Room Service: Love, Lust and Lies

by B.B. James

Room Service is a contemporary romantic suspense novel that follows the lives and loves of two medical professionals - Claire, a beautiful blonde nurse, and Hugo the handsome orthopaedic consultant-surgeon with whom she is infatuated. She has a boyfriend, he has a wife, and infidelity is always just around the corner as she attempts to lure him into an affair. But love, lies, and deceit turn swiftly to tragedy in a sudden and shocking denouement.

'The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.'

NEW EDITION for better reader experience.

244 pages, Paperback

First published February 18, 2019

About the author

Hi! I'm B. B. James (but call me Bev).

I am a mother, grandmother, book lover, and avid creator. I enjoy stories that are fast-paced and have a bit of frisson to them, and I hope that comes out in my writing.

I wanted to be a writer and so I enrolled in a creative-writing course and connected with like-minded people, joining them at book clubs and writing circles.

I like to take inspiration from many different areas, and have a vivid imagination. Although I have a medical background, I have always maintained my flair and passion for the beautiful things in life and enjoy painting and gardening in my spare time. I also love the great outdoors, and my home in a beautiful Devon seaside town is surrounded by stunning coastal walks and picturesque places that are continuing sources of inspiration.

I hope you enjoy my book and would love to read your reviews on Amazon.

Thank you so much for reading.
Bev x

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into reading ROOM SERVICE not knowing exactly what genre to expect, and I wound up being surprised! This is a mashup between a good juicy soap opera, add a touch of medical drama, with some interesting dramatic twists thrown in during the last third of the novel.

Told in multiple POVs, we have Claire Frazer, a nurse in a trauma ward, who is in a committed relationship with Richie, but has a crush on married doctor, Hugo, who is known for having affairs. Other major characters include best friend Jinny (who I especially liked), and Rebecca, who Claire suspects of also having an affair with Hugo. This is a book I’d recommend to readers who LOVE drama. Basically, Claire sets out to have an affair with Hugo even though both of them are in relationships, and doesn’t care a whit about the consequences of her actions. I found myself in a bit of a GONE GIRL mindset while reading this one, knowing the characters were behaving badly, but curious to see what happened next. The story shines in the descriptions and the setting, particularly scenes at the hospital. There’s a nice, cozy British feel. And then we get to the ending, which… no spoilers, but THAT was not what I was expecting, and was quite an interesting twist! I’m eager to see what this author comes up with next. 4/5 stars.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.

[Love Indie Romance · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewed by: Annie Arcane

A free copy was provided by the author.

Initial thoughts:

The plot had potential and there were flashes of brilliance in the dialogue.

What I loved:

There was something very "genuine" about the writing style. It was almost as if the author had a movie playing in her head and was translating into book format as she watched the events unfold on screen. In a way, this kept the story continually flowing and well-paced.

James also did a great job of handling the cast, which was pretty sizable considering the short read. Each character maintained a clear personality and motivation; nothing was said or done that felt OOC.

Moreover, there was some fantastic dialogue at certain points, as well as moments that packed an emotionally-charged punch within very few words:

As the door opened he pushed his way in past Claire to face Hugo. Anger consumed him as he walked the room with clenched fists, his mouth was dry as he breathed rapidly with rage. Hugo was frantically dragging on a pair of trousers and his face was equally red with anger, while Claire stood near the door in knickers trying to cover her pert breasts with her arms folded. Ritchie felt alienated by her reactions. He was used to seeing her naked but now all of a sudden it was an issue and he couldn’t make sense of it.

I don't know about you, but the tension in the room was palpable for me. Without having to be "told" to feel it either, ya know?

What left me wanting:

I feel like such a jerk writing this because 1) the author is so darn sweet and 2) I do believe there's an enjoyable story here if only it'd been edited...

