Reprinted from auburnpub.com:
There’s a chill in the air as autumn has arrived, it’s a good time to stay inside, cuddle under a blanket, and read a good book. This month’s Book Report has two books that are seasonal- one for fall, and one for the upcoming Christmas season.
The cover of Ellen O’Clover’s The Heartbreak Hotel has a lovely autumnal feel to it. Lou is living with her longtime boyfriend Nate, the lead singer for a popular rock band.
While he has been off touring the world with his band, Lou has been in their beautiful rental home in the mountains of Colorado. She has been studying to get her license in counseling and life seems to be on course for her.
Until Nate is photographed with another woman and he tells her that he is love with this other woman. Lou is devastated not only for the loss of her relationship, but she loves the house they have been living in. She has made it a beautiful home.
In order to keep staying in the house, she meets with the landlord, a handsome veterinarian named Ben. She proposes to Ben that she turn the house into a bed and breakfast that she would manage in lieu of paying rent.
Lou is surprised that Ben agrees so quickly, and even more surprised when he shows up at the house to fix things that need attention. Ben in turn is surprised to learn that Lou is advertising the bed and breakfast as the Comeback Inn, a place for people who have suffered heartbreak to come and stay to get over their loss.
It’s clear that Ben has had heartbreak in his life (word of warning- it’s very sad), and that he and Lou are attracted to each other. But the course of true love does not run smooth as they each have to deal with things the other is holding back that could derail their relationship.
All of the characters in The Heartbreak Hotel are so interesting- from Lou and Ben to Lou’s best friend Mei, to Nan the widow who comes to stay at the inn and doesn’t want to leave.
Lou had a difficult upbringing. Her single mother raised her and her older sister Goldie, although it frequently fell to Goldie to raise Lou as their mother dealt with mental health challenges.
They moved often, living with whatever boyfriend Mom was with until he tired of her. Now as an adult, it has become Lou’s responsibility to get her mother out the situations she finds herself in. I think many readers may relate to Lou, a person who cares for others before she cares for herself.
The Heartbreak Hotel is a romance with a serious side to it. I recommend it.
Turning to the Christmas season, Matthew Norman’s new novel, Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon also deals with heartbreak. Henry lost his young wife suddenly nearly a year ago and he is still staying with his parents.
He can’t bring himself to move back into their apartment, still decorated for Christmas. His wife loved the holidays, and one of their favorite traditions was watching holiday movies together.
Grace lost her young husband after a battle with cancer. Her mourning is different from Henry’s as she has two young children to raise- Ian and Bella.
Grace and Henry’s mothers decide to play matchmaker. Neither Grace nor Henry are ready for a romantic relationship yet, but to make their mothers happy, they decide to be friends.
When Henry tells Grace about he and his wife’s holiday movie marathon tradition, Grace agrees to watch the movies with him. (Even if some of them are not her cup of tea- Die Hard is not a Christmas movie).
Each chapter is titled after a holiday movie- Home Alone, Elf, Rudolph- which I find delightful. Grace and Henry help each other through their grief and Henry grows fond of Ian and Bella.
What I like about Matthew Norman’s novels is his sense of humor he imbues in each book. Grace in particular has such witty comments, even with a storyline that is sad, the humor shines though. I loved Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon.
Reading it put me in mind of a great scary psychological thriller that also uses movies in the chapter headings and is perfect for a Halloween read. John Searles’ Her Last Affair is set in a closed drive-in theater and uses movie quotes to open each chapter. It’s a twisty thriller that will keep you turning the pages until you finish. It’s brilliant. (My full review is here.)
