I was floored by the first book in this sister series, Float Plan about Anna. What I thought might be a sad book featuring a woman who loses her fiancé to suicide, instead became a story of a woman finding herself in the middle of her grief. So when the book about Anna's sister popped up in NetGalley I jumped at it.

This book centers around Rachel, a basically single mother living with her own Mother in Florida and enjoying her job at a swanky hotel. Once she is accused of accosting a millionaire guest at the hotel, her life takes a drastic turn. She is fired from the job she adored. She feels desperate to replace her job as her daughter, Maisie, is still in preschool and Rachel life is all about providing for her and creating the best home life for her she can. Although Maisie's Dad is in the picture, he is barely there and is an immature, self-centered, low-motivation kind of guy.

Feeling low and ready for a new opportunity, she decides to accept a job at a start-up boutique hotel in Ohio. She packs everything up and decides to finally take a risk for the chance at her own happiness. Unfortunately, after arriving, she learns that the start-up hotel is still only an idea. She unsurprisingly is devastated to find out that she was mislead by her new boss, Mason. Mason informs her that although the job description has changed, he is confident that her background and previously developed skills are exactly what he needs to bring his concept to fruition. What began as simply an idea became the basis for an ingenious plan -a boutique hotel that combines a brewery with newly built cabins that were designed and decorated with a lake house feel. I'm ready to make my reservations now!

The rest of the story involves the process of Rachel and Mason learning to work together, Rachel and Maisie learning to adjust to their new life, Rachel becoming part of the community and of course Rachel and Mason finding that their attraction is mutual. Mason comes to the relationship with a past full of heartache and pain. Both Rachel and Mason were well developed characters. I really liked them individually and as a couple. I especially loved that the story mentions that Rachel is somewhat overweight, but does not zero in on it. It is part of her persona but it does not consume, define nor deter her. So many of the side characters were also well developed. I heard someone mention that they appreciated that Maisie was an honest depiction of a young child and I definitely agree. I was happy to see the realistic portrayal of the struggles a single mom faces daily.

I really enjoyed these characters and this story line - my one small disappointment was that the ending felt a little rushed. A story of second chances, taking risks, parenthood, friendship, and overcoming the past - it is one not to be missed. I read this one in a day because I just couldn't put it down. Definitely recommend.

I loved Float Plan so much that when I saw this book available on NetGalley I had to request.

The Suite Spot follows single mom Rachel (Anna from float plan’s sister) after she gets fired from her job at a luxury hotel. She and her daughter start over at a brewery hotel on Kelley’s Island, where she meets Mason, the hotel owner, who is also starting over.

Things I liked:
There was a plus-sized MC (Rachel) and a biracial MC (Mason was Japanese and white).

The setting. I love books placed in small island/wilderness style locations. I also love the hotel setting in general

The Communication: Rachel and Mason had good communication and good boundary setting.

The community: the author did a great job at incorporating side characters.

The focus on the brewing process and Japanese/German culture. While it wasn’t a huge part of the book, it was sprinkled in and I enjoyed them when I saw them.

Things that didn’t work as well for me:

-The ending was too rushed. The “problem” was introduced and resolved way too quickly. You know those videos where the kid freaks out in the water thinking they are drowning and then realize once they stand up, the water was only a foot deep…the ending gave me that type of vibe.

-Fade to black spicy times - it didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the book but worth noting if you’re like me and prefer on page spice.

-The description described Mason as moody so I was expecting maybe someone similar to Jonah from the Simple Wild but Mason really didn’t seem to grumpy/distant. We were told he was but his interactions with Rachel didn’t seem too different to how any strangers would interact with each other. I wish he was either moodier at first or the moody description was in the blurb was changed to lost or something.

Overall, I did really enjoy this book. I would have read it in one sitting if I didn’t have to work. 4-4.5 stars.

Trish Doller is back with a follow up to THE FLOAT PLAN with THE SUITE SPOT, out everywhere March 8th 2022.

THE SUITE SPOT follows Anna' sister, Rachel Beck. Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, she is stuck in a rut. She has a great job, but she is in a half hearted relationship, living with her mom, and basically raising her toddler by herself. When she gets fired from her job and basically blacklisted from the Ft Lauderdale luxury hotel industry, Rachel hits rock bottom. A lucrative job opportunity presents itself... but just one problem, it's on a remote island in Ohio. Rachel uproots her daughter and her lives to move there to help transform a new resort and finds herself, new friends, and a new romance along the way.