And I'm very sorry to say this, but it could use a solid editing, in my humble opinion. I don't even mean to find plot holes or amp up character development. I mean a simple proofread just to fix up the basics. Unfortunately, as it stands, the punctuation and tense are sporadic, words appear to be capitalized at random, and entire scenes are written in a single paragraph. Certain thoughts were underlined while others were indicated with brackets.

Here's an example of what I mean: They exchanged kisses on each others cheeks as Jane enquired, “buy anything nice?.” “absolutely, have a look at this!” and she held up a pink silk blouse. “isn’t it just me?” “um, mm, yes its very nice” responded Jane with a critical eye. “what’s the matter Jane?” asked Celia slightly deflated, “you don’t sound so sure?” “Jane felt a tinge of guilt” no, it’s fine, I just thought a softer pink would have been nicer, still. It looks great!.” She packed it back into the bag marked le’boutique. Celia looked on “as you can see its still my favourite shop.” she said with a cheeky wink and smiling, “Jane darling” she went on, “you can’t beat a spot of retail therapy” she chuckled. “anyway, what have you been up to then?” “a spot of baking my dear!.” replied Jane returning to her cake mixture after greasing tins. “mm, smells good.” replied Celia “well, Hugo likes fruit cake so ive done extra. Hang you’re coat up and we’ll have a cup of tea.” suggested Jane. Celia walked through to the hallway and saw Hugo sitting by the fireside. “hi darling! it’s only me.” she called out. “Hugo rolled his eyes to the ceiling and then looked over his reading glasses at Celia. (Good old Celia, loud enough to wake the dead) He thought. He preferred the ambience before she came around.

Some good dialogue in there, though, right? In any case, I hope Ms. James continues writing because I have no doubt she can weave an exciting tale!

Final thoughts:

I'd absolutely give this book a reread if ever it happened to be edited. I think there's some potential there for sure!

[Kady Monroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire works in the recovery unit at a hospital and has a crush on a surgeon. (Hugo) She is determined to have a relationship with him. The only problem is, he is married and she has a partner. Nevertheless, she pursues the man of her dreams and is happy when he responds to her advances. However, things do not go smoothly.

The book keeps you guessing for quite a while as to whether there will be an affair and possible long-term relationship between the main character and her romantic interest. Claire's boyfriend and Hugo's wife also get their point of view sections in the novel.
This story was a quick read, but for me, a little repetitive in places and with too many points of view.
However, the story has some lovely moments and the ending was interesting.
I give it 3.75 stars but have round it up to 4

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Room Service employs a shifting narrative and a tone that is light, conversational, and easy to read. Jinny’s perspective was my favorite. Her character had substance, her motivations were understandable, and her joys and sadnesses felt easy to identify with.

Unfortunately, that’s where my enjoyment of the book ends. Jinny is relegated to more of a side character, to serve as a sounding board for our main protagonist Claire. A stark contrast in terms of personality, Jinny also illuminates Claire’s shortcomings. The third perspective in play belongs to Jane, Hugo’s wife. These narratives weave together a plot that didn’t seem to go anywhere until the very end of the book.

Jinny’s content in her life and trying to have a baby with her partner. Jane is thoroughly preoccupied with her reviving her lackluster marriage to Hugo. And Claire? Claire’s busy shaking off her current partner and dreaming of an affair with Hugo. In between, we get slices of the daily happenings in the hospital where most of the cast is employed, lots of trips to the pub, and a couple of bright spots of action and intrigue that weren’t correctly utilized. One of these is a burglary that didn’t seem tied to anything or destined to go anywhere. The last is a startling and engaging event that takes place in the last 1% of the book.

That last punch to the gut was a prime example of unexplored potential. The fallout from the event could have easily carried the entire novel and made for a riveting plot. Simply moving the event to earlier in the novel could have saved the entire story.

