Oooh this was such a gem! I had a hard time stepping away from the world once I got into it. So let us break down the positives and the less-than-positives, though the positives far outweigh anything else!
What I Loved:
- •The entire story was so easy to become immersed in. Off the bat, the author does a great job of setting up the tone and vibe of the story. The whole atmosphere of this southern hotel in summertime radiates. And the feel of the early 20th century permeates, both in the past timeline and the present, as the historical timeline was its heyday.
- •The characters are incredibly sympathetic. Both main characters (Lea in 1905 and Nell in the present) are facing some real struggles, struggles that will play a huge part in who they will become. While it took me a few chapters to really connect to Nell (though I definitely did connect to her!), I was enamored with Lea immediately. She's being pressured to marry this awful dude who will never respect her, and she is so torn. While she wants to help her family, she can't fully fight the dread surrounding her future. And as you put yourself in Lea's shoes, you certainly can't blame her! Nell, on the other hand, is trying to find her way in a whole new city, and is still coping with the loss of her mother. Two very different narratives, but both equally compelling as the story goes on.
- •There is some romance, and wow it delivers! I loved it a lot. And I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that it is most definitely swoon-worthy.
- •The mystery itself was a page-turner! Yeah I needed to know what was going to happen. While some aspects of it became apparent during the course of the book, how things would turn out wasn't. And I absolutely could not book the book down until I found out all the things!
What I Didn't:
- •The ending felt a bit rushed. We spent a lot of time leading up to it, and I actually had to go back and re-read it because it was over pretty quickly. But that said, I felt satisfied that the story was tied up properly.
- •I would have liked a few more answers in terms of world-building. I think this is probably another one of those "me" things because I am a very logical thinker. So I can't always accept things at face value, I need to know the hows and the whys of the world/plot/etc. I doubt a less annoyingly analytical person would have the same reservations.
Bottom Line: Atmospheric and full of likable characters you can't help but root for. Also, some serious swoons and a unique mystery!