A New Start at the Beach Hotel

The Beach Hotel #1

by Francesca Capaldi

' An enjoyable page-turning saga with characters that leap off the page!' AnneMarie Brear Can Edie find the courage to choose her own future? June 1914. Edie Moore is a Governess for Lord and Lady Moreland, living in comfort at the grand Downland House in Sussex. But, wanting more from life, she flees in secret to Littlehampton, the place where she spent many idyllic childhood holidays. Desperate for work, Edie begins working as a chambermaid at the prestigious Beach Hotel, even if the menial tasks are a far cry from her previous job. While the days are long and gruelling, Edie works hard and soon is in favour with Helen Bygrove, the manager’s wife, who sees that Edie is destined for bigger things – which leads to tension with some of the other chambermaids. But as she navigates her new life and finds friendship with fellow maid Lili Probert, she also grows closer to charming, cheerful porter, Charlie Cobbett, and finally finds the happiness she has been searching for. However, what none of her new friends know is that Edie is hiding a secret from her past, one that would change the way they view her, forever. When the truth comes out, will Edie be able to keep her new life and remain in the place she loves so much? A captivating, romantic and moving World War 1 saga that fans of Elaine Roberts and Pam Howes won’t be able to put down. Readers are falling in love with A New Start at the Beach Hotel : ‘ Brilliant storyline, brilliant book. Couldn’t put it down. Family saga at its best ’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘ Well, what a start to a new series!  Full of intrigue and subterfuge, no one is who they at first appear. There are many secrets to be uncovered …I loved this book, even when I got to the end as I felt safe in the knowledge that there would be another to follow ’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘Charming … I was very invested in the story … and this book felt like an escape …The story was heartwarming , and I would like to read the sequel…’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘ I loved this enchanting read … could not put it down…’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘Having enjoyed this author's previous series , I was looking forward to this new one … the mystery … slowly unravelled to satisfying conclusions . … I look forward to book two.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘ I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m pleased to learn that there will be another book later this year… There are some great characters …
I’m glad there is more to come from the Beach Hotel …’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction

387 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 23, 2023

About the author

Several years ago, Francesca Capaldi pursued a childhood dream and joined a creative writing class. Lots of published short stories, a serial, and three pocket novels later, she’s now explored her mother’s ancestral history for a novel set in a Welsh colliery village.

A history graduate and former teacher, she hails from the Sussex coast but now lives in Kent with her family and a cat called Lando Calrissian.

Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrancescaCap...
Blog: www.writemindswriteplace.wordpress.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/FCapaldiBurgess
Instagram:francesca.capaldi.burgess

Reviews

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been drawn to books around the Great War era and I enjoyed a couple of other books by this author in her previous series that I was interested to check this one. The fact it is set in a beachside town also drew me in.

Sussex 1914: When Edie Moore stepped out of Downland House in the early hours one June morning, she vowed that this would be the start of a new life for her. As she trudged to the station with her carpetbag, there were times she questioned the logic of her choice whilst at the same time knowing that there was no going back from this. Not that she wanted to. The threats that had been made were enough to spring her into action. And so now she leaves this life behind and steps out of the station into Littlehampton as Edie Moore.

She secures lodgings with Mrs Hadley but finding a job proves to be more difficult. Her reference speaking of her work as a governess puts her in good stead but does little to find work, as a governess sits somewhere between the classes - not quite middle class but not quite working class either. She ventures into the Beach Hotel who are looking for a bookeeper and secures herself an interview for the following day. However, she proves to be unsuccessful as having no previous bookeeping experience.

But the manageress of the hotel does come looking for her in the days following in need of a chambermaid. The work is long and hard but Edie isn't afraid of that. It's those who think she has come in looking down her nose at them. Despite the challenges she faces, she makes some friends there in Charlie and Lili and soon finds something at the Beach Hotel she never had before. A sense of belonging and family.

But then a face from her past recognises her and Edie fears her secret will be discovered. Even the threat of war may not overshadow the secrets that are about to come out...

This was a delightfully easy read that I enjoyed despite its slow start, as I did wonder the direction it was taking in the beginning but being the first book in a new series I can only surmise that the author was laying the groundwork for the backstory that readers will inevitably discover in due course.

There are some wonderful characters and some rather unsavoury ones as well. I love the setting of the Beach Hotel and adore Helen Bygrove. Her husband, who is supposed to be the manager, does nothing but belittle his wife dreadfully or is busy playing golf or tennis rather than actually running the hotel. His wife manages to do that quite well without him. There are some humourous moments, particularly between the Bygroves.

A NEW START AT THE BEACH HOTEL is an enchanting read and I look forward to see what's next for the characters.