Instead, we get Claire. Too much of Claire for my tastes. Superficial is the first word that comes to mind when I think of her, from her looks to her motivations and relationships. I’d argue that she’s another missed opportunity. Her desire to have an affair with Hugo seems to stem only from boredom. This is understandable, I guess. There are many reasons why people begin affairs, and I’m sure being bored is one of them. But it doesn’t make for a good read. I craved something more - something in Claire’s past that scarred or explained why she seemed to care nothing for anyone but herself. If she were justifiably jaded or if Richie were a deplorable boyfriend, I could have garnered an ounce of sympathy for her. But as it stood, I struggled to find anything likeable about her.

With a bit of plot restructuring, some edits to Claire’s character, and the removal of unneeded description, Room Service could have been a really solid read.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Room Service, by B.B. James, is a romance/drama story, mainly about Claire, who has a crush on Hugo. Claire has a steady boyfriend and Hugo is married, but that doesn’t stop her from pursuing him.

This is B.B. James first book, and for that I congratulate her. The story has action, teenage-type of humor, wit, and realistic dialogues between the characters. They felt like real people, although immature in some ways. I liked how the story showed the strained effects of the relationships of the spouse and boyfriend, and how these can leave people in misery. It also reveals how there are those who do not seem to have the capacity to see the consequences of their actions, or the capacity to care about what those consequences might be. Their selfishness consumes their ability to think and reason. And so those actions inevitably lead to unfortunate circumstances.

There are places where more editing could have helped, but overall I think the story works. BB James Room Service brings about a realistic tale of modern day flings and how it comes to impact everyone around them.

[J.P. Willson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story.
I'm not so sure I'd like to ever meet a woman such as this personally, yet the main character herself did keep me engaged in the book. Not to the point that I couldn't put it down but sufficiently enough for me to want to know just what she was going to do next. Do people actually treat each other this way in real life?
One thing that does still stick in my mind is how 'dated' the book is. The innuendos given that refer to things that were either 'pop culture' or 'trending' in the 70s and 80s. Smoking in the pubs was another one that is mentioned more often than I would have thought today. References to bands from that era also that are no longer mainstream. A trip down memory lane for me yet a younger reader may get lost in those nuances...
Regardless, this was a fun read I would recommend.

[Laurette Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
As readers we all have our preferences. Personally, I enjoy novels in a variety of genres so long as they are character-driven. My problem with this book is that I didn’t find the characters particularly appealing, or convincingly portrayed. As a whole they came across as a large group of very similar people whose lives were structured around a limited number of shared activities– work, pubbing, clubbing and bedroom hijinks. The main protagonists, in particular, seemed egotistical and self-serving-which can work, provided they arouse a strong emotional response (Becky Sharp springs to mind). One thing that kept intruding was the way they often spoke to each other, in rather formal sentences with few contractions, speech patterns which are appropriate in historical novels but sound unnatural in contemporary books (‘I cannot decide…what is on your mind…anyway, I had better call a cab…you have only been trying ten months…you will be fine…I am not saying anything’).
The author describes the book as a ‘romance thriller’. The main plot line revolves around Claire, a head nurse, who has a steady boyfriend, Ritchie, but whose roving eye falls on Hugo, an attractive older consultant -surgeon. He’s married but has an ambivalent relationship with his wife, Jane, who we are told, is deeply in love with him, but who ends up taking her revenge (no spoilers). There are repetitive scenes where the various protagonists either argue with each other or make up with each other. There was potential for Claire’s growing obsession with Hugo to become darker and more dangerous, with the tension of her boyfriend’s mounting jealousy adding to the ‘thriller’ element. As it was, the book’s ending seemed abruptly melodramatic.
In her book description, the author says ‘the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.’ The story will appeal to readers who enjoy a romance with a moral lesson which is revealed in the final scenes.

