Amelia Lang’s life took a turn for the worse in less than a week. And her ex-boyfriend and unfortunately still current coworker, Micah, definitely had a hand in it by purposely tampering with her work. She thought her job at the San Francisco-based software company was in peril. She secured her fate when she threw a mug at Micah’s head after he made an unsavory comment about her mistake. After she packs up her belongings and makes the drive-of-shame home, she spontaneously takes a solo female trip to Paris, on the next flight out. After a few months on her European adventure, she makes her last stop before returning home: the Ria Hotel, located on a remote Greek island. She meets another solo traveler, James. And one night after a bit too much wine, they become unexpected partners – in business and in matrimony. The Second Chance Hotel by Sierra Godfrey follows Amelia as she deals with a new hotel and husband, and whether she chooses to return to her old life or forge a new path that she never imagined. 

At first, Amelia was steadfast on putting James in the friendzone. Even though she thinks he’s boring, they still spend much of their time together on various excursions around the island. And she can’t deny her growing attraction to him. Then, on the night of the hotel owner’s, Takis, niece’s wedding, sparks fly. But when the presiding priest witnesses their “sin,” Takis convinces them to receive a “blessing.” Drunk on wine and lust, they agree to proceed. They also agree to take the hotel as a gift in the same fashion. The next morning, Takis is dead. And they learn that everything was real via a string of meetings with Takis’s lawyer. Now with a new husband and hotel, Amelia has to figure out how to get out of this mess so that she can return home in good conscience. But when the well-meaning locals become involved, they both realize that is easier said than done. 

Godfrey gets all the points for creating an entertaining novel with unforgettable characters. The Second Chance Hotel was a fun and charming story that I didn’t know I wanted. James is the perfectly adorkable fake husband that any woman wouldn’t mind being stuck with. And even though Amelia has a tendency to run away from her troubles, readers will appreciate her more redeemable qualities. Whether it’s using her project management skills to improve the hotel’s profitability, or her self-confidence when it comes to men. The inexperienced couple has to somehow run the hotel in a foreign country (after all, they’ve got bookings to prepare for). They have to develop a business strategy for the hotel. Oh, and refrain from jumping into bed with one another too. Trust me that it all makes the outlandish circumstances that much more amusing. Add in the backdrop of beautiful olive groves on a Greek island, and readers will want to buy a plane ticket themselves. 

Sierra Godfrey joins us for a Cantina Conversation. She discusses her love for Greece and how she came up with the story. Keep an ear out for the interview on The Nerd Cantina Show podcast and preorder The Second Chance Hotel, available September 12.