Member Reviews
I would not recommend listening to this audiobook in public. I did not realise the actual tone of the book until I reached the half way point and I must admit to forwarding sections of the narration because I am not necessarily comfortable with such elaborate discussions about the plans the two of them have.
Our leading lady is the third in a line of strong women who run a popular hotel. Both the grandmother and mother are popular in the gossip circles in their own way. The hotel has fallen on hard times and the events that transpire in the beginning do not help.
The narrator did a brilliant job of bringing the author’s words and the world to life. The lights and sounds were almost within reach and although the ending of every ‘secret’ was not as exciting as I had hoped, I still enjoyed visiting this time and place with the author and the narrator.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own listening experience.
I will be withholding my review of this book in solidarity with the St. Martin's Press boycott. I will update my review once concerns are addressed.
“Hotel of Secrets” by Diana Biller is a captivating historical romance that transports readers to ball season in 1870s Vienna. Maria Wallner’s determination to restore her family’s hotel, the Hotel Wallner, drives the narrative. Amid masked assassins, espionage, and waltzes, she crosses paths with Eli Whittaker, an American foreign agent. Their attraction grows amidst chaos, secrets, and danger.
“Hotel of Secrets” blends romance, intrigue, and Viennese elegance. Biller’s lush prose and vivid setting make this novel a delightful escape.
I chose not to finish this audiobook at about 25%. I was hoping for more historical fiction than the novel was offering. There were so many characters that I was having trouble keeping track of them. Additionally, the plot had not progressed much at a quarter into the book.
Set in at an old family hotel in Vienna in the late 1800s. This historical romance novel really surprised me as its not really a genre I delve into regularly. The story was engaging and reasonably fast paced throughout if not slightly chaotic in parts. I did find the narrator wasn't necessarily my favourite but didn't discourage me from listening in.
I enjoyed every minute in 1870s Vienne at the Hotel Wallner. The multiple POVs, balls, spies, and steamy romance kept me hooked from start to finish. Biller’s work is much more than your typical Historical Fiction read and had me refusing to stop listening. I NEEDED to find out how the story ended!
A quick historical romance filled with spies and family drama. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read more by the author! She did a great job at developing wonderful characters!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Usually, I love Diana Biller’s novels. However, I could connect with this one. There seemed to be more fantasy than mystery, which was not what I was expecting. I also did not but the romance. Thus, Diana Biller is an excellent writer. It’s just I love her previous works more. I did like the narrator and thought that she performed well.
Spies, sabotage and really messy family set in a historic Vienna hotel. Fantastic character work and one heck of a romance.
Audio notes - I was really impressed with the narration on this one. The accent work in particular was great since there are characters from the US and France in addition to the majority who live in the setting city of Vienna.
All I can say is wow. This book was a jaw dropper and I was so here for it. Diana created such a wonderful and interesting read I will for sure try more from her in the future.
A light and airy summer read of a romance, full of capers and beautiful people. The narrator was great and conveyed that humor throughout.
Surprised by this in the best way!
Historical Romances are so hit and miss for me, I either really love them or am bored to tears. I can’t put my finger on why, but for whatever reason I really believed Hotel of Secrets would be the later. Not so! This was so well done, and so fun too!! The time period is well developed and present in the writing, the characters are a riot, the plot was wild in the most amusing ways. I really fell in love with both our leads over the course of the story. It made it so gratifying to see them open up to each other after a, shall we say, awkward beginning. There’s so much personality to the writing, and while I wouldn’t call the plot ‘realistic’ (this is pure escapism) it’s still believable and heartfelt.
I’m so happy to say I’ve found another historical romance to add to my list of romance recommendations, and I really hope Diana Biller keeps writing stories in this vein so I can add more!
I’m fairly new to reading historical romance, but I was so excited to read this. I really enjoyed the setting, the espionage and characters.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator was enjoyable.
*many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted copy
Just wow. If you love historical romances and you haven’t read this book (or anything by this author), then you need to remedy that NOW. Diana Biller gives such a refreshing take on historical romances and the setting of ball season in Vienna was pure magic.
Our heroine manages a failing hotel with the hopes of returning it to its former glory. She finally gets her opportunity when her hotel is asked to host the Hotel Keeper’s Ball which would be a massive coup for her. However, things keep going wrong and it looks like someone is trying to sabotage everything she is working hard for. Our hero is an American spy who has been sent to Vienna on a mission when he runs into our heroine and is captivated. As the two start falling for each other he can’t help but also want to get to the bottom of who has it out for her.
I listened to this in audio and while I admit I was a little thrown off by the heroine only having an accent when talking I eventually grew used to it. I almost wish there had also been a male narrator but overall I didn’t mind it. The character development and the growing relationship between the two main characters was absolutely fantastic and so believable. The plot also kept me on the edge of my seat because I really wanted to know who was behind everything.
I really love Rose House so I was so excited about this book. I love the historical setting and the non-traditional, ambitious heroine. However. I could not get past the romance novel tropes. I love romance novels but this felt way too on-the-nose for me. I may come back someday and love it, but for now this is not for me. I think romance novel binge readers would love this.
New favorite Diana Biller romance. There's something I just simply adore about Biller's writing; it is so atmospheric and lush without being over complicated or prose-y. She sets a scene that immediately spins you into a decaying ballroom that's being renovated with gumption and a hope but is still the most wonderous room you've ever stepped foot in. She builds tension SO WELL that by the time the two love interests touch you have been dying for that moment for pages and pages. this is the type of slow-burn i live for, one with huge payoff.
Heck, there's a scene where these two don't even touch each other and I about combusted out of house into the stars. yeah, that's craft.
I also personally adore the here is a line of women who have a "curse" or "mythos" about them, one that is a huge problem for our love interest, in this instance will he be "the man" and the mythos around the Wallner women is so delicious. the three generations still living together at Hotel Wallner and the Wallner women of the past. Just give me all of their stories.
And Eli Whittaker. What a starchy, blushing, completely besotted man Maria finds when she crashes into him tipsy, in Vienna. The whirl of the waltz is ever present as Eli has to find his spot and not spin out with lust and love, and figure out that he deserves it no matter what his awful family put him through. I love that he's a numbers guy, a paperwork guy. he's going to solve the problem that is Maria, but Maria isn't actually a problem at all. She's the answer to all of his everything.
ANYWAY I hope this review make sense, i just loved this one so much you all should buy it immediately.
thank you to the publisher for the print ARC
Narrator Carlotta Brentan is super great - I really loved her accent work, with maria's slight german//austrian accent and Eli's american accent all while also juggling the large cast of secondary characters. this is great work, and i never felt lost or wondering who was speaking. i just love this book so much. THIS MAN ELI HE STUDIED.
This was a good one! It definitely belongs on your TBR! I’m hoping you like it like I did. Hope to read more like it.
thank you to netgalley for the advanced listing copy of hotel of secrets. This was a very cute story, and as an audiobook the narrator did such a nice job with the accents. This had me interested from the first 10 minutes.
Hotel of Secrets is a complex family drama woven within the walls of the Hotel Wallner in the 1870's. This historical fiction was well written with multifaceted characters. I enjoyed the book tremendously and look forward to reading many more books by Diana Biller.
Narrator Carlotta Brentan did a fantastic job with the voices in this book. She can bring these characters to life with her voice. All the characters were distinct and had personalities brought forward with their voices.
I am impressed with the book; the way that Diana could incorporate history into this love story was fabulously done.
I enjoyed Maria's antics and drove to make her hotel work. The history embedded within this hotel and the drama within this adjacent royal family. And we have Eli, who doesn't smile but has a huge heart and is always willing and able to help whenever he can
All the supported characters added to this storyline's fun and mystery.
This budding romance was Chef's Kiss so good, and I enjoyed reading and listening to this one.