[D. Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

One piece of advice to the reader who is contemplating diving into this book: commit to reading it until the end, even if you’re tempted at times to put it down. If you don’t complete it, you’ll miss out on the main takeaway.
This novel revolves around the lives of the varied and at times colorful staff of a “cottage hospital” in the small town of Little Harvington, Britain. The main characters are listed in the front of the book as Claire and Hugo, both very accomplished at their jobs and each lustfully attracted to the other’s body, despite the fact that they each have a better half. And when it comes to character, their partners are decidedly better than they are. Claire’s boyfriend of three years, Ritchie, is deeply in love with her. Other than that, we don’t learn a whole lot about him. Hugo’s wife, Jane (who is employed at the busy hospital, too, but only part-time, apparently, as she seems to be home quite a bit when everyone else is at work), continues to genuinely care about him, even though it is obvious that his sexual desire has left her and moved on to other women.
Although there are intimate encounters, they are not graphic, so readers who are uncomfortable with hard-core erotica should be OK with this book.
One stumbling block for the reader may be not particularly liking superficial Claire or caring what happens to her. Building empathy for the main character is important in fiction writing, but Claire’s beauty is skin deep, and her personality about as shallow as a kid’s inflatable pool. In her heart, she dismisses the man who loves her as if he was a pesky mosquito while giving him false hope by not simply ending the relationship. In between drinking binges, she is expert at her job. Interestingly, her background is working class. The author might have spent more time delving into her struggles to become a success after her disadvantaged beginnings, thereby showing that she does have tenacity and character.
Instead, we are introduced to a vast array of hospital staff and even a residential window cleaner. If this sounds like a recipe for confusion, it is. Fortunately, though, the author does list all of these characters and their roles at the beginning of the book. Which is unusual. I’ve never seen that done before in fiction. But it is helpful for a reader trying to keep all of these essentially minor roles straight. There are many small details about the daily operations of a British hospital, which leads me to suspect that the author has worked in a hospital setting.
Contrasting Claire, who seems to be led by her hormones, not her heart, is her closest friend, Jinny, who loves her partner, Brian, and who, as the book opens, wants nothing as much as to raise a family with him. Throughout the book, she tries to get her headstrong friend to see that she is heading down a dead-end path to heartache by pursuing adultery and what will ultimately be mere fleeting physical pleasure with little hope of permanency—potentially to the harm of herself, Hugo and their partners.
At times, I wondered if this was originally to be a screenplay that was ultimately fleshed out into a novel. The dialogue is crisp and witty and very, very British. North Americans may struggle with some of the slang expressions. The staff spend their non-working hours drinking a lot, at home and in the pubs, which made me wonder if I would want any one of them to work on me in a medical capacity.
The first 90 percent of the book reads like an at times witty, other times jaundiced soap opera or situation comedy. There’s little suspense. The scariest moment is when Claire is robbed in the middle of the night, but the author doesn’t take this storyline anywhere. Again, the reader may well struggle to really like or care about any of the characters. Hugo’s Jane, the unloved wife, may be the most worthy of the reader’s sympathy. One can feel her mixture of shame, anger, heartache as she copes with her one-sided marriage and the infidelities of a husband she still cares about. Jinny, too, has her priorities right, especially when compared to Claire.
The book would have benefited from tighter editing. There is a lot of extraneous info that could easily disappear without losing anything of value. Some silly stuff, such as Room 101 being on the third floor (Room 301 instead?). And some details about the operations at the hospital arise later on when they should have been closer to the beginning. The author switches point of view often and mercilessly, even within the same paragraph. The ending is well-written, but without spoiling the plot, I wondered how on earth the perpetrator of the final act so easily found the object of his desire, as the countryside location of the lovers’ weekend rendezvous was obviously top secret. The title of the book is clever but only makes sense in the final chapter.
The reader may not develop much of a bond with Ritchie, Claire’s cast-away partner. But he ultimately gives the book its takeaway—the stark contrast between selfish gratification that worries more about lost reputation than human life and love that is willing to sacrifice everything for the target of its affection. Ultimately, we can all see ourselves in Claire and Hugo, and it’s not a pretty sight.

