Book Review: SUMMER NIGHTS AT THE MOONLIGHT HOTEL BY JANE COSTELLO (Fiction)

The Moonlight Hotel sits on the shore of England’s best-loved lake, Windermere, exuding vintage glamour. 
Lauren loves the hotel, for hidden inside its faded walls is the key to her most precious memories. So, along with her best friends, Cate and Emily, she signs up to a new dance class in its gorgeous ballroom. They aren’t going for the men, they’re going for a laugh – although a little romance wouldn’t hurt . . . 
But then a chain of events off the dance floor puts their friendship to the ultimate test, and makes Lauren question everything she holds dear. 
Put on your dancing shoes and escape to The Moonlight Hotel, for Jane’s funniest and most poignant novel yet… 

Published by Simon & Schuster
March 2016




First Paragraph .......

Some things just don't work together.  Chocolate and teapot.  Straw and houses. Lead and balloons.  Now I've discovered another combination to add to the list: high heels and the Lake District.

Lauren and her friend Cate have lived in the Lake District forever.  Lauren's a Primary School teacher, Cate owns a flower shop and their friend, Emily is a mountain leader ("basically Bear Grylls but with nicer hair!").

When they learn that the Moonlight Hotel is starting salsa classes they all decide to sign up to learn to dance, make new friends and have some fun.

Lauren's fond memories of the Moonlight Hotel go far back to her childhood when her father was the General Manager there and she loved how grand and romantic it was.  It's the backdrop to her most precious memories.

But when the new owners want to overhaul the hotel and bring it into the 21st century Lauren is devastated and even the handsome new owner can't persuade her that it's a good idea.  When her friend Emily becomes smitten with him Lauren is happy for her but she thinks he can't be trusted.  Then, to make her life even worse, her unrequited love, Edwin, is moving to Singapore in a few months.  How will she cope?

This is a light-hearted read in parts, I was chuckling at some of their efforts to salsa, I loved the descriptions of some of the dance moves "the cuddle left turn", "ladies' right turn, back-to-back and reverse wrap"!

There are some misunderstandings, some laughs, romance, friendships, holidays, twists, but the storyline also deals with a serious issue of today which I felt was handled sensitively and was very well-written.

Charming and full of drama, get ready to put on your dancing shoes and strut your stuff!  I think Jane Costello fans will love it!

Thank you to the publishers Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of Summer Nights at The Moonlight Hotel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Available to buy from

AmazonUK
AmazonUS
Book Depository

About the Author

Jane Costello is the author of nine novels, including Bridesmaids, The Wish List, The Time of Our Lives and her latest, Summer Nights at the Moonlight Hotel, which is published by Simon & Schuster in March 2016. Jane was a newspaper journalist before she became an author, working on the Liverpool Echo, the Daily Mail and the Liverpool Daily Post, where she was Editor. She continues to write for newspapers and magazines and has contributed articles to the Guardian, Marie Claire, Prima and The Times, among others. Jane has won several awards for her books, including the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Comedy Award, which she took home in 2010 for The Nearly Weds. She lives in Liverpool with her husband Mark and three young sons. Find out more at www.janecostello.com and follow her on Twitter @janecostello



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