The Hotel Inspector

by Sienna Waters

Room service has never been so much fun...

Ice queen hotel inspector Isla Seymour loves nothing more than her career. She’s demanding, critical, and terrible with people. Until a buy-out means she’s on shaky ground and about to take on what could be her last assignment.

Hotel owner Katie Taylor is a washed-up singer with a heart of gold. A heart whose size means her tiny seaside inn is on the brink of financial ruin.

But when an unlucky accident leaves Katie incapacitated, her friends step in to ensure Isla pays the price for hurting their beloved Katie. And suddenly, Isla and Katie are seeing far more of each other than either one bargained for.

Sometimes you just have to ask for what you want. As soon as you discover what that is, of course. Broken arms, stray dogs, interfering bosses, ghosts, and the best found family a girl can hope for all add up to an unconventional love story that shows we all deserve to be loved, no matter who we are. The moral of the story? Never be trapped outside your hotel room without your towel...

The Hotel Inspector is a standalone lesbian romance with a very happy ending from bestselling Sapphic author Sienna Waters, author of The Wrong Date, Crossing the Pond, and A Quiet Life

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Lesbian, LGBT, Contemporary, Queer, Slow Burn

247 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 8, 2023

Reviews

[AnnMaree Of Oz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited

An excellent feel-good read, as always, by Sienna Waters.

I liked the unique setting and careers of Hotel owner and Inspector, the latter named Isla being a bit of an Ice Queen, closed off and demanding. While owner Katie has a heart of gold, and a found family she feels indebted to. I liked the antics of the Hotel residents and workers, and the mature way the women communicate with one another.

A casual light read with the right amount of trope and heart to keep you entertained.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sienna Waters' latest romance made me smile, tear-up and hope for a happy ending.
A hotelier, barely keeping things together, Katie's staff and a couple long term residents have become her family. She worries about them and making ends meet but what of her own life? Lanton Bay Hotel is beautifully situated but in desperate need of upkeep/refurbishment. Little does she know that Isla Seymour, a top notch hotel inspector for the Tourist Authority has the little hotel in her sights for her final review. This visit will be dealt with in her usual cold uncompromising style - in, out, review! Return to her lonely life.
Sienna's storyline is infused with humor, bumbles, fumbles, meddling and angst with dogged romance pushing in whenever possible. Warmth vs cold, both women deserve more in their lives and eventually with resident cupids intervening recognize blossoming feelings and a HEA.
Another thoroughly enjoyable read from the author that I easily recommend.

I rec'd a copy through Booksprout. My review is completely voluntary.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun story with three amusing supporting characters. It took awhile for Isla and Katie to figure out what they wanted from life and from each other.

[Sapphic Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, lighthearted read about a hotel inspector who accidentally breaks the arm of the hotel owner she’s supposed to be evaluating—then ends up getting (very politely) blackmailed into sticking around to help out. Isla and Katie were both genuinely likable main characters: refreshingly mature, grounded, and practical, which was a nice change from the usual drama-heavy tropes. This book is a great example of how you can tell a compelling, cozy sapphic story with just five characters and a single location. Simple setup, solid execution, and a lot of charm.

(My only real gripe: Katie’s surname randomly changes halfway through the book from Taylor to Monroe. Not a deal-breaker, just a little distracting.)

[Conny B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another Sienna Waters story that made me laugh out loud more than once. I mean what could go wrong for the ice queen hotel inspector Isla on her job. She is used doing it without complications. She gets it done and is off. People skills are not for her but who needs them? It’s much easier not dealing with people. At least that’s how it works if you ask her.

But the thing is in this hotel things work differently. What she definitely didn’t expect is having to deal with some special people living or working there. Like the pensionier Harry who is just annoying at first because he always seemed to know what to say & how to hit home with his words. Then the ex actress Connie who has the best driving skills (at least when you ask her) and just has the best heart. I got very fond of her and not only because of her name. Sophie the cleaner also has her heart in the right place and most of all wants that her friend (and hotel owner) Katie finally finds her own happiness. Add in a chef, who only talks when it’s needed (love that attitude) and his dog Pip and you have a combo that makes Isla wanna leave asap. And why did Katie had to be so attractive?

