I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Diana Biller delivers a strong new, genre-blending historical romance with Hotel of Secrets, dipping into mystery and suspense with a strong backbone of historical research, a large multigenerational family who play roles on-page, albeit mostly indirectly, and a swoony romance at its heart. It’s an ambitious project, and while there are some minor flaws, I finished the book feeling mostly satisfied.
For one, I love the detail that went into crafting the historical landscape and how the Wallner family fit into it. The bulk of the book takes place during the 1873 financial crisis in Austria, and there’s a lot of political turmoil in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the area surrounding it. While I know very little about the time period, apart from the fact that it was presided over by the great Franz Joseph, I appreciate how Biller provided context for this, as well as the politics of the century leading up to it, which one Wallner ancestor was involved in, at least peripherally through her personal connection with Emperor Francis II. The way it also ties into the mystery is also very well done.
The leads are both wonderful, and the romance…*chef’s kiss* Maria more or less continues in the tradition of her scandalous Wallner women forebears, although that has made her a target. This brings her into the path of American agent Eli. I loved them together! I’m a sucker for a virgin hero, and he delivers…him reading erotic literature to learn how to “perform” is both the cutest and sexiest thing ever! And they just work well together…he can keep a cool head, which is good in a crisis and can calm her more fiery nature, while she brings out his more fun side.
I admit to being a bit confused at the inclusion of some of the plot threads, especially the “past” elements, at first, but for the most part it’s clarified through the execution of the overall mystery plot. There are a few things that were left unaddressed, but they were relatively minor by comparison.
This is another winner from Diana Biller, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for historical romances set in unique settings and/or with mystery elements.

Diana Biller makes me happy that one of my resolutions is to read more historical romance. My last read of 2022 was her novel The Widow of Rose House, which I loved. Her newest romance, Hotel of Secrets, is another winner. Set in 1870s Vienna during ball season, Hotel of Secrets has the perfectly lush, opulent setting, with just the right blend of society scandal and political intrigue set to the inescapable sound of waltz and party chatter.

Our spirited and self-possessed heroine, Maria Wallner, is on a mission to restore her beloved family hotel to its former glory. Eli Whittaker, an American in town on an undercover assignment, crosses paths with Maria as part of his investigation. While he initially finds himself drawn to her purely for work, this stern, unflappable man finds himself baffled by both This Woman and also His Feelings for Her. They are, respectively, my favorite kinds of romance heroine and hero, and their chemistry is a treat. I was overjoyed when they bickered in the middle of a dance floor at a ball. Eli repeatedly saves Maria from danger, and his response to her shock (the only moments our independent-to-a-fault heroine allows herself to feel overwhelmed) is the most endearing type of confusion (she worries about the wrong things, like the rare orchids that were damaged in a fight, and not the fact that she could've been killed!!). I found myself repeatedly thinking, "I cannot wait until these two idiots kiss."

I found that Biller handles the trauma in the couple's backstory with exceptional care and grace, both in how the story is told, and how the partner responds. It made me love them even more. I found myself wishing for a fainting couch as the story progressed. Eli's investigation and Maria's mission to pull of The Event to put the hotel back on the social scene fit seamlessly together, threaded alongside an absolutely glorious love story. This book goes down like the champagne that flows so freely in Vienna's ballrooms: effervescent and exhilarating. I absolutely loved this book.

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.

Another hit from Diana Biller! I loved the setting (Vienna) and the focus on the 'ball season' where hotel owners compete to host the most elaborate balls for Vienna society. In this book we get to know hotel manager Maria Wallner who's trying to save her family's crumbling hotel. What she didn't need was to have someone apparently out to get her.

