Don't Go Away Mad

Burgers and Brew Crüe, Book 2

De: Lacey Black

Narrado por: Lexi Evans, Scott Rose

Jasper

The kitchen: it's my domain, where I create the best burgers in the Midwest. I'm the man behind the grill at Burgers and Brew, the restaurant and bar I co-own with my best friends. Every night, we're packed, the demand has never been this high. It's the only way I want it, thriving and pushing myself to be the very best.

Then she started her new business across the street from mine.

The one woman who always got under my skin, who pushed me to be better. Lyndee was my biggest rival in school and my biggest regret.

Now, she's in town, and as much as I try, I just can't stay away.

I want her.

Lyndee

A new start: that's what Stewart Grove means for me and my brother. He's the one who pushed me to take the chance on opening my own bakery. I am ready for the long hours, the grueling schedule, and the hard work it will take to be successful.

I wasn't at all prepared to come face-to-face with the man across the street.

An almost kiss in college with the world's most infuriating man has haunted me for the last decade. Now Jasper's here, and I don't think I can resist him.

Things are about to heat up in and out of the kitchen.

I just pray I don't get burned.

©2021 Lacey Black Books (P)2024 Pink Flamingo Productions

Jasper and Lyndee...

3.5 stars...
Don't Go Away Mad is the second book in the Burgers and Brew Crue series. It is a small town, slow burn, enemies to lovers romance. This is Jasper and Lyndee's story. You get great chemistry, plenty of banter and angst, with all the feels. It was a good read.

Lexi Evans and Scott Rose did a good job bringing these characters and this story to life.

Pushing Buttons

OK, one of my absolute favorite parts of this is the ribbing between Jasper Kohlmann and his friends, whether it's about Lyndee Gibson or just about anything else. It's hilarious. Throw is an adorable preschooler, and it gets even better!

Jasper likes pushing Lyndee's buttons. I think he has a ☠️ wish. 🫣👀 That said, I like how they verbally spar and generally support each other after getting past the initial shock of being in the same town, and Jasper confirming that she's no longer competition like she was in culinary school. There is a GIANT misstep that rubbed me wrong, but I liked the rest of the story.

There's a side romance that's cute. I like that cerebral palsy doesn't slow Dustin down much, and he's able to find someone who appreciates him.

I received an author's copy of the audio book. The narrators are Lexi Evans and Scott Rose. They were delightful to listen to. I felt the highs and lows and general frustrations. 🎧❤️‍🔥🎧

Story: 4 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x

H & h = 32ish

Great Story

I've read this book before, but when it came out on Audible, I had to have it. I'm so glad I got it, too. The narration is great and makes it easy to enjoy the book when I can't sit and read. Jasper is the epitome of a hot-headed chef, but when Lindy comes along, she takes him just a bit. They are truly the perfect match for each other.

Invested in all the characters!

This is the second book I've read/listened to by Jacey Black. I'll admit that I LOVED the first book, but this one was a bit more difficult for me to enjoy. The hero was lacking. He was too grumpy and self centered all the way through. I don't want to give too much information, but at the end, he just didn't do the right thing 1. fast enough 2. without being told what he should do. Really? Ugh! I love the heroine and her brother. I am looking forward to the next audiobook. This may not have been my favorite, but I'm invested in these characters and town.

The narrators were excellent. They brought this audiobook to life with emotional performances that had it rolling like a movie in my head. They are why I finished this book.

#TheFlockonTour #PinkFlamingoProductions

Book 2 - Burgers and Brew Crüe

This is book 2 in Black's Burgers and Brew Crüe series and a wonderful addition to the series, although it can be read / listened as a standalone. This book focus' on Jasper and Lyndee. Jasper is head chef and creative culinary genius at Burgers and Brew. Lyndee is a pastry chef opening up her new bakery across the road. These two have a bit of history as they both went to culinary school together and had some competition as well as some simmering chemistry that was never really acted upon at the time. Now, they are circling each other, and the chemistry is stronger than ever. I love Jasper's friend group who are both supportive and real with him and how they welcome Lyndee as one of their own, eager to help other small businesses. I loved the balance of sweet and steam and thought the storyline flowed well and the dual narration was wonderfully done for these characters. Jasper is a great blend of gruff and soft and Lyndee brings out the best in him. Lyndee is a wonderfully strong character, and I loved her determination. Overall, a great romance read / listen, and I can't wait for more in this series!

