The Riviera House by Natasha Lester

A building, the Jeu de Paume, filled with stolen paintings during the occupation of France during WWII and a mansion on the Riviera in present day is where we meet Eliane and Remy. 

WWII…Eliane was summoned to help sort out the stolen paintings and get them prepared to be sent to Hitler and Goring’s private collections. 

Eliane didn’t want to do this, but she had no choice.  She did have the choice to not let the Germans know she spoke their language so she could spy on them and carry on Resistance work.

PRESENT DAY…Remy is in her mansion, Cap-Ferrat, in France, meets new neighbors, tries to continue to overcome her grief, and finds a painting in a catalog that lists the paintings Goring had taken for his own.

She is shocked to see a painting that she has in her home in Sydney. 

How can that be?  That was 70 years ago.

We move back and forth in time and find out the connection between the two time periods and the two women as well as the men they love and the house one had visited and one was living in now.

When names from the past started to surface in the present-day story and the connection to the house became apparent, the intrigue ramped up.

THE RIVIERA HOUSE pulled me in and didn’t let go.  This book is very well written and flows nicely.

Ms. Lester’s research is impeccable.

THE RIVIERA HOUSE is a beautiful read with authentic, mostly likable characters.

And, of course, you can’t have a book set in France without some romance.  :)

Historical fiction fans, photography fans, vintage clothing fans, and art fans will not want to miss this book.

Another book that MUST be added to your summer reading list. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.