What do you think?
Rate this book
Innkeepers #3
Room Service
Check into the national bestselling author’s Innkeepers series with “a sweet story which offers a long, slow look at taking a second chance on love” (All About Romance). New Yorker Jasmine Washington had a successful interior design business, a high-powered marriage, and a chance at motherhood—until her perfect husband betrayed her big-time. Now starting from scratch, the Asian and African-American stunner is tackling a lifetime co-managing her friend’s new luxury inn about to open in the Garden District. The last thing Jasmine needs is romance. New Orleans’ most eligible bachelor, investment banker Cameron Singleton, begs to differ. Cameron challenges Jasmine’s cautious ways, teases her back into having real fun—and makes one sexy, utterly irresistible Mr. Right Now. But their passionate nights soon result in a surprise bonus . . . Even though Cameron insists on being there for Jasmine, can she really believe his love is the real thing? Can she shake the past and design a completely new life? And is there really only one way to find out? Praise for the Innkeepers series “Late-in-life love in vibrant New Orleans . . . [a] female bonding romance series like the Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts.”—Kirkus Reviews “The ambiance and flavor of New Orleans are on full display.”—RT Book Reviews (4 stars)
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2018
275 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Rochelle Alers
220 books1,051 followersRochelle Alers was born in Manhattan, New York, USA, where she raised. She obtained degrees in Sociology and Psychology, before started to work. She is a member of the Iota Theta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling. She has traveled to countries in North, Central and South America, and Europe. She is also in accomplished in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint.
Published since 1988, today a full-time writer, has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today's most prolific and popular African-American authors of romance and women's fiction. With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, she is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award. She also wrote as Susan James and Rena McLeary.
Rochelle Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.
Published since 1988, today a full-time writer, has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today's most prolific and popular African-American authors of romance and women's fiction. With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, she is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award. She also wrote as Susan James and Rena McLeary.
Rochelle Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
January 11, 2022
This was a decent story about a man attending a friend's wedding and falling for one of the bridesmaids....Cameron knew from the beginning that he was attracted to Jasmine...However, it took Jasmine a minute to warm up to the idea....eventually the couple got to their end....tolerable narration.
June 19, 2018
I've enjoyed the Innkeepers series, but Room Service was not for me. I wanted a new story. This story felt old and recycled. The names and locations may differ, but general plot is the same. I wanted more and think the story could've been expanded in many different ways. The secondary characters, from previous books, were pretty much non existent.
I was given this eArc from the publisher via Netgalley
I was given this eArc from the publisher via Netgalley
May 18, 2020
Room Service by Rochelle Alers is the third book in her Innkeepers series and it fell a little flat for me.
I enjoyed getting to know more about Jasmine and Cameron but I didn't really feel the connection between them. I did enjoy visiting New Orleans again with them and seeing Hannah and Tonya. I have the second book, Breakfast in Bed, on hold at my local public library and I hope this one will be much better.
I enjoyed getting to know more about Jasmine and Cameron but I didn't really feel the connection between them. I did enjoy visiting New Orleans again with them and seeing Hannah and Tonya. I have the second book, Breakfast in Bed, on hold at my local public library and I hope this one will be much better.
August 8, 2020
3.5 Stars.
I really enjoy this author’s work and I liked the first 2 books in this series which is why this has been high on my TBR list. The premise is that divorced interior decorator/HR expert, Jasmine, is completely uninterested in many romantic entanglements until she’s convinced to go on a date with successful, New Orleans blue blood financial advisor, Cameron. Suddenly the two, who are both marriage averse and aren’t each other’s types are catching feelings but with Jasmine determined to stay in New York despite offers to buy into her friends’ New Orleans inn and with Cameron entrenched in New York, any possibility of a relationship between them seems impossible.
I liked the set up and resolution of this. I think it’s a second chance romance for people who had given up on love because they’re “too old” (the protagonists are 43 and 48) or “it isn’t something that interests them.” This book contains one of my favourite tropes and I think it was done well. I would definitely recommend this to be read in order with the rest of the Innkeepers series because this wouldn’t stand up well on its own without context. This is possibly my favorite of the series so far.
I really enjoy this author’s work and I liked the first 2 books in this series which is why this has been high on my TBR list. The premise is that divorced interior decorator/HR expert, Jasmine, is completely uninterested in many romantic entanglements until she’s convinced to go on a date with successful, New Orleans blue blood financial advisor, Cameron. Suddenly the two, who are both marriage averse and aren’t each other’s types are catching feelings but with Jasmine determined to stay in New York despite offers to buy into her friends’ New Orleans inn and with Cameron entrenched in New York, any possibility of a relationship between them seems impossible.
