Title: An Unconventional Courtship (Unconventional #1)
Author: Scotty Cade and Finn Sterling (Narrator)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC
Release Date: February 13th 2014
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
Reviewed by: Belen
Heat Level: 2 flames out of 5
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
Blurb:
Tristan Moreau loves his job as chief administrative officer and personal assistant to Webber Kincaid, President, Chairman, and CEO of Kincaid International. It would be the perfect job… if only he hadn’t fallen in love with his boss as well as the work. After two years, he’s still doing everything in his power to keep his feelings hidden—mostly because he wants to protect the reputation of his famous boss but also because he wants to keep his job.
Webber Kincaid has stayed in the closet, using his best friend and confidante as his beard. Everything in his life was working out just fine until he met Tristan Moreau. Within months, Tristan stole his heart and became his lifeline. But Webber knows the rules of the workplace better than anyone, so he’s kept his distance.
But two years is too long to wonder “what if?”—especially when business takes them to a private Caribbean island. When Tristan and Webber succumb to the tropical heat, their professionalism starts to backslide. It’s a seemingly impossible relationship, making a go at it under the paparazzi’s microscope. It may be the best—or the worst—business decision they ever made.
Though it has a promising premise – office assistant in love with his boss for years – the execution was lacking.
This is what happens when good narration happens to a bad story. It didn’t matter that Finn Sterling delivers a good performance. The story grated from early on, ruining any opportunity for me to really enjoy it. Full disclosure on why it didn’t work for me: It’s overly descriptive for everything, it’s a giant miscommunication plot early on, which takes more than half the book to correct, and the “twist” at the end was far too predictable.
Click here for an example of just one of the things that made me insane.
- Spoiler
- Webber, who has supposedly been in love with Tristan for over two years, orchestrates a three week getaway to his Caribbean island for “work” but really it’s to try to get Tristan to fall in love with him. HOWEVER, Webber brings his best friend Deanna, a woman he’s been romantically linked in the press for a decade, with him “for support” and keeps “forgetting” to explain to Tristan that she’s his best friend and NOT his girlfriend.
I actually marked this DNF at 52%. However, after taking the night (and having errands to run around town) I decided to go ahead, try it again, and, if not enjoy it, then at least tough it out and finish the audio book. *sighs* I spent most of it with bitch face.
There is a whole plot with one of the most see through “villains” I’ve ever encountered, which was just…painfully obvious, and to top it all off it ends completely unresolved!
Bottom line: If you prefer saccharine sweet fluff-filled confectionary Harlequin-like romance novels with an over-abundance of description for day-to-day items, a huge miscommunication plot, slow burn build up to not-too-terribly-descriptive love scenes, behavior which does not fit the age or gender of the characters (there’s a lot of unnecessary weeping, wailing and metaphorical teenager-like wringing of hands), a cellophane villain, and an unresolved ending…then you’ll love this story. And bonus! The narration is lovely.
When Tristan was finally able to form coherent words, he looked at his lover with amazement. “My God, Web, that was the most intense thing I’ve ever done in my life. I didn’t think I was going to survive the pleasure. You were amazing.”
Webber rested his forehead against Tristan’s. “Baby, I love you so much. I never knew it could be like this.”
Tristan knew it was the adrenaline release, but suddenly he was on the verge of tears. His bottom lip quivered and he wanted desperately to tell Webber he loved him, but his voice cracked and left him before he could get the words out. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he caressed Webber’s face. At this point, the best he could hope for was that Webber saw in Tristan’s eyes what was overflowing from his heart.
If that’s not your cup of tea, I wouldn’t recommend it.
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