Curses, assassination attempts, an unexpected romance from Eli Whittaker, an American Treasury Officer who's been sent to Europe on a case. Add in all the glitz and glam of the time and some great cameos from characters in past books and I couldn't put this book down. Great on audio too and I so enjoyed how eager Eli was to learn to please the much more experienced Maria!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital copies of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Maria Wallner is a very determined woman: determined to restore her family's Viennese once-grand hotel to its former glory, and determined not to lose herself so much in a man that it destroys her (exhibit one: her mother). So far, her determination and intelligence have paid off, and how she's getting a shot at a comeback when the opportunity to host the "ball of the season" lands in her lap.
Meanwhile, Eli Whittaker is also a very determined man, sent to Vienna to investigate a suspicious leak in US intelligence there. So he follows the latest clue to Maria's hotel. But Vienna is more chaotic than he anticipated, and it doesn't take long for him to realize that his orderly life is in for a bit of disruption...and that may not be a bad thing.
Reading Hotel of Secrets was an immersive experience! Vienna was a cosmopolitan center of culture, politics, and wealth for a very long time, which is something we in the US don't always fully understand. I loved this window into mid-19th Century Viennese culture! But the characters are still fully human and fully relatable (quite modern in many respects). Sometimes it's easy to forget that culture clash was real back then too. I also loved the theme of strong, intelligent, successful women, who chose rather than required partners in their lives. The dialogue was witty and the love appeared in all different forms (chosen family, LGBTQ+, blended family, etc.). Consent as a theme wove in and out of this book, which is modern and refreshing and healthy. Heads' up for open-door scenes too...spicy ones!

I enjoyed reading Hotel of Secrets. It was a unique time/locale for historical fiction - both mystery and romance.
I got Hulu's The Great vibes while reading, even though it's about a century later. The characters were kind of silly and the overall plot had that satirical feel that made it historically inaccurate in terms of speech and social propriety but highly entertaining.
The spicy times were not really my taste, though. They were definitely steamy, but kind of awkward and cringe-worthy. I wasn’t expecting it, either, so I didn’t love that.
The mysteries were good, though. And the cast of characters was plentiful and entertaining. It felt like maybe that was the point, cause there was a lot going on with the magical aspect of the hotel- the fortune tellers and the "family curse"- and the court goings-on in Vienna alongside the political unrest of the times. I could see this being a series - I'd definitely go along for another ride with the Wallner women and their hotel.

One of the best books I've read in ages! I love the setting of Vienna, a step away from traditional historicals based in the UK, and grounded in real historical details. All the side-characters at the hotel were delightful and felt real, and I loved the relationship between the two main characters.

HOTEL OF SECRETS was an entertaining historical romance with more than a touch of mystery.

Maria Wallner is the fourth generation of Wallner women who have owned and managed Hotel Wallner in Vienna. She is very determined to restore the hotel to its past magnificence after the mismanagement of her mother who was more interested in her 30-year affair with a married man and the economic collapses of the past. She's not going to let anything stand in her way. Not sabotage from a rival hotel or attempts on her life or the fascinating new guest from America.

Eli Whittaker is searching for the person who is selling American codes and his only clue is a letter sent from Hotel Wallner. He isn't interested in romance but happens to be on hand when a couple of the attempts on Maria's life are made and he can't just ignore them. Nor can he ignore the fascinating Maria Wallner.

This story was filled with fascinating characters and all sorts of secrets. I liked the setting and really liked Maria. She was a determined woman who wasn't going to let anything stand in her way. Eli was also interesting and became more interesting as his troubled past was slowly revealed.

Fans of historical romance will enjoy this story.

A hotel trying to make a comeback in Vienna in 1870 is the setting for this steamy romantic mystery. With spies, family secrets and intrigue, I was interested in what was going to happen until the very end. This is an open-door romance, and it was refreshing to see of the typical bedroom stereotypes reversed. I enjoyed this one.

Hotel of Secrets
By Diana Biller
Pub date mar 28
St Martins Griffith
Thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the ARC of this book. The cover was perfect.
Escape into 1870’s
I was charmed with this story. 4 stars

Is there anything dreamier than late 1800s Vienna during ball season? Absolutely not.