I liked the set up and resolution of this. I think it’s a second chance romance for people who had given up on love because they’re “too old” (the protagonists are 43 and 48) or “it isn’t something that interests them.” This book contains one of my favourite tropes and I think it was done well. I would definitely recommend this to be read in order with the rest of the Innkeepers series because this wouldn’t stand up well on its own without context. This is possibly my favorite of the series so far.
September 3, 2018
Previously reviewed on The Good, The Bad, and The Unread:
In my continuing efforts to read more new-to-me authors across a wider range of subgenres, I’ve been trying to overcome my fear of diving into series partway through. This time, I started with the third of a four-book story arc, in which four relatively mature women, united by losing their jobs on the same day, search for new career directions and find love along the way.
Jasmine Washington built up a successful interior decorating business before turning over the day-to-day running of the company to her husband, in order to begin a second career as a human resources manager. When she lost her job unexpectedly, she made friends with three other professional women let go from the firm on the same day. Having discovered her husband was cheating on her, Jasmine divorced him and sold the decorating business; now she’s working part-time for non-profit organisations while she figures out her next move. Understandably distrusting of men, Jasmine agrees to a no-strings date with a man she met at the wedding of one of her new friends; Cameron Singleton is only in New York on a brief visit, so there’s no chance they will get tangled up in a messy relationship – and Jasmine is definitely over any kind of long-distance romance, since that’s how she met her ex.
Cameron is an investment banker, working for his family’s firm in New Orleans, who visits New York a couple of times a year to catch up with his old buddies from university. Having witnessed all the bad aspects of his parents’ turbulent marriage, he is keen not to be tied down and makes a point of having short-term relationships with younger women. Jasmine is older than Cameron’s usual type, but he finds he enjoys spending time with her, as one date turns into several, and then into a promise to meet up again for the wedding of a second of Jasmine’s new friends. Throughout all this getting to know each other, there is a lot of exchanging of backstories, without Cameron letting on just how influential his family is. Even in the early stages, however, he comes across as controlling and borderline emotionally abusive, though we’re repeatedly reminded that he’s not as bad as Jasmine’s ex, who was only after her money all along.
Once the action moves to New Orleans, and Jasmine finds out that she’s pregnant, Cameron, to my eyes, turns into a complete monster, moving Jasmine into the hotel he owns and lives in – in an adjacent suite to his, but still another sign of his controlling personality. I read the book to the end in the hope that Cameron would either learn to be a decent human being or get his comeuppance, but neither happened. Cameron’s family is no better, and I was disappointed that Jasmine’s friends seemed to think that all this was normal behaviour for rich folks and something to be tolerated as an alternative to Jasmine being taken for every penny she had by her ex.
On top of all that, more than one character used ‘living an alternative lifestyle’ as a euphemism for being gay. As a bisexual who has dipped into several alternative subcultures before finding a home with the steampunk contingent, I find conflating these two disparate aspects of personality to be highly offensive. It’s possible to be very, very conventional and still be attracted to one’s own or more than one gender, just as it’s very common for heterosexuals to be goths, gamers, steampunks, or SF fans. Rant over, I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere near this author again.
In my continuing efforts to read more new-to-me authors across a wider range of subgenres, I’ve been trying to overcome my fear of diving into series partway through. This time, I started with the third of a four-book story arc, in which four relatively mature women, united by losing their jobs on the same day, search for new career directions and find love along the way.
Jasmine Washington built up a successful interior decorating business before turning over the day-to-day running of the company to her husband, in order to begin a second career as a human resources manager. When she lost her job unexpectedly, she made friends with three other professional women let go from the firm on the same day. Having discovered her husband was cheating on her, Jasmine divorced him and sold the decorating business; now she’s working part-time for non-profit organisations while she figures out her next move. Understandably distrusting of men, Jasmine agrees to a no-strings date with a man she met at the wedding of one of her new friends; Cameron Singleton is only in New York on a brief visit, so there’s no chance they will get tangled up in a messy relationship – and Jasmine is definitely over any kind of long-distance romance, since that’s how she met her ex.
Cameron is an investment banker, working for his family’s firm in New Orleans, who visits New York a couple of times a year to catch up with his old buddies from university. Having witnessed all the bad aspects of his parents’ turbulent marriage, he is keen not to be tied down and makes a point of having short-term relationships with younger women. Jasmine is older than Cameron’s usual type, but he finds he enjoys spending time with her, as one date turns into several, and then into a promise to meet up again for the wedding of a second of Jasmine’s new friends. Throughout all this getting to know each other, there is a lot of exchanging of backstories, without Cameron letting on just how influential his family is. Even in the early stages, however, he comes across as controlling and borderline emotionally abusive, though we’re repeatedly reminded that he’s not as bad as Jasmine’s ex, who was only after her money all along.