So yeah it was definitely better to leave but of course where would be the fun if she could just do that. Some not to be mentioned people have other ideas after Katie is put out of action. And if you look closer at things maybe they are not even so bad and even an ice queen gets melted. I mean there is a dog and who doesn’t love dogs. 😍 Maybe don’t tell Isla I said that. 😆

I realise I haven’t said much about Katie yet. I guess I got more than just a tiny bit fond of Isla. The thing is I was able to relate to her behaviour more than once and the reason behind. I also know that the best thing that could have happened to her is finding a Katie. Katie with a heart of gold who is looking after anyone else first before she thinks of herself. But even Katie needs to learn that sometimes in life we need to prioritise ourselves and go for the things we want.

I probably have said a lot and I’m still feeling like I missed a lot that I adored in this story. But what I can tell you is that if you’re in the mood for a good laugh, some lovely characters and visiting them in this charming but a bit different hotel (it’s possible even ghosts are on the guest list), then definitely this is the book for you. It’s also about knowing and discovering your own dreams and living them. So yeah to make it short I loved it (that wasn’t hard to guess I believe 😆).

I received an ARC of this book via booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bárbara Sousa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a super cute and charming read. A nice way to spend Sunday afternoon 🥰

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this romance. The supporting characters were witty and I rather enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters. I give it 4.25 stars

[Kexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange tale of hotel, Hotel inspector and landlady. Stated was a ‘comedy.’ It wasn’t though I’d use the word absurd, which can, occasionally, but not here, be funny. Worked if suspended reality.

[Vita L. Licari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ice Queen Isla is a hotel Inspector and is inspecting a tiny seaside hotel before her vacation. Katie is the owner/manager of the hotel. When an accident happens and it was caused by Isla, with Katie ending up with a broken arm. There is a cast of characters that, live and work at the hotel, and plot to bring the two women together. I found this book charming and highly entertaining! 5 stars!!

[Lyn Denison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. So Sienna Waters has done it again. This latest book has leap-frogged to the top as my favourite Sienna Waters’ book. I just loved it. And the ending, well, I defy anyone to not feel a happy tear or at least a lump in their throat.

Our main characters are so different. One is warm and selfless who has to learn sometimes she has has to look after herself. The other, who is convinced she’s cold and selfish, can eventually see another person can change you just by simply being. It was so refreshing reading how these two both found the courage to change their lives.

And then this wonderful story is so well rounded out by the supporting cast, a group of entertaining and delightful members of ‘a found family’. Simply heart-warming. Read and enjoy!

[Ametheyst · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was okay overall. I didn't believe in the chemistry between the main characters, which made it hard to get invested.
The supporting characters were alright, but none of them were particularly charming. Personally, I found the ending quite cringe-worthy.
If you're looking for a spicy read, this one isn't it.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 stars – I absolutely love the sense of belonging and camaraderie among the characters in this book; the found family dynamic is entertaining and heartwarming in equal measure!

"The Hotel Inspector" is my seventh Sienna Waters book, and although it didn't make it into my top 3 favorites, I still think that the author was able to weave yet another delightful story with this book. It goes beyond being just an age-gap romance featuring an ice queen.

The book provides an entertaining blend of humorous banters and heartwarming dynamics within a vibrant found family, which I thought plays the pivotal role in the narrative's appeal. There are bone-breaking accidents, a haunted hotel room, an endearing hotel’s resident dog, and two stubborn yet wonderful women in love—all these elements have come together to provide an enjoyable experience for readers.

On a more personal note, "The Hotel Inspector" touches on certain issues that hit close to home, making me feel a sense of discomfort—not because they’re in poor taste, but rather because they mirror situations I can relate to, yet am apprehensive to confront in real life. As a result, some parts of the book come across as slightly preachy to me.

Nevertheless, I had a lovely time reading "The Hotel Inspector." The writing is excellent, and Sienna Waters proves once again that she is a fantastic storyteller.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second read from Sierra Waters, and she has a fantastic formula thus far. I love the way she builds found families. The bits of humor keep it fun. The setting was beautiful, and the characters are so genuine. It was quite enjoyable seeing the ice queen melt. Fairly low-angst, enough interesting things to keep it moving, low but satisfying spice, and a sweet HEA with an epilogue to leave you feeling like you've just had a warm hug. I like her writing style is easy to read and relate. Just a few typos. I am a fan!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kate Charlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s Not to Love?

