The Riviera House
Natasha Lester
Reviewed by Helen
Another fabulous story from Natasha Lester, one that is based on fact and then told in a way that pulls at the readers emotions as they see the courage and strength that ordinary people possess in times of struggle and need, I have never been dis appointed by one of MS Lester’s stories and this is another one to add to the keeper shelf.
Paris 1939 and the Germans have arrived in Paris Eliane Dufort has a hard life caring for her younger siblings while her parents run a brasserie she is also studying art in the mornings and works at The Louvre in the afternoons then in the brasserie at night, she is close to her older brother Luc who is an artist. Everything changes when the Nazi’s arrive at the Louvre to help themselves to the art works. Eliane convinces them that she can help them catalogue the works and here starts her work helping protect the art with the help of Rose Valland, it is a dangerous position to be in and then the man, Xavier who she thought she loved has arrived to help the Germans.
The Riviera 2015 Remy Lang has arrived at the house she inherited to try and get on with her life two years after the tragic loss of her husband and child, Remy runs a vintage fashion design business and is here to do a photo shoot then when she meets Adam Henry-Jones, photographer staying with his family next door Remy discovers a book a catalogue of Goring’s artworks from World War two and is shocked to discover that a painting that she inherited is in that book, how does this relate to her, who are her real family and with Adam’s help Remy discovers a lot about her past and this helps her move into the future.
This is a gorgeous story over two time lines, so beautifully written with heartfelt emotion courage and strength, MS Lester brings these characters to life and puts the reader in the seat of intrigue, daring and bravery as ordinary people do what they can to save precious artefacts for future generations. It shows what people will do for the people they love in a page turning story that was hard to put down.
I loved the fashions that Remy has and the house on the Riviera is just gorgeous in both time lines so many memories there and the characters, there are so many of them that made this story so good, and the romances in both time lines added to the emotions. This is a story that I would highly recommend, clear some time because you are not going to want to put it down as you get to know these people from the past and present.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Hachette AUS for my copy to read and review.
Paris 1939 and the Germans have arrived in Paris Eliane Dufort has a hard life caring for her younger siblings while her parents run a brasserie she is also studying art in the mornings and works at The Louvre in the afternoons then in the brasserie at night, she is close to her older brother Luc who is an artist. Everything changes when the Nazi’s arrive at the Louvre to help themselves to the art works. Eliane convinces them that she can help them catalogue the works and here starts her work helping protect the art with the help of Rose Valland, it is a dangerous position to be in and then the man, Xavier who she thought she loved has arrived to help the Germans.
The Riviera 2015 Remy Lang has arrived at the house she inherited to try and get on with her life two years after the tragic loss of her husband and child, Remy runs a vintage fashion design business and is here to do a photo shoot then when she meets Adam Henry-Jones, photographer staying with his family next door Remy discovers a book a catalogue of Goring’s artworks from World War two and is shocked to discover that a painting that she inherited is in that book, how does this relate to her, who are her real family and with Adam’s help Remy discovers a lot about her past and this helps her move into the future.
This is a gorgeous story over two time lines, so beautifully written with heartfelt emotion courage and strength, MS Lester brings these characters to life and puts the reader in the seat of intrigue, daring and bravery as ordinary people do what they can to save precious artefacts for future generations. It shows what people will do for the people they love in a page turning story that was hard to put down.
I loved the fashions that Remy has and the house on the Riviera is just gorgeous in both time lines so many memories there and the characters, there are so many of them that made this story so good, and the romances in both time lines added to the emotions. This is a story that I would highly recommend, clear some time because you are not going to want to put it down as you get to know these people from the past and present.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Hachette AUS for my copy to read and review.
5 stars
Expected publication: September 1st 2021 Hachette AUS
