Member Reviews

Special thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for an advance e-copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I was so excited for this book, as it is about an island close to my hometown, and it isn’t often that Northwest Ohio represented in books! What I read was a comforting look at loss, building new, taking chances, and making people your home. Rachel Beck has hit a new low, being fired from her job. When she gets a lead for a new job in Ohio, she takes a chance to rebuild her life. Both looking to overcome their challenges, Rachel and Mason begin to rebuild their lives and a new hotel on the island.

I loved that this book had words from different languages and their definitions that hinted at the chapter to come! The underlying conflict was tender and raw, and I loved that Doller also touched on loss of loved ones. Overall, I really loved this book and all of the Kelley’s Island and Ohio specific details Doller put into it!!

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I loved the first book in the series, and was pumped to get this ARC! This follow-up about the sister we were introduced to in The Float Plan is just as good of a story - I may have even enjoyed it a bit more. Rachel is down to earth and completely relatable - as always, Trish does a great job of introducing some tough topics while keeping it light-hearted and happy. Highly recommend for a quick, feel good read!

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Holy wow!
This is so sweet and beautiful and I loved every second of it. (Except Brian 😡) I finished in one day because I couldn’t put it down! Beautiful story and just as well written as Float Plan!!

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The Suite Spot was every bit as good as the previous book in the series, Float Plan. The story, the characters, the tender relationship between Mason and Rachel, gah…its just plain perfection. It's not a very long book, but it manages to tackle some very tough subjects with gentleness and empathy. I also love catching up with Anna and Keane from Float Plan when they come to visit Rachel and the girls' mother. So glad to see they are still hopelessly head over heels as well. I just loved this story so, so, so much! This story made my heart sing with joy. Absolutely loved it and I consider this required reading. You won’t be sorry!

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wow what a cute fast paced romance! I absolutely adored this book. we follow rachel as she journeys to a small remote island in ohio to take on a new job. when she gets there she realizes she may be in over her head.

what I loved
- maisie! I love when there are kids in romances I always think it’s so sweet and it was really cute to see mason and maisies relationship blossom given when mason had gone through
- the island was truly the cutest coziest setting ever
- i loved meeting the families they were both so lovely and really added to the story
- i love the progression of the romance nothing happened too fast or too slow it was just perfect for me
- I actually loved the beer aspect, i’m not a beer lover but it was really cool to learn about some of the process and just have mason being so passionate (same goes for the tea!)

a couple things I didn’t love
- there’s a plot line that comes up just past the halfway point that I thought was a bit rushed/unnecessary (and there was a key part I didn’t really get/think was smart but no spoilers!)
- not enough steam🙈 I would have loved a little more romance but it was still so so adorable

if you want a cozy pick-me/up read definitely give this one a go it’s so sweet! and it’s very minimal steam so no worries it that regard!
PS please review the TWs (especially child death and suicide) as there are a few that come up❤️
(4.5 stars rounded up to 5!)

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The suite spot
By Trish Doller
Pub Date 08 Mar 2022 | Archive Date 22 Mar 2022
St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin

I loved this book so much. Rachel being a single mom and her 3 year old Masie were so relatable. Just trying to get on track and find their niche in life. Mason felt like he was a familiar character. Harden by life, just waiting for the right opportunity to open back up. The descriptions in this story were so good I felt like I was seeing exactly what the author wanted me to see and feelings everything from the highs to the lows and everything in between. It was beautiful. I cried a few times and laughed out loud multiple times.
The only thing I didn’t like was the title. It felt like, in my opinion, it just didn’t fit. The suite life. Suite like the hotel suites? Was it because of the hotel? A rustic cabin on a lake with a brewery doesn’t fit well with the word suite to me. But maybe I missed something?
Great book though!

Trigger warning!
Sexual assault, mentions of suicide and death of a child.

I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.
This review is my honest opinion.

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3.5 STARS

Rachel Beck’s life has not turned out the way she hoped: as a single mom, working as a night manger in a luxury hotel often fulfilling the whims and demands of wealthy, entitled clients, and dealing with an immature, irresponsible father of her child. Rachel actually loves her job, but when she is fired after being accosted by one of her clients and blamed for it, Rachel’s life takes a drastic turn. She accepts a job on a small Lake Erie Island for a new brewery hotel uprooting her life with a very young child in tow. The owner of the hotel, Mason, has a boatload of issues not the least of which is the unfinished state of the hotel.

