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barefootbetsy's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
wilybooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
Diana Biller writes some of my favourite heroes. They're just so utterly besotted with their heroines; I love them!
Maria and Eli were so lovely together. Maria is take-charge and independent, running a hotel practically by herself. Eli is buttoned-up and reserved and unflinchingly honest (despite orginally being in Vienna undercover). He's protective of Maria without being domineering about it. I just LOVE to see a starchy hero become undone over the heroine and this book gave me that in spades. Their sexual tension was off the charts andthat scene where Maria masturbates in front of him?? HOT!! There was very little internal conflict in this romance which is something I always appreciate. Just two incredibly competent people getting to know each other, falling in love and learning to accept it.
All in all, a stunning blend of swoony romance, suspense, and political intrigue. Very rich in historical detail and the complex politics of the time without becoming dry or overshadowing the romance. Plus a great cast of vividly-drawn secondary characters, from Maria's complicated family to her friends and hotel guests. I particularly loved Josephine and Claude! In fact, I want a story featuring Claude.
Maria and Eli were so lovely together. Maria is take-charge and independent, running a hotel practically by herself. Eli is buttoned-up and reserved and unflinchingly honest (despite orginally being in Vienna undercover). He's protective of Maria without being domineering about it. I just LOVE to see a starchy hero become undone over the heroine and this book gave me that in spades. Their sexual tension was off the charts and
All in all, a stunning blend of swoony romance, suspense, and political intrigue. Very rich in historical detail and the complex politics of the time without becoming dry or overshadowing the romance. Plus a great cast of vividly-drawn secondary characters, from Maria's complicated family to her friends and hotel guests. I particularly loved Josephine and Claude! In fact, I want a story featuring Claude.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity
katiemack's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I don't read much historical fiction (or romances) set in nineteenth-century Vienna, so this felt like a unique opportunity to learn something about that era. There's a lot more drama, steam, and mystery than historical accuracy (and the mystery takes a backseat to the steam after a while), but it's still a charming read with appealing characters. I particularly loved Maria, who runs a hotel with a firm hand and despite the interventions of her mother, Elisabeth (who's flighty in a particularly annoying way), and other "accidents" that damage the building. Spy/love interest Eli is a well-balanced mix of highly competent and shy, so if you enjoy that then this will work well for you. It feels a little long, but it's entertaining enough and worth a read, especially if you enjoy historical romance.
I don't read much historical fiction (or romances) set in nineteenth-century Vienna, so this felt like a unique opportunity to learn something about that era. There's a lot more drama, steam, and mystery than historical accuracy (and the mystery takes a backseat to the steam after a while), but it's still a charming read with appealing characters. I particularly loved Maria, who runs a hotel with a firm hand and despite the interventions of her mother, Elisabeth (who's flighty in a particularly annoying way), and other "accidents" that damage the building. Spy/love interest Eli is a well-balanced mix of highly competent and shy, so if you enjoy that then this will work well for you. It feels a little long, but it's entertaining enough and worth a read, especially if you enjoy historical romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Violence
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
I really wanted to like this book because I love historical fiction and was excited to read about a story set in Vienna (and in ball season! Dreamy setting). Sadly after getting 54% of the way I just had to DNF. I really tried but after halfway through I still couldn’t care about the main characters that much. I preferred side relationships over the main romance and felt like there was too much going on plot wise. It’s a bit of history, espionage, and romance all in one but it was lacking in the historical aspect because it was trying so hard to focus on too many plot lines and many characters.
Overall I’d still recommend to historical romance lovers looking for a light storyline which was enjoyable enough
Overall I’d still recommend to historical romance lovers looking for a light storyline which was enjoyable enough
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
booksalacarte's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Hotel of Secrets- 2.25⭐️3.25🌶️
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.
——————
✨My Opinion✨
I’ve honestly never read a German based romance novel. It was interesting to see a glimpse of the times, but I didn’t get a very good picture of actual setting of Vienna or anything else other than the hotel itself. But the little historical political snippets were nice.
This book was all over the place. The first half of the book was specifically a suspense book, a super slow one where things didn’t even seem to be tied together. I started skimming fairly early on. Then all of a sudden it was very much a romance novel. Thankfully, the second half was interesting, but the espionage entangled ending was a big dud. It seems that exactly no agent/spy/traitor is good at their job… which makes for a bad book about espionage.
As far as characters go, The two main characters were fairly blah. Eli had no personality, with the excuse that his childhood trauma sucked it out of him. Tall, dark and never smiling/laughing before just isn’t enough to make a character interesting for me.
Maria was fine, but for such an independent and modern woman, had to be saved too many times for my liking.
*Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Murder
Minor: Gun violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
searchingforhappilyeverafter's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Willkommen im Hotel Wallner
Diana Biller’s Hotel of Secrets was my first read of the new year, and it was just wonderful. It’s an exciting tale of romance, spies, and mystery, and it has a delightful cast of characters.
Viennese hotelkeeper Maria Wallner wants to restore her family’s hotel to its former glory. However, assassination attempts and other mysterious incidents keep getting in her way. And most distracting is the American agent, whose stern and sexy mouth makes her want to him drag into the nearest linen closet.
