Loved the follow up book! Glad we got to see Ariana explore who she was and gether happy ending. I also like the additional supporting characters like Elizabeth and Robbie.

I was really looking forward to this book as I enjoyed Carol’s first book. The story started off really well, however, I felt it lost its way a bit in the middle and didn’t seem to have any depth. It was quite “wordy” and descriptive and I felt as though it was just filling. This is just my opinion and it might be a nice beach read for somebody with its exotic location and glitz and glamour.

This book made me want to be on the Riviera enjoying the beautiful views. It was an engaging love story which had tragedy in the past and I enjoyed finding out how it all linked together and why certain things happened. You wanted the good guys to come out as the winners and in the main that did happen. A great holiday read.

Ariana Theodosis inherits the Hotel du Soleil on the French Riviera after the death of her beloved grandmother, but the hotel holds a secret. Its former owner, Madeleine du Lac, has become a virtual recluse since the death of her husband over twenty years earlier, and the hotel's once glamorous image is now tarnished by age and dilapidation.

As events unfold, Ariana finds herself falling for Madeleine's son, Gabriel, but there is a shadow cast by the death of Liberty Granger, a Hollywood actress, at a party Ariana attended whilst still living in California. She receives a number of messages from someone who claims to know the truth about Liberty's death, but her own memory of the evening is hazy.

Ariana is none too pleased when her on-off actor boyfriend Jonny Farrell shows up. Jonny is bad news and up to his eyes in debt. There is also a glamorous couple, Robert and Elizabeth Chappell, promoting their latest film whilst trying to hide the cracks in their marriage.

I enjoyed reading this story, particularly as it reintroduced Ariana, familiar to those who have read Carol's debut novel 'Under a Greek Moon'. Then, Ariana was spoiled and entitled, but this novel sees her mature emotionally as she comes to terms with her inheritance and the feelings she develops for Gabriel.

This would be a great read for a holiday, with its descriptions of the French Riviera and the Hollywood glamour epitomised by the Chappells. Carol, however, also lets us see that a life lived in the spotlight isn't as glamorous in reality.

I received an ARC of this book from HarperCollins UK, in return for an honest appraisal.

It is always daunting reading a book by a new author, especially when you kmow them from their day job. But I did really enjoy the story to this. Felt it was well written and the story was beautiful

I loved the French Riviera location as the setting for Carol's latest novel. I could shake Ariana at times as she went back to Johnny who caused her more trouble.

However when she was left a hotel by her grandmother she really wanted to shake off her partying days in L A and make a go of a challenge

There were lots of past secrets to unlock and eventually all was revealed about the sad past. Carols research is impeccable and she writes a cracking story perfect for summer days around a pool with a cool spritzer.

Thank you netgalley.co.uk.

A satisfying read with a lovely background setting. Loved the interweaving of the characters and their different stories

This is the second novel I have written by Carol Kirkwood and I have enjoyed them both enormously. The detail is very good and I was transported effortlessly to the south of France and to places that I have visited. The characters were believable and I really hope that the author writes more novels using the same people that I feel I have got to know. Thoroughly recommended.

If you’re looking for a romantic summertime read then this is the book for you!

I really enjoyed Under a Greek Moon and this second novel didn’t disappoint. It has intrigue, drama, romance, glamour… everything you could want from a slice of pure escapism. Yes, it’s not high literature, but sometimes we need to escape the real world and imagine ourselves in the South of France.

Carol Kirkwood’s writing feels so effortless and you’ll want to keep turning the pages long after the sun has gone down. Don’t worry if you’ve not read the first book - it works as a standalone story. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a little bit of glitter in their life!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An enjoyable story set on the French Riviera. Plenty of interesting characters and little stories intertwined. A nice, easy holiday type of book.

A really beautiful setting on the glitz and glam French Riviera. Loved the Ariana and Gabriel love hate relationship. Gabriel du Lac owns the Hotel du Soleil. Except Ariana is actually the rightful owner. How did that happens and is Gabriel going to give over owners rights, just like that?

This is a book full of twists and tales! Lies based on secrets that can’t stay hidden forever!

Set during the Cannes film festival, which I adore. This is a story based on some extremely wealthy and privileged people but to be honest that doesn’t bother me one bit!

A lovely light summer read that will have you booking a holiday to the South of France before you reach the last page!

The beautiful setting of the Riviera definitely sets the scene. An easy lightweight holiday book. There were various stories to follow through the characters all of whom had secrets. Entertaining and enjoyable.

The Hotel on the Riviera by Carol Kirkwood was an easy summer read. Lots of glitz, glamour and a little bit of romance and intrigue. Would recommend as a holiday novel.

From the outset I felt captivated. The prologue poses much curiosity in the row that is created. Then readers are taken to Ithos, 2009, where Ariana is. It all feels sparkly and richly elegant. Underneath all that is an air of change when she meets up with her father - Demetrios Theodosis.

Readers are on a fantastic journey through the beautifully written book through Ithos, Portofino, Cannes. It all sounds idyllic, but rather mysteriously, tragedy strikes and so does a different sort of intrigue as now there is not only a need to find out more behind the initial beauty, there is a mystery to solve too and the question of what happened at a party is posed.

The Hotel du Soleil intrigues as there is a row brewing over who actually owns it and everyone wants a piece of it and has their own ideas of what to do about it now it's once, more opulent and rich, famous history has faded away. There are also secrets that are uncovered, as well as quite a bit of name-dropping, which fits the setting of Cannes and around the film industry well. The book captures a bit of the lifestyles of the "other-half" of society.

The Hotel on the Riviera is a great summer read for escapism!

A lovely summer read, brings out the spirit of the south of France, glamour, beauty and a bit of intrigue! Very entertaining with a good story although maybe no real surprises.

A great 2nd book from Carol Kirkwood full of passion and family secrets loved the glamorous locations. From the first page it had me hooked about a girl called Ariana who inherits Hotel du Soleil, in Cannes by her grandmother but Gabriel claims it is his hotel left to him by his father and thinks Ariana is a rich spoilt brat who knows nothing about running a successful hotel.
Ariana sets out to prove him wrong and uncovers lots of secrets regarding Gabriel's mother. Also there is the story of Robert and Elizabeth who are A list celebrities who are struggling with their marriage.
This is a story that will keep you wanting to find out more.
Highly recommend this book for the summer.
Thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins UK for a advanced copy.

Firstly I would like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for my free ARC.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover the authors connection to her first book* in this story. Sun soaked destinations, glamour and decadence, love and lust, all feature in this story set in the French Riviera.

Ariana, the Greek heiress, inherits a hotel and decides it will be her making – a chance to grow up, become the woman her grandmother would want her to be, to escape the clutches of a purposeless existence of parties and fashion. Only one small problem, Ariana has no idea how she has come to be the owner of the hotel, and the people who thought they were the owners are still in residence. Then she discovers the hotel is a dowdy facsimile of its reputation. Ariana has to pull her big girl pants on and make this her moment to shine.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, the characters were ever so slightly 2D, and there were a tad too many ‘tanned toned thighs’ but the heart of the story was all there, and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend this new book from Carol Kirkwood and I hope Carol continues to write and delight us with more stories.

Loved this book. I was very impressed with the complexity and writing of Carol Kirkwood, proving she is more than just a BBC weather presenter! Great characters and family scenarios. The settings of a Greek island and the South of France let the reader have a little escapism from the humdrum. The spoilt child with a rich father came good and the romance with the hard working and clearly business savvy son of a hotelier was a tease that worked out.
A great bit of escapism for the summer.

Second book from Carol Kirkwood. I enjoyed the story and could anticipate where it is was going. Perhaps a little too much mention of designer brand names near the beginning. Not sure that I needed the brand advertising.

The novel begins in Ithos, Greece in April 2009. Ariana Theodosis is returning home to the family villa to see her dying grandmother Elana. Ariana is 26 and has been living in Los Angeles trying to make it as an actress.
Our second main character, Gabriel du Lac, is then introduced. It’s August 1987 – Cannes, France – and twelve-year-old Gabriel is at the funeral of his father Alain.
Then we go forward in time to Portofino, Italy, 2009. Now Gabriel du Lac is 34, good-looking, drives a Ferrari and lives in the Hotel del Mare (a luxury boutique hotel).
The main story is about the Hotel du Soleil where Gabriel’s mother Madeleine (65) lives. It has been in the family for decades, but then Ariana inherits it and there is conflict between her and Gabriel over the ownership.
The story develops with many long-held family secrets and scandals coming to the fore.
If you like exotic locations and glamorous settings, this is the novel for you. The characters often have lots of money and of course, there are the gorgeous big houses. Personally I prefer a novel where I can relate to the characters and the settings and all this seemed a bit beyond my experiences – but it’s perfect for a good bit of escapism!