[Brooke Bent · Rating 3 out of 5]

*spoilers*

It is obvious from the beginning that the protagonist Claire is going to have an affair with a married man. In my opinion she is a despicable character. As you read the book, you wonder if she’s going to get what she has coming to her. I felt, however, a little let down in the end when all that happens is her partner catches them and ends up falling to his death while trying to attack the married man she’s cheating with. I had been wanting and expecting Claire to have a moment where she realizes that what she’s thinking/doing is wrong. While she sobs when her partner dies, I felt there was no clear indication of remorse for her actions. There were times in the book that I found myself wanting to get into the characters’ heads but felt letdown when the story focused more on the plot than the character. I feel this storyline has potential but needs to delve into the characters minds more rather than just explain what’s happening.

[Jay Saph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found "Room Service" by BB.James to be very entertaining.

I'm usually difficult to please and it's not often I'm waiting to find out what happens next. I enjoyed this chick-flick style narrative set in a UK hospital and wanted more, even after I finished. The main thing for me is that although the character cast was quite wide, I was able to lock into a few of the main protagonists and identify with their situations. I suppose many women would find Claire to be a bit of a tart, but she isn't married and this kind of thing happens a lot in the real world. Hugo sounds a bit dashing, if you ask me. It would be great if people fought over who made me tea and biscuits. I could live with that! BB James also showed some good observations about everyday UK life - not that we spend most of our time in the bar/pub.

I suppose some readers would think the novel was a bit rough around the edges. But that seemed to work fine here. The title is a bit off and the cover a little low rent. Also, there's quite a bit of head-hopping where POVs switch in the same scene. These are the signs of a self-pub author and we're all guilty to some degree. Once, I had to go back once and redo every chapter so there is just one POV and I think this could benefit "Room Service". All things aside - this was an enjoyable read and I look forward to anything else from BB James!

[Cathleen Townsend · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a romance! The edition of the book I’m reviewing has a cover with a gal winking and two hot-looking guys. The feel is that of a light-hearted romance, but I think that does this book a disservice by pulling in the wrong audience. I wouldn’t expect romance readers to like this book. It lacks one key element that romance readers require. (Not listed here to prevent spoilers.)

Other than that it’s a cohesive, well-developed story. I disliked the main character, Claire, but that means she was three-dimensional enough to evoke an emotional response. I would like to see the writing improve with less telling and more showing, but others may not share my preferences.

[TDCbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is a stand alone and has a shocking ending.

This book was enjoyable but some parts dreaded on and I kept getting whiplash on whether she loved her boyfriend or didn't. I liked the characters Claire's best friend seems to have her act together and she's on the right path. I think that is what triggers Claire because she feels she doesn't have the same spark as her friend.

The moral of the story, don't cheat.

It was very awkward at the end and I will probably remember that ending for a longtime, like another review implied, I think this would make a fantastic movie.


Book Blurb:
The book is about two professionals in an operating theatre department setting. They are attracted to each other. Claire, a strikingly beautiful, tanned, and blonde bombshell, is infatuated with Hugo, a fit, rugged-looking, and handsome orthopedic consultant-surgeon who is also every woman's dream, but love, lies, and deceit result in disaster. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.

[Arriah Kiprujistho · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is good and full of drama.. it was little fast paced but the characters keep you interested in them and the conversation between them is also very well written, however, it could have been more engrossing. A good read for people who like typical dramatic romance.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story to be different to what I normally read I did enjoy it it was intriguing I'm not giving spoilers away never do in my reviews but will read more from this author I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book.

[Lillian Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy the book although there were a few instances when the action seemed just a bit too much. However, the pace was good and the characters well rounded. I wasn't very sure I wanted to read the book in the beginning because I understood from previous reviews that the editing made everything confusing (I don't really care about a misspelling here and there - I've seen it in books published by the Big 5 so...) but probably the book had been edited because it was clear enough to read and I didn't notice the same problems.
Per total a good book - I actually think it deserves 4.5 stars. I will definitely read the author's other books in the future.

