Hi guys, we have R.J. Scott & Chris Quinton stopping by today to remind everyone of Heat, the first book in the Salisbury series before book 2 Ice is released, so have a peek at the excerpt and mine & Lisa’s reviews and then click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~

Heat

R.J. Scott & Chris Quinton

Serving up passion, family, love and hate, with a side order of arson.

Lewis has lost nearly everything, and now it seems that Devon is here to take the last thing he has left – working in his beloved restaurant, Laurels. But when an arsonist threatens everything Lewis loves, he realizes sometimes everyone has their ghosts, and he discovers an unexpected ally who is prepared to risk everything for him.

Set in the small cathedral city of Salisbury, Master Chef Lewis Mandineau no longer owns the Laurels, the restaurant that had been in his family for generations. Betrayed and robbed by an ex-lover, he’s had to sell to Carnegie Enterprises, an American corporation. That isn’t all Lewis has to contend with. Rachel, his beloved younger sister has been left severely hurt by the car crash that killed their parents, and taking care of her has to be his priority.

Enter Devon Trelawney III, sent to assess the viability of the restaurant and its staff. Devon knows all about family tradition. But he also knows sentiment has no place in business matters, and the Laurels’ potential is swamped by the debts it has accrued. Devon is a hardheaded businessman, first and foremost, but Lewis and Rachel test his resolve in different ways. Soon Devon is forced to admit that what seems like an impossible love can sometimes become something very real.

Excerpt

The office door banged open.

“Where’s the restroom?” Devon demanded. Lewis smiled and pointed.

When Devon returned, he paused by Lewis’s workstation just as he finished filling the piping bag with the very pink buttercream icing. Yesterday’s fairy cakes sat on their tray, their tops already sliced off and halved to make the wings.

“For the dining room?” Devon asked doubtfully.

“No, for my sister.” No one else was in the kitchen at the moment, and the door to the staffroom was shut, so no one could overhear Lewis snipe at the new boss. “And before you say it, the ingredients are my own, bought and brought in for the purpose. I’m sure you can work out how much to charge me for the gas I used to bake them.” 

Devon opened his mouth to say something, then shut it just as quickly. Evidently he didn’t want to grace Lewis’s comment with an answer. Immediately Lewis felt lower than low. He was a trained, sought-after chef, not a kid taking cheap shots at someone in his class he didn’t like. 

Then Devon spoke and any inner commentary about feeling guilty was wiped away in an instant. “What is that crap you kept on bringing me?”

“Peppermint and camomile. It’s good for migraines and headaches. And it’s mine.” Then he couldn’t resist. “I’ll be sending you a bill later.”

“Fine. You do that.”

“I will.”

“And you can fix me another one while you’re at it!”

“Fine!” Lewis met Devon’s glower with one of his own. The three-inch difference in their heights made a nose to nose face off a little awkward, but he’d be damned if he’d let the man stare him down. Then Lewis saw the amber flecks in Devon’s coffee- dark eyes and lost track of his anger. If he leant forward just a few inches, Devon would be in kissing range. 

Handsome is as handsome does… Em’s voice echoed in his mind, and he stepped back. Devon moved away at the same time, and the subtle tension that had nothing to do with anger faded away. 

Their gazes were still locked, and gradually the silliness of their confrontation struck Lewis. He struggled to contain his smile, knew he was failing and bit his lip. Devon glanced down and focused on Lewis’s mouth. Devon flushed, and suddenly Lewis’s gaydar kicked in. 

It was like a bucket of icy water thrown in his face. Having the hots for a straight man was one thing: they were suitable dream fodder, safe and out of reach. But not for another gay man. Not after Peter. Especially his boss, an ill-tempered arsehole who seemed to be hell-bent on alienating every one of Laurels’ staff.

About R.J. & Chris

My goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.

I’ve been writing since age six, when I was made to stay in at lunchtime for an infraction involving cookies and a mixing bowl. You can’t tell a six-year-old not to lick the bowl!

I was told to write a story, and two sides of paper about a trapped princess later, a lover of writing was born.

As an avid reader myself, I can be found reading anything from thrillers to sci-fi to horror. However, my first real true love will always be the world of romance. I love my cowboys, bodyguards, firemen, and billionaires (to name a few), and I love to write dramatic and romantic stories of love and passion between them. (Yum.)

With over ninety titles to my name and counting, I’m the author of the award-winning The Christmas Throwaway, which was the All Romance eBooks bestselling title of 2010.

I’m also known for the Texas series, which charts the lives of Riley and Jack, and the Sanctuary series, which follows the work of the Sanctuary Foundation and the people it protects.

I’m always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers, and other writers. Please contact me via the links below:

  rj@rjscott.co.uk | Website | Twitter |  Facebook | Librarything | Tumblr (some NSFW (not safe for work) photos) Pinterest | Full list of all books and works in progress | List of all print books | Reviews for RJ’s books

Chris Quinton

Chris started creating stories not long after she mastered joined-up writing, somewhat to the bemusement of her parents and her English teachers. But she received plenty of encouragement. Her dad gave her an already old Everest typewriter when she was ten, and it was probably the best gift she’d ever received – until the inventions of the home-computer and the worldwide web.

Chris’s reading and writing interests range from historical, mystery, and paranormal, to science-fiction and fantasy, writing mostly in the male/male genre. She also writes the occasional male/female novel in the name of Chris Power. She refuses to be pigeon-holed and intends to uphold the long and honourable tradition of the Eccentric Brit to the best of her ability. In her spare time [hah!] she reads, or listens to audio books while quilting or knitting. Over the years she has been a stable lad [briefly] in a local racing stable and stud, a part-time and unpaid amateur archaeologist, a civilian clerk at her local police station and a 15th century re-enactor.

