Undersold Book Review

Title:  Undersold
Series:  City's Secrets #1
Author:  B.B. Hamel
Genre:  New Adult

My Rating:  3 ♥♥♥'s

*Thanks to B.B. Hamel for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*




Synopsis:

It wasn’t the kind of aching need that could be forgotten or ignored, or even missed. It was a burning, powerful thing, and like all powerful things, it was mindless and blameless. It came from somewhere else and took me directly to Shane and his body. There was nothing left but to submit to its whims. I wanted to be a part of him, not of his life, but of his existence.

Amy Woodall has it bad. Her father is dying of cancer, her job barely pays the bills, and she can’t get through the day without thinking about her crushing student loans. As an escape, each night she throws herself into developing a smartphone app in the hopes of kick starting her stalled-out life.

Things change when she begins an innocent text flirtation with a man she meets online. Shane Green is beautiful, passionate, and rich in a way Amy can barely comprehend. He’s also obsessed with his privacy, and he’ll do anything to protect the people he loves from the spotlight. When Shane’s company buys Amy’s fledgling business, she finds herself torn between family, career, and love, with no easy way out.

The rules have changed, and Amy must find a way to navigate them before she loses everything. 

My Review:

B.B. Hamel's debut novel opens in the middle of a sexting session between Amy Woodall and Rex Blue in an online dating site called Matchstick.  They boldly confess to some very sexy, suggestive acts that they would indulge in IF they were together, but that will never happen, so no problem, right?  Now imagine Amy's shock when she learns the man she has been confessing all her secret desires to is actually Shane Green - a reclusive billionaire entrepreneur in the Tech Industry and her new boss.  And he's just as surprised to see that Amy is the sexy siren he has fantasized about ever since they sent suggestive pictures to each other via texts.  A relationship begins - both personal and professional.  Both characters are carrying some emotional baggage that causes misunderstandings and an on again, off again relationship. Shane insists on a private relationship that no one knows about and that plays on Amy's insecurities. Much of the story occurs in the office setting and thus, office politics and gossip also play into the story.

As this story unfolds, we only get Amy's point of view as it's written in first person.  I believe it would have benefited from alternating pov's, allowing us to see what Shane was thinking.  Shane is an extremely private person to the point of being paranoid about any public press.  He insists they can only have a relationship if Amy keeps it a secret...from everyone. He has three rules that she must agree to: 

1)You can tell nobody, not another living soul, that we are together.

2)You cannot see another man while you are with me.

3)You will come...(yeah, okay...I'll leave it up to you to read this rule.)

Amy, a computer nerd working in a coffeeshop during the day and programming computer apps at night, is very insecure and constantly apologizing to Shane over every little thing - even when she isn't at fault. She feels like he is hiding something from her but never really takes a stand.  I kept expecting her to really stand up to him and demand more.  She is too shy & demure.  I  think both characters would have benefited from a little more development, as I never fully connected to them.  I wanted to feel more in-depth emotion from both of them.  I also wanted that one big conflict...an event that would push them over the edge and make me doubt the outcome.  Any issues that develop, are too easily resolved.  

Having said that, I enjoyed Undersold and think it's a good start to a series by an author with a lot of potential.  It's a good, fast read with some sexy erotic love scenes. Fans of erotic New Adult should give this book a read!

My Rating:  3 Pretty ♥♥♥'s...And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart...xxx

Sandra

IWSG: Rejected or Redirected?

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a community of writers whose purpose is to share with and encourage other writers. Writers can express doubts and concerns and offer & receive encouragement and guidance.  IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month.  Be sure to check out other IWSG writers/bloggers here:  IWSG Members

IWSG:  Rejected or Redirected?

At one time or another in our life journey, we all experience rejection.  Rejection hurts.  As a child on the playground at school, a young adult seeking that elusive first job or date, a writer getting yet another rejection letter.  Rejection hurts. Why don't they like me?  Why didn't I get the job?  Why isn't my book good enough? Rejection hurts, and it often leads to self-doubt. 

In the past, I've been guilty of letting rejection eat away at my self-esteem and bring on periods of self-doubt. (yes, I may have wallowed in it a time or two!)  While it's normal to seek acceptance in all we do and to be hurt if we fail to receive it, it's only a tragedy if we let it derail us from our journey.  Rejected doesn't mean failure.  It doesn't mean you're less than someone else. It doesn't mean you're unlovable.  It doesn't mean your book doesn't have potential.  It only means that for that particular moment in time, you did not have what that peer, employer, or publisher was looking for.  Find the right person, situation, and/or path and redirect yourself.

Have you ever been rejected only to have something better come along - something you would have missed had you not been previously rejected?  Take rejections and redirect them into positives...into something better for you.  Received another rejection slip? Take another look at your book or article...can you make it better?  Tighten it up?  Edit it one more time? (gasp!) Have you submitted it to an agent/publisher who is the right fit for you & the material you write? Always keep your eyes open for possibilities. 

Remember that being rejected doesn't mean you should give up your dreams.  It means it's time for you to reassess your situation and decide your next course of action.  Turn being Rejected into being Redirected!  See what happens.  Being refused entry into one door may afford you the opportunity you need to grab the keys that will open doors you only dreamed of before. Rejection hurts but it may be the best thing that ever happens to you.