A Pinch of Salt: Cover Reveal & Excerpt

Hello!

It’s just over a month until my new book, A Pinch of Salt, is released. Woohoo! It will be available via Amazon.  As I announced previously, this is a modern novel, an edited version of a story I posted online some years ago.  In case you missed my previous post, A Pinch of Salt is a mash up of Pride & Prejudice and a cooking competition, such as Top Chef. It highlights Elizabeth Bennet and Will Darcy meeting and—I’m sure this won’t be a surprise—falling madly in love. ❤️

Today, I’m going to show you the cover and I have an excerpt for you. Be sure to comment for a chance to win one of three e-books.

The cover is super cute! I hope you agree. Appropriately, it depicts our dear couple as chefs. They don’t exactly get along at the beginning, but without giving anything away, I think Elizabeth and Will would both aim their knives at someone (or ones) else, not each other. What do you think?

The cover was designed by Alt 19 Cover Creative. I think they did a wonderful job. I love the background colour, and the shadows of kitchen utensils and dishes.

And now an excerpt. This is Chapter 1, in which we get to meet the ten contestants. You’ll notice some familiar names. The contestants are all canon characters, apart from my darling Sterling a.k.a., Bramwell. Given it’s a modern and since they aren’t all supposed to know each other (I didn’t quite keep to that, as you’ll see) their names are not always the same as in Pride and Prejudice, but I think you’ll recognise them.

Chapter 1

Elizabeth Bennet looked around the large, comfortable, but plain-looking space within the three-story townhouse and questioned for the thousandth time what she’d gotten herself into. She was one of ten contestants vying for the top prize of two hundred thousand dollars in season seven of Last Chef Standing, the premier cooking competition in Canada. With four years’ experience as the head chef at Longbourn Inn, her family’s historic property in Meryton, Ontario, Elizabeth knew she was a competent chef, but she had only applied because her best friend, Charlotte Lucas, had dared her to during an evening shared with her sister Jane and two bottles of wine.

”It’s something exciting to do,” Charlotte had argued. “I need that after dumping what’s-his-name. You should do it because you are an amazing chef, and no one around here appreciates it.”

“I do!” Jane had exclaimed.

Elizabeth recalled smiling at Jane and assuring her that no one doubted it. What Charlotte had said, however, spoke to Elizabeth’s feelings that some people, her parents in particular, didn’t understand how important food was to her, let alone how capable she was or what her ambitions were. Indeed, Elizabeth hardly ever allowed herself to acknowledge that she had ambitions beyond Longbourn Inn. Keeping the inn prosperous was a responsibility all family members were expected to bear, even her youngest sister, who was still in high school.

Pulling her mind back to her surroundings, Elizabeth thought, As incredible as it seems, I am here, and it’s too late to back out. I just hope I don’t make a fool of myself! At least I won’t be completely alone. Charlotte will be here too. They weren’t supposed to know who the other contestants were—and had signed contracts strictly limiting who they could tell—but keeping the fact that they had both been accepted secret had never been likely, given that they saw each other every day, worked together, and lived in a small community. On top of that, their mothers were best friends and the Meryton queens of gossip.

***

Elizabeth eagerly turned towards the front door when she heard it open. Alas, it was not Charlotte who appeared, but a rather good-looking man of about Elizabeth’s age, with curly reddish-gold hair, bright blue eyes, and a wide smile that practically screamed amiability.

“Hi. Just you here so far?” he said when he saw her.

“We’re the first. I’m Elizabeth.”

“Bingley. Charles, that is. Bingley.” He gave a nervous laugh. “Would you think poorly of me if I said I was scared?”

Elizabeth laughed. “I’m glad it’s not only me!”

They chatted, not saying too much about themselves since they knew they’d have to go over it all again after the other eight competitors arrived. A quick tour of the main floor revealed that there was a good-sized kitchen and a dining room. They sat in the living room, which was full of soft sofas and chairs, and looked for the cameras that would record all their interactions.

