At the start of another ball season in Vienna, Maria Wallner is determined to see her family’s hotel, which she manages, restored to the prestige it once held. She won’t let anything stand in her way, despite facing plenty of obstacles: her parents’ embarrassing thirty-year affair, apparently random attacks by assassins, and a disturbingly handsome American agent to whom she already owes her life twice now.

Eli Whittaker just wants to reveal the source of a leak of US secret codes, arrest them, and return to his well-ordered life in Washington, DC. His one lead is a letter sent from the Hotel Wallner, but when he checks in, he finds him swept into sheer madness awash with balls, spies, and a beautiful hotel manager in the middle of everything, one who just happens to keep finding herself in danger. Eli is prepared to disapprove heartily of all this frivolity and chaos, but he’s soon swept away by it all as his attraction to her grows.

Eli was just the sort of strong, quiet, somewhat broody hero I love, and it didn’t hurt that he was utterly competent and also happened to be a virgin. The intimacy that developed between him and Maria was incredibly well drawn and I was thoroughly convinced that they had indeed fallen completely in love and established a trusting bond despite the relative shortness of their acquaintance. Maria struggled to accept help, having never truly been able to rely on anyone before, but Eli showed her what was truly possible when it comes to relying on another person and in turn she showed him how to trust someone else with his heart and vice versa. In fact, Maria challenged Eli’s views and assumptions about everything, showing him just how much more he could truly have. I loved the give and take of their relationship, as well as Maria’s courage in revealing her feelings and the sheer maturity demonstrated by the openness of their communication. There was also plenty of intrigue and court secrets floating around to keep my interest peaked, though I would still say this was a very character-driven story. Even the supporting characters felt fleshed out and the narrator did a great job of making them come alive. I’ve never read anything from this author, nor have I read a romance set in Vienna, but I loved this one and it won’t be my last.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and its audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I first discovered Diana Biller when her first novel, The Widow of Rose House, was released back in 2019. I absolutely loved it and thought Biller had an elegant prose that sucked me into the story right away. Plus the romance was sensual, sweet and a little spicy. It was a wonderful mix and I just recall how much that debut has stood out to me over the years. I often recommend it to friends and family, so naturally when I saw this new release, I had to jump on it!

This is Biller’s fourth novel and while I have missed the other two (though they are on my book shelf currently!) I didn’t want to miss this one! I loved the cover, it caught my eye and drew me in. It is colorful and really eye catching and while I hate judging a book by it’s cover, this one made it hard to resist! Knowing that Biller has written such quality historical romances before made me even more excited for this than the cover though. If you haven’t read her books, you are missing out!

Not only did the cover and the author appeal to me, but the description of this book spoke to me. I loved that this book promised to take us to the glittering world of Vienna and indeed a world of intrigue and spies. If you are looking for a historical romance to escape with this spring, that will leave you feeling like you read something ‘new’ and ‘different’ then I think this book fits the bill. It was a pleasure to read this book and another that I will be sharing with family and friends!

Summary
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. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
It’s been so great to see Biller evolve as a writer. In her debut she had such a strong voice and style and seeing it continue to grow and take shape in this book was so wonderful as a fan and reader of her earlier works. One of the things that stood out to me in both her early work and this one, was her humor. It’s like a historical romance rom-com. The story has great humor and I found myself laughing out loud on many occasions. But don’t dismiss this book as rom-com fluff. It has a lot of substance to it as well. The humor for me was a bonus! This book literally had something for every reader. Humor for readers like me who enjoy smart dialogue and snappy characters, almost a women’s fiction element with a main character you can cheer for, spies, family secrets, espionage, suspense, and ROMANCE!!!

The saving of the hotel and Maria’s story really added substance to this story. That’s the part that makes it NOT fluff. Maria is so hardworking and resilient and I thought her character made the story shine and added a lot for female readers to admire and potentially discuss. I could see this book being something that books clubs could discuss and that isn’t very often said about romance novels. Maria and Eli’s characters in the book are incredibly developed and fully realized in the story, sometimes in romances the characters are less developed and strong in favor of developing the romantic parts. That was one of the things that makes Biller stand out to me as a solid romance writer. She understands the power of having developed characters that readers can invest in, while still having steamy sex and romance. I absolutely loved Eli and Maria and their love story was enjoyable and memorable.

