A review by mandylovestoread
The Riviera House by Natasha Lester

5.0

Natasha Lester is one of my favourite historical fiction writers. Her books are always so well researched, beautifully written and full of emotions. I really do not know how to do this book justice. There is so much that I loved about it and I learnt so much about the French efforts to save their art. Absolutely fantastic and highly recommend to lovers for this genre.

Natasha brings her characters to life with her writing. They become people that you would like to be friends with (or kill, depending on the circumstances) As always, we have a dual timeline happening in The Riviera House and I love both parts of the story.

In 1939 Paris we meet Elaine Dufort and her family. She works at The Lourve and she finds love with a painter, Xavier. But then the Nazi's take over the city and he flees for England. Elaine send her family away to safety and remains in Paris to help protect the city and the artworks from the Germans. But life for a young woman in Nazi run Paris is hard and she has to do what she has to do to survive, even if she cannot bear to think it.

In the present day we meet Remy Lang. She is grieving and travels from Sydney to her home on the French Riviera to take some time away for herself and work on her business. The home was something she inherited but has no idea from who or why. She find a catalogue of artworks and discovers a family connection that she cannot ignore.

Both women are incredibly strong and worthy women. I felt for them both and the situations that they were in. I wanted things to work out for them both but always fearful of what the story would unfold.

Natasha, I loved it. It will make you cry and it will make you appreciate the freedom of the world that we live in today.

Thank you Hachette Australia for sending me this advanced copy. Released in Australia September 1st.