THE SUITE SPOT was a breezy and uplifting Hallmark movie type of read. The FLOAT PLAN was one of my favorites this year so I was thrived that Trish Doller was expanding on the series with THE SUITE SPOT and I hope she continues to do so -- maybe a book for Anna and Rachel's mother? Loved the occasional Anna and Keane appearances. All in all, a solid feel good read. I'm excited to see what Trish Doller does next.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the SUITE SPOT in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to sharing this title with our blog audience and will keep it as a potential contender for a monthly pick for our book club.

I loved this book. I felt that characters had natural chemistry and didn't seem forced in any way. i would definitely recommend it.

I thought this book seemed to be very slow paced. I enjoyed reading about Rachel’s perseverance and the grumpy sunshine theme for this book. However, I did feel that this book was fairly sad and had a slowed plot because of the heavy topics that the author covered in it. I did not feel that this was a romantic comedy at all and felt it was more about Rachel becoming independent and finding herself. I do wish that the author had added some lighter tones to the plot to even out the mood of The Suite Spot.

I really loved this author's book Float Plan and was excited for this novel especially since I vacation every summer in nearby Port Clinton! It was obvious the author did her research because local places were mentioned that are real (and a few fictional places too of course). The book was another great read although maybe a smidge less enjoyable than Float Plan. Still a good read that was hard to put down and very enjoyable characters. Cameos are made by the previous book's characters which is always nice!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I read and really enjoyed Doller's "Float Plan" so I was excited to request "The Suite Spot" hoping it might be just as sweet.

I was not disappointed.

The Suite Spot is about the other Beck Sister, Rachel, and most of the story takes place on an island on Lake Erie which sounds and feels magical throughout this lovely story. The characters, the dialogue, the friendship and the love are sweet, kind, and just what you'd like to see in a romance novel.

It's hard not to love these flawed and yet kind characters who grow and open up throughout the story and support and love each other.

My only complaint with the story is the beginning and the ending. It opens with what I think is an unnecessary scene where a complicated and triggering issue is introduced without really being handled at depth and also ends with another complicated issue that gets wrapped up too easily and magically. I didn't think either were necessary to the story and did more to take away from the magic and depth of this lovely story than to add to it.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the time I spent with this story and loved being swept away into the magic of Rachel and Mason and their idyllic town.

with gratitude to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

You know you love a book when it puts a big smile on your face! That's exactly what happened to me when I finished The Suite Spot by Trish Doller. Well, okay, I had a BIG smile on my face the entire time I was reading but it doesn't matter. This book made me so happy and I know it'll do the same for other readers. It's not as emotional as her first book, but it's just as good. Highly recommended!

I will admit that I am a complete sucker for a sweet romance and this one hit the spot.
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Well developed characters, which is huge for me as a character driven reader.
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I loved that the story was well paced and the time was taken to really make it authentic. Our MMC is a Brew Master! Beer folks. Yum
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One thing I wasn’t too excited for was that the ending seemed a bit abrupt and it threw off the great pace the rest of the novel had set.
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Thank you to St. Martins Press for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Another great story from Trish Doller that pulls on your heartstring in so many different ways! I fell in love with the well developed characters Rachel, Maize (Rachel’s daughter) and Mason. Rachel and her daughter move to Kelley’s Island, Ohio for a fresh start to help run a hotel owned by Mason Brown. She was fired from her previous job after a wealthy guest makes advances toward her and she puts up a fight and tells him off. She is completely shocked after arriving in Kelley Island to find no hotel and just a brewery in the making. She will find more on Kelley’s island than she ever could imagine.

This novel brings to life the reality of tragedy. It captivates the readers by the uncharted emotional path as each character rebuild their lives, finds love and embraces healing. Her style of writing draws me in and devour every single one of her novels. Once again, well done Trish…this a 4.5 for me!

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press & Trish Doller for the advanced copy.

Rachel loses her job at a Five Star Hotel in Miami. Rachel struggles to find the work she desperately needs to take care of her daughter. Rachel's co-worker gives her a number of a guy in Ohio that is opening a brewery hotel on a small island near Sandusky Ohio and is looking for someone to manage, design the rooms, and finish the hotel build. On a whim she calls the owner Mason, and he offers her the job. She packs up her things and leaves Ft Lauderdale, her ex and her daughter's absent father and moves to Kelley's Island. Once she arrives she realizes the hotel is not even 20% built, and that the "apartment" she would live in is actually Mason's house. Rachel is not deterred and puts her head down and starts working. Mason a handsome and reclusive, is recently divorced and his daughter died at the age of 4. Mason and Rachel try to navigate their friendship, rebuilding their lives, and the feelings that they are developing for each other.

