Under the Knife

Kelly’s delectable debut explores romance in present-day L.A. under the blazing lights of reality television. Nate has spent years working his way up through the ranks of the culinary world, and now he has the chance to build a secure future thanks to a spot in a nationally broadcast cooking contest. One of the other chefs, Zachary, is both competition and temptation—a handsome young restaurant owner with big plans, an impressive culinary pedigree, and an even larger ego. As the weeks tick down to the finale, the two men grow closer both in the kitchen and in the hidden nooks where the camera can’t find them. The story is a touch uneven in places, with long time gaps and slightly stilted characterization, but there’s real charm in the loving and detailed descriptions of both the romance and the food. Kelly takes a refreshingly matter-of-fact approach to the widely diverse supporting characters, who are well developed as individuals without ever stealing the spotlight. (July)