Hazel became a “Rosie the Riveter” during the war, but now the war is over and she is looking for work in artsy, Laguna Beach. She accepts a job as the assistant to a well-known, cantankerous artist. This story is a little bit historical perspective, a little bit love story, and a little bit mystery. I loved the characters and watching Hazel come into her own. It also gave Stars Hollow’s Festival of Living Pictures vibes! Loved Montauk as well as the Show Girl, also by this author.

Loved the beautiful, sun soaked landscape that was painted of Southern California in this novel. Most WWII historical fiction novels I've read have told stories about women and the efforts they make to help as much as they can during the war, but rarely have I read a story about a woman who now needs to reconfigure her identity once the job she found and loved disappears. What a unique and layered story.

I loved this book and the insight into the lives of the girls and women that had to bridge the world of men during the war and what happened when their jobs were over. It was very well written and I loved that even though Hazel struggles to find her way, she uses what she can to help someone else. Great setting and characters.

The story is great for a beach read -- it has all the trappings of a beach setting and provides a mental landscape. I, personally, wanted more from this story. I was hoping for a fleshed-out story of an independent woman in the 50s, but the main character left me wanting more for her. Interactions between characters also felt forced or contrived. I really wanted to like this story -- it was my pick for book club this month, and I'm just not excited about it. I'll have to give her other book, Mauntauk, a try.

This was a fabulous story with great characters. So many features of a great historical fiction romance. I didn’t want it to end!

Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison is an easy going, historical fiction novel with some romance, secrets and mystery too!

Hazel Francis leaves all she knows in Kansas for California to work at Douglas Aircraft after her fiancée heads off to War. After the War, she finds herself in Laguna Beach and begins working for a local artist, Hanson Radcliff. She finds herself enjoying the community, making friends and doing volunteer work in addition to working for Hanson. Hanson is a drinker with a secret in his past and she becomes determined to be a good assistant all while trying to dig into his past and uncover his secrets. However, Hazel has some secrets too!

I really enjoyed reading about the history of the women in the factories, Laguna Beach, Hotel Laguna, the artists communities and so much more. Although this book is a fictional novel, I love when I can read a book and take something away from it too!

I do not like reading or posting spoilers so I usually leave minimal, but summarized reviews. :)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reading copy (ARC).

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I absolutely loved this captivating historical fiction story about a woman and her life after WWII. I truly was unable to put it down from the moment I began reading it. You will not want it to end! I can't wait to read additional books by this author as she's fantastic.

Thank you to netgalley.com for this ARC.

I have read the other 2 books by this author and enjoyed both of them. This one was just as good. I enjoyed reading about the Hotel Laguna and the town and even went on a deep Google dive for the Pageant of Masters which is now on my bucket list.

While the love story was a bit predictable, the intertwined mystery was good and the descriptions of the town and the time periods were great.

Interesting plot with the main character Hazel helping out in wartime, but, finding herself without a job once the men return home. I was curious about this period and the work of women, like Rosie the Riveter. I have read the previous 2 books by this author and felt this would be a solid good read.

While I did enjoy the read it is my least favorite of the 3 the author has published. It was a bit of a slow burn. I did like the character of Hazel a lot. I was not expecting romance but it worked.

Hazel makes her way to Laguna after losing her job working on planes. I love artist's communities and live fairly close to one. This was very interesting with the back story of the artist Hazel begins to work for. She first signs on as a model and he paints her daily. But, she also becomes an assistant and begins to care for him deeply. There is a mystery that needs to be solved before the book ends...about a famous painting, Radcliff (the artist) did when he was having an affair years ago. So there is scandal and intrigue surrounding that.

All in all this was an enjoyable read and I offer many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for a digital copy to read for review. I look forward to more books written by Ms. Harrison.
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I unfortunately feel like this is a book you might have to read a second time to enjoy it fully. I was very captivated by the description of the story but unfortunately the story itself when I read it fell flat. This is not to that I would not give this book a second chance! Thank you to the author and publisher and netgalley for letting me read and advanced copy of this book! 2.5

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This was my first historical fiction and to say my first experience was better than I expected is an understatement. I might read more of this authors books in the future.