This story for me seemed more unconventional when it came to the romance genre. It had a lot of substance and character development but kept things balanced with humor and steamy romantic scenes. I loved it and this book only confirms that Diana Biller is an auto buy author for me. She does an outstanding job crafting a well written story. Though I think the history element could have been more evident in the story, it wasn’t a deal breaker for me. The history doesn’t really play a role in the story beyond framing the time period and what’s going on with in that time. Some historical fiction fans might feel like this novel fell short in that realm but for me it didn’t impact the story as the characters really shine in this one. If you haven’t checked out Biller yet, I would say this book is probably her best. All her books are standlones so jump around wherever, but this is a solid representation of her ability as a writer!

Book Info and Rating
Format 416 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 28, 2023 by St. Martin’s Griffin

ISBN 9781250809452 (ISBN10: 1250809452)

Free review copy provided by publisher, St Martin’s Griffin, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 5 stars

Genre: historical fiction, historical romance, romance

Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary hardcopy & the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

In my opinion Diana Biller’s Hotel of Secrets is a perfect historical & the couple in it is now one of my faves & imagine every other superlative you can think of attached to the end of this sentence because the book is that good.

The lovely & formidable Maria Wallner is doing everything she can to bring her family hotel back to its glory days. But someone is also trying to kill her, a fact which really arouses US Treasury Secret Service Agent Eli Whittaker’s ire…& he really doesn’t know why that would be, he is not one to form emotional attachments & he is in Vienna for a job etc etc.

This book.

The Vienna setting is richly rendered—I can picture the sounds & the sights even now—& it’s even more striking with the epigraph journal entries at the beginning of chapters, each written by the fierce Wallner women.

Biller makes it easy to see that this couple belongs together, despite their surface differences. He comes across as uptight & reserved & she’s a dynamo & a charming & also extremely driven when it comes to her hotel but they have similar characters & values, not to mention incendiary chemistry that’s also communication-focused.

I love love when a FMC in a historical romance is experienced & it’s just not a big deal & we get that here, along with a celibate MMC who decides not to be that anymore. Dear readers, he actually goes to an illicit bookstore to educate himself about female pleasure!!!

If I haven’t convinced you yet, I will note that one of my fave things about this book is the subtlety & the power of the increasingly frequent moments when Eli has “urges” or “impulses” to actively show support or kindness to the people he is bewilderingly coming to care for…

This book is an act of magic & I adored it.

5 BIG ⭐️. Out now!

[ID: Jess, a white woman, wears a dark green dress & stands against a yellow wall holding the book.]

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.

It’s Ball Season in Vienna & the Hotel Wallner is aiming to make a comeback after 8 years of setbacks. After the panic and the war, the once famous hotel is struggling to come back to its former glory but at the helm of it all is Maria Wallner, the latest Wallner woman in charge of this hotel that hides more than just a couple linen closets.

For generations this hotel has been managed by Wallner women starting with Therese Wallner who ends up involved with a powerful man and when the assassins come looking.. she started journals. Journals that would serve as protection should anything happen to her or her descendants. This all comes to a tipping point when the life of Maria Wallner is put at risk again and again. When a family’s convoluted family tree, a hotel struggling to make a comeback, hidden secrets and assassins left and right.. well, Ball Season is guaranteed to be more than just a bit interesting.

And before you ask, yes, there is definitely a leading man. An American sent to Vienna to look into some stolen codes and gets more than he bargained for when he saves Maria from her first assassination attempt and all the ones after wards.

Hotel of Secrets is another great novel by this author whose writing I fell in love with from the first book of hers I read. Thank you SO much to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an e-galley of this book!

In a word, this book is lovely. Imperial Vienna in all its glory is filled with mystery wrapped in secrets and intertwining familial ties, and of course romance. Biller’s plot is masterfully woven through generations and historical events while her characters are flawed, witty and sneaky with the ability to burrow right into your heart as if you know them personally. Hotel of Secrets is the best story I’ve read in quite a while. I found myself slowing down so I didn’t reach the end, and it kept me intrigued through to the bitter end.

