Welcome to Miami! As I finish up my mom vacation, I finished reading South Beach Love – the perfect book to read while listening to the ocean roar outside my windows.

From New York Times Bestselling Author Caridad Piñeiro and Hallmark Publishing comes a story about rival quinceañeras, glorious Cuban cooking, friendship, family ties—and romance.

Two chefs are catering the fifteenth birthday parties of two girls who are definitely not friends. Only one of the celebrations will be chosen to be featured in the local paper. And both chefs have something to prove.

Tony Sanchez, the established executive chef of a New York restaurant, is on a long-overdue visit home to Miami. He’s committed to making the celebration the best it can be—for the sake of his niece, the rest of his family, and his reputation.

Sara Kelly hadn’t known much about quinceañeras before she agreed to cater one for her niece. It’s a chance to both help her family and to promote her brand-new restaurant in Miami. From her Cuban sister-in-law, Sara learns about quince traditions, appreciating the meaning behind them.

When Tony was growing up, Sara was his best friend’s little sister; now, he sees her in a very different light. But his last relationship with another chef ended in disaster…and Sara knows that, once the parties are over, he’ll be gone. Can either of them entertain the idea of a new romance?

I loved every part of this story. Every. Part. I loved reading about Tony and Sara in the kitchen, especially reading about the different Cuban food they were preparing or eating. Couple that with their shared past, where Sara had a crush on Tony, and seeing where they were now in their lives was the perfect Hallmark romance *insert chef’s kiss here.* As Hallmark romances are never just about the couple, we also get to meet Tony and Sara’s extended families, and how their family dynamics play out. An added bonus to this story was the rivalry between the nieces, Angelica and Samantha. This is a lot to pack into one story, but don’t worry – it all works so well together!

The best part? South Beach Love is now a Hallmark movie! I can’t wait to see this one play out on TV and compare it to the story. It premieres on October 9th! You know I will be tuning in.

This one gave me all my warm and fuzzy Hallmark feels. It’s heartwarming, full of family love and romance. Pick this one up if you are a Hallmark romance fan!!

Thank you to Hallmark Publishing  for a free copy for review! All opinions are my own.