THE GUEST IN ROOM 120 by Sara Ackerman

4 stars

I have to start out by saying I’ve read and loved all of Sara Akerman’s books, with their powerful connections to Hawaiian history and people and deep exploration of relationships. While the historical premise of this book and mystery surrounding it intrigues and I learned much about the Jane Stanford, co-founder of Standford University with her husband, the character depth did not resonate for me as deeply as Sara’s other writing, and I just did not love the plot twist of ghosts, haunting, and horror. Also, as Sara explains in the after-note she did take much narrative liberty in conjuring what actually may have caused Jane’s death in 1905 at the Moana hotel in Hawaii.

After Jane’s railroad magnate husband dies, Jane continues to guide their donation that founded Stanford University. To do so, she has to fight innumerable dismissive men on the university’s board who dismisses her views on education including women. In particular she goes head to head with the President of the University at the time who deeply resents her and tries to oust her influence in any way he can. When a poisoning attempt fails to kill Jane, she decides to abscond to Hawaii with two trusted servants in tow. She lands at the Moana Hotel, and while there befriends a young native girl, ‘Iliahi Baldwin, who’s just been hired. Despite Jane’s callous and dismissive treatment of her servants, Jane takes a shining to ‘Ilahi who she trusts to have her best interests at heart.

Parallel to this story line a hundred years later in 2005, romantic novelist Zoe Finch has hit writer’s block while on deadline for her next book and has come under a pseudonym to a writer’s conference at the Moana Hotel. She’s assigned to Room 120, the same hotel room where Jane had died. There’s a romantic plot with teacher Dylan at the conference as well as Zoe becoming both obsessed and haunted by what actually caused Jane’s death.

I’m so hoping that Sara returns in her next novel to the relationship-driven brilliance of her prior novels.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.