Great Summer Read | The Hotel Riviera

Curly, Carrot-Top Chef With Jasmine & Cream. Beauty I Dream. | The Hotel Riviera | Elizabeth Adler

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	• The Hotel Riviera Elizabeth Adler St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2004 - 336 pages average customer review:based on 12 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

It's not Tolstoy, but it's fun.

Okay, right off the bat, I need to acknowledge that this is escapist fiction. It is almost as substantial as cotton candy. To make no bones about it -- this is a beach book if there ever was one. A book written purely for reading, preferably at sunset, in an adirondack chair on a dock while sipping cold chardonnay. The plot is no more than a wisp of romantic gossamer, so much so that I'm not even going to bother to describe it, but, the place is enchanting, the characters are agreeable, and it ends with a fairy-tale wedding on the French Riviera. Along the way, there's a little bit of suspense, lots of discussion about delicious food (the main character is a chef), and a fair amount of romance. And, every now again, there's nothing wrong with reading a book with no pretensions to literary merit, just because it's fun.

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Great Summer Read

I read this book on vacation and found it enjoyable. It was a romance and a bit of a mystery. The main character is a woman whose husband took off on her and then the authorities believe she may have killed him. In comes the handsome stranger and mother figure to assist her. There was definitely a mystery, not a sit on the edge of your seat book but enjoyable light reading.

Curly, Carrot-Top Chef With Jasmine & Cream. Beauty I Dream.

Dis iz da place if you want to explore:

Sensitive, sauntering sensuality, babbling beauty (as in the symbolic brook, not the flapping mouth)... globetrotters taking up residence anywhere around or in (Yacht) the Mediterranean. The "Home" in your feet baring beaches in Saint-Tropez.

At the end of last August I began reading my first Elizabeth Adler novel, THE HOTEL RIVERA. Most reviews of Adler's novels praise them as pleasantly fluffy, romantic suspense set in exotic getaways. To me, THR definitely has an artistically melancholy, literary feel. I was happy to discover that it didn't down-track into the typically dark or depressing enhancements of "lit-er-a-ture." It edged there at times, with good taste, but thankfully it never fell torturously into the sordid, sourest swamps of despair which too often permeate a book touted as "A Great American Novel."

Almost didn't pick up the book, even though the beginning pages (Amazon's handy "see inside this book") were a good capture due to the vivid feel of the hotel and the main character being a chef (reminding me of Claire Johnson's BEAT UNTIL STIFF, see my review). It appeared that THR might work easily into a culinary mystery series, though I didn't know if it would manifest a murder in the plot, and, as Amazon's buying pages indicated, Adler's available published works appeared to be single mainstream novels slanted to the commercial literary end.

While pro & conning THE HOTEL RIVERIA, I began getting ideas (oh no, not that surge again) for book jacket blurbs for my mystery pilot, dealing with its mainstream angle. What cinched my "Yes" choice for THR was the picture of Adler on the back flap. She photo shoots as a happy-go-lucky, genuinely warm, unjaded, unhyped person. I thought, "No one can look that honestly, easily happy and write an alcoholic-hazed, classic downer."

At the end of November, I returned to finish reading THE HOTEL RIVIERA, hoping it would ease the escape-fiction-addiction panic I felt after finishing my ARC of Pence's RED HOT MURDER a coup among mystery series, while I was waiting for delivery of Barbara Workinger's SHOOFLY PIE TO DIE (see my review of the pilot, IN DUTCH AGAIN). I had no doubt that Shoofly would fill the Royal Gorge gap of finishing one of those fiction winners so far beyond the best they don't have to race.

I was not in the mood for the typically melancholy/sensual, sing-songy voice with "what-is-this-life" questioned in every other word, which often underlies classic literary fiction. However, I did anticipate pleasantly the globetrotter ambiance of THE HOTEL RIVERIA, with its tangy tinge of "no-place-like-home" underlying the glitz, glamor, and goodies. I knew I would feel pampered to receive, from the cush of my easy chair, travel tidbits like, according to Adler, in France one must arrive at a lunch destination before ten to two; yet, in Italy one (if you're a woman) can get lunch anytime. My eyebrows scrunched slightly as I recalled the seated-through-ages, daily siesta, a religiously rendered habit of a 2-4 pm pause (if my recall is correct on time-frame), when all keepers close shop, as my Italian college prof had confirmed was still a practiced luxury in his country

(Okay already; that particular university sojourn when I was majoring in Foreign Languages occurred at the end of the 60's; I don't know if the afternoon siesta is currently in action throughout Italy. How should I know at this point in my life, in which I'm stuck on a Godot pause, and where/who the Heck IS that guy?)

Actually, it was "Thank God" easy to slip into THR's sauntering, simmering lifestyle. I was intrigued by the contrast in strutting-through-life venues of the good guys Vs the losers (who would kill their spouses to secure a high-life, designer-garbed, jet-setting, globetrotting routine, doing nothing of consequence except beauty maintenance, and wallowing in empty "pleasures"). The losers in THR were so misguided, and edged with such ennui they never developed enough charge to quite feel "Evil," which, from my perspective is a characterization coup for an author to accomplish in this case. Great job getting the dark-side of the jet-set right in their lazy ways, Adler.

Even so, smoky, slithering hints of embedded evil worked through the plot and edged every word and page with a low-ebb, nearly subliminal terror. When that sense of unease underlies a life of "ease"; and when a heightened sensuality is deftly slathered throughout the plot, the effect poofs a feather-tic-bed with tiny pins and nails. I suppose that's why the sensuality in this novel was so melancholically unsettling (which is a good carry-the-reader-onward ploy for escape fiction)... until Lola snuggled into Miss Nightingale's cottage (snuggling is good, too).

Arriving at Mollie Nightingale's classic Cotswold cottage felt like going "heel-clicking" home to Kansas, with The Riviera, Saint-Tropez, and globetrotter "Destinations" contrasting as an off-set Oz. In a way this novel is a kaleidoscope of lifestyles which ooze from more style than life; to life in style; to more life than style; to life, love, and cozy contentment in which style is so natural it would be termed "shabby-chic" in Architectural Digest. I'll take that! Done did.

Of course the kaleidoscope of potent and penetrating edges of this range-of-emotion and scenic rapture richly succeeded in giving a sensually-paced, engrossing read of high entertainment. Please take any bumbling review prose on this novel as high praise (no underhand intended) rather than as subtle intimations of criticism. Adler paints Mona Lisa masterpieces with words. Don't doubt it. Any reader of her work is guaranteed to be immersed in an easy flow around wealth in exotic environments; to wallow in complex emotional fluctuation; to revel in deep, dark mystery; and to take possession of vivid, visceral characters.

One of my favorite lines, due to its cheering effect in context, was spoken by Miss. Nightingale:

"Good riddance to bad rubbish."

I've never read or heard that expression posed or placed more "thumbs up" perfectly.

Maybe one could say that THR is less a story and more a sensual feast. Yum. