This book gave me the same vibes as Beatriz Williams and Dirty Dancing. Super nostalgic historical fiction, a second round purchase for most libraries.

Hotel Laguna was a perfect historical beach read. Its unique storyline should not be missed by historical fiction lovers. I had not read any novels that put a spotlight on women taking over the men’s work after deployment. I felt it was an honest portrayal of after the war ending; Hazel Francis was feeling lost. And most novels don’t shine this issue regarding the women. The men came back for their original jobs and Hazel being an independent woman had to start anew. She took a leap of faith moving to Laguna Beach as she lost her job, and did not want to return home to avoid past guilt and shame she had endured.
This novel is perfect for:
-summer reading
-fresh take on historical fiction
-immersive backdrop
-coming of age story

My critique would be the fast ending.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an advanced copy for an honest review.

First and foremost I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

Hazel has always marched to the beat of her own drum, but when WWII rocks the country; she dives straight into the work force.

Pained with grief over the loss of her fiancé whom she never loved to begin with, she run away to California to join thousands of women working to build planes for US troops.

Once the war is over, Hazel struggles to figure out what she should do with her life. She can’t return home nor can she return to the workforce; as the men who fought would be coming back to their jobs. Hazel settles for an assistant job in Laguna Beach working for a very famous and scandalous artist.

Though their friendship takes weeks to form, Hazel easily sees that she cares deeply for the older artist and wants to not only show she can do the job but get the tabloids off his case about a very scandalous relationship that happened decades ago.

I love the plot line of this novel, it showed how Hazel was so hard driven during the recovering time after the war, how determined she was to succeed for not only herself but the people around her.

This was enjoyable and the setting was so convinving. I think the issue here...is me. I am just not one who loved Historical Fiction. I found myself ready for this to be over and again nothing wrong with the book, just not what I prefer to read.

Hazel Francis moves to California to help the WWII effort by working on airplanes. When the war ends and the men return, the women are sent "home". Hazel doesn't have a home, and needs work, so she goes to Laguna Beach in hopes of getting a job working as an assistant to a well-known but reclusive artist with a mysterious past.

This is a very good read with wonderfully rich and memorable characters. You've just got to love Hazel who won't take no for an answer and never gives up!

My thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me access to a digital review copy via NetGalley. Publication is set for 6/20/23. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

Such a good read - I really enjoyed this book. I feel like Nicola always gets me to feel all the emotions and transports me to different places so easily. I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

This is a historical fiction book set at the tail-end of WWII and follows Hazel Francis as she dreams of bigger things than marriage and motherhood. She moves to California to aid in the war effort and ends up in Laguna Beach. The story follows her as she attempts to start a life in this small, artist rich community.

This story, while heartwarming at times, fell flat for me. The characters were not well flushed out and the storyline itself felt very choppy and predictable. I had a hard time believing the relationships between several of the characters. Also, the sexism that was portrayed in this book grated on my nerves. While I realize that it was a reflection of the times, the MC’s inner dialogue had me rolling my eyes often. In the end, I was just ready for the book to be over and I was not invested in the characters or the story.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of the first historical novels I've ever read and I really enjoyed it!

Hazel Francis leaves her hometown of Witchita, Kansas after her fiancee enliststs in WWII. Her parents have both died and she doesnit have any reason to stay in Witchita and she doesn’t really want to be engaged. When she hears that they are hiring women in the airplane factory to replace the men who have gone off to war, Hazel heads to sunny California to help with the war effort. She gets hired and loves her job as a riveter working on airplanes. However, when the men return from war, the women are out of work because their jobs are given back to the men. She is told to go home, get married and have babies but Hazel isn’t interested in that right now.

With her meager savings she heads to Laguna Beach to look for work. She is befriended by Jimmy, a bartende at the Laguna Beach Hotel, who lets her sleep in the bar until she can find a place to stay. She is hired by Hanson Radcliff, a famous Laguna Beach artist to be his model and assistant. Hanson has deep roots in the artist’s community in Laguna Beach but he is difficult, moody and crabby. He gives Hazel a small place to stay while she works for him as long as she also helps out in the art gallery. Hazel is determined to make the best of his cantankerou nature and keep her job because she loves the ocean and the town and is welcomed into this artistic community. She begins to feel like she has found a permanent home at last. However, she begins to hear rumors about Hanson being involved in a famous movie star’s death. No one wants to talk about it because he is such a benefactor to the community. Hanson apparently painted a portrait of her that has disappeared and would be worth a fortune if it can be found. Hazel is determined to uncover the mystery of the painting and Hanson’s involvement with the movie star. He surely isn’t a killer, is he?