Once the action moves to New Orleans, and Jasmine finds out that she’s pregnant, Cameron, to my eyes, turns into a complete monster, moving Jasmine into the hotel he owns and lives in – in an adjacent suite to his, but still another sign of his controlling personality. I read the book to the end in the hope that Cameron would either learn to be a decent human being or get his comeuppance, but neither happened. Cameron’s family is no better, and I was disappointed that Jasmine’s friends seemed to think that all this was normal behaviour for rich folks and something to be tolerated as an alternative to Jasmine being taken for every penny she had by her ex.
On top of all that, more than one character used ‘living an alternative lifestyle’ as a euphemism for being gay. As a bisexual who has dipped into several alternative subcultures before finding a home with the steampunk contingent, I find conflating these two disparate aspects of personality to be highly offensive. It’s possible to be very, very conventional and still be attracted to one’s own or more than one gender, just as it’s very common for heterosexuals to be goths, gamers, steampunks, or SF fans. Rant over, I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere near this author again.
July 23, 2018
Jasmine and Cameron- talk about second chance romance. She's had a tough run and now is in New Orleans running an inn. No interest in love but then...Cameron. These two start out, par for the course, as two people from different perspectives but well, you know what's going to happen! and in this one, a little more happens :). This is part of a series but I don't think you need to have read the earlier books because each features one of four women- and this is Jasmine's story. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is one of those light quick reads that is, let's admit it, somewhat predictable but also enjoyable.
Read
April 27, 2023read a good chunk of this while in the psych ward. this was the only book they could offer me.
August 3, 2018
Room Service by Rochelle Alers is the third book in the series named Innkeepers. It is the first book I have read by Rochelle Alers and the first book I have read in the series. I didn’t find it too hard to keep up with all the people and information even though I have not read the previous books.
Jasmine Washington was an interior decorator and then worked in HR for a large office. She has been burned by her ex husband and does not trust men any longer. She is pals with three other women who all worked for the same business until the business downsized and they were all out of jobs. Jasmine has worked a temporary job. She has determined to take the summer off and then leave for New Orleans for her friend’s wedding. There are obstacles toward her moving forward but she is willing to face them.
Cameron Singleton meets Jasmine at a wedding of a mutual friend, but does not live in NYC like Jasmine. However, when he came up to hang with some college friends, he contacts her and they have dinner, dinner and then more food and drinks. Cameron wants Jasmine but is not interested in marriage. Luckily Jasmine feels the same. Together tho, they are hot and definitely interested in each other!
The book was a fun read and I wanted the book to end happily for Jasmine and Cameron. I felt the book was slow at the beginning with so much time spent in Jasmine’s head relaying information from previous storylines. Once the story moved into both Cameron and Jasmine, I felt the book moved quickly and was much more interesting. Room Service by Rochelle Alers was a good read.
Jasmine Washington was an interior decorator and then worked in HR for a large office. She has been burned by her ex husband and does not trust men any longer. She is pals with three other women who all worked for the same business until the business downsized and they were all out of jobs. Jasmine has worked a temporary job. She has determined to take the summer off and then leave for New Orleans for her friend’s wedding. There are obstacles toward her moving forward but she is willing to face them.
Cameron Singleton meets Jasmine at a wedding of a mutual friend, but does not live in NYC like Jasmine. However, when he came up to hang with some college friends, he contacts her and they have dinner, dinner and then more food and drinks. Cameron wants Jasmine but is not interested in marriage. Luckily Jasmine feels the same. Together tho, they are hot and definitely interested in each other!
The book was a fun read and I wanted the book to end happily for Jasmine and Cameron. I felt the book was slow at the beginning with so much time spent in Jasmine’s head relaying information from previous storylines. Once the story moved into both Cameron and Jasmine, I felt the book moved quickly and was much more interesting. Room Service by Rochelle Alers was a good read.
August 7, 2018
Heartwarming and seductive series follows four very different women risking second chances deep in the sultry heart of New Orleans . . .New Yorker (HR) Jasmine Washington had a successful (interior design business), a high-powered marriage, and a chance at motherhood—until her perfect husband betrayed her big-time. He got a hood-rat, with 3 kids already, pregnant and had a child with her, then got a vasectomy so he wouldn’t get Jasmine pregnant. When they divorced he tried to take her business, her condo, and get her to pay spousal support so his new family could live in the manner in which he was accustomed. Now starting from scratch, the Asian and African-American stunner is tackling a lifetime opportunity: investing in her friend’s new luxury inn about to open in the Garden District and handling HR. The last thing Jasmine needs is romance. New Orleans' most eligible bachelor, (investment banker) Cameron Singleton, begs to differ. Cameron challenges Jasmine’s cautious ways, teases her back into having real fun—and makes one sexy, utterly irresistible Mr. Right Now. But their passionate nights soon result in a surprise bonus, baby girl Sabrina Maya Singleton. Even though Cameron insists on being there for Jasmine, can she really believe his love is the real thing? Can she shake the past and design a completely new life? And is there really only one way to find out?