[Margaret Standafer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Room Service, by B. B. James, is hard to pin down. It’s not a romantic comedy, as I feel the cover indicates. It’s not a mystery as the reader is in on most everything that happens. It’s more a story with the moral that’s used as part of the book’s description, “The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.” The story had a lot of potential and I found myself thinking throughout that any page now things will really start to happen. Unfortunately, they never really did and that’s too bad.

The story centers around Claire who readers learn is a nurse, in a relationship with a man who seems to love her, that she spends a great deal of time at pubs—to the point where it affects her work performance —and that she’s determined to have an affair with one of the doctors at the hospital where she works. I didn’t like Claire, but I don’t think I was supposed to. She’s self-centered and often not kind. She strings along and uses her boyfriend for quite some time all the while plotting how best to go about snagging her doctor. She has a few likeable friends, Jinny in particular, but she’s surrounded by so many characters in a relatively short book that it gets difficult to keep them straight.

As I said, I felt the story had potential. The plot, if expanded on, could have been very interesting. Why was Claire so unhappy? Was there something important in her past that caused her to think and act the way she did? I would have liked to know more about her other than the fact that she was stunningly beautiful.

The ending was a surprise, for sure, and was well done. I felt like that scene could have been more toward the center of the story and the story could have gone on from that point because I was left with some questions. What happens next? Does the event change Claire? Maybe we’ll learn more about Claire in a sequel? I’ll be watching for one!

[Sharon Hass]

2 guys working in the same place who are hot for each other. Love it. A gorgeous gal who has the hots for a well built orthopedic consultant surgeon who happens to be married. She- Claire--decides to make friends with his wife-what is she doing? Trying to get closer to him?
The whole time that I was reading this great book I felt as if a Lifetime movie was playing in my head. The story flowed so well. The characters were a great cast even though the book was a short one. I really enjoyed this book. I will also be looking for more of her books.
If you have not read "Room Service" then read it. You will have a great read in your hands. Then you will know what happens with the 2 guys and with Claire, Hugo and his wife.

[J.B. Trepagnier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hard review to write, mainly because I don't know how I feel after a good sleep after finishing reading. I don't know how I feel about the characters or plot. On the surface, the book follows Claire as she attempts to cheat on her partner.

Through most of the book, I didn't like Claire and it wasn't just because she was trying so hard to cheat. Every time Claire is described it's as "stunning". That word is used a lot and Claire knows it. I think once, Hugo tells her she's beautiful and she tells him "I know.". She spends most of the book primping and preening, putting make up on and adjusting her clothes, like an animal doing a mating dance.

Seeing the effects both Claire and Huge are having on their partners with their infidelity was difficult, but it was the partners that were portrayed as the shrews and nags. It kind of felt like the book came to an abrupt end. Like there should have been more with the consequences of the action at the end. Like, what happens to everyone because of that scene? WIth it just the way it is, it seems like the ending is just meant to shock instead of telling a story. If we had kept going with the actions and reactions and seeing what come uppances people get, I think we would have explored the full range of emotions when someone cheats

[S.D. Mayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always like to find something positive to say about a book if I can, but I'm sorry to say that I just didn't enjoy this story or meeting the unlikeable protagonist, Claire Frazer. And I wasn't that keen on the other characters either who lacked depth and were very one dimensional.

It's a in-depth plot with a big cast, so I was excited to read it, but the storyline also fell flat for me. I understand that authors sometimes like to rebel against the writing rules, but they are there for a reason - to make it easier for a reader to actually read the storyline. And I'm afraid this book needs a serious edit. There is a lot of clunky discordant 'telling' rather than 'showing' with info dumping and repetition of the same thing e.g Claire is exceptionally beautiful; Claire is a stunningly beautiful blonde; She was a showstopper. There are ways of showing the reader that a character is beautiful by the effect they have on others, or inner dialogue, rather than to keep stating the obvious endlessly. There's also a lot of head hopping with POV's changing within the same scenes, so all of this made it hard to really enjoy the story. So this did feel more like a WIP rather than a finished product.