Sometimes you just need a book that you can read in a few hours, that makes you feel good and that absorbs you into a lovely world that’s truly happy. I absolutely loved The Hotel Inspector with its beautifully written characters, witty dialogue and genuine laughs. Really hoping there’ll be a sequel to this.

[Joanne Nundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely

This was a great read from start to finish. Really enjoyable, so sweet and I'll be reading more by this author

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny read, with lots of laughter and some tears. Quirky Characters:) and a lovely dog.
I got an ARC for an honest review.

[tenthmuse ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh this book is so goddamn sweet it made me cry

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a lot of romance so I know the score when it comes to mis-matched couples thrown together in circumstances not entirely of their own making. But - and this is the important part - this felt different. One of the things I liked the most about this book is that the characters aren't naive ingenues. They're women who have struggled, women for whom life hasn't always been kind or giving. They're women who have experienced heartache and love (but maybe not in equal measure) and are at the point in their lives where something needs to change.

Neither Katie nor Isla seem to be aware of what that is, however. And that's really the crux of this story. It's about transformation, in many different ways. I liked the metaphor of the hotel's improvement, change and restoration. I felt that with each adjustment that was made in the management, decor and running of the hotel, it served to bring Katie and Isla closer together.

The main characters are lovely, funny and infuriating in quick succession. Katie is stuck in a rut but doesn't really know how to get out of it - and doesn't really want to. Her reluctance to engender and process change becomes a sticking point that both attracts and infuriates Isla, who has her own issues associated with change/stasis. I liked the chemistry between the two as people, not just as romantic partners. Isla, in opposition to Katie, is rigid and organised and by-the-book. The slow, delicate unpicking of her tightly-stitched persona is really wonderfully tracked and I must commend the author on creating two characters that seemed very real to me.

I especially liked the additional characters - the second tier, so to speak. I enjoyed that they're older, with a lifetime of experiences behind them that help us explore different facets of both Katie and Isla. The interactions felt real and valid, along with a sense of humour that I really appreciated. It made the growing relationship between the two protagonists feel natural and organic. They don't always agree. They bicker. They have out and out arguments. But those are facets of real life that I enjoyed seeing in this novel as it really brought a sense of urgency to the romance and made me feel that Katie and Isla had a real chance together.

If you like your romance rooted in reality, you'll love this book. Bonus points? The often lush descriptions of the scenery and locale. The B-plot of the ever-eager friends/staff who insert themselves into Katie and Isla's business. The surprise reveal towards the end that made me a bit teary for Harry. There's much more than just romance in this novel, well-crafted and woven together.

Treat yourself to a stay-cation and a copy of this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[MissAlice · Rating 5 out of 5]

"An attractive hotel owner, a dyslexic criminal mastermind, an over-dramatic actress, and an interfering pensioner" collide with a demanding ice queen and the fun ensues.

Learning to put yourself first in your own life is a lesson to be toiled with and never truly understood until life forces your hand. Every character in this book is doing their utmost for their found little family and, besides Connie, they all fail miserably at self-actualization making them each that more relatable.

"...people are the center of their own stories. Their worlds go on with or without you."

This book is so full of these memorable quotes that I could, honestly, just copy and paste them all into this review, but I want you to discover these bits of word treasures on your own. I loved the epilogue, I adored the changes that quintessentially shape the beginning, middle, and end as the author strives to teach and reach their readers. Little life lessons gently reminding us of the precious gift each day is and to not squander it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Katie’s Hotel is being inspected she has more than a run in with the hot …. Ahem Hotel inspector , cue Isla Seymour ice queen extraordinaire…..This could well be her last assignment so she’s out for the win. Katie Taylor is an bbc ex singer facing ruin and when disaster strikes and she’s off her pins , her good friends rally to combat this ice queen for her with hilarious situations the two are seeing more of each other and they like what they see. As the queen thaws and the ex singer sees what’s underneath the cold exterior Isla portrays to everyone else her heart goes out. The two women very different share a lifetime of hurt can they share happiness too and mend not just a ramshackle Hotel . Loved this book , the quirky , funny characters the empathetic way their story told and the background solid with excellent descriptions.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delighted to get an ARC of this latest by SW as I needed a fun read. It’s refreshing to have characters that talk to each other! Overheard conversations are not the cause of heartbreak and angst because the characters communicate and I’m here for that.
I love the witty dialogue and situational humour. It opens with a fire alarm - but it’s very funny & not stressy drama. There are obviously complications and more visits to the hospital than you’d actually want, but I was never too worried for the characters, and I’d like to know what hospital they went to that had no queuing or waiting lists to see a dr and get surgery.
Suspension of disbelief over nhs waiting lists aside this is an enjoyable and easy read with a cast full of well written characters who are clearly individual and well rounded.
Totally recommend for a light and entertaining story.

