Heat: A Bad Boy Chef Romance

by Lila Moore

What happens when a domineering, possessive man meets the woman of his dreams?

Vincent Moreau

I shouldn't want her, but I do.

I demand perfection. My restaurant is my life. Or at least it was until I met Bee. I've spent years slaving away in the kitchen to build the best restaurants in the world.

I was obsessed. When Bee walked into my life, I found a new obsession. She's new to the culinary world, soft and naive. She's gorgeous, focused and determined.

I won't stop until I've claimed her as my own.

Bee might find me too hard, but I won't let her leave.

Beatrix

Celebrity chef Vincent Moreau is an arrogant, territorial jerk. He's also brilliant, talented and obsessed with me. I knew it was a bad idea to have a fling with my boss, but he's too hot to resist.

I'm in over my head and in too deep to quit.

I can't help thinking maybe, just maybe, he's the one.

This romance novella is a standalone story with a HEA ending. No cliffhangers! Enjoy!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance

119 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2016

Reviews

[Hannah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was quick, straight to the point, and enjoyable. I really liked this book and i loved the chef aspect to it. I liked Bea and Vincent and liked their relationship pace. I suspected for them to have insta love by the end of the book and I'm glad that they didn't have that. I also like that the author added a lot in for the book only having around 100 pages. This read had both drama and romance. I loved the end of this book even though it didn't have an HEA. I think the author wrote this book really well, especially for a 100 page book. Overall this book kept be interested, it was unique, and i enjoyed reading this. The only thing i wish would be changed is that the book would be longer. I'm rating this book 4 stars.

[Ꭿຖᥲ·♡ ྀི · Rating 1 out of 5]

0.25✯

°Non virgin heroine
°Manslut hero - details about his sexual past were mentioned several times
°Switching POVs
°Insta lust
°No OM drama
°OW drama (ex fling - he slept with her while she was married)(the woman kissed him by surprise and the h saw them, she also made the h believe that she had slept with the hero)
°Unlikeable asshole hero - I didn't like him at all, his inner monologue was terrible and I didn't like how passive he was when the OW kissed him -this happened the day after he slept with the h- this is why I prefer alpha heroes and this guy was a pussy, he let the OW do whatever tf she wanted just bc she was his primary investor
°Dumb af immature heroine
°No cheating
°Older man/younger woman (early 20's)
°No sex scenes with OP
°No condoms - he never said if he used them before... ewww
°Lame epilogue 3 months later - they're together but they're not engaged or anything and they never said "I love you", their relationship seems pretty superficial, I never felt an emotional connection between them and honestly I don't see them being together forever.

**Fucking the staff has gotten me into plenty of trouble in the past. It’s not my fault if some girls don’t understand that a one night stand means it begins and ends in the bedroom. You don’t bring your feelings into the kitchen.**

**As eager as I was to bed her, her words stung. Why was she so hung up on how many girls I’ve slept with? And what was that remark about me sleeping with every girl in the restaurant? I haven’t slept with all of them. Just Amber, Mackenzie, Jackie and Mel. Oh, and, Nikki. She was a trip. She called me night and day. When I tried to explain to her that it was nothing more than a one night stand and she needed to move on, she retaliated by spitting in every dish she took out of the kitchen.**

**The investors warned me to keep my dick in my pants. I was strictly forbidden from fucking anyone on staff. I was behaving myself. Or at least I had been until Roche walked into my kitchen. She was a smart girl. She wasn’t like most of the chicks I hooked up with. I’d have to play it smart with her.**

**Doggy style was my favorite position. When I fucked a girl from this position, it gave me control. I could move her around and get take her exactly as I wanted. Also, it gave me the perfect angle to hit her g-spot.**

**“Shut down? Who the fuck told you the restaurant was closed?” “I did.” I closed my eyes and took a breath. I recognized that voice. Gwen. The bane of my existence and my primary investor. She was a rich kid. She’d inherited a fortune at an early age. She had a cute country accent that clashed with her polished, rich executive look. I turned to face her. I wasn’t surprised to see her in a perfectly tailored, expensive designer top and skirt. She wore black stiletto heels; her calf muscles were perfectly toned and tanned. No doubt the result of hours with her personal trainer. She looked amazing. “Gwen,” I said by way of greeting. “Vincent, we need to talk.” No one calls me Vincent, but I let Gwen get away with. There’s something about the way my name rolls off her tongue I find sexy. We stepped into my office and shut the door.**