I really enjoyed Hotel Laguna, the setting and the artistic community. Hazel is a strong independent, feisty young woman and the other characters are well defined, too. If you like historical fiction with a touch of romance, a bit of a mystery and a beautiful artistic beach setting , you will like Hotel Laguna. This was the first book I have read by Nicola H.arrison and I look forward to reading some of her earlier works. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reading copy. Look for it on June 20th!

Hotel Laguna is a historical fiction novel set in the 1940’s during the war, and beyond. Hazel, a young woman from Wichita, KS, finds herself in need of a place to go, and ends up working in an airplane factory, helping to put planes together, for the war effort. When the war ends, she is once again without a job or a plan. Remembering talk of Laguna Beach, on a whim, she lands there and is offered a job working for Hanson Radcliffe - a famous artist with a possibly shady past. She is also helped out by a handsome bartender as she tries to get on her feet. As Hazel digs into the mystery surrounding him, she may learn a little more than she has bargained for.

As with her other two novels, Nicola Harrison does a fantastic job setting the scene for a novel that brings to life both the realities and the spirit of a war torn country in the 1940’s. The reader is pulled into characters and a backdrop that comes alive for the reader. The story is both interesting and inspiring as the characters of Hazel, Hanson, Jimmy and the townsfolk of Laguna Beach come alive.

This reader was a tad confused in the beginning of the novel, as the story wove back and forth over a number of years, to show the reader how Hazel had gotten to her present moment storyline. It took a few chapters for this reader to catch on that Harrison was not introducing more than one character. A few chapters in, I had an ah-ha moment when it all clicked into place and I felt a little silly about it not coming into focus sooner.

Well written, engaging and heartfelt, Laguna Beach is not to be missed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this e-galley in exchange for my honest review.

Hotel Laguna was another historical fiction read by Nicola Harrison that I was so excited to read! Showgirl was one of my favorite books of 2022 so I couldn’t wait to dive into this one. I’ll admit, I was a little disappointed. I liked the story for the most part I just wanted more. More character development and more of the back stories.
I think it’s a definite read, I just wish there was a little more to it.

Though I’m not really a fan of WWIi historicals , this story of Hazel, one of the women who built airplanes for the war effort was decent.

It’s w@ a light read.

As soon as I saw the author of this book, a jumped right in… Having loved her previous two books, I dove headfirst into Hotel Laguna! This book is set with the backdrop of World War II and I was completely in love with it
Hazel volunteers during World War II when the world is over she’s expected to return to the role of Wife, and mother, as ladies were expected at that time.… But this is not the case for Hazel!

I really enjoyed this book. During the War, Hazel Francis works at Douglas Aircraft in California. She really likes it, but when the War is over she loses her job to the returning men. She decides to head to Laguna Beach. She finds a job as an assistant to artist Hanson Radcliff. This brings so many changes to her life. I like the way the relationship developed between her and Hanson. I liked the artistic setting and Hazel. She was such a strong character who never gave up. The romance was also well done. I highly recommend this book. It's a really good story!

“Hotel Laguna” is a historical fiction book by Nicola Harrison. This book takes place in one of my favorite places to visit - Laguna Beach, California. It starts off with our main character, Hazel, working for Douglas Aircraft during WWII. At the end of the war, she wants to continue to work, but is let go. She ends up in Laguna Beach and finds work as an assistant for an artist. Long story short - there’s a bit of a mystery (where is a painting), a bit of a slow romance, and Hazel’s overwhelming love for the town. I would have loved to have had an Author’s Note about how she came up with the story - and what was factual and what the author made up (for instance, was the artist based upon someone). This book is a bit predictable, but it was an enjoyable read (I read it in about 24 hours), but I didn’t mind as it was also a fun read. Additionally, I spent a bit of time online looking up paintings (Lady Hamilton at the Spinning Wheel is a real painting) and recalling the lovely coastline of Laguna Beach.