A little repetitive, no a lot repetitive, took away from the overall experience
A little repetitive, no a lot repetitive, took away from the overall experience
June 5, 2021
I cannot believe this book has 4 stars. I never review books, but this was hands down the worst romance novel I have ever read and I felt it necessary to warn others - I DNF. I’ve read a lot of romances (it’s my favorite genre) and they’re not all to my taste or my favorites, but most had at least a solid story to pull me through...this did not. It has unnecessary info dumps at bizarre and inappropriate times. We spend more time in the characters heads listening to the blabber on about completely unrelated asides than on the actual story. There are strangely detailed sentences about furniture, going up/using elevators, or oddly ensuring we understand the female character went into a women’s bathroom. It feels like the author had to meet a required number of pages so they filled space with exposition that did not fit the scenes and overly purple prose. I think this author spent too much time with a thesaurus and not enough time with an editor. Don’t waste you’re time.
October 1, 2019
I didn’t read the other books in this series, but since my overall issue with this was the writing itself maybe it’s best that I don’t read them. I was a bit bored plot wise. The couple didn’t really seem like two people falling in love. It was a bit stilted. The language seemed rather repetitive in a lot of places. Also, I didn’t really like the way that the author framed some of her descriptions of the main female character. There’s a way to speak about women and compliment them without insulting other women and it just seemed like there was a lot of that language happening in this book. A lot of punching down of others to emphasize the greatness of the main character. I didn’t like that.
February 22, 2021
I wavered between 2 and 3 stars but considering I listened to the whole thing in a ~day [less than a day?] => and the narrator was pretty good too.
[Although I didn't love how she read Nydia ...
ANYWAY. Jasmine Washington and Cameron Singleton.
Jasmine is half Black half Filipino - it made me slightly uncomfortable how much she's written as being "demure" and "looking down" etc. I dunno if it was just " " her personality, or if it was because she's half Asian so ... :X like it made me itchy.
😅 I dunno why but I wasn't expecting a white dude hero. It's interesting though - like ... guy who is 48 who still annually gets together with his frat brothers. [Sidenote - has anyone ever met someone in a fraternity who calls it a frat? It's been years but IIRC most the guys I know who were in one were always "don't call it a frat!")
I do love me a smitten hero though. And ... it was kinda weird though because yes he's definitely attracted to Jasmine - and I actually appreciated him saying he's not in love with her [before he even gets to know her]. Too often there's [ugh] "insta-love" ... although. ... also ugh - it's kinda the case here but not.
Like ... they spend a few days together and ... he's low key in love with her/he is but doesn't identify it as love/know it's love...
And they don't spend MUCH time together before they're both like "I'm in love."
I think they kinda knew but not when they slept together after the 2nd? 3rd? date?
I'm changing it to 2 stars because there is a lot of cringe here.
I tweeted; I thought this book was written a LONG time ago - like :X early 00s. But it was published in 2018. While the characters are [supposedly] [tolerant] of LGBT etc - they kept calling it an "alternative lifestyle" which ... was pretty cringe.
And dude's frat brothers "tease" him about being into an "alternative lifestyle" [gay] - since he's ~so old and has never gotten married.
[He's never gotten married because he grew up around his parents who had a super toxic marriage for something like 15 or 20 years?]
Which somehow it didn't really affect his siblings as much?
I couldn't quite tell how good/bad his siblings are.
I really liked Jasmine's friends.
A[nother] issue though is how repetitive the book is. Like I can't count how many times she thinks about/talks about being fired and the 4 of them getting together at the one woman's house. SO MANY TIMES. SO MANY. OMFG.
SO MANY.
And her mentor/lover.
Like - ol boy was 40+ years older than her? She was 19 when they met and he was in his 40s or 50s? I think she said they slept together when she was 23 and he was 54? :X Something about 54 stuck in my brain. SO FUCKING CREEPY.
And ... the predatory relationship.
Like ... she's all "oh it was cool though because he helped me launch my career and I gave him my virginity." :X ugh just writing that makes me feel gross.
ARGH.
So like ... there's good parts about the book - I liked reading about an older couple.
She's 43, he's 47/48. [Or she was 42 and turns 43?] Same with him - they both have birthdays in the book.
Cameron is so generous - early!
Like he moves fast but ... sometimes not that fast? But she's kinda bitchy ... granted she was burned badly by her ex.
Argh it's just all over the place.
