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Hotel of Secrets
During ball season, anything can happen, even love.
It’s ball season in Vienna, and Maria Wallner only wants one thing: to restore her family’s hotel, the Hotel Wallner, to its former glory. She’s not going to let anything get in her way - not her parents’ three-decade-long affair; not seemingly-random attacks by masked assassins; and especially not the broad-shouldered American foreign agent who’s saved her life two times already. No matter how luscious his mouth is.
Eli Whittaker also only wants one thing: to find out who is selling American secret codes across Europe, arrest them, and go home to his sensible life in Washington, DC. He has one lead - a letter the culprit sent from a Viennese hotel. But when he arrives in Vienna, he is immediately swept up into a chaotic whirlwind of balls, spies, waltzes, and beautiful hotelkeepers who seem to constantly find themselves in danger. He disapproves of all of it! But his disapproval is tested as he slowly falls deeper into the chaos - and as his attraction to said hotelkeeper grows.
It’s ball season in Vienna, and Maria Wallner only wants one thing: to restore her family’s hotel, the Hotel Wallner, to its former glory. She’s not going to let anything get in her way - not her parents’ three-decade-long affair; not seemingly-random attacks by masked assassins; and especially not the broad-shouldered American foreign agent who’s saved her life two times already. No matter how luscious his mouth is.
Eli Whittaker also only wants one thing: to find out who is selling American secret codes across Europe, arrest them, and go home to his sensible life in Washington, DC. He has one lead - a letter the culprit sent from a Viennese hotel. But when he arrives in Vienna, he is immediately swept up into a chaotic whirlwind of balls, spies, waltzes, and beautiful hotelkeepers who seem to constantly find themselves in danger. He disapproves of all of it! But his disapproval is tested as he slowly falls deeper into the chaos - and as his attraction to said hotelkeeper grows.
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First published March 28, 2023
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March 28, 2023
✨When he cites his sources during sex✨
Hotel of Secrets was everything I was anticipating and more. I mean if you tell me there’s going to be a large and stern and competent virgin hero I’m all yours, but I also loved the plot and complex family drama all housed within Hotel Wallner. It was such a cozy read—I mean there was definitely murder but like…all is fair in love and hoteliering.
While the first two books by Biller were (in my opinion) saddening overall, Hotel of Secrets balanced the somber with the sparkling. The Hotel Wallner and the varied guests and mishaps made a wonderfully lush Venetian backdrop for such a fluffy romance. I’ve always been a fan of how Biller writes heroes, but she really pulled out all of the stops for Eli.
Overall, this was the book I’ve been waiting for from Biller. I’ve loved the writing in all three, but everything came into place for me in Hotel of Secrets. I think it would make a great book club read and a solid addition to my “stranger has asked me what to read and I need various recommendations” arsenal!
Note: From what I could tell, this book has no relation to the characters or world of The Widow of Rose House and The Brightest Star in Paris.
As for the audiobook, I’m so happy I waited to read until I received a copy! I adored the narrator and all of her voices, but especially Eli’s voice. For some reason I’ve got no fondness for the American accent until the hero is the only American to be found in a foreign land. (Hello Matthew Swift’s impact.) The narrator also performed the book’s humor and cheek so well.
My only quibble is that there were a lot of character names and a pretty tangled web of family relationships, which made it a bit hard to follow while listening. Never fear, I got there eventually.
*Mild spoilers below for plot things unrelated to the mystery or anything like that…basically just things that Eli did that I loved. They could be spoilers just because you may prefer to discover them for yourself!*
My favorite running theme was the dark-haired man fated to be Maria’s future husband. (Her family had a long line of women marrying and producing one daughter, so all do Vienna speculates on who her man will be.) The book opens with characters speculating that the man will be dark haired. So naturally Maria runs (literally) into Eli (handsome)(large)(dark haired) on the street. Hijinks obviously ensue.
My second favorite running theme was the bit about linen closets and equipping them for elicit entanglements. Maria really just wanted to get ravished in a linen closet and she was so real for it. Eli, ever a man of duty and service, was quick to assist. God bless America. 🫡
But the rest of the book was just as fun. Like when Eli thought he was being a sneaky spy who spies but literally everyone knew he was an unsneaky spy who spied. I simply had to laugh. Or when he bought erotic literature to study. Or when he walked in on Maria touching herself, only to ask her to continue… Yeah that was iconic. Or when he said she didn’t touch herself efficiently. Or when Maria’s family did anything. Oh and the curse, naturally. And I can’t forget the third act non-breakup as it was more of a hiccup and totally worked for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️.5*/5
*There were around three open-door scenes where both characters orgasmed, all in various locales and situations. I wanted one more scene to round the book out at the end.
CW: Eli’s backstory revolves around an abusive father who used religion as punishment and a severe moral code.
Thanks so much to the publisher for an ALC via NetGalley and physical ARC! All opinions are honest and my own.
Hotel of Secrets was everything I was anticipating and more. I mean if you tell me there’s going to be a large and stern and competent virgin hero I’m all yours, but I also loved the plot and complex family drama all housed within Hotel Wallner. It was such a cozy read—I mean there was definitely murder but like…all is fair in love and hoteliering.
While the first two books by Biller were (in my opinion) saddening overall, Hotel of Secrets balanced the somber with the sparkling. The Hotel Wallner and the varied guests and mishaps made a wonderfully lush Venetian backdrop for such a fluffy romance. I’ve always been a fan of how Biller writes heroes, but she really pulled out all of the stops for Eli.
Overall, this was the book I’ve been waiting for from Biller. I’ve loved the writing in all three, but everything came into place for me in Hotel of Secrets. I think it would make a great book club read and a solid addition to my “stranger has asked me what to read and I need various recommendations” arsenal!
Note: From what I could tell, this book has no relation to the characters or world of The Widow of Rose House and The Brightest Star in Paris.
As for the audiobook, I’m so happy I waited to read until I received a copy! I adored the narrator and all of her voices, but especially Eli’s voice. For some reason I’ve got no fondness for the American accent until the hero is the only American to be found in a foreign land. (Hello Matthew Swift’s impact.) The narrator also performed the book’s humor and cheek so well.
My only quibble is that there were a lot of character names and a pretty tangled web of family relationships, which made it a bit hard to follow while listening. Never fear, I got there eventually.
*Mild spoilers below for plot things unrelated to the mystery or anything like that…basically just things that Eli did that I loved. They could be spoilers just because you may prefer to discover them for yourself!*
My favorite running theme was the dark-haired man fated to be Maria’s future husband. (Her family had a long line of women marrying and producing one daughter, so all do Vienna speculates on who her man will be.) The book opens with characters speculating that the man will be dark haired. So naturally Maria runs (literally) into Eli (handsome)(large)(dark haired) on the street. Hijinks obviously ensue.
My second favorite running theme was the bit about linen closets and equipping them for elicit entanglements. Maria really just wanted to get ravished in a linen closet and she was so real for it. Eli, ever a man of duty and service, was quick to assist. God bless America. 🫡
But the rest of the book was just as fun. Like when Eli thought he was being a sneaky spy who spies but literally everyone knew he was an unsneaky spy who spied. I simply had to laugh. Or when he bought erotic literature to study. Or when he walked in on Maria touching herself, only to ask her to continue… Yeah that was iconic. Or when he said she didn’t touch herself efficiently. Or when Maria’s family did anything. Oh and the curse, naturally. And I can’t forget the third act non-breakup as it was more of a hiccup and totally worked for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️.5*/5
*There were around three open-door scenes where both characters orgasmed, all in various locales and situations. I wanted one more scene to round the book out at the end.
CW: Eli’s backstory revolves around an abusive father who used religion as punishment and a severe moral code.
Thanks so much to the publisher for an ALC via NetGalley and physical ARC! All opinions are honest and my own.
March 29, 2023
3.5⭐
Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, historical fiction, 1800's, some violence, steamage
Maria & Eli
The journal entries from prior years that start each chapter were a nice touch. Maria is a lady that knows what she wants and goes after it. I liked how she wanted to restore the hotel and throw a ball like they had done many years ago. I think attending a ball would be fun, but I don't think my personality could have lived in the 19th century.
Eli was a sweet celibate spy. I liked how we had a reverse virgin storyline and how he did his research of what he needed to do to get the job done.
I don't read too much historical romance, this might be my first or second actually, but it seems like an awful lot of work for a quickie in the linen closet with all the ties and buttons and multiple skirts and what not to tackle.
Overall, I feel this would appeal to those that enjoy historical fiction with some romance and mystery.
Narration:
Carlotta Brentan ~ 13 hours 32 minutes ~ fine job.
*Thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, historical fiction, 1800's, some violence, steamage
Maria & Eli
The journal entries from prior years that start each chapter were a nice touch. Maria is a lady that knows what she wants and goes after it. I liked how she wanted to restore the hotel and throw a ball like they had done many years ago. I think attending a ball would be fun, but I don't think my personality could have lived in the 19th century.
Eli was a sweet celibate spy. I liked how we had a reverse virgin storyline and how he did his research of what he needed to do to get the job done.
I don't read too much historical romance, this might be my first or second actually, but it seems like an awful lot of work for a quickie in the linen closet with all the ties and buttons and multiple skirts and what not to tackle.
Overall, I feel this would appeal to those that enjoy historical fiction with some romance and mystery.
Narration:
Carlotta Brentan ~ 13 hours 32 minutes ~ fine job.
*Thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
March 29, 2023
Hotel of Secrets by Diane Biller
Historical drama with mystery and romance.
Maria Wallner is third generation owner and manager of the Hotel Wallner in Venice. The hotel has fallen on difficult times and business is down. Maria is trying to get a bank loan to refurbish the hotel but with business down and hard times all over in 1877, they aren’t lending. Strange accidents are befalling Maria and foreign agent Eli Whittaker has come to Maria’s rescue. Eli is smitten with Maria but really just wants to find the spy who is selling secrets and go back home.
An intriguing family drama and mystery with a steamy romance thrown in. It moves quickly as the mystery is drawn deeper and the characters get depth with history and unexpected problems.
🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and an audiobook. The narration was done by Carlotta Brenton who did a wonderful job with voice variances, emotional expression and timing. I especially liked her voice for Maria. It seemed to bring her to life. The passion in the story was done with a breathlessness that truly had me mesmerized.
I listened to the audio at a speed of 1.5 which is my preferred.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
Historical drama with mystery and romance.
