Evie is the acting general manager of The Alexandra hotel in picturesque Cornwall, but she feels trapped in a life defined by others’ expectations. Just as she contemplates a fresh start, Abby arrives, sent undercover by the hotel’s owner to assess the staff and operations. But Abby is navigating her own struggles and longs to break free from the shadow of her mother.
As the two women forge an unexpected friendship, they confront their fears and the threat of change looming over them. With the help of a charming chef and a gruff pub owner, they begin to embrace their true selves and the bonds that unite them. Will they find the strength to reshape their futures, or will the weight of the past hold them back?
Review: I am a huge fan of Sarah Morgan’s books and would never miss a new release. Each time I sit down to read one of her books I find myself lost in the story in no time at all. This was again the case with this summer read; the setting, the characters and the storyline had me engrossed within a few pages. This was truly a book that I couldn’t put down.
The central characters in this story are three women, all linked by one Cornish seaside hotel. Alexandra is the successful business woman at the head of the privately-run company owning the Alexandra Hotel, Abby is her daughter who is high up in management of the hotel group and is expected to one day succeed her mother, while Evie is currently standing in as manager of the hotel. Evie is worried about the financial state of the hotel and feels sure that the company will soon put it up for sale. She is pleased when, instead of announcing closure of the property, the company sends someone to help out. That someone is Abby, reluctantly acting undercover as a general helping hand without revealing her true position in the company. Both Abby and Evie would like to change their circumstances, Evie keen for more freedom to change things in the hotel and Abby wanting to escape from her mother’s control. The pair find they have a lot in common and forge a friendship. With encouragement from the hotel’s Michelin starred chef, who would like to date Evie, and the local pub landlord who is drawn to Abby, they begin to make some changes at the hotel. However, can they take things further and make real changes for their own futures?
I was totally captivated by this story of two young women struggling to find their way in the world, both with ambition that was being thwarted. Evie had the hard job of managing a staff many of whom had known her all her life as she had grown up in the hotel. Abby had the problem of gaining the respect of colleagues who looked on her as just the boss’s daughter. I admired the way in which they united to form a strong team. I was also intrigued to find out why Alexandra was keen to retain a hotel which was plainly failing. There was obviously a story there and it eventually emerged. There are many other well-developed characters in the book as well as interesting subplots and a few budding romances. The setting was absolutely lovely and so well described that I could easily envisage the small Cornish village with its steep streets, pretty cottages, busy harbour and lively pub. This is a warm summery read which I can highly recommend.
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