I received an ARC from the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I’m always looking for new diverse authors to follow, and this debut romance from Mila Nicks sounded promising. It has a nice cozy small-town vibe, and a sweet second-chance romance at the center of it.

I liked the fact that both Rosalie and Nick trying their best as single parents is a central part of the story, and something that brings them together. And seeing them bond by working together in Nick’s family’s restaurant, which faces going out of business, is cute too, especially as she inspires Nick to try to save it and come out of the slump created by grief in the wake of his mother’s passing.

This book is rather light, and given some of the topics it does touch on, I did sometimes wish it delved a little more into them instead of being more surface level, but I can’t fault it too much, as perhaps the author was going for a lighter feel, and I think it strikes a pretty decent balance, especially in these troubling times, of having some substance, while still allowing the reader a comforting escape.

I enjoyed this book, and will definitely keep an eye out for this author’s upcoming releases. I recommend this if you’re looking for a nice low-angst diverse contemporary romance.

very quick, romantic, cute read!
if you want to read about romance and cooking than look no further!

i was given this book from netgalley and publisher for a honest review and opinion.

I love food and being in the kitchen! Mix that up with some romance in the kitchen and you have a great result. I enjoyed this romance novel

What a cute story.

You can’t help but fall in love with Rosalie and wish her the best. She’s down on her luck after making bad decisions when she was younger and back home trying to make the best for her daughter. She was so sweet and determined.

You can’t help but fall for Nick as his character develops out of his own darkness and into a better man.

Likeable characters and an easy, relatable story.

There were a few plot points that were lost on me, and just not carried out fully, but overall a good and nice read.

Great read!
It has drama and suspense and most of all love. While its by no means and expected romance, The slow build is at times frustrating but pleasant to watch.

Unfortunately , I couldn't finish this book .
The Plot just wasn't that interesting .
But the writing style is wonderful .

This book is good. It wasn’t amazing, but far from terrible. On the whole, I got into it because the romance won me over, even if overall story wasn’t gripping or memorable.

The story starts with 24-year-old Rosalie and her 5-year-old daughter, Remi. They return to a small town called St. Aster in Louisiana, to move in with Rosalie’s mother Lacie, after a messy divorce. Rosalie begins working at Nick’s restaurant and after the first day, she plans to fix up the old and dated diner to become more popular with the customers and save the business from economic failure.

I really liked the idea of a small town setting, which added weight to the character’s and their backstories. There was an authentic environment created from early on, even if that community is filled with gossip and drama. The book also touches on grief, divorce, and single-parenting, which made the book feel deeper than a typical romance.

The family dynamic between Rosalie and Lacie was interestingly realistic. They had a problematic relationship which was only made worse when Rosalie ran off with Clyde as a teenager. When she returns home, the hostility is painfully tense. As a reader, I was gritting my teeth at some of the exchanges. Rosalie had a difficult childhood due to her mother’s neglect and inability to focus on anything other than keeping a man, and Lacie held a grudge against her own daughter by considering her a burden. The passive-aggressive conversations between the two were well executed, and I justifiably found myself frustrated with a lot of Lacie’s actions.

The author did a great job at giving each character their own personality. It was easy to get to know the characters because they were presented with their own voice and quirks, which made the book more entertaining. I really enjoyed the conversations between each of the characters, even when they were disagreeing. Nick was playful and charming, despite the grief from his mother’s passing. Rosalie was bubbly and feisty, even though she regularly faced off with her mother and ex-husband. Maxie, Nick’s daughter, was an adorable Godzilla enthusiast and Remi was more of a princess fanatic, but they made the perfect playground friends.

For me, the love story won the stars for this book. Nick and Rosalie balanced each other out perfectly. They both struggled with their own personal flaws and battles, but were naturally suited to one another. I never felt like the author wasted pages on their kindling relationship. It felt like a slow-burn, but without the frustration of waiting for an element of romance. Their chemistry was evident from their first few moments together, and only continued to build as they spent more time together. So by the time their feelings were properly established, you are already rooting for a happy ending.

As much as I liked the wholesomeness, the hopeless romantic in me didn’t swoon. It was a nice and easy read, and a meaningful tale but wasn’t spectacular. However, the epilogue was a nice touch and tied up any loose ends from the story. It felt like a full circle, and I was satisfied by the last page.