Maria Wallner is third generation owner and manager of the Hotel Wallner in Venice. The hotel has fallen on difficult times and business is down. Maria is trying to get a bank loan to refurbish the hotel but with business down and hard times all over in 1877, they aren’t lending. Strange accidents are befalling Maria and foreign agent Eli Whittaker has come to Maria’s rescue. Eli is smitten with Maria but really just wants to find the spy who is selling secrets and go back home.
An intriguing family drama and mystery with a steamy romance thrown in. It moves quickly as the mystery is drawn deeper and the characters get depth with history and unexpected problems.
🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and an audiobook. The narration was done by Carlotta Brenton who did a wonderful job with voice variances, emotional expression and timing. I especially liked her voice for Maria. It seemed to bring her to life. The passion in the story was done with a breathlessness that truly had me mesmerized.
I listened to the audio at a speed of 1.5 which is my preferred.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
October 31, 2022
4.5 stars
I had a difficult work week and this escape into 1870s Vienna made me immeasurably happy. As a devoted fan of Eva Ibbotson, I’ve always adored historical Vienna as a literary setting. The waltzing during the winter Ball Season! The shocking social scandals! The political intrigue surrounding the chaotic imperial dynasty! I love the drama of it all, and this book is nothing but drama.
In HOTEL OF SECRETS, Maria Wallner is throwing a grand ball for her hotel’s comeback into society, but keeps getting distracted by an American agent investigating leaked codes (and her). The hotel sabotaging incidents and assassination attempts on Maria’s life are, however, more troubling than some leaked codes. Something is afoot, and it’s clear that the scandalous Wallner family is knee-deep in imperial intrigue. There are three generations of Wallner women, and each secret is more shocking than the last.
HOTEL OF SECRETS is a standalone but I hope the author considers writing more books set outside England and the United States. I was incredibly impressed by the depth of historical research regarding the 1873 financial crisis and political uprisings neighboring the Austro-Hungarian empire. If I had one criticism: there are a couple plot points that I didn’t totally grasp due to confusion. I also didn’t care at all because I was so swept up by the rest of the story. Longer RTC closer to publication date.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I had a difficult work week and this escape into 1870s Vienna made me immeasurably happy. As a devoted fan of Eva Ibbotson, I’ve always adored historical Vienna as a literary setting. The waltzing during the winter Ball Season! The shocking social scandals! The political intrigue surrounding the chaotic imperial dynasty! I love the drama of it all, and this book is nothing but drama.
In HOTEL OF SECRETS, Maria Wallner is throwing a grand ball for her hotel’s comeback into society, but keeps getting distracted by an American agent investigating leaked codes (and her). The hotel sabotaging incidents and assassination attempts on Maria’s life are, however, more troubling than some leaked codes. Something is afoot, and it’s clear that the scandalous Wallner family is knee-deep in imperial intrigue. There are three generations of Wallner women, and each secret is more shocking than the last.
HOTEL OF SECRETS is a standalone but I hope the author considers writing more books set outside England and the United States. I was incredibly impressed by the depth of historical research regarding the 1873 financial crisis and political uprisings neighboring the Austro-Hungarian empire. If I had one criticism: there are a couple plot points that I didn’t totally grasp due to confusion. I also didn’t care at all because I was so swept up by the rest of the story. Longer RTC closer to publication date.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2022
4.5/5
Diana Biller transports readers to 1870s Vienna in this dazzling new historical romance centered around the Hotel Wallner. I’m constantly impressed with how she breathes fresh life into the genre and writes some of the best fictional love stories. Eli and Maria’s sweeping romance is one that will stay with me for a while.
Hotel of Secrets follows Maria, a hotelkeeper determined to restore the fame of her family’s hotel, the Hotel Wallner. The upcoming ball season is the perfect opportunity to bring back the hotel to its glory days. If only her plans for hosting the ball were not being foiled at every turn and she wasn’t being attacked by masked assassins. Luckily for Maria, she’s got a savior in the mysterious American, Eli Whittaker, who is in Vienna on an investigative mission. Sparks fly between the two – Maria can’t stop looking at his lips! – and they find themselves constantly in each other’s gravitational fields. It’s all full of delicious tension!
Diana Biller’s true talents lay in crafting nuanced characters who feel unique book-to-book. And they all somehow manage to be endearing. I immediately bonded with Maria and admired how hardworking and resilient she was. She had a fire to her that was necessary for her to run the hotel, particularly with the state it was in. It’s this fire that makes Maria a standout character who you can’t help but root for. Maria’s love for the Hotel Wallner is a living breathing part of Hotel of Secrets and it’s hard as a reader not to become gripped by that love.
Eli offers the perfect balance to Maria’s fiery and passionate self. He’s quiet and intuitive and VERY BOTHERED, which made him all the more attractive. I swear Diana Biller is putting crack in her fictional men because how is everyone of them book husband material? I thought I loved Samuel and Benedict Moore, but Eli just came out of nowhere and snatched by heart and said “you thought??”. His past is tragic and full of pain, and it’s obvious that he still carried the guilt and sorrow of his actions into his present. It’s all led to him being reserved and keeping people at an arm’s length. However, resisting Maria is a challenge that he doesn’t want to undertake. The reason Eli’s character worked so well as a romantic partner is because of his self-awareness and his honesty. He could have easily kept his past hidden from Maria, but he’s not a deceptive person by any means. And I was a simp for him.
I was so charmed by his and Maria’s dynamic. He has a protective streak (as a result of his job), but is also quite innocent in some regards. Friends, you’re going to want to take a seat for this next statement: he’s celibate before meeting Maria and a virgin! PLUS, HE READS EROTIC BOOKS TO EDUCATE HIMSELF. King behavior! And what a fast learner he was! I LOVED that Maria had somewhat of the upperhand in the bedroom department and she was completely unashamed with her sexual side. I was obsessed with their sexual tension and even more obsessed with how they found companionship with each other. Truly, these two were the very best of characters and therefore, deserved only sunshine, rainbows, and happiness!
The Hotel Wallner, with all its stories, is an equally compelling inclusion in Hotel of Secrets. It’s a site of intrigue, drama, love, life, and loss. If you, like me, love when the setting of a story is as pivotal to the plot as the characters, you are going to love what Diana Biller has done with it here. It’s the sort of setting that will leave you dazzled by its beauty and its intrigue, but also have you feeling frustrated for all the chaos it causes in Maria’s life. There’s also some historical political intrigue in this book that adds to the richness of the story. I found the balance between the plot and the love story to be perfect here!
Hotel of Secrets proved to me that I am a Diana Biller fangirl through and through. I enjoyed every minute of Maria, Eli, and the Hotel Wallner’s adventures. If you would like to read a brilliant, well-researched historical book with an engrossing romance, don’t miss out on Hotel of Secrets.
Content notes: attempted murder, gun violence, death, kidnapping, abusive parental figure, on-page sex
Relationship disclosure: Diana Biller & I are social media mutuals.
Diana Biller transports readers to 1870s Vienna in this dazzling new historical romance centered around the Hotel Wallner. I’m constantly impressed with how she breathes fresh life into the genre and writes some of the best fictional love stories. Eli and Maria’s sweeping romance is one that will stay with me for a while.
Hotel of Secrets follows Maria, a hotelkeeper determined to restore the fame of her family’s hotel, the Hotel Wallner. The upcoming ball season is the perfect opportunity to bring back the hotel to its glory days. If only her plans for hosting the ball were not being foiled at every turn and she wasn’t being attacked by masked assassins. Luckily for Maria, she’s got a savior in the mysterious American, Eli Whittaker, who is in Vienna on an investigative mission. Sparks fly between the two – Maria can’t stop looking at his lips! – and they find themselves constantly in each other’s gravitational fields. It’s all full of delicious tension!
Diana Biller’s true talents lay in crafting nuanced characters who feel unique book-to-book. And they all somehow manage to be endearing. I immediately bonded with Maria and admired how hardworking and resilient she was. She had a fire to her that was necessary for her to run the hotel, particularly with the state it was in. It’s this fire that makes Maria a standout character who you can’t help but root for. Maria’s love for the Hotel Wallner is a living breathing part of Hotel of Secrets and it’s hard as a reader not to become gripped by that love.
Eli offers the perfect balance to Maria’s fiery and passionate self. He’s quiet and intuitive and VERY BOTHERED, which made him all the more attractive. I swear Diana Biller is putting crack in her fictional men because how is everyone of them book husband material? I thought I loved Samuel and Benedict Moore, but Eli just came out of nowhere and snatched by heart and said “you thought??”. His past is tragic and full of pain, and it’s obvious that he still carried the guilt and sorrow of his actions into his present. It’s all led to him being reserved and keeping people at an arm’s length. However, resisting Maria is a challenge that he doesn’t want to undertake. The reason Eli’s character worked so well as a romantic partner is because of his self-awareness and his honesty. He could have easily kept his past hidden from Maria, but he’s not a deceptive person by any means. And I was a simp for him.
I was so charmed by his and Maria’s dynamic. He has a protective streak (as a result of his job), but is also quite innocent in some regards. Friends, you’re going to want to take a seat for this next statement: he’s celibate before meeting Maria and a virgin! PLUS, HE READS EROTIC BOOKS TO EDUCATE HIMSELF. King behavior! And what a fast learner he was! I LOVED that Maria had somewhat of the upperhand in the bedroom department and she was completely unashamed with her sexual side. I was obsessed with their sexual tension and even more obsessed with how they found companionship with each other. Truly, these two were the very best of characters and therefore, deserved only sunshine, rainbows, and happiness!
The Hotel Wallner, with all its stories, is an equally compelling inclusion in Hotel of Secrets. It’s a site of intrigue, drama, love, life, and loss. If you, like me, love when the setting of a story is as pivotal to the plot as the characters, you are going to love what Diana Biller has done with it here. It’s the sort of setting that will leave you dazzled by its beauty and its intrigue, but also have you feeling frustrated for all the chaos it causes in Maria’s life. There’s also some historical political intrigue in this book that adds to the richness of the story. I found the balance between the plot and the love story to be perfect here!
Hotel of Secrets proved to me that I am a Diana Biller fangirl through and through. I enjoyed every minute of Maria, Eli, and the Hotel Wallner’s adventures. If you would like to read a brilliant, well-researched historical book with an engrossing romance, don’t miss out on Hotel of Secrets.
Content notes: attempted murder, gun violence, death, kidnapping, abusive parental figure, on-page sex
Relationship disclosure: Diana Biller & I are social media mutuals.