[Dylan Fairchild · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Passionate Debut

"Room Service" is the debut work from Brit author B.B. James. It is a tale of passion, lust, and longing. It centers around the gorgeous Claire, a striking gal on the prowl for something extra in her love life.

I'm afraid I have to agree with some other reviewers on this one. This book seemed pretty flat to me. There was nothing particularly interesting about the characters or storyline. It seems like throughout the book the characters talk, and eat, and drink, and talk, and fool around, and drink, and....nothing much really happens until the closing paragraphs. (And the book could really use an impactful closing sentence!) I thought if nothing else, the book would offer some juicy erotica that would make my glasses steam up, but even in that humble hope I was disappointed.

The bottom line, however, is this is a debut work, and I strongly suspect we're going to see a lot more from B.B. James. She is clearly dedicated to her craft and enthusiastic about the romance genre. I hope she's energetically at work on another tale of love, loss, and passion, and I'd wager her next book is going to feature some strongly-developed characters and intriguing escapades. 2.5 Stars.

[Jacqui Letran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to agree with the other reviewers- the story is intriguing and has a lot of potentials. However, the sheer number of characters, the repetitions, and some awkward writing/words made it difficult to fully enjoy- and yet I kept reading. As another reviewer mentioned, it seems almost like the author was watching a movie in her head and retelling the story. With an edit or two, this book could be amazing!

[Angela DeBartolo Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was nNot what I expected . I thought it was going to be a murder mystery and it ended up being more intrigue but in a good way. It kept you guessing until the end whether Claire would choose Hugo or Ritchie and when she does make a choice it's with dire consequences ....Good Read

[Becky (beckyy.readss) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was asked if I could read this book and give it an honest review by the author. I’m thankful that B.B. James reached out to me and asked me to review it as this book seemed to be right up my alley.

This book follows Claire Frazer, a medical professional working in a hospital surgical unit. Claire has become obsessed with her gorgeous, married boss named Hugo. But the rumours in the hospital is that Hugo is having an affair and not with Claire. Claire wants him and Hugo has noticed and not objected. The couple's infidelity results in a mixture of love, lust, lies and steamy encounters in hotel bedrooms, where 'room service' takes on a whole new meaning until the final shocking denouement. This book is a romance mystery novel set in England.

I enjoyed this book. I thought it was an okay first book. I think there could be some improvements but first, I loved Jinny. I wanted her to kick off with Claire and not give a toss about upsetting her. She is me; she is the friend that has to point out the obvious. I wanted more of her. I would have loved to know if she had a boy or a girl or what they called the child. There are several things that confused me slightly. The first one being that there was definition on what time it was set. I didn’t even realise it was set in the 80s until it was mentioned half way through the book and things like smoking in the pub was mentioned. During some bits of the book the technical terms got lost, so I get why the author didn’t want to use a lot of technical terms in a medical book but I felt like someone it was lost and you sort of forgot that they were surgeons and working in a hospital. My personal opinion is that the book got rescued by the last 3 or 4 chapters when it was clear what the motive were and all was revealed. I believe this book could have been better if it was from distinctive POVs like Hugo, Rebecca, Jinny, Claire, Richie – like have a chapter her character.

I enjoyed this book and always love finding new authors. I rated this book three stars just because of the improvements and would love to make this book into a series and see where the other characters are and will history repeat itself.

[Erin Bomboy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every once in a while you meet a character who rubs you the wrong way, in every way. The heroine of Room Service, Claire Frazer, is that person for me.