The 1940s was a time of fear, fierceness, and it showed America what it was made of. This is where the story begins, with Hazel stuck in Kansas, but wanting to make a life for herself. As the war rages on, she takes an opportunity to work in California building aircraft. However, once the war is over, women are no longer needed in the workforce, and Hazel is unsure of what to do next.

That's when she finds herself at the Hotel Laguna, looking for something, even if she doesn't know what it is yet. She certainly doesn't see Hanson Radcliffe, a reclusive artist famous for his paintings as well as for his relationship with a famous movie star, coming into her life, but once he does, she is change forever. Not only does she make important friendships, she also discovers more about herself and how she needs the community that she has landed in.

Overall, this is a great read for those who like historical fiction. Hazel's experience before, during, and after WWII is like many young women who threw off the aprons and put on the overalls, proving they could do the jobs that were typically reserved for men, but were also quickly dismissed when those men returned from the war. Although the protagonist doesn't always take the easy route laid in front of her, she is someone that readers can connect with, especially when it comes to making big, life-changing decisions that could not only impact her life, but the lives of those around her.

I received a free copy of this book from the Author, Publisher, NetGalley for my honest review. I loved this book and felt that it was a different way to look at WWII. This is a fictional book which follow Hazel a woman who moves to California as she wants to help with the war. We follow her throughout the war and after everyone is supposed to return to their “Normal Roles” will Hazel?…..

This story follows Hazel during two different points in her life during World War II and after. Hazel works on an assembly line as one of the riveters and absolutely loves the work.After the war once the men came home Hazel found herself jobless and only able to make much less with the jobs available. Hazel hears about a job as an artist assistant in Laguna Beach. When she shows up she meets Hason Radcliffe an eccentric artist who requires her to be a nude model as well as an assistant. Hazel storms off embarrassed but is talked into it by a local barman Jimmy. Hazel accepts the position and we follow Hazel throughout.

This was my favorite kind of historical fiction where it is just a slice of life during a historic time. I feel like this book did an amazing job at showing Hazel perspective and her struggles with wanting to continue the life the war brought but knows she can’t because you don’t want war forever. I really enjoyed the writing in this one as well it was fast paced and descriptive but didn’t slow down the pacing. This is my first book by this author but hope to pick up more from their backlist in the future! I would like to thank net galley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

A rich, descriptive historical fiction. Easy to read, with a satisfying ending overall. Loved that there was a bit of mystery and romance, which kept it interesting!

I love a strong female protagonist in a historical fiction and this book delivered! I enjoyed the dual timelines and found they really helped show more of Hazel’s personality and what led her to Laguna Beach

The setting of this book drew me in so thoroughly, it was so magical and full of life. The beach really felt like its own character throughout the story. I loved the MC Hazel’s determination, not letting anything stop her from reaching her dreams of independence. Although her poor decisions were frustrating, I loved how everything worked out for her in its own way, exactly as it was meant to.

This book is so well written and incredibly descriptive, I found myself able to picture every piece of it like watching a movie. I have yet to read a Nicola Harrison book I didn’t love - I highly recommend this book and anything else written by her!

Read this if you:
* Need a beach setting to get you through the gloomy weather
* Have big-city dreams
* Are a historical fiction buff

First of all this cover is utter perfection. Second of all so is this story! Loved this one!

Thank you #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

A thought provoking novel of a young woman who goes from her Midwestern town to California to help with the war effort and do her part. Then things/opportunities change when the war ends and women "are put back in their place." A good read, something new!

I was not familiar with Nicola Harrison's previous works so I was not sure what to expect. I was initially drawn to this book because of the cover. I think the cover is gorgeous and draws the reader to the book.

Sadly, this book fell flat for me. After about 50% of the book, I have decided to not waste my time. I am so bored with the story. I felt like the story of Hazel Francis during the war was much more interesting than the story when she moves to the Laguna Beach community. There are too many books out there to spend time on something that falls short for me.



I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Allt thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another Nicola Harrison historical fiction novel that I quite enjoyed. I don’t think we got into Hazel’s time on an aircraft as much as I thought it would but I enjoyed the time we spent with her as an artist’s muse. I have been pretty burnt out on WW2 fiction but this provides enough of a unique perspective that I didn’t mind