Delightful and surprising.
"Business and the Beat" was such a lovely, fast-paced and short read that I managed to finish it, start to finish, in a one reading session, exams be damned.

I'm a sucker for opposites-attract so I HAD to request it on Netgalley. The story is quite simple and very straightfoward: a shy and serious financial adviser meets and falls for a slightly childish and smoking hot rockstar bassist, while knowing that their incompatible lives and careers will make it a very short-lived fling. And obviously, feelings come along and complicate everything.

I adored both of the MCs but Rutherford was my absolute favourite. Terrible name aside, he was the sweetest and softest boy ever. Quirky and shy and delightfully peculiar, with an impressive open mind and heart, he shone throughout the entire novel and I wish we could have gotten a hundred or so more pages of him being adorable. Mak, on the other hand, was still delightful and quirky but he acted a bit like an idiot at times. They had tons of chemestry though.

I found the writing style so good. Rutherford and Mak's chapters had each a very different tone and sometimes it's tricky to get your MCs voices in their respective POVs to sound different but Kellum Jeffries managed that and made them so distinct and peculiar. So kudos for that.

If you're looking for something quick and delightful to read, this is the book for you. It's full of lovely characters and heartwarming feelings and it's definitely the perfect read for these hell times.

Jeffries novel is a quick and witty romance between unlikely bedfellows. The story follows accountant Rutherford and musician Mak. Their work brings them together initially, but it quickly gives way to a romantic jaunt. Both men realize there is an expiration date on their relationship because Mak is set to go on a lengthy tour and neither really believes in a long-term and long-distance relationship. This aspect of the story is realistic, yet it never really feels like a fully fleshed out obstacle with teeth. Jeffries doesn't dwell on angst and her characters are forced to develop through other means. It's a good way to spend an evening to sit and enjoy the hijinks of their story.

ARC received for honest review on Netgalley.
This is a very quick easy read with a few steamy moments thrown in. As a whole I liked the story line but for me it was missing that WOW factor, it was a very simply told narrative. Mak & Rutherford are likeable as characters however I wanted more, for me they were too simple, their personalities didn't really shine through and as for the band members - what band members? they needed to be a more present in the story as well, Rutherford had Jen & Mackenzie and even Bertie but when it comes to Mak his band mates don't get the same page time.

Imagine that Jason Momoa was in an Alt Rock Band and lived with his best friends and bandmates in a compound outside of Richmond, Virginia. That is essentially how I picture Mak. He is sweet, laid back, with a huge sex drive and identifies as either Pansexual or Bisexual. He hasn't had a true relationship in many years - ever since a guy broke his heart when he was first starting out with his band.

Rutherford is just about as nerdy, white, and buttoned up as you might think. If he wasn't gay - you might have expected him to take the standard First Family of Virginia, frat boy, turned working for daddy's company, married to a blond socialite route. Only Rutherford has taken his own path - and lives pretty quietly by himself (with his dog Bertie) and works as a financial advisor.

When Rutherford and Mak meet - it is definitely an opposites attract situation. Mak is immediately attracted to Rutherford's straightlaced tidy appearance and Mak seems to be exactly what Rutherford didn't know he needed. But they go together like peas and carrots - except that Mak has put an expiration date on their relationship.

I loved them together - they were almost too sweet - but really just perfect for one another. I even liked the space they had away from each other at the end - where they both really were able to take the time (without being angry at each other or some other manufactured drama) to figure out what they really wanted and needed from each other.

I honestly wouldn't mind reading more about the band or the financial firm people - so I hope there is more to come!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

Business and the beat was about what I expected; although, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the plot considering it was so fast paced it skipped through half of the relationship development