[and I know I am too]
I liked Cam and Jasmine meeting each other's parents. And her being mad at him for low key ambushing her with his family.
I liked her standing up to him re: not staying with him ...
I did NOT like him freaking SELLING THE HOTEL without mentioning it to her?
Like... what?
I mean I get they each have their own wealth and it was HIS hotel - and he can do what he wants with it ... but also - they're going to be married and shouldn't they make such big decisions at least by discussing it first?
it was sweet of him to create the trust ... I liked that Cameron tells his future father in law like "I can take care of your daughter, our kids, our grandkids, and their grandkids" :P damn - <3
ARRRGGHHHH.
I'm sure I'm forgetting things but I'm feeling stressed and rushed for whatever reason so it's like...
A D++ or a C- - .... - ?
I DON'T KNOW.
TLHR;LKGJRSLKGNSDKJL
[Although I didn't love how she read Nydia ...
ANYWAY. Jasmine Washington and Cameron Singleton.
Jasmine is half Black half Filipino - it made me slightly uncomfortable how much she's written as being "demure" and "looking down" etc. I dunno if it was just " " her personality, or if it was because she's half Asian so ... :X like it made me itchy.
😅 I dunno why but I wasn't expecting a white dude hero. It's interesting though - like ... guy who is 48 who still annually gets together with his frat brothers. [Sidenote - has anyone ever met someone in a fraternity who calls it a frat? It's been years but IIRC most the guys I know who were in one were always "don't call it a frat!")
I do love me a smitten hero though. And ... it was kinda weird though because yes he's definitely attracted to Jasmine - and I actually appreciated him saying he's not in love with her [before he even gets to know her]. Too often there's [ugh] "insta-love" ... although. ... also ugh - it's kinda the case here but not.
Like ... they spend a few days together and ... he's low key in love with her/he is but doesn't identify it as love/know it's love...
And they don't spend MUCH time together before they're both like "I'm in love."
I think they kinda knew but not when they slept together after the 2nd? 3rd? date?
I'm changing it to 2 stars because there is a lot of cringe here.
I tweeted; I thought this book was written a LONG time ago - like :X early 00s. But it was published in 2018. While the characters are [supposedly] [tolerant] of LGBT etc - they kept calling it an "alternative lifestyle" which ... was pretty cringe.
And dude's frat brothers "tease" him about being into an "alternative lifestyle" [gay] - since he's ~so old and has never gotten married.
[He's never gotten married because he grew up around his parents who had a super toxic marriage for something like 15 or 20 years?]
Which somehow it didn't really affect his siblings as much?
I couldn't quite tell how good/bad his siblings are.
I really liked Jasmine's friends.
A[nother] issue though is how repetitive the book is. Like I can't count how many times she thinks about/talks about being fired and the 4 of them getting together at the one woman's house. SO MANY TIMES. SO MANY. OMFG.
SO MANY.
And her mentor/lover.
Like - ol boy was 40+ years older than her? She was 19 when they met and he was in his 40s or 50s? I think she said they slept together when she was 23 and he was 54? :X Something about 54 stuck in my brain. SO FUCKING CREEPY.
And ... the predatory relationship.
Like ... she's all "oh it was cool though because he helped me launch my career and I gave him my virginity." :X ugh just writing that makes me feel gross.
ARGH.
So like ... there's good parts about the book - I liked reading about an older couple.
She's 43, he's 47/48. [Or she was 42 and turns 43?] Same with him - they both have birthdays in the book.
Cameron is so generous - early!
Like he moves fast but ... sometimes not that fast? But she's kinda bitchy ... granted she was burned badly by her ex.
Argh it's just all over the place.
[and I know I am too]
I liked Cam and Jasmine meeting each other's parents. And her being mad at him for low key ambushing her with his family.
I liked her standing up to him re: not staying with him ...
I did NOT like him freaking SELLING THE HOTEL without mentioning it to her?
Like... what?
I mean I get they each have their own wealth and it was HIS hotel - and he can do what he wants with it ... but also - they're going to be married and shouldn't they make such big decisions at least by discussing it first?
it was sweet of him to create the trust ... I liked that Cameron tells his future father in law like "I can take care of your daughter, our kids, our grandkids, and their grandkids" :P damn - <3
ARRRGGHHHH.
I'm sure I'm forgetting things but I'm feeling stressed and rushed for whatever reason so it's like...
A D++ or a C- - .... - ?
I DON'T KNOW.
TLHR;LKGJRSLKGNSDKJL
July 31, 2018
Romances focusing on older adults are rare in today’s market, so I was delighted when I learned Rochelle Aler’s Room Service features a hero and heroine in their forties. This is book three of a trio about more mature heroines, but you don’t have to read the first two books to enjoy this one.
