I have to be honest - I am not sure why I originally requested this book on NetGalley. I think I thought this would be more historical fiction/spy thriller (which it definitely has aspects of) but was not expecting a historical romance with a decent amount of smut in the second half. I think the fact that this wasn’t the book I was expecting it to be definitely swayed my view on this one and led me to not really vibing with it.

What I did love was the historical setting in Vienna and the mystery at the center of it. During those parts I was so captivated and engrossed in the writing. Unfortunately this book leans a lot more heavily on the romance between Maria and Eli. Maria is a very interesting and strong female character which I really appreciated despite the number of times Eli had to rescue her. But Eli was just not swoon-worthy at all. I honestly couldn’t really understand why she was into him other than him being attractive as he never smiled and didn’t seem to have much a personality. The passion just wasn’t there for me with this couple.

Honestly, I kind of wish this story was about her grandmother, Josephine, who had her mother to a mysterious man who she then didn’t have anything to do with and fell in love with a married woman and continued seeing her into old age with the approval and friendship of that woman’s husband. That story sounds so much more fascinating!

I think if you like historical romances, this one may be worth reading for you. I have learned my lesson now on not fully reading a NetGalley synopsis and will hopefully pick books more to my liking in the future.

I really enjoyed this historical romance set in late 1800s Vienna.

The main characters were well developed and the supporting cast of characters were very entertaining. I would’ve enjoyed a bit more of the main romance, I think.

The mystery aspect of the plot was decent. Not super compelling, but entertaining and kept me reading.

OK, I loved this book. Everything about it. But especially the characters.

My first from this author and set in 1870s Vienna, Maria Wallner is the 4th-generation of daughters to run her family’s Hotel Wallner, which has sunk into disrepair due to neglect and financial woes. Eli Whittaker is an American agent sent to Vienna from DC to track down the culprits who are selling American codes across Europe.

As Eli, based at Hotel Wallner, begins investigating, Maria is targeted for unknown reasons…are they connected? They must unravel suspects/motives to get to the truth.

Hands down, Maria and Eli are the best characters I’ve read in awhile. Maria is strong, capable, independent and determined. But also fun and entertaining. Eli is a wonderful mix-up of an alpha/beta male and is staid and proper while also being competent in any situation (he’s also hiding a tragic family secret). It is such a pleasure to watch as Maria begins to bring him out of his shell and show him how to live/laugh while he gives her the undivided attention and respect that she’s never noticed was missing.

So fun, so funny, so sweet and so entertaining/well written. This author is now on my radar. Highly recommend.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for providing the free early arc of Hotel of Secrets for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Thank you to NetGallery for the opportunity to read an ARC of Hotel of Secrets. I particularly liked this time period of Vienna's 1857 ball season. I had never heard of ball season and loved learning about it. I enjoyed the charcters, especially the strong femaile friendships and the emerging male friendships developed throughout the book, which is something you don't see often. I loved the descriptions of the beautiful Hotel Wallner and the story of the attempts to revitalize it.

However, I felt that there was a bit too much going on. While I appreciate the fact that it was historical fiction, mystery and romance all at one time, I think it would have been better if it had concentrated more on just one genre. I generally enjoy historical fiction, but felt like some of the details were overwhelming and complicated. And I felt like some parts of the story were a little too unbelievable.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and will definitely consider reading another book by this author.

Diana Biller does it again!

I was a little unsure at first, only because this is not connected to her other books. But I quickly fell in love with the setting and characters. I didn't want this book to end; it was so magical. Biller's spunky, wry voice is perfect for this historical romance.

Eli is a vulnerable character - stiff and awkward. Maria is lively and driven. This could have easily swerved into Manic Pixie Dream Girl territory, but it doesn't. Hotel of Secrets is more sensual and spicier than Biller's other two books; and I think this fits the characters and situations.

I loved the hotel and all the side characters. (Can we get a book for Hannah and Mac?)

I had a lot of feelings happen, especially toward the climax - the tension and drama are heightened to the max with both internal and external conflict.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it delivered!

I am so confused by Hotel of Secrets. Why is it set in the 1800's, yet all of the dialogue is in modern language and the roles of women are so modern? I think would have really enjoyed this if it was set in modern day.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

Honestly, I didn’t know much about this book or the author before reading it. However, what a delightful surprise it turned out to be. I really enjoyed this book, and plan on reading the rest of the books by this author!

