Hotel Paradise

by Carol Drinkwater

Genevieve Bowles is an award-winning songwriter who visits the south of France to attend the Cannes film festival. The day after the renowned festival's closing ceremony, Genevieve is invited to visit the newly-refurbished Hotel Paradise. Genevieve knows the hotel well – in fact, her past life there has haunted her for over a decade... Twelve years earlier, two travellers have met in Paris. Genevieve dreams of becoming a famous songwriter, while Paul is determined to be a professional photographer. Full of optimism, they hitch south to the Riviera where they answer an advertisement for live-in help at the Hotel Paradise, located on an island just off the French coast. There the young couple are seduced by the tranquility and magical beauty of the hotel and its setting. But the island has a darker side, with a history of bloodshed that fills Genevieve with foreboding. When a stranger arrives who threatens her future with Paul, Genevieve senses that events are about to spin out of control …Anglo-Irish actress Carol Drinkwater is still well-known for her award-winning portrayal of Helen Herriot in the BBC series All Creatures Great and Small. A popular and acclaimed author and film-maker as well, Carol has published twenty books for both the adult and young adult markets. She is currently at work on her twenty-first title. When she purchased a rundown property overlooking the Bay of Cannes in France, she discovered almost seventy 400-year-old olive trees. Along with her French husband, Michel, Carol reclaimed the land and began producing top-quality olive oil. Her series of memoirs recounting their experiences on the farm (The Olive Farm, The Olive Season, The Olive Harvest and Return to the Olive Farm) have become international bestsellers, and the related travel books,The Olive Route and The Olive Tree, inspired the five-part documentary film series, The Olive Route.Carol's first Kindle Single, The Girl in Room Fourteen, reached the number one position in the Singles charts in both the United States and the UK.

Genres: France

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 10, 2014

About the author

Carol Drinkwater is an Anglo-Irish actress, author and filmmaker.

Reviews

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beginning and concluding in the present day, most of the story in Hotel Paradise occurs twelve years earlier when a young couple, who met by chance in Paris, make their way south to an island off the Cannes coast following an unknown path of adventure.

Genevieve and Paul find themselves in a long forgotten, dusty hotel that might just be ready to awaken to their touches. There is passion, a sense of adventure, hurt, grief and many other emotions, and the spell of the place fills their heads with dreams and ideas for the future. Then a newcomer arrives on the island, but will this upset the balance and with it their dreams?

Throughout the book there is no doubt about the location, Carol’s beloved Mediterranean coast. She describes the food, the markets, the flora, the wildlife, the coastline, the weather, the sounds and the scents. I feel I know the shores of this island despite never having visited it. I think it’s familiarity comes from the pages of one of the Olive Farm books and Carol’s descriptions make me feel I am returning to somewhere special. It has made me want to delve back into her earlier books (again).

This is a neat, perfect example of a short story. A quick morning read on a beach or by the fire – actually, it doesn’t matter where you are, just sit back and let Carol take you to the Mediterranean.

[Julia Ibbotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was transported to Paris then to a little island off Cannes as I read this story, a lovely afternoon's relaxation. Genevieve and Paul meet again at the Hotel Paradise after 12 years and she relives her past affair with the man she thought was the love of her life. The descriptions are so sensual, intense and immediate that the reader absorbs the Mediterranean ambience, filled with joy, passion, drama and grief. You can almost see and smell the dusty rooms, the herbs in the garden, the sea crashing on the rocks, the vivid sunshine ... Lovely book with a satisfying depth to the final message.

[Denise Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unexpected encounter brings back memories from the past

Carol Drinkwater is currently showing us around her home in the French Riviera (Channel 5 Sunday night) where she has lived for the last forty years. It's an area I love and I decided to try one of her books to see if it also evoked a sense of being here.
The story starts during the Cannes Film Festival with a woman entering the hotel rekindling memories of her past experience there. Then she sees the man who shared her life then and we are taken back to her as a young woman living in Paris.
Carl's writing is lyrical and descriptive making this story an easy read. Although I knew it was the end of the story there was an abruptness and I tried to turn the page, but couldn't. I don't know if this was to do with the kindle format but the lack of acknowledgement or some kind of end pages felt unsettling.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed Carol Drinkwater books. Fiction and non fiction, she has a way of capturing poignancy in words. This took me longer to get into but I think that may have been more about the world around them the book. It was when we went back to the past and visited the hotel with the younger characters that it came to life for me. Her description ,as always, was sublime.

[Marjorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun read set in a beautiful place that Carol Drinkwater knows well. Having read her autobiographical accounts about her own home in the South of France we know where and when the seed of this book germinated and that made the book all that more enjoyable. I wished it were a bit more sunny and fair but I suppose a few thunderstorms always must roll in on a summer's day.

[Sue]

Read so long ago, I don't remember it. No stars/review.

[Jon C. Hooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice quick story of freedom and love on an island in France. A quick read but didn’t get the story of what they did during our hose 10 years

[Patricia Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carol Drinkwater is a really good story teller. I read this book twice, by mistake, I must admit because I did not recognise the story when I started reading it again. Now that for me means that it is the kind of book that needs to be read a couple of times at least. The first rushing through to get the story and the second to savour the writing of the story - if that makes sense. Some books I have to re-read the final chapter to ween myself out of the story-line - because the writer has drawn me so thoroughly into the time and place that I find it difficult to let go. I wonder how many other people suffer from this?

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is why I love short stories. It has all the trappings of a fantastic novel. The simplicity being that it is short leaves the reader wanting more. I went into it with very little knowledge and was quite happy with that approach. I loved the sweeping narrative of our protagonist in her description of "Paradise". There was a bit of everything packed into this one: romance, intrigue and suspense.

[Farrah Pope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mediterranean Summer

Twenty-somethings looking for adventure grow up quickly with a series of unexpected events. Wonderful setting, but I had trouble getting into the beginning; I was too easily distracted. I thought the initial writing lacked detail, but towards the middle of the story, I was able to follow and readily complete the book.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh.

I expected so much from this book. I thought it would be mysterious and thrilling, that sort of thing. It wasn't.

I'm such an idiot.

Anyway, the book was okay by all means. I just can't believe I thought it'd be a thriller.

[Kathleen C. Thibeault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read and Enjoyed in one sitting

I chose a novella outside of my usual preference, and was pleasantly surprised. The outcome was as expected, but the story held my attention completely.

[Lemonpop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story

I love Carol Drinkwater writings. It was bittersweet story about Gen and Paul love. The writing is so vivid and simple. That you can't help getting lost in writing and wish there was more to read. I think I will read one of her novel next.

[Wendy Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely little story which was warming to the heart. Carol's descriptions of the Mediterranean as ever were wonderful and she transports you to another place very easily. BRAVO !

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very quick read. More of a short story really. Enjoyable though and certainly a poolside book.

[Tonia Herraiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read

This was a quick read. Story was interesting and eSpecially
full of reflection. Dreams shattered and a happy ending for

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful descriptions

I don't like short stories but this one is beautifully written. I guess I'm more into happy endings. A little too realistic for me. Escapism is why I read!

[Lisa Kinard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Story Sweet

This book was short and sweet. I loved the characters. It is not your average romantic love story. A good read nonetheless. A story for older adults.

[Sandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just could not get into this book.

[Rainey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited purchase. Love these Kindle Singles. Interesting Story of old lovers meeting up again.

[Brandi Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty slow start and a bit cheesy. The ending was stronger but as a whole it was so so. Quick read though.

[Kathryn J McMasters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy, tragedy and reality

Searching for oneself, making dreams for a time with love. Then the lovers meet with tragedy and move on to their destiny.

[Trevelyn Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this short "not-so-perfect, happily-ever-after" love story. The details are such that you can see, hear, and relish in this short story.

[Jamie Christensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great short story.

[Gillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romantic tail

Not the best short story but a nice one all the same to fill in an hour or two ,

[Maisie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A plausible storyline in an idyllic setting to transport the reader to a French island and the romantic rollercoaster ride of the characters. Ideal read for the summer vacation.

[Deborah Pesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my usual fare but a nice little story.

[Angela Holtzman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good summer read.