Cover Image: Hotel of Secrets

Hotel of Secrets

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Member Reviews

A magical historical romance with characters that I loved from the moment they appear on the page. Setting the story in Vienna while it was still part of the empire and right as the ball season is beginning is the perfect setup for beautiful dances and lots of intrigues, and making the leading lady the proprietress of a family-owned hotel with a long history of strongwilled women behind her is a masterful stroke.
Maria is interesting on her own. She knows what she wants and she's learned to make do with what she has without depending on others. I loved how protective she is of those she loves, her hotel, and the people in it. It makes everything she does to keep her family's legacy alive even more special. And then there's leading man Eli, an American very much out of his element but deadset on doing everything he can to help Maria. He's adorable and headstrong and the fact that he opens up to Maria and is willing to be vulnerable with her makes everything extra romantic.
It does feel like a couple of plot threads get dropped toward the end in exchange for a series of very unexpected surprises that give the book a lot more depth, but everything works out so perfectly and the emotional rollercoaster is so great that I'm okay with that.
Overall, it's an incredibly romantic story full of mysteries and romance played out by enthralling characters.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the romantic read!

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Hotel of secrets has a little bit of something for everyone. History, romance and some mystery. I LOVE this cover it’s as beautiful as the story. Literally swept me away to Vienna. Maria’s strong character was way ahead of her time.

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Thank you to St Martin’s Press & NetGalley for a digital ARC. I don't often read historical romance, but this was recommended by a few Bookstagrammers I follow. It was pretty interesting, although maybe a little unrealistic. There was of course the romance, some family drama, and a little bit of a mystery. I was surprised at how many affairs were in this story, by various major and minor characters. I really enjoyed exploring the unique relationships between Maria and her mother and her grandmother. I also liked the event planning aspect of the story and all the decadent food mentioned. Overall, this was a fun read to break up my fantasy streak in May.

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Mystery, intrigue and romance combine in this fun novel set in the beautiful city of Vienna. This one started off a little slow for me. The character development took a little while but about halfway through I was really into the and the fun characters who inhabit the Hotel Wallner.

Great historic fiction with modern enjoyable characters.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book for my honest review.

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Family drama, mystery and romance. Does it get any better?

This was my first time reading a Diana book but it did not disappoint.

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Maria Wallner's only goal in life is to restore her family's hotel to its former glory. Strange occurrences and setbacks seem determined to foil her efforts, and Maria finds her life frequently in peril. The oddities seem to coincide with the arrival of Eli Whitaker, a government official from the US who may or may not be a spy, depending on who you ask. He wants to finish his investigation on stolen codes in a Vienna office and go home, but he finds himself drawn to the alluring woman who is surrounded by chaotic mystery.

I absolutely loved the Viennese hotel setting! It was vibrant and lovely, and I wanted to waltz in a grand ballroom after finishing this book.

Eli is SUCH a grump, and it was a fabulous foil to Maria's optimistic spirit. I really enjoyed the tension building and growth that they both experienced throughout Hotel of Secrets. The slow burn led to such good spice. I will never look at coat closets the same way.

Thank you to St Martins Press for an eARC. All thoughts are my own.

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For generations, the Wallner women have run the Hotel Wallner in Vienna. They do not marry, but they do take lovers and each generation has a daughter.

Maria Wallner is the current manager of the Hotel Wallner, which has fallen on hard times from which she is trying to rebound. Hosting Vienna's annual hotel ball will go a long way toward restoring the Wallner's reputation. But mishap after mishap occurs as she plans. At her side is the handsome but inscrutable Eli, a visiting American who seems slightly disapproving of Maria, her family, her hotel, all of Vienna... But their mutual attraction is too great to ignore.

Interspersed with snippets of European history, this historical novel is sweeping, entertaining, and slightly scandalous, like the Wallner women themselves. I took too long to read it, so some of the secondary characters were a little muddled for me, but it contains just enough history for background, but focuses primarily on Maria's relationship with her mother and grandmother, and of course the very hot Eli. #HotelofSecrets #NetGalley

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This book felt like it was plucked right out of my dreams. I found myself getting lost in this story, constantly wondering what was going to happen next and who would end up where.

The main thing this book showed me is that I was born in the wrong era, I want to go to balls, run off to linen closets with my husband, have an occultist tell me my future, and eat tiny cakes while walking through halls of a hotel packed with history and secrets.

With secrets, spice, and spies this book checked so many of the things I look for in a good book, throw in the family drama and the descriptions of the hotel itself and it felt like a fantasy, and I need more.

Maria and Eli and that couple that just makes you forget everything, I was so invested in their love story and each of them and how they got to that fateful meeting in the street.

This book had so much more than I was expecting and I loved all of it, I'll be grabbing any other books by Dana Biller I can get my hands on because she's phenomenal.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing a copy of this e-book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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This one was a bit of a surprise for me. I’m not sure what I expected from the description, but I felt like it had a little bit of everything…..intrigue, complicated family issues, espionage, mystery, romance, spice, and danger. Set in Vienna in 1878, it tells the story of the Wallner women, who own and manage a hotel which has lost a bit of its luster and popularity. The women never usually marry but always have a daughter, and write everything down. What secrets does this hotel hold? Check into it and find out! This kept me invested in the story line the whole way through, but at times I felt like it was a bit too long. Having been to Vienna several times, I’m happy I got the chance to read this and loved the historical aspects of the times that were included in the story. Thanks so much to Diana Biller, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-ARC.

