Just Add Flames

Just Add Flames is part whodunnit murder mystery, part rom-com, part Top Chef–style cooking competition, perfect for fans of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It and The Bear.

Roman Montero is about to open Miami’s hotly anticipated new restaurant, Secado Al Sol. The location is breathtaking, the chef is brilliant, and the buzz is at fever pitch. Everything is perfect—because it has to be. This is his last chance.

Before Secado Al Sol, Roman managed a trendy little French spot in Manhattan. Its reputation was stellar, and its tables were always booked. Then one night the restaurant literally went up in flames. The official cause was a dirty oven hood. But restaurants are gossipy places, and everyone knew about Roman’s messy behind-the-scenes romances and questionable ethics.

So, when he received an offer to start a new venture with a celebrity chef in Miami, he jumped at the opportunity. In an unforgiving business, he vowed to make the most of this second chance, pouring his heart and soul into the details. But then Roman’s nemesis, renowned food critic Oscar van Theron, shows up on opening night and is served a mouthful of human hair.

There’s never a good time for a negative review, but bad press the first week can kill a restaurant. So can the building code violations and staffing issues that plague Secado Al Sol in the following days. It’s all Roman can do to keep the restaurant open and the latest crisis under wraps. But when his ex Claudia shows up in Miami, she waltzes into his restaurant and threatens to bring him down—again.

Roman realizes it’s time for drastic measures. He’ll do whatever it takes to save his restaurant—he just never planned for it to go this far …

© 2027 Blackstone Publishing (Audiobook): 9798228807778

Release date

Audiobook: 18 May 2027