Maggie Blackbird

Today, author Amy Craig is guesting. She’s talking about her latest release The Starlight Motel, a contemporary romance. Be sure to read my review. And don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

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I live in Louisiana, but I’m a Northern California girl at heart. I frequently read Bay Area online news sites for restaurant trends, wildfire updates, and changes to the cities where I lived. Maybe I’ll go back one day for more than a visit!

A few years ago, a news story about a San Francisco mural caught my eye. The 455 Hyde Street murals, collectively known as ​Le Papillon​, tell the story of San Francisco’s urban beauties. On two walls, ​monarchs fly toward the California Poppy. I almost bought a plane ticket to see the vibrant murals while their colors were sharpest, but economic realities prevailed.

As I learned more about ​Le Papillon, Kada, the main character in THE STARLIGHT MOTEL, came into focus. Kada’s a muralist with a brilliant career. When a failed crowd-funding project stalls her career, she helps her family run a Palm Springs motel. The question is, why does she love it?

One answer might lie in her art and the reasons she paints. In THE STARLIGHT MOTEL, and in other literature, muralists are integral members of their communities. They collaborate with local residents, incorporate community stories into art, and use murals to foster belonging and unity. This portrayal highlights art’s communal nature and its potential to bring people together. Running a motel is a lot like being the mayor of a small community, but most constituents don’t ring their elected officials and ask for additional toilet paper. If Kada can’t find a way to paint, she’s still a caregiver, but she had to care for herself, too.

Muralists make great fictional characters because they often undergo significant personal growth (“The Murals” by William Bayer, “The Lacuna” by Barbara Kingsolver, or “Shadowshaper” by Daniel José Older). As artists create their murals, they confront personal challenges, heal from past traumas, or discover new facets of themselves. This process of creation and self-discovery makes their journeys deeply relatable and inspiring. Unfortunately, painting a mural takes longer than we have in contemporary romances. Baby, we’re falling in love in a week, not eighteen months!

Like muralists, Kada has more than one identity. She’s a devoted daughter, an artist who needs to regroup, and a caring, compassionate woman walking the line between responsibility and self-sacrifice. Her ranching neighbor, Dane, is complex, too. He isn’t about to let anyone push him around, but what has he missed by being so hardcore?

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Title: The Starlight Motel
Series: N/A
Author: Amy Craig
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Release Date: August 26, 2024
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

A New Year’s Eve resolution challenges an artist’s resolutions…

Blurb: Experienced muralist Kada took charge of her family’s Palm Springs motel to give her mother time to grieve. As a grant deadline approaches, Kada must convince her mother to manage the motel so she can return to her art.

Late in December, Kada encounters a horseman approaching the property. Dane, the reserved son of a local farming family, is a loyal workaholic with limited spare time or experience outside the valley. When lightning startles his horse, he lingers at the motel and stirs up Kada’s emotions about leaving the desert oasis. Wary of mixing business with pleasure, she struggles with her attraction.

As New Year’s Eve approaches, will the cowboy convince her to chart a new course?

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Her skin warmed from the heat of his palms. “I can’t afford to sit around the laundry room and gossip with the guests.

“Trust me, Kada, I’m not here to gossip.”

“You’re ready to pitch in on odd jobs? You’re such a good neighbor.” She swallowed past the dryness in her throat. She had a three-date rule, but if she never started the first date, did the rule apply? “Thanks for helping with Lucky.”

“Any time.” He tipped up her chin. “Are you sure that’s where you want to stop? You brought me your number and rode out into the desert with me, but now you’re skittish?”


Her throat felt parched, but she wanted to lean forward and test his intent. Instead, she kicked her feet against the machine’s vibrating drum. “I’m not skittish, but I’m not into quick romps on a washing machine.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I wasn’t suggesting a quick romp.”

She wanted to test the innuendo behind his offer, but the sequence felt out of order. Before she considered kissing the handsome farmer, she needed dinner, candlelight, and time to breathe.

Her body offered a different opinion. Clearing her throat, she hopped off the washing machine, ducked under his arm, and ran her tongue along her teeth. In the tiny room, his skin smelled like fresh lime, warm spices, and a hint of honey, but his shirt held the leathery undertones of a hard day’s work. He looked handsome, and she wanted to taste his kiss, but she needed a different setup. “Or long romps.”

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As stated in the blurb, Kada has a deadline.  Her heart belongs to art since she is a muralist.  But after her grandfather’s death, she cares for the hotel that belongs to her family since her grieving mother isn’t in any shape to take care of anything.  Kada simply wants to do her duty and then get her butt back to L.A., a city that had broken her heart when she faced big rejection as an artist, but this time she’s determined to win.

Then there is Dane who lives next door on the other property.  His heart belongs to Palm Springs and the vast desert surrounding it.  So when he encounters Kada, sparks fly between the two. He wants her to stick around and not abandon him for the bright lights of L.A.

First, I liked both characters.  Kada’s a good person who’s always ready to help.  She also dreams big and is no quitter since she won’t give up, even after encountering a previously big failure.  Her heart belongs to art, even if it means teaching it.  Dane is easygoing but very persistent since he won’t give up on convincing Kada to stay.

There was an instant attraction between the two.  While Kada juggles the endless demands that go with running the hotel, she has Dane to contend with.  The more he sticks around, the more he weasels his way into her heart.  And this is the core of the story—Kada juggling work and Dane, while trying to get her butt to L.A.

The setting is vividly described, along with everything that goes with running a hotel.  I learned much about the Palm Springs area through the plot that took Kada and Dane all over the area.  At times, though, the outings and duties both interfered, which resulted in a slow-paced novel.  Some people enjoy a leisurely pace, but I prefer something a bit quicker.  Still, it was an enjoyable read with great conversations between Kada and Dane as they got to know each other.  This, I feel, was important because of the decision Kada had to make.  One isn’t going to set aside their dreams to simply remain at a hotel with a cowboy on a whim.  Kada had to want both, and the author did a great job showing this through each turn of the page.  Being a people person, Kada thrives in the environment with all kinds of various guests the author brings to life.

It’s a lovely romance between the two that blossoms into something very realistic.  I recommend you give the read a try, but as I said, it’s a slow read, so remember that for those who prefer something quicker-paced.

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Amy Craig lives in Louisiana with her family and a small menagerie of pets. She writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense featuring intelligent heroines. In her spare time, she plays tennis and expands her husband’s honey-do list. Before writing, she worked as an oilfield engineer, project manager, and incompetent waitress. For more information and giveaways, visit www.amy-craig.com or follow her on social media channels.

Follow Amy: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Tik-Tok | BookBub | Goodreads | Amazon | Link Tree

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