Hotel Laguna

I just finished Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison @nicolaharrisonauthor and here is my review.

Hazel Francis does what many women do when all the men have gone to war, she becomes a factory worker constructing bombers for the U.S. military in 1942. Glad when the war is over but now with no way of supporting herself, she sets about looking for work which is exactly what she finds in Laguna Beach.

Thanks to a sweet bartender, Hazel manages to get a job with an eccentric artist with a dark past and finds a place to stay.

Hazel was never expecting to fall in love with the community that fully accepts her into the fold and she didn't expect for the place to start pulling her away from her ultimate dream of working on planes. It's a harrowing choice for Hazel not knowing which path to choose.

I actually didn't know much about this book before I picked it up and honestly, wasn't expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I wasn't expecting for the character development to be earth shatteringly realistic. Hazel is my kind of girl! I loved watching her navigating a time where women were expected to get married, not hold down a job. She really had dreams for herself and she didn't stop reaching for the stars.

I literally felt like I was there. It was truly incredible feeling the sights and sounds of a bustling beach town. I am a huge fan of art so finding out this one is centered around an artist really made my day. The writing was beautiful with this seriously whimsical vibe that really had me flipping pages like a maniac. I couldn't wait to see what was coming next.

I am a sucker for a historical romance and this one checked all the boxes. There is some real genius in the writing and will have you entertained from start to finish.

4.5 stars! Thank you to @stmartinspress for my gifted copy.

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