He thought his life was over. Love was just checking in.
On his 60th birthday, actor Hughie Roman…
Gets axed from his thirty-year stint on the soap opera Autumn of My Discontent. Check!
Finds out his ex-husband is remarrying his co-star. Check!
Gets his Lamborghini repossessed. Check!
It’s business as usual for this Hollywood disaster movie with designer luggage. After a good cry and a stiff drink, he drags himself to the Hotel Cairo, a historic haven he impulsively co-owns but has never visited. Will his life get the reboot it needs?
He expects a quiet place to lick his wounds. If only the hotel’s much younger new manager wasn’t so distractingly cute and infuriatingly altruistic. At 42, Fabian Flores worries about the Hotel Cairo’s precarious future while he wrestles with his own past. He wants to save the legacy of its enigmatic founder, Leo Cicero, an Oscar-winner who fled Hollywood during the darkest days of the 1980s AIDS crisis.
Under leaky roofs and the watchful, gossiping LGBTQ+ staff, and the hotel’s constantly meddling co-owner, Hughie and Fabian clash passionately. Will the Hotel Cairo survive a PR nightmare (thank you, Mr. Roman!), freshly unearthed small-town secrets, and an epic confrontation with the ghosts of queer history? And there’s the undeniable chemistry between them, certain to bring the hotel down.
Can two men, convinced they’re past their prime for epic love stories, discover a second act in their hearts? Or will Tinseltown scandals, small-town skeletons, and sins of the past check them out before love even gets a chance to unpack?
Dive into a heartfelt and hilarious gay romcom about finding love, laughter, and your own damn worth, no matter how old you are. If you adore witty banter, characters who feel like old friends, and stories that celebrate LGBTQ+ history with a knowing wink, you’ll be right at home at The Hotel Cairo.
Check in today and discover why love is always welcome!
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PRAISE FOR LOVE’S NOT WELCOME AT THE HOTEL CAIRO (now The Hotel Cairo):
“The writing is excellent, and as I said, the plot is straight from a soap opera with everyone getting up in each other’s lives, with tons of shenanigans.”
Review by novelist Maggie Blackbird, Romancing Canada’s Indigenous People:
The blurb got my attention. Two older men? Woot. Cairo? Yay! However, I learned it doesn’t take place in Cairo LOL, but that was fine. I enjoy mature romance, so this was up my alley. It’s a very long read at 150k, so my fingers were crossed that I’d like it.
First off, Hughie is the true star of this book. As stated in the blurb, he’s an aging actor who’s now out of a job after getting canned from his soap opera show, and in desperate need of money because he’s broke. Let’s not forget he’s recently divorced and was delivered a big bombshell from his ex, informing Hughie that he’s remarrying. All Hughie has left is his broken heart and shares in the Cairo Hotel. So when he arrives at the place, he isn’t at his finest, especially after losing out on another chance at an Emmy. He stinks. He’s hungover from too much drink. And he’s not arriving in a limo, but an Uber.
Then there’s Fabian, the acting hotel manager, who is also desperate but a super nice and super thoughtful guy. He wants the hotel to succeed, and he doesn’t want Hughie to sell his shares for $$$. James, the hotel’s lawyer, is also messing up Fabian’s hair. The man wants a decision on whether Fabian returns the lovestruck lawyer’s feelings. But Fabian’s unsure since the arrival of Hughie is setting off sparks Fabian doesn’t desire.
Mix in all kinds of eccentric characters (a woman who is anti-LGBTQ+ and the widow of the deceased owner, an aging bar owner, a logical Uber driver, and a no-nonsense chef), and the Cairo Hotel is about to become a soap opera straight from Hughie’s former TV show.
Hughie is the stereotype I imagined an aging actor to be: vain, desperate, conflicted, self-absorbed, and self-indulgent. But in a good way. Yes, a very good way. Because even though he comes across as shallow and even flakey at times, he’s darn loveable. He’s a lost puppy desperately looking for his next home. How can Fabian resist such charm?
The writing is excellent, and as I said, the plot is straight from a soap opera with everyone getting up in each other’s lives, with tons of shenanigans. But it’s not all fun and games, there is also depth that breathes reality into the novel that stops it from being a parody, but instead, a deep look into the lives of people working and living at the hotel. Secrets are uncovered, you’re left wondering who’ll win in the love triangle, and will the hotel carry on.
