Product Description

Two women searching through a secret past discover that their brief hotel liaison is only the beginning.

Laurel Hoffman, an associate professor of women's studies in Berkeley, struggles to stay on track for tenure while caught up in the last throes of a crumbling relationship with a senior colleague. When she hears of a hotel being renovated and a secret room full of papers about women who once stayed there, she knows she has a potential career-saving article.

Stefanie Beresford, the hotel owner, is not exactly receptive when Laurel approaches her about researching the hotel's history, but that doesn't stop her from flirting with the alluring academic. She doesn't need the distraction, but for the first time in her life she wants to take a chance on more than a fleeting encounter.

While Laurel can't deny her powerful feelings for Stefanie, she fears she's risking her heart as well as her future if she acts on her desires. But can a simple encounter between two rational adults really be all that dangerous?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #342880 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781602820173
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

Something Old, Something New
In her fourth book, as has become expected, JLee Meyer presents an engaging story with lovable characters and a lasting impression. Laurel and her partner haven't seen eye-to-eye in a long time. In this reader's opinion, Laurel should have moved on a long time ago, but she's not a quitter - even in relationships. What makes matters worse is her partner is the dean of her department and Laurel is hoping to gain tenure at some point. She learns of a unique find in a hidden room of an old hotel - a find that includes old documents and letters from famous women to famous women. It seems the hotel was at one time a ladies getaway until it was taken over by a men's group.

Stephanie has purchased the hotel to restore it and make a name for herself without interference from her father or brother - two men who have little respect for women in general. She's not really interested in dealing with the distraction of Laurel's work. However, she can't seem to resist the professor.

The book also has several colorful supporting characters who keep things light and help round out the story. These include everything from an old, mysterious woman (who knows more about the hotel than anyone could guess) and a young, homeless woman who is more than she appears.

Bottom Line - Meyer has a great imagination and is able to create an engaging, almost-believable story (this is fiction folks). If you have enjoyed her previous books, you'll also enjoy this one. If you haven't read her previous books, this is a great place to start.

Less can be more
I was really looking forward to this book after having read the reviews about it. And I have to say that there is an intriguing plot to it but, there is a but... well, to be honest two buts.
My first but: I love character development and I love to get to know my heroines in the course of a tale. And that is where the story lacks. Bitterly. The author just put too many interesting stories, too many fates, to many different personalities with background stories about whom I would have wanted to know more into 231 pages. And I found that absolutely irritating.
Let's see: There is a woman who is abused from her girlfriend and tries to get out of this relationship. She falls in love with a woman who owns a hotel and who is not sure if it is the right time for a relationship for her. There is yet another woman, an old lady, that lives in the hotel and you just know that there is a secret around her. There is another woman who feels that she can't do relationships because of something that has happened in her past. There is another woman, the best friend of the hotel owner and the one feeling unable to do relationships that runs around in this story as well. And there is a teenager, run away from home, which meets the old lady mentioned before. And these were just the main characters and the main minor parts.
I am sorry, but this is just way too much for me. I have to admit that I begun to loose interest rather soon and was only skimming through the book from page 100 on.
This is a bit of a shame because, like I stated earlier, the plot is intriguing. And I like the way JLee Meyer worked the abuse girlfriend thing... in the beginning. And this is my second but: Because, honestly, how realistic is it that a woman coming right out of an abusive relationship is turning into some kind of sex maniac with another woman she just met recently. Does that sound healthy to you? Sorry, I really had a problem with that one.
All in all I give three stars to this book because of the interesting idea.

Totally Entertaining!

Don't miss this wonderfully inventive story. In addition to a lovely romance or should I say romances, the story has shades of John Grisham's 'The Chamber' and 'The Client'. The novel is timely and also historical.

Set in gorgeous San Francisco (looking forward to my first meal at 'Sears'), the story has numerous plot threads and characters that seamlessly blend together to a smashingly exciting and affirming conclusion.

In addition to Laurel and her relationship with Rochelle, we have Stefanie, her best friend Denny, Denny's fabulous mother Sika and Denny's friend Jock (Jocelyn) who is a general contractor. Teenage Ember comes into the mix bringing her unique back story. Most interesting for me was Mrs. Castic the elderly resident on the 3rd floor, a fascinating woman who probably could warrant her own book.

And a cameo appearance from a character from an earlier book by this author make this novel a winner.

At almost 250 pages this is a substantial read that you will thoroughly enjoy!

Don't miss the author's other novels -

Forever Found
First Instinct
Rising Storm