tw: sexual harassment, death of a child
tr: slow burn, workplace romance, small town romance
rep: Japanese-American hero

Boy am I glad that Trish Doller decided to write adult romance.

Float Plan remains undefeated as Lisa's favourite Trish book (a bit hard to dethrone Keane Sullivan in my heart ok? tho I do have a feeling Eamon would), but The Suite Spot is no less awesome.

I love how the feelings between Rachel and Mason developed ever so subtly as they spent time together getting the hotel ready for opening, and I also love how they make a solid team, just like Anna and Keane. I also adore Mason's interactions with Rachel's daughter, Maisie. This book didn't make me cry as much as its predecessor did, but there's definitely many emotional moments, especially towards the end.

I also love small town romances because everybody looks out for each other and is nosy about each other's business in a hilarious way. Would 100% join Hooked on Books myself for the goss update and karaoke.

EAMON'S BOOK NEXT!!!!

I adored The Float Plan. I was so excited to see what was in store for this book. The Suite Spot just didn’t do it for me. I felt in the previous book there was such a flow to Anna and Keane. I could feel their story, their sow burn chemistry, and it was believable. Now Trish writes shorter books. I think the Suite Spot would have been better if it was mongers. I felt parts dragged on, parts went way too fast. I had to go back and read parts again because I didn’t notice it had jumped scenes and time. It just was not as good. I wanted more time to believe the relationship with Rachel and Mason. The conflict at the end came on suddenly and ended so fast with Brian. The pacing was just off for what the story was giving me. It has so much potential but regrettably didn’t hit the mark. I do think Mason sounds like the perfect book boyfriend, but I still feel like I don’t know him that well even after finishing the book.

Float Plan had me crying within 5 minutes, so I was fully expecting the next book in the series to emotionally wreck me - but it was like a big, warm hug. This romance/women's fiction crossover is still a heartfelt read, but it's much lighter and more uplifting. The short length allowed me to binge it in one sitting, and I enjoyed it the whole way through. I really liked it. I would've considered a 5-star rating, but this didn't delve as deep as I was hoping; there are a few elements of the story that felt a little glossed over. This is an instance where I think another 50-100 pages would've packed an emotional punch and made this a truly memorable read, but it was still very solid and I liked it quite a bit.

The story follows Rachel, a single mom who isn't overly happy with any part of her life. She's got a decent job, a daughter she loves, and a baby daddy who has been stringing her along for years. So when one of the wealthy patrons of the hotel she works at sexually assaults her (kisses her without permission), and she ends up being the one to take the blame, Rachel is forced to reassess every part of her life. She takes a job out of state at an up-and-coming boutique hotel... only to realize that her mysterious new boss lied to her. Mason's woodsy resort is still under construction, and Rachel and her daughter will be moving into his home while they work on the design together. It's not at all what she expected, but as Rachel gets to know her broody boss better, she realizes that it might be exactly what they both needed.

I'd call this romance-focused women's fiction, because the love story is front and center, but it's just one of the elements. This is Rachel's story, told exclusively from her perspective, and she undergoes a personal journey along the way. I really loved Mason as a character and wanted as much of him as I could get - he's such a great guy with a heartbreaking backstory, and I loved the inclusion of Japanese culture and even the beer brewing. I honestly wouldn't have minded another 50-100 pages of just Mason and Rachel, lol. Their love story was really laidback and easygoing actually, and I loved that the conflict at the end revolved around something that had really bugged me earlier in the book. This potentially triggering story somehow had a lighthearted feel, and that made it a bright, swoony read. It ended up being a strong 4/low 5-star read for me, and I'm definitely looking forward to more from the author. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this slow burn, rustic romance.

Wow! This was such a good story, I could not put it down. I just plowed through this in half a day. I did stop reading to make dinner for my family, because I am not a monster.

Being from Ohio, it brought back a lot of memories of visiting friends and having college fun on the islands. But this book brings out all your emotions. Gah!

Rachel and her daughter, Maisie, move to the small island in northern Ohio to take a new job working for Mason and his boutique hotel. I loved how this opportunity that seemed to good to be true, totally was. And then it turned out to be everything.

Mason’s backstory is heart wrenching, but I was so happy that he was able to journey on. The arrival of Rachel and Maisie bring him out of emotional hibernation and it’s both painful and necessary.

