Tag: Diana Biller

Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller

On By BarbaraIn America's Gilded Age (1870-1900), Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Standalone Title, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Hotel of Secrets

Barbara’s rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: 3/28/22
Period: Gilded age/Victorian – Vienna
Number of Pages: 416

This was a wonderfully crafted melding of two people who are so very different, yet so very much the same. As I began reading, I kept thinking “How will these two get together?” – then – OMGoodness, I couldn’t picture either of them without the other. It is a beautifully written romance and mystery rolled into one. I loved each of the characters in the book – except the villain, of course – and would love to see Maria’s brother and Hanna both featured in future books – together or separately.

Maria Wallner comes from a line of very intelligent and independent women who don’t marry. Yet, they each find ‘the man’, the love of their life who will father a daughter to continue the line. The ladies own the Hotel Wallner, once the premier hotel in Vienna. They hosted the most creative, lavish, fairytale, balls of the Vienna season, but, as Maria’s mother was not a very attentive steward, the hotel has fallen into disrepair. The hotel is now Maria’s responsibility and she fully intends to restore it to its former glory – even if she has to scrub and repair every inch of it herself. She’s been making progress, but ‘accidents’ keep happening that cause damage to the hotel – and almost to Maria. She’s been fortunate enough to be saved each time her life was in danger – will her luck hold out?

Eli Whittaker, an agent of the US Treasury Department, has been sent to Vienna to track down whoever has stolen and sold some US codes. All he wants to do is to track down the traitor and bring them to justice so he can go home and get back to his other cases. However, he has difficulty concentrating on his case because he keeps having to save a beautiful young woman who manages the hotel in which he is staying. Is she part of his case? She will certainly remain a suspect until he can prove otherwise. Still, she is beautiful – and intelligent – and resourceful . . .

While I liked Maria, I loved Eli. He was such a different kind of character that he caught and held my interest from the beginning. He is not your normal ‘romantic hero’, but he is exactly the right hero for Maria and I would have loved to see a bit of an epilogue that takes place five or so years later. I would love to see them with children – boys and girls – and I’d love to see the elegant hotel fully restored and at the height of fashion.

This was a delightful read and I can recommend it. Should you choose to read it, I hope you will love it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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The Widow of Rose House – Blog Tour

On By TracyIn America's Gilded Age (1870-1900), American Historical, Gothic Historical, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Yearly Favorites1 Comment

The Widow of Rose HouseThe Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller
Tracy”s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: N/A

Release Date: October 8, 2019

Alva Penrose Rensselaer Webster is back in New York after 13 years and it is clear that her scandalous past has not been forgotten. She is having dinner at Delmonico’s with a publisher, desperately hoping to sell him on the idea of publishing her book on interior decorating, and the whispers are growing louder. Finally, she convinces the publisher to give her a chance and leaves just as fast as she can. But her escape is thwarted by a very large man who introduces himself as Sam Moore. She mistakenly believes he is propositioning her, which his first words to her confirm, but it is not the proposition she expected.

Professor Samuel Moore is famous, he is a genius and sought after inventor – in fact his whole family is famous, but what many people don’t know is Sam’s secret passion is ghost hunting – an Alva Webster happens to have just purchased a home with a ghost! When he sees her at the restaurant and learns that she owns the house, nothing will stop him from talking to her. Once the true nature of his “proposition” is revealed, a very embarrassed Alva refuses to grant him access. But Sam won’t give up, because now he is not just interested in the ghost, he is interested in Alva as well.

When Alfred, her former brother in law begins to blackmail her and the workers at her house refuse to return until she gets rid of the ghost, Alva decides to let Sam investigate the house – just so she can finish the project and write her book. Sam agrees, but now he wants to investigate whatever is between them as well as the ghost. Alva has no desire to remarry, but she agrees to an affair, but for Sam that won’t be enough. And while Alva knows she loves him, she knows her secrets and scandalous past, as well as the current threat Alfred presents would not ruin just her, but Sam and maybe his family and she will push him away before she lets that happen. But to do that, she must get rid of the ghost, once and for all.

I loved this story, I will admit the description of a “gothic romance” left me a bit wary, but I can honestly say this was not a dark read at all, there are some serious issues and possibly some triggers for sensitive readers, but Ms. Biller manages to keep this from being truly dark. Alva is a wonderful heroine who has been hurt and misused by those who should have loved her and Sam is awesome – I loved him so much, he is brilliant, funny and very, very protective of Alva. My understanding is this book is a debut offering and I have to say if that is true – WOW – it is well written, flows nicely, stays on point and has incredible imagery and emotion, I am very impressed and will be looking for Ms. Biller’s next book and hoping she is writing books about the other Moore siblings!!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the Publisher.*