Maria Wallner has been working towards restoring her family’s hotel, the Hotel Wallner, to its former glory. So, when an offer to host Vienna’s giant ball of the ball season is extended to her, she jumps on it. Nothing is going to stand in her way. Not her parent’s thirty-year affair, her hotel needs expensive repairs, or the American spy who has saved her life twice. Eli Whittaker has been sent to Vienna to find out who is selling American secret codes, arrest them, and return to Washington, D.C. His one clue is the hotel that Maria is trying to bring back. What Eli wasn’t expecting was his sudden attraction to Maria. He wasn’t expecting to be swept up into intrigue that could reach as far as the Royal Family. When Maria is attacked twice, Eli makes it his job to investigate. Can Eli find out who is behind Maria’s attacks? Can he also find out who is selling America’s secrets? Can Maria bring her hotel back to its former glory? And will Eli and Maria both leave the 1878 Vienna ball season with their hearts intact?

I didn’t know what I was getting into when I started reading this book. I thought I was going to read a romance about a spy. That was it (the blurb didn’t give anything away). I was aware that this book was set in Vienna (and I will discuss that later) and that I was mindful of the period. I wasn’t expecting the hijinks in Hotel of Secrets or that the people in Vienna seemed a little progressive for that era. Those quibbles aside, I enjoyed reading this book and the giggles it gave me.

Let me get the basics out of the way before I start going off on tangents. Hotel of Secrets is a fast-paced, 3rd person, dual POVs book (what a freaking mouthful there). I enjoyed reading the book from Eli and Maria’s perspectives. Some things didn’t make sense when seen from one that made sense when seen from the other. The fast pace suited Hotel of Secrets ideally, and the author did know when to slow down so everything could sink in. Plus, I loved the diary enteries from Maria’s great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and Maria herself at the beginning of each chapter.

So, now that is over, let’s jump into the review!!!

I loved that this book was set in Vienna during their ball season. Vienna is on my bucket list of places to go, and I loved seeing it described so beautifully in the book. I liked that the author gave a behind-the-scenes look into hotel renovations in 1878 (nothing like today) and how much preparation went into hosting a ball. I didn’t know that there were themes to balls. Honestly, I just thought people dressed up fancy, danced, and drank a lot of champagne. It shows how much I know.

I liked Maria. I liked how open she was with Eli about things and how in touch with herself she was. I also liked how she wanted to buck the “dark-haired man” fate and do things her way. She didn’t have time for that. She had a hotel to renovate and an essential ball to hold. Her impatience (and later disdain) for her mother and father’s affair was amusing and sad. I loved how she interacted with Eli. Her sassiness and not wanting him around amused me, as did her sexual overtures once she decided she wanted him.

Eli was not what I expected in a main character. He had a past that was tragic and shaped him into who he is in the book. But the more important thing is that he was a virgin. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around that when it was revealed. It was something that I rarely had (maybe never) read in a romance novel. The male main character was a virgin!! I also liked that he wasn’t as sneaky as a spy as he thought. Everyone, including Maria, had him pegged from day one, and his surprise when she told him was priceless.

The main storyline was an interesting one. It focused on Eli, Maria, the hotel, the diaries that Maria’s family kept (and they feature heavily towards the end of the book), Maria’s family, and Eli’s reason for being in Vienna. It was a twisty plotline that could potentially lose the reader, but it didn’t. The author did a great job of keeping everything on point and the attention where it needed to be. Of course, there are two considerable twists in that plotline. One that I guessed at, and the other took me by surprise.

Let’s talk about romance, mainly Eli and Maria’s. I wouldn’t quite call it Instalove. Instead, I would say that they were both sexually attracted to each other, and it evolved into love. Maria did fight her feelings for Eli for about half of the book. In the book’s second half, she realizes that Eli is hers. As for Eli, it was the same way.

There is a lot of sex, sexual hijinks, and sexual encounters in Hotel of Secrets. I was a little surprised because of the era (1878). But this wasn’t England, and I figured the Austrian society was a little more lenient with that stuff. I loved that Maria knew what she wanted and how she wanted it. Her hijinks with Eli (before deflowering him) were sensual and amusing. Take the linen closets. Maria made it known early on that she wanted to be taken in one and was contemplating adding amenities (those linen closets in that hotel got a workout). Eli was more than happy to indulge her once they were at that point in their relationship. I also loved (and thought it was hilarious) that Eli went and bought a pornographic book to study before they did the deed. I was dying, and when he started citing references, I couldn’t stop laughing.

