✍️ One Sentence Synopsis: Rachel lands the perfect job opportunity — only she’s going to have to uproot her daughter from Florida to Ohio to take it.

💭 Overall Thoughts:
Trish Doller has done it again— and with this becomes an absolute auto buy author for me! Trish Doller has such a way of beautifully incorporating, acknowledging, and providing some understanding of how to support someone’s grief.

I loved the sweet romance that blossoms between Rachel and Mason and the setting here was just perfect. There is everything I wanted in a romance novel— witty banter, romantic gestures, respectful boundaries, emotional depth. This is one of those books that just feels like a hug.

Highlights:
🐢 Slow burn (but done in the best way)
🎭 Right mix of romance and depth
💕 Adorable connection
😾 Grumpy cat turns sunshine

Happy Pub Day and a huge thank you to Net Galley and St Martin’s Press for allowing me to read with request for review.

This is Romance, and this is the second book in the Beck Sisters series. The first book in this series was Float Plan, and I have read and review that book. This book is not like the Float Plan, but this book follows the main character (Anna) of Float Plan sister (Rachel). I really loved Rachel's character. I was pulled into this book from the beginning, and I could not put it down. I loved this book so much. I loved the story line/plot of this book. The romance of this book is slow moving, but it was so cute. This book covers some really hard topics, but I think it is done really well. The cat in this book was one of my favorite character for a pet that cat has so much personality. Also, Rachel daughter was so cute, and I think her character broke up so of the hard times in this book. This is a very well written book with great characters. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (St. Martin's Griffin) or author (Trish Doller) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

The Suite Spot is another win from Trish Doller for me after loving Float Plan last year. Rachel loses her job after being sexually harassed by a wealthy client, and with a young daughter she is the single parent too, she has no idea what to do next. When the opportunity comes to move to Ohio from Florida to manage a new luxury property with cabins and a brewery, Rachel decides to take a chance and get a fresh start. But when she arrives, she find the owner, Mason, and a very much no built yet property...

In love with Mason and Rachel and Maisie, I never wanted this book to end. Trish Doller has a way of writing romances that makes it feel like a warm hug. Definitely more of a slow burn romance but it makes sense in the context of the partners. There are a lot of emotions and history built into the story AND it features beer, which is one of my favorite things ever so this was a story built for me. Frankly I want the Limestone to be real so I can stay there myself.

There are a few scenes that are more open and then fade to black, but this is not a smutty romance. It is just sweet, lovely, and heartwarming. I read it at work but I almost wish I had read it while at home with a blanket and a cup of tea because that environment fits it so much for.

**Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review**

Thank you Netgalley and SMP Romance for the gifted copy of The Suite Spot. Float Plan was one of my favorite books last year and I was so excited to read The Suite Spot. I really enjoyed Rachel and Mason's story. Rachel's life is taking a turn for the worse when she is let go from her job after being sexually assaulted. Rachel is a single mom living with her mother and her young daughter. She receives a unique opportunity to manage a hotel in Ohio. Although it's far from her home in Florida, it seems like the perfect fit for her so she uproots her life and moves there. It takes her new boss, Mason a while to warm up to her, but they become more than friends. This was definitely a slow burn, but I enjoyed Mason and Rachel's slow build from friends to lovers. i predicted what was going to happen with Maisie's father, but I understand why it was part of the story line. Overall i enjoyed this and can't wait to see what Trish Doller writes next.

Beautiful story! I would say it's more women's fiction with a side of romance rather than a romance, but I still really enjoyed it. Their individual stories were more prevalent than their romance, they kind of lacked any spark to me. Still, I loved Mason and I really enjoyed the dialogue.

The Suite Spot
by: Trish Doller
St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin

This book is a good read that is more complex than a romantic comedy. With themes of parenting, new beginnings, and adventure, the book moves at a good pace to provide an enjoyable escape. The book is second in the Beck Sisters series, and can serve as a standalone.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.

Rachel is a single mom living with her mom and trying to revive a dying relationship. She loves her job working the overnight shift at a swanky hotel in Miami When she’s unexpectedly fired for something she didn’t do, Rachel’s left grasping at straws.

