The Riviera House
- Downloads：3826
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-09-29 11:21:15
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Natasha Lester
- ISBN：154916712X
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Rachel
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Natasha Lester historical fiction delves into the Nazi's invasion of Paris and theft of the many art masterpieces owned by it's citizens and galleries。 The novel is fully woven through the lives of Xavier and Eliane and their counterparts who fight bravely with the Resistance to save the art at the cost of many lives。 An orphan inherits a grand house on the Riviera which begins her search for who her biological parents could have been tracing them back to war times。 Natasha Lester historical fiction delves into the Nazi's invasion of Paris and theft of the many art masterpieces owned by it's citizens and galleries。 The novel is fully woven through the lives of Xavier and Eliane and their counterparts who fight bravely with the Resistance to save the art at the cost of many lives。 An orphan inherits a grand house on the Riviera which begins her search for who her biological parents could have been tracing them back to war times。 。。。more
Anna Rohaly
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 This book was really riveting with fabulous characters that I really enjoyed connecting with。 However， the story feel apart for me a little bit at the end when I was no longer able to suspend my disbelief。 I found it extremely unlikely that a group of spies， knowing there was a traitor in their midst， would take no action to connect with the traitor or remove him from the loop of information。 The complete lack of contingency plans beyond the lack of action against the traitor was especially unbe This book was really riveting with fabulous characters that I really enjoyed connecting with。 However， the story feel apart for me a little bit at the end when I was no longer able to suspend my disbelief。 I found it extremely unlikely that a group of spies， knowing there was a traitor in their midst， would take no action to connect with the traitor or remove him from the loop of information。 The complete lack of contingency plans beyond the lack of action against the traitor was especially unbelievable as well as unsettling， especially when one of those spies is a new parent who knows that the lack of planning escape routes， hiding places， and establishing emergency contacts/plans would pretty much guarantee the loss of their child。 Also， when they know the allies are on the doorstops of Paris and there was chaos in the streets， it seems like that was an under used resource that the entire group didn't try to make use of， as was the relationship with the resistance。 The lack of these things disturbed a lot of the emotional closure that the end of the book I think the author hoped to bring amidst the heartache。 Now I just feel sad and like most of it was preventable with just a little bit of contingency planning and common sense。 。。。more
Jennifer
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I loved this book！ When I wasn’t reading it， I was thinking about it。 Éliane was such a strong， brave， and amazing character。 I don’t know how such a young lady found that kind of courage。 I guess that is what war does， brings out the very best， or in some cases， the very worst in people。 In contrast， Remy’s character was a little annoying。 However， the book was excellent！ It’s been awhile since I’ve enjoyed a book as much as this。 I know it will stay with me。 This book has reenergized my love o I loved this book！ When I wasn’t reading it， I was thinking about it。 Éliane was such a strong， brave， and amazing character。 I don’t know how such a young lady found that kind of courage。 I guess that is what war does， brings out the very best， or in some cases， the very worst in people。 In contrast， Remy’s character was a little annoying。 However， the book was excellent！ It’s been awhile since I’ve enjoyed a book as much as this。 I know it will stay with me。 This book has reenergized my love of reading。 。。。more
Simone Gandur
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I enjoyed the historical elements to this book- not that I haven’t read about the Nazis stealing French art before。 But it was well told。 The story around it was ok to good but it does feel like all of Natasha Lester’s books take on the same formula in the historical part - amazing love that can never be enjoyed。 The modern day story was poor cousin to the historical story - although of course the setting is divine。 The modern day story also follows a familiar pattern rushed love， quite impossib I enjoyed the historical elements to this book- not that I haven’t read about the Nazis stealing French art before。 But it was well told。 The story around it was ok to good but it does feel like all of Natasha Lester’s books take on the same formula in the historical part - amazing love that can never be enjoyed。 The modern day story was poor cousin to the historical story - although of course the setting is divine。 The modern day story also follows a familiar pattern rushed love， quite impossible but of course all will end happy ever after 。。。more
Jenn
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Really nice historical fiction about saving French art during WWII。 The first part of the book moved really slow for me but I loved it 100pages in。 There are a lot of characters & stories to keep straight。
Jenny
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I gave up at p150 of 450 pages。 A potentially good story about the theft of art works from Jewish families in Paris by theNazis was ruined by the poor secondary story of a Mills and Boon style romance between two Bold and Beautiful like characters。 The meeting of Adam and Remy [they even had names to match the second rate love story！] was contrived and far fetched。Too many good books to read to bother with this one。
Alicia Gerig
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This one took me a long time to get into but I loved the second half of the book！
Sabrina
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Ahhhh， the tragedy and just sadness of what humans are capable of doing to each other in WW2， the romance of true love interrupted， the hope and optimism of resistance to evil。 This book has it all 。。。。Elaine and a group of Parisians （ based on some real life heroes ） carefully catalog the stolen art the Nazi's are taking from the Jews and pillaging from France under the noses of the Nazi's and Elaine's one true love that betrayed her and is working for the Nazi's！ A parallel story in 2015 of an Ahhhh， the tragedy and just sadness of what humans are capable of doing to each other in WW2， the romance of true love interrupted， the hope and optimism of resistance to evil。 This book has it all 。。。。Elaine and a group of Parisians （ based on some real life heroes ） carefully catalog the stolen art the Nazi's are taking from the Jews and pillaging from France under the noses of the Nazi's and Elaine's one true love that betrayed her and is working for the Nazi's！ A parallel story in 2015 of an adopted women dealing with the loss of her husband and daughter in a car crash come to heal at her Paris home she just found out is heres。 How the stories tie to together is beautiful。 The author Natasha Lester uses the same style of writing alternating between the WW2 and modern day in all her books I have read but it always compelling。 Her attention to detail in the historical research is what makes the stories so real and draws me in from the first chapter。 LOVE ！！！ 。。。more
Liz
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The Riviera House is another successful dual timeline historical fiction novel from Natasha Lester。 The first focuses on Eliane who works with Rose Valland （a real life resistance heroine） to catalogue the artworks being stolen by the Nazis during WWII。 The second focuses on Remy， a grieving widow， mother and collector and seller of vintage fashion in 2015。 When Remy discovers that the painting that has hung above her bed her whole life was listed in the Goring Catalogue of stolen art work she s The Riviera House is another successful dual timeline historical fiction novel from Natasha Lester。 The first focuses on Eliane who works with Rose Valland （a real life resistance heroine） to catalogue the artworks being stolen by the Nazis during WWII。 The second focuses on Remy， a grieving widow， mother and collector and seller of vintage fashion in 2015。 When Remy discovers that the painting that has hung above her bed her whole life was listed in the Goring Catalogue of stolen art work she searches for answers about her heritage。 Both timelines were equally engaging and the story was credible without being bleak。 It has made me interested to learn more which is always a sign of a great story。 。。。more
penny king
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I have just finished reading this and am still thinking about it。 （Surely a testament to how it was written！） A story of twists and turns， which was well written and containing interesting themes。 Most recommendable！
Patti connelly
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Such a wonderful portrayal of WWII and those who sacrificed everything to preserve art during the Nazi regime。 A love story past and present intertwined into the tale that parallels the saga and keeps you reading until the last thread of this heart warming story！
Mary Jensen
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Fascinating historical novel
Tina Wilson
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This one was a slow starter for me。 However， once I got to the second half I raced through the book。 I think it took me awhile to really connect with the two different timeline stories。 I definitely liked Eliane's story better - a fascinating look into France and art。 Could have done without the sex scenes。 This one was a slow starter for me。 However， once I got to the second half I raced through the book。 I think it took me awhile to really connect with the two different timeline stories。 I definitely liked Eliane's story better - a fascinating look into France and art。 Could have done without the sex scenes。 。。。more
Cella Cameron
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This is the best book I have read this year。 This well written story is a page turner and you will want to learn how it ends。
Jennifer N
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This was another historical fiction novel with a dual timeline。 In the present Eliane is working at the Louvre and trying to hide priceless artwork from the Nazis。 She ends up working closely with one and has to convince him that she is on his side in order to gain information for the Resistance。In the present Remy is recovering from a tragedy and finds comfort in a house left to her by her birth parents。
Tristen