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Diana Biller has been an auto-buy author for me since The Widow of Rose House. Hotel of Secrets, written with the same care and thoughtfulness, takes readers away from Moore family and brings us Hotel Wallner set in Vienna. Actually, I believe this was my first historical romance with a Venetian setting. Add in the drama of Maria trying to bring the hotel back to it's former self while hotel patron shenanigans and exceedingly complex family entanglements (complete with a curse) swirl around. We almost don't have time for romantic fates featuring a dark haired man and a not so sneaky spy.

Eli and Maria were an absolute delight! Solid characters in their own right and a sparks in the best way when they are together. This romance was fluffy and absolutely decadent. Biller's heroes are always swoon-worthy and this time we have some angsty background on Eli's side. Eli's history and how it impacts his relationship with Maria and others was very well done. Usually this trope wouldn't work for me but: Virgin hero. A virgin hero that goes the extra mile to be studious with some erotic material. We love a man who reads to up his bedroom... or linen closet game.

Now I have to explain to my husband why I desperately need a walk in linen closet with certain items and surfaces being available for... reasons in our next home. Eli truly is a dreamy stoic hero with passion just waiting to be released! Maria is equally lovely and is high on my list of favorite FMCs. Much like in her previous works, Biller delivered some fabulous side characters to round out an already rich and layered story.

Truly, I can't crow about this romance enough! Not coherently anyway. If you enjoy a plot of mystery with a dash of family drama to your historical romance. Biller has you covered. Even better if you are looking for a change from regency or just want a historical romance set outside of London.

*I voluntarily read to an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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4 Unique Stars
When I read historical fiction, it usually takes place in England, and the Ton is in full swing with the "season". There are either wallflowers, newbies of the finest diamond, or a woman who needs to marry in order to save the estate.

This tale was very different as it takes place in Vienna and has a "worldly " woman and a man who has a purpose but is not a rogue, a man who is not experienced. We have a hotel that needs reviving, suspense, and an unexpected romance.

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I love historical fiction and also books set in hotels. This was intriguing enough to make me feel like I was right there in the hotel. Good book that kept me captivated throughout

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Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller was a wonderful historical fiction. Sometimes that genre can be hit or miss for me and this one was great. Who doesn't love a glimpse in the past with the mystery, romance, family drama, and secrets. I felt like I was whisked off to Vienna and actually in the hotel. This was a quick read and left me wanting more. I will be reading more from this author!

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It took me a while to get into this book.
The plot was interesting but kinda fell flat in the end. The book was romance heavy which was okay but I wanted a bit more mystery.
The characters were all equally endearing and I would love to know more or have other books of them

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This book was amazing and had everything - history, intrigue, great supporting characters, fun banter, steamy sexy times, strong heroine, and....... a virgin hero!!!! Not only did Diana Biller write a wonderful love story, but you can tell she put time into researching for the historical aspect of this book. I haven't read a historical set in Vienna, so that part of the book was very interesting.

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I really like this author’s words, and how she weaves history, romance, and mystery together seamlessly. Hotel of Secrets is set in Vienna in 1877 and primarily takes place in Hotel Wallner. The Wallner family consists of strong women, who have run the hotel for decades, always only having one daughter, never marrying, and living life on their terms. But, it’s also interwoven with the history of Vienna, and its royal leadership.

Maria Wallner is the current manager of the hotel and is desperately trying to restore it to its former glory, which due to the political and financial upheaval of the region and the mismanagement of her mother, have left it in disrepair. Things seem to be turning around after the New Year’s celebration, and when they are offered to host The Hotelkeepers’ Ball she knows this is their big chance to revive the hotel to its past grandeur.

Eli Whittaker is in Vienna at the behest of the Treasury Department, investigating missing secret codes and his first clue is that the message originated at The Hotel Wallner. He soon meets Maria and sets himself up as her protector when he realizes that her life seems to be in constant danger, he also thinks that the attempts on her life may be connected to his own investigation.

Hotel of Secrets is a standalone, but I’m kind of hoping there are more books set in this world. It is unique to the genre in that it’s set outside both the British Empire and America. This is a glittering, beautiful, tale of royal secrets, murder, and insatiable attraction. The cast of characters is intriguing, with twisted family trees, secret lovers, and spies who aren’t really anonymous. The romantic pairing is uncommon to the genre as well, as Maria is experienced sexually and Eli is not. Their romance is lovely, full of humor and consent. And oh, so sexy.

At times I found some of the historical events and how they affected the Wallner family a bit confusing, but was swept up in the romance of Maria and Eli and the lead-up to The Hotelkeeper’s Ball so I didn’t really care. I will say I was surprised at the villains and their motives. The ending was sweet, but I kind of wished for an epilogue so I could see Eli and Maria in the future, and the Hotel Wallner at its finest.

All in all, a very enjoyable read. Definitely recommend.

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This is exactly the book I needed to read to help escape from everyday life. It had everything I could’ve asked for and more!

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The hotel in Vienna in 1870s is Hotel Waller, run by a long line of women in the family. They are trying to restore the hotel to glory after it had fallen into disrepair. Complicated family story, many secrets, spies and an unusual steamy romance.

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I usually don’t read historical fiction or historical romance. However I loved the author’s previous book The Widow of Rose House SO MUCH that I keep chasing that high. Unfortunately this one wasn’t doing that for me and I decided to DNF at 25%. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

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This historical romance had mystery and intrigue as well as vivid characters. Great plot.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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