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ginger_slam_becs 's review for:
Lucy Checks In
by Dee Ernst
ARC courtesy of St. Martin's Press (thank you!)
A lighthearted, second-chance story about Lucia "Lucy" Giannetti, who at 49, is at a crossroads professionally and personally. Her career as a successful hotel manager has been destroyed after a scandal that forced her to move back in with her parents. She accepts a position as a manager in Rennes, France to help renovate a small family hotel, Hotel Paradis. As she renovates the small hotel, Lucy rediscovers her confidence and rebuilds her life.
The ownership/partnership of Hotel Paradis is overly complicated and several shared investors live as permanent residents at the hotel. These quirky side characters all have skills that are helpful for renovating the hotel which is convenient for the story - I think if I was living at the hotel my skill set would be - can make beds. Reader tolerance for the hotel reno section will vary, but I enjoy a good makeover montage moment and there are no major issues with the hotel it is very smooth sailing, basically a fantasy renovation.
There is a slow burn romance that develops between Lucy and Bing (David Bingham - one of the resident guests) and it is refreshing to read about 2 mature characters who have experienced love, have had their hearts broken, and are tentative about finding love again. But the real romance is between Lucy and Hotel Paradis and the connections she builds with the "family" at the hotel.
There's very little tension in the book and all of the issues are easily resolved. There are a few throwaway lines that felt off, and are not revisited in any substantial way and a few moments that are simply not developed. But overall, it was a breezy and entertaining read.
CW: off page death of family member, discussion of alcoholism
A lighthearted, second-chance story about Lucia "Lucy" Giannetti, who at 49, is at a crossroads professionally and personally. Her career as a successful hotel manager has been destroyed after a scandal that forced her to move back in with her parents. She accepts a position as a manager in Rennes, France to help renovate a small family hotel, Hotel Paradis. As she renovates the small hotel, Lucy rediscovers her confidence and rebuilds her life.
The ownership/partnership of Hotel Paradis is overly complicated and several shared investors live as permanent residents at the hotel. These quirky side characters all have skills that are helpful for renovating the hotel which is convenient for the story - I think if I was living at the hotel my skill set would be - can make beds. Reader tolerance for the hotel reno section will vary, but I enjoy a good makeover montage moment and there are no major issues with the hotel it is very smooth sailing, basically a fantasy renovation.
There is a slow burn romance that develops between Lucy and Bing (David Bingham - one of the resident guests) and it is refreshing to read about 2 mature characters who have experienced love, have had their hearts broken, and are tentative about finding love again. But the real romance is between Lucy and Hotel Paradis and the connections she builds with the "family" at the hotel.
There's very little tension in the book and all of the issues are easily resolved. There are a few throwaway lines that felt off, and are not revisited in any substantial way and a few moments that are simply not developed. But overall, it was a breezy and entertaining read.
CW: off page death of family member, discussion of alcoholism