This book will transport you right there to the luscious hotel that has been owned by four generations of Wallner women. Maria, the current manager, is trying to bring the hotel back to its opulent former state after years of disrepair and financial woes in Austria. She is quickly distracted by an American, Eli, who was sent by the Treasury Department to find a security link that has been linked to the hotel. As he dives deeper into the secrets of the hotel, the two cannot deny their growing affection and attraction. And it’s a good thing he’s around because someone keeps trying to kill Maria — and Eli has to continue to save her & teach her how to save herself.

This book has a little of everything — kickass women, family drama, espionage, romance, and more. It’s beautifully well written and every piece of the plot comes together seamlessly. My only regret is that there wasn’t an epilogue to give us a glimpse at the next branch of the family tree!

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.
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✨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.

Nothing I love more than historical fiction taking me somewhere I haven't been before. This historical fiction/historical romance novel takes us to Vienna in the late 1800s, and I loved getting to read about life there for the first time. It was well written and well developed, with lots of intrigue and plenty of romance. The characters (both the main characters and the cast of side characters!) were likeable and easy to root for from the beginning.

3.5⭐️ sweet little romance. I really enjoyed the role reversal of an experienced woman with an inexperienced man, and I loved the hotel setting. Some plot points were conveniently related, which made the ending move very quickly, but overall it was a book I’d recommend.

I loved Hotel of Secrets and now I want to go read Diana Biller’s backlist. I was anxious going in to this romance because I haven’t enjoyed a straight historical romance in forever, but it quickly won me over. I liked it so much I’ve actually preordered a signed copy from an independent bookstore.

Hotel of Secrets is set in Vienna just as 1878 begins. While the jostling among empires (Austro-Hungarian, Russian, Ottoman) and the rise of national identities isn’t a focus, it does creep in at the edges and provide a background of intrigue. I found the complete absence of the British refreshing. This period of history is rich with conflict and intrigue, but far enough from the devastation of World War 1 that it’s a smudge on the horizon, not a looming tragedy.

Maria and Eli are wonderful main characters. I love watching very competent people fall in love despite themselves. Maria manages the Hotel Wallner, which has been in her family since an emperor gave it to her great grandmother – his mistress and mother of his natural daughter. Eli is a US Treasury agent sent “undercover” to find out who is selling codes. (Also refreshing, no one except Eli cares about the US). For reasons, Eli considers Hotel Wallner a lead, so he is staying there to further his investigation.

I will confess that as much as I enjoyed everything about this book, Eli is my favorite. His stern daddy vibes are so strong he can’t be called a Stern Brunch Daddy. He would only go to brunch if he had a specific undercover task or to make Maria happy. Otherwise brunch is a frivolous meal that involves socializing and loitering. He is buttoned up, ethical, and a virgin. Once he ticks Maria off his suspect list, he takes on the task of protecting her (someone is trying to kill her). But the main reason I love Eli – he does his research. When he needs to learn a language he finds someone to teach him. When he needs to learn about a religion, he gets a book. I love the sex lessons mini-trope and in Hotel of Secrets you get sex lessons with a pupil who has done the reading in advance. I love a character who, when confronted with things he doesn’t know, educates himself.

Maria is her own wonderful character. She has the practical creativity of someone who has had to do a lot with a little for a long time. The love of her life is Hotel Wallner. Restoring the Hotel to its former glory is her primary objective and she knows who she can and cannot count on for help and support. Her attraction to Eli is immediate, but her liking and love for Eli grows as she finds in him a fellow competent person who solves the problems around them. I loved that Biller gives us a woman who knows who she is and what she wants and pursues it with her whole heart.

I don’t know if this is a stand alone or the start of a series. I would read this as a series, even if it was just Maria and Eli learning things and solving crimes. Though there is no indication that Maria or Eli are queer, the book is very queer friendly.

CW: abusive and neglectful fathers, attempted murder in past and on page, murder in past (self-defense) and on page, animal attack (no animals harmed), complicated and toxic families, political intrigue.

I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

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-books 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 is 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 create 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.

