Room Service. Rochelle Alers. 2018. Dafina Books. 353 pages. [Source: ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.].
Room Service is a look at second-chance love featuring Jasmine, a 42-year-old woman who is still a bit shy of relationships after a failed marriage. She spends a good chunk of the book avoiding the advances of, and later feelings toward, Cameron, a 48-year-old bachelor. I appreciated that the main characters were older than what is usually seen in romances. It showed that the search for love doesn’t have an age limit.
The settings in this story are vivid, with much of the action being split between New York City and New Orleans. That Jasmine is an interior decorator also provided an interesting look at the interior spaces they visit, with strong images provided for buildings, furniture, and art. As someone who loves New Orleans from afar (yet hasn’t visited) I particularly enjoyed this imagery.
The plot itself is solid. It’s definitely believable and the characters are relatable. I did find the reactions that Jasmine and Cameron had to each other at times seemed a bit less than plausible, but not so much that I couldn’t find it realistic at all. I did, however, find their honesty with each other to be refreshing. It’s rarer that I read romances that focus on older couples; typically, I come across young adults just embarking on love. Jasmine and Cameron, however, are more seasoned and experienced, which lends itself to a story with more depth.
My greatest critique is that the writing style can be repetitive or unnecessarily descriptive. Some details were provided over and again, without truly adding new relevance. Also, at times descriptions and background were dropped in without much context or seemed extraneous. I noticed this more at the beginning of the book, so I assume it was meant to provide context. I just don’t think it was executed in a way that flowed naturally.
Overall, this kept me interested and provided a few plot twists I didn’t expect. It’s likely best suited for a low-key Saturday afternoon when you’re looking for a straightforward story with characters you might not see centered in popular romance.
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