What I loved about this book:
1) Time/setting: Vienna in the 1870’s in the midst of the decadent ball season…. Pure magic!
2) Maria Wallner: a hardworking, liberated (sexually and otherwise) woman trying to revive her family’s hotel.
3) Eli Whittaker…. An American spy, working undercover to try and find out who in his organization is leaking important codes to the enemy. He is smart, kind and honorable. Despite being extremely desirable, he has undertaken a vow of chastity for personal reasons.
4) All the fun side characters, especially Maria’s kick ass grandmother.
5) How this author seamlessly mixes up elements of romance, mystery, and spy novels.
6) The plot was extremely unique and well paced. Kept me reading late at night….

Overall I strongly recommend this book!

Thank you St. Martins Press and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review (and thoroughly enjoy)

Wow. At first I was mystified by the journals entries that preceded each chapter as they jumped around from mother to daughter to grandmother, etc. and were written at different times in different years, but it all makes sense by the end of the book. A great read and a fine introduction for me to Diana Biller, someone whose work I will now look for. Part detective story, part romance, part historical fiction, but all so very readable. I loved most of the characters, especially Maria and Eli, Mac and Hannah, and Josephine and Emelie. I even liked Claude the French spy! Wacky and entertaining, everything makes sense by the last chapter and I never wanted to put it down! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a unique story if you don't mind some steamy scenes (all vital to the story! I did received an advanced copy of this novel but my opinions are my own.

Hotel of Secrets was a delightful open-door historical romance. I particularly loved the setting and premise; in 19th century Vienna, Maria Wallner is part of a family tradition, whereby management of the historic family hotel descends matrilineally. Maria has no interest in marriage, but instead is determined to restore the Wallner hotel to its former glory. Enter U.S. Department of the Treasury investigator, Eli Whittaker, who has been reluctantly reassigned to Vienna to track down some stolen codes that were mailed from the Wallner Hotel.

Maria is charismatic and flirtatious, but set on prioritizing the hotel. Eli is starchy and solemn, but has a heart of gold. Together, their chemistry is chef's kiss!

I found Biller's novel incredibly refreshing. Not only was the setting new to me, but I also appreciated the lack of focus on the marriage-mart and female chastity. I also think Biller did a great job of dodging a number of common romance pitfalls. A historical male love interest who communicates ?! Thank you, Diana Biller!

Biller really excelled at character development. I became fully invested in Maria and Eli's romance and also enjoyed the whole cast of Maria's family and friends at the Wallner hotel. I can see future romances simmering among the Wallner ensemble and can't wait!

*Received a copy for review.*
This book is stunning. It manages to be historical fiction, family saga, mystery, and romance all in one. Many books attempt to blend genres but this book does it so successfully. This author has such a deft hand at writing the story she wants even if it doesn’t slot right into a genre. And I loved every minute of it.
Eli is competence personified. He is one of those men that adapts and overcomes. He only relies on himself and feelings do not fall under his preview.
Maria is a doer. She is determined to bring her family hotel back to its former glamour. Even if she has to fix everything by herself. It would be really nice if someone wouldn’t try to kill her as she does that.
I loved all of the family dynamics. I loved that there are strong women everywhere. I loved watching Maria unlock Eli and also herself.
It is beautifully written and woven in such a way that you get to enjoy all the parts as well as the whole.

What a fantastic book! Nothing could be wrong with a book that combines historical fiction, mystery, political intrigue, a bit of romance, and generations of strong female characters. Plus it all takes place in a lovely old hotel in Vienna during ball season. The setting was so well-written that it felt like I was there.

I loved the strength of Maria and her grandmother’s independence and the peek into them running a large hotel. There was some political intrigue and mystery that had me doing a little research to understand a bit more about the time period.

The romance was a bit sweet with some steaminess thrown in too.

I highly recommend this book! 5/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book.

For historical fiction, this story was fully fledged feminism. Strong women, linen closet trysts, and lies that save lives, not to mention quick studies and luscious mouths lol! I really enjoyed my visit to Vienna!

I would read five more books with the Eli/Claude/Mac bro squad.