I would like to thank #FrancescaCapaldi, #Netgalley and #HeraBooks for an ARC of #ANewStartAtTheBeachHotel in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Vivien Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having enjoyed this author's previous series, I was looking forward to this new one, set on the South Coast in 1914. Edie is an easy heroine to like, and the mystery of why she has run away to start a new life entwines with another, that of who committed the crime at the guest house where she first stays (No spoilers!). Both are slowly unravelled to satisfying conclusions. I enjoyed Edie's story, as she progresses in her new job, makes friends and enemies, and deals with her family problems. There is romance too. I look forward to book two.

[Bernie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story set at the start of WWl. I particularly liked that it was in Littlehampton, a place I lived for years. I loved the writing of roads and places I know of and remember.
The story itself was engaging, and I found it hard to put the book down. I have bought the next book in the series, and hopefully, it will be as enthralling as this one.
A recommended read.

[Pat Brackenbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant story, brought back lots of childhood memories of my hometown...looking forward to reading the next chapter of Edies story

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn to the cover design of this book - the pretty illustration and the colours.

In recent months, I've been enjoying some wartime novels like this, and I enjoyed this one too. It had an old-fashioned feel that I found charming, and I was very invested in the story. One of the reasons I like historical fiction so much is that it can feel like an escape for the reader, and this book felt like an escape.

Some of the characters seemed quite unlikeable, but that didn't bother me because I thought the protagonist was a great character. She was independent, modest, and kind-hearted. The story was heartwarming, and I would like to read the sequel to find out what happened next for some of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just loved this book couldn’t wait to keep reading it
Following the upper class Daughter of a Baron and wanting to just be normal and not just be seen as someone to marry from the noble society
Edie hated her life so chose to run away and become a chambermaid in a Hotel and she was so free and able to be herself
Through this story she becomes strong and people accept that she just a working class girl
And when the war starts her life changes and she falls in love but life isn’t that easy and that’s why Edie has to eventually own up to the lies she has told and hoping that the staff she works with see the true side of her and not just the Title she has
Highly recommend can’t what to read book 2

[Ali Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have the whole Beach Hotel series and was looking forward to it. Sadly it proved to be hard work. I struggled with the writing style in parts which seemed to fluctuate in the tenses and the continuity to the point I had to keep re reading pages..for example one day it was a Bank Holiday Monday then somebody commented it was the Tuesday. All this left me confused. There was not much plot, too many characters and constant repetition, all the things I was taught not to do in my own writing career. I am a reasonably quick reader when I get into a story. This book has taken me 19 days ! I will not be in a rush just yet to revisit the Beach Hotel.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding the courage to choose you own future, Its a new start for Edie Moore, June 1914 and Edie has gone back to Littlehampton and memories of long-ago visits entertained her. After finding lodgings at Channel View finding a job is not going to be easy for a woman coming across the imposing impressive Beach hotel she takes her chances asking for any vacancies and grabs a interview the next day.
Edie is facing more downs than up that are yet to be read.
I loved this enchanting read but Edie is a strong determined woman could not put it down chapter after chapter.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a little while to get into the swing of the story, but boy did I enjoy it. Edie is a get up and go person who wants to turn her life around and we are taken on this journey at the Beach Hotel, we are introduced to some wonderful people who do make the story enjoyable, we are able to feel how WW1 was starting to make changes within the class system and how people treated each other and how people were aware that things were starting to change around them.
I look forward to carrying on the journey that has started with this book.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book and I’m pleased to learn that there will be another book later this year. The story revolves around the Beach Hotel in Littlehampton. The main story is about Edie who gets a job there as a chambermaid. There are some great characters some of them are lovely and others not so much. I’m glad there is more to come from the Beach Hotel as I’d love to know more about some of the other characters.

[Cel Jel]

This book was just the book I needed to help me through a time of trial. It took me out of now and into past with enough bumps along the way for Eddie and twists and turns to keep me reading.
A woman of the Upper Class wants to escape the limitations on her life imposed by her mother. In doing so with assistance from her godmother she goes to work in a hotel. The story provides a picture of the experiences of the live in workers at the start of WWII. I recommend this book.

[mavis hearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. Struggled to put it down. Drew me into the storyline straight away. Can't wait for the next one

[Geraldine Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice easy to read story , really enjoyed it .

[Marcia Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable story set during the First World War.

[Terence Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A roller coaster ride in the early days of WW 1

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, I really enjoyed this book.

[rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

so much better than i expected ngl. picked it up since it’s set where i live and i was curious and ended up actually really enjoying it.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely story about Edie, but quite slow. Didn’t really get going until the last 50ish pages. It was an easy read but I wasn’t wowed.

[Judy Grevett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming read

I loved this book, the characters were so real. I have lived in the area for nearly 60 years so it was fascinating to find out more about Littlehampton in the past and imagine the characters walking around and visiting various venues. I can’t edit to read the next book in the series.