Book Extract: Stormy Skies at the Beach Hotel by Francesca Capaldi

Published June 5, 2025 | By Laura

It’s very exciting to be welcoming Francesca Capaldi to Novel Kicks and to be kicking off the blog tour for her latest book, Stormy Skies at the Beach Hotel.

Chambermaid Fanny is thanking her lucky stars she has had a second chance at life. As an unmarried mother, it could have been very different, and she is happy.

But when new maid, Susie, arrives at the Beach Hotel, it isn’t long before sparks fly. Susie begins to meddle in Fanny’s friendships and even in her budding romance with Walter, an American working at the aerodrome.

Meanwhile, a flu epidemic starts to spread and as more people fall ill, the hotel is forced to close.

Matters come to a head when Susie plots to reveal secrets about Fanny that could spell her ruin.

Can the hotel and the hardworking women who run it survive?

To celebrate publication day, Francesca has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.

*****beginning of extract*****

Fanny Bullen, who’s the head chambermaid at the Beach Hotel, is having an afternoon off with her two-year-old toddler, Elsie, by the seaside.

*****

Fanny looked out at the wide expanse of wet sand leading to a low tide. Beyond that, the sea was a dark, muddy green. She closed her eyes and breathed in the sea air. There were only around half a dozen stalls and tents along the promenade today, with it still being April.

‘Will there be Punen Juicy?’ Elsie asked.

‘Punch and Judy. Not today, sweetie.’

Elsie stuck out her bottom lip but seemed to accept it.

‘We’ll take a walk to the pier and see what’s down there.’

‘All wight, Mummy.’

The tent closest to the pier housed a fortune teller. Fanny wondered what ‘Madame Giovanna’ might tell her about her future. More than likely, she’d grow old being the head chambermaid.

Elsie stopped. ‘Mummy, that noise ’gain.’ She pointed out to sea.

‘It must be another big thunderstorm in France.’ It’s what she’d told her daughter before, not wanting to explain what the war was or that it was cannons and gunfire that she could hear. She hunkered down. ‘Don’t worry, it can’t come here.’

As she was getting up, she was nearly knocked flying, just managing to get her balance before she fell against Elsie. She heard a voice exclaim, ‘Oof, what the—’

As she stood back up, she saw a young man beside her, looking as shocked as she felt. He must have bumped into her by mistake.

‘You right, Mummy?’ Elsie looked concerned.

‘I’m fine, sweetie.’

There was soon another man beside the first, frowning. ‘Hey, Ron, apologise to the lady.’

‘What? Oh, yeah, sorry ma’am.’

Fanny was more taken by being referred to as a ‘lady’, than by the half-hearted apology. What part of the country were these characters from? She’d never heard an accent quite like it. There was a hint of the Irish drawl of Lorcan, who’d been a porter at the hotel before the war, but no, it wasn’t quite that either.

‘Are you and the little girl okay, ma’am?’ said the second man, who’d called her a lady.

‘Um, yes. Thank you.’

He regarded her for a few seconds, in which time she took in his tanned face, dark brown hair and dimpled chin. He had striking green eyes that looked kind, or so it seemed to her.

‘Apologies again, ma’am. My friend Ron has a habit of not lookin’ where he’s goin’.’

‘It’s all right. It’s fine. I’m fine.’

She wanted to stare at him for longer, but at the same time was embarrassed about feeling that way and wanted him to move on.

‘If you’re sure.’ He headed off, looking at her for a while as he did so. Ron had already walked away.

‘Let’s go on the pier, Elsie, see if there are any ships on the river.’

She took her daughter’s hand, and they set off once more. The two men had now joined a group of half a dozen others, who seemed to be teasing Ron, probably about his little accident.

Fanny decided to look ahead and ignore them, but she’d only been doing this a few seconds when the polite man ran back over to her.

‘Sorry to disturb you again, ma’am, but I was wonderin’ if you’d be able to recommend any eateries where we could get some good food. We’re all mighty hungry and I thought a local might have a better idea.’

She was taken aback to be asked this, but soon rallied to reply, ‘Can I ask where you’re from? I’ve never heard an accent quite like yours.’

‘We’re from the United States of America, ma’am. We’re here buildin’ the aerodrome in Rustington.’

Of course, she should have thought of that.

‘Well, there’s the Harbour Tea Rooms just down there, on Pier Road.’ She pointed upriver, past the Casino Theatre and the windmill. ‘But if you want more of a meal, there’s Read’s Dining Rooms or the Temperance Restaurant in town. If you walk straight down Pier Road, it’ll take you into town, and someone there’ll direct you.’

‘Why, thank you, ma’am. What about that big hotel there, as I understand it is.’

She turned to where he was pointing to the building in the distance that dominated the common. She smiled. ‘That’s the Beach Hotel. It’s very exclusive, and expensive, and I should know ’cos I work there.’

‘Oh, I see.’ He laughed, and she did too. ‘Outta our price range then.’

All the while, Elsie had been leaning against Fanny’s leg, looking up with big eyes at the newcomer. The man looked down at her and smiled.

‘What a sweet kid. I guess her daddy’s abroad, fightin’.’

‘No, I’ve, um, lost her father.’ She fiddled with the ring on her left hand.

He rubbed the back of his neck, and his face went a little pink. ‘I’m real sorry, ma’am. I should learn to mind my own business.’

‘Don’t worry. He’s been gone a while now, so I’ve got used to it.’ The truth was, she’d gotten over Albert before Elsie had even been born, realising she’d been used by him. To change the subject, she said, ‘Where exactly in the United States are you from?’

‘Kansas, ma’am, but I don’t suppose you’ve heard of it.’

‘Yes I have, because I’ve been reading the Oz books by Frank Baum.’

‘Fancy that! My aunt used to read them to my cousins.’

It was only when he said this that it occurred to her that it might sound a little odd, her reading children’s books.

‘Well, I guess I’d better get back to my buddies with the eatery recommendations. Thank you for your time, ma’am. By the way, I’m Walter Lehmann. How’d ya do?’

He held out his hand and she shook it. ‘I’m Fanny Bullen, Francine really, but everyone calls me Fanny. How do you do?’

‘Maybe one day I’ll be able to afford to go to the swanky Beach Hotel and see ya there.’

She smiled. ‘Maybe.’

*****end of extract*****

About Francesca Capaldi –

Francesca Capaldi has enjoyed writing since she was a child, largely influenced by a Welsh mother who was good at improvised story telling.

Writing both under her maiden name, Francesca Capaldi, and her married name, Francesca Burgess, she is the author of historical saga novels, short stories published in the UK and abroad, and several pocket novels. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists.

The first novel in the Beach Hotel series, A New Start at the Beach Hotel, won the Romantic Saga Award at the Romantic Novelists’ Association Awards in 2024. The first novel in the Wartime in the Valleys series, Heartbreak in the Valleys, was shortlisted for the Historical Romantic Award in the RoNAs in 2021. Both the Valleys series and the Beach Hotel series are published by Hera Books.

Francesca was born and brought up on the Sussex coast. She currently lives in Kent with her family and a cat called Lando Calrission.

Say hello to Francesca via her website, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

Stormy Skies at the Beach Hotel is book five in the Beach Hotel series was released by Canelo Hera on 5th June 2025. Click here to buy.