Mason and Rachel create something out of nothing, both in their friendship and their business - and for their friends and neighbors as well. Everyone wins in this scenario, but that doesn’t make it easy. As they say, there is no growth without pain.

So many things to love about Mason, Rachel and Maisie’s story!

⭐⭐⭐.5 warm and tender stars!
This is Book #2 in the Beck Sisters series.
Rachel Beck is the night reservations (aka concierge) manager at ‘The Aquamarine’ an upscale Hotel in Miami Beach. She loves this job and is good at it. One evening a very wealthy guest arrives late and Rachel is being her typical friendly self ~ only he takes it as more! She rejects his advances. He is shocked and calls her awful nasty names. She returns with a nasty name to him only her comment is heard by another guest. Yep she is fired!

She now has to find a new job as she needs to work to support herself and her three-year old daughter, Maisey. Her boyfriend, Brian is Maisey’s dad but only helps out when it is convent.

Rachel takes a job at a Brewery boutique Hotel in Lake Erie, Ohio.
. Mason is the owner of the the hotel along with the brewery, but he knows nothing about running a hotel but is interesting in brewing beer. His ex-wife was supposed to run the hotel but is no longer interested. (Perhaps she needs to meet Brian?)
Aww as author, Trish Dollar states in her author’s Acknowledgements ~ if 2020 had not been such a traumatic her story might have been different; however she thought we needed a warm and gentle story!!
Yep I agree!

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press ~ Griffin for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 8, 2022.

If you loved "Float Plan" by Trish Doller, you will definitely want to add the next book in the series to the top of your TBR pile. In Doller's next book, Anna's sister, Rachel is a single mom who is suddenly fired from her dream job - she eventually finds a job at a brewery hotel on a small island and enters the life of Mason - a reclusive BUT handsome man (of course!). As my fiance says, I always enjoy a tv show / book around small towns and this didn't disappoint; it was such a feel-good read and I loved all the characters!

Thank you St. Martin's Press for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I really liked this book until about 85%. I don’t understand why the heroine would make the decisions she did. It was so extreme. Even though Mason and her lawyer point out to her that she acted irrationally. And then, the whole thing was for nothing and Brian and his mom don’t even get a slap on the wrist. I wanted a smack down moment and for them to show some remorse!

What an amazing story! I loved this one so much more than the first book , ‘The Float Plan’ ! Although this one does have some references and updates on the characters in the first book, it could totally be read as a stand-alone as well.

I got this amazing feeling that I would love this book as soon as I saw the dedication of the book at the very start. Trish Dollar said … “Bountiful, extra curvy, overweight, fat, plus-sized . . . no matter which word you claim, you are beautiful. This one’s for you.” ❤️

I absolutely loved the characters in this story, every single one of them! I also have so much appreciation for the amount of body positivity and cultural diversity that was described in this book , thank you so much Trish Doller, we always need more of this! I am also so impressed with the way the author nailed down the real and raw feelings of grief, acceptance, and the ability to move forward. Wow , overall, such an incredible read!

Trigger warnings include mentions of death of a child , suicide, and sexual assault, but the book is bound to leave you smiling by the end with a full heart ❤️

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy!

Pub date : March 8th, 2022

I enjoyed this book. The description was apt, it was a very cozy read and I loved all the wonderful details. I appreciated the representation aspect in making a svelte woman the recipient of adoration and love. It fit together like a puzzle by the end.

The Suite Spot is the second book in the Beck Sisters series and having enjoyed Float Plan, I was excited to read this one as well.

Rachel Beck feels stuck. She's a single mother to a precious little girl, still living at home with her mother and isn't advancing with her life the way she'd like to. She also keeps going back to Maisie's father even though he has shown little interest in their child and it's clear their relationship has run its course. When she unexpectedly loses her job, she comes across an opportunity in Ohio.

Learning that she has gotten the job, Rachel packs up her whole life, along with Maisie and moves to Kelleys Island, Ohio. When she arrives, her new boss, Mason, isn't exactly what she was expecting. He's reserved, sullen and uptight, but Rachel decides that while it may be different from her expectations, this is a new start she has to take for she and Maisie. Mason has had his share of things to deal with in the last few years and he's still working through them. Will this be what Rachel needed? And, can she help Mason in the process?

