RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION  (Madewood Brothers Series 1, 3, 4) by Gina Gordon-reviews

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 11, 2015

She’s the woman he loves to hate.

Penn Foster wants a lot of things. She wants a spot on the board of a charitable foundation. She wants to win the stupid, plastic family trophy. And more than anything, she wants her tall, hot, and brooding boss naked in her bed. Now, on a Hawaiian vacation with her family, she’s desperately trying not to think about how he’d sound whispering dirty things in her ear.

He’s the man she can’t have…or can she?

Cole Murphy keeps himself locked down, away from the press and out of the spotlight. Still haunted by a traumatic childhood, his ability to trust has been decimated. Penn, with her sexy body and confidence, is the only person able to drag him out of his shell. Which is why he crashes her vacation and accepts her proposition for no-strings sex. But is the inescapable heat building between them a delicious temptation, or will it end in total disaster?

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REVIEW: RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION is the fourth and final ? installment in Gina Gordon’s adult, contemporary Madewood Brothers erotic romance series. This is executive chef and restaurateur Cole Murphy, and Madewood family business marketing and public relations manager Penn Foster’s storyline-a story about family, friendships and forbidden love. Although RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone without any difficulty.

Told from third person point of view RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION follows the building relationship between Penn and Cole. Penn has had a crush on Cole-her quasi boss-for close to three years. Her efforts at flirting have all but been ignored but when her yearly family reunion in Hawaii finds Penn coming face to face with Cole, all bets are off. Cole has arrived to partner with Penn in the Foster family ‘funcation’ competition and Penn is determined to win both in and out of the bedroom.

Cole and his ‘brothers’ were all raised by Vivian Madewood-a woman who took a chance on four young boys from the foster care system. Their individual successes in the restaurant business are the stuff of headline news and gossip rags but unlike his brothers, Cole has yet to find someone to share his life. Enter Penn Foster-best friend to his brother’s wife, and the woman who calls to Cole’s heart, but a hands-off policy at work does not allow for office relationships and in this Cole’s time in Hawaii with Penn has an expiry date at the end of the week.

The sexual attraction between Cole and Penn cannot be denied. Penn is sexually aggressive in the bedroom and isn’t afraid to let Cole know what it is she wants but Cole has some issues that he must learn to overcome, and in this Penn is the perfect match for Cole’s pent up inhibitions. There are reasons behind Cole’s reluctance-ones that Penn must come to understand before offering Cole everything that she is and wants. The $ex scenes are hot, seductive and provocative.

All of the previous storyline couples play a secondary role: Jack and Sterling; Neil and Carson; Veronica and Finn. We are introduced to Penn’s rather over-the –top competitive family-a family that barely acknowledges Penn’s success or ability to survive on her own. Penn is considered the quiet child, and in this, her family has not come to terms with the ‘new’ Penn that they see at the family competition. Penn’s father is all about winning, but Cole is hoping to win Penn’s heart.

The world building continues to focus on Vivian Madewood’s foster sons: Jack Vaughn, Neil Harrison, Finn O’Reilly and Cole Murphy. To keep the boys out of trouble and in line, Vivian started the boys on their love of cooking, and with it came four successful restaurant owner, operators and executive chefs. Each young man would eventually ‘pay it forward’ with foundations that are aimed at enriching the lives of boys and girls in the foster care system.

RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION is a fun read that focuses on family dynamics and falling in love. There are moments of heartbreak when a father is unable to come to terms with the daughter he has always considered a son, and further sorrow when Cole walks away from the only woman he will ever love. The premise is fun with a little bit of angst; the characters are energetic and commanding attention; the happily ever after is the stuff of headline news. Gina Gordon’s MADEWOOD BROTHERS series looks at a family brought together by one woman who opened her heart and her home to four troubled young boys, and raised them to be successful entrepreneurs and loving men. A must-read series that will put a smile on your face.

Reading Order
Recipe for Satisfaction
Recipe for Attraction
Recipe for Seduction
Recipe for Temptation

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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RECIPE FOR SEDUCTION
(Madewood Brothers 3)
by Gina Gordon
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 26, 2014

Veronica Whitfield feels like a frumpy old maid. After ten years of raising her younger siblings, she’s desperate to get her sexy back. And why not find it with the man she’s been in lust with since she was twelve years old—her brother’s best friend, Finn O’Reilly?

Finn is looking for love. And not any love—true love. Complete with the white picket fence, two children, and a dog. He’s just been a little unlucky finding it, and he sure as hell isn’t about to consider his best friend’s little sister for the job, no matter how badly he wants her in his bed.

But then Veronica propositions him with a game of dark, delicious seduction. Finn is tempted to indulge his hidden need for kink, but at what cost? Following through could very well ruin their friendship, but maybe—just maybe—helping Veronica rediscover her sexy side is exactly what he needs to find love at last…

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REVIEW: RECIPE FOR SEDUCTION is the third installment in Gina Gordon’s adult, contemporary Madewood Brothers romance series focusing on four ‘brothers’ who grew up in the foster care system eventually finding a home and acceptance with Vivian Madewood-a woman whose ability to nurture and love extoled a sense of pride and responsibility in four young men whose lives would have otherwise gone in a different direction. This is wedding planner Veronica Whitfield, and executive chef Finn O’Reilly’s storyline. RECIPE FOR SEDUCTION can be read as a stand alone; any important information from previous storylines is imparted where necessary. The majority of the primary, secondary and supporting characters all grew up in the foster care system, and their life long friendships and love are the backdrop for the Madewood Brothers series.