When she’s offered a chance at a management position at a hotel on an island in Lake Erie, Rachel packs up her daughter and moves across the country. The job is….not what she expected.

This is exactly the kind of heartwarming comfort read you pick up when you need an escape. It was perfectly balanced; it had depth but it wasn’t too heavy, cute but not too predictable, great banter without being cheesy. The only thing is, the end came too fast. I wasn’t ready to leave the island! Hoping there’s a sequel somewhere down the line, cause I’m going to need more of Rachel and Mason. Also I'm going to need the island brewery hotel to be a reality 😍

I have loved Trish's previous work, she is a master at creating interesting settings. I really enjoyed the small town and learning about the island in the middle of a lake... being so far from any of the great lakes, I honestly had no idea places like this existed! I do think the author tried to incorporate a few topics and wasn't able to go in depth the way some of these topics could have (body image, single parenting, custody, death of a child etc). They were all a bit glossed over and I a focus on 1-2 would have really strengthen the book. I still look forward to more from her!

I'll start with this - I absolutely loved everything about this book. I was expecting a rom com - and it is, but it's so much more, and Doller knows how to write and really show readers vs. tell. There's a bit of drama, and both characters have had pain, trauma, and loss. It's is part of them, but this book doesn't dwell - Doller gives her characters passion and purpose and great intergenerational friends and good times. It reminded me of Virgin River (the Netflix series, not the books - I haven't read those). It feels cozy, set amidst the beauty of nature. The female lead relocates to start over after experiencing trauma. She meets a handsome, smart, hardworking guy with a bar. He's still recovering from his own personal trauma. She becomes a beloved part of a small everybody-knows-everybody kind of community. The chapter headings with multicultural words that tee up a theme is so fun (and educational). The diversity is wonderful. And, in my mind I was decorating the inn right along with Rachel. I had no idea this book was part of a series (it stands alone beautifully), but now I've also added Float Plan to my TBR stack.

I received a digital pre-publication copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I will also be adding a hardcover to my permanent collection.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

This book hooked me from the very beginning with two very simple things: the warnings before the book and the first line of Ch. 1. I really appreciate that more and more authors & publishers are putting content warnings before books start so readers aren't blindsided by things like death and abuse - to me, it makes it a more enjoyable reading experience if I go into scenes that feel like they could lead to xyz thing and know that it is likely, and know that there will be a HEA/HFN still most likely. (Obviously, things like death are much more likely in horror books, but in a romance book I am reading, I like the warning. PTSD is real and warnings hurt no one.) So the warnings before the book started, alluding to potentially big painful topics for some people, gives this book an A+ for caring.

Then it immediately goes to Ch. 1 where it starts, "Backpfeifengesicht, German, 'a face badly in need of a fist.'" This got me immediately as this is one of my favorite words, and not many people know it. It actually became a trend in the book, with each chapter starting with a word in a language other than English, telling the language, and its definition - which subsequently implied a bit of how the chapter would go. I laughed out loud reading this first sentence, and I knew I would be recording all of the words and improving my vocabulary with them - and I have since highlighted each chapter title in this book.

The story itself is sweet, if not slightly predicable in the way that most HEA/HFN romances are - which is what you absolutely need sometimes (I did, which is why I had started reading this when I did). This is the second book in a set, which I learned after reading this one, but I can say that it did not impact my reading of this book. Do I see where I could have learned more about characters and some other things might have made a bit more sense? Sure, but this also does a great job of being a standalone. I was rooting for everyone in this book, and I was really happy with how things ended up falling into place. I now need to seek out book 1 because I think I have an idea what the storyline is about and if it is anything like this, I know I will enjoy it. 4.5/5

Mason and Rachel’s story was so sweet and endearing. I enjoyed reading about their growth personally and as a couple. They came into their own and found happiness together. I loved how hopeful their story was and how it made me smile.

This may be the perfect book to pair with 2 delicious beers! ‘The Suite Spot’ by Trish Doller is a rom com where the love interest is (you’ll never guess) a grumpy/hermity BREWER! What! Is he a dream man?! …but does he smell yeasty? Maybe a bit!

Ok, so this is the follow up to the much loved book around Insta, ‘The Float Plan.’ I didn’t realize that until a quarter of the way through… I didn’t read ‘The Float Plan.’ You can go into this book as a stand alone just fine but it will spoiler alert the first book. 🤷🏼‍♀️

This is a story of Rachel Beck. After being fired from her hotel job in Florida she finds her way to Ohio, helping out at an up and coming brewery/glamping hotel. It’s hard to describe and also sounds amazing. Charming little cabins with full brewery access.? Where do I sign up?

Anyway, she obviously falls for Mason, the owner/brewer. I liked this book but it moved a bit slow and it seemed like all the ‘conflicts’ happened in the last 10%. But it was a cute story and written well.

I paired this book with @breweryommegang Neon Neon Rainbows Double IPA and Keep it Crunchy Granola Stout. Thank you for sending these delicious beers in my direction! Plus, these cans are amazing! …I love a good can. 😏

Also, thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this digital advanced copy. This cute story comes out March 8, 2022!

This is the second book in Trish Doller’s Beck sisters series and I was really excited because I loved Float Plan. I was a little worried how I would like Rachel as a main character because she comes off kind of judgey and mean at times when she made appearances in the first book. However I ended up loving and rooting for Rachel and her story. Doller takes traumatic events in these sisters’ lives and makes it into a story of resilience. There isn’t one way to go through things like they have but I think showing them struggle and come out the other side is so important.

Although this was a story about Rachel and Mason (which was so cute and I loved them both), I was also interested in this sister dynamic. Like I mentioned before, when we were seeing Rachel through Anna’s perspective in Float Plan, she didn’t come off very well. And it’s the same here from Rachel’s point of view towards Anna. They aren’t exactly close, and seem to push each other’s buttons easily, causing somewhat tense conversations. I liked how the book explored this a little more now that we saw them from both sides.

Overall I thought this was a really cute, funny, and sweet book, and I liked following along with Mason and Rachel as they made just an idea of what a hotel could be into something I would definitely want to visit. I feel like I have way more thoughts on it but just can’t fit everything into this review.

Oh one more thing! The author included words in various languages and their definitions at beginning of each chapter that always had something to do with what was coming in the story. It was a fun touch to set the tone of the next chapter.

While I absolutely flew through this one, which means I usually give it at least 4 stars, I was left disappointed on a few things in the end.

I loved the setting - a little island set off of Sandusky in Lake Erie? We don’t see books set in the Northern Ohio area often. So that was really nice to see. Plus, a second chance romance for both Rachel and Mason? Sold. However…

I found that the relationship didn’t have much chemistry that we got to see on the page in the build up of the relationship. If a slow burn is going to impress me, I need there to be chemistry and deep conversations for growth for both the relationship and the people in it.

Additionally, the sister, who was the focus of the first book, and her boyfriend and their story was mentioned several times in this one. I think that the time wasted on repeating the same info on them could’ve been spent on Rachel and Mason.

Also, the part three conflict was completely predictable if you had been catching the slight hints even super early on. Dropping those hints but not getting the characters to acknowledge it in anyway doesn’t seem feasible to me.

Will I be reading book one in the series, Float Plan? Probably not because I basically got the whole gist of that one explained multiple times in The Suite Spot.

This book is short but sweet! Upon getting fired from a job Rachel loves for something that isn’t her fault, she takes a job as a hotel manager in Kelley Island... only to end up there and find out the place is still partly under construction. She decides to stay anyway since she already made the long trip with her daughter & having a say on the decisions for the hotel feels like a dream for her.

I love settings like this. It’s set in Kelley Island and the hotel is a few cabin plots and a brewery. There’s a cozy feel to it which gave me a sense of warmth.

Rachel and Mason has a lot of tender moments as well. Mason is the brooding type of character but has the softest heart. In agreement with the author’s note, this book really did feel like a warm hug. I love the setting, the romance, and the new friendships formed.

