B.E. Baker - Loaded

Writing songs has always been the way that Beatrice Cipriani processes the world around her, but as a painful introvert, none of those songs are ever performed. She excels at being invisible—she’s the best server in a fancy restaurant. Sometimes, though, it feels like she’s dying a little more with every passing day.
Easton Moorland has finally made it big, but with a public company comes a board that has demands. As the chairman of a luxury brand, all eyes are on him, and they want him to look the part. That means he needs a girlfriend, or better yet, a wife. Only, Easton’s never had time to date, much less to develop any kind of relationship.
When the board insists that Easton sign up with an exclusive dating agency, he takes his first match to the nicest place in town. Only, he can’t remember his date’s name—he’s too enthralled by their server. It’s a woman he’d met before—it’s his sister Elizabeth’s new sister-in-law, in fact.
But can a dating newbie like Easton coax a painful introvert into the limelight at his side? Or will old fears destroy their chance at a happily ever after before it can even begin?

Comment: I saw a reference to this book somewhere and I got interested in the idea of a couple coming from different financial situations finding love. This idea always seems to appeal on paper but execution can be a decisive factor... and here, the result was kind of meh to me.

Beatrice Cipriani is a waitress at a restaurant and an amateur musician who also does jingles for commercials and similarly unassuming little projects. She is also one more member of a family of foster siblings who will do anything to help those they care about, even if that means not getting along with people from their own biological families. 

Easton Moorland is the brother of Elisabeth, who has married one of Beatrice's "brothers" but since Beatrice is an introvert they haven't got many opportunities to talk, something that changes when he sees her at the restaurant she works at, while on a blind date. He, however, is quite taken by Beatrice and decides they should know each other better. But is Beatrice ready to be in the spotlight in all areas of her life?

This is book #4 in a series that features the foster siblings and their parents, from what I understood reading this book and checking out the other titles in the series. In terms of structure I did feel it was unnecessary to read the previous stories to follow this one along, but it is true that there are many references to other characters and allusions to previous events. I suppose knowing about them would have helped, but I can be honest and say I didn't feel interest in the other blurbs as I did with this one.

This is a very quiet romance story, I'd say, because the main characters aren't flashy types and the focus is clearly on their work and life goals. This can be labeled "clean romance" for there is only some kissing between them, which helps with the idea I've gotten of the author and her writing style. I mean, I'm not bothered Beatrice and Easton don't have sex (not even closed door) and often this really doesn't matter much to the plot, but here... it was one more element to convince me their relationship was too tame.

In fact, my biggest issue with this story, apart from the writing style which is very proper and correct but also boring and almost impersonal, is how the romance feels so muted, as if they had to demonstrate their understanding of one another so obviously, that something else would ruin their appreciation of each other or even the respect they have for one another. I mean, I liked it that they were wanted the other to be seen by who they were but... this lack of physical demonstration of affection made things very meh.

It all goes to the author's "voice" of course. Nothing wrong with the story narration and I did like the addressing of some themes - thus why I kept reading - such as the introvert personality, the fact rich people also have self doubt, or that what seems one thing for the public might not be in an inner sphere, how image shapes one's perception of worth, and several other things. The secondary elements were all interesting to see developed and I wanted to know what else would be discussed between them.

However, the romance was just too tame, there was way too much self musing and emotional thoughts about other things not the romantic elements. Even when romantic situations happened, they still felt impersonal. I will summarize the whole thing on the boring word, which is a little sad because the plot has a lot of potential for this to be addictive to read. I also liked all the scenes of the characters dealing with their work and the things they wanted to do. It just wasn't exciting in the big scheme of things.

I cannot say this was a bad story, and in fact it contained a lot of interesting situations and made me think about this or that subject. But now that I have finished, I'm not particularly sad it's over nor do I feel curiosity to read the books about the other characters.

Grade: 6/10