Hotel of Secrets is a romance set in Vienna in 1878, a very unique atmosphere, centered around the Hotel Wallner which Maria, the owner and hotel manager, is rehabbing to its former glory and trying to avoid family drama. Enter Eli, an American agent (not a spy!!!) who stays at the hotel and is drawn into her world when Maria is the target of some confusing assassination attempts. I enjoyed Maria, a heroine in her thirties, and I also loved Eli, a very emotionally locked away male hero who does not think he is lovable.

The plot was extremely interesting and I learned a lot about Viennese history during this time. Diana Biller's prose is also extremely readable and I flew through this book. My favorite detail about the book was Eli getting a squad of male friends in Mac, Maria's half brother, and Claude, a french spy. They're great and I'd love to see them again. I have more thoughts but they're spoilery so I will save them for after the publication date.

I would give this book 4.5 stars.
Heat level: 4

This book releases March 28, 2023, so mark your calendars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc copy. This is my honest review.

I was highly entertained and transfixed during the entire book. People tried to talk to me during my stay at Hotel Wallner and I had to shh them until I finished my trip in Vienna. I loved this book and the mesmerizing details that were given. I could picture the guestrooms, the ballrooms, the city in all of its golden splendor. Diana Biller created amazing characters that you will want to spin around the floor with during a dizzying waltz. This book has a little bit of everything, mystery, romance, family drama, murder, and of course spice!

Maria Wallner is a woman on a mission to bring the Hotel Wallner back to all of its glory. After her mother left it to deteriorate, due to her fixation of Maria's father. Who of course has a wife and four other children. It now belongs to Maria and she will make it blossom once more, one ball at a time. Ball season in Vienna seems to be an experience all on its own. The grander it is, the more the hotel will be talked about. Maria cannot do grand, she can do mystical, mysterious, and she has the gift to make anything sparkle and shine. There is something stirring beneath the ruined floorboards and Maria seems to be at the center. Will she be able to come out of it unscathed?

There are so many secrets going on within the walls of this hotel that I needed to make a list to keep it all straight. I loved all of the drama and the family dynamics. It was mad house within the hotel. The love story that ran through it all is absolutely delicious, the spice will set you on fire. Thank you to Diana Biller and St. Martin Press for this sizzling book of the season!

Hotel of Secrets by @dianabiller is the perfect balance of a historical mystery, romance, and comedy! The characters were incredibly unique and the fast-paced prose was filled of banter-filled shenanigans that had even the stoic serious Eli Whittaker smirking and chuckling by the end.
Hotel Wallner has been managed by generations of quirky single Wallner women at the center of 1800’s Vienna society; the hotel has been filled with balls, spies, waltzes, rivalries, and imperial scandals, of which each women records daily in their locked-away diaries to secure their stability as a woman-owned hotel in a patriarchal society.
The current owner, Maria Wallner, is faced with restoring the hotel to its former glory after a decade long depression and mismanagement by her own mother. Eli Whittaker is a celibate straight-laced American financial investigator sent to Vienna to investigate who has been selling American secret codes across Europe (mailed anonymously from Hotel Wallner). He is quickly swept into Maria’s orbit by thwarting an assassination attempt on her life whole investigating her as a suspect. However, as he dives deeper into her chaotic life, his attraction grows into an unexpected love story.

I was completely raptured by this story; the mystery was full of nail-biting twists and the passion was hot and deeply whole-hearted. There was something extremely sexy about linen-closet ‘assignations’ and watching a serious (yet competent) man navigate the erotic bookstores of 1870’s Vienna. Perhaps even more sexy, was watching Eli quietly ‘show-up’ for Maria to lighten her load of work with the hotel, supporting her visions and dreams while firmly inserting himself into her family and life!

I highly recommend this read to lovers of:
-Grumpy/Sunshine Romance
-Generational Family Drama
-Stern (virgin) Hero/Practical (experienced) heroine
-Found Family
-Wonderful Supporting Cast

This was my first Diana Biller read, and I am now going to work through her backlist was patiently hoping for this story to continue with a sequel for Mac and Hannah’s romance?! I am ready to return to Hotel Wallner.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

For when you're vibing with... an unusual historical romance setting, a stern (virgin!) hero/practical (experienced) heroine pairing, generational family drama, a strong supporting cast, mystery, and a love story, that makes you want to swoon dead away.
The Hotel Wallner, right in the midst of Vienna, is a family inheritance--and as the fourth woman in her family to run it, Maria is trying desperately to keep it afloat. A kink in her plans? The mysterious American Eli, who's come to stay... Not to mention the sudden attempts on her life (which he always seems to be thwarting). Maria isn't one to panic, but between her burgeoning feelings for Eli and the dangerous secrets coming to light in the hotel, her world may be turning upside down...