March 30, 2023
4.5 stars for Hotel of Secrets. Diana Biller has a real knack for unconventional historical romance. Hotel of Secrets is set in late 19th Century Vienna, and features the unlikely pairing of a hotel manager (Maria) and a U.S. Department of the Treasury investigator (Eli). Maria has just taken over management of her family's hotel, where Eli is staying as he works undercover to ferret out who's stolen some American codes. At first glance, they are an unlikely couple: Maria is gregarious and outgoing, embracing her role in the hospitality industry by taking part in all sorts of social events. Eli is straight-laced and reticent, uncomfortable in crowds and devoted to Justice (note the capital letter). Soon, though, they begin to discover that at heart, they're a perfect match.
Watching these two come together and slowly discover their compatibility is a real joy to read. There is an overarching mystery plot (someone has been targeting Maria, and Eli thinks it has something to do with the missing codes), but the relationship conflict feels organic to both the characters and their personal situations. Honestly the only thing keeping this from an unqualified 5 star rating is the convoluted setup. It took us several minutes to parse out all of the character relationships, which are presented in multiple paragraphs during a ball. Once we got through that, it was all gravy.
Finally, mild spoilers: Loooooved it.
21-Word Summaries:
Laine: Flashback when you met me, your dark hair & my prophecy; please don't ever become a stranger who leaves me with baby.
Meg: I would totally install a linen closet handle if it meant a Dept of Treasury investigator would investigate me in there.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Watching these two come together and slowly discover their compatibility is a real joy to read. There is an overarching mystery plot (someone has been targeting Maria, and Eli thinks it has something to do with the missing codes), but the relationship conflict feels organic to both the characters and their personal situations. Honestly the only thing keeping this from an unqualified 5 star rating is the convoluted setup. It took us several minutes to parse out all of the character relationships, which are presented in multiple paragraphs during a ball. Once we got through that, it was all gravy.
Finally, mild spoilers: Loooooved it.
21-Word Summaries:
Laine: Flashback when you met me, your dark hair & my prophecy; please don't ever become a stranger who leaves me with baby.
Meg: I would totally install a linen closet handle if it meant a Dept of Treasury investigator would investigate me in there.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
April 7, 2023
The reviews of the advanced copies mislead me. I was expecting hot, intriguing, opposites attract romance in romantic Vienna but instead I got 400 pages of chaotic events with no personality robotic male lead and work alcoholic female lead with no emotions.
I don’t know what happened to Diana Biller. I really liked The Widow of the Rose House.
But this was not even close to quality of the first book.
The MCs had no chemistry. Zero. Our heroine, Maria almost dies at least four times and each time she is saved by the hero. It’s ridiculous.
There are ton of other characters but none of them carry a speck of personality. They are all perfectly normal as you would expect them to be and perfectly boring.
And even though a lot of things happen as I said, the heroine is almost killed many times, it feels like nothing happens. There is no thrill, no danger, no mystery and no romance and it doesn’t matter how many times author mentions waltz.
Oh and the sex… Maria talks to our hero like to a child or young pubescent boy. The word ‘beautiful’ is used way too often but it is not enough to build any emotion within me. Don’t get me started on the linen closet. Not sexy.
Everything in this book felt like a nice plaster wall but there was no substance behind it.
I’m giving it two stars one for the author writing it and second for the research about Vienna and Austro-Hungarian Empire.
But I would not recommend this book to anyone.
I don’t know what happened to Diana Biller. I really liked The Widow of the Rose House.
But this was not even close to quality of the first book.
The MCs had no chemistry. Zero. Our heroine, Maria almost dies at least four times and each time she is saved by the hero. It’s ridiculous.
There are ton of other characters but none of them carry a speck of personality. They are all perfectly normal as you would expect them to be and perfectly boring.
And even though a lot of things happen as I said, the heroine is almost killed many times, it feels like nothing happens. There is no thrill, no danger, no mystery and no romance and it doesn’t matter how many times author mentions waltz.
Oh and the sex… Maria talks to our hero like to a child or young pubescent boy. The word ‘beautiful’ is used way too often but it is not enough to build any emotion within me. Don’t get me started on the linen closet. Not sexy.
Everything in this book felt like a nice plaster wall but there was no substance behind it.
I’m giving it two stars one for the author writing it and second for the research about Vienna and Austro-Hungarian Empire.
But I would not recommend this book to anyone.
December 11, 2022
Sweeping romance with espionage, humor, and some very interesting characters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This story is so unique. It is not the typical historical romance that you have read. This is more like women’s fiction with a historical twist.
This story offers something for every reader. A wonderful cast of characters with a fabulous and unique storyline that engages you with every turn of the page.
A family full of secrets, a government office with some interesting issues, spies who everyone seems to know are spies, attempted murders at every turn, and building romance with a surprising twist.
Biller has a wonderful way of telling a story that envelops you completely. I love the humor and fun she built into the book. Chaotic wildness, strange family issues, and a strong, steamy romance that sucks you in.
Overall, Hotel of Secrets is a whirlwind of a story I think you will love! And that cover? Perfect!!
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/hotel-of-sec...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This story is so unique. It is not the typical historical romance that you have read. This is more like women’s fiction with a historical twist.
This story offers something for every reader. A wonderful cast of characters with a fabulous and unique storyline that engages you with every turn of the page.
A family full of secrets, a government office with some interesting issues, spies who everyone seems to know are spies, attempted murders at every turn, and building romance with a surprising twist.
Biller has a wonderful way of telling a story that envelops you completely. I love the humor and fun she built into the book. Chaotic wildness, strange family issues, and a strong, steamy romance that sucks you in.
Overall, Hotel of Secrets is a whirlwind of a story I think you will love! And that cover? Perfect!!
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/hotel-of-sec...
April 2, 2023
Diana Biller is a new author to me. I read the blurb for this book and was very intrigued. Mystery/Suspense/Historical Romance is a sub-genre I am very interested in reading. The narration by Carlotta Brentan was fantastic. This novel takes place in Vienna in January 1888 and is a period of history and an area in Europe I know very little about. So many details of the era make it very much an Historical Fiction, but there is a very good romance taking place in the context of this period. I fell in love with this family of women and their fight to bring their hotel back to its' former glory. The mystery/suspense has you guessing as to exactly who is in danger and what the real reason is. The romance is warm and wonderful, and I just loved Eli and Maria. I also loved how these women solve their problems.
Maria Wallner is on a mission to restore her family's hotel, the Hotel Wallner, to its' former glory. But someone wants Maria dead. Maria is not easy to kill thanks to the timely intervention of a handsome American spy. Now all she can think about is his lovely mouth. Her attraction to the handsome American spy has no place in her priorities. Her family needs her and the Hotel Wallner has just received a highly coveted commission to host a premier ball and there is so much to do to get ready, but bad things just keep happening.
Eli Whittaker an American spy in Vienna to find out who sold American codes. He wants to solve this case and be back in Washington D.C. as soon as possible. Vienna is not to his taste at all. Wild, gay and always there is a waltz on the air. His starting point is a letter sent from the Hotel Wallner. Surely it will be easy to find out who sent it and be done with the case. He has no intention in becoming involved with Maria and her eccentric and complicated family, but from the first time he saves her life he finds his life entwined with hers.
Court intrigue, spies, secrets and not so secrets all come to light and Maria and Eli must figure it all out before someone destroys the Hotel and is successful in eliminating Maria.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Maria Wallner is on a mission to restore her family's hotel, the Hotel Wallner, to its' former glory. But someone wants Maria dead. Maria is not easy to kill thanks to the timely intervention of a handsome American spy. Now all she can think about is his lovely mouth. Her attraction to the handsome American spy has no place in her priorities. Her family needs her and the Hotel Wallner has just received a highly coveted commission to host a premier ball and there is so much to do to get ready, but bad things just keep happening.
Eli Whittaker an American spy in Vienna to find out who sold American codes. He wants to solve this case and be back in Washington D.C. as soon as possible. Vienna is not to his taste at all. Wild, gay and always there is a waltz on the air. His starting point is a letter sent from the Hotel Wallner. Surely it will be easy to find out who sent it and be done with the case. He has no intention in becoming involved with Maria and her eccentric and complicated family, but from the first time he saves her life he finds his life entwined with hers.
Court intrigue, spies, secrets and not so secrets all come to light and Maria and Eli must figure it all out before someone destroys the Hotel and is successful in eliminating Maria.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
March 20, 2023
As readers, we often complain about book covers that all look the same, but perhaps there's good reason for it — it gives us a clear glimpse at what to expect. Judging "Hotel of Secrets" by its cover, I got the impression this novel would have some historical weight to it, landing it firmly in the historical fiction genre. I might have fared better with one of the graphic art-style covers typical of modern romances, because this book is first and foremost a romance. While it may have been set in the past, key moments of history play little role and at times it's difficult to peg down the era.
Maria Wallner has just taken on running her family's hotel in Vienna, a once-thriving hotel that has been passed down to the women of her family for the past three generations. Now, facing harder times, Maria is fighting to pull the hotel back to its former glory amidst the upcoming ball season. This proves tricky when she finds her family ensnared in a dangerous plot. First comes the arrival of Eli Whittaker, an American spy who is trying to determine who from the hotel might have leaked American secrets. Next comes repeated attempts on Maria's own life, with a sullen Eli there to whisk her to safety when necessary. Spicy scenes between the two soon abound, often at the cost of distracting from the suspense and mystery of the plot.
As I mentioned, it was hard for me to swallow this novel as historical fiction — it felt more like historical fantasy. Not only were historical details more scant than I'd hoped, there also was a jarring mash-up of modern mannerisms. I'll admit I don't know the past of Vienna well, but I wouldn't have expected upper-class women to have been able to run a hotel so freely, nor for a man of the era to be so concerned over consent. It felt like modern characters dropped into a historical backdrop. Maria was simultaneously strong enough to take on being a proprietor in the mid 1800s while also seeming feeble and needing Eli to rescue her. As the reader, we spent the first third of the book frequently caught up in Maria's "no, I couldn't, but he's so dashing" lust for Eli, which began to feel a bit tedious and made me lose the suspense thread entirely.
Bottom line, I'm unclear on how much of my impression of this book is because of the writing or how much of it is a case of unmet expectations. Either way, I came away with the feeling that there was the potential for so much more when it comes to either an immersive historical experience or an intriguing, suspenseful plot. But if you're looking for a light, fluffy romance with a garnish of history and a heavier side dish of spice, this may be a good one for you.
