Reviews
Chesapeake Home
‘Written with poignant honesty. . .you’ll swear you can smell the wild mint and hear the whirring of dragonfly wings as you turn each page.”
Publishers Weekly
“Full of insights and quiet humor. . .and the unpredictable mysteries to be found in the pursuit of dreams.”
The Post and Courier, Charleston
“Warm and inviting. . .Rizzoli writes honestly about the self-doubt, the joys, and the frustrations of reinventing oneself midlife.”
WSDL, Public Radio Delmarva
“Fascinating. . .part of the charm of the book is the homey details, such as how to develop menus that look to regional and traditional foods that will entice guests. . . and [it’s] very honest about the pressures of transition to life in a new locale.”
Low Tide, High Style
“A wonderful read filled with heartfelt emotion and humorous anecdotes. . .the book chronicles the transformation not only of a house but of two people.”
Old House Web
“My favorite kind of nonfiction narrative, the kind that’s such a pleasure to read that I hardly realize I’m learning quite a lot along the way. . .perfect for anyone who’s ever vacationed at a sweet little inn and wondered what it would be like to stay for good.”
Tidewater Times
“If you love the Eastern Shore, whether you live here or just come on weekends, you are going to love The House at Royal Oak.”
Housewatch.com
“If you love real estate and home renovation you might devour. . . [this] latest in what is affectionately known as the house porn genre.”
Mark Kramer, Founding Director and Writer-in-Residence, Nieman Program on Narrative Journalism, Harvard University
“If you’ve ever daydreamed about running a country inn, or wondered how the business worked, this is the book for you. The proprietor of the Royal Oak House in rural Maryland, an author and experienced newspaper editor, came to her new career equipped with the skills to set it down with humor, feeling, poise and elegance. She tells all, with the detail and great anecdotes to bring the full story of making and running an inn to life.”
Carolyn Jourdan, author of Heart in the Right Place
“A fascinating behind-the scenes look at the creation of an elegant B&B from a ruined house. Filled with quirky characters, this is a how-to book that deals with renovating lives as well as houses. Hard to put down.”
Jay Karen, President, Professional Association of Innkeepers International
“Really enjoyable and well written. I appreciated the innkeepers’ lessons. What an ‘ah-ha!’ moment for me.”
Joseph Lespier, President, Maryland Bed and Breakfast Association
“With exquisite sparkle and bounce, this journey speaks to the nature of the microcosm that is a bed-and-breakfast with all its calamities and joys.”
Robert Day, Adjunct Professor, Washington College and author of The Last Cattle Drive
“You’ll love Carol Rizzoli’s true story of her inn at Royal Oak. Eat your heart out Henry Fielding. Better yet, join the feast of madness and reason it takes to live and write the tale.”