There was something about this book and these characters that drew me in from the very beginning. Both Mason and Rachel were dealing with their own issues, but by becoming friends and then letting things grow from there, they ended up growing both as individuals and as a couple. Throw in cute Maisie and you've got yourself the makings for an enjoyable read!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

After loving Doller's Float Plan last year, I was overjoyed to receive an early copy of the second book in the Beck sisters series. This follow up did not disappoint. 

This story is about Rachel. She is a single mom with a passion for hospitality. After she is unfairly fired from her hotel manager job, she finds herself taking a chance on a new hotel in another state. She decides to move herself and her daughter Maisie to Ohio from Florida, leaving behind her life to start a new adventure. When she arrives she meets the gruff, hotel owner, Mason. He is grieving and doesn't open up easily. 

I absolutely loved these characters. Rachel has such a excitement for building this hotel with Mason. Mason's passion is creating the perfect brewed beer for his new tap room. They bond so much over their creative spirits. They are each other's cheerleaders and support system. It was such a beautiful relationship to watch grow. I found myself tearing up quite a few times. These characters will stick with me. I also loved that we got a little cameo from the characters of Float Plan. They are fun!

I love Doller's writing and hope to read more by her

I loved this story! I loved The Float Plan so much when I read it last year, but I think I enjoyed Rachel and Mason’s story even more.

The Suite Spot is a story of healing, and rebuilding, of confidence in yourself, and finding someone how loves you like you deserve to be loved.

I loved the setting, the atmosphere, and all the wonderful characters on Kelleys Island and I honestly never wanted it to end!

I was really looking forward to this. I’m in a total romcom mood and the premise of a single mom moving to a small island town to renovate a hotel alongside a quiet and reserved guy seemed to be a recipe for a super cute romance. Unfortunately, this ended up being a tepid romance with boring, vanilla characters for me.

I gave it 2.5 stars because I did really like plot line of constructing and decorating the rustic specialty hotel. I loved seeing Rachel find interesting and unique pieces for the cabins, or how Mason came up with his craft beer flavors. The hotel is the focus of the story for 60% of the story before it shifts to the romance. Sadly, once we switched to the romance plot line, I was so bored.

Mason is just bland. He has some history that could have given him interesting layers but he was just a little too perfect. He’s essentially the perfect boyfriend. Always considerate, understanding, gentle, which in real life is great but I need a little prickliness in my book heroes.

I felt like the romance came out of nowhere and a lot of the romantic scenes felt super forced. They are working together but we do really see descriptions of their interactions until the second half of the book when they’re suddenly romantic.

Rachel finds Mason attractive but I didn’t get why she really liked him? Was is it because he likes her? Rachel recognizes that her type in the past has been guys who shows interest in her. But it seems it was the same case with Mason, the only difference is that he’s not an asshole. I just didn’t feel a connection between them. And all the intimate scenes felt so awkward and forced to me.

I did like how Rachel doesn’t pursue the romance earlier when there was an opening to take things further. She knows Mason’s unsure and she tells him to be sure before starting anything with her. The would have really benefited with a duo POV because I don’t know why Mason likes Rachel either. Mason has a lot emotional baggage and I needed to see him struggle through it and see him get the point where he decides to honestly pursue Rachel.

Spice Level: PG/PG-13; Some descriptions then fades to black

I really liked this book! It can be read as a standalone, but I highly suggest reading Float Plan first as an introduction to some of the characters and for a better understanding of some of the plot lines in this book. After losing her job, Rachel accepts an offer to move from Florida to Ohio to help run a new hotel. When she gets their with her daughter, Maisie, she realizes that it is a lot more work than she intended. . Rachel and Maisie move in with the owner, Mason, who Rachel quickly develops feelings for. This was a very quick, fast-paced romance. Looking forward to reading anything else Trish Doller writes!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Rachel Beck is a single mother to Maisie. She's trying to keep her relationship with Maisie's father alive, but it's all one-sided. When she gets fired for alleged sexual harassment, she's floundering and feeling guilty for all the grief she gave her sister Anna when Anna's fiance committed suicide. On a whim, she calls the number a friend gave her for a hotel opening in Kelleys Island, OH. But nothing was as it seemed when Rachel arrives on the island. Mason Brown misled her just a bit.