Maria Wallner has just taken on running her family's hotel in Vienna, a once-thriving hotel that has been passed down to the women of her family for the past three generations. Now, facing harder times, Maria is fighting to pull the hotel back to its former glory amidst the upcoming ball season. This proves tricky when she finds her family ensnared in a dangerous plot. First comes the arrival of Eli Whittaker, an American spy who is trying to determine who from the hotel might have leaked American secrets. Next comes repeated attempts on Maria's own life, with a sullen Eli there to whisk her to safety when necessary. Spicy scenes between the two soon abound, often at the cost of distracting from the suspense and mystery of the plot.
As I mentioned, it was hard for me to swallow this novel as historical fiction — it felt more like historical fantasy. Not only were historical details more scant than I'd hoped, there also was a jarring mash-up of modern mannerisms. I'll admit I don't know the past of Vienna well, but I wouldn't have expected upper-class women to have been able to run a hotel so freely, nor for a man of the era to be so concerned over consent. It felt like modern characters dropped into a historical backdrop. Maria was simultaneously strong enough to take on being a proprietor in the mid 1800s while also seeming feeble and needing Eli to rescue her. As the reader, we spent the first third of the book frequently caught up in Maria's "no, I couldn't, but he's so dashing" lust for Eli, which began to feel a bit tedious and made me lose the suspense thread entirely.
Bottom line, I'm unclear on how much of my impression of this book is because of the writing or how much of it is a case of unmet expectations. Either way, I came away with the feeling that there was the potential for so much more when it comes to either an immersive historical experience or an intriguing, suspenseful plot. But if you're looking for a light, fluffy romance with a garnish of history and a heavier side dish of spice, this may be a good one for you.
March 24, 2023
New favorite Diana Biller romance. There's something I just simply adore about Biller's writing; it is so atmospheric and lush without being over complicated or prose-y. She sets a scene that immediately spins you into a decaying ballroom that's being renovated with gumption and a hope but is still the most wonderous room you've ever stepped foot in. She builds tension SO WELL that by the time the two love interests touch you have been dying for that moment for pages and pages. this is the type of slow-burn i live for, one with huge payoff.
Heck, there's a scene where these two don't even touch each other and I about combusted out of house into the stars. yeah, that's craft.
I also personally adore the here is a line of women who have a "curse" or "mythos" about them, one that is a huge problem for our love interest, in this instance will he be "the man" and the mythos around the Wallner women is so delicious. the three generations still living together at Hotel Wallner and the Wallner women of the past. Just give me all of their stories.
And Eli Whittaker. What a starchy, blushing, completely besotted man Maria finds when she crashes into him tipsy, in Vienna. The whirl of the waltz is ever present as Eli has to find his spot and not spin out with lust and love, and figure out that he deserves it no matter what his awful family put him through. I love that he's a numbers guy, a paperwork guy. he's going to solve the problem that is Maria, but Maria isn't actually a problem at all. She's the answer to all of his everything.
ANYWAY I hope this review make sense, i just loved this one so much you all should buy it immediately.
thank you to the publisher for the print ARC
Narrator Carlotta Brentan is super great - I really loved her accent work, with maria's slight german//austrian accent and Eli's american accent all while also juggling the large cast of secondary characters. this is great work, and i never felt lost or wondering who was speaking. i just love this book so much. THIS MAN ELI HE STUDIED.
Heck, there's a scene where these two don't even touch each other and I about combusted out of house into the stars. yeah, that's craft.
I also personally adore the here is a line of women who have a "curse" or "mythos" about them, one that is a huge problem for our love interest, in this instance will he be "the man" and the mythos around the Wallner women is so delicious. the three generations still living together at Hotel Wallner and the Wallner women of the past. Just give me all of their stories.
And Eli Whittaker. What a starchy, blushing, completely besotted man Maria finds when she crashes into him tipsy, in Vienna. The whirl of the waltz is ever present as Eli has to find his spot and not spin out with lust and love, and figure out that he deserves it no matter what his awful family put him through. I love that he's a numbers guy, a paperwork guy. he's going to solve the problem that is Maria, but Maria isn't actually a problem at all. She's the answer to all of his everything.
ANYWAY I hope this review make sense, i just loved this one so much you all should buy it immediately.
thank you to the publisher for the print ARC
Narrator Carlotta Brentan is super great - I really loved her accent work, with maria's slight german//austrian accent and Eli's american accent all while also juggling the large cast of secondary characters. this is great work, and i never felt lost or wondering who was speaking. i just love this book so much. THIS MAN ELI HE STUDIED.
February 26, 2023
I've liked all of Biller's books but this is probably my favorite and her best. Rich in historical details and depth of understanding of the complicated political dynamics of an area of the late 19th-century world that would very soon change global history, it's also just an all around substantial romance and character study. It's almost certainly to be one of my favorite books this year.
Maria Wallner is owner/manager of the once famous Hotel Wallner, renowned in Vienna's glitzy ball season and aristocratic social circles. The hotel has always been a matriarchal affair that relied upon the women in the family to keep the family business going while negotiating sticky relationships among the Emperor's courtiers, Austrian spies, and the aristos who all use the hotel as a background for their various intrigues. We learn in the opening pages that someone is using the hotel to send stolen American codes, and the U.S. is sending their most stalwart and by-the-book federal agent to investigate. I consider the codes the McGuffin of the book, as Hitchcock would call it. I never really understood the murky "codes" issue except that it involves spies and European conspiracies, but more importantly puts in motion the arrival of the buttoned-up Eli Whittaker to get to the bottom of things.
Eli arrives just in time too because Maria has, for unknown reasons, become the target of nefarious players who want her out of the way. Eli's gut instinct tells him that the assassination attempts on her life are somehow connected to the case he's been assigned to, and his dogged pursuit of truth never allows him to set aside his suspicions. Maria is just a terrific heroine and my compliments to Diana Biller for creating such a complicated and wonderful character. She's a bit of an eccentric, a precursor of sorts to the "new woman" of the early 20th century with modern ideas on sexuality and the freedoms to which women can aspire. Her very unique role as the youngest woman in a family of strong, iconoclastic women gives her the sense that she can achieve whatever she wants and can reject gender conventions. The long-standing joke in Viennese society that the man is out there and that it's only a matter of time before Maria is tamed has served to scare her - so much so that she cannot allow herself to commit to anyone out of fear of losing herself in the process. Eli is, of course, the man, except that he for his own complicated reasons does not see himself as a suitable partner to any woman. Their unfolding romance unravels in such a beautiful and natural way that it's hard to pinpoint each transition between them, such is Biller's adeptness in constructing this relationship. Initially they are both wary of each other's sudden role in their lives, then they reluctantly join forces to uncover dangerous secrets, and then they gradually become lovers. Is Eli there to save Maria, or is she in his life to save him? Lots of vacillations between them keep the power dynamic always shifting, but they also always acknowledge the importance of caring for each other's well-being.
Aside from the lovely romance, the terrific setting of Vienna works so well here by giving us a place where rules are made to be broken. Vienna in the month when Eli arrives is experiencing their version of Mardi Gras and the carnival-like setting supports the chaos that is erupting all over for the characters. This is also a book too where a strong supporting cast of characters creates a detailed world that makes the story really come alive. I loved so many of these secondary characters and felt that I got to know them all. I loved this book and hope that Biller continues to pursue unique settings for her historical romances. She is one of the best historical romance writers writing today.
Maria Wallner is owner/manager of the once famous Hotel Wallner, renowned in Vienna's glitzy ball season and aristocratic social circles. The hotel has always been a matriarchal affair that relied upon the women in the family to keep the family business going while negotiating sticky relationships among the Emperor's courtiers, Austrian spies, and the aristos who all use the hotel as a background for their various intrigues. We learn in the opening pages that someone is using the hotel to send stolen American codes, and the U.S. is sending their most stalwart and by-the-book federal agent to investigate. I consider the codes the McGuffin of the book, as Hitchcock would call it. I never really understood the murky "codes" issue except that it involves spies and European conspiracies, but more importantly puts in motion the arrival of the buttoned-up Eli Whittaker to get to the bottom of things.
Eli arrives just in time too because Maria has, for unknown reasons, become the target of nefarious players who want her out of the way. Eli's gut instinct tells him that the assassination attempts on her life are somehow connected to the case he's been assigned to, and his dogged pursuit of truth never allows him to set aside his suspicions. Maria is just a terrific heroine and my compliments to Diana Biller for creating such a complicated and wonderful character. She's a bit of an eccentric, a precursor of sorts to the "new woman" of the early 20th century with modern ideas on sexuality and the freedoms to which women can aspire. Her very unique role as the youngest woman in a family of strong, iconoclastic women gives her the sense that she can achieve whatever she wants and can reject gender conventions. The long-standing joke in Viennese society that the man is out there and that it's only a matter of time before Maria is tamed has served to scare her - so much so that she cannot allow herself to commit to anyone out of fear of losing herself in the process. Eli is, of course, the man, except that he for his own complicated reasons does not see himself as a suitable partner to any woman. Their unfolding romance unravels in such a beautiful and natural way that it's hard to pinpoint each transition between them, such is Biller's adeptness in constructing this relationship. Initially they are both wary of each other's sudden role in their lives, then they reluctantly join forces to uncover dangerous secrets, and then they gradually become lovers. Is Eli there to save Maria, or is she in his life to save him? Lots of vacillations between them keep the power dynamic always shifting, but they also always acknowledge the importance of caring for each other's well-being.
Aside from the lovely romance, the terrific setting of Vienna works so well here by giving us a place where rules are made to be broken. Vienna in the month when Eli arrives is experiencing their version of Mardi Gras and the carnival-like setting supports the chaos that is erupting all over for the characters. This is also a book too where a strong supporting cast of characters creates a detailed world that makes the story really come alive. I loved so many of these secondary characters and felt that I got to know them all. I loved this book and hope that Biller continues to pursue unique settings for her historical romances. She is one of the best historical romance writers writing today.
March 31, 2023
I received an ARC & ALC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hotel of Secrets had all the right ingredients that should have made me a happy reader. Gran Hotel vibes. Undercover spies. Starchy virgin hero who clenches his jaw and hands around the heroine. The right idea was there, but the execution was ridiculous and chaotic.
I was already feeling discombobulated from the first chapter. It felt like I was dropped in the middle of the story and I was expected to know all the characters and their relationship with one another. It was jarring and incredibly difficult to keep track of all these characters dropping on me one after the other. I soldiered on, having faith the writing would stabilize later on because I did love Diana Biller's previous two books. I was proven wrong LOL.
