Stevie‘s review of Room Service (The Innkeepers, Book 3) by Rochelle Alers
Contemporary Romance published by Dafina 31 Jul 18
In my continuing efforts to read more new-to-me authors across a wider range of subgenres, I’ve been trying to overcome my fear of diving into series partway through. This time, I started with the third of a four-book story arc, in which four relatively mature women, united by losing their jobs on the same day, search for new career directions and find love along the way.
Jasmine Washington built up a successful interior decorating business before turning over the day-to-day running of the company to her husband, in order to begin a second career as a human resources manager. When she lost her job unexpectedly, she made friends with three other professional women let go from the firm on the same day. Having discovered her husband was cheating on her, Jasmine divorced him and sold the decorating business; now she’s working part-time for non-profit organisations while she figures out her next move. Understandably distrusting of men, Jasmine agrees to a no-strings date with a man she met at the wedding of one of her new friends; Cameron Singleton is only in New York on a brief visit, so there’s no chance they will get tangled up in a messy relationship – and Jasmine is definitely over any kind of long-distance romance, since that’s how she met her ex.
Cameron is an investment banker, working for his family’s firm in New Orleans, who visits New York a couple of times a year to catch up with his old buddies from university. Having witnessed all the bad aspects of his parents’ turbulent marriage, he is keen not to be tied down and makes a point of having short-term relationships with younger women. Jasmine is older than Cameron’s usual type, but he finds he enjoys spending time with her, as one date turns into several, and then into a promise to meet up again for the wedding of a second of Jasmine’s new friends. Throughout all this getting to know each other, there is a lot of exchanging of backstories, without Cameron letting on just how influential his family is. Even in the early stages, however, he comes across as controlling and borderline emotionally abusive, though we’re repeatedly reminded that he’s not as bad as Jasmine’s ex, who was only after her money all along.
Once the action moves to New Orleans, and Jasmine finds out that she’s pregnant, Cameron, to my eyes, turns into a complete monster, moving Jasmine into the hotel he owns and lives in – in an adjacent suite to his, but still another sign of his controlling personality. I read the book to the end in the hope that Cameron would either learn to be a decent human being or get his comeuppance, but neither happened. Cameron’s family is no better, and I was disappointed that Jasmine’s friends seemed to think that all this was normal behaviour for rich folks and something to be tolerated as an alternative to Jasmine being taken for every penny she had by her ex.
On top of all that, more than one character used ‘living an alternative lifestyle’ as a euphemism for being gay. As a bisexual who has dipped into several alternative subcultures before finding a home with the steampunk contingent, I find conflating these two disparate aspects of personality to be highly offensive. It’s possible to be very, very conventional and still be attracted to one’s own or more than one gender, just as it’s very common for heterosexuals to be goths, gamers, steampunks, or SF fans. Rant over, I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere near this author again.
Grade: F
Summary:
Bestselling author Rochelle Alers’ heartwarming and seductive series follows four very different women risking second chances deep in the sultry heart of New Orleans . . .
New Yorker Jasmine Washington had a successful interior design business, a high-powered marriage, and a chance at motherhood—until her perfect husband betrayed her big-time. Now starting from scratch, the Asian and African-American stunner is tackling a lifetime opportunity: co-managing her friend’s new luxury inn about to open in the Garden District. The last thing Jasmine needs is romance. New Orleans’ most eligible bachelor, investment banker Cameron Singleton, begs to differ.
Cameron challenges Jasmine’s cautious ways, teases her back into having real fun—and makes one sexy, utterly irresistible Mr. Right Now. But their passionate nights soon result in a surprise bonus. . . . Even though Cameron insists on being there for Jasmine, can she really believe his love is the real thing? Can she shake the past and design a completely new life? And is there really only one way to find out?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
