**A delicious standalone novel**

Food, lies and second-chance love make for a delicious dish.
So why can't Leslie take a bite?

When NYC investigative journalist Leslie Molina-Allen leaves town to care for her beloved Aunt Dot, she never expects to be tossed into the orbit of her first—and only—love, Chef Risto. Or end up working at his restaurant.

For as long as Leslie can remember, food has been the enemy. Something to be mastered, not enjoyed—or so her mother says. And Risto's unapologetic appetite for life is everything Leslie has spent years trying to forget.

With a booming restaurant and a skyrocketing reputation, Chef Risto has everything he's ever wanted. Except Leslie. She lost interest in him long ago—but still manages to haunt his dreams every night. So when she turns up to fill in for Dot, days become unbearable too.

Amidst the rich aromas of Puerto Rican cuisine, Risto and Leslie must balance the pressures of love and ambition. But a well-fed woman is a revolutionary force, and some appetites can no longer be ignored...

Steamy, emotional, and deeply resonant, What We Give Away is a slow-burn love story about breaking free, reclaiming joy, and finding the courage to live on your own terms.