The Suite Spot

3.75/4 stars. I enjoyed the story from beginning to end. I do wish that there was more in the development of Rachel and Mason's relationship. I feel like there may have been some missed opportunities. I would have like to have read more scenes between the two of them to really build the change in Mason as he overcomes his struggles.

But overall a very enjoyable story.

3.5 stars

Quiet romance

Overall rating: 4.3

Heartwarming, cozy read with a slow burn that had me smiling, despite some real trauma in both Rachel and Mason. This was my first book by Trish Doller, and now I wanna go back and read Float Plan, especially since we get a good amount of Anna and Keane in this book as well.

First of all, I love small town/island settings, since it generally comes with welcoming and supportive community and this is no exception. I loved the townsfolk, like the book club group, and especially Rachel's bestie! They all do their best to welcome Rachel to their midst, and help her out with her child, the hotel. They're definitely a group of people that we all need in our lives.

Plus, the setting of a brewery/hotel in nature just sounds fantastic. Can I stay there please? The author did a great job describing the essence of the place, and how it was decorated. I actually learned a lot of decoration lingo thanks to this book. I always love renos, I always have HGTV on, so I loved that for most of the book the two MCs are working on building out this new hotel. I almost wish we got more of it!

Mason's pining was just adorable. Very subtle but still impactful. And he was so sweet throughout the whole book, even while he was still going through his personal struggles.

I also loved the daughter, Maisie. I don't know if she was a realistic 3 year old but she was an adorable toddler! I also loved seeing her relationship grow with Maisie, and I loved that she was besties with an unmanageable cat.

I really enjoyed that both MCs had a parent that was an immigrant. It added a lot to the story, both in terms of how it affected the main characters and what the characters do to stay close to their heritage but I also loved hearing their stories of how they ended up in this country.

I thought the chapter beginnings were brilliant, an untranslatable word, each from a different language, lightly summarizing the feelings of the chapter. chefs kiss

There were only two small things that I didn't like and both have to do with the last bit of the book. I found the final conflict somewhat forced. I feel like the problem could have been resolved in many different ways without causing that conflict, and even other characters mention this within the book. And then after the conflict, the end felt a little rushed. I wanted to see more of them, but the focus felt almost more on the hotel than the MCs.

Overall though, this book was a great cozy read with great characters, sweet and slow love story, fantastic setting and good emotional depth.

Short Fun Atypical Romance. This is one of those romance novels that is almost more women's fiction than romance. Yes, ultimately it satisfies every “romance book” check box I am aware of, even the most stringent ones... but it really does read as more of a women's fiction “find yourself” type tale. Hell, we don't even meet the male lead of the book until a fairly decent way into the overall text. Quite a few wokeisms tossed in as well, but those are more irritants than true detractions from the tale, and at least a couple of them are actually fleshed out into realistic characters. Overall a solid and fun tale, and as a story, very much recommended.

All of this noted, I would be doing readers a disservice to fail to note that after I picked up this book to review last fall, I became aware that the author had signed a petition in favor of banning books because she didn't like them. And this reader does not abide those who ban books, no matter the reason. So this author is now on my “never read again until she recants from book banning” list, though certainly you as a reader of this review and potential reader of this book are more than welcome to do with the information I've provided here both on the book and the author as you will, and I wish you well either way. :)