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Paris 1939-1944: Eliane is working in the Louvre trying to catalog and decide notes the Germans are making as they are stealing famous pieces of art for their own collections。 They don’t know she now only speaks German and can understand what they are saying， but she is passing information on to the resistance。 France 2015: Remy is running from a tragic accident that took the life of her husband and young daughter。 She’s hiding in a home she somehow inherited on the French Riviera。 She soon disc Paris 1939-1944: Eliane is working in the Louvre trying to catalog and decide notes the Germans are making as they are stealing famous pieces of art for their own collections。 They don’t know she now only speaks German and can understand what they are saying， but she is passing information on to the resistance。 France 2015: Remy is running from a tragic accident that took the life of her husband and young daughter。 She’s hiding in a home she somehow inherited on the French Riviera。 She soon discovers a catalog detailing a missing piece of art she has hanging in her childhood bedroom。 As Remy is searching for answers as to how this missing painting is on her wall， she soon realizes the tragic secrets hidden deep in 1944。 While this book is mostly fictional， it is based on the true story of Rose Vallend who did risk her life to save art。 Rose is mentioned and factionalized in the story， but the bravery those women must have had during that time amazes me。 I really enjoyed this book， it kept me engaged the whole time wanting to devour it！ If you enjoyed The Nightingale or Code Name Helene this is a great read for you！ 。。。more
Linda
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We have here two time periods。 WW II and 2015。 Exceptional people spend the entire war trying to protect great paintings from being stolen by the Nazis。 The setting is occupied Paris。 Mona Lisa has been hidden along with sculptures from the Lourve。 Private collections belonging to Jewish families are also stolen。 Hitler and Goring are the main culprits as they both want the best for their own collections。 Most of the action occurs in the Art Museum taken over by the Nazis。 Two women who are cura We have here two time periods。 WW II and 2015。 Exceptional people spend the entire war trying to protect great paintings from being stolen by the Nazis。 The setting is occupied Paris。 Mona Lisa has been hidden along with sculptures from the Lourve。 Private collections belonging to Jewish families are also stolen。 Hitler and Goring are the main culprits as they both want the best for their own collections。 Most of the action occurs in the Art Museum taken over by the Nazis。 Two women who are curators work their everyday under duress。 They manage to code the thousands of art works and keep a catalogue of where they came from and where they are going。 It is very risky for them。 Eliane keeps from them that she understands German。 She has an apartment and also the family restaurant downstairs where she feeds the Germans。 Yet she seems to have no food for herself。 Her brother is with the Resistance and is also the cook in the restaurant。 Her lover Xavier has become a Nazi collaborator and seemingly has forsaken her。 This part of the book is exhilarating。The 2o15 part is a different animal and takes place on the French Riviera。 Remy， grievingover the deaths of her husband and daughter is there in an inherited house。 While trying to stay isolated， she instead gets involved with the family and their sons down on the beach。 Remy buys and sells vintage clothing and has an online following。 Adam， who has an unusual family history， is a photographer。 How does this all tie together？ Remy has a painting of two lovers that she has had in her bedroom in Australia always。 It is in the unraveling of this painting's origin that the two plots intertwine。 I gave this a 4 rating because the sex snd romance in the 2015 part of the story really takes away from the 1939 version。 But that's just my opinion。 Lovers of art will truly enjoy it。 。。。more
Andrea Bullock
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Another hit by Natasha Lester。 Set in Paris during the Nazi occupation， Eliane loves art and through her work in the Louvre， she helps send away the national treasures to secret locations to protect them from the greedy Nazis。 Next she becomes the assistant to Rose Valland who creates a secret record of all the art stolen from Jewish families so it can be tracked down and returned to the survivors。 In contemporary times， Remy is trying to work through her grief and she discovers some hints about Another hit by Natasha Lester。 Set in Paris during the Nazi occupation， Eliane loves art and through her work in the Louvre， she helps send away the national treasures to secret locations to protect them from the greedy Nazis。 Next she becomes the assistant to Rose Valland who creates a secret record of all the art stolen from Jewish families so it can be tracked down and returned to the survivors。 In contemporary times， Remy is trying to work through her grief and she discovers some hints about her history that connect to a painting she has had for her entire life。 。。。more
Allison
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An amazing book about the strength and loyalty of women who lived through the war in Paris。 The writing was captivating and I loved every moment spent reading this book。 It was one of those stories that I wished was still being woven。 I hated seeing it end。The characters were so inviting that I was crying at the end of the book even though the love lasted forever， I was so sad for Eliane and Xavier。Definitely will be reading Natasha Lester's other books。 An amazing book about the strength and loyalty of women who lived through the war in Paris。 The writing was captivating and I loved every moment spent reading this book。 It was one of those stories that I wished was still being woven。 I hated seeing it end。The characters were so inviting that I was crying at the end of the book even though the love lasted forever， I was so sad for Eliane and Xavier。Definitely will be reading Natasha Lester's other books。 。。。more
