Review: Heat by Chris Quinton & RJ Scott (Salisbury #1)


Note: This ebook was provided by Signal Boost Promotions in exchange for an honest review.

Heat is the first novel in the Salisbury M/M contemporary romance series from authors Chris Quinton and RJ Scott. Set in the city of Salisbury in England, this series starter is about two men, Englishman and head chef Lewis Mandineau and wealthy American entrepreneur Devon Trelawney III, forced to work together, leading to more than one heated confrontation. Where to take Laurels, the restaurant that once belonged to Lewis's family but Devon's family's corporation has now taken over, has Devon and Lewis butting heads and making the already overheated kitchen and restaurant atmosphere more combustible. 

However, the more the two are in each other's presence, the more they can't deny the heat that's beginning to reach a boiling point. Lewis has already been burned once by someone he thought he could trust, not just with his heart, but with the finances of Laurels as well. Devon is all about the company's latest acquisition's financial bottom line, but there's something about Lewis and the rag-tag staff that makes him re-think his usual rigid stance. Can Devon get Lewis to trust him, and when they do pursue the attraction between them, will it be cut short when one suspected arsonist decides to turn their attention on Laurels?

This was a moderately quick read, one that had an enemies to lovers feel to it. There's no denying how adversarial Lewis and Devon are, especially since Lewis has more of an emotional investment with Laurels and Devon's is, understandably, financial. Reading about how Devon earns the trust of not just Lewis but almost everyone else in Laurels showed how much his character evolved as the story went on. I'm glad that it took as long as it did for these two to trust one another and to forge some sort of friendship. Insta-love would simply not have worked in this case. Instead, we've got a nicely developed, semi-slow burn romance.

There's a suspense thriller aspect to the book, but it wasn't as played up as the tension between Devon and Lewis until the latter half of the story. I had one suspect as to who was behind the restaurant fires, but the manner in which it was resolved certainly took me by surprise and in a good way. Pointing out another "good" thing I liked about this book was the supporting cast of characters, especially Rachel, Lewis's sister, who became that common denominator and bridge of sorts between Devon and Lewis. Heat is a standalone, so you can read it independently of the upcoming next in the Salisbury series, Ice. Four stars. ♥

Date Read: 12 June 2016

Learn more about Chris Quinton and RJ Scott.

Purchase Heat on Amazon | B&N | Kobo.

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