She lives in a small and ancient city not far from Stonehenge in the south-west of the United Kingdom, and shares her usually chaotic home with her extended family, three dogs, a Frilled Dragon [lizard], sundry goldfish and tropicals.

Where to find the author:

Facebook | Twitter | Website

Giveaway!

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Review

Title: Heat

Series: Salisbury Stories 01

Author: R.J. Scott & Chris Quinton

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (209pgs)

ISBN: 9781311353382

Publisher: Love Lane Books (24^th October 2014)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 ½ Hearts

Reviewers: Pixie & Lisa

Blurb: Serving up passion, family, love and hate, with a side order of arson.

Lewis has lost nearly everything, and now it seems that Devon is here to take the last thing he has left – working in his beloved restaurant, Laurels. But when an arsonist threatens everything Lewis loves, he realizes sometimes everyone has their ghosts, and he discovers an unexpected ally who is prepared to risk everything for him.

Set in the small cathedral city of Salisbury, Master Chef Lewis Mandineau no longer owns the Laurels, the restaurant that had been in his family for generations. Betrayed and robbed by an ex-lover, he’s had to sell to Trelawney Enterprises, an American corporation. That isn’t all Lewis has to contend with. Rachel, his beloved younger sister has been left severely hurt by the car crash that killed their parents, and taking care of her has to be his priority.

Enter Devon Trelawney III, sent to assess the viability of the restaurant and its staff. Devon knows all about family tradition. But he also knows sentiment has no place in business matters, and the Laurels’ potential is swamped by the debts it has accrued. Devon is a hardheaded businessman, first and foremost, but Lewis and Rachel test his resolve in different ways. Soon Devon is forced to admit that what seems like an impossible love can sometimes become something very real.

Purchase Link: https://www.lovelanebooks.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=71

Pixie’s Review: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 ½ Hearts

Chef Lewis Mandineau has had a rough two years, his parents were killed in a car crash which left his sister, Rachel, seriously injured and with the mind of an eight year old, then his lover betrayed him and Lewis no longer owns the Laurels or his home anymore and his only hope of staying in the business that his family owned and ran for hundreds of years is by working for the American company, Trelawney Enterprises. Devon Trelawney is looking over the Laurels to see if it is a viable business, all he cares about is if Laurels will be able to turn a profit but Devon finds himself up against a loyal staff, Rachel, and Lewis who all refuse to give up and are determined to show him that Laurel is much more than a simple business.

This is a true treat to read as we visit an historical town in England and the wonderful story of how the family feeling of a close knit team of restaurant staff cracks the shell of a hardheaded businessman. Lewis lost nearly everything following the death of his parents, putting his trust in the wrong person while he tried to get his and his sisters lives on an even keel cost him the heritage his family had for hundreds of years. Devon flits from business to business making sure they will make a profit for his family business, but the Laurels and its staff finally stop him in his tracks. Devon begins to see the life and soul that go into the business, he sees the true worth of Laurels and he sees the incredible man that holds it all together.

Lewis and Devon’s relationship starts out as adversaries, slowly building into tentative trust before blooming into heart stopping attraction. Lewis is far from sure about trusting another man but Devon worms his way past his defences first by his sweet treatment of his sister and then by his willingness to really see the Laurels staff in action, it isn’t easy though when a catastrophic event has him doubting that Devon will stick around. Devon doesn’t quite understand why he is willing to give Lewis and the Laurels a chance but it dawns on him just how special the business is along with its former owner, he is willing to try anything when he recognises the sacrifices Lewis has done and the way that Lewis has cracked his shell to get into his heart.

I loved this story, Lewis and Devon are both incredible characters, and although when we first meet Devon he comes across as a prick he soon shows his real colors so we easily take him into our hearts. Ah Lewis has been through hell but he has stood tall doing what he can for his staff and remaining family, and poor Rachel is a wonderful addition to the story. We are given a treat when we are suddenly thrown a twist, and though that twist is terrible it brings Devon and Lewis together and we see that Devon really is the man for Lewis. The storyline is really good even if it is a pretty simple one, the added twist does come from nowhere but there is a slight hint for some of what happens earlier in the book. I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would love to see another story involving Lewis and Devon, they have such potential that I hope R.J. Scoot and Chris Quinton with explore them further.

I recommend this to those who love stories with a little suffering and angst, great characters who touch your hearts and bring the story alive, a wonderful storyline that does surprise and a very happy blissful ending.

Lisa’s Review: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Lewis and his sister Rachel had been dealt a couple of horrible hands in the past. The loss of their parents, Rachel having been severely hurt from the accident, the betrayal of someone he thought loved him, the amount of debt, the sale of his home and restaurant were just at the tip. Now the new owners were going to come and change everything.

Devon is a millionaire in his own and comes off as a complete ass at first. He knows everything about family traditions and about business. However it is not to be mixed at all, that is until he meets Lewis and Rachel. He is learning so much from these two, including love. To top it off someone is burning businesses around them and the fear that they are next is getting to them.

From one point it seems that Devon’s change of heart comes to fast. It was like one minute he was an ass, the next he was close to being in love. Although I suppose in some relationships it does happen like this. But in this instance it just seemed a bit off to me. Like it was rushed in a way. Also the mystery part of the story didn’t rock like it should have. It wasn’t really too hard to figure out who was behind it. To me it just seemed a little weak and thrown in there for the effect. Other than that I actually had a bit of fun with the story. The pace wasn’t to slow but it wasn’t really fast at all, so it was a good read for me.

Over all I wished that it had been more expanded with the mystery part. I wanted something to sink my teeth into but it didn’t come off that way. But like I said above Devon’s attitude change just came off to fast, and there really didn’t seem to be the spark between them that should have been there.

I am looking forward to seeing what the next story will give me.