Barbara
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Really a 4。5 star book。 Dual stories of Eliane and Xavier in Paris during WWII and Remy and Adam current time。 Eliane works at the Louvre and Xavier is an artist before the war。 As the Germans occupy Paris， Eliane starts to work in the building that houses the looted art and assists with the catalog by day， but also works with the Resistance to save the art。 Xavier meanwhile has found his way into Goering's inner circle and is spying for the British。 Remy has suffered an unimaginable loss， the d Really a 4。5 star book。 Dual stories of Eliane and Xavier in Paris during WWII and Remy and Adam current time。 Eliane works at the Louvre and Xavier is an artist before the war。 As the Germans occupy Paris， Eliane starts to work in the building that houses the looted art and assists with the catalog by day， but also works with the Resistance to save the art。 Xavier meanwhile has found his way into Goering's inner circle and is spying for the British。 Remy has suffered an unimaginable loss， the death of her daughter and husband。 Two years later she is in the house she inherited from her birth parents when she meets Adam。 As they grow closer the mystery surrounding her birth parents slowly unravels。 The only reason this is not a 5 star is that， like her other novels， the ending is quite rushed and I wanted perhaps one more chapter。 。。。more
Kim
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Uh sure， you get left a mystery estate on the French Riviera complete with gardeners and you don't bother investigating who left it to you？ Uh sure， you get left a mystery estate on the French Riviera complete with gardeners and you don't bother investigating who left it to you？ 。。。more
Christine
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Best yet！
Leah
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I picked this up and started reading and couldn’t stop。 I found it difficult to put this novel down and devoured it quickly over a day / it was that good！I’m still thinking about this book。 I might try more by the author
Donna McEachran
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Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review。Not often a book will break your heart， put it back together and then break it again and again！！ This book has done that and I love it！ I love that Natasha Lester incorporates real people into her stories， allowing these heroic women to have recognition， often for the first time！ I'm always excited to get my hands on her books。 Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review。Not often a book will break your heart， put it back together and then break it again and again！！ This book has done that and I love it！ I love that Natasha Lester incorporates real people into her stories， allowing these heroic women to have recognition， often for the first time！ I'm always excited to get my hands on her books。 。。。more
Katie Feige
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Such a fantastic read！ It looked at WWII at an angle I had never read about before。 I wasn’t aware of the extent of art theft that took place， so to read about the efforts to hide and therefore save some of the most well known works of art was so interesting！ Highly recommend for anyone who loves historical fiction。 The dual timelines and love stories woven throughout were beautiful！
Angela
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What an amazing book。 I was so enraptured in it， that I just couldn’t stop reading。 I wanted to see what happened next to Éliane and Remy。 The story was so interesting， and full of unpredictable moments。 There were passionate love stories in the middle of very arduous situations。 I loved the way people worked together to save the beautiful world of Art。 How Art was the common denominator in the lives of so many people， who sacrificed so much to keep Art alive， for humanity to be able to enjoy it What an amazing book。 I was so enraptured in it， that I just couldn’t stop reading。 I wanted to see what happened next to Éliane and Remy。 The story was so interesting， and full of unpredictable moments。 There were passionate love stories in the middle of very arduous situations。 I loved the way people worked together to save the beautiful world of Art。 How Art was the common denominator in the lives of so many people， who sacrificed so much to keep Art alive， for humanity to be able to enjoy it somewhere in the future。 Natasha Lester’s narrative is so engaging。 She has such a distinctive and unique way to depict characters and situations。 You can see what a diligent work she did researching history and locations。 You read， and it’s like you are there， in the middle of all the clandestine meetings， the brasserie， the museums， the villa， the French villages… So many sensations that will stay with you for a long time。 I’ve read all Natasha Lester’s books and I think this is the one I loved the most。 Despite the pain， sorrow and desolation。 Or maybe precisely because of them。 。。。more
Karen