Hotel of Secrets did not feel like a historical romance. The author has clearly done her research on the history, but history alone does not make a good fiction story. This is just another "historical romance" with a 21st century man and woman in disguise as the main characters 🥱 There is a lot of proselytization of modern values that felt forced and did not fit the historical period at all. You can have unconventional characters in historical romance, while still keeping true to the time period. It's not rocket science 🤡 What do I know? Maybe it is rocket science 🤡 Additionally, it's difficult to get a grasp of the Vienna setting because it's so flimsy and superficial. The only descriptor we have of Vienna is that it's a city with inhabitants who don't do any work and only party hard. Enthralling 🥱
I didn't find any of the characters likable, including Elijah and Maria. The only interesting character in this book is Johann and he appeared for two sentences only. The spy plot is a total joke—everyone figures out that Elijah is a spy at 22% 🤦🏽♀️ and it's painfully obvious who is involved in Maria's recent brushes with death. By the time the climax hit, I was just shaking my head at the ridiculousness. Listen, I can very well suspend disbelief when it's required. But I need the story and the characters to be interesting at the very least, so I can go along with the ridiculousness. On top of the unlikable characters and comical story, this book glorifies cheating through multiple characters. It left such a bad taste in my mouth 🤮
I started reading this book, but then I switched to the audio at 23% just to see if it would get better. The narration is decent, but the story is still crap. I guess I just prefer Diana Biller's somber and angsty romances with lots of feels and a dash of ghostliness.
Hotel of Secrets had all the right ingredients that should have made me a happy reader. Gran Hotel vibes. Undercover spies. Starchy virgin hero who clenches his jaw and hands around the heroine. The right idea was there, but the execution was ridiculous and chaotic.
I was already feeling discombobulated from the first chapter. It felt like I was dropped in the middle of the story and I was expected to know all the characters and their relationship with one another. It was jarring and incredibly difficult to keep track of all these characters dropping on me one after the other. I soldiered on, having faith the writing would stabilize later on because I did love Diana Biller's previous two books. I was proven wrong LOL.
Hotel of Secrets did not feel like a historical romance. The author has clearly done her research on the history, but history alone does not make a good fiction story. This is just another "historical romance" with a 21st century man and woman in disguise as the main characters 🥱 There is a lot of proselytization of modern values that felt forced and did not fit the historical period at all. You can have unconventional characters in historical romance, while still keeping true to the time period. It's not rocket science 🤡 What do I know? Maybe it is rocket science 🤡 Additionally, it's difficult to get a grasp of the Vienna setting because it's so flimsy and superficial. The only descriptor we have of Vienna is that it's a city with inhabitants who don't do any work and only party hard. Enthralling 🥱
I didn't find any of the characters likable, including Elijah and Maria. The only interesting character in this book is Johann and he appeared for two sentences only. The spy plot is a total joke—everyone figures out that Elijah is a spy at 22% 🤦🏽♀️ and it's painfully obvious who is involved in Maria's recent brushes with death. By the time the climax hit, I was just shaking my head at the ridiculousness. Listen, I can very well suspend disbelief when it's required. But I need the story and the characters to be interesting at the very least, so I can go along with the ridiculousness. On top of the unlikable characters and comical story, this book glorifies cheating through multiple characters. It left such a bad taste in my mouth 🤮
I started reading this book, but then I switched to the audio at 23% just to see if it would get better. The narration is decent, but the story is still crap. I guess I just prefer Diana Biller's somber and angsty romances with lots of feels and a dash of ghostliness.
February 21, 2023
Is this a gorgeous, beautifully written historical romance book? Yes. It's also an historical fiction novel about a brave woman trying to save a once-grand hotel in Vienna, spies from several countries, and intrigue among Austrian aristocrats during the mid- to late-1800s with nuggets for people who love epistolary style at the start of each chapter. Historical romance is a genre that's full of books set in this time period, but Hotel of Secrets shines because of the layered storylines, vivid descriptions of Vienna during Fasching (Carnival), charmingly imperfect main characters, and a secondary cast that varies from ridiculous to truly villainous.
The main character, Maria Wallner, is trying to bring her family hotel back into fashion by hosting a ball during the Fashching season. The hotel has been run by women in her family for four generations, but her vapid mother's lack of interest and a financial crisis in Austria left it in shabby condition. Much of the book deals with Maria's fight to bring the hotel back. You can't help but root for Maria. Her mother is written as a hapless obstacle instead of a villain and her grandmother is a morally grey character, but one who loves her granddaughter and their hotel fiercely.
Our other main character is Eli Whittaker, an American Treasury agent sent to investigate a leak at Vienna's American Legation. Secret codes were stolen and a message about them originated from Hotel Wallner. Straight-laced Eli has a rough transition to Vienna, which is in party mode around the clock when he arrives. He slowly plods through the finances of the American Legation, but also becomes involved in the sometimes hilarious, but also dangerous, events at the hotel.
Of course, the two storylines draw together as do the main characters. Biller weaves things together in a way that makes you care about the romantic storyline, the spy investigation, and the fate of the hotel equally. The romance part is very, very good (you'll never think of linen closets the same way again) and chapter 27 will probably get read and read again by quite a few readers, but you'll also find yourself needing to see the villains get their due and the hotel flourish. Find a playlist of waltzes and dive in.
The main character, Maria Wallner, is trying to bring her family hotel back into fashion by hosting a ball during the Fashching season. The hotel has been run by women in her family for four generations, but her vapid mother's lack of interest and a financial crisis in Austria left it in shabby condition. Much of the book deals with Maria's fight to bring the hotel back. You can't help but root for Maria. Her mother is written as a hapless obstacle instead of a villain and her grandmother is a morally grey character, but one who loves her granddaughter and their hotel fiercely.
Our other main character is Eli Whittaker, an American Treasury agent sent to investigate a leak at Vienna's American Legation. Secret codes were stolen and a message about them originated from Hotel Wallner. Straight-laced Eli has a rough transition to Vienna, which is in party mode around the clock when he arrives. He slowly plods through the finances of the American Legation, but also becomes involved in the sometimes hilarious, but also dangerous, events at the hotel.
Of course, the two storylines draw together as do the main characters. Biller weaves things together in a way that makes you care about the romantic storyline, the spy investigation, and the fate of the hotel equally. The romance part is very, very good (you'll never think of linen closets the same way again) and chapter 27 will probably get read and read again by quite a few readers, but you'll also find yourself needing to see the villains get their due and the hotel flourish. Find a playlist of waltzes and dive in.
June 3, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an early audiobook.
This was such a great read…and so unexpected. It was a murder mystery, historical romance, and so much more.
The characters were amazing. Maria was that perfect combination of self-sufficient, sassy, and resilient all rolled into one, but with a chip on her shoulder regarding love.
Eli was…he’s hard to describe. Capable, loving in his own distinct way, and delightfully original.
And the side characters were so well-done.
Just do yourself a favor and read it.
This was such a great read…and so unexpected. It was a murder mystery, historical romance, and so much more.
The characters were amazing. Maria was that perfect combination of self-sufficient, sassy, and resilient all rolled into one, but with a chip on her shoulder regarding love.
Eli was…he’s hard to describe. Capable, loving in his own distinct way, and delightfully original.
And the side characters were so well-done.
Just do yourself a favor and read it.
April 14, 2023
4.25/5. This is my introduction to Diana Biller and my GR friends did not exaggerate. She is a helluva writer.
American Eli Whittaker finds himself in Vienna during its famous ball season, much to his irritation. An austere loner who doesn't deal with frivolities much, he now has to interact with an endless stream of party goers and endure listening to endless waltzes - and God forbid, even partake in a spin or two around the room. Tasked with finding the culprit behind the leakage of American secret codes, he finds himself pulled into the whirlwind of Viennese society and especially the entanglements of Maria Wallner, an ambitious hotelier whose life gets threatened far too many times for his liking.
Maria has a hotel to resurrect, her family business now finally left in her care after the disastrous mismanagement by her predecessor, her mother. She is a woman on a mission and not even a few attempts on her life will stand in her way of seeing Hotel Wallner back on top where it belongs. Convenient therefore that the American hotel guest is very good at keeping her alive so that she can go on attending to her hotel business with minimum interruptions.
Maria is ridiculously capable, a can-doer for whom nothing is impossible because she never wants to have to rely on anyone for her own happiness and comfort. Her mother has spent her entire life loving someone she could not have, Maria's father. Maria will not make the same mistake. The hotel is her life long devotion and only love.
Eli spends a lifetime apart from others, forgoing intimacy and human connections and preferring the simple things in life. Both he and Maria have some familial traumas and trust issues to work their way through. Slowly, the life they have each envisioned for themselves no longer appear fulfilling enough.
I love the charming and quirky characters who provide not just amusement but also more meat to the storyline. Eli's slow thawing is a joy to follow, his acquiescence to the men's impromptu picnic particularly hilarious.
There were modern terminologies and sentences interspersed throughout, but maybe the Viennese society was ahead of their time back then. The research into the era and the political landscape in continental Europe at the time was very thorough and impressive. The narration was good and entertaining, although Maria's voice lacked warmth.
Copy provided by Net Galley
American Eli Whittaker finds himself in Vienna during its famous ball season, much to his irritation. An austere loner who doesn't deal with frivolities much, he now has to interact with an endless stream of party goers and endure listening to endless waltzes - and God forbid, even partake in a spin or two around the room. Tasked with finding the culprit behind the leakage of American secret codes, he finds himself pulled into the whirlwind of Viennese society and especially the entanglements of Maria Wallner, an ambitious hotelier whose life gets threatened far too many times for his liking.
Maria has a hotel to resurrect, her family business now finally left in her care after the disastrous mismanagement by her predecessor, her mother. She is a woman on a mission and not even a few attempts on her life will stand in her way of seeing Hotel Wallner back on top where it belongs. Convenient therefore that the American hotel guest is very good at keeping her alive so that she can go on attending to her hotel business with minimum interruptions.
Maria is ridiculously capable, a can-doer for whom nothing is impossible because she never wants to have to rely on anyone for her own happiness and comfort. Her mother has spent her entire life loving someone she could not have, Maria's father. Maria will not make the same mistake. The hotel is her life long devotion and only love.
Eli spends a lifetime apart from others, forgoing intimacy and human connections and preferring the simple things in life. Both he and Maria have some familial traumas and trust issues to work their way through. Slowly, the life they have each envisioned for themselves no longer appear fulfilling enough.