Not quite what I expected, but still a decent read. A little graphic at times for some of the sex scenes. I found the little diary snippets at the beginning of each chapter a bit distracting since there were different povs.
**Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review. **

I loved this! I can't stop thinking about it and I want to read it again and again. This was so good it is everything you need! Love, love, love this!!
I just reviewed Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

This is the first book I've read by this author, and although it was fun and fizzy, too many elements were thrown in for me to say I would read it all over again tomorrow. To her credit, the author has an engaging writing style, you can tell she's done her research, and she does a nice job with world-building here. The Vienna 1870's setting serves as a unique backdrop, and I always look forward to a twisty spy yarn.

For much of this book, I can describe my reaction as similar to playing with a energetic terrier puppy: by turns I was charmed, frustrated, and in the end tuckered out, although my mood was improved.

Without further ado, I'm parsing my review down into different elements to better explain the 4 stars.

Tropes: fated mates, fish out of water, sunshine MFC meets grumpy MMC. Also, feministic MFC keeps finding herself somehow needing to be rescued by stoic MMC. More on this follows.

Characterization: I have a weakness for by-the-book, staid MMC's who are softies underneath it all, and I enjoyed Eli. Somehow he has managed to overcome horrific incidents with at least a semblance of grace, and there are revelations throughout the storyline of his sensitivity, kindness, and dry sense of humor. He's a master interrogator and cool under pressure. He also happens to be a virgin, which is an emerging trend in HR's, and I much prefer it to the typical "I'll sleep with anyone" rake. His innocence at his age is a bit hard to believe, but the only time his character really didn't ring true to me was toward the end, when, after opening up emotionally during relations with the MFC, he abruptly shuts down again after she confesses her love for him.
As far as the MFC, Maria, goes, I'm not quite sure who the author wanted her to be. At times, she's smart, strong, and yes, way too feministic for the time period. But in the first half of the book, especially, she has more than a couple eye-rolling TSTL moments.
The family members are generally fun, with the exception of Maria's parents, Elisabeth in particular. While she has a character arc, did she have to be such a ninny for so long?

Steam: the first half is steam free. Then the middle portion (basically from the 50%-75% mark) is all-out steam. (Also plenty of f-bombs, for those who are sensitive to this). I enjoy spice, and found the love scenes sweet and emotional overall, with the refreshing switcheroo of MFC teaching MMC bedroom tricks. But this is where the plot falters a bit (described below), and this feels like a different book than the first half.

Plot: Everything starts off on a dizzy, hectic note (reminiscent of, say, some of Tessa Dare's books). My critique overall is that there's perhaps one baddie, subplot, and secondary character too many. I have to admit that I'm not into the winding family trees that some HR writers seem to be enamored of, so there were passages in the beginning when I did some skimming, but everything else is very fast paced. Pacing toward the middle of the book does mellow as the MC's become physical.
I liked the aspects of the plot dealing with Eli's work back in the US, and wish more of the storyline had been focused on that. There are definitely too many instances of MFC in jep, and the final confrontation doesn't feel all that satisfying, considering it involves a memory from a scene the reader was never let in on in the beginning. That's a bit of a cheat.

Dialog/banter: Smart and witty, but super anachronistic. If this bothers you in a HR, this is probably not the book for you.

Humor: the absolute best element of this book, and frequently its saving grace. I will admit to laughing out loud several times, Yes, there's some screwball comedy and situational humor, but there's plenty of sly humor, particularly inherent in Eli's work with the government.

Bottom line: I would recommend this if you're a fan of writers like Tessa Dare, Charlie Lane, and Susanna Craig.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for this opportunity. This book is expected to be published March 28.

📚Book Review

Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller

Releasing March 28th (Preorder now!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶/5

Picture this: beautiful gowns, a glittering Ballroom, and an air of mystery… this is the general vibe of this entire book and I loved it. One of the things I enjoyed about this book was that the author does a great job of balancing the different storylines to where it doesn’t feel like the romance is the main plot and the mystery is the subplot. They feel very equally weighted.

Definitely give this one a read if you love a good historical romance, spy novel, or even a little bit of mystery.