What’s the point of poetry? It’s a question asked in classrooms all over the world, but it rarely receives a satisfactory answer. Which is why so many people, who read … Continue reading The Point of Poetry by Joe Nutt
Tag: Blog Tour
Welcome to the Heady Heights by David F.Ross
So today is publication day for Welcome to the Heady Heights which makes me even happier to be hosting the blog tour on today of all days. 🙂 One of the … Continue reading Welcome to the Heady Heights by David F.Ross
The Conviction of Cora Burns by Carolyn Kirby
Birmingham, 1885. Born in a gaol and raised in a workhouse, Cora Burns has always struggled to control the violence inside her. Haunted by memories of a terrible crime, she … Continue reading The Conviction of Cora Burns by Carolyn Kirby
The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North
Today I am thrilled to host the blog tour for The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North. It’s a few days since I finished reading this and I’m still recovering. Now that is … Continue reading The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North
The Blameless Dead by Gary Haynes
Today I am delighted to be hosting the blog tour for The Blameless Dead by Gary Haynes. This novel is equally incredible and disturbing and without doubt will stay with … Continue reading The Blameless Dead by Gary Haynes
The Bridal Party by J G Murray
Today I am delighted to kick off the blog tour for The Bridal Party by J G Murray. This is one chilling read! WINNER OF THE DEVIANT MINDS CRIME THRILLER PRIZE … Continue reading The Bridal Party by J G Murray
The Belle Hotel by Craig Melvin
Today I’m delighted to be hosting the blog tour for The Belle Hotel by Craig Melvin. A tale of the rise and fall of Charlie Sheridan through the historical rich last quarter of the twentieth century.
13 October 2008. Welcome to the worst day of Chef Charlie Sheridan’s life, the day he’s about to lose his two great loves: his childhood sweetheart, Lulu, and the legendary Brighton hotel his grandfather, Franco Sheridan, opened in 1973.
This is the story of the Belle Hotel, one that spans the course of four decades – from the
training of a young chef in the 1970s and 80s, through the hedonistic 90s, up to the credit
crunch of the noughties – and leads us right back to Charlie’s present-day suffering.
In this bittersweet and salty tale, our two Michelin star-crossed lovers navigate their seaside hangout for actors, artists and rock stars; the lure of the great restaurants of London; and the devastating effects of three generations of family secrets.
There is something rather special about this novel. Not only is it full with great recipes but it’s also a great walk through major historical events of the last 30 years of the twentieth century. We begin a little closer in 2008 with Charlie in dire straights and having quite possibly one of the worst days of his life. He has three hours to find £10,000 or Belle Hotel will be repossessed and he’ll be left with nothing, not even the other love of his life, Lulu. At this stage I must admit I thought Charlie a bit of an arse and couldn’t see why on earth I would be routing for him to save himself but before long Melvin takes us back to where it all began with Charlie’s grandfather, Franco. And oh what a story he has weaved.
This is clearly an author who knows about food and the restaurant/hotel business. It’s not an easy life and the job is most definitely a lifestyle – not the kind of job you can leave behind when it’s time to clock off. I found Franco Sheridan is an immensely likeable character and one who knows how to charm. He is already late on in his life when we meet him in 1973 (a very good year – the year I was born). His story is incredibly intriguing. We join him when he is head steward on the Brighton Belle train serving the one and only Sir Lawrence Olivier, or Larry as Franco calls him, as he travels to and from London. Before long Franco, (with a little help from Larry) opens Belle Hotel and has his sights on earning the restaurant a Michelin star. Always reaching for the top, Franco passes on everything he knows to his grandson Charlie. Franco tells Charlie he was born a chef and expects only the very best for him and the Belle Hotel. The pair are completely driven but when Franco suddenly dies Charlie finds it hard to fill his shoes.
A novel full of flavour and interest, we watch Charlie living the dream with women, drugs and the attention that someone being on top invites. Famous names litter the pages with guest appearances from Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Noel Gallagher, Jamie Oliver and the Carry On cast to name but a few. Sizzling with sex, drugs and good food this is a scintillating read. I wondered on more than one occasion how Charlie was ever going to pull himself out from the hole he had dug but I admit I was rather cheering for him towards the end and hoped that he found away.
About the Author
Craig Melvin holds an MA in Creative Writing from Sussex University and is a restaurant consultant in London and Brighton. He was mentored by Albert Roux at catering college and has worked in the restaurant and site business ever since. He also runs www.lunarlemonproductions.com with his wife Mel.
You can also find Craig:
on Twitter: @ccmelvin
on Instagram: @melvincraig
on Facebook: Craig Melvin Brighton
Hotel Belle is published by Unbound, the world’s first crowdfunding publisher, established in 2011.
‘We believe that wonderful things can happen when you lear a path for people who share a passion. That’s why we’ve built a platform that brings together readers and authors to crowdfund books they believe in – and give fresh ideas that don’t fit with traditional mould the chance they deserve.’
Again I am totally impressed by the quality that Unbound publishes. Hotel Belle is a super read and gives an intriguing insight into the (at times seedier side ) of life as chef trying to stay at the top.
Beton Rouge by Simone Buchholz
The second book in the critically acclaimed Chastity Riley series. On a warm September morning, a man is found unconscious and tortured in a cage at the entrance to the … Continue reading Beton Rouge by Simone Buchholz
Attend by West Camel
Every now and then a novel comes along that is something particularly extraordinary and unusual. Attend is one such novel. A tapestry in novel form, West has built a story that brings … Continue reading Attend by West Camel
Odette by Jessica Duchen
There is something rather wonderfully unique about this tale. A fairytale for grown ups with all the darkness and magic that surrounds them. I absolutely adore the ballet Swan Lake; the … Continue reading Odette by Jessica Duchen