I love the charming and quirky characters who provide not just amusement but also more meat to the storyline. Eli's slow thawing is a joy to follow, his acquiescence to the men's impromptu picnic particularly hilarious.
There were modern terminologies and sentences interspersed throughout, but maybe the Viennese society was ahead of their time back then. The research into the era and the political landscape in continental Europe at the time was very thorough and impressive. The narration was good and entertaining, although Maria's voice lacked warmth.
Copy provided by Net Galley
October 2, 2023
This is a book I have been putting off reading since it was released because I was terrified I wouldn't like it and with the year I have been having medically, I haven't always been able to predict my reactions to books and I didn't LOVE Biller's last one the way I was expecting to.. But I did really like this a lot! It's been a long time since a sex manual bit hasn't made me roll my eyes (thanks Psy-Ch) but I loved the deployment here and I loved the care that was taken with the sex scenes. I also loved the sheer COMPETENCE of the heroine, usually it feels like competence porn is the domain of heroes and that it was reversed here made me very happy. The setting switch up was spectacular, please can we have more books set in continental Europe??? Was an enormous fan of this one, really glad I finally dove in.
January 10, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
CW: gun violence, Attempted murder, Murder, Killing in self-defense, violence, parental neglect, animal attack, discussion of past spousal and child abuse, kidnapping
I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)
-m/f historical romance
-close-proximity
-some suspense
-bodyguard vibes
-competency kink at its finest
-a virgin inspector
-a chaos hotel manager
-a family curse
Gosh this book. It is a gorgeously written, tender, horny amazing read. The story just flows beautifully. The plush setting, amazing secondary characters that I just want to learn more about, and a gorgeous love story at the heart of it. Two fiercely independent people learning how to let someone in, rely on them, and accept love.
Maria has a family legacy, taking care of the hotel, living independently, and falling in love with one man. But she has her family at the hotel, what more could she need. but add in some accidents and a starchy inspector and life is starting to change for her. Gosh I loved Eli. Stoic, living his life by the rules, Eli. This was competency kink at its finest. Two entirely capable people, admiring it in the others. And sweet virginal Eli, when he sets his sights on something he needs to excel at it, and gosh does he.
The sexual chemistry between these two. Gosh. How they found humor and joy with each other all while slowly and beautifully falling in love. These two make excellent use of every nook and cranny of the hotel. Sex education, consent and just the intimacy as they let the other in. How they came to trust and rely on the other. Chef's kiss.
The softest, tenderest book of intrigue. A masterpiece. A must read.
Steam: 3.5
CW: gun violence, Attempted murder, Murder, Killing in self-defense, violence, parental neglect, animal attack, discussion of past spousal and child abuse, kidnapping
I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)
-m/f historical romance
-close-proximity
-some suspense
-bodyguard vibes
-competency kink at its finest
-a virgin inspector
-a chaos hotel manager
-a family curse
Gosh this book. It is a gorgeously written, tender, horny amazing read. The story just flows beautifully. The plush setting, amazing secondary characters that I just want to learn more about, and a gorgeous love story at the heart of it. Two fiercely independent people learning how to let someone in, rely on them, and accept love.
Maria has a family legacy, taking care of the hotel, living independently, and falling in love with one man. But she has her family at the hotel, what more could she need. but add in some accidents and a starchy inspector and life is starting to change for her. Gosh I loved Eli. Stoic, living his life by the rules, Eli. This was competency kink at its finest. Two entirely capable people, admiring it in the others. And sweet virginal Eli, when he sets his sights on something he needs to excel at it, and gosh does he.
The sexual chemistry between these two. Gosh. How they found humor and joy with each other all while slowly and beautifully falling in love. These two make excellent use of every nook and cranny of the hotel. Sex education, consent and just the intimacy as they let the other in. How they came to trust and rely on the other. Chef's kiss.
The softest, tenderest book of intrigue. A masterpiece. A must read.
Steam: 3.5
March 20, 2023
4.5 stars
This was such a fantastic read! The mix of romance and adventure/action was so well done and the cast of characters was wonderfully quirky and endearing. I fell head over heels for Eli and I cannot get over how sexy and appealing I found all of the consent and his desire to learn - in all areas of life. He was all in and faced whatever challenge came his way and Maria is a lucky, lucky woman. The action got a little chaotic at the end as all the different plot lines started to come together. I'm not sure all of them were sufficiently addressed and I don't think quite so many threats to safety were necessary, but I appreciated that there wasn't a ton of romantic third act drama. I also liked that the relationship between Maria and her mother was left in a hopeful place. An epilogue would have been amazing since things wrapped up quickly, but my heart was definitely happy when I finished this one. I'm hoping we might see a story for Mac and Hannah in the future.
I both read and listened to the audiobook of Hotel of Secrets and the narration by Carlotta Brentan was fantastic. I really enjoyed all of the different voices and accents she utilized and had no problem differentiating between characters. Definitely an enjoyable listening experience!
Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 4.5 stars
CW: murder and attempted murder, gun violence, kidnapping, financial instability/insecurity, arson, blackmail, animal attack, parental neglect, emotional and physical abuse (child and spouse, past), infidelity (not MC's)
*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*
This was such a fantastic read! The mix of romance and adventure/action was so well done and the cast of characters was wonderfully quirky and endearing. I fell head over heels for Eli and I cannot get over how sexy and appealing I found all of the consent and his desire to learn - in all areas of life. He was all in and faced whatever challenge came his way and Maria is a lucky, lucky woman. The action got a little chaotic at the end as all the different plot lines started to come together. I'm not sure all of them were sufficiently addressed and I don't think quite so many threats to safety were necessary, but I appreciated that there wasn't a ton of romantic third act drama. I also liked that the relationship between Maria and her mother was left in a hopeful place. An epilogue would have been amazing since things wrapped up quickly, but my heart was definitely happy when I finished this one. I'm hoping we might see a story for Mac and Hannah in the future.
I both read and listened to the audiobook of Hotel of Secrets and the narration by Carlotta Brentan was fantastic. I really enjoyed all of the different voices and accents she utilized and had no problem differentiating between characters. Definitely an enjoyable listening experience!
Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 4.5 stars
CW: murder and attempted murder, gun violence, kidnapping, financial instability/insecurity, arson, blackmail, animal attack, parental neglect, emotional and physical abuse (child and spouse, past), infidelity (not MC's)
*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*
January 12, 2023
I went into this book expecting it to be part of the current series about the Moore family and while in fact it was, it was just as gorgeous.
This is m/f historical romance with some queer side characters that is set in 1870/80s Vienna. Rich historical background that related to the uprisings in the Balkans against the Ottoman Empire that took place around that time. There is enough political detail to ground the story in the real world without it becoming overwhelming and overshadowing the romance. There journal entries at the beginning of every chapter which take us back and forth in time, adding another historical / intergenerational perspective.
We get a strong, independent heroine, Maria, trying to save the family hotel and to bring back its days of glory. And we get an America hero, Eli, a financial investigator (spy of sorts) on the mission in Vienna, staying the Wallner hotel.
The romance was exquisite – a more experienced heroine and a celibate hero. He was really intriguing for me – childhood/adolescent trauma that made him restrain his emotions/limit his focus to work only to the point of making him almost robot-like in the beginning. And he came to Vienna during Fasching where everything is loud and vibrant and overflowing with emotion. Then there was Maria – he saw her as a miracle he never expected to appear in his life. His admiration for her, his desire to keep her safe and to make her happy, it was just everything. I do think the assassination attempts and the times she found herself in mortal danger were really too many but I can overlook this details for the sake of the story and their romance.
We see Eli on a journey of self-acceptance, of seeing himself worthy of love and being able to care and love someone else. It was different for Maria, she was trying to resist a prophecy regarding the women in her family. She was OK with casual sex (and she has been surrounded by casual and not so casual relationships all her life in Vienna), it was the depth of her feelings that caught her of guard. Taking about relationships, they do not get much messier than the family/romantic relationships in Maria’s family. I had a hard time keeping track of who is related how to whom but in the end it didn’t matter than much. It was all about the strength of the relationships, the care and the support and not their official titles by law.
There is a great cast of secondary characters and so much potential for more books in the series!
In short, this is a vivid and moving historical romance with outstanding main characters falling deeply and forever in love against the background of some light espionage, imperial intrigue and political upheaval.
CW: violence, cheating/extra-marital affairs, kidnapping, gun violence, parental neglect
This is m/f historical romance with some queer side characters that is set in 1870/80s Vienna. Rich historical background that related to the uprisings in the Balkans against the Ottoman Empire that took place around that time. There is enough political detail to ground the story in the real world without it becoming overwhelming and overshadowing the romance. There journal entries at the beginning of every chapter which take us back and forth in time, adding another historical / intergenerational perspective.
We get a strong, independent heroine, Maria, trying to save the family hotel and to bring back its days of glory. And we get an America hero, Eli, a financial investigator (spy of sorts) on the mission in Vienna, staying the Wallner hotel.
The romance was exquisite – a more experienced heroine and a celibate hero. He was really intriguing for me – childhood/adolescent trauma that made him restrain his emotions/limit his focus to work only to the point of making him almost robot-like in the beginning. And he came to Vienna during Fasching where everything is loud and vibrant and overflowing with emotion. Then there was Maria – he saw her as a miracle he never expected to appear in his life. His admiration for her, his desire to keep her safe and to make her happy, it was just everything. I do think the assassination attempts and the times she found herself in mortal danger were really too many but I can overlook this details for the sake of the story and their romance.
We see Eli on a journey of self-acceptance, of seeing himself worthy of love and being able to care and love someone else. It was different for Maria, she was trying to resist a prophecy regarding the women in her family. She was OK with casual sex (and she has been surrounded by casual and not so casual relationships all her life in Vienna), it was the depth of her feelings that caught her of guard. Taking about relationships, they do not get much messier than the family/romantic relationships in Maria’s family. I had a hard time keeping track of who is related how to whom but in the end it didn’t matter than much. It was all about the strength of the relationships, the care and the support and not their official titles by law.
There is a great cast of secondary characters and so much potential for more books in the series!
In short, this is a vivid and moving historical romance with outstanding main characters falling deeply and forever in love against the background of some light espionage, imperial intrigue and political upheaval.
CW: violence, cheating/extra-marital affairs, kidnapping, gun violence, parental neglect
did-not-finish
April 29, 2023DNF at 28%. No good reason. Just not clicking with me. I put it down and don’t want to pick it back up.
March 13, 2023
Sparkles!
What a delight. Set in Vienna in 1878, this has everything. Spies, murder attempts, romance—all framed against the background of the Hotel Wallner, it’s owners and the scandals surrounding them.
A time of balls and waltzes, culminating with the Hotelkeeper’s Ball. A Ball the hotel has been requested to host once again as their competition who had taken over that role when the Wallner was no longer at its peak had suffered a burst pipe and water damage.
The hotel has been managed for seventy-five years by the Wallner women. Currently Maria was the manager, advised by her grandmother Josephine. Her mother Elisabeth had not been interested in running the hotel. After it had declined in popularity, and suffered losses and setbacks, Elisabeth had passed the responsibility onto her daughter Maria. Maria was focused on returning the Hotel to its former place of preeminence in Viennese circles.
“It had been given to [her] great-grandmother Theresa along with an Imperial decree allowing her and her descendants to operate it before that particular love affair had…deteriorated. The legend is they fall in love with a dark stranger, have one daughter and never marry. The running of the hotel passes from mother to daughter. Every night they write down their observations in a secret journal. Needless to say they can count their antecedents back to royalty.”
Eli Whittaker has been sent by the American state department to find out who’s been selling their codes to the Russians. However things aren’t as simple as they appear.
On the surface Eli is a clockwork, humorless official / spy, undeniably handsome. Eli however is so much more
His first night in Vienna, New Year’s Eve, he saves a drunken woman from a runaway carriage, who tells him that above all they can’t sleep together. Strange!?
The woman turns out to be the proprietor of his hotel. An interesting beginning for all.
This was not a fairytale and yet the joy and love contained within the story almost made it so.
A magical setting with an unexpected beginning, an intriguing middle and an all you could wish for ending.
A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
What a delight. Set in Vienna in 1878, this has everything. Spies, murder attempts, romance—all framed against the background of the Hotel Wallner, it’s owners and the scandals surrounding them.
A time of balls and waltzes, culminating with the Hotelkeeper’s Ball. A Ball the hotel has been requested to host once again as their competition who had taken over that role when the Wallner was no longer at its peak had suffered a burst pipe and water damage.
The hotel has been managed for seventy-five years by the Wallner women. Currently Maria was the manager, advised by her grandmother Josephine. Her mother Elisabeth had not been interested in running the hotel. After it had declined in popularity, and suffered losses and setbacks, Elisabeth had passed the responsibility onto her daughter Maria. Maria was focused on returning the Hotel to its former place of preeminence in Viennese circles.
“It had been given to [her] great-grandmother Theresa along with an Imperial decree allowing her and her descendants to operate it before that particular love affair had…deteriorated. The legend is they fall in love with a dark stranger, have one daughter and never marry. The running of the hotel passes from mother to daughter. Every night they write down their observations in a secret journal. Needless to say they can count their antecedents back to royalty.”
Eli Whittaker has been sent by the American state department to find out who’s been selling their codes to the Russians. However things aren’t as simple as they appear.
On the surface Eli is a clockwork, humorless official / spy, undeniably handsome. Eli however is so much more
His first night in Vienna, New Year’s Eve, he saves a drunken woman from a runaway carriage, who tells him that above all they can’t sleep together. Strange!?
The woman turns out to be the proprietor of his hotel. An interesting beginning for all.
This was not a fairytale and yet the joy and love contained within the story almost made it so.
A magical setting with an unexpected beginning, an intriguing middle and an all you could wish for ending.
A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
March 30, 2023
Maria Wallner is trying to keep her hotel running while turning it back into the dazzling gem it used to be. Not an easy task since her mother ran it into the ground, focused more on her love affair than the hotel or even her daughter. But sabotage and attempts on Maria’s life hinder her efforts.
Eli is sent from the US to Vienna to find out who leaked top secret codes. A suspicious letter was sent from the Hotel Wallner and so he goes there in an undercover mission to investigate. The codes aren’t the only mystery, though. When Eli saves Maria’s life he is compelled to find out who’s behind the attempts to kill her and rule Maria out as a suspect in the espionage plots, as well.
Hotel of Secrets was magical! The writing beautifully described an old world, glamorous Vienna. Maria and her tribe of friends and family were so much fun. Maria is independent and resourceful, forever working out a solution to the many problems that hinder her goals of restoring the hotel to its former glory. Loved that even though she had a mission, she didn’t forget her family and friends.
Eli was focused and methodical in his job and investigations. It was refreshing that Eli was the inexperienced one in the romance department, but that didn’t stop him from using his attention to details and focus into research and he was a quick, thorough study! Maria and Eli’s romance was fun, open, and honest, but also very passionate and sensual! It was spicy, but not overdone. Also enjoyed Eli’s relationship with Maria’s brother, Mac and the French spy, Claude. They were a hoot!
I alternately read an e-copy and listened to the audio version of Hotel of Secrets, and I highly recommend either version! Carlotta Brentan narrated the story, and her accents were lovely! Her performance definitely enhanced this captivating romance! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.
A copy was provided by St. Martin's Griffin and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.
Eli is sent from the US to Vienna to find out who leaked top secret codes. A suspicious letter was sent from the Hotel Wallner and so he goes there in an undercover mission to investigate. The codes aren’t the only mystery, though. When Eli saves Maria’s life he is compelled to find out who’s behind the attempts to kill her and rule Maria out as a suspect in the espionage plots, as well.
Hotel of Secrets was magical! The writing beautifully described an old world, glamorous Vienna. Maria and her tribe of friends and family were so much fun. Maria is independent and resourceful, forever working out a solution to the many problems that hinder her goals of restoring the hotel to its former glory. Loved that even though she had a mission, she didn’t forget her family and friends.
Eli was focused and methodical in his job and investigations. It was refreshing that Eli was the inexperienced one in the romance department, but that didn’t stop him from using his attention to details and focus into research and he was a quick, thorough study! Maria and Eli’s romance was fun, open, and honest, but also very passionate and sensual! It was spicy, but not overdone. Also enjoyed Eli’s relationship with Maria’s brother, Mac and the French spy, Claude. They were a hoot!
I alternately read an e-copy and listened to the audio version of Hotel of Secrets, and I highly recommend either version! Carlotta Brentan narrated the story, and her accents were lovely! Her performance definitely enhanced this captivating romance! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.
A copy was provided by St. Martin's Griffin and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2023
Immersing myself in the world that Diana Biller creates in her books is a surreal experience. It feels so realistic and genuine that I feel at times like I'm reading a biography of a life, with added color from the narrator's point-of-view, and that seems to be the author's intention in her writing style. She incorporates real-world events and people, bringing to life a point in history that many of us know little about. 19th century Vienna was never discussed in any textbook I read, nor have I read about that setting in other books, but Hotel of Secrets makes me want to read even more. As with Diana Biller's other books, the story includes an array of strong, independent women, well-meaning men who stumble into their lives and upend everything, and a romance that creeps up on both characters and readers alike. If you haven't read a book written by Diana Biller yet, you are not living life to the fullest extent, I promise you.
After her mother spent years neglecting their family's hotel, which has been with them for generations, Maria Wallner got her hands on it and is determined to bring it back to glory again. If only she had more money...and things didn't keep falling apart. Living as the illegitimate daughter of a married man and a mother who seemed to care more about her dalliance than the wellbeing of her family, Maria has become used to managing things on her own. Handouts are not welcome, though the sentiment behind them are appreciated. When one of her recent guests, an American named Eli Whittaker, begins to insert himself into her daily happenings, she is intrigued by his mannerisms...and his mouth. And their acquaintance turns into something more when he saves her life not once but twice. Eli was sent to Vienna as an undercover operative of the US Treasury Secret Service, to determine who leaked American codes to foreign agents, and the trail leads to Maria's hotel. He soon discovers, however, that more is afoot than just leaked codes, and after saving Maria's life for a third time, he is newly dedicated to keeping her safe. His recent interest in her beyond the professional is just a passing notion...he hopes.
I loved watching the relationship between Eli and Maria develop. It wasn't too fast, happening gradually to allow for amazing development of the characters and their circumstances. It meant that when their feelings did come to fruition, it felt so natural and sweet. Eli was quite a bit of a grump, and Maria, while not necessarily a bubbly sunshine, tried to see the positive in everything. As they spent more time together, it was funny to watch Eli slowly find his smile again. One thing I think many readers will find intriguing is that we have a virgin hero on our hands in this book...with an experience lady willing to teach him the ropes. But perhaps the most hilarious part of that whole pairing is that Eli was so dedicated to ensuring his own education before they came together. He went to a special bookshop and purchased reading material...with pictures. It was adorable and so much sexier than I had imagined it would be. He was so concerned about making it good for her, and she was so patient with him the whole time. They really were the perfect pairing. Aside from the romance, the intrigue of the murder attempts on Maria kept me on the edge of my seat and had me guessing the whole time. Her family tree was wild, which meant I could never be sure if we were going to meet a potential suspect or a secret family member. Of which there were many.
As always, I am not disappointed in the slightest. Diana Biller writes with the intention to dazzle...and consider me dazzled. I can't wait to read what she writes next.
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
After her mother spent years neglecting their family's hotel, which has been with them for generations, Maria Wallner got her hands on it and is determined to bring it back to glory again. If only she had more money...and things didn't keep falling apart. Living as the illegitimate daughter of a married man and a mother who seemed to care more about her dalliance than the wellbeing of her family, Maria has become used to managing things on her own. Handouts are not welcome, though the sentiment behind them are appreciated. When one of her recent guests, an American named Eli Whittaker, begins to insert himself into her daily happenings, she is intrigued by his mannerisms...and his mouth. And their acquaintance turns into something more when he saves her life not once but twice. Eli was sent to Vienna as an undercover operative of the US Treasury Secret Service, to determine who leaked American codes to foreign agents, and the trail leads to Maria's hotel. He soon discovers, however, that more is afoot than just leaked codes, and after saving Maria's life for a third time, he is newly dedicated to keeping her safe. His recent interest in her beyond the professional is just a passing notion...he hopes.
I loved watching the relationship between Eli and Maria develop. It wasn't too fast, happening gradually to allow for amazing development of the characters and their circumstances. It meant that when their feelings did come to fruition, it felt so natural and sweet. Eli was quite a bit of a grump, and Maria, while not necessarily a bubbly sunshine, tried to see the positive in everything. As they spent more time together, it was funny to watch Eli slowly find his smile again. One thing I think many readers will find intriguing is that we have a virgin hero on our hands in this book...with an experience lady willing to teach him the ropes. But perhaps the most hilarious part of that whole pairing is that Eli was so dedicated to ensuring his own education before they came together. He went to a special bookshop and purchased reading material...with pictures. It was adorable and so much sexier than I had imagined it would be. He was so concerned about making it good for her, and she was so patient with him the whole time. They really were the perfect pairing. Aside from the romance, the intrigue of the murder attempts on Maria kept me on the edge of my seat and had me guessing the whole time. Her family tree was wild, which meant I could never be sure if we were going to meet a potential suspect or a secret family member. Of which there were many.