Historical Fiction usually isn’t my typical read, but this book was really enjoyable! Hazel did anything and everything she wanted. I loved the setting, the plot, the characters, everything was really well written!

Hotel Laguna is set during and immediately after WWII. Hazel is one of the Rosie the Riveters who worked on planes while the men were abroad fighting. She fell in love with the work and as the war ends she stay in Laguna Beach in order to defy the expectations that women return to the wife/mother mode. Hazel wants to work with airplanes -- it becomes her dream.

She finds a man that she feels is a kindred spirit. Can she be both a wife and have her dream?

Harrison writes an engaging novel that comes at historical fiction from the point of view of those on the margins - who may have the most fun of all.

Don't miss this book.

Book Title: Hotel Laguna
Author: Nicola Harrison
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pub Date: June 20, 2023
My Rating: 4.3 Stars

I went into this story knowing nothing about but was drawn to this title and cover! – I live in Southern California and ~I love Laguna Beach!

Hazel Francis, is a young woman from Wichita, Kansas who heads to California during WWII to work on airplanes at the Douglas Aircraft. However, once the war is over Hazel as well as other women now have lost their jobs to the men who have returned and women like Hazel are expected to return home to become wives and mothers. The women were expected to return to their home and tend to the children.
She finds herself in the beautiful bohemian town of Laguna Beach which is known as an artist colony. In fact, she becomes an assistant to an artist.
Story has a bit of a mystery. Hazel finds herself in the middle of some twists and turns but in the end she also finds a place to call home.

Awww trust me Laguna Beach is a beautiful place to call home. As mentioned it was known as a bohemian hippie town full of artists. Although still very much an artist colony, it is also a favorite tourist attraction. The beautiful beach is tucked into a cove; houses dot the cliff, delightful little shops, amazing restaurants that line the boardwalk. It is a quaint town and an artist dream as well as a great get-a-away. There is still the "Town Greeter’ (not sure if he is a relative but he acts the same as the original). The summer long “Pageant of the Masters’ is so unique and a must for tourist as well as locals. Still all volunteer and they never have a shortages of willing participants. Love the “The Art Festival ~ where only Laguna artists are allowed to display their work; of course, there are other summer Art Fairs!
BTW: There is a great little restaurant across the street from the Hotel Laguna called “The Place Across the Street”!

About the Author ~ Nicola Harrison - She is originally from Hampshire, England, and moved to
California when she was fourteen. She got her MFA in creative writing at Stony Brook University. Soon
after college she moved to NYC and worked in magazine publishing but after 17 years in the Big Apple
she moved back to the ‘big Orange’ aka Orange County, California. She now lives in Manhattan Beach
(which is up the coast and not far from Laguna Beach) with her husband, two sons and two
Chihuahuas. When she isn’t writing, you will find her outside with her boys probably on a paddle board,
or perhaps doing yoga.
Loved this story and am looking forward to another story by Ms. Harrison

Want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press for granting me the pleasure of reading this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 20, 2023

Pub date: 7/20/23
Genre: historical fiction
Quick summary: Hazel worked as a riveter during WWII, but after the war ends, she'll have to reinvent herself. Enter artist Hanson Radcliff, bartender Jimmy, and a new home in Laguna Beach, California.

This book captures the sunny vibes of Southern California, and I really enjoyed getting to know MC Hazel. I felt her frustration when her hard work during the war was cast aside, and I was glad to see her find a new path forward. Laguna Beach is another character in the story, and if you love quirky communities, I bet you'll identify with the residents. I found the book a bit more character-driven than I was expecting, and I wanted a little more plot. But it did end strong with the Pageant of the Masters, an event that stages live representations of famous paintings.

I'll continue to read Nicola Harrison's work, and if you enjoy this book, you should definitely read her last book, THE SHOW GIRL!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hotel Laguna was an enjoyable read from cover to cover. There was drama, love, and human connection. I live close to Laguna where this book is mostly set and have attended the Pageant of the Masters many times. The author was able to bring the event and locale to life and to write a storyline inclusive of the pageant and the era in history where women who had worked and kept the country going while the men were at war were kicked out of the workplace as the men returned. This is where we find Hazel, a young woman from Kansas who had traveled west to work and serve her country. Upon losing her job, she ends up in Laguna Beach where she finds work as an assistant to an infamous artist. The story is a page turner, and I loved the ending. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!