This book was given to me for free at my request and I voluntarily provided this review.

The Sweetness of Heat in the Kitchen

The dream of starting your own business from something you are passionate about. The set-up, the worry, the fear, the stress, the fulfillment… is all wonderfully written in “Don’t Go Away Mad.”

Lyndee has dreamed of opening up her own bakery and is working hard to get prepared. Life has been hard on her, but she is determined, has all the game plans…

Except for when her rival in cooking school walks into her establishment, who is one of the four co-owners of the gourmet burger restaurant across the street, “Burgers and Brew.” The handsome, cocky, competitive, and short-fused Jasper.

I do enjoy a good cooking rivalry love story, which I blame anime and manga for! Ha! Lyndee and Jasper have a fair, natural progression with their attraction and I agree they are good for each other. They also work well together if either of their places are in a pinch, understanding the struggles.

However, if you read my description of Jasper, you can tell he will be the jerk type character. We normally love those types in romances, right?

I hate to say this, but it was so hard for me to root for Jasper and even more challenging to like him as a character.

He was mean to his staff to the point it several quitting or crying. He was arrogant. Jealous, petty. So much so in fact that this caused him to do something that destroyed someone he cared about. Even if he was “venting” and “didn’t mean to send it.” There were straight up lies! What is this, high school? And he didn’t try to fix it until weeks later!

I am glad things got settled and this book had a cute ending, but phew, I just could not support this guy.

His friends were epic, everyone descriptive and likable, the author having a great writing style. And she did make me chuckle many times with their one liners.

And Dustin! Oh! I love this young man and his representation. I’ve been an educator for 15 years now. My first job was as a middle school, special education assistant. And I got to work with a fine young man who had high functioning cerebral palsy. And even though he’s 25 now, we are close friends to this day. So seeing how Dustin was described and how he was so full of life and persistence, it made my heart very happy, and I appreciate the author doing this for representation and just making a fun guy in general, not limited or defined by his cerebral palsy.

Both the narrators were absolutely phenomenal. Jasper had that wonderful alluring tone. And definitely played the character’s strengths and faults well. He was engaging to listen to. And anything that Lexi Evans is in, I jump towards cause she’s my favorite narrator. Once again, she dominated with all of the range of emotions. I like that her voice was a little bit softer in the story for it fit Lyndee well. But she also brought the characters sass to the sweetness .

And Lizard is just adorable!

I am looking forward to the next stories and seeing what this crew is cooking, and hopefully it will be sweet and sizzling!

Sweet and Heartwarming!

This is the second book in the Burgers and Brew Crüe Series. Jasper and Lyndee's story is sweet, fun, engaging, and heartwarming. They are perfect together. The supporting characters are great and interesting. I liked Lyndee's brother. Lexi Evans and Scott Rose did a great job bringing these characters and this story to life. This is a beautifully written enemies to lovers romance. I enjoyed it. Looking forward to listening to Same Ol' Situation, the next book in the series. #PFPAudio

Always fun watching grumpiest guys fall

Jasper and Lyndee have history, but never expected to see other again after college. Maybe fate had a hand? How else would they end up with businesses across the street from each other? It's always fun to watch the grumpiest 'no time for love' guys fall hard, and this story didn't disappoint. Lyndee turned Jasper into a sweetheart for her. Her brother also had a significant role that made the story that much better. Narration brought these characters to life from the pages.

Love Jasper and Lyndee!

Jasper and Lyndee were in cooking school together and always fought with each other.  Lyndee opens a bakery across from his burger place and when he finds out, he thinks she is up to something.  Jasper helps Lyndee move some things in her store before she opens with some of his friends he owns his burger place with. As time goes on and Jasper sees Lyndee helping her brother out, he starts to fall for her.  I loved this story and all the characters in it.  I can’t wait for the next story in this series.  Lexi Evans and Scott Rose did an awesome job with the narration.  They put all their feelings into the characters and made it enjoyable to listen to.
#AudiobookObsession #TheFlock

The Chef and the Baker

This story has great characters and the chemistry between Jasper and Lyndee is pretty hot. Although Jasper didn't start out very friendly towards Lyndee, he redeems himself as the story continues.

What started out as competitive frenemies in culinary school turns into a HEA a decade later.

Great narration.