As always, I am not disappointed in the slightest. Diana Biller writes with the intention to dazzle...and consider me dazzled. I can't wait to read what she writes next.
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
April 21, 2023
4.25 stars
This is my 4th story from Diana Biller that I read - and it's another winner! She is definitely a must-read author for me at the moment (and I wish she have more books by now).
Hotel of Secrets ... probably should've been titled Hotel of Chaos considering how many sheenanigans happening within this story 😆 . But the chaos were VERY CHARMING ... and I was in love with all the characters (well, except the bad guys).
I loved that Maria was the one experienced in sexual activity, while Eli was the . I loved that they were both in their 30's. I loved the contrast of characters between the two - Maria was more outgoing and people-friendly while Eli was the brooding grump - but at the same time they were both very competent in what they did. I loved the progress of their relationship. I loved the grandmother Josephine, the best friend Hannah, the half-brother Mac, and all those other secondary characters.
The only thing that made me POUT so hard that the ending felt abrupt. Come on Miss Biller, why not give another chapter of Epilogue? So I can get a glimpse of these people and the Hotel Wallner in the new year of 1879 maybe.
This is my 4th story from Diana Biller that I read - and it's another winner! She is definitely a must-read author for me at the moment (and I wish she have more books by now).
Hotel of Secrets ... probably should've been titled Hotel of Chaos considering how many sheenanigans happening within this story 😆 . But the chaos were VERY CHARMING ... and I was in love with all the characters (well, except the bad guys).
I loved that Maria was the one experienced in sexual activity, while Eli was the . I loved that they were both in their 30's. I loved the contrast of characters between the two - Maria was more outgoing and people-friendly while Eli was the brooding grump - but at the same time they were both very competent in what they did. I loved the progress of their relationship. I loved the grandmother Josephine, the best friend Hannah, the half-brother Mac, and all those other secondary characters.
The only thing that made me POUT so hard that the ending felt abrupt. Come on Miss Biller, why not give another chapter of Epilogue? So I can get a glimpse of these people and the Hotel Wallner in the new year of 1879 maybe.
March 8, 2023
Enticing, adventurous, and fun!
Hotel of Secrets is a passionate, compelling tale that sweeps you away to Vienna during 1878 and into the life of Maria Wallner, a hardworking, intelligent young woman who embarks on a mission to do whatever it takes to get her family’s hotel refurbished in time to host the illustrious Hotelkeeper’s Ball, even if it means that with all the mysterious mishaps, accidents, and lack of money she may have to befriend and ask for help from the frustratingly handsome, American secret service agent Eli Whittaker who seems to be on a mission of his own.
The prose is smooth and light. The characters are resilient, independent, and resourceful. And the plot is an enchantingly scandalous combination of life, love, friendship, secrets, history, adventure, opulence, familial drama, wicked intentions, malevolent behaviours, tender moments, and delectable romance.
Overall, Hotel of Secrets is an entertaining, intriguing, satisfying read by Biller that was a pleasant surprise with its exceptional character development, swoon-worthy ending, twisty, action-packed storyline, and unique setting that’s often not found in this genre.
Thank you to SMP Romance – St. Martin’s Press for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Hotel of Secrets is a passionate, compelling tale that sweeps you away to Vienna during 1878 and into the life of Maria Wallner, a hardworking, intelligent young woman who embarks on a mission to do whatever it takes to get her family’s hotel refurbished in time to host the illustrious Hotelkeeper’s Ball, even if it means that with all the mysterious mishaps, accidents, and lack of money she may have to befriend and ask for help from the frustratingly handsome, American secret service agent Eli Whittaker who seems to be on a mission of his own.
The prose is smooth and light. The characters are resilient, independent, and resourceful. And the plot is an enchantingly scandalous combination of life, love, friendship, secrets, history, adventure, opulence, familial drama, wicked intentions, malevolent behaviours, tender moments, and delectable romance.
Overall, Hotel of Secrets is an entertaining, intriguing, satisfying read by Biller that was a pleasant surprise with its exceptional character development, swoon-worthy ending, twisty, action-packed storyline, and unique setting that’s often not found in this genre.
Thank you to SMP Romance – St. Martin’s Press for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2023
Four and a half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller is a sexy historical romance set in Vienna during the late 1800s. The book has romance, spies, mystery, assassins, and excitement
Story Recap:
Maria Wallner is the manager of what used to be one of the most notorious hotels in Vienna. She wants to bring it back from irrelevance and disrepair to turn it to its former glory as the place to be seen around Vienna.
Eli Whittaker stays at Maria’s hotel to flush out the person selling American secret codes across Europe. The only clue he has is the person sent a letter from Maria’s hotel. Eli doesn’t expect to have to save Maria from an assassin and other threats to her while he is staying at her hotel.
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed so many things about this book. The setting in Vienna was very well described as were the beautiful descriptions of the grand Hotel Wallner. I loved that the author chose Vienna, as it gave a beautiful and festive background to the story.
Maria and Eli are terrific characters. Maria is a modern woman for her time and I loved her independent spirit and her love of her family. Eli is more reserved and quiet, but it’s because of his painful past, and this makes him keep everyone at arm's length. Their chemistry was fantastic, and I loved how their love grew over time as they each battled with their own individual issues as well as physical threats.
I loved this story, the characters, the setting, the dialogue, the plot, and everything in between. Hotel of Secrets has a steamy romance, exciting mystery, witty banter, and a gorgeous setting.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend Hotel of Secrets to anyone who enjoys historical romantic suspense. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller is a sexy historical romance set in Vienna during the late 1800s. The book has romance, spies, mystery, assassins, and excitement
Story Recap:
Maria Wallner is the manager of what used to be one of the most notorious hotels in Vienna. She wants to bring it back from irrelevance and disrepair to turn it to its former glory as the place to be seen around Vienna.
Eli Whittaker stays at Maria’s hotel to flush out the person selling American secret codes across Europe. The only clue he has is the person sent a letter from Maria’s hotel. Eli doesn’t expect to have to save Maria from an assassin and other threats to her while he is staying at her hotel.
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed so many things about this book. The setting in Vienna was very well described as were the beautiful descriptions of the grand Hotel Wallner. I loved that the author chose Vienna, as it gave a beautiful and festive background to the story.
Maria and Eli are terrific characters. Maria is a modern woman for her time and I loved her independent spirit and her love of her family. Eli is more reserved and quiet, but it’s because of his painful past, and this makes him keep everyone at arm's length. Their chemistry was fantastic, and I loved how their love grew over time as they each battled with their own individual issues as well as physical threats.
I loved this story, the characters, the setting, the dialogue, the plot, and everything in between. Hotel of Secrets has a steamy romance, exciting mystery, witty banter, and a gorgeous setting.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend Hotel of Secrets to anyone who enjoys historical romantic suspense. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 28, 2023
Rating: 4.5 stars
I tend to go into books blind and this one was no different. I was expecting this to be a typical historical romance. That is not what this book is. There was so much mystery involved in this one as well. The characters were great. I loved their relationship build up. I enjoyed the plot very much and did not expect the ending at all. This book had a completely different setting then what I'm used to reading in historical romance, but I loved it all the same. I definitely recommend this one!!
I tend to go into books blind and this one was no different. I was expecting this to be a typical historical romance. That is not what this book is. There was so much mystery involved in this one as well. The characters were great. I loved their relationship build up. I enjoyed the plot very much and did not expect the ending at all. This book had a completely different setting then what I'm used to reading in historical romance, but I loved it all the same. I definitely recommend this one!!
May 2, 2025
Diana Biller can write and I love her Historical Romances that are not set in England with Dukes and Viscount, etc. Her settings are rich with history, her characters are well fleshed out, and I’ve found myself thinking about her books months/years after I’ve read them.
The first half of the book is more historical fiction than romance, which is not what I wanted, but alas. I still loved the development of the characters - Maria and Eli - and the Hotel Wallner as a setting and side character all on its own. But there wasn’t enough connection/relationship development for me between Maria and Eli. By the 50% mark I was more invested in what was going on with the Hotel Wallner than the romance.
Then the back half? All romance all the time. Which I really enjoyed and made up for the slow start! The balance of the romance and the Hotel plotline was well done, even with the added drama of the . I thought this was a bit of a silly third-act conflict but *shrugs* it worked with the rest of the Vienna extravagance just fine.
I will say, Eli and Maria as a couple are fantastic, and their moments together really shone. Biller writes incredible steamy scenes, as well. Top-notch. Fantastic. But as much as I enjoyed the couple and their scenes together, the other plot-lines tended to take precedence time and time again, which didn’t make this feel like a romance as much as I would have liked.
The first half of the book is more historical fiction than romance, which is not what I wanted, but alas. I still loved the development of the characters - Maria and Eli - and the Hotel Wallner as a setting and side character all on its own. But there wasn’t enough connection/relationship development for me between Maria and Eli. By the 50% mark I was more invested in what was going on with the Hotel Wallner than the romance.
Then the back half? All romance all the time. Which I really enjoyed and made up for the slow start! The balance of the romance and the Hotel plotline was well done, even with the added drama of the . I thought this was a bit of a silly third-act conflict but *shrugs* it worked with the rest of the Vienna extravagance just fine.
I will say, Eli and Maria as a couple are fantastic, and their moments together really shone. Biller writes incredible steamy scenes, as well. Top-notch. Fantastic. But as much as I enjoyed the couple and their scenes together, the other plot-lines tended to take precedence time and time again, which didn’t make this feel like a romance as much as I would have liked.
March 20, 2023
This was a very fun listen. It was so nice to read/listen to a historical romance that wasn't set in Regency or Victorian England, or England at all. The Viennese setting was perfection. I also loved that both of our main characters were so competent at their jobs. Maria runs her family hotel, the Hotel Wollner, and Eli works for the US Treasury department, trying to ferret out a leak. There are spies and trysts, family drama, lots of pastry talk, elaborate balls, secret diaries, rampaging boars, and sexytimes. The audio narrator also did a really good job, if you like audiobooks.
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