ARC Review: Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller

Hotel of Secrets
Author: Diana Biller
Publication: St. Martin's Griffin (March 28, 2023)

Description: Diana Biller's Hotel of Secrets is chock full of banter-filled shenanigans, must-have-you kisses, and romance certain to light a fire in the hearts of readers everywhere.

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.

My Thoughts: HOTEL OF SECRETS was an entertaining historical romance with more than a touch of mystery. 

Maria Wallner is the fourth generation of Wallner women who have owned and managed Hotel Wallner in Vienna. She is very determined to restore the hotel to its past magnificence after the mismanagement of her mother who was more interested in her 30-year affair with a married man and the economic collapses of the past. She's not going to let anything stand in her way. Not sabotage from a rival hotel or attempts on her life or the fascinating new guest from America.

Eli Whittaker is searching for the person who is selling American codes and his only clue is a letter sent from Hotel Wallner. He isn't interested in romance but happens to be on hand when a couple of the attempts on Maria's life are made and he can't just ignore them. Nor can he ignore the fascinating Maria Wallner.

This story was filled with fascinating characters and all sorts of secrets. I liked the setting and really liked Maria. She was a determined woman who wasn't going to let anything stand in her way. Eli was also interesting and became more interesting as his troubled past was slowly revealed. 

Fans of historical romance will enjoy this story.

Favorite Quote:

He looked down at his feet, as if to verify that he was indeed dancing in the middle of the street, and sighed deeply, "I was afraid of this," he said, in a tone of deep resignation, "The madness in contagious."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.