This book is thoroughly enjoyable. Anna and Keenan from Float Plan make some appearances in the book. It is a great second chance at romance read that delivers. The Suite Spot is by far my favorite in the Beck Sisters series.

Iktsuarpok
Inuit, noun: anticipation one feels when waiting for someone, and keeps checking if they're arriving."

I absolutely ADORED Trish Doller's Float Plan. So, when I started seeing The Suite Spot popping up on social media, I was dying to get my hands on it. Finally, it was on NetGalley and I put in a request. Here's where the "Iktsuarpok" came in - the constant checking of my email until the coveted approval came through!

The Suite Spot totally lived up to my anticipation. While I'll always have a soft spot for Keane Sullivan from Float Plan (love me an Irish leading man!), Mason is a pretty close second. The baggage he carries is heartbreaking and yet he slowly figures out how to move forward.

I related so much to Rachel and her insecurities. Loved that she is a curvy girl with a complicated relationship with her body, especially since her sister Anna is a waif. My only frustration with The Suite Spot is the way that Rachel dealt with the complication. But, then again, the book wouldn't have a plot if everything went smoothly!

I read The Suite Spot in one sitting. There needs to be a word that describes that feeling of desperately waiting for a book and then being sad that it's over, Thankfully, from her social media feeds, Trish Doller has been teasing the next installment, featuring Keane Sullivan's brother Eamon. So, don't mind me, I will be not so patiently "Iktsuarpok" for the next book from Trish Doller!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in return for an honest review!




I

What a sweet book oh my god!!! A 4.5! I really just love a single parent trope y’all !!

Rachel, recently fired from her job as a concierge, is trying to find the next best thing as a single mother with a hospitality degree. She dreams of owning her own hotel and it drops right in front of her but the only problem is the job’s in Ohio and she’s in Florida. Although reluctant to pick up her and her daughter’s lives, she chooses to go to Ohio. There, she meets Mason. He’s grieving, recently divorced and also has dreams for his brewery/hotel with no idea how to go about it and Rachel is there to help push him to get it done. Together, they have to create a wonderful hotel without the universe giving them even more grief to juggle.

oh gosh. I just loved this one so much. First of all, let’s go fatties!!! I do just love reading a book about fat people without it being all the book’s about. It was mentioned maybe a total of 5 times and none of them made me cringe. I love when fat people just get to exist. Second, I do love a single parent trope. That kid just falling in love with the lead’s romantic interest? Melts me to pieces!!! The pace was wonderful, Mason was half Asian, there was such kindness between Rachel and Mason without too much drama. I love the fluff. So good! I’ll probably be reading the first book because of this one!

tw for sexual assualt, suicide mention, child death mention

thank you netgalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC!

THIS is even better than Float Plan, and I really loved that book... or at least fell in love with Keane. Trish Doller has hit a solid with the Beck Sisters duo and I'm not sure how she'll keep this up, but I will definitely keep an eye out for more adult fiction from her.

Great story, good characters (I wish I had the same level of creativity and confidence in my skills as Rachel) and chemistry. Doller sure knows how to architect a book boyfriend every gal wants.

Overall this was a fun read! A perfect summer beach read for some romance and adventure. I loved the small town feel and the fixer upper storyline. The book was more plot-driven than character driven at times and I would’ve loved a little more resolution at the end, especially with the situation with Rachel’s ex. But still a good read and interesting, unique characters. Also thought the brewery was a nice touch that wasn’t too complicated for someone who doesn’t know about beer!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for providing me with an advanced readers copy in exchange for this honest review!

Trish Doller is an automatic "yes" from me! This was slightly less heavy/emotional than "Float Plan," which I adored, but it was a story with heart and impact about custody, moving on, and the relationship was so fun to watch develop! Sooo close to five stars for me, but I personally found it a little slow to start. Very sweet and endearing, but different than Float Plan in a good way.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for this honest review!

The Suite Spot is a well crafted novel about finding your way home in ways you would never expect. When single mother, Rachel, has to find a new job, she puts blind faith in a move from Florida to Ohio where she will be the manager of a new brewery-hotel. When she arrives with her cranky 3-year-old in tow, it is not at all what she expected and she feels like she has been misled by Mason, the owner. The narrative is divided into progressive months to show that life can go on after hitting rock bottom. It is a book that I think a lot of readers will be able to identify with and the world the author created really came to life on the page.