**Gwen and I had a brief affair a year ago. She was married at the time. When her husband walked in on us fucking, he tried to fight me. I knocked him out with one punch. He was a soft, rich boy; a weasel that lived off his daddy’s money and connections. I had no idea what a strong, smart woman like Gwen was doing married to him. When he filed for divorce, I thought it was for the best. As far as I was concerned getting caught in bed together was the best thing to happen to Gwen. She didn’t see things the same way, especially after her soon to be exhusband tried to take half her money. He failed, but I heard he walked away from the marriage with a huge settlement. Gwen was still unimaginably rich, but she didn’t like to lose. She blamed me for her divorce. When I reminded her that it takes two to tango, she gave me a death stare that I’ll never forget.**

**She stepped forward. We stood close together in my small office. She touched my shirt. Her hand lingered on my chest. “I hired you to do a job, so do it,” she whispered. “Yes, ma’am,” I said sarcastically. She moved even closer. Her face was an inch away from mine. “You’re a pain in the ass. You’re temperamental, demanding, a perfectionist, impossible to work with…” “And?” “And you get the job done. Your food is amazing. Your restaurants are insanely popular.” Her hand moved lower, passing over my abs. For some reason, her touch reminded me of Roche. The memory of Roche’s body beneath mine, her tight pussy and cries of ecstasy sent a small tremor through me. Gwen saw the way I reacted to her touch. She misinterpreted my reaction as being turned on by her. She didn’t realize I was thinking about someone else.**

**She took a step back, but not before planting a soft kiss on my lips. “Fix this,” she said. “We’ll talk later.” I hoped there was no later, but I couldn’t avoid seeing her again. She’d pumped millions of dollars into this restaurant. There was zero chance she’d walk away from her investment. Gwen turned and left. As I watched her leave, I thought of Roche. She was probably still at home, wondering where I was and what last night meant. I looked up and was surprised to see her on the other side of my office window. She stood in the kitchen, glaring at me. Had she seen Gwen kiss me? This was just what I needed. If the girls were at each other’s throats, I’d never get anything accomplished. I needed a kitchen that ran as smoothly as possibly. No fighting. No conflict. No drama. How naïve I was.**

**“First of all, that woman is not my girlfriend, she’s an investor. Second of all, it’s rare to see a woman working in the kitchen of a restaurant like this. So, you’re right, she probably does assume we’re sleeping together because…” “Because you’re a slut?” I offered. He gave me a hard look. “What? That’s your reputation.” “I know what my reputation is.” “Do you?” “Yes.” “People say you’re a womanizer, that you take advantage of girls. You’re notorious for dumping girls after fucking them. In fact, I heard you got a server pregnant then abandoned her.” “What?” he shouted. Moreau uncrossed his arms and pushed away from the desk. “That’s not true. I like to fuck around- I don’t deny it- but I’ve never abandoned a pregnant girlfriend, or whatever nonsense people are saying behind my back.”**

**“What makes you think I’m asking your permission? This is my restaurant, or did you forget that?” “Gwen-” “No, you listen to me. If you want to continue to run this restaurant, you’ll do as I say.” She was standing very close to me. Our bodies practically touched. There was an implication to her words I didn’t like. Gwen readjusted my collar, then kissed my cheek. I stood as still as a statue. “Behave yourself,” she said. “I want to see you tonight. After work, I want you to come over to my place and cook a meal for me. Can you do that?” Her hand slid down my chest and across my abs. I wanted to throw her out of my office, but I couldn’t do that. She could fire me in a heartbeat. “Yes,” I said, practically choking on my words. “Good.” As Gwen left, I caught sight of Roche. She was pretending not to watch, but I could tell she’d seen everything from Gwen hugging me to kissing me. She looked pissed.**

[Deniz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Look the blurb sounds a tad cliche but it could have been a fun little cute & fluffy.
Alas it was not.

plot
Not only does everything happen way too fast, queue insta-love and co, but the plot is takes every cliche turn out there, add to that the way over the top melodramatics.. and it felt kinda ridiculous. When a michelin star chefs turns to food trucks and the previous investor suddenly has links to the mob, in that moment things just took a turn from meh to oh no bloody way.
I have to say, that I know the food world pretty well and this sounds like Gordon Ramsay shows taking a turn to a bad soap. Not like a foodie romance, which is what I expected. Less is more, at least when it comes to cliches.

writing style
I wasn't overly impressed nor do I think it is terrible.
I quite liked the kitchen and cooking bits. Well, minus the ridiculous dramas. The rest was ok.

character building
Basically I quite like Bea. I could relate to her fears and her ambition. She felt more real and tangible.
But Moreau? He felt like a walking talking cliche times ten. Not only is he freakn perfect to look at, but he is the best at everything, and he does a complete 180 when he meets Bea. His POV, felt woody, too melodramatic. He felt like the fictional made-up character he is.

