How do I know that a book will end up on my “to be re-read” list? The number of sentences, paragraphs or simply words I highlighted while reading it the first time. And this book has a lot of colourful highlights!!!

I hope Beth Bolden won’t mind if I use some of her words to describe these two very interesting characters:

Luca and Oliver “were both adults. They’d established their own businesses. They’d taken hits and experienced misses and learned what worked for them and what didn’t.” They were two perfectionist, but only because ”they both cared so deeply about food. It was an intrinsic part of their lives.”

Luca “maybe he was way too certain of how things should be. But he also loved Oliver with every fiber of his being.”…”Luca’s confidence was nearly arrogance, but again, Oliver didn’t find it unattractive, when on any other person it would have been.”

I hope you got the point: these two men are just perfect for each other, because even an obnoxious, way too certain of how things should be control freak like Luca may find his perfect match. Because “Here was someone, finally, who liked Luca for exactly who he was, didn’t want to change him, didn’t want him to behave differently, and wasn’t attracted to him for what he could bring to the table.” Oliver might be giving and kind and sweet as hell, but he is also driven, focused, and very observant (apparently bakers are better than bartenders at this). Don’t be fooled: Oliver might define himself as sweet, but I would use other words, like joyful, smiling, because sweet may be viewed as weak, when he is anything but.

Oliver and Luca are the epitome of a relationship that develops and flourishes because and thanks to very similar life and work experiences and expectations. No opposite attraction, but similarities as the foundation of trust. And where there is trust, there is the possibility to let go, to self-discovery and ultimately become a better version of one’s self. And this is exactly what Luca experienced by pursuing a relationship with Oliver though his time in Indigo Bay was limited (at first).

Even though this book is publicised as a stand alone, Luca is the big brother of Gabriel from “On the Roll”, and the cousin of Lorenzo of “Ride or Die”, both books belonging to the Food Truck Series by the same author. If you haven’t read the series yet, I highly recommend it, also because it will give you some additional background story when Gabe and Ren appear in this book.

I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of this book and Beth once again gifted me with wonderful hours of care free reading and escape.