Daunted at first, Rachel realizes a long-held dream of helping to make the hotel a special place through lots of hard work. As she adjusts to life in Ohio, Rachel begins to develop feelings for her boss that go beyond the workplace; however, that kind situation is always a challenge with potential for disaster. Mason is recently divorced and has had his own major life upheavals. His standoffish nature is not a problem for Rachel, but as they work together and she becomes integral to the island life, their relationship slowly changes to become more than about the work and making the hotel a success.

Rachel has a fair number of emotional issues including abandonment by her father, her body image, and the results of her questionable choices in men. Rachel is determined to make sure her daughter has a happy, healthy life while hopefully having the same for herself. Mason proves to be a worthy addition to that future if life for once does not just get in the way. Second in the Beck Sisters series, Rachel’s sister Anna was featured in the FLOAT PLAN which was one of my favorite books of 2020. This book can be read as a standalone; however, I highly recommend reading Anna and Keane’s story first.

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Thank you SMP Romance and St. Martins Press for the gifted book!

3.5 stars

Trish Doller’s Float Plan has been one of my favorite books this year, so I was so excited to receive an advanced copy of the follow-up/spin off.

The Suite Spot follows Rachel (sister to Float Plan’s Anna) as she loses her job in Florida, leading her to taking a position as a manager for a brewery hotel in Ohio.

I loved a lot of aspects of this book- the setting, the hotel business, the brewery, and the premise. In the same way FP is more literary fiction with romance, as opposed to a true romance, Suite Spot is in that same category. I like that both books focus on the emotional growth of the main characters through difficult circumstances. Although I did enjoy this book, I never fully connected with this story in the way I did with Float Plan. I’m not sure if I can really nail down why, it just didn’t grab me or stay in my mind in the same way.

I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next book in this series, which will follow Keane’s brother (from FP).

TW: attempted sexual assault. Loss of a child. - Big thanks to the author and publisher for including content warnings at the beginning of the book!

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Trish Doller has written another delightful romance. She hits a sweet spot writing about difficult issues that are handled deftly enough to not be depressing. I loved the location, the characters, and the love story.

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In her author's note, Trish Doller shares that while writing during the pandemic, she changed course and this book became something cozy, warm, inviting and safe. I absolutely loved that she included this in her author's note because it totally encapsulated how I felt while reading.

I really enjoyed Float Plan, and while The Suite Spot was totally different, I think I enjoyed this one more! I felt more connected to the characters, I felt the storyline was more real and I just LOVED Mason and his story arc, how he opened up, how he and Rachel played off of each other and little Maisie was just a spitfire.

I really felt like Rachel was a modern day single Mom - she felt relatable and raw, without ever making you feel sorry for her. The Float Plan throwbacks were fun and a great way to continue that story within this new one. I just thoroughly enjoyed this book, the characters will hang around with me for a while and Trish Doller...we need more from you!

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Thank you for the advanced copy! I enjoyed this book in a way that I enjoy light-hearted books this time of year. Although this book takes place in a warmer season, it had that charming winter feel.

I think people who LOVED Float Plan for its grief and angst will feel like this book isn't as emotional. I actually really liked Rachel and Mason, so this was more enjoyable for me. However, I do think it was short and I wish I felt more yearning.

I really liked this book, and would recommend for someone wanting a light and fun novel with likable characters.

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"The Suite Spot" by Trish Doller
A REALLY Good Story
This story certainly pulled on my heart-strings, which I count as a good thing. Fired up my anger once or twice, too. So, you can tell I really got attached to the characters in this story. There is some spice but very nicely presented. I was rather sad when I reached the last page. But I do prefer regretting the ending of a story than being glad I finally arrived.
I hope you enjoy Rachel's adventure as much as I did. And, if you do, you may want to find her sister Anna's story and read that too. Happy Reading ! !
NOTE: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.
This review expresses my honest opinion(s).

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This was a really nice, sweet romance/ Everyone in the book was quite likeable. Even the H of this book who was described as grumpy. If you want grumpy,. let me introduce you to my husband...lol This man was actually super sweet and thoughtful and I would date him in a second.