[Jessica Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🏩🛎️🤕🐕🌈

Honestly, Sienna Waters is my go-to author. She is the queen of ice queens. Sunshine Vs. Grumpy, Age gap tropes. This time she threw in found family and forced proximity.

Absolutely loved the character, Isla Seymour, who is our ice queen. She is a hotel inspector, worried that this hotel is going to be her last review, so she's even more standoffish. I loved how much she grew over the course of the book, really listening to others and trying to grow within herself.

Katie puts others first before herself, and she definitely needed to put herself first. It was good that all the characters were willing to see that she did this.

The characters, the plot, the love, and the spice, were everything as per usual. Absolutely loved it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chris Byrnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

of all the stories to read in the sapphic community, Icy queen women are the coolest to read. They never get old and The Hotel Inspector is top 10 for me.

Icy queens like having power over everyone they come in contact with and being an inspector is really a top of that list when they control the life of a hotel. a simple review can be detrimental to the hotel and thus creates that power dynamic.

However, what do we learn about icy queens, they are often misconstrued and nothing can be more true than understanding and getting to know Isla, but on the same token I love the chemistry with Katie, the banter and harsh conversation between the two women make this book a fun read and can't wait to read more by Sienna.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. The side characters were annoying as hell. They especially got on my nerves when they gaslit and manipulated Isla into working at the hotel while Katie was injured. That was awful and made me hate them. Other than those annoying characters I did like this book because I liked Katie and Isla. Isla is such an Ice Queen and of course I loved her. She was great and she and Katie had such great chemistry. I loved the banter between them and the way their romance developed because this was a good enemies to lovers romance.

[Looby Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, I adored this book. For starters it has the best opening line I’ve read for a long time. Katie and Isla were fantastic characters and they had a wonderful supporting cast that brought humour and mayhem with them. Talking of the humour us was spot on with several laugh out loud moments. I was so sad to finish this book as I wanted to extend my stay at the Lanton Bay Hotel indefinitely.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and if I had time would have read in one sitting. Absolutly loved the main characters and the support made you laughed.
It had that Hallmark Romcom feel with all the ingredients for a nice sweet relaxing read. If you are a Sienna Waters fan or just want to feel good and know everything happens as it should definitely read this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jean]

A Treasure

You know how you bravely try a new author, a new novel? Well, I did and this one is a treasure. Love the writing and the characters, love the story, love that I could read it in one day! There isn't anything about this I didn't like. It's funny and heart felt and just plain good. Give it a try, I think you'll love it too.
I'm really glad there are lots more books by Sienna Waters to explore!

[Doug Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katie and Isla, the main characters in The Hotel Inspector, begin with very different interests and life goals. The practicalities of daily living, especially with a broken arm, soon throw both off kilter. The strong, ever present, secondary cast provides many not so gentle nudges to help Katie and Isla’s relationship grow. The very satisfactory conclusion is no surprise, but this is a fun journey.

[Cara Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Loved This Story!

So many Sapphic romances contain seemingly insurmountable problems. And that’s good, that can help make for a very good story.

But then you find a story like this one, where problems are very solvable, except in the minds of the main characters. And that leads to a softer, gentler love story, one that so many of us can relate to through our own lives.

The Hotel Inspector is a beautiful gentle love story that I wholeheartedly recommend.

[Kim Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know when I receive a Sienna Water's book that I am in for a treat and I wasn't disappointed. I loved Isla and Katie's journey to love and happiness. You don't want to miss this book. Oh, there is a cute dog too.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.