The author does a great job of bringing the characters and plot to life. It does sidetrack now and then which makes the pacing a bit bumpy sometimes. But it’s an easy niggle to overlook, along with the constant narrative in parenthesis. I enjoyed this read because it’s more than a romance. It’s strangers coming together to become a family unit to save what they all love—the hotel. Do yourself a favour and get a copy.
Amazon.com
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Vols77
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Read
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2023
What a delightful book about two men that are total opposites and both connected to the hotel. Hughie owns majority shares but plans to spend his majority shares to revive his soap Hollywood career but hotel manager Fabian is fighting to save it for the safe place it offers for gay weddings. A funny book that balances light and dark and humor and concerns. I gotta say all these awesome characters, especially the main two had me wanting check into the hotel and hang out with them, but the main characters steal the show. I feel in love for them and wanted them to find love even thought both were working hard to ignore bubbling feelings of love. Seems both have baggage and past that make love not something they think about. And omg what can I say about Hector. I laughed and I had tears in my eyes with this one. I also was not familiar with this author but have added them to my must read list. I did receive an ARC and leave this honey review.
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ThrillReader
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mature Romance
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2023
Hughie and Fabian are opposites in many ways. Hughie plans to sell the Hotel Cairo while Fabian would like to bring her back to her true glory. But, in the end they find their HEA. This book is a delightful, but rare, mature romance about two men who are in their middle years. It is a slow- burn treat to be savored, set in the Hotel Cairo. The Hotel Cairo has multiple characters which should make appearances in future spin-offs. That entertaining cast of characters will always feel warm and familiar as other couples find their love.
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avidreader4ever
5.0 out of 5 stars
Actually, it is
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2023
What to do with the Hotel Cairo? It depends on whose perspective is being considered. Hughie, the owner, sees it as a source of income that he can use to get his dormant career in Hollywood going again. Fabian, the manager, wants to keep the hotel going as a haven for inclusion and acceptance, especially for same sex couples who want to marry in peace and in an accepting place. They may be on opposing sides about what to do but having to work it out together gives them a chance to find love, if and when they get out of their own way. This story is timely in so many ways and was a pleasure to read.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
goodreads
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L H
5/5 stars
October 26, 2023
What to do with the Hotel Cairo? It depends on whose perspective is being considered. Hughie, the owner, sees it as a source of income that he can use to get his dormant career in Hollywood going again. Fabian, the manager, wants to keep the hotel going as a haven for inclusion and acceptance, especially for same sex couples who want to marry in peace and in an accepting place. They may be on opposing sides about what to do but having to work it out together gives them a chance to find love, if and when they get out of their own way. This story is timely in so many ways and was a pleasure to read.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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Tanya
5/5 stars
October 26, 2023
The hotel is there for love no matter who they are or want to be with. He wants to sell the hotel to make his dreams come true. Another has other plans for him and it does not include selling the hotel. Will he get a sale? Will he leave for his dreams? Are his dreams at the hotel? See hoe he gets on
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Pontiki
4/5 stars
October 25, 2023
Hughie is a 60 year old soap star whose ego has him thinking he can easily keep working after being let go from his job and causing a few scandals.
He hasn’t invested well, so the last thing he has is the Hotel Cairo, which he owns 50% of. He wants to sell his shares to pay for his house before he loses it to the bank.
Fabian manages the Hotel Cairo, and loves his work, his staff, and the beautiful valley it’s built above. The place needs some TLC, so he has an idea to make it a wedding venue, in particular fir. LGBTQ+ couples.
He draws Hughie to the hotel and tries to convince him to hold onto his shares instead of selling them to a soulless corporation, and eventually Hughie gives Fabian a chance by taking out a loan to pay his mortgage, giving Fabian time to make his plan work.
Hughie and Fabian have an attraction they each suspect is the other being manipulative, but even as barriers between them drop away, they can’t allow themselves to get involved.
Fabian even says yes to being exclusive with James, the hotel’s lawyer, in an effort to let go of Hughie, who says he’s leaving but finds reasons to stay.
To promote welcoming same sex weddings, another shareholder who does the PR for the hotel, Xenia, asks the boyfriends to have a fake wedding to take photos. Fabian has kissed Hughie and kept it a secret, so he feels guilty, and then they have a romantic dance as well, but are interrupted by James and Xenia.
James asks Fabian to marry him and he says yes, breaking both his and Hughie’s hearts. But, after much ado with wedding preparations, everything changes at the final hour.