Jobless but by no means destitute, Jasmine Washington can afford to take some time to decide what she plans to do next. A dedicated New Yorker, she doesn’t really want to leave the city she loves, but an opportunity – in the form of co-managing the new luxury inn her friend is about to open in New Orleans – is calling her south. She has plans to use another friend’s wedding in the area as an excuse to hang out in the Big Easy, enjoy the fine food, culture and music and see if she really wants to make a change. Then she gets the phone call.
Cameron Singleton had met Jasmine at a friend’s reception the previous year and hasn’t been able to get her out of his mind. In New York for a reunion with some college friends, he gives her a call to see if she’s willing to meet with him. She is. They have dinner, then follow-up with a lunch at her aunt’s inn. He’s amazed at how quickly he’s falling for her; she’s amazed she’s dating at all after the devastation her ex made of her heart. Realistically, though, how much of a future can they have if Jasmine decides to stay in New York when Cameron returns to New Orleans? See the rest of my review at https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
Jobless but by no means destitute, Jasmine Washington can afford to take some time to decide what she plans to do next. A dedicated New Yorker, she doesn’t really want to leave the city she loves, but an opportunity – in the form of co-managing the new luxury inn her friend is about to open in New Orleans – is calling her south. She has plans to use another friend’s wedding in the area as an excuse to hang out in the Big Easy, enjoy the fine food, culture and music and see if she really wants to make a change. Then she gets the phone call.
Cameron Singleton had met Jasmine at a friend’s reception the previous year and hasn’t been able to get her out of his mind. In New York for a reunion with some college friends, he gives her a call to see if she’s willing to meet with him. She is. They have dinner, then follow-up with a lunch at her aunt’s inn. He’s amazed at how quickly he’s falling for her; she’s amazed she’s dating at all after the devastation her ex made of her heart. Realistically, though, how much of a future can they have if Jasmine decides to stay in New York when Cameron returns to New Orleans? See the rest of my review at https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
November 5, 2018
I enjoyed reading this delightful book. Although I have two other books I should be reading first. John Grisham's The Reckoning and Markus's Bridge of Clay that is 537 pages. So, my guilty pleasure was doubled by the fact that I should have been reading more worthy selections. The leading lady is Jasmine Washington and she runs a successful interior design business. In her private life she is unlucky. Her husband cheated on her and had a baby with another woman. After her divorce, the Asian-African American is starting her life over managing her friend's new luxury Inn opening in New Orleans famous Garden District. She happens to meet banker Cameron Singleton who is taken with her beauty. He invites her to attend a reunion of his college roommates and she accepts. Much description is given about customs, food, fashions, and the areas of New Orleans and the New York Area. Cameron is a much sought after bachelor, but he only has eyes for Jasmine. The ending is predictable but interesting as their one encounter ends in Jasmine getting pregnant. Of course, the ending is delightful as all ends well.
October 21, 2023
2.5 Stars
Getting into this book was difficult. It started off slow and I thought it was going to be a DNF read for me. However, I continued to push to read it and finished it. Cameron and Jasmine aren't big believers in marriage, especially after how their relationships have gone in the past. Despite not liking either character in the beginning, Cameron's pursuit to win Jasmine over was sweet and his promise of being there for her showed how honorable the hero was.
Moreover, I found it hard to connect with the characters and found their connection lacked the full on chemistry I tend to see in the romance novels I read. Jasmine is very weary of Cameron and finds it very hard to trust the fact he wants to spend time with her, which I found difficult to deal with too. Just because her last relationship was a mess doesn't mean things with Cameron can't turn out well, especially when he's doing everything he can to win her over. Yet, in saying that, Cameron and Jasmine did start to win me over in the end and I'm glad they found happiness.
Getting into this book was difficult. It started off slow and I thought it was going to be a DNF read for me. However, I continued to push to read it and finished it. Cameron and Jasmine aren't big believers in marriage, especially after how their relationships have gone in the past. Despite not liking either character in the beginning, Cameron's pursuit to win Jasmine over was sweet and his promise of being there for her showed how honorable the hero was.
Moreover, I found it hard to connect with the characters and found their connection lacked the full on chemistry I tend to see in the romance novels I read. Jasmine is very weary of Cameron and finds it very hard to trust the fact he wants to spend time with her, which I found difficult to deal with too. Just because her last relationship was a mess doesn't mean things with Cameron can't turn out well, especially when he's doing everything he can to win her over. Yet, in saying that, Cameron and Jasmine did start to win me over in the end and I'm glad they found happiness.
June 15, 2024
Jasmine met Cameron months ago at a friend's wedding. Their attraction was instant, but the distance between them is a barrier to any relationship. When Cameron comes to New York for a reunion with his frat brothers, he asks Jasmine out to dinner. The evening goes well, and one date turns into three.
