Recipe for Two by Tia Fielding & Lisa Henry

Amazon Link
Goodreads Link



Blurb

Wyatt Abbot is 19. On the outside, he lives the perfect life. He has a loving family, he’s wealthy, and he has just been given the opportunity to travel to Paris and train under one of the world’s best pastry chefs. But underneath all that, Wyatt is struggling. He’s battling anxiety, he’s scared of the future, and he’s struggling to come to terms with the fact that he’s genderfluid.

Izzy Kostas is 28, and on parole. When he gets a job at Abbot Organic Produce, it’s a chance for a new start. Izzy has his own demons he’s trying to overcome, but meeting Wyatt throws even more complications his way. Izzy has always thought of himself as straight, and certainly didn’t expect to fall for his boss’s little brother.

When Izzy is blamed for putting the Abbots at risk, it jeopardizes everything he and Wyatt have begun to build together. Izzy knows how important family is to Wyatt, and he doesn’t want him to have to take sides. But when it comes to found families, nobody is perfect, and there’s always room for another seat at the table.


Review 
My Rating - 5 Stars!

Oh, how I love Tia Fielding and Lisa Henry's Recipe for Two! This follow up to Family Recipe is absolutely fantastic! The start is good, but a little slow. But as soon as the main characters meet, I found myself living and breathing these men and their lives. 

A heartfelt and beautiful story, it focuses on Wyatt and Izzy. Wyatt's confused, scared, and unable to tell anyone his truth. Izzy's an ex-con who's hired to work on Wyatt's family farm. From there we get a tender and sweet romance between two men who have an instant connection.

Upon meeting Wyatt, Izzy finds someone who see beyond his past. Wyatt sees him for who he is and gives him the strength to be the person he wants to be. Basically Wyatt saves him by trusting him and loving him. Add in that Izzy's never fallen for a guy before, and the reader is treated to some amazing first times. 

And then there's Wyatt's situation. Poor Wyatt has a secret he can't admit to anyone. I don't want to give anything away, but his secret is amazingly well explored, written with care and compassion. I found myself madly in love with this character, wanting to hug, protect, and encourage him myself. I definitely teared up at times throughout this aspect of the story.

These are two men who bring out the best in one another. They are realistic characters who impress the hell out of me. They have a lot to deal with, including some crippling anxiety, some health concerns and some major complications. The anxiety is so damn realistic and absolutely gut-wrenching. I could seriously feel the anxiety myself, and I love how the authors handle this throughout.

And the family. Oh the family. I absolutely love them! This group who we met in Family Recipe is super supportive and loving. They are tested at times, but they are what family should be. 

This is a story that illustrates severe anxiety attacks, PTSD, and a whole lot of character growth. This is a story of overcoming all odds with the support of loved ones. This story is an emotional roller coaster that tugs at my heartstrings often. 

The writing is stellar, with multi-layered characters and some serious, thought-provoking topics. The character growth is ever present and amazing. The angst is well done; just the right amount, and the ending is perfect!

I just love everything about Recipe For Two. This Tia Fielding and Lisa Henry book is fabulous. I am thrilled to have gotten a chance to revisit the characters from Family Recipe, as well as getting to know new ones.