Title: The Hotel on Mulberry Bay
Author: Melissa Hill
Publisher: 1 September 2015 by Simon Schuster (Australia)
Pages: 293 pages
How I Read It: ARC ebook
Genre: womens fiction; chick lit; contemporary, romance
My Rating: 3 crowns
Synopsis:
Escape to a hotel by the beach with Melissa Hill, the internationally bestselling author of SOMETHING FROM TIFFANY'S and A GIFT TO REMEMBER.
Mulberry Hotel, perched on a clifftop above a sweeping bay, was once the heart and soul of pretty seaside town Mulberry Bay. Run by the Harte family for years, the place itself is almost as beloved as cheery landlady Anna.
The hotel was also once home to thirty-something sisters Eleanor and Penny, and while youngest sister Penny still lives close by, it's been some time since Elle has visited. But following a family tragedy, Elle is forced to return from her busy London life and reassess her past.
When it becomes apparent that the hotel is in dire straits, Elle and Penny are unprepared for the reaction of their father, Ned, He steadfastly refuses to give up the family legacy, revealing that he's given up something equally precious once before. Startled by their father's surprising revelation, the sisters unite, with the local community behind them, in their efforts to save the hotel - and, in the process, heal the fractures in the Harte family.
The hotel was also once home to thirty-something sisters Eleanor and Penny, and while youngest sister Penny still lives close by, it's been some time since Elle has visited. But following a family tragedy, Elle is forced to return from her busy London life and reassess her past.
When it becomes apparent that the hotel is in dire straits, Elle and Penny are unprepared for the reaction of their father, Ned, He steadfastly refuses to give up the family legacy, revealing that he's given up something equally precious once before. Startled by their father's surprising revelation, the sisters unite, with the local community behind them, in their efforts to save the hotel - and, in the process, heal the fractures in the Harte family.
My Thoughts
"All of these things contributed to the feeling once again that the Bay Hotel was more than just a place, it was somewhere where people's dreams were made a reality."
The Hotel on Mulberry Bay is a very light, easy and enjoyable read - a weekend escape that can easily be picked up and put down as real life demands. I have not read any other Melissa Hill books, but other reviews seems to indicate this was a 'safe' read, none of her usual twists. There certainly was no intrigue here and 'safe therefore seems rather apt. This is a 'feel good' story that tells the tale of a very likeable Irish family and their hotel. It was well written and you could easily imagine yourself at the Mulberry Hotel.
"Oh I wish I was on that boat...to live a big adventurous life. To get out of here.' Penny cocked her head, seemingly confused. 'What's wrong with here?' she enquired, genuinely curious."
I really liked the range of characters and their various traits and especially how this small community bands together. However it is the main characters - Elle and Penny, the sisters; Ned, their father; and Rob and Colin, the respective love interests that bring a real charm to the story.
"Over the years in London she had got used to staring at the grey grid of the city streets and the endless rush of people, but it took something from you, watching the endless movement and the drive to be somewhere else. Whereas the more tranquil vistas of the small coastal town replenished you, gave something back that you hadn't known you were missing."
If you are after a light escape for the weekend, a reprieve from the endless rush, take a trip to Mulberry Bay as it is sure to replenish you, ready to face the real world once more.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
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