Cooking romances are always high-pressure, but Edwards’s second Rising Star Chef contemporary (after Too Hot to Touch) gets downright mean. Eva Jansen, spoiled brat daughter of the Rising Star Chef competition’s philandering founder, aims to prove that she can run the contest and keep the attention of the Cooking Channel. She’s distracted by sexy pastry chef Danny Lunden, who is overwhelmed with the complex social dynamics of his team. Meanwhile, two contest judges continue an affair made extra awkward by age and cultural differences, and fistfights break out in the kitchen. Eva can’t decide whether to keep the personal drama out of the TV coverage or cause a ruckus for ratings while keeping her own reputation clear. The food and the sex are less than delicious, and the little emotional warmth feels forced amid all the lust and jealousy. Agent: Deidre Knight. (Dec.)