Creating the vision for the hotel and brewery brings Mason and Rachel together. She feels stable with the life she's creating with her daughter and forging a friendship with Mason. Mason's story is hear-wrenching, but as he interacts with Rachel and Maisie the softer, more human side of him appears. Mason and Rachel build a lasting partnership, not only as a couple, but also as business people and friends of the residents of Kelleys Island.

I didn't think I would love this book as much as I did. I laughed and got angry. I cursed and teared up.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

Having just read and loved Float Plan, I was excited to dive almost immediately into The Suite Spot. I’m amazed how Trish Doller can pack so much emotion and heart into relatively short books (300 pages or less). I loved Anna and Keane in Float Plan and, if possible, I loved The Suite Spot’s Rachel and Mason even more. Also, can I have my own Mason in real life, please?

This is a story about new beginnings, finding home, and letting love - and other good things - into your life. Rachel and Mason had both dealt with heartache and disappointment, and they found solace and strength in each other. I loved watching them open up to each other and the other characters in the book after closing themselves off for so long. The story was sweet, heartfelt, and romantic with a great balance of humour and moments that tugged at your heartstrings.

Some of the random things I loved about this book: Rachel was fat; Mason was Japanese-American; Yokai the cat, who only liked Rachel’s daughter, Maisie; Maisie herself; the book club; all the beer talk and hotel talk (which I know won’t appeal to everyone, but I found really interesting, and I appreciated how passionate Rachel and Mason were about their chosen careers).

If you’re looking for a feel-good, slow-burn romance that will make you swoon and feel all the feels, The Suite Spot is a must read.

The Suite Spot is exactly what I needed right now - sweet, romantic, touching, and heartfelt. Mason and Rachel’s story is realistic yet dream-worthy. Trish Doller has written a fantastic, sexy follow-up to Float Plan. Thank you NetGalley for my copy. My comments and opinions are my own.

I was not able to read this book due to the trigger warning at the beginning for a sensitive topic in it.

I may come back to it another time but still wanted to provide feedback for why I am not finishing this one currently.

Thank you publishers for allowing me the chance to read and review. I will still continue reading other books.

The Suite Spot is the sweetest slow burn romance. 🥰 I loved the setting! It takes place in a small community on a rustic island where everyone knows everyone. What I loved most about this book was the concept of designing and developing a hotel/brewery from the ground up. I felt like I was watching one of those makeover shows as they planned and executed their ideas. I also learned quite a bit about beer and the brewing process. 🍺 Can I just add that I love how @trishdoller normalizes all body types by including a main character that is more bountiful than your typical lead character. I love that! ❤️

Rachel has been wrongly fired from her concierge job at a popular and swanky hotel in Miami. Rachel is a single mom supporting her daughter. When an offer comes to work at a startup hotel/brewery on a remote island on Lake Erie, Rachel is reluctant to accept. It’s far from her family and it means starting over in a new state. She accepts the offer so she can start fresh. Rachel discovers that even though her boss Mason seems to be a little rough around the edges, he can be sweet and generous. As they team up to make this brewery and hotel dream come true, their relationship flourishes. Everything is wonderful until it isn’t. Will their love be able to survive this road block?

This is book #2 to Float Plan. Even though I haven’t read Float Plan, I was totally fine reading this as a stand-alone

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
#bookadoration #bookstagram #canadianbookstagram #stmartinspress #stmartinsgriffin #thesuitespot #trishdoller #floatplan

This was a fine romance book. I have't read the first book in the companion but I don't think you have to to understand the story.

I liked the set up of the plot. Rachel gets fired from her hotel job for reporting sexual harassment and moves to Ohio with her 4 year old to help Mason build his brewery hotel. It's a cute premise.

All of the characters were fine. Sometimes they felt a little flat. The plot also fell flat towards the end. In this case I didn't mind so much. If you're wanting an easy, digestible romance, this is the book for you. The characters don't need to be super dynamic and the plot doesn't need to be super gripping to find comfort in the book.

My one main issue was the main character referring to the love interest's family as the United Nations because they come from different ethnic backgrounds. That seemed like an odd comment.

Overall, this was fine and easy to read.