Claire is exceptionally beautiful, a point made ad nauseam. In the second paragraph of chapter one, Claire is described as a “stunningly beautiful blonde.” In chapter two, we’re told that “She looked stunning and tan” and that “She was a showstopper.” Sometimes, it’s dropped into a paragraph about someone else. (. . . and then their eyes met meaningfully, which caused her to blush. Her hazel eyes and blonde hair were prominent features.”)

Claire is also slothful, shoving off at her job to put on makeup and calling in when she has a hangover. Although she has a nice enough boyfriend who wants to take her to Paris for the weekend, Claire has the hots for Hugo, a married doctor. Hugo is “fit” and drives a “navy blue Mercedes,” these qualities seemingly enough to induce Claire into a state of perpetual yearning.

Although the will-they-or-won’t-they plot powers the novel, a large cast of characters have their own narratives, including Jane, Hugo’s bored wife, who has a romp with a window cleaner, and Jinny, Claire’s best friend, who’s pregnant but still likes hanging out in bars.

The story unfolds from a variety of characters’ perspectives, sometimes with the point-of-view changing in a sentence or two (“He felt horny and she was disinterested, but at two in the morning, she was in no fit state to begin making other arrangements”). This and the tendency to use ad copy to introduce characters (“Celia was a very attractive lady, with deep coffee coloured skin that echoed her Caribbean background and black bobbed hair that shone like glass.”) kept me from connecting to anybody.

The tone is arch, which I enjoyed, and there’s a payoff at the end with an ah-ha explanation of the title, but I need my heroines to have more moral heft.

[Balroop Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Room Service: Love, Lust and Lies – the name of this book reveals it all. There is hardly any love though. Lust and lies dominate the narrative. The plot centers around manipulations of Claire to rope in a successful doctor; he is married but she has no qualms about it. She is determined to win him over with her charm and confidence. The story could have been told just in hundred pages. So the book contains unnecessary descriptions that lead nowhere, inconsequential chitchat and recurrence of same kind of situations.

There is no character development, the friendship of Claire and Jinny sounds superficial, her relationship with Richie is hollow and her personality is detestable. She is self-centered and too arrogant to see reason. Though she is the protagonist but James doesn’t make any effort to delve deeper into her character. There is nothing likable in this book. Even the ending couldn’t redeem its frivolous theme.

[Reading Mom.me · Rating 1 out of 5]

What did I just read? This book had potential to be good but it just missed the mark for me! The beginning was confusing with so many characters being introduced at one time that I didn’t know who was who (especially when some of the characters had almost identical names.) As the story progressed i figured out the characters so it became less confusing but then I was disgusted by the amount of drinking the one pregnant character was doing and the infidelity was terrible and so cliche. As the book got closer to the end I was trying to figure out how it was going to end with so little left and then bam they ended it in a cpl short chapters that left me saying WTF just happened and now it’s just over? A disappointing read all together.

[Jennell Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

This book is a rollercoaster of emotions. I was completely drawn into Claire's world, a dedicated nurse caught in a whirlwind of desire and deception. The author does a fantastic job of building tension between Claire and the charismatic surgeon, making it impossible to look away.
I really loved the unexpected twists and turns. I found myself constantly guessing what would happen next. The ending was both shocking and satisfying. It's one of those books that stays with you long after you've finished reading.n If you're looking for a story that's both thrilling and thought-provoking, definitely give this one a try.

[cheree hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spicy Naughty Nurse and Dog of a Dr....

Oh the drama of Doctors, Nurses and Hospital Staff! What happens when relationships are broken by careless Husbands and girlfriends not committed to boyfriends? Is the grass greener or do lives fall apart? Find out in this suspenseful novel.

[Paul Leverell · Rating 4 out of 5]

not my usual genre but…

I always wonder when an author writes "any resemblance to anyone…" as to who the characters are based on. This is not my usual genre for books but I enjoyed it. It is fast paced and the characters are believable. Oh, good ending btw.

[Elrica Francisca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hospital drama

If you love an intriguing love story between nurses and doctors, then this book is for you. This book is love, lust and lies...