I am delighted to bring you an extract from A Little Hotel in Cornwall by Laura Briggs, who is introducing the extract to you.
I’m so grateful for this chance to share an extract from my
new novella, A Little Hotel in Cornwall, with the readers at Books, Life and
Everything! The story’s heroine, an aspiring author named Maisie, is freshly
arrived on Cornish shores, where circumstances have landed her a temporary job
at a luxury hotel—and she’s already smitten with her beautiful new
surroundings!
Extract
Sunshine crept inside the little room, touching my face. I
was curled on my side, wondering why I couldn't smell the pretzels that usually
drifted through my windows from the vendor who parked outside the dry cleaner's
every summer morning. It was garbage day, too, but I didn't hear the truck's
gears grinding outside.
My eyes blinked open, seeing blurry green walls. I sat up,
remembering that I wasn't in my old apartment. Pushing back the sheets, I
crossed to the window, pulling aside its curtain, to assure myself it was all
still real. Outside, the sky was still pink, and mists gathered above the
water, a fog skirting the black rock isles.
A gorgeous morning. I tapped the screen on my tablet
computer, and my screen awakened with its backdrop of a beautiful gothic
illustration. There were two new emails — one from the Tucker program's
administrators, and one from my mom — and there was my novel's first chapter
waiting for revisions based on my final grade.
I didn't feel like writing, for once, or like reading the
workshop's newsletter. I felt like taking a quick walk, maybe even a dip in the
ocean. Pulling open the bureau's drawers, I grabbed my red bathing suit and my
red and white plaid stripe skirt, along with a pair of old sneakers underneath
the bed. Popping the last few bites of an energy snack bar into my mouth, I let
my dark tresses fly free as I tucked my key in my pocket.
It was quiet in the halls, but I could hear the murmur of
voices from the lobby and dining room. I walked the opposite way, past closed
doors and a wooden bench, pushing open the terrace doors to step out on a
little paved patio with lots of brightly-potted flowers.
Yesterday, I thought I had seen a set of steps leading down
to the sea from the hotel's cliff. I found a set of stone steps hewn and
refined from natural ones leading down the cliff's most gradual incline, with
wooden ones and rails wherever nature pitched too sharply. I reached the beach
from them, standing before the beautiful waves rippling across the sand with
mists of salt spray.
A blue and white fog in motion, against the pale pink cheek
of the horizon, the high cliff rocks tinged reddish-brown in the first rays of
morning. The water was cold and frigid against my hands, and I dodged a sudden
wave against my ankles, emitting a loud shriek of surprise as that cool water
touched my skin.
A place alive with stories untold. There were lost romances
in the house above, and tragedies in the steep rocks descending below. I gazed
up at the hotel in the distance, which looked like a miniature version of
itself.
The hotel. What time was it? I probably needed to hurry back
and find someone who could tell me what time I started work, and what I was
doing.
What's the book about?
Struggling American waitress and aspiring novelist Maisie
Clark dreams of becoming a full-time writer — even though in real life she's
just lost her chance at an exclusive writer's mentorship program that would
give her novel its big break. Desperate, she decides to take a chance and ask
her favourite writer, a celebrated but reclusive English novelist, to help her
find a second chance.
When she receives the author's reply in an envelope with a
Cornish postmark, Maisie decides not to take the writer's half-hearted 'no' for
an answer. With nothing to lose, she takes off for the author's last known
location, a beautiful hotel on Cornwall's western coast. But when the hotel
mistakes her for the latest applicant for a maid's position, Maisie finds
herself given an opportunity too good to lose ... and a chance for a summer
adventure far bigger than she ever imagined.
Surrounded by breathtaking Cornwall and working in an
elegant hotel, Maisie's world becomes one of secret identities, quirky friends,
and unintentional mishaps — and despite reminders of past relationship
disasters, a certain handsome, charming local resident Sidney Daniels has her
conflicted about her heart's desires, too.
Will Maisie find the chance she's been waiting for — and a
possible new romance — in her perfect Cornish summer?
My Thoughts
I was looking forward to starting this novella as I had enjoyed Laura's previous series, A Wedding in Cornwall. This is the first in a new series and made a promising start in introducing the setting and characters who will be a major part of the new story. I particularly enjoyed meeting Maisie who is driven by the desire to be a published author and who follows her dreams to set out to make this happen.
The hotel itself yielded up some interesting secondary characters who all seemed to accept Maisie from the start. This is ultimately an uplifting read which welcomes you in and hints at some interesting situations. It is an excellent read for a lazy, summer weekend.
In short: A new series which promises much.
About the Author
Laura Briggs is the author of several chick lit and romance
stories, including the Top 100 Amazon UK seller 'A Wedding in Cornwall'. She
has a fondness for vintage style dresses (especially ones with polka dots), and
reads everything from Jane Austen to modern day mysteries. When she's not
writing, she enjoys spending time with family, caring for her pets, going to
movies and plays, and trying new restaurants.
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