I read the first few pages and wasn't sure how much I was going to like this. I kept gong, and was glad I did. I really enjoyed the story and just wanted to hang out with all of those people.

I read in the afterword that the author changed the story as she was writing it. Covid hit, and she wanted something a little sweeter and kinder and she nailed it. This was a really pleasant few hours of escape.

I want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

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RATING: 4/5 STARS

THE SUITE SPOT was a sweet and entertaining read. Very different from FLOAT PLAN, but with the same heartwarming and swoony quality.

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Great, quick read with a lovely storyline. It was a perfect palette cleanser after the fantasy I finished.

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Enjoyable read from start to finish. This is the kind of book that can bring comfort during troubling times. The concept of the plot was unique, the characters were likable, and the ending felt satisfying. All in all, a book that’s sure to bring a smile or two!

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I ADORED Float Plan by this author. I knew right away that I needed this book in my life. Also, that description!!!

I will say off the bat that "Float Plan" tips the scales for comparisons. I was hoping for that same emotional draw in this story but sadly I couldn't quite get there.

I really loved the inclusivity of people of all sizes being present. Mason was a swoony heart throb. Rachel is witty and confident.

Overall, this was a cute contemporary romance. I missed the mark in some areas for me but I did finish and like it.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own

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I loved Float Plan, so I was really excited to get the chance to read this book as well. Float Plan was about Anna Beck, and The Suite Spot is about her sister, Rachel.

Rachel is a single mom who moves with her daughter to a remote island in Lake Erie to help start a new hotel. Her boss Mason is dealing with his own grief, and together they find new life in the hotel and each other.

The book summary describes Mason as moody, but he really was just nice. Honestly he didn't even seem that sad to me. Rachel was nice too. Everyone in this book was basically nice and likeable. It's a very nice and pleasant story, most definitely a feel good read.

Personally, I found it all a little too nice. There was no conflict and nothing to keep me guessing. They work on the hotel, they fall in love, they open the hotel, they live happily ever after. The end. Everything goes according to plan, and with the exception of one moment at the end, nothing ever goes wrong.

This could be the right book for you if you are looking for a very pleasant and sweet story! For me, I would have preferred a little more drama and angst and conflict. But still it's a nice story with likeable characters and a quick read.

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Trish Doller continues the magic, vulnerability and charm of Float Plan with this comforting sequel. This book captivated my attention immediately and held it throughout the course of the story. Rachel is a single mom to a Maisie, a bubbly 3 year old, and night manager at a luxurious Miami Beach resort. She is unfairly fired after an troubling incident with a high profile guest and is struggling to find a new job when an opportunity to manage a small hotel and brewery on a remote island on Lake Erie presents itself. Rachel decides to leave the comfort of everything she knows and travel across the country to a new job, a new home, a new career, a new community and a new boss, Mason. Mason, the Limestone Inn, and his grumpy cat are nothing what Rachel had in mind….but everything needed to fill a hole in her heart she didn’t know was missing. On the island, Rachel finds connection, fulfillment, purpose, a new family and love.

This book was beautifully written with authentic and diverse characters. The author’s vivid descriptions made me feel I was expericing everything right along with the characters: the views, the island, the food, the beer. I also appreciated the body positivity and mental health elements related to grief and anxiety as well as the explorations into different cultures.

Perfect for fans of Katherine Center, this dear novel was heartfelt, joyful, emotional, and brave. It was a warm bookish hug and I cannot wait to read everything Trish Doller writes.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for honest review.

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Rachel Beck feels like she just can't catch a break. She's a single mom living with her own mother, her love life is complicated, and she just lost her job at an upscale hotel in Florida. When a once-in-a-lifetime employment opportunity comes up, Rachel thinks that maybe it's time for a change... a BIG change. She packs up her daughter and drives to Ohio to purse a position with a unique brew hotel. Once she arrives on the island where the hotel is located, she discovers that her new boss, Mason, is in dire need of her help. Over the course of designing and building the hotel, Rachel and Mason find that they have a lot more to offer each other.

The Suite Spot was exactly what I needed when I read it! The characters were great. Mason had an interesting family background and was dealing with some heavy issues when Rachel came into his life. I loved Rachel's personality and strength. She had her own issues to deal with and I felt that she was relatable. The Suite Spot was a feel-good read that I flew through and really enjoyed!

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