The residents of a small New England town place their bets on who will surrender first in the romantic battle between a smart mouthed chef and a suspicious billionaire.
Chef Meggy Calhoun realizes her long-held dream with the opening of Boston's hottest new culinary experience. Crazy-busy with her new restaurant, she can't deny a fascination for her hunky new tenant. But will her secret connection to one of New England's most powerful families poison her recipe for success, and leave her heart flambeed?
Trevor Bryce Christos would do anything to protect the woman who raised him. Even seduce a beautiful con artist disguised as a chef and bent on cashing in on his family's wealth. Taking up residence in Meggy's carriage house while disguised as a writer doing research on small town New England is the perfect ploy to catch her at her game. But when the truth of her parentage is revealed, and his ruse exposed, he'll need the townsfolk's help with spin control if love is to remain on the menu.
Excerpt
“We had a leak.” She jumped the last two steps to land on the floor, jamming the roller into the pan at the foot of the ladder. “The plumber is there now, dealing with the aftermath.” Reminded of the calamity in her kitchen, she turned a glower on the silent man and quirked a brow. “And you are?”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Jill rolled her eyes at Meggy and made the introductions. “Meggy Calhoun, this is Trevor Bryce. He’s a writer who’s interested in renting the carriage house. Mr. Bryce, Meggy is one of the owners of Palmer House. She’s also the head chef.”
Fascinated, Meggy watched as the stiff lawyer vanished behind a wicked smile, a flash of white teeth, and dimples. There was nothing stiff about the penetrating gaze that met and held hers. The deep drawl of his voice, when he said hello, reminded her of the smooth slide of the aged whiskey found in Palmer House’s well-stocked bar. She glanced at the hand he held out, and flipped up her own paint-smeared palm. “Sorry, I’m a mess.”
Laugh lines crinkled the tanned skin at the corner of his eyes, and the soft core of femininity within her sighed in appreciation. She’d always had a soft spot for the Greek god type. Looking at Trevor Bryce, she had a sudden craving for feta cheese and ouzo.
Professional Reviews
A Quick, Romantic Read
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I loved that there was a great mix of intrigue and romance. As the reader, we’re not sure who to trust and we’re not sure what the motive is behind a lot of actions. Slowly the story is unraveled and we find out why everyone’s been deceitful.
Maggy was such a great character. She seems like the type of person that I could be friends with - smart, funny, down to earth. She also has some great friends of her own and it’d be fun to hang out with all of them.
At just over 100 pages, The Billionaire’s Con is pretty much the perfect length for a short story. There’s enough action to keep things interesting and there aren’t any lingering questions, which can sometimes happen with stories that are just too short.
If you’re looking for a quick, romantic read, I definitely recommend The Billionaire’s Con by Mackenzie Crowne.
Books Etc.
An Enjoyable and Fun Romance
Meggy Calhoun is working on making her lifelong dream come true. She is a very driven woman who knows what she wants and goes after it.
Trevor Bryce Christos is investigating Meggy to find out if the chef is really a con artist. Trevor will do anything to protect the woman who has raised him, even seduce Meggy.
Meggy Calhoun is making her dream come true by opening a restaurant and turning it into a new culinary experience. She has a secret, a connection to New England’s most powerful family. Will the secret she does not wish to share, beyond her close few, poison her success? Will it break her heart in the process?
This is an enjoyable and fun romance. I enjoy the humor the author infuses into the story. While the plot is believable, the ending is a bit over the top, very unlikely to ever happen in real life. Overall though, it is a great read, and I am putting Ms. Crowne on my list of authors to read more of!
Coffee Time Romance & More
Light, Sweet and Satisfying
Overall, I liked the book; it is light, sweet, and satisfying. I have read a lot of contemporary romance novels lately, but the heart warming moments made all of the difference. The author uses creative phases like 'Gastronomical Orgasam' to being humor to the story. I recommend this book to anyone looking to be lightly entertained.
I would love to have read an epilogue to show what happens next...
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