Emotionally
Chefs do work very hard and the kitchen is a tough tough environment, but in my personal experience most kitchens are successful because there is a team that works and supports each other, rather than the environment Moore described. Look it makes for great tv dramas, but most head chefs, while being super tough, are not usually cussing out their team nonstop.
I really felt like Moore spent a lot of time watching TV chefs and adapted it to her novel. I would have been fine with some drama. I would have been fine with an asshat chef that falls for his third. But as I said every terrible chef cliche was thrown in... And the thing I missed most? the actual beauty of a chefs life: the amazing food, the love of it and the art of producing it, the sensuality of cooking and tasting it... really the best part of a foodie romance if you ask me.
The smut, was.. cliche? at best. My first thought at the first scene was, what no condom?! the guy is a self proclaimed male slut..

So a big no from me: 1.5 Stars

[SandyL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beatrix Roche is a young chef who goes to work for a well-known, temperamental chef at a premier restaurant. Vincent Moreau is a real a$$hole for most of the book! And I couldn't stand him for most of the book. And hey, manwhore - put a condom on it!!! When Vincent pisses off his major investor, things change and I did end up enjoying the end of the book.

[Jamsu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought that this was going to be quick and fluffy read. I was right abut the quick part.

“You’re tiny with big eyes that are always searching for something. You look like easy prey. You’re like little red riding hood waiting to be eaten by the big bad wolf.”

Beatrix is happy to get a job as famous chef's restaurant. Her job is to prepare the sauces, finish off meat dishes and make hors d’oeuvres. Bee tries to only be friends with Vincent but he's hard to resist.

Vincent is a hard boss, who expects perfection from his employers. He's gotten in trouble from having sex with his employers before but that doesn't stop him from going after Bee. He usually just fucks his female employers once and expects them to acts professional but it's different with Bee. He can't stop thinking about her.

“Do you really think I’d abandon you like that? Whatever happens we’re in this together now.”

I chose to read this one for 24in48 and I was hoping to get emotionally invested in these characters and their romance but I couldn't stand how Vincent let that investor kiss him even though he didn't like her that way. I think the couple had just one scene that could've been counted as sweet.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great quick read with drama, naughtiness, hunkiness, sweetness, and sassiness. It's got it all. I wish there was a longer ending.

[Winfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the story and how the author keep it simple..not over dramatic.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everything happens too fast No real character or plot development. Too many typos.

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Heat, it's the 2nd chef book I've read lately, and it's just as good as the other one I read. Moreau is Roche's (Bea) new sexy, chef boss. She's the new saucier and she's determined to show him how good she is. Moreau, unfortunately, is a serious hard ass (a la Gordon Ramsay), and he's determined to toughen her up so she can have a good career in the culinary world. Their chemistry out of the kitchen, though, threatens to ruin both their careers. Throw in a bitchy ex fling of Moreau's (who happens to own the restaurant they work at) and a fellow chef jealous of Bea's new job, and you've got the perfect saucy romance.

I wish Heat had been a little longer so that I could have seen more of their world, but it's still a good read: sexy, a little bit sweet, and entertaining.

[DawnMarie Carpintero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute

4 stars

This is an amazing fast read packed with sexual desire and food and who doesn't love both? Major kudos


Happy Readingb

[ME · Rating 3 out of 5]

Missing Key Ingredients

Overall I would give this 3.5 stars. The beginning of the story was interesting but it all seemed thrown together towards the end like there were missing key ingredients. I still enjoyed the concept and would recommend it.

[Jessye Chevere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting and Yummy

Aside from salivating for the food the Hero was a treat as well. And very happy that he was not a whimper. But it ended too soon and am hoping that there will be an ending with a new restaurant and that Gwen and Marcel get their just desserts.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vincent Moreau is a Big Scary Man. He is a Head Chef at a very high end Restaurant. Bea is his new Chef and she is shy and sweet and so cute. She has a lot of talent and he is hard on her cause he wants to toughen her up. Everyone is afraid of Chef Moreau but Bea gets under his skin. I loved this book. It was a fun sexy quick read. I am so glad I found it. I am definitely going to check out more books from this author :)

[MJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

So bad I didn't finish. I won't try anything else from this author.