I loved the end of Hotel of Secrets. Talk about ending the book with a bang!! The author revealed a couple of twists. I figured one out, but the other one took me by surprise. I also couldn’t have been more disgusted with Maria’s father. What he did was unforgivable. I wondered where Eli and Maria’s relationship would go since Eli technically did what he was sent to Austria to do. I am hoping that there is another book set in this universe that answers that question.

I would recommend Hotel of Secrets to anyone over 21. There is violence, mild language, and sexual situations.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Diana Biller for allowing me to read and review Hotel of Secrets. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

This book felt a little confused about what it strived to be at the end of the day, which was very much reflective of the contrast between the title + cover (historical fiction) and book description (historical romance). On one hand, the title + cover illustrated the first half of the book quite well: a glamorous ball, secrets, spies, mystery, and intriguing generational family dynamics set against a late 1800s Viennese hotel backdrop with a dash of romantic flair. On the other hand, the historical romance from the blurb overshadowed the bulk of the second half, with every plot point taking a backseat until the eleventh hour revelations.

Yes, I’m complaining about the romance as a romance reader, it just wasn’t balanced in a cohesive and complementary way. First, I didn’t feel anything in the chemistry department. But mostly, I didn’t like how modern the characterization of the MCs felt. If I didn’t know any better I might have predicted a time traveling plot twist.

To add a few cherries on top: the spies really sucked at the whole espionage bit, the villains were caricaturistic, and there was so much “telling” about the most amazing balls in the entire world but the reader only ever got to experience a tiny snippet at the very beginning and the tail end. Overall this started well but lost me along the way.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance reader copies via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of Hotel of Secrets! I really enjoyed this book!

I love a good historical romance, and Hotel of Secrets delivered in spades. I was hooked from the beginning with the stunning Vienna backdrop, the mystery, the intrigue, the scheming, and of course, the romance. Don't let this book fool you...it is STEAMY. There is so much pent up longing, pining, and sexual tension between the main characters that I thought I would explode while reading. 😂 I don't want to give too much away about the plot, but I loved the direction the author took in this one. So often, the female heroine is a virginal beauty or something to the like in historical romance...all I will say here is that is not the case with Hotel of Secrets, and I was here for it!

I also really enjoyed that while this was a romance (and boy, did Eli make me swoon and swoon hard...I loved him), there are also so many mysterious subplots that I found myself getting lost in the mystery of Vienna during this time. I loved the color that these plots brought to the overall book, and it really kept me guessing until the end! I thought that gave the book so much dimension.

Overall, I think fans of Chanel Cleeton will especially enjoy this book. It has a similar vibe to her books, BUT it is open door...so be prepared for those scenes to really bring all the heat! There was one in particular that made me blush, but I still loved it.

Star Rating: 4⭐️

Diana Biller has already shown us house, renovations in Gilded Age, New York, backstage ballet drama at the Paris Opera House, and now she takes us on a tour of the glamorous Ball Season in 1870’s Vienna!

In Hotel of Secrets, we are introduced to Maria Wallner, the manager of the her family legacy, the Hotel Wallner. She has put everything she has into bringing the hotel back to its glory after an economic, crash and poor management from her mother left it in disrepair. Along with that, she has been actively hiding from “The Man”. The prophesied man who will be the father of her daughter, continuing the Wallner line and will eventually break her heart.

Eli Whittaker has been banished on a mission to Vienna from the US State Department to investigate the theft of sensitive US codes. He works for the Treasury Board and has no idea why he has been sent but when he runs into the enigmatic hotel manager, he finds his own reasons to be in Vienna .

Maria is worried that Eli will turn out to be the man and tries to keep them at arms length. While Eli keeps coming to her rescue as mysterious accidents and attacks start to occur at the hotel auntie Maria!

Eli was the quiet, starchy hero that you just can’t help falling for! He was always there supporting and rescuing when needed. Maria, those strong and independent, really showed her character by excepting that she needed Eli just as much as he ends up, needing her!

Being set in a hotel, this book was filled with fun secondary characters from the guests, to the workers and friends, to Maria’s family. All together with the encompassing Vienna ball scene. This story was so captivating.

One last thought, is that I still don’t know if this book is directly linked to the last two (The Widow of Rose Hall & The Brightest Star in Paris). Those two books had a family relation that was obvious, and a supernatural element. I could not connect a relationship between the books and there were no supernatural elements.

Overall, this is a delightful, historical escape, with a beautiful and well-deserved romance!


