I read Dear Agony, by Georgia Cates a few months ago. I didn’t blog about when I finished…my own deadlines were approaching. However, even now, I still keep thinking about this book.
I’ve never read Georgia Cates. She popped up on an Amazon ad while I was browsing one day. This is part of the blurb:
I traded homelessness on the streets of New Orleans for a luxurious bed covered by the finest linens.
I traded dumpster diving for dinner in the finest restaurants.
I traded myself to a stranger—Bastien Pascal.
I have a good life within my platonic and mutually beneficial companionship with Bash.
He’s my friend. My mentor. My roommate.
Until everything changes.
I thought I’d probably read this story type before, but whispers of “this one’s different,” kept tickling my ears. A few days later, I went in and downloaded the book and it sat in the cue line for another couple weeks.
When I finally opened to the first page, I read and read and read, then I stopped. I slowed myself way down because I did not want this book to end.
On the streets of New Orleans, Rose is a survivor, but her life isn’t at all what she thought it would be. Then a strange woman hands her a card and tells her she’ll buy her dinner.
Rose learns this woman owns a companionship business and she offers to train her in how to be a client’s companion. She has the opportunity to get off the streets, go to college, and have a different life.
Rose becomes Vale’s best student, but also an invaluable asset in training others. She believes this will be her future until Vale’s best friend Bastien Pascal wants Rose.
He discloses his reasons to Vale and is adamant about the relationship remaining platonic. Well, like any good romance, things begin to change and Bastien is pulled into Rose’s charm. He can’t let this relationship be anything but what the contract says, but Rose is exactly what he needs.
What I really enjoyed about Rose and Bastien is that their conversations were real. They were simple, often about mundane things, but so much like the conversations, we have every day. I loved this about the book. You begin to know these people like they are your neighbors.
With the backdrop of New Orleans, Dear Agony drops you in the Big Easy to surround you with the charm of everything the city has to offer.
I enjoyed this book so much, I’ll likely read it again, and until then, Rose and Bastien will pop into my mind when I least expect them to stop by.
needtoreaditnow 