the cover of this book is absolutely perfect for the story you will find inside. this story about a woman, Hazel, during WWII that decided to leave her life and do her part in the war efforts. i think this book is a very well done historical fiction piece with some romance. it's definitely a cute story, the only thing is it was a little slow for me and i could almost predict the way the story was going to go as i was reading it. still, a solid read!!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Nicola Harrison for this copy of Hotel Laguna. All opinions are my own and honest.

This book was definitely more than I was expecting! I put it off for longer than I want to admit, and I wish I had read it sooner. What a bingeable, fun story! I loved every minute of it, and the cover is absolutely stunning as well!

I really enjoyed the jump back in time, as I have not read a lot of historical fiction (other than historical romance), and I am pleased to say I found another author I would pick up off the shelf. I loved how this had a strong female lead, who went after what she wanted and worked incredibly hard to get there! Add in the unique mix of characters, and this story had my attention all the way through.

I switched between the ebook and audio, and thoroughly enjoyed both! Definitely recommend this read!!

Can Nicole Harrison do any wrong? Nope. Not in my book! I loved this book as much as her first. I am typically not a fan of different timelines throughout a book but this was the perfect balance. I found the character relatable and loved her relationships with the other characters in the story. I could also see this being a great movie because of the picturesque setting but also the author wrote in such a way that the characters came to life and I could see them vividly in my head. Hazel's self discovery was such an important part of the book but I loved her relationship with Hanson as well.

I loved the Hotel Laguna (and to be fair - all of Nicola Harrison’s other books too) and this just solidifies Harrison as a must purchase / must read author for me. This is the kind of author that will turn you into a historical fiction fan instantly.


5 stars! Cannot wait to read your next hit.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pub. Date 2023

First off let me just say that this cover is absolutely perfection!
Hotel Laguna is a descriptive historical fiction. I found it very easy to read and overall the ending was wrapped up nicely to satisfy me. Loved that there was a bit of romance and mystery included which kept the story interesting.

Another great read! This was a bit nostalgic and really kept my interest. Loved the stetting and characters. Overall very enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4 ⭐️
HOTEL LAGUNA
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: historical fiction
📖 278 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🪖🛩️🏖️🚬🎨♥️🛠️🍸💪🏼🖼️🎬✨

❤️𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲❤️

Thank you @stmartinspress @nicolaharrisonauthorfor the #gifted copy!

HOTEL LAGUNA is an enthralling historical fiction. I was instantly captivated. I love a good HF & am trying to prioritize them more this year ☺️.

It offers a unique perspective on WWII, which I always enjoy! It touched on what it was like for young soldiers & their families when they were called to war.

With vivid descriptions of the quaint town of Laguna & compelling supporting characters, it delves into themes of starting over, second chances, & found family, sprinkled with romance & mystery. I highly recommended!

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ dual timeline & storylines
◽️ single POV
◽️ strong women
◽️ found family
◽️ art & scandal

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Hazel Francis, a former Rosie the Riveter, refuses to conform to traditional gender roles after WWII ends. Settling in Laguna Beach, she becomes an assistant to artist Hanson Radcliff, despite his troubled past. As she integrates into the community, Hazel finds unexpected love with Jimmy, a bartender, but she still dreams of working with airplanes. Balancing her aspirations with the newfound life in Laguna, Hazel grapples with the decision of where her heart truly lies.

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?…..