I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Lovely book. Remy goes to France when she discovers she's inherited a house on the riviera. It changes her life

A wonderful story which some of it is based on true facts of the paintings that the Germans tried to get their hands on.

Eliane lives with her parents , her brother and sisters. This is just before the outbreak of War. Xavier her brother’s friend arrives back from England he is half French & English they form a friendship.

The book was really interesting and all the twists that happened it was also sad as well.

Well written.

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book

Well this was a lovely read. It was slow at start. A slow butn romance. But when I finished I just loved it.

4.5 stars for me.

Now firstly I must admit that I am a fan of Ms Lester's books and after loving "The Paris Secret," I was very excited about this new novel. While it took me a little while to get into, once I was hooked, I felt utterly immersed in the characters' world once again. I cannot think of a better compliment than that.

The novel is set once again between two time zones. In one of the narrative streams we are introduced to Remy living in the French Riviera in the present day. Remy has just inherited a house in mysterious circumstances but discovers that there might be a secret from the past held within.

In the other narrative we find Eliane living in occupied Paris in 1939, whose lover has fleed the occupation for London. Working at the Louvre, she revolts against the Nazis in the best way she can, helping the resistance to catalogue the artwork stolen by the Nazis.

This novel genuinely had me on the edge of my seat and reading late into the night and honestly I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is meticulously researched and just breath-taking.

Such a gorgeous sunny read! When Remy discovers she's mysteriously inherited a house on the French Riviera, she drops everything to go there, desperately seeking answers and an escape from her broken heart. There, she's shocked to find a catalogue of the artwork known to have been stolen during WWII and is even more surprised when she recognises one as the painting that hung in her childhood bedroom.

In Paris, 1939, while working at the Louvre, bold and beautiful Eliane falls for talented painter Xavier. But when the Nazis occupy the city, Xavier leaves for England, leaving Eliane behind. Heartbroken, she throws herself into helping the resistance catalogue the priceless treasures the Nazis are stealing. But Eliane is playing a dangerous game, and after a trip to a stunning home on the French Riviera, she realises she may have put her trust in the wrong person . . .

As Remy questions everything she thought she knew about her family, Eliane finds herself in real peril. Could it be that the Riviera house holds more secrets than either Remy or Eliane are ready to face?

A beautiful book based on truth surrounding the Nazi's systematic stealing of artwork in France during World War 2 and the tireless work of the resistance to thwart their attempts.

In present day when Remy escapes to France to heal from the loss of her husband and daughter she doesn't expect to become involved with a photographer helping to display her vintage clothes or to trace the path of her ancestors. When a painting she inherited (along with the chateau) reveals its secrets she could never have imagined what her family endured to protect the art stored in the museums of France and to try and ensure that stolen work could be returned to its rightful owners after the end of the war.

A book of love and loss, heartbreak and new beginnings. Fabulous.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

Set in Paris during WWII, Eliane juggles her life working and studying at the Louvre and her fathers restaurant .

As the Germans occupy Paris, her father and brother are enlisted to the army, Luc deserts the army and becomes a member of the Resistance. Eliane works at the Louvre and then transfers to assist the Nazi's with cataloguing the art work they have pilfered.

A love story with Eliane and Xavier a friend of her brothers .

In 2015 Remy is staying in the South of France at a property she has mysteriously inherited , recovering from the sudden loss in an accident of her husband and daughter .

While recovering from her grief, she meets Adam a renowned photographer who helps Remy with her latest catalogue of vintage clothing ....

An interesting read, keeps you hooked until the end.

I found this a little bit of a slow burner at the start but once the dual timeline kicked in I flew through it. I’ve read several of Natasha’s books and this one did not disappoint. Love and heartbreak, well told, across the years.

The Riviera House is an engrossing story set in 1940’s occupied Paris and the Riviera in 2015. In Paris, a young girl, Eliane, becomes involved in trying to save precious Art works from the Nazis. On the Riviera, another woman, Remy, is hiding away to try and come to terms with the deaths of her husband and young daughter.
The story slips between the two times and at first there is no connection between but as the stories develop, you begin to see a connection. It isn’t until right at the end though, that everything is revealed to Remy and the reader.
This is a powerful story and at the first the contrast between Eliane’s story and the hardships she faces and the luxury and glamour of the Riviera jarred but I guess that was the author’s intention. Her descriptions of Eliane’s life and then the beauty of the house and Remy’s clothes really highlight the differences between the lives of the two women who are inextricably linked through time and Art.
The novel is really well researched and I was quickly drawn into both women’s stories. The ending packs a real emotional punch too but feels entirely appropriate. I loved reading this and found it difficult to put down.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers, Little Brown Book Group for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review.

In Paris during WWII, Éliane helps the resistance in collecting and cataloguing artwork and treasures stolen by the Nazis. In 2015, Remy inherits a house on the French Riviera where she discovers such catalogue and shocking links to her childhood. As Remy uncovers detail about her family’s history, Éliane’s past proves to more dangerous revealing there’s more to the French Riviera house than expected.

Natasha Lester has once again stolen my heart in this incredible book. I was a huge fan of The Paris Secret so when I saw The Riviera House was available on NetGalley I knew I had to request the book. I have been following the author and promo for this book for a while, so I was absolutely delighted to receive an ARC. Lester has beautifully written and transported me to France throughout the dual timeline of WWII and 2015, capturing a remarkably detailed piece of historical fiction.

Like The Paris Secret it is apparent that Lester has undertaken a lot of research to write this brilliant story and convey the detail in great length to explore both timelines in an enjoyable manner. I am not sure which timeline I preferred reading as both had me hooked and captivated until the very end. As soon as I started this book I really couldn’t put it down as Lester’s addictive storytelling had me wanting to read more. There is also two inspiring and fascinating heroines to lead each perspective – Éliane, and Remy. Lester has a stunning ability to capture the lives of these incredible characters contributing to the reader’s investment to their experience, romance and life.

Again, Lester has decided to link the two timelines in such an enthralling way and depiction in both the past and present will leave the readers emotional at the end. The description of the art and situation during the war was fascinating and lead me to do some further research to learn more. This was also fuelled by the author’s note and I feel thankful to have read this brilliant piece of historical fiction compiling all of Lester’s research into an engaging novel.

Overall, I absolutely adored this novel and am so pleased that I have read another astonishing work by Natasha Lester. She certainly has become an automatic read for me and I am really excited to read more by this talented author.

This review will be published on my blog www.fortheliterature.wordpress.com on 26/08/21

A gorgeous dual timeline historical story seamlessly switching between the present and WWII France and telling the story of two remarkable and fearless women and the link between them.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This book was a really good read, well researched and written. It’s flowing between World War II and the present, with a bit of history, romance and mystery. Making it impossible to stop reading and put down.
You read about the history of the theft of art by the Nazis in Paris during this period, how the brave resistance workers, in saving great pieces as the Mona Lisa, risked everything they held dear.
Elaine, is working at the Louvre and is assisting in indexing the art that is taken from Jewish owners, people like the Rothschilds. Her love for Xavier makes you hope that they survive this dark period and will lead a happier life.
The story really grips you from the start and then it moves to the present timeline, making you want to know what happened next in the past.
But then, you are wanting to know what’s happened to Remy, whose a widow, losing a daughter 18months earlier.
As you read the story going back to that period, and again to the present, you get to realise how these two stories are joined together.
The ending is a bit touching and sad.

Highly Recommend It

I loved the author's previous novel , The Paris Secret so I jumped at the chance to read an early review copy of this ! What a beautiful and inspirational book this is! This is a dual time novel with the immersive storylines interlinking Nazi occupied Paris and the 21st century French Riviera, revealing the heartbreaking and thought provoking events that weave together the lives of the two heroines in both era's.
This book evoked such strong emotions, romantic and heartwarming at points, poignant and painfully heart-rending at others and you'll need tissues for the tears of sorrow and happiness that interweave through the timelines.
The author has dealt with difficult topics in a sympathetic manner. She has brought to life, in her fictional characters, the bravery and courage of the ordinary people making such a difference in the fight against the Nazi regime. My heart was in my mouth at times , waiting to see what awaited the character's.
The historical aspects of the book concerning the misappropriation of artworks belonging to prominent Jewish families and the lengths to which the real character of Rose and the fictional Eliane went to ,to keep records detailing the destinations of prominent paintings in order to trace the stolen artworks after the war ,was awe inspiring. The author has obviously undertaken extensive research and it shows in her rich historical detail.
Both heroines are characterised beautifully, you can empathise with their situations and the choices they have to make . The male counterparts are equally as enthralling, and you get caught up in their romance in both timelines.
The epilogue is beautiful and heartbreaking in equal measures. The tying up of all the loose threads has a feeling of kismet . The character's stay with you even after you've turned the last page. I thoroughly recommend this book. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would do so happily.

A well researched and interesting World War Two novel set in Paris and the South of France.
The subject matter is a group of brave resistance fighters who are battling to save French artworks stolen by the Nazis. There is detailed information about paintings stolen from Jewish families which are sent to the Jeu de Paume, an art gallery I have visited myself, which made the story all the more sad..
The book is set in two time frames and there is a love story in both sections and as the novel progresses it becomes clear that the two periods are inexplicably linked by the characters.
Eliane is a young girl who works for the Louvre as well as studying art. She lives with her family in Paris but due to their poverty and her father’s behaviour they have little money for her to continue her own painting ambitions.
When Eliane meets Xavier, a friend of her brother, Luc, they begin a heartbreaking romance which blossoms despite the dark times they are living in. When Xavier disappears at the start of the war, Eliane fears she will never see him again and rails against him for leaving.
As she starts work in the Jeu de Paume she vows to rescue and record as many art works as possible by spying on the Nazis. In doing this she puts herself in extreme danger.
The second time frame of the book is set in 2015 when Rémy is living in a house in the South of France, inherited from parents she never knew. Working on her vintage clothes business and trying to get over a recent tragedy she meets her neighbour, Adam who is staying in the next house with his family. Whilst getting to know him she embarks on a quest which leads her to find out some of her own family history.
I realised from the first page what an incredible amount of research had gone into writing this novel and I was so impressed that the author was able to include it all without detracting from the plot or the wonderful characters. Sometimes a reader can get bogged down with extraneous information when an author tries to include all research done but this was not the case here. The characters walked off the page and the plot moved along at a cracking pace. This meant I learnt a lot about the subject whilst being totally caught up and entranced by the story.
This was definitely a five star read for me and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys well researched historical fiction. If you have an interest in art history you will be even more excited to read it! I also found the Author’s note and research list at the end extremely interesting as it made me aware of which characters were real and which were invented.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.