Mila Nicks' Love Recipe is a sweet romance that will leave you hungry but also satisfied as a reader. Having lived in Louisiana, the setting of the book also delighted me. It's more than a simple love story, as it also deals with complex family issues.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I think there were a lot of good ideas here. I love that both of them were single parents whose daughters bonded (even though they were different!), and I like the idea of them falling in love over cooking. But I found myself wanting more throughout the book, especially more thorough and complex descriptions of the characters and their motivations and more discussion of the action (much of the pacing felt odd--both too fast and too slow at different times). There were things I liked, but it wasn't my favorite.

I absolutely adored this book. I loved Nick and Rosalie’s characters. This was a very cute romance with food, love, family issues and above all learning how to find your purpose. I really liked that it didn’t have all the messy “this can’t work” storyline, but actually gave a strong foundation for the romance. Throw in an estranged ex husband and a less than supportive mother and you have just the right amount of conflict. A quick and light read with just enough detailed steamy scenes.

Really sweet story! I loved the characters and the storyline. Rosaline and Nick were so adorable together! You just rooted for them throughout the entire book. All the creole cooking will make you want to take trip to New Orleans.
I loved the duo of Maxie and Remi!

Was a little boring to me(only because small town is a hit or miss for me) but it was a cute romance with a great mother/daughter relationship.

A quick read, typical, predicable.

But really, that's what I want right now. A book that is comfy, quiet, and happy.

What a cute, beautiful, and fun romance! I absolutely adored this book. What a wonderful romance between two very likeable characters. The story moved along in a compelling fashion and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoy books about people who make over their lives, and this one fits the bill! The female main character also gets to learn how to cook! All in all, just a very enjoyable book that I would highly recommend to everyone, especially for a fun summer read or a great getaway book!

Love's Recipe is a romantic, sweet and fun read! I found both main characters, Rosalie and Nick both easy to relate too, easy to hope for and I found myself throughout the story hoping they both ended up happy. Their story is unique in that they themselves are so unique, with varying experiences and a path that would likely not lead them to be working together after so many years apart. This story is exciting to read, and never lacking emotional moments or characters required to tap into their own vulnerability. The book touches on a number of important ideas as we read on.. these characters have been challenged in their lives; whether it be divorce, single-parenthood, grief, or otherwise.. their stories are challenging but create space for a positive and humbling story.

I would recommend it to anyone looking for a smooth, romantic read, with characters you can't help but cheer for! Great work from Mila Nicks.. I am officially a fan.

I really liked this book. This book is about a recently divorced woman coming back to her roots with her daughter in tow. A rocky relationship with her mother whom she now has to live with, after she left town with her teenage boyfriend. A job at what used to be a popular diner. The owner of the diner, mourning the passing of his mother while raising his daughter and letting said popular diner go into ruin. All this makes for a very good story. I felt that the characters grew and had depth and the food was a prominent feature in the book (which makes sense due to the title and the location of the story). This is not just a love story, it’s a story about grief, family, forgiveness, and redemption.

Ah this hit the spot! Solid thoughtful and sweet romance story with food and POC. Total win. Also has two cutie pie spunky girls in the mix too (they were my favorite!). This is different than the redundant romance fiction (mother-daughter family dynamics, POC centered thank goodness / yay, and the man love interest is lovely) so if you’re an avid reader of the genre you’ll probably also find this refreshing. It still has some classic small town love story vibes, and the falling in love and the love itself is sweet, spicy, and respectful. Also if you love food!

Really good. Enjoyed it and consumed it in two sittings:). I’m totally going to follow what this author is up to next. This is the best book in this genre that I’ve read in a bit.

Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another feel good book, that you know would end good, just by reading the first chapter. Rosalie a waitress, with the help of her owner Nicolas, enrolls in a cooking competition to save their Café. The relationship between those two is warm and lovely. Love’s recipe has different flavours of love throughout and reading it made me happy!
Thank you NetGalley, the author and KDP for reader’s copy of this romantic novel. The review is based my own opinion.

This book was a great way to escape from a time stuck at home. The characters are like family, and you root for their success along the way; however; the obstacles they face are almost silly - I pictured Nick's nemesis from Yum Corp twirling his handlebar mustache at every appearance. Rosalie's conflict seems a little more real-life, and while the reader can see the set-up and the ending from very early on, the payoff is enjoyable and worth the time spent.

Thank you to NetGalley & Mila Nicks for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I enjoyed Rosie's and Nick's path to their relationship. The progression was natural and realistic, and both had flaws that I think we can all relate to. Nick's difficulty in facing his grief and Rosalie's refusal to deal with her mother's passive-aggressive attitude made these characters even more endearing.
A very cute contemporary romance.