Hughie and Fabian declare their feelings, and the rest of the story answers some questions that have come up throughout the book.
I enjoyed the story and the hotel setting, as well as the staff and other characters. The book has a farce like quality, but is sometimes a bit disjointed and also about 150 pages too long, but it’s still a fun and interesting read.
I received this ARC for free and am providing my honest review in appreciation.
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Amanda
4/5 stars
October 23, 2023
All my childhood, if I had a sick day from school I spent it watching “stories” with my Grandma. And that’s exactly what this book is. It’s a novel version of those stories, her word for Soap Operas, that she loved so dear. This book, even though set in the modern day, was everything I loved about those stories I watched with my Grandma. It has everything a good soap needs. Cheating, scandals, shocking reveals, the whole nine yards.
If you too miss those childhood days of watching Soaps with your Mom or Grandma instead of going to school, then this book is for you!
Blogs/Social Media/Etc.
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“Highly recommend it for those who enjoy a complete read with characters that will stay with you long after you check out.”
Love’s Not Welcome at the Hotel Cairo by Gary Alan Hidalgo is a fast-paced slow-burn romantic comedy that has a bit of everything.
The story follows Fabian Flores, the manager of the once-grand hotel and the hotel’s majority shareholder, Hughie Roman, who just turned 60 and is watching his Hollywood career dry up – he does not want to end up like the hotel fountains, covered in dirt and flowers.
Hughie plans to sell it to the highest bidder and get back into the limelight of Hollywood.
Fabian knows that the only way to keep the hotel is to win over Hughie’s heart with the magic that is the Hotel. But Hughie is a difficult man to sway. He’s arrogant, self-centered, and he’s never been interested in anything but his own success. But Fabian is determined to prove Hughie wrong.
He shows Hughie the beauty of the hotel, the warmth of its staff (some of which can be a bit prickly at times), and the love that its guests have for it.
This was one of the reads that you will want to curl up with and just enjoy. I look forward to spending time each day with the cast and staff of Hotel Cario. Filled with amazingly creative characters that truly brought the story to life.
Fabian stole my heart right from the beginning. Hughie took some time – I was constantly torn between giving the man props for his actions and wanting to aid him in gaining some sense (A little knock here and there). He could be exasperating.
James just rode my every last nerve but at the same time I couldn’t fault him it wasn’t maliciousness just that green monster tinting his vision.
And don’t get me started on the widow Xenia.
Highly recommend it for those who enjoy a complete read with characters that will stay with you long after you check out.
Review from A Wonderful Word of Words
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Amanda Reeves’s Instagram Review:
5 stars
It was amazing!
This was such an amazing book by a new to me author. There seems to be lots of ideas for what to do with this hotel from a lot of different view points. While this mainly focuses on Hughie and Fabian, there is no lack of other forefront characters that help bring humor into this story.
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Susie Umphers
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely delightful
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2023
Everyone has their own plans for the Hotel Cairo and we get to see all of them and meet all the characters with those different and to them, perfectly logical plans. The two main characters are on diametrically opposing sides. Hughie has dreams of selling the hotel and using the money to re-establish his Hollywood career as he refuses to acknowledge that his age may be working against him. Fabian, the younger hotel manager understands what a necessary safe space the hotel is for LGBTQ+ couples in their state to have weddings without facing discrimination. Of course, these two strike sparks of all kinds off each other but it takes a while before they realize it might be time to toss out the relationship baggage that’s keeping them apart. There’s plenty of wit in this one, but there is darkness too. The sometimes hateful climate of today’s world is not ignored. Really enjoyed all the characters who brought their love to this hotel and those who found their love there.
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Coffee♥︎
VINE VOICE
5.0 out of 5 stars
loved the premise & characters
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2023
The Hotel Cairo is the nexus for a lot of hopes, dreams, ideas, and ideals, making it a vibrant and dynamic backdrop for the relationship that develops between Hughie and Fabian, who have very different visions of what the hotel’s future should be— a sacrifice on the path to career success or a safe space to celebrate LGBTQIA+ unions. While the premise is seriously compelling, I think the characters are the real heart of this story’s appeal: not just Hughie and Fabian but everyone who moves through the hotel feels carefully drawn and interestingly nuanced, for all kinds of reasons. Overall, there’s so much here: wit and heart and moments that are light and moments that are heavier and it all feels significant in so many interesting ways— well worth a read.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.