The next person to join them was another handsome man; he was tall and sported a mischievous smile. He introduced himself as Sterling and flopped down next to Elizabeth on a grey sofa. He was followed a couple of minutes later by yet another man, this one rather goofy looking. He was large and awkward, reminding Elizabeth of the boys in high school who grew too quickly, and weren’t sure how to manage their long limbs. Immediately approaching the trio, he thrust out his hand first to Sterling, then to Charles, only offering Elizabeth a nod.

“Colin Collins,” he said, his voice sounding slightly nasal.

Colin Collins? What were his parents thinking? Elizabeth thought, with a silent snicker, while acknowledging it would be cruel to make fun of his name aloud.

“I work for Catherine Hunsford,” Colin said. “I am sure you have heard of her. No one who considers themselves a serious chef could fail to recognize her name.”

Colin continued to talk about himself until, much to Elizabeth’s relief, the next contestant arrived. When she saw who it was, she gaped. In looks, the new man combined tall, dark, and handsome with delicious bad boy. He did not smile; if anything, he brooded as he strode into the room. In deference to the late summer weather, he wore a deep-green t-shirt and had a black jacket slung over his shoulder. Elizabeth spotted a tattoo on the inside of one muscled forearm and another peeking out from under the sleeve on his left bicep. The scruff on his face only enhanced his appeal.

He abruptly stopped walking and stared at them. Elizabeth did not understand why until Sterling leapt to his feet and cried, “Will?”

Elizabeth watched as Will’s shocked expression was replaced by an inscrutable one. “Sterling.”

Sterling grabbed one of Will’s shoulders and gave him a half-hug. “I had no idea you would ever consider—”

“Likewise,” Will murmured, his confidence replaced with unease.

Turning to face the others, Sterling explained, “Will and I are cousins-in-law. Rebecca’s—my wife’s—father is his uncle.”

Elizabeth shook herself, knowing she would soon resemble a silly schoolgirl meeting her favorite boy band member or actor if she was not careful. “What a coincidence!”

The sound of her voice evidently drew Will’s attention, and he peered down at her briefly before looking away. For some reason, Elizabeth felt dismissed, and her cheeks warmed.

The sixth contestant was not Charlotte, but it was a woman. She mumbled a hello, dropped onto a chair, and seemed content to ignore them.

After a moment’s stunned silence, Elizabeth introduced herself.

“Anne de Bourgh. Rosings.” Her eyes darted from Elizabeth’s face to the hand she had extended towards her, but she did not take it. Elizabeth dropped her hand and rolled her eyes.

“Excuse me?” Sterling asked.

“I imagine Rosings is the name of the establishment at which Miss de Bourgh works,” Colin offered.

At the same time that Colin spoke, Charles told Anne, “We’ve been introducing ourselves until the others arrive. I’m Charles Bingley. I’ve worked just about everywhere, but I took a break to be on the show.” His smile faded when she did not even acknowledge him.

Colin knelt beside Anne’s chair and proceeded to tell her about his great fortune in having been hired by Catherine Hunsford, and Elizabeth returned to making light conversation with Charles, keeping one eye on the door, praying the next person through it would be Charlotte.

***

Will remained where he had stopped upon entering the room some five minutes earlier. He watched Elizabeth, who was speaking animatedly with Charles. It had been impossible not to notice her, if only because she was the lone woman there—until Anne de Bourgh arrived, that was. He was certain it had nothing to do with her eyes, which could stop a man in his tracks at fifty paces. Quickly glancing at Colin and Anne, he shuddered and wondered what he had gotten himself into.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Sterling asked, pulling Will from his private thoughts.

Will turned to meet his cousin’s eyes. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I suppose we can trade our reasons later. What do you think?” He nodded towards their four companions.

Will arched his eyebrows as he looked around the room. He only had time to shrug before the next contestant entered the ring.

“I don’t believe it!” Tom Fitzwilliam cried.

Sterling began to laugh, and Will, recovering from his shock, muttered, “No way.”

As Tom walked towards Will and Sterling, he looked at the others and said, “Tom Fitzwilliam. I’m this one’s cousin”—he clouted Will on the shoulder—“and this one’s sort-of-cousin, since he married one of Will’s paternal cousins. My dad and Will’s mom are siblings.”

The reactions to Tom’s announcement were mixed. Elizabeth burst into laughter. “Is this a cooking competition or a soap opera? You three are family, and—”

“I hardly think that is a fair comparison,” Colin interjected. He stood and faced Elizabeth, almost as though scolding her. “I take this very seriously, as should you, and comparing it to a silly program meant to amuse housewives is inappropriate.”

“Who is that?” Tom said sotto voce to Will and Sterling.

“I’d say you don’t want to know, but we’re stuck with him,” Sterling answered.

Tom shrugged. “I can’t believe you’re both here! I’m sure the show’s powers that be find it very amusing. What a twist! Cousin versus cousin—will we support each other, or will it create family discord?”

Will mumbled a response. He was surreptitiously watching Elizabeth as Colin spoke to her. On the surface, it looked like she was listening carefully, but when he had made his comment about housewives, one of her eyebrows had arched, something in her eyes darkening. Will wondered if she would challenge the oaf’s insulting remarks, but fortunately—or maybe unfortunately—they were all distracted by the door once again opening.

***

The woman was admittedly attractive. She was tall and slender, and likely spent a great deal of time fussing over her appearance. Her hair looked like she had just walked out of a salon, and she wore stiletto heels and faux-leather leggings. Did she think she was going for a night out on the town with her friends or lover? She stopped before fully entering the living room, loudly cleared her throat, and once the rest of them were silent, announced formally, “I am Caroline Hurst.”

“Hello, Caroline Hurst. I am Elizabeth Bennet.”

To Will’s astonishment, Caroline looked Elizabeth over from head to toe, then gave her a brief, insincere smile. It left him once again wondering what he was doing there. Last Chef Standing was generally a drama-free show, with everyone focused on the food. To be sure, competitors sometimes clashed; you were never going to like everyone, and being stuck in close quarters during a stressful time with a group of strangers would wear on anyone’s nerves. But he would not stand for disrespectful treatment and staged infighting.

The front door opened again, and to Will’s shock, Elizabeth practically flew across the room and squealed in glee. “Charlotte!”

The women embraced, then, with their arms around each other’s shoulders, faced the group. Elizabeth looked towards Will and his cousins and said, “Looks like I get to have a friend here too.”

“I’m Charlotte, and this one”—she bumped Elizabeth with her hip—“has been my bestie since we were kids.”

Charlotte exuded a practical, sensible air, and was dressed comfortably in slightly baggy jeans, a t-shirt, zippered hoodie sweater, and sneakers. He instantly liked her more than he did Caroline—or silent Anne, whom he had temporarily forgotten about—but that did not mean he intended to befriend her.

Elizabeth pulled Charlotte into a quiet corner, where they began to whisper to each other. Will counted the number of people present, and realized they were still missing one.

***

The last contestant entered several minutes later with a swagger and a closed-lipped smile that was slightly higher on one side. Will felt his blood boil, and he wanted nothing more than to march up to him and wipe the smug look off his face.

George Wickham was a true waste of planetary resources. What was he doing here? He could not be interested in anything which required hard work, not unless he had miraculously reformed in the last couple of years. The man Will had so regrettably known was only interested in getting money, spending money, and using people—women especially—along the way.

As Caroline had, Wickham paused at the threshold of the living room to survey the people within. As his eyes swept the room, Will’s tension increased; he was certain he felt his cousins’ do likewise. Wickham’s gaze lingered on the women, especially Caroline and Elizabeth. Only then did he notice the men; Will was gratified that when Wickham spotted him, Tom, and Sterling, he instantly paled. His lips moved in what was likely a silent curse.

It was unfortunate that the first person who spoke was Elizabeth; it drew Wickham’s attention to her yet again.

“Looks like we’re all here. What next?”

What do you think? I’ll be back with another A Pinch of Salt related post during release week. At that point I’ll tell you a bit more about some of the other characters, such as the judges. As a teaser, I’ll go ahead and admit that I named almost all of them after my cats, both the two still with me and those I was fortunate enough to know.

A Pinch of Salt releases Monday 4 March via Amazon. Don’t forget to comment to enter the giveaway! Winners will be announced on Quills & Quartos’s Facebook page.