Business Unusual [Paperback]

Linda F. Beed (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0978589009 | ISBN-13: 978-0978589004 | Publication Date: March 29, 2007

Business Unusual is a Contemporary Christian fiction novel that reaches beyond the superficial in order to deal with the heart of matters. Unbeknownst to them, the lives of five people cross at a very crucial time. Bernadette Lewis' business endeavor is more than a financial blessing. For Treva Scott, Falimah Meyer and Brian Chin, it will become the ministry that shapes their futures. In terms of Hayes Davis, his skewed vision of women and life in general will be challenged beyond anything he ever expected when he seeks the companionship of Bernadette. Each individual is faced with a choice. It will be their choice that will determine if they will walk the ordained path to fulfilling purpose or detour down the road of self-satisfaction.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: On Assignment (March 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978589009
• ISBN-13: 978-0978589004
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,146,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Being About The Lord's Business, July 3, 2007

By 

Idrissa Uqdah (New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Business Unusual (Paperback)

Every so often, a self-published book beats the odds and grabs the attention of enough readers to draw an offer from a traditional publisher. I sure hope that this happens for this book. Dr. Linda Beed, an emerging Christian author and veteran educator has recently released her debut novel. Business Unusual is an inspirational contemporary romance that is Christian fiction in it's purest form.

Bernadette Lewis is a very accomplished young businesswoman. She is the owner and President of B. L. Lewis Enterprises, a privately held consulting, software development and personal training service. Her company has been very successful in just a short period of time. Many wonder what her secret to success is. Hers is a success story grounded in faith and obedience.

As a young, single Christian woman; Bernadette has values and attributes not always understood by the secular world, but that still does not deter her from being who she was raised to be. The daughter of parents in the ministry, she and her sisters have built their careers on service to God and mankind. Their personal lives mirror that Christian upbringing and it is no surprise that as adults, they find themselves dealing with unlike personalities in the people that come into their professional lives. How Bernadette deals with these individuals is the core of this story.

Both entertaining and inspirational; I found this novel a great read for young Christian men and women. There is a lesson to be learned here. When Bernadette meets Hayes Davis, a man who is just beginning to understand his spirituality, she is very attracted to him both professionally and personally. Hayes finds in Bernadette what he never has found in a woman. He both respects and adores her and understands that this will be no ordinary dating experience. Hayes is sure that he has found his life partner, but is he prepared to live up to her expectations of him?

Other supporting characters brings full circle a story that portrays today's upscale African American singles who are at the beginning of their personal and professional life journeys. Reading this book was like watching your children grow up, not always accepting their choices but hoping that they will do well and be both happy and successful. I also loved the history of the Lewis family. They are deeply grounded in their culture and the history of African Americans who have a proud legacy in this society. Positive images of a proud people is always refreshing in a novel and this one was full of proud moments.

Business Unusual is the story of the inspiring Lewis family, their walk with the Lord and the family structure that brings each successive generation to new heights. Parental love and obligation; Christian marriage and Godly relationships between young adults are just some of the major themes of this novel. The characters are unique and interesting and the story line is very inspirational. I think that many young Christian women are going to be inspired and encouraged by Bernadette's story.

Idrissa Uqdah for AALBC.com

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unusually Good Read, September 28, 2008

By 

Marvin D. Wilson (Ann Arbor, Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Business Unusual (Paperback)

I liked Linda Beed's book, "Business Unusual." I see several other reviews already posted that divulge the complexity of the plot, so I won't go into that one more time. The characters are complex and multi-layered, and Beed paces the story well. Hers is not my favorite writing style, she "tells" the entire story rather than "showing" it, even extensive dialogs are summarized and told to the reader rather than having the characters speak for themselves. But for the style she uses she does it well.

Definitely strictly a Christian read, and probably most easily related to by upper middle class African Americans. Everyone is physically beautiful, very well-to-do, living successful lives in lavish accommodations and dressed to the nines. Shopping for shoes that cost thousands of dollars is one of lead character Bernadette's favorite pastimes, for instance.

The book is packed full of timeless Christian messages that are still relevant today. The main characters are faced with ethical and moral decisions that they call upon God and read the Bible for answers to. Strong spiritual family standards are emphasized. A perfect read for members of any Christian family regardless of age. Really good. I also liked the way Beed ends the story. She refrains from telling us what will happen next, leaving us hanging on the cliff of wonder, setting up the sequel perfectly. Nice job, Linda Beed!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In All Thy Ways Acknowledge HIM, May 6, 2008

By 

Wanda B. Campbell "Author and Avid Reader" (San Francisco Bay Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Business Unusual (Paperback)

Bernadette Lewis is a living example of a blessed woman who obeys God. A loving and God-fearing family is the foundation for her success and unwavering faith in God. As president of her own company, Bernadette begins each day with prayer and thanksgiving. Even when faced with conflicts in the workplace, she never makes a decision without consulting God. That is until Hayes Davis enters her life.

Hayes Davis is handsome, successful and self-centered. The problem is he doesn't know it. Hayes' less than godly upbringing blinds him to the fact that he's self-serving even with God. He pursues Bernadette with the purpose of satisfying his physical desires, but soon discovers he's in a battle that spiritually he's not equipped for.

In Business Unusual, Linda Beed portrays a realistic view of what happens when we move outside of God and lean to our emotions and flesh. The story is filled with relatable support characters whose lives also convey a message of trusting more in God than in what is seen with the natural eye. I particularly loved Bernadette's father. Joseph is a strong man who is not afraid to love his daughters. He not only physically protects his family, but fights for them in the Spirit as well.

Business Unusual doesn't have an ending. Instead, it stops, leaving the reader with anticipation for the sequel.