Um, this was fabulous. It was my first Diana Biller, and I have like... nothing to complain about, and everything to rave about. This book made me gasp; it made me laugh; and while it's not a SUPER HIGH ANGST book, it made me emotional, too. This shit? Could be a miniseries (and it should be). So let's get into all that.

Quick Takes:
--I was actually a bit worried, based on the title, that this would be one of those books that masquerades as a romance when the romance is in fact just a subplot. Uh, nope. This book has thriving subplots with family drama and a really fun mystery, but the Plot Plot? Is Maria and Eli's romance, all the way. And what a romance it is. From their meet cute to the last page, I was completely, utterly sold on them. This is one of those romances where it's the little things that made my heart grow three sizes. It was achingly sweet and hot and soft all at once, and you could just feel these two people, both of whom have emotional intimacy issues (actually kind of great to read a book about two people who have issues with giving their hearts away, usually one is all in and the other isn't) giving in to each other slowly... but surely.

--Another great aspect of this romance is that both Maria and Eli are super well-drawn, as characters. Both have their damage, both need a safe place to land. But there was a special element of fulfillment for me as a reader--a woman around Maria's age, juggling what sometimes feels like fucking everything. Maria is that girl. She's got a bit of a kooky family and a huge legacy and basic economic survival on her shoulders. And here comes this man who, for all his own issues, is just... casually, without even realizing he's doing it, easing that burden. Swooping in with his competence (listen: if you want a competent hero, THIS IS IT), and his awkward but earnest desire to just make things easier for her. No fucking wonder she was obsessed with him.

--Eli's own emotional trauma, as well as his sexual hangups, were really excellent and realistically rooted, in my opinion. His virginity (carefully chosen celibacy) does not draw back to the kind of typical trauma that I think we imagine with his type of character. Simply put, he's a control freak (with a major backstory to explain why his needs have gotten to the levels they have)--and I think that the concept of people losing their virginity at a late age because of a need for control versus insecurity or sexual trauma is something that romance doesn't explore often. It felt very true to life, and seeing him slowly give up control... to an extent... with Maria was lovely. I also really loved how this book dealt with sexual education, safety, and consent while maintaining a very brisk, sexy pace. There was really no "here's where we stop for five paragraphs to discuss this matter" moment. It was woven in skillfully and naturally.

--The supporting cast is fabulous! (On the off chance that Diana Biller reads this, Diana this is my moment to beg for a Mac/Hannah book, please God please.) There's a really unique setup in the novel of the Wallner women basically not marrying, each one having a single daughter who will take on the hotel at some point. While Maria's great-grandmother, the first woman to run the hotel is dead, we get to see Maria's grandmother and mother in full swing. And God, there's so much great, delicious family drama, and so many varied characters. (This book is so also! So funny!) Maria is a really unique historical romance heroine in that she's a working woman, she's a woman of the world... and she happens to be the very much known daughter of a feckless nobleman and his mistress. She knows her half-brother, her father's legitimate son, very well--and the sweetness of that relationship was kind of marvelous to me? A lot of this book comes back to the complexities of family ties and relationships that will never be perfect but we must accept them nonetheless, and I loved that.

--The setting! The book is set in late 1870s Vienna, and it gives you a lot of that world and that history, all against the backdrop of this remarkable, fabled hotel. You can tell that the author has done her fucking research, and it really shines through. This is a fully fleshed out book in a way that, to be honest, many aren't, and I'm honestly jealous of how well she's done it.

The Sex Stuff:
Dude. Here's the thing: the sex acts described in this novel are not described in the most explicit manner I've ever read (though they are explicit, to be sure) but uh... It's hot. It's really, really hot. The tension between Eli and Maria is, of course, ratcheted up by the fact that he is really trying to hang on to this celibacy thing (until he isn't) and she is very much down to get down. Like I said earlier, the book handles consent and sexual health really well, but when it comes down to it... I was surprised by how hot it ended up being. Eli isn't experienced, but he cares so much about Maria's pleasure and is such a pleaser. It was a lot.