Told from third person point of view RECIPE FOR SEDUCTION follows a friends to lovers relationship between Veronica Whitfield and Finn O’Reilly. Veronica and her brother Mark are also the product of the foster care system but eight years earlier Veronica discovered her less than responsible mother had a second family, and Veronica soon became a single mother over night to her two younger half siblings. Fast forward and Veronica is preparing to enjoy life for herself now that her younger brother and sister are about to enter university-but life doesn’t always go according to plan when half brother Cal decides higher education is for losers and he has no plans for the future. Enter easy going Finn O’Reilly-Veronica’s brother Mark’s best friend-and the man that Veronica has loved since eleven years old. Finn offers to take Cal under his wing and teach him the ins and out of being a restaurant chef.

Veronica has had a crush on her brother’s best friend Finn O’Reilly since an early age but raising her siblings and holding down a full time job found Veronica will little time left for herself. Knowing that the time had come to act on her feelings, Veronica sets out to seduce Finn O’Reilly and in doing so discovers that the man with whom she had fallen in love wants a future with children and Veronica isn’t willing to follow the same path. Our couple keep secret their relationship from family and friends, and in this, eventual discovery leads to a sense of betrayal and potential loss of friendship.

The relationship between Finn and Veronica is highly sexual; there was never a time that our couple wasn’t actively involved in some sort of physical activity together. Finn is a bit of an a$$ man, and with it comes the need to spank and his use for a spatula whenever Veronica is in the kitchen. The $ex scenes are numerous, erotic and intense. Veronica and Finn love one another but their plans for the future are going in opposite directions.

All of the previous storyline couples and characters play a secondary and supporting role. Veronica, as a wedding planner, is planning Jack and Sterling’s (Recipe for Satisfaction 1) wedding, which is a secondary plotline throughout the story. We are also introduced to Veronica’s half siblings , as well as her brother Mark. Mark has some issues that need to be addressed, and I am hoping Gina has plans to either continue the MADEWOOD BROTHERS series or write a spinoff that focuses on Veronica’s extended family.

RECIPE FOR SEDUCTION is a story about family; about the bonds that strengthen in face of adversity; about the dynamics that are strained when ‘push comes to shove’. There are moments of humor and fun; heartbreak and sorrow; looking forward and letting go. Gina Gordon’s MADEWOOD BROTHERS series is set in and around Toronto Ontario Canada, and as a fellow Canadian I was very familiar with the sights and sounds of the storyline geography-if you ever have a chance go visit Niagara On The Lake-Veronica and Finn had a romantic getaway-you will too.

Reviewed by Sandy

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RECIPE FOR SATISFACTION
(Madewood Brothers #1)
by Gina Gordon
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 1, 2013

Being the financial caretaker for her deadbeat parents isn’t the life professional organizer Sterling Andrews dreamed of. Tired of being the dependable—and boring—daughter, Sterling decides to have a little fun. And what could be more fun than seducing rich bad boy chef, Jack Vaughn? Except, after one scintillating night together, Sterling’s not only lusting for Jack, she’s working for him. And remaining professional becomes harder every day.

Already a major success thanks to his exclusive restaurants, Jack Vaughn is looking for something more. Ultra responsible Sterling is unlike anyone Jack has met…but she’s his employee. Unwilling to give her up, Jack makes Sterling an offer she can’t refuse—for four sexy weekends, he’ll indulge her most wicked fantasies with no professional strings attached. But will mixing business with pleasure spell disaster? Or will they find the recipe for satisfaction?

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REVIEW: Recipe for Satisfaction is the first storyline in Gina Gordon’s new Madewood Brothers series. Gina invites the reader into the world of the Madewood Brothers by introducing Jack and his older siblings and we know each will have a story to tell. Recipe for Satisfaction is Jack and Sterling’s story.

Although Recipe for Satisfaction is an introductory storyline I did not feel overwhelmed with information. There is just enough background information about the brother’s and their family history that the reader is left wanting more.

The four Madewood brothers are each successful in their own right, owning and operating a string of nightclubs, restaurants and eateries around North America but when Jack comes home to Toronto for a few weeks of R&R, the last thing he wanted was a relationship. But the death of their mother has left a hole in the family and Jack needed someone to help organize and pack his mother’s belongings. Enter Sterling Andrews-an organizer and planner who would be perfect for the job. But Jack has other plans for Sterling and makes her an offer that she cannot refuse.

The relationship between Jack and Sterling begins as a torrid but not quite one-night stand. Each looking for a night of passion, without commitments, and yet each discovered they wanted something more. As the storyline progressed, Jack and Sterling develop feelings for one another but Sterling’s extended family’s financial problem drives a wedge between Jack and Sterling when Jack accidently discovers the final notice invoices and credit card receipts. Believing Sterling wants only one thing, Jack pushes away the one woman who could make him happy.

Recipe for Satisfaction is a contemporary romance with a predictable happily ever after that is fast paced and fun to read. There are no thought provoking diatribes about life and love, only two people meant for each other who must overcome some personal obstacles as well as some private heartbreaks.

I only had one problem and that was the ending. It was rather abrupt and Sterling’s last pronouncement to the man she loves, should have pushed him away-in my opinion.

Copy supplied by publisher