Stevie‘s review of A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson
Contemporary Gay Interracial Romance published by Berkley 06 Dec 22
I didn’t set out to read two restaurant-based romances in succession. It just kind of happened. Having just reviewed a heterosexual one, I’m now moving on to one with a pair of male protagonists, as well as from a big-city setting to a small-town one. Xavier Reynolds is reluctantly back home staying with his parents, after losing his job, breaking up with his boyfriend, and just missing out on a post-MBA fellowship with a generous stipend. He first encounters local restaurant owner, Logan O’Hare, in his parents’ kitchen, when the older man is collecting cupcakes for a bake sale. Unfortunately, Xavier mistakes Logan for an intruder, leading to a very embarrassing situation for both of them, particularly given that both finds each other attractive.
Xavier’s embarrassment is exacerbated when his parents invite Logan round for dinner and talk him into offering Xavier a job at the restaurant. Although he is reluctant at first, Xavier changes his mind when he realises the job could earn him enough money to follow his real dream by the end of the summer, and so he finds himself working as a prep chef at The Wharf. Fortunately, the other staff are very welcoming, and Xavier soon settles into the role. He also finds himself welcomed into Logan’s home, and the two soon start a relationship.
Xavier never gives up on his dreams, although he hides that from Logan, even as he resents Logan’s secrecy around his own struggles to make the restaurant a success. I wasn’t happy with Xavier about that and could sympathise more with Logan, who, as a single parent, had a lot more reason to worry about his financial situation. Xavier’s attempted interventions are aimed at helping Logan and the restaurant do not do down well, more so when Logan learns that Xavier never had any intention of sticking around after the summer. Sadly, I wasn’t particularly happy with how all this got resolved. After the events of the past few years, there are more ways than ever before to continue relationships, even when partners are living in different cities, different countries, or even on different continents.
I think I would have liked this book better if some of it had been told from Logan’s point of view. Instead it was all Xavier, all of the time, and I found him a little tedious at times. Readers closer to Xavier’s age may disagree with me, of course. I was also disappointed by the epilogue, in which we learn which parts of Xavier’s dreams have come to fruition and which have fallen by the wayside, most of which I found rather depressing. I’m not writing the author off completely. I’d like to revisit his work when he and his writing have matured a little more.
Grade: C
Summary:
Xavier Reynolds is doing less than stellar. He just got dumped, was passed over for a prestigious fellowship, and to top it all off he’s right back home in Harper’s Cove, Maine (population: 9,000). The last thing he wants to do is to work as a prep chef in the kitchen of the hip new restaurant in town, The Wharf. Especially since the hot, single-father chef who owns it can’t delegate to save his life.
Logan O’Hare doesn’t understand Xavier or why every word out of his mouth is dipped in sarcasm. Unfortunately, he has no choice but to hire him—he needs more help in the kitchen and his tween daughter, Anne, can only mince so many onions. It might be a recipe for disaster, but Logan doesn’t have many options besides Xavier.
Stuck between a stove and a hot place, Logan and Xavier discover an unexpected connection. But when the heat between them threatens to top the Scoville scale, they’ll have to decide if they can make their relationship work or if life has seasoned them too differently.
Read an excerpt.
