In the Raw — Eileen Griffin; Nikka Michaels

If you can't take the heat…

James Lassiter has had a crush on fellow culinary student Ethan Martin for three years, but has never had the guts to make a move. Putting himself out there is hard, especially when under the thumb -- and wallet -- of his overbearing parents. Now that bad boy chef Ethan -- who is always vying with Jamie for best in class -- is struggling with the pastry course, Jamie suddenly has a reason to reach out.

Ethan doesn't mean to be an ass -- okay, so mostly he does -- but even though he's secretly hot for Jamie, he sure as hell doesn't want help with pastry. Ever since his dad walked out, Ethan has been the one to hold things together and he's done fine on his own. Except that he can't get his cake to rise.

Jamie could be the answer to what Ethan's been missing his whole life -- someone to depend on. But with the two competing for the same scholarship, things suddenly get too hot to handle. And if Jamie finds the strength to go for what he wants, he isn't about to settle for what he needs.

In the Raw is the first book in the In the Kitchen series. Stay tuned for book two, In the Fire, available in November 2014 from Carina Press.

85,000 words