Last year I read (and adored) Float Plan so when I saw that there was a second book in the Beck sisters series coming you better believe I jumped on that request button immediately.

This book focuses on Anna’s (from Float Plan) sister Rachel (though Anna and Keane do make a brief appearance) and while Rachel is very different to Anna, I loved her character just as much. Rachel, who is a single mom to adorable toddler Maisie, receives a job offer to manage a new boutique brewery/hotel in Ohio but when she arrives there she finds herself getting a little more than she bargained for, both job wise and romantically.

After how much I adored Float Plan this one had big shoes to fill, and while it definitely has a different feel to it, fill them it did. It’s a more cosy, comforting read (the angst was brief and wrapped up quickly). From the acknowledgements at the end it’s clear that this is something the author did intentionally and something as a reader I really appreciated.

I adored not only the main characters (Mason stole a piece of my heart) but the side characters too. The setting was perfect and the romance was super sweet without being cheesy.

The only thing I didn’t like was the fact it had to end. I desperately wanted more from Rachel and Mason and The Limestone, which is always the sign of a fantastic book.

I loved everything about this book. From the charming setting, to the relationship between Mason and Rachel, and the various friendships throughout book, I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a feel-good book!

Happy Pub Day to The Suite Spot by @trishdoller

Here's another great destination romance story from this author. I was rooting for Rachel as she needed to figure her life out as a single mother after being wrongly fired from the luxury hotel in Mami. She discovered her dream job to design and run a resort through a friend. The only downside, she would need to relocate to Ohio with her daughter, Maisie. Mason is the owner of the resort, and the chemistry is instant! The Suite Spot was a fun read, and I recommend it.

I love learning new terms at the beginning of each chapter. I have been to tCedar Point and Sandusky in Ohio where most of this book takes place. It allowed me to reflect on some great memories I made there.

Thank you, St. Martin's Griffin, and Macmillan Audio, for my complimentary copies for my honest review.

On our podcast we have books we wish we could ‘Eternal Sunshine’; meaning to read it fresh every time, making it new and the interactions and beats a surprise each time we crack the spine. I can easily say that Trish Doller’s, A Suite Spot, is one of these Eternal Sunshine reads. I simply adored this book.
Buckle up folks, this is about to become a damn lovefest.

A Little Bit of Plot
Single mother Rachel Beck is offered her dream job with one large hitch, it’s managing a brewery hotel on a vacation island off of Lake Erie in Ohio. This means uprooting her daughter, leaving Fort Lauderdale, and taking an enormous leap of faith. Mason Brown is in over his head attempting to get the brewery and hotel up and running by the upcoming vacation season. As a closed off and often grumpy recluse, Mason begins to mend his broken heart with the help of Rachel and Maisie. Rachel gradually begins to see Kelley’s Island and Mason not only as her opportunity to live her dream, but her home.

The Compliment Sandwich
The Top Bun (The Pro)
Rachel and Mason
The way in which these two fall in love is so damn realistic and natural that I’ve never been so jealous of fictional characters before in my life. Mason and Rachel are so relatable that you can envision having their same conversations with others in your own life. To be blunt, these are two completely normal average people falling in love and living their best life. And like in real life, there are obstacles and every day issues that make living, at times, more difficult. I could quote this entire book to provide an illustrated example of the realness on display, instead I’ll just provide a few exchanges that resonated with me as I envisioned myself having the same thoughts and conversations.

How Rachel feels about her body:
My relationship with my body is complicated, and I’m fully aware that relationship doesn’t make me special, unique, or unlike millions of other women in the world. I want to embrace body acceptance, but sometimes I also want to be thinner. It’s comforting to know I’m not the only woman who feels this way, but it’s still complicated.

When Rachel is faced with a heartbreaking situation
You’ve never been wired that way, but…Anna had it right,” she says. “You’ve experienced a loss-more than one-and you need to grieve. You don’t always have to be the strong one. You’re allowed to fall apart.”
“I don’t want to fall apart. I want the universe to bend my way for once.”

