Review: Mixed feelings
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 21, 2014
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.After reading Business Pleasures by Lia Davis, I find myself with mixed feelings. There were certainly parts of the story that I really enjoyed but just as many things that I didn’t.Aimee Monroe has always been attracted to her boss, but he was dating someone else and besides, she never thought she had a chance. But suddenly Kenton McDonnell is single and needs a date for a dinner with a business client/friend. After an amazing night, the two embark on a relationship. However, Aimee’s abusive ex-husband won’t go away and becomes a danger to Aimee.Aimee and Kenton are wonderful characters. They are likeable and believable and I wanted them to get their happy ending. Aimee had survived a brutal marriage but she didn’t let the abuse define her. She showed strength and determination in forging a new life. However, that kind of abuse does have a lasting effect and in Aimee’s case it resulted in insecurities that made her even more sympathetic.Kenton was as close to perfect as you could want. He encouraged Aimee and reassured her when needed. He was gentle with Aimee and never pushed her beyond what she could handle. I loved how protective and caring he was of her.What I didn’t like was the predictability of Business Pleasures. I didn’t find myself surprised by anything that happened and this detracted from what should have been a dramatic storyline. I also found the story to be rushed. While it is a novella coming in at just under 70 pages, I would still expect a more organic flow to the story rather than the quick pace Business Pleasures followed.I also felt that the relationship between Aimee and Kenton became serious in an extraordinary small amount of time. Yes they did know each other through work, but Kenton had just ended a relationship and Aimee hadn’t been in any relationship since her marriage had ended.Despite these problems, I still find myself leaning toward recommending Business Pleasures. It’s a quick read for a hot summer afternoon while you’re waiting for your tea to get cold.