This was a ROMANCE Romance, and I loved pretty much every word of it. There were reveals (some of which I saw coming and some of which I didn't), there was drama, and at the end of the day there were two people who just really wanted to love each other, trying to get over their own shit so that they could do so properly. Fantastic.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

THIS. BOOK. I finished it last night and I am so fried from this work trip that I’m having trouble forming coherent thoughts but I think I would feel like that anyway? I have transcended the mortal plane after reading this. It’s basically perfect? Spicy, steamy, funny, smart, swoony…just OMG.

Ladies and gentlefolk, I *must* dedicate some page to Eli Whittaker, a starchy sad boi who is the headiest mix of deeply thoughtful and competent. During the course of the book, these are the things Eli either teaches himself, becomes expert at on the fly or just casually knows how to do:

* enough Hungarian to converse
* religious history of Austro-Hungary
* how to waltz
* speak Polish (because it was the polite thing to do)
* dress a bullet wound (on himself!)
* orchid care and maintenance (just knows these things)
* sewing/mending clothes
* kissing (learning on the fly)
* how to pleasure a woman (in more than a few ways - studied and then active learning 😏)

This is not an exhaustive list…just the most memorable items!

Beyond Eli, there’s a great mystery, and absolutely bonkers plot involving a rival hotel, Imperial palace politics, gossip galore and an incredible FMC in Maria Wallner. Diana Biller has given us an absolute BANGER. I will never look at a linen closet the same way.

Recommended!!! I simply cannot do this book justice in the IG character limit. If you like bananas Hissy RoNos with amazing FMC and MMCs, bonkers plots and setting outside Regency England, this is the one!

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a unique and quirky story, and a nice change of pace. I agree with other reviewers who noted this is more historical fiction with romantic elements. Although the relationship between Maria and Eli plays an important role, the focus of the story is Maria and her tangled family history. Maria is left to pick up the pieces of her family's once-famous hotel business after her flighty mother's neglect leads to its deterioration. After landing the opportunity to host an important event during Vienna's ball season, Maria struggles to bring the hotel back to its former glory while battling sabotage, mysterious assasination attempts, and her own mother's ridiculous and destructive behavior. Maria's stalwart and secretive grandmother lends her support, along with her friends and half-brother, and a host of other characters with questionable motives. The excerpts from Maria's family's tell-all journals over the years -- which play an important role in the story -- are both very educational and entertaining. I found it fascinating learning about the fraught political history in Vienna and how its strategic location between the Ottoman Empire and Russia led to all sorts of intrigue in the 1800's (and beyond).

This is not to say that Eli Whittaker - Maria's love interest - does not have his own character development or important role to play. A member of the US Treasury Department, he was sent to Vienna to "investigate" potential espionage at the US consulate after he ruffled political feathers by implicating important government figures in a corruption scheme. I was not entirely sure if Eli is meant to be on the autism spectrum or if his behavior is the product of past trauma growing up with an abusive and religious cult-leader father (perhaps both?). Regardless, Eli struggles to adapt to Vienna's -- and espeically Maria's -- chaotic and whimiscal social environment. Slowly, his rigidly constructed rules and outlook start to bend as he begins to unpack his past trauma.

My one slight critique is that the dialogue felt jarringly modern. On the one hand, it fits with the sort of surreality of the whole story, but it also detracted from the efforts to bring the world of Vienna in the 1800's to life. As the story goes on and I became more accustomed to it, it bothered me less, but it took some getting used to.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

This book was chaotic in the best way possible. Hotel of Secrets is packed with action, mystery, witty banter, crazy family dynamics, and steamy romance. I don’t know much about Vienna in the 1800s, so can’t speak to how historically accurate it was, but I loved the descriptions of the city, its culture and people. If you are looking for a fun and fast paced historical fiction, check this out!

4/5 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

A page-turning historical romance novel blended with a strong spy story that includes a lot of family secrets, multiple attempted murders, humor and fun, a cast of unique and interesting characters, and a steamy romance with a twist. Bravo! Recommended.