Book Review

Reading Update: “The Hotel Nantucket” by Elin Hilderbrand

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Pet Peeve: Price tags on books 🙁

First of all, welcome to the month of September! This is my favorite month and season all rolled into one.

A couple of days ago, I began reading The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand. I am now at the halfway point, and must tell you that I found an uncanny resemblance to reading a Stephen King novel, specifically, Needful Things. The stories are completely different, but I’m still getting that vibe, and even waiting for the bad things to start happening, as the story unravels in more and more detail.

It could just be the way we jump from character to character in the story, with a narrator that just kind of sneaks up on us right from the beginning. Or the way we dive into their sneaky lives with a glimpse of each character as we go along. I have favorites already, I adore Lizbet and Edie, and the jury is still out on Chad, while I am affronted by Alessandra and Xavier, sneaky and a bit appalling. I find Magda to be a complete mystery, and well, I definitely find fascination in our haunted hotel’s famous mystery, Grace.

I am however, unequivocally enraptured by this tale. I have quite the diverse background in employment of my own, and one of those jobs was working front desk at a hotel for a short while, and boy, the author REALLY knows what she is talking about when discusses guests, and their reviews, which of course, leave themselves in a favorable light, even if they are not so savory characters.

I have just met the new night auditor in the story, and well, I trust Grace’s instincts. I am instantly on guard waiting for the terrible story behind his veil of perfection.

Yes, this summer drama is definitely worth a second look. Surprisingly I found this book through a bargain store, and got an amazing deal on it. I’m not sure how it ended up there, but so far, I am definitely liking the vibe of it. Certainly worth putting on your reading list.

Full review to come later!

“Something About September” by Julia McKay – A book review.

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This was a gem of a romance novel.

I was immediately engulfed into my favorite season when I began reading this story. Fall perfection was found in every word, from the many mentioned ciders, pumpkins, and the scent of burning leaves in the air. I felt like I was already embracing September. I kid you not, I even made a special trip to my local Biggby coffee to pick up a “white pumpkin” coffee to enjoy this morning as I embarked through the fictional town of Bramley Hollow. It just felt right.

This story evoked every nostalgic feeling I carry about the autumn season. The breeze in the air, the scent of wind, corn mazes, apple trees, coffee, and books. Oh boy, did they love books in this story! I honestly felt this story was a match made in heaven for me.

The romance was on point, gentle yet intense at just the right moments. It was almost too perfect – and I did find myself reminded of the Hallmark romance movies I love so much.

That said, I could easily see myself picking this story up again, yearly, every time the Fall season is hinted at. It is a pleasure to sink into a mindlessly delicious romance that embraces everything I love about Fall.

A joy for the senses, with a happy-ending, although a bit predictable, and not exactly realistic about the world we live in today, but a true break from reality to absorb the best part about fiction, which is we can do or be anything in a story. We can fall in love and keep it. We can have second chances in life without worry about the sticky things, like the costs to our plans, the ex-wives of our husbands. We are rolled into a world where things go right, just as we wish them to.

If you are looking for a beautiful escape from reality this fall, this romantic interlude might be just what you’re looking for. If you love fall, and want the season to last, this book might be just what you’re looking for. If small town romance, high school crushes, and second chances are your thing – this might be the book you are looking for.

I highly recommend coming to the story prepared with your own seasonal drink of choice, and maybe a little something to nibble on, as you embark on small town life in Bramley Hollow.

Happy reading!