Review: Hungry For More

by Diana Holquist
Rating: 3/5

Chef James LaChance has no time for the gorgeous Gypsy who appears at his restaurant with a mysterious agenda. But women inspire his delectable menus, and after one kiss from this temptress he creates his boldest dish ever. With her on his side--and in his bed--his restaurant could earn its third star. But is success worth losing his heart to a woman who has sworn off love forever? Amy Burns is a Gypsy with a gift: she can name a person's One True Love. To keep her mystical power, she can never fall in love herself--a price she's more than willing to pay. Until she meets the sexy chef whose talents in the kitchen are only surpassed by his talents in the bedroom. But is any man worth giving up the only gift she's ever had? As desire leads to passion, Amy must choose between her destiny and the man who leaves her... Hungry For More

Hungry for More is the third and final book in the One True Love/Make Me a Match series (hint, Ms Holquist, hint). This one focuses on Amy, our antagonistic third Burns’ sibling. This one also bugged me the most with its continuity issues.

For instance, in this book out of nowhere Amy has a name and a backstory for her voice. Apparently the voice is a gypsy thing. And also apparently its contingent on not falling in love, oh and Amy’s a full blooded gypsy. Apart from that which should annoy me but really doesn’t the biggest issue I have is with Amy’s character.

Amy changes a lot between the prologue which is almost immediately after Sexiest Man Alive and the start of the actual story. And that’s some character development that I’d have liked to have seen.

Anyway, the True Love voice, “Maddie” is gone. In the prologue she tells Amy goodbye. Amy takes this hard. Which is understandable, her whole life has revolved around her gift. First as a child looking for her father’s Jane Smith and then as an adult using it for cons. And freely for other people, in a desperate attempt (I think) to give some meaning to what is a double-edged sword.

This book really goes through the concept of choice and destiny in a different way. The choices people make when confronted with the reality that their partner isn’t their soul-mate or with the choice between a soul-mate and Amy’s voice.

Amy sees “Maddie” as a bit of a curse. She’s seen people’s lives be turned completely around because of her telling them what they want to know, starting with her parents. But without Maddie she’s able to take a break and for the first time in her life realise what she wants. I still don’t know if her eventually choice is one I buy, but it goes fantastically with the HEA so I'm letting it go.

I really loved Troy he felt like a real semi-teenager and his character development and Amy’s relationship all flowed together well. I don’t want to go into the conclusion of his arc too much because of spoilers but I really liked how Amy and his mother-son style relationship was continued through this.

James… I think by now it’s been universally agreed that a chef is sexy. All that intensity in the kitchen which helps them stay in damn fine shape and a man who can cook! (Just to be clear I mean in my romance novels.) And James  is no exception.

In the end this trilogy is a great read and I recommend it if you’re in the mood for a light funny read, with some decent consideration off the effects the premise has on the world around it.

Currently Listening: Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival