Whispers of Enchantment

The Hidden Hotel #1

by Marie Bellmere

What happens when a powerful supernatural with a grudge against humans must take one in to fulfill a promise?

Left injured on the side of the road with no memories at ten years old, Lia has never known anything but the foster care system. Now that she’s aging out, she’s ready to write her own story for her life with a job and apartment all lined up . . . until she loses the job before even starting.

Desperate to not become homeless, she ends up accepting an offer for a job she doesn’t remember applying for at a hotel she’s not sure exists. Once she arrives, she discovers a hotel catering to supernatural beings, as well as a captivating hotel owner who hates her on sight. Which adds to the mystery of why she’s there. Was her hiring at the hotel an accidental fluke? Or does the obnoxiously charismatic hotel owner know something about Lia that he’s not sharing?

As Lia attempts to uncover these answers, she may discover that in a supernatural world with constant posturing for power, being only human might just be her greatest strength.


Dive into this enemies to lovers urban fantasy trilogy filled with sweet, slow burn romance, quirky side characters, and a heroine determined to save the day through quality customer service.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult, Vampires

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 2, 2024

Reviews

[Vibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing premise

I was drawn in by the premise of this book. Finding oneself working in a paranormal hotel? Promising!

I'll confess to having some mild misgivings more than once as the story takes time to set things up & get the plot going. The initial bigotry & her sense of feeling trapped were a little hard to read, but at least it's not excessive. There were also a couple of minor plot devices that I thought were weak & should have been twigged by a good beta reader

However, like Cinderella, it's building towards a denouement in which all Dahlia's best efforts result in a much deserved reward. She also has a mysterious background that we're learning about in drips & drops.

Zavion's not Prince Charming, though, and while we learn more about her thru him, there's much yet to be revealed about them both

Having worked in retail for a couple of decades, it was amusing to read her customer service savvy - very accurate - and I laughed at her smile levels.

I will be reading the next in the series asap...

*Romance level: definite slooow burn, no kisses even on the radar yet - this is YA level & refreshingly clean

[Whitney Sosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let the cover deceive you.

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I loved the world building and story telling. It was a different spin on how important it is not to judge by where someone comes from or what they look like. I highly recommend it.

[Ashley Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

Such a great clean fantasy! So so so excited for the next two books! If you love clean fantasy, this is a MUST read!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

I really enjoyed the characters and world building for the book. This was my first time reading one of the author's books. Whispers of Enchantment kept me up long into the night thinking, "Oh, just one more page. Just one more chapter."

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, it was a nice change from my usual reads. I really liked the premise and the world building. The characters are also very engaging. I’m really hoping there will be more books in this world after the last hotel book is released.

And since the side-character novella, The Ice Queen, isn’t on Goodreads, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this series. You can get it free from the authors newsletter.

[Smasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content:

Profanity: None.

Violence: mild. There is some threatening; ie: werewolf says he'll eat someone but doesn't. that type of thing.

Sexual: None. This is a slow-burn so while it's got hints of a future romance, there's nothing in this book.

Triggers: This deals with being a foster kid and trying to find somewhere to belong. It also deals with a lot of prejudice and cruelty toward the human protagonist (she's the only human in the hotel). It's handled well, sticking with her being bullied and ostracized by some characters but not going overboard toward physical violence.



The more I sit on this book and digest it, the more I find to like.

This is what I call a cozy read. The pacing threw me off a smidge at first, until I realized this was going to follow the cozy fantasy/slice-of-life vibe, then I found it wonderful. The stakes in the plot are all personal to the protagonist, who is just trying to find a place that is hers to belong (having lived in the foster care system for ten years). So there is no 'I must save the world' type plot in this, it really is just a gal being thrown into a world full of magical races that she's hoping she might belong in too.

I enjoyed the mystery that sat in the background of who Zavian is to Dahlia and why he hired her at the hotel in the first place. I'm still not sure what enchanted race he is, and it's low-key killing me. Tyring to figure out where Dahlia fits and seeing both the usual magical races (vampires, werewolves, pixies etc.) and the unusual, (Celestial guardians? Beast Mongers?) is a lot of fun. There's a unique feel to this urban fantasy world that intrigued me. I immediately wanted my own spirit beast when Dahlia met Kyle the bobcat.

This is exactly what I want more of in the fictional world: clean urban fantasy that is fun, cozy, unique, and has characters I can latch onto. Oliver, Lola, and Annika were stand-outs as well as the unhinged Luca (I'm so intrigued about him. SO intrigued)

My one thing I wish: that the covers were better. I think the book would get more notice if the cover art/design/font was more professional. I admit it, I'm one of those people who always wonders if the unprofessional cover means the writing will be sub-par and un-edited. Not so with this, I can tell the author has polish and style and I realllllly want her to have covers that match that polish!

I've already started book 2 (after meandering into reading her newletter freebie about Annika in one sitting mind you) and I'm very happy with finding a new author that so far, I'm loving and feel safe reading.

Happy squeeeeee.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This came recommended by someone I know, who just inhaled the entire trilogy, and it sounded interesting. So, I added the books to my KU and in turn inhaled this book in about 24 hours, most of which I spent working or sleeping, but I crammed this story in around the edges of the other stuff. It’s not perfect. I had to suspend disbelief a lot over some of the foster care stuff - I’m not directly in that world professionally, but a bit adjacent to it and consequently some of it didn’t ring true for me…though there could be differences across different jurisdictions and maybe it is really accurate for wherever this story is. But that’s a minimal part of the story, in any case. I loved the hotel idea, and the enchanted races being secretly hidden away there. It was an interesting twist to not have Lia step in as the miraculous savior of all people and things she knows nothing about, but instead to have her be reviled by the people she’s living among for being human instead of one of them. It was hard to watch her be so isolated and miserable and lonely, and fun to see how she rose above it and where she was by the end of the book. And I think the guy who brought her to the hotel is supposed to be or become the romantic interest, but I am so not feeling it right now. He’s been just horrible for the most part. Even when you find out why he’s been both the one who offered her the job, and one who’s been so awful, it didn’t do anything much to redeem him in my eyes, because it’s a childish thing, done from a set of childish emotions from a time when he was a hurt and insecure child. And apparently that wound has never healed…which is completely believable, but manages to make him completely unsympathetic when you see how much others have suffered because of his childish decisions, and contrast it with Lia’s general demeanor, when she’s had a very similar past, as far as I can tell.

So, I’ll be very interested to see how Eatough brings me around to him because right now I’m like, “just no romance, please. Or, if you must, there are many others who would be better!”

Guess that means I’m hooked too?

[Spinneretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Aging out of foster care, Dahlia thought she had everything arranged for her future, but an abrupt change leaves her without a job, or a place to live.
She’s offered a job in the Red Alder hotel as a housekeeper, and even though it’s not a job she remembers applying for, she accepts.
Suddenly she is thrust into a magical world she never suspected existed, working with people who look down on her for her human status, and dealing with situations that seem to be rather more dangerous than she might have anticipated.

This is a lovely, cosy read, set in the unique setting of a hotel catering to the Enchanted Races.
Although the world building is minimally explained in book, it cleverly puts the reader in the same boat as Dahlia, making us all equally confused or ignorant of the beings mentioned within.
Dahlia is a sweetheart, her sole ambition in life is to be an excellent customer service representative, and help people to have a lovely time. I was glad when Dante saw her potential, especially since her goals and abilities were definitely made precisely for that position.
Zavion was a bit of a brat. He might be the owner of the hotel, and a visionary as far as it goes, but I still don’t understand why he did not tell Dahlia what he knew. He knows that she is both clueless and looking for answers, but it doesn’t seem to occur to him that he can actually help here!

As I said before, this is a delightfully cosy read, set in an interesting world, and filled with very interesting characters. I’m looking forward to seeing where Dahlia’s unexpected abilities take her next, and enjoying seeing how her own plans get derailed in a far better direction than she originally planned.

This is a light, cosy urban fantasy story, perfect for those who need a little respite from their worries, or who are looking for an escapist read.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

don't be fooled by the cover or the title

This is truly a GREAT book. Dahlia is plucky without being reckless, kind and helpful without being naive, and conciliatory without being a pushover. The world is so interesting and the whole story is lots of cosy fun, dealing with difficult issues faithfully but also steering away from angst or heaviness. I love the customer service aspect of it; it's so much fun to really see these things worked out properly without unrealistic reactions of anyone.

The writing is good; no obvious grammatical errors or tone slips that I could see. The supporting cast is great (especially Dante!) and the 'villains' are not one-dimensional. The romance is VERY slow burn but will be satisfying in the end (not in this book though).

And that brings me to my one complaint (other than the cover/title, which I definitely think doesn't do the story & writing itself justice): this is definitely a cliffhanger ending. I mean, it's not AWFUL (like the Catching Fire ending) but I did not feel satisfied. Normally I would dock a star for that, but given that the whole trilogy is out AND on KU, plus I've read it to the end and it really is a good whole, I'm giving it a pass. Just think of this trilogy as a really long 3-section book.

I agree that KM Shea fans will likely enjoy this book. It's not quite as funny but it's very, very similar in style and tone, and there are many of the elements we love in Magiford (like non-toxic, clean urban fantasy).

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

3.75*

I liked the MC.
I liked the other characters.
I thought the world was interesting.


First time read the author's work?: Yes

Will you be reading more?: Yes

Would you recommend?: Yes


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. There are lots of books out there where the main character suddenly discovers they have powers and aren't as human as they think they are. This book is a different take. The main character lost her mother and her memories at the age of 10. She entered the foster care system and is aging out as the book begins. She is offered a job at a hotel that caters to the enchanted races, although she doesn't know such things exist when she takes the job. In the beginning she doesn't fit in well as the only human (with a little bit of unidentified enchanted blood), but she finds her way as the story progresses. She has a passion for customer service that helps her interact with the other characters even if they aren't fully human. She does have some special gifts from the enchanted part of her heritage, but they aren't immediately obvious. I found the main character to be interesting and I enjoyed the vast variety of enchanted races that have been presented so far. Definitely a series worth continuing.

[Georgen Charnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, a high school girl is graduating and aging out of the foster system. She has a start lined up as she ages out of the system. Then it falls through and a mysterious job offer comes up, revealing that there's an unknown to humans world of other races (pixies, vampires, werewolves, shifters, and others).

The world building was interesting and since the girl doesn't know anything, we learn as she does. She's not treated well at first and over the three books published in the series at the time of this review, she changes the culture of the hotel to be more tolerant and builds a found-family situation.

The only issue is that the FMC is a little dense and is only 18; it's hard to believe she's so competent and experienced. Also, the romance situation is a little iffy - there's absolutely no chemistry.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a foster kid Dahlia always felt that she had to follow the rules and be pleasant and quiet so that she wouldn’t be sent away. She fell back on those skills as she learned to provide excellent customer service. Now that she’s graduated high school, thou she’s on her own to find a job and support herself. When her first job falls through, she ends up at The Red Alder - a hotel for enchanted races hidden by magic. In book 1 Dahlia starts in housekeeping, but her skills and dedication see her moving up and maybe helping her overcome the prejudice the enchanted races have for magicless humans.

I enjoyed both books, particularly the problems that Dahlia encounters and her creative solutions. Zavion, the grumpy owner of the hotel and possible love interest, is very slow to warm-up, though, and the reason seems a bit thin. His cousin Dante is a much more interesting character. Even though each book is complete - No cliffhangers- there are still plenty of mysteries to resolve.

[Kelsey L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what a human’s super power would be in a hotel full of magical beings? If you guessed AMAZING customer service, I want to know how you came up with that! I absolutely loved the idea that a human with impeccable customer service skills could be a benefit to a supernatural hotel. Especially because Dahlia had absolutely no idea what was going on at the time! This series has such a cool premise and absolutely has me entranced. If you’re looking for a fantasy book with romance in it, this isn’t necessarily the book for you. There’s some hint of tension, but I never picked up on any romance. I was wayyyy too busy wondering what the next customer service crisis would be!

[Jennifer Kitchens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m invested!

This book came up in my Kindle recommendations. The blurb looked interesting, so I added it to my library. Dahlia does not read like a modern 18 year old character. She’s had to mature more quickly, and Dahlia’s background is believable. She is a relatable character. It didn’t take me long to become invested in her and her story.
The other characters are just as relatable- as in, “Yeah. I get where they are coming from.” I simply want to know more about each of them.
I look forward to the rest of the books in this series, as well as to reading other books written by Ms Eatough.

[Shianne Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

It's a unique and fun read! Love the caricatures and setting. There is room for the main caricature to progress, but I could have done without the constant reminders on how good her customer service is. It's nice to reference once, but she didn't seem the type of person to brag. She was confident in talking to people, but it would have been more appropriate for others to have recognized that in her instead or her continually pointing that out. Overall, I'd buy the book and look forward to reading the next.

[Cyndel Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful start to a wonderful series.
The emotional intelligence of Nicole shines through all her books. But this one shows it in a different way the Genie Whisperer. This one shows major conflict resolution, dealing with difficult people, dealing with discrimination, and prejudice.
This is a wonderful and beautiful series of finding a family, searching for identity, searching for belonging, seeking and finding redemption.
It is a beautiful introduction to a complex and beautiful urban fantasy world. I can't wait for the companion series to come out.

[Aunt LoLo · Rating 4 out of 5]

sweet fantasy

Lia has no idea who she is or where she came from, aside from a name. When she emancipated from the Foster Care system, she was offered a job at a mysterious hotel…that only got weirder when she finally showed up. Maybe she can find some answers…and practice her legendary Customer Service Skills while she’s there?

Squeaky clean, perfect for upper middle grade readers (tho still enjoyable for adults).

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story

I love how Dalhia is introduced to the world of The Adler Hotel. She is not human as she believed. However, what else is she? The mystery is interesting. This story is well crafted and I cannot wait to see what happens to the courtyard and to find out who she is and see how her customer service skills help the hotel.
Great clean series.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy urban fantasy, and I really appreciate when I’m able to find one that isn’t full of swearing and sex. I loved the fact that I could just enjoy the storyline itself - and this was a really fun one!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title

The title of the book caught my eye. Through kindle unlimited I found another author I would like to read more of. This book was good. Held my interest and I look forward to reading more about Lia.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

This is a new series and author for me and I can truly say the world she has built is a delight! It is slow building, but we'll worth the read. Looking forward to future installments!

[Kelly Woodward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

I loved this book! It was very intriguing and makes you want to know more. The characters are complex and easily seem like real people. Excited to keep reading the next book!

[whimsical reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I almost didn’t read because I couldn’t get over the cover. Her neck looks long like a giraffe and her arms are so skinny. However, the book was fun quick and clean. female main character is a college student.

[chuck Kienzle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

The story focuses on an 18 year old woman who aged out of foster care. She is the only human hired at hotel that caters to supernatural. The mystery is about her hidden magic lineage.
Good characters.

[Penny · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was ok, nothing more. a little confusing as on one hand the MF is an 18 year old orphan with a huge chip on her shoulder, but excelles and has a lot of experience with customer service ...not very credible...

[Heidi S. Trauger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one. It had a good story with a rough start for the MC who is smart and acts like an adult to handle adversity. I like how it showed her handling tough situations using her knowledge and skills. My only complaint is a lot of ‘in her head’ commentary every time something happens.

[Kitty Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun book

This was my first book by this author, and I was pleased to find that I really enjoyed it. The world building is amazing, the characters are well thought out and well written, and the plot is engaging. A really enjoyable book!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story.

Content: clean

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun twist on fantasy beings and humans mixing, I enjoyed Lia's unique way of dealing with challenges.