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Paris， 1939 - Eliane Dufort is called into work at the Louvre early as the museum director assembles the staff to code and pack most of the art work which is to be sent to various depots through out the country to protect it from the Germans。 During the years of the war， Eliane works at the Jeu de Paume secretly cataloguing all of the paintings that Goring and Hitler are stealing。 Her former lover， Xavier appears to be Goring’s art advisor。 This is a dangerous game that Eliane and Rose Valland （ Paris， 1939 - Eliane Dufort is called into work at the Louvre early as the museum director assembles the staff to code and pack most of the art work which is to be sent to various depots through out the country to protect it from the Germans。 During the years of the war， Eliane works at the Jeu de Paume secretly cataloguing all of the paintings that Goring and Hitler are stealing。 Her former lover， Xavier appears to be Goring’s art advisor。 This is a dangerous game that Eliane and Rose Valland （a real historic character） are playing。In 2015， Remy Lang is staying in the house on Cap Ferrat that she mysteriously inherited。 Her husband and daughter had been killed in a car accident 2 years earlier and she is still in deep mourning。 In a box of books， purchased by Adam Henry-Jones there is something called The Goring Catalog which contains an image of the painting that has hung over Remy’s bed。 She knows she is adopted and knows the name of her birth parents。In the past the book deals with all of the tension of the work of the resistance during WWII。 In the past， a mystery about Remy’s background as well as her healing from tragedy。 I really enjoyed this particularly the 2015 story。 。。。more
Cj Reads Reviews
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Natasha Lester， New York best selling author， has delivered her seventh masterpiece The Riviera House。 Now while I haven't read Natasha's previous books I can just tell how magically immerse I will become by just reading The Riviera House。 The Riviera House by Natasha Lester transports us back to 1939 and 2015。 In the 1939 we are in the majestic heart of France's capital city Paris in WW2 and in 2015 we are set in the French Riviera along the picturesque coastline looking out into the Mediterran Natasha Lester， New York best selling author， has delivered her seventh masterpiece The Riviera House。 Now while I haven't read Natasha's previous books I can just tell how magically immerse I will become by just reading The Riviera House。 The Riviera House by Natasha Lester transports us back to 1939 and 2015。 In the 1939 we are in the majestic heart of France's capital city Paris in WW2 and in 2015 we are set in the French Riviera along the picturesque coastline looking out into the Mediterranean Sea of France。 Absolutely breathtaking scenery right？ The two main female characters Elaine （1939s） and Remy （2015） stories were similar but they had two different personalities。 Elaine is a brave， courageous woman working against the Nazis for her passion of artwork in war-torn Paris。 Can she record artworks while being undetected by the Nazis when they are in the same building as her？ Remy， finds herself and can she find love again after suffering the loss of her husband and daughter two years ago？ And why is her painting back at home， in an old art catalogue for missing paintings back in WW2？ Even though this book is historical fiction， it's based on the real life events of WW2 in Paris。 Natasha's love for art， vintage fashion and France really shone throughout The Riviera House， making the book itself a valuable piece of art。 （In my opinion of course）Through reading the book The Riviera House I was able to see a different side of WW2。 I didn't realise that artwork was a huge aspect in the war。 So reading this book really made me open my eyes and made me do some research of my own into the art industry of Paris back in the 30s/40s。I highly recommend reading The Riviera House for anyone who loves Historical Fiction。 For anyone who loves France， Artwork， Vintage Fashion or even WW2。 Thank You to Tandem Collective and my reading buddies for this read along。 A huge thank you to Hachette and Netgalley for gifting me a copy of The Riviera House in exchange for an honest review， and thanks again for allowing me to read this book for the Readalong。 。。。more
Christine Corrigan
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I so enjoyed The Riviera House by Natasha Lester， a great work of historical fiction！ The novel shares the story of Eliane Dufort， a young women living in Paris during the Nazi occupation。 Eliane risks everything to record the Nazi’s theft of art stolen from Jewish families。 The novel moves between Eliane's precarious life during WWII and that of contemporary Remy， a young women who is grieving the loss of her daughter and husband in a fatal car accident。 Remy comes to learn the relationship bet I so enjoyed The Riviera House by Natasha Lester， a great work of historical fiction！ The novel shares the story of Eliane Dufort， a young women living in Paris during the Nazi occupation。 Eliane risks everything to record the Nazi’s theft of art stolen from Jewish families。 The novel moves between Eliane's precarious life during WWII and that of contemporary Remy， a young women who is grieving the loss of her daughter and husband in a fatal car accident。 Remy comes to learn the relationship between her life and that of Eliane's as the novel unfolds。 Put The Riviera House on your fall reading list！ 。。。more
Carol
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