But Jasmine was badly hurt during her marriage, and Cameron is a confirmed bachelor. Jasmine's also facing a career crisis. She lost her job, and a friend is urging her to move to New Orleans to invest in the boutique hotel she is opening. She must decide what her future will be and whether that future can include Cameron.
The couples in this book are older than typical for romances. The main couples are mixed race, and they all have pasts that affect their current relationships. I liked the theme of mature romance and the strong female friendships, but the development of Cameron and Jasmine's relationship was just okay.
But Jasmine was badly hurt during her marriage, and Cameron is a confirmed bachelor. Jasmine's also facing a career crisis. She lost her job, and a friend is urging her to move to New Orleans to invest in the boutique hotel she is opening. She must decide what her future will be and whether that future can include Cameron.
The couples in this book are older than typical for romances. The main couples are mixed race, and they all have pasts that affect their current relationships. I liked the theme of mature romance and the strong female friendships, but the development of Cameron and Jasmine's relationship was just okay.
August 5, 2018
Hannah DuPont-Lowell, Tonya Martin, Jasmine Washington, and Nydia Santiago share a common bond. They were dismissed from their positions at Wakefield Hamilton Bank in New York on the same day. Little did these ladies know that the bond established on that day would forge forever friendships between these four women of different backgrounds. The Innkeepers Series by the prolific Rochelle Alers is a tribute to women (of a certain age) who are given second chances at careers and love. THE INHERITANCE is Hannah’s story, BREAKFAST IN BED is Tonya’s story, and ROOM SERVICE is Jasmine’s story. New Orleans is the main setting, so Laissez les bons temps rouler. I recommend that you read this series in the order it is written, so that you can fully comprehend how the relationships between the women protagonists developed. I enjoyed ROOM SERVICE, and I recommend it.
October 29, 2022
This is the third book in The Innkeepers series. I was able to read and enjoy this one without having read the two previous books. The editing of this book was lacking and that was the reason that I gave it three stars rather than four. There were places where words were left out or the wrong word was used. I can forgive this if there are only one or two instances, but there were many in this book.
This was a delightful romance between 43-year-old Jasmine Washington from New York City and Cameron Singleton, a 48-year-old investment advisor from New Orleans. They meet at a wedding in New Orleans and then later they connect when he comes to New York City for a fraternity reunion. Jasmine has been through a nasty divorce and Cameron's parents had a contentious marriage for many years, so they are both skittish about getting in a serious relationship.
This was a delightful romance between 43-year-old Jasmine Washington from New York City and Cameron Singleton, a 48-year-old investment advisor from New Orleans. They meet at a wedding in New Orleans and then later they connect when he comes to New York City for a fraternity reunion. Jasmine has been through a nasty divorce and Cameron's parents had a contentious marriage for many years, so they are both skittish about getting in a serious relationship.
July 4, 2018
I received a complimentary copy of "Room Service" from NetGallery and all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My thoughts about this book are based on reading this 3rd book in the series. I did not realize this was a series, needless to say, I have not read the previous books. I feel that having the background from the previous books would have given me a better Idea of the characters, I feel the history of the relationships between the characters was important to know, at least for me.
With that being said, I did enjoy the book and would like to read the first two books in the series and reread "Room Service." It was a nice, light read and watching the relationship between Jasmine and Cameron develop was enjoyable.
My thoughts about this book are based on reading this 3rd book in the series. I did not realize this was a series, needless to say, I have not read the previous books. I feel that having the background from the previous books would have given me a better Idea of the characters, I feel the history of the relationships between the characters was important to know, at least for me.
With that being said, I did enjoy the book and would like to read the first two books in the series and reread "Room Service." It was a nice, light read and watching the relationship between Jasmine and Cameron develop was enjoyable.
August 2, 2018
I'm really happy to be finished with this book because it was not good. The main character, Jasmine is ridiculous. I love Rochelle Alers, she one of the few authors, that I read, who always gives her characters a real story, they have a history. But whew child, she failed with this one. She kept describing the male character as arrogant, and cocky, but the dialog didn't suggest this.
The book just wasn't well written, and there was this great opportunity to make us really feel the vibe of New Orleans and it didn't happen. I know this was the third installment of this series, and there is probably one more coming, but I'll more than likely pass.
The book just wasn't well written, and there was this great opportunity to make us really feel the vibe of New Orleans and it didn't happen. I know this was the third installment of this series, and there is probably one more coming, but I'll more than likely pass.
April 14, 2022
I am scoring the 3rd book a little higher....not that I enjoyed it much more than the first two....but by the time I got to this book...I had become invested enough in the characters that I feel it is worth the 4 stars.
