confused, lol. I grew up mostly eating plain food because my parents weren’t fans of spicy food. I do find eating chilli and turmeric can help relieve hay fever symptoms. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Trixi, I would love to try tamales one day (it’s on my foodie travel wishlist with fish tacos). I think I’ve read the Hope Harbor book you’ve mentioned because the food truck with fish tacos is sounding familiar. I hope you’ll get around to reading Tacos for Two. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Debra, yes, Tacos for Two is a fun story and an easy read. I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s not fun when the food we like doesn’t like us. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Amy, Jude’s idea is fun. I hope you’ll have a chance to read Betsy’s book. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Sylvain, yes, the tacos in the story are delicious! I hope you’ll have an opportunity to read Tacos for Two. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Denise, yes, me too! A great combination to read about in Betsy’s book. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Light on the cilantro.I like tacos.I haven’t read much foodie romances but it sounds like a great book I can’t wait to read it.
Yes it was Sesame Street.
Yes to cilantro ;)
I’m ok with tacos – I love Taco salad!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the story! <3 Now pass the cilantro!!!
Hi Kendra, yes, the foodie romances are fun reads. I hope you’ll have a chance to read Tacos for Two. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Natalya, Yay for cilantro! I Googled Taco salad and it’s definitely something I’d like to sample one day. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Betsy, yay for cilantro! Thanks for stopping by. ❤️