When the author wrote Slow Burn, she meant slow burn! But I loved it. She really took her time to develop the characters Chef Bianca Hardwick and business mogul Jackson Walker Boudreaux.

Favorite Quote: “Love makes you a better person. It makes you want to be a better person. You know it’s love when you feel comfortable just as you are, when you feel seen and understood, when you know you could tell all your darkest truths and they’d be accepted without judgement.”

It was very clear from the beginning this was a beauty and the beast retelling (Bianca did nickname Jax “Beast” after all) but each character had a layered story.
Bianca was impressive as she was a strong woman who was a creative chef. She even made a menu utilizing the Boudreaux bourbon was a backdrop. It all sounded tasty to me. I also liked Jax though he appeared insufferable at the beginning, I knew there was much more to him that the prickly exterior. Who would raise his friend’s son if he didn’t have a heart?

I like how the author slowly thaws their hearts towards each other because it made it believable. From the “engagement” to the unraveling of the pain that Jax had been carrying, the author weaves an angsty tale of family secrets, money and love. Jax’s family appeared to use their money to control him, Jax used his money to help Bianca and her mother, Bianca helped Jax reconnect with his family. There is a reason that I love this author. It’s her storytelling. It just resonates with me. Another awesome start to a series.