Thanks to St Martins Press for this e-book copy. Opinions are my own.

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.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Hotel of Secrets is an entertaining mashup of genres that had me laughing, shocked, on the edge of my seat, and sometimes all those things at once. The story mixes a spy thriller, an upside-down regency romance, a cozy-like mystery, and a historical fiction setting for a purely enjoyable reading experience.
My Reading Experience:
I had the best time reading this novel. It reminded me of a Finlay Donovan or Stephanie Plum thriller in a historical setting, with all the thrills, spills, red hearings, and a shocking conclusion followed by a second shocking conclusion. I don't know what else I could ask for regarding an entertaining story.

I especially loved the setting – Vienna in the late 1800s- full of beauty and splendor. The hotel was once the epitome of all things opulent until Maria's mom mismanaged it into disrepair. Maria has a plan to revive her hotel, and I enjoyed her moxy and know-how at a time when women were still the 'angels of the hearth' or the spiritual epicenter of the family unit. She did want she wanted when she wanted and how she wanted. All of the women in her family did.

This independent mindset of Maria comes into play in terms of her romance with Eli, the American spy too. The two of them take the traditional Regency-style romance and turn it on its ear, which amused me to no end. I won't say anything about that because discovering it for yourself is half the fun. If you are looking for a fun read with the fast pace and danger of a thriller, loads of laugh-out-loud moments, and a uniquely fascinating romance, Hotel of Secrets has all this and more.

I loved this book so much!

It’s set in 1878 Vienna, and the scenes and the descriptions are fantastic! The storyline is full of mystery and intrigue and scandals, all whole being funny and sweet and quite steamy! I mean, who doesn’t appreciate a good supply closet tryst?

And the characters were incredible!!! Loved the main characters and the secondary characters?!?
Oh my goodness… I want a sequel.

This book is set in 1878 Vienna with the first chapter the 1877 New Year's Eve Ball at Hotel Wallner.

Maria Wallner is the current manager of the hotel, she lives there with her mother and grandmother, but the hotel has been passed down through daughters starting with her great grandmother Theresa Wallner. It flourished under her grandmother, Josephine, but unfortunately under her mother Elizabeth the property had gone to near ruin. Maria is determined to bring the Hotel back to its original beauty and popularity, beginning with this ball.

There are plenty of scandals but the one that involves her parents, Elizabeth and Heinrich is one of the biggest as they dance and flirt in front of his wife. Maria pleads with her half-brother Macario 'Mac' to get his mother to leave but she won't because Count von Kaufstein is there and his son is engaged to Mac's sister Annalise. Needless to say there are many more affairs and such going on.

There is also this thing about the Wallner woman finding not her man but 'the man'. Supposedly, this man would father the next daughter to inherit the hotel but wouldn't necessarily stick around.

Earlier on this day Eli Whittaker had checked in to Hotel Wallner, it's the only clue in his investigation of the stolen codes from the United States. He's puzzled by the population's one-track mind when it comes to Balls. He's there to work, not party.

He's out observing the activities of the early morning when Maria shows up and stands in the middle of the road looking back at the hotel.

Although he saves her life, Eli doesn't introduce himself and neither does she. It's not until later when he saves her live once again that they truly meet.

Now obviously there is attraction between these two, but Maria and Eli are fighting it hard.

There are several incidents that are life threating, and others damaging to the hotel as these two embark on a very interesting relationship while he's investigating.

I couldn't put this book down, it's quite the journey for everyone involved. The journals that begin each chapter give insight into the Wallner women and their lives, times, and scandals. Every page draws you deeper into the intrigue of the times and a step forward into the mystery and relationships that are somehow entwined.

✨ Review ✨ Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller

It's 1878 in Vienna and Maria Wallner's primary mission is to restore her family's hotel, Hotel Wallner to greatness. Maria and the three generations of women that preceded her have run the hotel and maintained its secrets for decades, but Maria's efforts to bring the hotel back are setback by a series of calamities. Repeatedly, Eli Whittaker, an undercover agent for the U.S. Treasury (lol) shows up, and his investigations repeatedly overlap with Maria's travails.

I love historic romances, and it's always wonderful to read one set outside of the UK/US. It so perfectly blended the characters' shenanigans, strong female characters, mysteries and investigations, balls and Viennese nightlife, found family, and more. I loved Maria's character and how she connected with Eli, and the trope of experienced-female-character/not-experienced-male-character. The Wallner family dynamics, the layers of aristocratic subterfuge, and the openness but also dangers of Vienna in this era made this a fascinating read!

I flew through this book -- I could hardly put it down. It brought us everything from sugar flowers to open marriages to wild boars to linen closets, and it was just so divinely colorful!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: f/m historical romance
Location: Vienna, 1878
Pub Date: 3/28

Read this if you like:
⭕️ 19th c. historical romance outside of the UK
⭕️ feisty and fascinating historical women
⭕️ balls and extravagant events
⭕️ historical romance + mystery & suspense!

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!

Going into Hotel of Secrets, I was expecting a swoony historical romance with a hint of mystery. However, two things quickly became clear: One, the mystery is more action-packed than I’d anticipated, and more multi-faceted. Two, the tone of this book is quite lighthearted and even kooky. It combines intelligent themes with a silly sense of humor that keeps things easy and fun from start to finish.

Maria Wallner has recently taken over as manager in her family’s hotel, and she’s working hard to bring it back to its former glory. With only a few people on staff, she plays many roles, and with her ambition and determination, she’s happy to do so. Her family tree is a bit of a mess, and her parents (who were never married) have been acting strangely lately. Her father is married to another woman, so why do he and Maria’s mom keeping making their affair so public? And why does Maria keep finding herself in dangerous (read: life-threatening) situations?

Eli Whittaker has just arrived from America on a mission to solve a strange case, and his only lead is the Wallner Hotel. Maria is his main suspect, but after he saves her life time and time again, he starts to realize she’s not the culprit… but she is somehow linked to his case. Eli takes it upon himself to keep Maria safe, and through spending so much time together, they both start to feel deeper feelings for each other.

Hotel of Secrets gets surprisingly complicated! Eli may only be there to solve a specific case, but he’ll soon realize that not everything adds up. Maybe there’s more than one mystery on his hands? Maria’s complicated family tree and history is another messy web, adding to the sense of confusion early on. It might take some time to get her family straight in your head.

I mentioned before that Hotel of Secrets maintains a tone of fun, randomness, and humor. This is not my usual preferred style, but it works here and makes for a quick read. However, this novel also doesn’t shy away from harder themes. Eli’s backstory, in particular, is heart-wrenching.

Both Eli and Maria are compelling characters. Maria is a generally spirited woman with a lot of energy and determination. She’s also pretty fearless and action-oriented. In contrast, Eli is much more closed off, even rather stiff at first, but he slowly opens up. He’s analytical and a quick learner, but also genuine and caring. I like that he’s an atheist and doesn’t drink alcohol—just like me! His mannerisms led me to read him as possibly being autistic. I don’t know if that’s what the author intended, but I liked reading him as such. With their dissimilar personalities and experience levels with romantic partners (Maria: a ton; Eli: none), they make for an engaging couple! These opposites attract, and they truly complement each other.

Hotel of Secrets is unlike any other historical romance I’ve read, especially compared to others that are also set in the late 1800s. It shows another side of the genre, with characters that feel modern and a levity that keeps the book fun. I love that it highlights characters who are working class and have unusual family situations. I also enjoy its setting in Vienna—so different from the historical romances that are mostly set in England and Scotland! It lends a new atmosphere that works perfectly with this story.

Hotel of Secrets is a diverting and mostly lighthearted affair, bringing thrills in its mysteries and sighs for its sweet love story. It’s action-packed and maintains a silly, carefree tone. If you enjoy perplexing chaos and jokes even in the midst of more serious topics, this is a book worth reading.

Hotel of Secrets is Diana Biller's third book and once again she has given us a wonderful couple to root for. She has also chosen an entirely new setting - 1878 Vienna, the epicenter of the slowly fading Austro-Hungarian Empire and the party and cultural capital of Europe. This is once again an entirely refreshing and different setting for a 19th century historical romance.

Eli Whittaker is an agent for the US Treasury who specializes in tracking down those who flaunt the law no matter how highly placed they are. He's stern, upright, morally uncompromising, and incorruptible, so much so that when his presence becomes inconvenient after he's instrumental in the arrest of a sitting US Senator, his superiors arrange to get him out of town by ordering him to track down the theft of secret government codes in Vienna. This puts him squarely in the path of Maria Wallner, the fourth in a line of women running the Hotel Wallner, in the middle of Vienna. Maria is strong, capable, experienced,, and determined to restore the hotel to its former glory after her mother practically ran it into the ground in just 8 years.

Initially, Eli is completely put off by the controlled chaos of Vienna, and by the chaos in Hotel Wallner. He's staying there because an important piece of evidence that is his main lead was mailed from the hotel. He quickly gets drawn into intrigues, finds himself saving Maria's life several times and quickly realizes that he needs and wants to protect her far more than he wants to solve the case. Maria doesn't really care about all of these strange happenings, she just wants to save her hotel but she also finds herself attracted to him (especially his stern yet beautiful mouth), and can't stop thinking that she really needs to revamp the hotel's linen closets to make them more amenable to illicit assignations.

Unlike the author's first two books, there's no paranormal activity in this one, just a fun, fluffy, inventive romance with two wonderful and well-matched leads, lots of humor, but also plenty of action and mystery to move the plot along. Maria's competence in rescuing her hotel and Eli's general overall competence at pretty much anything he sets his mind to are a joy to read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

"Hotel of Secrets" by Diana Biller is a historical fiction novel that follows the story of Adelaide "Addie" Morrissey, a young woman who takes a job at the luxurious Hotel Savoy in Los Angeles in the 1950s. As Addie becomes embroiled in the scandalous secrets of the hotel's wealthy guests, she must navigate a web of intrigue and danger in order to protect herself and those she loves.

While "Hotel of Secrets" has an intriguing premise and setting, the execution of the story may leave some readers wanting more. The pacing is slow, with the story taking a while to build momentum and the action not really picking up until well into the second half of the book.

Additionally, the characters in the novel can be somewhat one-dimensional, with motivations that may feel shallow or underdeveloped. The romance between Addie and one of the hotel's guests also feels rushed and lacking in chemistry, which may be disappointing for readers who are looking for a strong romantic subplot.

Despite these flaws, Biller's writing is evocative and descriptive, creating a vivid sense of place and atmosphere that transports readers to a bygone era of glamour and intrigue. The historical details are well-researched and add depth and authenticity to the story.

Overall, while "Hotel of Secrets" has some shortcomings, it may still be worth a read for fans of historical fiction who enjoy stories of scandal and intrigue in glamorous settings.

Hotel Of Secrets was an excellent story. I enjoyed the setting of Vienna and the intrigue and romance between the two main characters.

The story starts with Maria Wellner throwing a ball at her family hotel. A hotel that she is desparately trying to save from ruin. Enter Eli Whittaker a US Government official trying to smoke out a spy who is selling America’s secrets. Maria and Eli are swept away into the glittering Viennna social scene where mystery and mayhem ensue. The banter between Maria and Eli is one of the best parts of the book.

This was a great mystery/romance novel and I would recommend it to lover’s of a light-hearted book for an afternoon.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Marin’s Press and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

Honesty, Diana Biller is an author who has consistently slayed with her books. From a gothic ghost story to post Franco-Prussian war Paris, to 1870’s Vienna, she takes on beautifully constructed jaunts through history. Hotel of Secrets, which isn’t tied to her previous two books, brings us to the elegant and boisterous Vienna during ball season. We’re introduced to the manager of Hotel Wallner, Maria, right away as she starts the New Year with hope for revitalizing her family’s hotel. And then we meet a delightful cast of characters, her scandalously parents, her rakish half-brother, her grandmother, her best friend and cook at the hotel, staff, and long-term guests including a French spy and a set of fortune-tellers. And then we meet Eli for the first time, while he’s saving Maria’s life from a carriage! Talk about an eventful meeting! Eli, a guest at Maria’s hotel of course, and Maria are quickly thrown together as threats against her appear and intersect with the case that Eli is working on. Plus, there’s that pesky attraction between them and the urge to “explore” closets with each other. Maria is vivacious, hardworking, and determined to restore her hotel to it’s former glory. Eli is overwhelmed by both Maria and Vienna but slowly warms up to both. He’s scarred by his past and the only focus in his life is his work, until Maria pushes her way into the picture.

This book really has everything: a fantastic setting, unusual for historical romances, fascinating characters (I especially enjoyed the journal entries at the start of each chapter from Maria’s great-grandmother), historical and political intrigue, danger, and at the heart of it all, two people who fall deeply, madly, passionately in love with each other.