The need for a fresh start, to find the unexpected

Synopsis

Pack your bags and get ready to fall in love with The Hotel by the Sea—your next romantic getaway awaits!

Rebecca needs to escape. After making a complete fool of herself watching the man she’s secretly loved for years run off with someone else—she jumps at a temporary job at the family-run Quinta do Mar hotel. Sun, sea, and a fresh start sound perfect.

What she doesn’t expect is Felipe Rebelo.

Charming, infuriatingly confident, and always ready with a flirty quip, Felipe seems to have life sorted. But beneath his carefree exterior lies a man carrying the weight of his entire family. The last thing he needs is another responsibility. Especially one who challenges him at every turn, makes him laugh, and is dangerously easy to fall for…

Escape to Portugal’s stunning Algarve coast in this uplifting summer romance about finding yourself, choosing happiness, and discovering that love isn’t about being needed—it’s about being seen.

My review

Rebecca has been having feelings for her friend Will for a long time. But after seeing how he ran off with another woman, while Rebecca was his plus one, she has had enough. So when she finds a temporary job at a family – run hotel, Quinta do Mar, she grabs this chance with both hands. Because nothing mends a broken heart better than getting away and have sun and sea at your disposal. There is no better fresh start that Rebecca could imagine, weren’t it that almost immediately she meets Felipe Rebelo, who co – owns the hotel, although it doesn’t seem he is doing a lot for the family business. Felipe is charming, confident and always has a flirty response. However, what Rebecca doesn’t know is that in fact, Felipe is making sure that everything at the hotel runs smoothly. And he cannot take more responsibility, even if Rebecca is not only challenging him, intriguing him, but also making him laugh and is amazing to have fun with…

I was very eager to start with this book. Because I know how this wonderful author can captivate me with her amazing stories!

Right from the start, my heart went out to Rebecca. Not only is it terrible to have feelings for someone who doesn’t seem to reciprocate them, but just at the time when you decide to make a move, you see your love interest suddenly going away with someone else. And that while you were being each other’s plus one! So in fact, Will just abandons her without a second thought.

And to be honest, not only this but also events further along in this book, made me dislike Will. I could understand Rebecca’s loyalty towards Will, as they have been friends for so long, and she has been by his side during the most difficult moments. But I couldn’t understand the attraction.

Getting away from a situation is sometimes the best thing you can do, so I was totally in agreement when Rebecca accepts a temporarily job in Portugal. Not only is she away from Will, in order to move on from him, but also she is able to work as a Pilates instructor. And let’s be honest, the Algarve couldn’t be a more perfect place for both purposes!

Even if the setting is in Portugal, and I am an Italian, I cannot deny that the Mediterranean warmth flies of the pages. The way Rebecca is welcomed by the family, it is very recognizable for a Mediterranean woman like me. I don’t think I would act differently, or perhaps even more at the risk of being over the top welcoming 😊.

I found it sweet to see how Rebecca is feeling while working at the hotel, how she is slowly finding herself again. Having some distance is exactly what she needs, and the distance gives her the necessary perspective.

When she meets Felipe, we see also who Rebecca truly is. Yes, she is competitive (all the swim challenges she has with Felipe… 😊) but she is funny, even sarcastic when needed. She is also committed, not only to her job. And yes, perhaps she needs initially a moment to adjust to new situations, with new people around, but once she understands the situation and dynamics, she is so easy to be liked and she as easily likes people too.

Also when she meets Felipe, there is an instant connection. Yes, they ‘fight’ over their swimming challenges, and at first sight Rebecca may have some prejudices that aren’t correct, but the attraction between them cannot be denied.

So of course I was a fan when they decide to not ignore that attraction anymore! But I also have to say, that while things evolve very heatedly between them, I felt that their romance is not the main plot line, but the growth both characters go through is. And their romance is the catalyst, a helping hand to understand who truly Rebecca or Felipe is.

Because while at first instance it looks like Felipe is a bon vivant, as a reader we quickly discover that in fact, he is carrying a lot of responsibility. I found it bittersweet to see how much he cares about his family, and how he wants to make a success out of the hotel. But he is just doing too much… Nobody can do it all without the help.

In a way, Felipe is a typical man. He let everyone believe that nothing is a burden, nothing is too much for him, while in fact he has to work at night to get it all done. Yet he refuses to admit things are getting over his head and that helping hands would be so much appreciated. Is it male pride? Is it that Mediterranean thing again? I don’t know…

To say that both Rebecca and Felipe are both a bit at loss, would be stating the obvious. While their lives couldn’t be more different, yet they both have lost themselves. And with being with each other, they slowly learn again who they are, what they want from life and how to truly enjoy life again.

And at the same time, by spending more time with each other, they also learn what they want, or rather need, in a companionship. And that a relationship, a partner, is not adding more responsibility, but sharing it, dividing it. It is not a sacrifice, but an addition to life.

Once again Julie Capling swept me away with a wonderful story, about how when escaping from life can bring you all the answers. Answers that you were looking for, but more important, answers you didn’t know you were looking for. Answers that make you realize who you in fact truly are. And if you find someone by your side during the process, it is only the cherry on top!

This for sure was a story that was heartwarming, but also inspiring. It made me laugh, it made me frown and yes, here and there, there were also a few facepalms. A great story about searching yourself, growth, understanding and love. Love for yourself (and self-worth too), but also love for people who have just arrived in your life.