You Had Me at Taco

by Candice Y. Johnson

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Starting over is more than a song lyric… The last thing rising fashion designer Dayton Royal anticipated when she moved to Necessity, Texas was managing one of her cousin’s taco trucks. But after being skewered on social media for ruining her first famous client’s wedding gown and then her estranged mother reaches out to reconcile, Day retreats, drowning in tortillas, salsa and humiliation. Romance isn’t on her plate, until the handsome business owner she’s been casually flirting with makes a move. Single dad Grant Thomas has been smitten since the stunner, Day, walked into his store. Though burned by love, Grant still seizes the opportunity to ask Day out –right before his ex-wife arrives demanding he take their angry teen for the summer, perhaps longer. Unsure if he can balance work, fatherhood and romance, Grant’s determined to try. Inspired by her new relationship, Day becomes a mentor to Grant’s daughter and dives back into her dream career as well as indulges her creativity and love of tacos. But can she embrace her new life and family, as well as forgive her mother and past mistakes?

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Book Details

Genre

Contemporary Romance

Subgenre

Small town romances, Black & African American Romance

Series

Taco Truck Romance • Book 3

Audience

Adult

Bell Peppers

🫑🫑

Profanity

2 Mild

Violence

1 None

Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco

1 None

Publication Date

July 22, 2025

Language Versions

English

Fiction Form

Novel

About the Author

When she’s not on the hunt for the perfect taco, award-winning author, choreographer, and screenwriter Candice Y. Johnson, loves spending time dancing across the keyboard, penning heartwarming, swoon-worthy, emotional stories that inspire compassion, provoke thought, and of course…always bet on love. Out of the many accolades she’s earned (including serving as choreographer for a four-time Emmy award-winning television special), one of the Texas resident’s proudest accomplishments? Writing about her favorite food – TACOS, of course!Just as unpredictable as the Texas weather, Candice loves writing in multiple genres (romance, women’s fiction, inspirational, holiday, non-fiction, children’s books), and spending time with her creative husband – whom she’s convinced the world to call “Hershey,” as they collaborate on stage plays, films, and concerts…or munching on tacos, with a side of cupcakes.

Wow

Day is a mood…. I feel you…Grant is a bit more complex - teenage daughter, crappy ex-wife. It took a while for me to get a read on him.After an interesting start, I enjoyed seeing Day and Blake (Grant’s daughter’ build a relationship. Yes, Day and Grant were goals, but I always love seeing the bonds with the kids form - in this when they’re older, it’s worth it.The characters were a hot mess, but the story was heartfelt and surprisingly real(ish).I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

was not for me

This was a new-to-me author. Unfortunately, I didn’t find this book to be a good fit for me. I found Day to be very self-centered and stuck in a “woe is me” mindset throughout most of the book. She came across as more of a child than a grown woman.I also felt the author included way too many political talking points that had little to do with the actual story. This made the book feel disingenuous, and I quickly lost interest.That said, I did like Blake—man, that girl was a pistol! She was super direct, just like Coy. You always knew where you stood with both of them; there was no holding back. Their personalities were honestly the only reason I kept reading—I wanted to know what happened with them.I liked Grant as well. He seemed like he had a good heart and genuinely wanted the best for those close to him. He understood loss and, because of that, seemed to value life even more.Overall, though, this book just wasn’t for me.

Love and Tacos

I love Grant and Day's story. This book kept me laughing. I especially love the wedding.

An Emotional Slow Burn Work Place Romance

When the wine hits the wedding gown, Dayton Royal can kiss her fashion career and fiance‘ goodbye. The only opportunity open is small time Texas and her cousin’s taco truck. But, new chances are right where she doesn’t expect to find them once she opens her eyes and takes notice. Candice Johnson is a new to me author, but I was sold on a title and a cover and happy to taste test a romance of seconds for two relationship-wary people.You Had Me at Taco is the third installment in the Taco Truck Romance series of standalone romance. While I understood that Day’s two cousins got their romances earlier, You Had Me at Taco was easily read out of order for Day and Grant’s age-gap romance.Day is pretty low after the incident with the wine and her life exploding so she doesn’t notice nearby business owner, Grant’s interest until his life is suddenly in crisis when his ex leaves his hostile teen daughter on his doorstep and he’s floundering trying to be Blake’s dad and make a connection with her. Tumultuous teenager Blake is just who Day needs to break her out of her own spiral. This is because Day can relate to Blake’s parent issues since Day’s being pushed by her mom to resolve her own longstanding struggles.Day helps Blake as they connect over fashion and food and this also helps Day heal and begin to address her own issues with her mome. Day slowly begins building something with Grant. If they can get through family drama, figuring out life, work, and dreams, and trusting what they’ve got, a teenager and a taco truck might just see them to their chance at happy.You Had Me at Taco held no surprises for me. I read the blurb and saw that there was going to be drama and high emotions. It was more than I generally gravitate toward, but it made sense and didn’t come out of nowhere. The romance initially took a backseat though the smoldering attraction was there. The age-gap didn’t dominate their romance like this trope sometimes can. It does leave one craving a good taco. This was a heartwarming, healing story with an engaging romance for contemporary romance fans.

You Had Me At Taco

You Had Me At Taco is the third book in The Taco Truck Romance series by Candice Y Johnson. The book features Dayton “Day” Royal, Grant Thomas and his daughter Blake Thomas. We met Day and Grant in the prior books. Day designs wedding dresses and headpieces. She is struggling to get her name known and create a successful business. Grant owns a beauty supply store where Day has some of her headpieces for sale. She has a boyfriend back in Atlanta who always seems to cause her unhappiness. Her mother left her and her dad when she was young and she’s never forgiven her. Grant is divorced and shares custody of his teenage daughter Blake with his ex wife. He has just learned that his ex is moving to Germany and giving him custody.As the book opens, Day had been hired to create a wedding dress for a well known singer and she knew her career was finally taking off. Unfortunately in her excitement for the finished gown, she spills red wine and ruins it. When she tells the woman, she demands her deposit back and proceeds to smear her all over social media. Day reluctantly accepts her cousins’ offer to run one of their taco trucks. Her boyfriend dumps her because he’s afraid of her bad publicity affecting his career. Grant has been wanting to date her since he met her. Now that she’s finally single he asks her out. Day spends time with Grant and Blake and learns she wants to be a chef. So Day asks Blake to work for her in the taco truck and the two become close. Blake has issues with her mom and won’t talk to her on the phone. Finally she agrees to 10 minutes a week. Day also has issues with her mom and after her mom returns to their town indefinitely, she agrees to talk. Grant and Day have fallen in love but are taking it slowly. Both are multitasking through their daily lives. After some surprising events, both are forced to examine what they want.This was a very enjoyable book. There were some heavy moments as well as funny ones. Grant, Day and Blake make a wonderful family and there’s lots of love in their midst. I have read the previous two books and found both entertaining and heartfelt as well. Candice has created a warm and loving family in her series. I was happy that the characters from the prior books were also a part of this story.