Customer Reviews

Business Unusual

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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

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!

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.

Bernadette "Twinkle" Lewis was brought up by her parents in a loving God-fearing home along with her two older sisters. She has a rich heritage in not only her bloodline, but the morals and values passed down to her from generation to generation that are founded on the Word and love of God. Bernadette is privileged to have family who live the life they teach by example.

What Bernadette has been taught has prepared her to remain a virgin until she is married, something that is challenged for the first time when she meets Hayes Davis. It is not enough to know that Hayes is fine, but who is he? Is he the one God has for Bernadette to marry? She is encouraged time and time again to pray and ask God to show her Hayes' spirit and reveal to her if he is indeed her husband.

Hayes has been raised in the church as well, but influences from both his mother and father have given him a distorted understanding about who God is in relation to who he is. Thankfully his best friend, Roosevelt, and his wife Nee Nee never gave up on him, praying for Hayes, counseling and sharing with him until he comes wholeheartedly to God.

"Business Unusual" takes the reader through this pivotal time in the lives of Twinkle and Hayes, allowing us to experience their learning processes and growth as they both enter a new level in the Lord. They both learn the importance of knowing the will of God for their lives and how vitally important it is to walk in obedience to Him. This process includes family members and friends as they both see past themselves to help others they know and some they meet along the way.

There is no way I could possibly share in this review the wealth of God's love in the pages of this book, neither the blessing it was for me to read it. The characters are so very vividly written that you can see them and feel what they are going through. I am in awe of how Author Beed was able to infuse the lives of the families and friends of Bernadette Lewis and Hayes Davis without confusing the story line and yet it creates an informational background the story needs in order to be told. I am anxiously awaiting the sequel of this story that was written by an anointed Woman of God.


Reviewed by Sharel E. Gordon-Love
Apooo Book Club

Bernadette Lewis has a passion for God, a passion for shoes, a head for business, and a heart for people. And now this new man, Hayes Davis, is passionately becoming a part of her life. Is she ready for him? Is he ready for her? Can she handle him and remember God at the same time? Will she get those elusive designer shoes, protect her business from the vultures, and fall in . . . ? Well, who knows without reading. A story well worth the time.

The well rounded lives of Hayes and Bernadette make me feel like I can have it all. Their friends and family make me laugh.

Watching them I am reminded that there will be struggle, but also passion and pleasure. There will be mistakes, but God's message for my life will always shine through. Yet, I have a continued responsibility to pray it forward, plan it out, live it boldly and use everything that God gives to guide me.

I know this stuff, but it's nothing like a great story to keep a sister reminded. Excellent message, excellent read. For me that's refreshing.

Business Unusual is a unique and inspiring read that is not for the fainthearted. I have to admit, this was my first experience reading a novel written in this particular style and it took a while to get used to it, but once I did, the author took me for a serious literary journey. I loved the characters' realism, their expressions of faith and their cultural pride. All the things I love in a novel. I loved the historical perspective reflected in the Lewis family's generational connections. I loved the flavor of the two main characters, Bernadette and Hayes as displayed through their lifestyle and fashion sense. I loved the closeness that Bernadette and her sisters share and I especially loved the way Ms. Beed gave the Lord His rightful place as a main character in the story. I was deeply affected by the relationship between the two main male characters Hayes and Roosevelt. I honestly held my breath a few times as I read their interactions, yet once I learned the true intent of their relationship, I was plesantly surprised. I loved the author's mastery of language and creative expression. The description of the Seattle waterfront made me want to get on a plane and go see it for myself. Lastly, I was blessed by the purity message which is very much needed in today's society. If you're looking for an well-written intellectual read that celebrates the Christian faith and the African American culture, Business Unusual is a novel that you can really sink your literary teeth into. I eagerly anticipate the sequel...

Linda Beed has woven a tale that shows her readers that no matter who you are or where you are on the path to God, you still have room to learn and grow. Her characters all hold the role of being truly 'supporting characters" for each character's own journey is so finely woven into the other character's journeys that even taking one away would make the story incomplete. Ms. Beed's strongest skill in her writing is developing characters that are so realistic you forget they only live within the pages of her book.

It is unusual to find a book written in third person. Linda Beed managed this rarely used style with finesse. Upon reaching the final page, I was disappointed that I'd have to wait until the next book--which I hope will be forthcoming!!--to find out how everything turns out.

All in all, this was a wonderful book that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone.

As a rather unsophisticated Southern white woman, I found myself identifying more with the heroine's relatives from "the Old Country--Alabama" than I did with the ultra stylish and successful Bernadette "Twinkle" Lewis and her sisters, but that doesn't mean I didn't immensely enjoy meeting them and the men lucky enough to have one of these amazing women in their lives. I might not quite understand Twinkle's passion for shoe shopping, but her passion for the Lord comes through loud and clear in the universal language of God. The spiritual commitment and vision of all these richly drawn characters was truly inspirational, and I finished the book feeling blessed to have read it. I highly recommend it for anyone who likes an engaging story populated with unique, unpredictable characters.

Temptation doesn't always come in such obvious forms as beautiful women, fast cars, fancy homes, and high-paying jobs; it can often be much more subtle, creeping up on us under the guises of misleading friendly "advice" or the silent betrayal of trusted co-workers. As with any battle, it's difficult to fight an enemy that can't be readily identified, so we're often left to rely on unproven means to defend ourselves against the most daunting threats to our mind and person.

Welcome to Hayes Davis's life: a born-again Christian determined to walk the straight and narrow, he suddenly finds himself struggling to maintain the new order of his life. Fueled by his desire to atone for past mistakes, he remains resolute in keeping himself chaste in mind, thought, and deed - until he meets the incomparable Bernadette Lewis. A successful entrepreneur and all-around phenom, Bernadette is a prime catch for any man - and Hayes refuses to let her be the one that got away. The price of her love is not cheap, though, and Hayes soon realizes that he can't hustle his way into her heart; rather, he must earn her trust through the legitimacy of his walk with God.

Bernadette is not entirely free of drama herself, though: back-biting colleagues and a checkered family past serve as her own crosses to bear, and she finds herself in the role of pupil almost as often as she aims to instruct others - Hayes included. In portraying her so, Beed effectively highlights Bernadette's personal evolution as a metaphor for the fact that none of us are above any other in the greater spiritual scheme of things. As much as she may appear to have it together, she is still a work in progress, as are we all.

Business Unusual is a revealing introspective look into the true inclinations of the heart. Peppered with colorful quotes and timely scriptures, Beed's tale both enlightens and entertains. The language is a bit stilted and the dialogue often stiff, which slows the pace of story at times. The message comes through loud and clear, though, and speaks volumes to those who may be seeking to cut corners on the way to Glory: there is only one path that matters, and, while it's not straight and smooth, the destination is well worth the journey.

I thoroughly enjoyed Business Unusual. The characters each held their own. There was no time for out shining one another. Linda Beed has created a story the will bring every emotion you possess to the surface. The characters in Business Unusual challenged me to examine my own life and to strive for excellence in my endeavors. I love the relationship Bernaette shared with her family. This book takes a look at the close bond of family and how the imprint a father leaves on a daughter's heart can direct her life well into adulthood. I can't wait to read more book by Linda Beed. If you have not read this book, GET IT NOW! You won't regret it.