I enjoyed reading this book and I devoured it in one day! I appreciated the tie in to The Float Plan (which I LOVED), but this is a stand alone book. I rate this book 3.75 / 5 stars (rounded up to 4 stars). For details see below.


*spoiler alert*
I liked that both Rachel and Mason had sweeping character arcs and I grew to love them and root for them throughout the novel. I appreciated the emotional maturity of the characters, but I felt like a lot of the relationship development took place off the page. Within the narrative, they spend a lot of time apart following their own interests and when they are together they are mostly talking about the hotel and beer, or Mason is feeling a spectrum of discomfort around Maisie. I was missing the chemistry build up that could have provoked more emotion out of the reader. To be fair, there were little details and sparks, but it just wasn't enough for me. I felt like the author spent a lot of time writing about the characters' past traumas and challenges and not much on building the transition into their relationship, so when they are finally together, it felt fast and a bit lacking in chemistry. There were no notable stolen moments, flirtations, or inside jokes to get them there. Pacing-wise, I also feel like the custody issues with Maisie's dad at the end of the book were rushed and predictable, and Rachel's character at that point in her arc probably would not have been impulsive - she had already moved her toddler and entire life cross country, she was feeling emotionally stable and strong, happy, and in love. She was settled, thrilled with her career, had a support system of friends, and was involved with the community. The whole time of the custody issues I was thinking, "Stop! It takes one phone call to a lawyer, lady!", but I guess that wouldn't have made a dramatic third act. From that point on, the narrative lost interest for me because it didn't seem realistic or in character. Overall, I think that this book is entertaining and good (and I will recommend it), but "fine is not great".

“When Mason kisses me, I can almost taste the bitter mixed in with the sweet. And that’s okay. Sometimes life is like that.”

What You’ll Find:
✔️Contemporary Romance
✔️New In Town
✔️Single Parent
✔️Slow Burn
✔️Single POV

The Suite Spot is about a single mom who just can’t catch a break. Especially with work and men. When an unexpected job opportunity presents itself, she runs with it, moving several states away. Only when she arrives, it’s not quite what she expected.

I loved Float Plan, like a top 2021 read for me. So I was thrilled to read this story early. And while it had some sweet and tender moments that I enjoyed, it also fell a bit flat for me. There are so many elements at play in this story. Some of which I felt took up too much room, and some of which I felt didn’t get enough. I really enjoyed the small town feel and the side characters including Rachel’s sweetheart of a daughter... but ultimately I just didn’t feel overly connected to this story or their relationship. Making it difficult to rate this one. I do think many contemporary readers will enjoy it though and I look forward to what’s next from this author.

3.5 Stars/5

You can find TW/CW’s at the beginning of this book.

*Thank you to SMP Romance for the ARC via Netgalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own and given freely.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Publishing for an advanced copy of The Suite Spot in exchange for an honest review. I knew going into the book that it was going to be a fun light read and was captivated by the story from the beginning.

Rachel Beck (older sister to Anna from Float Plan) is a single mother who finds herself at a cross-roads in her career and in her life in general and takes a risk by relocating to a small town in Ohio to help with a start up boutique hotel. I know the area well where the story takes place and loved all the little references to Kelly’s Island, Marblehead, Sandusky, Rt. 2, etc.

Rachel and her daughter are introduced to Mason, the owner of the hotel, and his emotional baggage begins to lighten over time and it was clear a romance would ensue. I struggled with the rapid progression of the relationship between Rachel and Mason and would have enjoyed to see more of their journey along the way. It seemed to me that Rachel was developing feelings for Mason and then BAM, they are together and he has moved into the same bedroom with Rachel. I would have loved to witness their attraction turn into something more. Another struggle for me was the rushed ending of the book where Rachel and her daughter are caught up in a custody battle and a whirlwind of things happen in a matter of pages.

While there were the parts of the book that felt lacking to me, I did enjoy all the characters and really felt like I was transported to Kelly’s Island with the superb writing and detail of the setting. I also found myself craving a micro brew on more than one occasion while reading. I love how the author Trish Doller has said that this book was written during the early days of the pandemic and she wanted to deliver a light feel good book. That is exactly what she did and I enjoyed reading The Suite Spot! Expected to be published and available March 2022.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I absolutely loved this book - I will say I didn't read the first book by Trish but will for sure be going back and reading that now that I've finished this one. I loved her writing style and can't wait to read more by this author. Thank you for the opportunity to find a new author to love!