Australian movie star Lucas Grant is very unhappy when he learns that a lowlife opportunist is attempting to publish a tell-all biography about him. The unwelcome tale paints Lucas as a sad, little boy lost, who grew up in foster care and never knew his biological family. And Lucas Grant, bad boy of Australian cinema, does not want anyone's pity. In a fit of anger, he kicks the side of his hot tub after reading the tome and winds up injuring his foot. Laid up and told to rest for 4 weeks, Lucas recuperates at the remote mansion of a friend. Since he's used to being surrounded by various hangers-on, Lucas is sure that boredom and loneliness will overcome him within a few days. That is, until he meets the personal chef assigned to cook his meals, and decides that he can find some other way to amuse himself.

Sophie Gallagher has led a pretty boring life. She's dated the same man for more than a decade, and worked as the head chef at his family's restaurant for almost that long. During that time, things have stayed the same. The sex, the relationship, the restaurant's menu... and people have started to notice. No one more than Sophie's boyfriend who ends their relationship. Though Sophie is devastated, she's forced to acknowledge that the break was a long time coming. In order to get her mind off of things, she accepts a private catering job as the personal chef to Lucas Grant in a remote location. Sophie is aware of Lucas's bad boy reputation, but she's determined to resist his charms. That is, until she starts to wonder why she's bothering to resist at all...

BURNING UP is a hot, entertaining story that gets to right to the point. Serial novels don't have as much room for exposition or character planning, I've found, but Sarah Mayberry has managed to present two thoroughly drawn characters who each have a past, a history, and goals. Lucas Grant is the quintessential celebrity with his dashing good looks, string of broken hearts in his wake, and refusal to settle down. All he needs is an unrepentant good girl like Sophie who forces him to face what he's running away from and makes him want to be a better man. This book squeezed in so much emotion, entertainment, and passion into such a small amount of space that I'll definitely have to check out more of Mayberry's work in the future. For the present time, however, just know that BURNING UP sears the pages and will leave you thirsty for more.

Book Summary

Spending a month as personal chef for an overindulged—and mouthwatering—man? Sophie Gallagher is so up for the challenge. She's immune to charm…or so she thinks. Because when big-screen star Lucas Grant turns up the temptation, she discovers—up close and personal—he's earned the name hottest man alive.

Sophie is fun, vivacious and couldn't be further from Lucas's bimbo bombshell type. Much to his surprise, she's captivated him. But as sizzling as they are between the sheets, once his hiatus is over, the credits will roll on this fling. Saying goodbye, however, isn't as easy as he'd thought. Will this production be The End of the Affair… or Love Actually?