Eli Whittaker is a guest at the hotel, and he is there on a case to find out who has been selling American codes. But upon arrival, he is swept up in Vienna’s dazzling ball season and a swoonworthy romance, all while trying to unravel the secrets.
Hotel of Secrets sparkles with Biller’s brilliantly crafted plot and well-developed characters, interspersed with detailed Austrian history and political intrigue.
It's no secret that Biller's Moore family is my favorite fictional family. The Wallners and their friends, while different from the Moores, are equally endearing. The way Maria and Eli get to know each other and fall in love is such a heartwarming journey. I loved the character development. Eli goes from stern and starchy secret agent to soft and gooey orchid knight. It was so fun to watch him open up to Maria and her family and learn how to laugh. The hotel’s forced proximity causes some delicious banter-filled moments and lots of swoony tension between the two main characters. It was a joy to see them both realize that love is a miracle. I also really enjoyed the relationship arcs between Maria and her family, especially her mother.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is the unique and simply magical setting of a hotel in 19th-century Vienna. The Hotel Wallner is as pivotal to the story as the main characters. And the exquisite Viennese backdrop adds an extra layer of beauty to this romance.
Last, but not least, the way this book addresses sexuality and consent is perfect. In this book, the FMC is more experienced than the MMC (celibate), and some of the secondary characters are queer. Everything is really well done and respectful of all the characters’ experiences and choices.
What you can expect in this swoonworthy story:
- M/F romance
- Delicious banter
- Eli's sexy mouth
- Hilarious meet cute
- Forced proximity
- Eli's sexy mouth
- Competency kink
- He reads books on how to please her
- Eli's sexy mouth
- Viennese hotel setting
- Thrilling mystery
Oh and did I mention Eli's sexy mouth?
Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for the ARC.
Diana Biller’s Hotel of Secrets was my first read of the new year, and it was just wonderful. It’s an exciting tale of romance, spies, and mystery, and it has a delightful cast of characters.
Viennese hotelkeeper Maria Wallner wants to restore her family’s hotel to its former glory. However, assassination attempts and other mysterious incidents keep getting in her way. And most distracting is the American agent, whose stern and sexy mouth makes her want to him drag into the nearest linen closet.
Eli Whittaker is a guest at the hotel, and he is there on a case to find out who has been selling American codes. But upon arrival, he is swept up in Vienna’s dazzling ball season and a swoonworthy romance, all while trying to unravel the secrets.
Hotel of Secrets sparkles with Biller’s brilliantly crafted plot and well-developed characters, interspersed with detailed Austrian history and political intrigue.
It's no secret that Biller's Moore family is my favorite fictional family. The Wallners and their friends, while different from the Moores, are equally endearing. The way Maria and Eli get to know each other and fall in love is such a heartwarming journey. I loved the character development. Eli goes from stern and starchy secret agent to soft and gooey orchid knight. It was so fun to watch him open up to Maria and her family and learn how to laugh. The hotel’s forced proximity causes some delicious banter-filled moments and lots of swoony tension between the two main characters. It was a joy to see them both realize that love is a miracle. I also really enjoyed the relationship arcs between Maria and her family, especially her mother.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is the unique and simply magical setting of a hotel in 19th-century Vienna. The Hotel Wallner is as pivotal to the story as the main characters. And the exquisite Viennese backdrop adds an extra layer of beauty to this romance.
Last, but not least, the way this book addresses sexuality and consent is perfect. In this book, the FMC is more experienced than the MMC (celibate), and some of the secondary characters are queer. Everything is really well done and respectful of all the characters’ experiences and choices.
What you can expect in this swoonworthy story:
- M/F romance
- Delicious banter
- Eli's sexy mouth
- Hilarious meet cute
- Forced proximity
- Eli's sexy mouth
- Competency kink
- He reads books on how to please her
- Eli's sexy mouth
- Viennese hotel setting
- Thrilling mystery
Oh and did I mention Eli's sexy mouth?
Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for the ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
megloveswords12's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse
unsuccessfulbookclub's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
andemilytoo's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Murder
skudiklier's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really enjoyed this book! At first I wasn't sure if I'd love the writing, but by about a quarter of the way in I found myself too caught up in the story and characters to mind anymore. I found it really engaging and was very invested in what would happen, and in the romance. Slightly more spoilery/specific notes below:
(Also I normally wouldn't comment on the sex scenes specifically, good or bad, because that's embarrassing to me lmao. I would prefer to not acknowledge that when idk who will read this. So it's a mark of just how good they were that I feel the need to at least mention it in my review!)
Sometimes I start a (straight) romance and the male lead is described as so rude and humorless that I have no idea how they're going to bring me around to liking him by the end, or thinking he's a good fit for the female lead. This was one of those, but Biller did indeed end up putting me firmly on the side of the relationship! I love them together and really enjoyed this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this ARC.
(Also I normally wouldn't comment on the sex scenes specifically, good or bad, because that's embarrassing to me lmao. I would prefer to not acknowledge that when idk who will read this. So it's a mark of just how good they were that I feel the need to at least mention it in my review!)
Sometimes I start a (straight) romance and the male lead is described as so rude and humorless that I have no idea how they're going to bring me around to liking him by the end, or thinking he's a good fit for the female lead. This was one of those, but Biller did indeed end up putting me firmly on the side of the relationship! I love them together and really enjoyed this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Domestic abuse
Content warnings from author's website: