Books & Spoons Review for AFTER THE STORM by Katy Ames

Tessa has two rules for her new life. Falling for the mysterious man on the beach isn’t one of them.

Tall, dark, and brooding, Tristan has the pastry chef’s piping bags in a twist the second he appears uninvited in her kitchen. 

Tessa’s job on the island is supposed to be the next stage in her career. And the distraction she needs from everything she left behind. Feeding the silent man with the ice-blue eyes isn’t part of the gig. No matter how delicious his half-smiles. 

But when their unlikely relationship heats up, Tessa realizes how little she knows about the gorgeous man in her bed. And when Tessa and Tristan’s secrets collide it turns out they’ve found the recipe for the perfect storm.

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Jumping into a book three in a series, by a new author to me, didn't dim the enjoyment of this book a bit. Yes, there were moments that I wished I had read the previous books to get more background information, but this story stands on its own and stands tall. 
The writing is -- I use this word too much but honestly, even thesaurus couldn't help me here -- it is amazing. Each scene and dialogue is so packed with emotion, suspense, secrets, and this sizzling energy of something sinister lurking just around the corner that I was in awe. There are secrets and suspense, and even a bit mystery and evilness in the tale, so much so that without nearly any action I would still call it romantic suspense. 
One scene particular where the fight is against the power of the mother nature, it has the force of a hurricane in itself, and with its detailed, drastic narration, it took my breath away. 
The story itself is great and entertaining. The intensity is high, it is very physical, erotic, and the sex scenes are detailed, multiple, and H.O.T. They are also packed with emotions, so deep and so wide, demonstrating the storm of the inner turmoil, that they were an intricate part of the plot. 
To say that Tristan and Tessa have chemistry would be like saying torpedo is windy. What those two had in between them was tangible, fierce, and powerful, a force to be reckoned with. 
I read to escape, and as a chef and a pastry chef, for that reason usually, try to avoid the 'foodie romance' stories. There were a lot of references at the beginning of the story to baking and Tessa's creations but they were a relevant part of Tessa and Tristan finding a common ground and forming a connection, thus enjoyable and delicious. 
An intense, riveting story about family, friends, food, and love and not necessarily in that order. It has strong suspenseful elements, it has dangerous, twisted secrets, it has unexpected connections, but mostly it has two souls hungry for love, acceptance, and a home to belong to. It is beautiful, powerful, and ah, so very ardent and amorous. 
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

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Katy Ames has spent most of her life on the East Coast and hopes to spend more of it in the UK. In part, so she can indulge in her serious plaid obsession. There isn’t a teenage drama on the CW or a period British TV show she hasn’t binge-watched at least twice. And she can be persuaded to do most things with the promise of bourbon, coffee, chocolate, or a nap, not necessarily in that order. Katy is mom to a small human who has an obscene amount of energy and a blissful ability to ignore swear words, and wife to a man whose reading habits are far too serious. Katy and her family reside in Washington, D.C., a city she where never planned to live and loves so much she’d be happy to talk about it for hours. Just ask. 

Katy writes contemporary romances that feature heroes who are strong but not so silent, heroines who aren’t afraid to kick ass, and stories that get a little messy before they end happily ever after. 
Katy is a member of both the Romance Writers of America and the Washington Romance Writers.

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