Secrets and lies...at Nantucket's most exclusive and glamorous, family-owned hotel.
The Whitley is Nantucket's most exclusive waterfront hotel--a sprawling collection of pristine white cottages and an elegant main building on a long stretch of private, white sandy beach.
It's a family owned business--brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, all work there in various capacities.
Paula is happy in her back office accounting position. But changes are in store when her grandfather promotes her and fires her cousin--who then blames Paula.
Meanwhile, a blond romantic comedy superstar is hiding out at The Hotel for a few months. She meets Paula's brother, a chef--who has no idea who she is--and she likes it that way.
Paula's grandfather also hires a consultant to help her settle into her new role. But she isn't sure what to think of David, who grew up on Nantucket but now lives in Manhattan.
He's a brilliant consultant and will be assessing Paula's suitability for the role. He's also home for another reason, a difficult family issue that makes Manhattan seem very far away.
A new family saga from the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller author of The Nantucket Inn and The Restaurant.
“What happened?” The news was so unexpected. Andrea had been in the role for nine years. Paula and just about everyone, especially Andrea, assumed she’d be there forever.
“Lots of little things that added up to a problem that can’t be fixed. It’s who she is.” He told Paula about the complaints from employees that had come in over the years. How he’d given her so many chances to change, and to do better.
“She’s only gotten worse. And it’s impacting the business in a negative way. Cassie came in yesterday morning and resigned and that was it, the last straw.”
“Cassie quit?” Cassie had worked for The Whitley for close to twenty years. Everyone loved her. She had started as a server, then grew to service manager of the restaurant, and to director of catering. She oversaw all meetings and events.
“She tried to quit. I finally got her to admit that the reason was Andrea. She took a job in Boston, because of course there’s no other comparative job here on Nantucket. But she was miserable about leaving. She said it was the hardest decision she’d over made, but she felt like she had no choice.”
“Because of Andrea. How awful,” Paula said.
“Unacceptable is what it is.” Her grandfather looked stern and disappointed at the same time. “I asked her to please reconsider and I promised that she wouldn’t have to worry about Andrea anymore. She was hesitant, but once I assured her that she would have no interaction with Andrea at all, she agreed to stay.”
“She loves Nantucket. I can’t see her being happy in Boston,” Paula said.
“And she does a fabulous job here. I didn’t want to lose her.”
“How did Andrea take it?”
Tour Giveaway
One winner will receive a gorgeous Kate Spade totebag with two signed paperbacks, one of The Hotel and one of The Nantucket Inn (US only)
Ends June 23, 2021