I love the dynamics of the 4 different women....friends but different personalities and beliefs which differed a little bit from other authors that write in this style. This one really felt like a Cinderella story in a way...and I really enjoyed it. My only complaint again would be that she has a great story build up but a bit of a shove you off the cliff ending. Good story though.
I love the dynamics of the 4 different women....friends but different personalities and beliefs which differed a little bit from other authors that write in this style. This one really felt like a Cinderella story in a way...and I really enjoyed it. My only complaint again would be that she has a great story build up but a bit of a shove you off the cliff ending. Good story though.
November 28, 2018
Unfortunately, this novel didn't work for me (this was the first book in the series that I read). I found myself pretty indifferent to the main characters and I didn't find the story line very interesting. Also, Jasmine and Cameron spent so much time denying that they were in love and that they wanted to get married that it felt that we were kind of cheated out of a full-fledged love story. I appreciated the ethnic diversity, though.
July 15, 2021
Book 3..…..
Another great book that I gave five stars because I enjoyed reading about Jasmine and Cameron's story. One thing about it, it didn't take them long to come together once they met up again. She's her own woman and she was not going to let him dictate to her what she was and wasn't going to do. He's a man used to getting what he wants and doing what he wants. Great writing Rochelle Alers.
Another great book that I gave five stars because I enjoyed reading about Jasmine and Cameron's story. One thing about it, it didn't take them long to come together once they met up again. She's her own woman and she was not going to let him dictate to her what she was and wasn't going to do. He's a man used to getting what he wants and doing what he wants. Great writing Rochelle Alers.
October 7, 2024
I have read the other two books in the series, and I was glad to catch up on the other characters and to read Jasmine and Cameron's story. I enjoyed the story, but I felt Jasmine was a bit immature at times considering she was a 43-year-old woman. I was happy they got their happily-ever-after. As with books 1 & 2, I still enjoy the friendship between the 4 woman and how it has continued to grow. I am looking forward to reading Nydia's story which is the last book in the series.
June 23, 2025
Cameron wanted Jasmine from the moment he saw her. He was finally in New York and she agreed to go out with him. They hit it off right away. Neither one wanted to get married.
Jasmine ends up pregnant. Cameron steps right up. He quickly realizes he has fallen in love with her. She had fallen too but it was a bit of a bumpy ride to their happily ever after.
I enjoyed this book and am enjoying the series.
Jasmine ends up pregnant. Cameron steps right up. He quickly realizes he has fallen in love with her. She had fallen too but it was a bit of a bumpy ride to their happily ever after.
I enjoyed this book and am enjoying the series.
July 25, 2018
I have read the other two books in the series and I was glad to catch up on the characters. Jasmine and Cameron's story was like a real-life romance. At times the descriptions slowed down the pacing. I love the happy-ever-after but there wasn't a lot of conflict. I am looking forward to the other two books in the series. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
August 24, 2018
A light summer read and romance between Jasmine Washington and
Cameron Singleton with the background of New Orleans. After meeting at
a friend’s wedding they meet months later to go on a date. Neither person
Wants marriage, but these two individuals are made for each other
according to friends. A tale of second chances
Cameron Singleton with the background of New Orleans. After meeting at
a friend’s wedding they meet months later to go on a date. Neither person
Wants marriage, but these two individuals are made for each other
according to friends. A tale of second chances
August 25, 2018
Slow
I am enjoying this series but it was somewhat repetitive. The author kept explaining why Carson and Jasmine didn't want to get married. His parents and her ex husband. Was nice catching up with Hannah, Tonya and Nydia. Love the story being based in New Orleans. My husband and I went there for our honeymoon. Looking forward to Nydia's story.
I am enjoying this series but it was somewhat repetitive. The author kept explaining why Carson and Jasmine didn't want to get married. His parents and her ex husband. Was nice catching up with Hannah, Tonya and Nydia. Love the story being based in New Orleans. My husband and I went there for our honeymoon. Looking forward to Nydia's story.
December 29, 2018
Wonderful story
I've enjoyed The Innkeepers series. The descriptions transport you to New York, New Orleans, and North Carolina. I loved the way Cameron patiently sought after Jasmine. I highly recommend this story. Some times the descriptions are repetitive if reading the entire series.
I've enjoyed The Innkeepers series. The descriptions transport you to New York, New Orleans, and North Carolina. I loved the way Cameron patiently sought after Jasmine. I highly recommend this story. Some times the descriptions are repetitive if reading the entire series.
June 2, 2020
I really enjoyed reading about different women of different ages and backgrounds supporting each other in a sisterhood and friendship. I also loved learning about different cultures and cuisines. I plan on trying a few of the recipes. LOL Enjoyable but at times too repetitive. But overall I really enjoyed the book and plan to read the last book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews