Tom arrives at the location, hired as Carina’s temporary bodyguard. With strange gifts and odd threats, it’s clear something sinister is happing behind the scenes. But what? Madame du Lac has watched the rich and famous pass through the doors of the hotel for almost half a century, and she has kept its secrets too. 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. The Hotel on the Riviera continues the story of the Theodosis family from Under a Greek Moon, although you don’t have to have read this first book to enjoy this book.

I was hoping Giorgio would face the music for his actions. While he does to a minor extent, the book sadly sweeps a good portion of it under the carpet. Financial fraud is one thing, infidelity and mistreating women is another matter. He isn’t even questioned about it. That is NOT acceptable. Although it did have an interesting plot and Ariana and Gabriel’s relationship storyline has that entire love-hate thing going on which is good if you do not want too much of a captivating story of proper lust or plot lines. It did have an element of mystery with what did she exactly do ‘That Night’. Although for the over average intelligence you can tell where that story line was going. It didn’t impress me too much sadly but I do not detest it either.

Featured Reviews

The wedding will take place in Villa Amore, where family and friends will gather but there are so many secrets that will blow up around this union. Why has Carina's dad hired a bodyguard for her and how will she feel with Tom following her everywhere ? What secrets are Salvador keeping from his wife and Carina, and will their marriage crumble when she leaves. What has the groom been up to and why has he gone to America a week before the wedding? We also meet Elizabeth and Robert, glamorous Hollywood A-Listers whose marriage is disintegrating, and Elissa, whose dreams of making it as a dancer and providing a better life for her and her daughter are fading as she finds herself working in a club in Cannes that is definitely the wrong side of seedy.

The actual story is set in 2005. While books set in the past only recreate a similar setting, this one feels like it was written at the same time but dusted and edited for publishing in 2023. Not sure I can explain it right, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the book is an old manuscript. I'll admit that there is one reason and one reason only that I bought this book, because this is not really my genre: I had a huge crush on Carol Kirkwood as a teenager. When I was getting ready for school in the mornings, my mum would have the news on the television so she'd be presenting the weather, obviously. It was always particularly great if Carol was out and about somewhere and found a cute animal or something. She's so sweet and so pretty <3With secrets surrounding the transfer of ownership of the hotel, and the tragedy that surrounds it, will Ariana and Gabriel ever work out their differences about the ownership of the hotel. We are smart readers yes however when you have to do something like that constantly throughout then it makes for poor reading as novels should be clear and guided instead of going what some would call ‘wish-washy’. Captivated once more by her island escape, bittersweet memories resurface of one summer, one unforgettable man, and a long-hidden secret. Whereas Gabriel and his family has been running it for over two decades and wants to take it over however he is trying to figure out why it wasn’t left to his own family. I usually bypass novels written by celebrities but I’m glad on this occasion I had a change of heart. It’s a wonderful read – for me a breath of fresh air - and I honestly could not put it down.

Unlike most novels with multiple narratives, this one is more difficult to follow. In one paragraph you are reading about the present of Ariana. The next you are reading about Gabriel’s deceased family. There are no breaks in the writing at all to let you know instead you have to use your mind and memory to recap this every few paragraphs which is VERY annoying. Ljeto je vrijeme za impulzivne stvari, nije li? Koja je jedina impulzivna stvar (na svu srecu) ovoga ljeta? Ova knjiga. Je li to dobro ili loše? Hmmmm... Poticaj za čitanje bila mi je recenzija od Mali dnevnik čitanja i činjenica da je ženska ušla do struka u vodu bez da je trepnula 😂 As the story unfolds both families learn secrets from the past and new friendships are made for the future. We are introduced to lots of wonderful and not so wonderful characters in this joy of a second chance at romance book. It is a dual timeline book, set between 1982 and 2000. Looking down from his hilltop villa, enigmatic tycoon Demetrios Theodosis knows he can’t change the past, and looks to the future through his tempestuous daughter Ariana, but in trying to tame her free spirit, is he driving her further away?I love Carol from BBC weather so I was excited to read her book but I was worried I'd be disappointed. In the end, it was better than I expected for a romance with a beautiful setting and some twists in the storyline. Utterly engaging, deliciously escapist, with a heart as warm as its author's’ CATHY KELLY, bestselling author of The Family Gift