3.5 stars
Clara Morgan is legendary in the hospitality business for her ability to turn around pretty much any struggling hotel or guest house. When she’s not busy rebranding hotels, she runs marathons and other endurance races. What she rarely, if ever, does is stay in one place for very long. She has an apartment in Manhattan, but travels both domestically and abroad so often that she hardly ever has time to spend there. She never puts down roots anywhere and is careful not to get herself too attached to anyone or anything. Her childhood growing up in the foster care system, being handed from family to family taught her that that’s a recipe for disaster. While her friends are all finding partners and getting settled, establishing relationships and traditions of their own, Clara is perfectly happy focusing on her career. Or is she?
Clara’s current assignment could lead to her becoming partner, if she pulls it off successfully. The prestigious Bryant Mountain House in Hudson Valley is in desperate need of a face-lift and makeover and Clara is just the woman for the job. She just needs to convince Archie Bryant, fifth generation Bryant and soon to be current owner and manager (when his father retires shortly) that while the hotel is a gem, they’re spending far too much money keeping up traditions that no one is very interested in and that they’ll be going out of business if they don’t renew and update and attract new customers. Archie’s not going to give up on a hundred and fifty years of tradition and doesn’t want social media stars in his family’s hotel anyway. However, he doesn’t want to lose his family business altogether either and if that means taking some advice from Ms. Morgan – he may just have to swallow his pride and accept the help.
Full review on my blog.