One interaction between Mason and Rachel in particular hit me right in the feels and I can easily say is played out in the absolute best manner. Rachel has so much patience, enough for both of them, and reads Mason’s mental state better than he himself does. I don't want to share that dialogue here - it's better to be read in context.

OMG, this book, you guys!

The Meat (The Con)
I want more of Mason and Rachel as a couple, I’m upset that this is the last book in the Beck sister series as I would love more of a glimpse of what the future looks like for them. Never have I been interested in the everyday routines of a fictional couple before. Truthfully, I live near Kelley’s Island, so part of my disappointment is that this brewery and couple are fictional as I want to visit there and meet them. We could be friends! Argh!

The Bottom Bun (The Pro)
Cultural Diversity
Mason is half Japanese and when we meet him he is becoming immersed in his mother’s culture. In the past, he rejected his heritage so as not to be labeled different or ‘othered’. The first real intentional interaction between Maisie (Rachel’s daughter) and Mason involves his preparation of Japanese gyokuro green tea. The fact that he's sharing this culture with Maisie is so meaningful and has such emotional depth.
Their heads nearly touch as they watch together, her yogurt forgotten, and I get an airy feeling in my chest. Despite his reluctance, Mason is very good with Maisie…
“Can I have some?” Maisie says, reaching for his cup.
“You can, but remember that even though it’s warm, it’s not sweet like cocoa. You might not like it.”
Maisie takes the tiniest of sips and her nose crinkles with distaste. “Mm. It’s good.”
Mason fights a grin. “You sure?”
She nods. “But maybe I’ll save some for later.”

Similarly, Rachel’s mother is a German immigrant. She and her sister both speak fluent German and cook authentic native foods. They always says “Ich liebe dich (I love you)” to one another as though it strikes a stronger chord than the English translation. I’m a sucker for learning about other cultures and languages, so this book hit in all the right places for me. Additionally, both Rachel and Mason's heritage play huge roles in the beer creation. The fact that most beer is German in heritage and is instrumental in forming a bond between the two is not surprising.

Each chapter opens with a foreign word along with it’s dictionary entry. The word provides a preview of what will occur in the chapter. For example, this is the header for Chapter 6:

Depaysement
French
“A feeling of restlessness that comes with being away from your country of origin and feeling like a foreigner; a mix of disorientation and culture shock”

What follows is the crux of what will be the main ‘conflict’ of the novel, or the obstacle that must be overcome before they can move forward. Rachel questions whether or not their arrangement will work and contemplates moving back to Florida. After speaking with Mason and learning about his past, she realizes what he is battling with mentally, and decides to alter her interactions with him to alleviate some of the pressure. Again, she’s so emotionally intelligent and extremely patient. Mason himself is so thoughtful and willing to put in the work emotionally to grow.

I love this damn book!

If you haven’t gleaned from my thoughts above how I feel about this book, I’m not doing my job well. If you are looking for a light read with realistic characters falling in love gradually with just a tiny bit of angst, you’re in for a treat. I highly recommend this and the first in the Beck Sisters series, Float Plan. Also, shout out to Cedar Point amusement park! Woot! Woot!

After reading The Float Plan, I just knew I had to get my hands on The Suite Spot. This is the second book in the Beck Sister’s series, and let me tell you, this ranks right up there with The Float Plan.

Rachel is wrongly fired from her night manager position, at a posh hotel in Miami. An opportunity to manage a new and upcoming brewery hotel in Ohio has sort of fallen in her lap. Packing up her 4 year old daughter, Rachel heads to Kellys Island. There everything is quaint and superb… except for her ornery new boss.

Mason has kind of embellished the readiness of the hotel being ready to go. A lot more construction needs to be completed before they can start accepting guests. Mason is willing to give Rachel free reign on just about everything.

The personal and emotional journey these two take is slow and full of understanding. Rachel grows and becomes a strong, independent woman. And closed off Mason learns to let people in.

This was a perfect rom-com - injected with the perfect amount of humor, bouts of yearning and angst, to letting it all go and embracing the changes.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book!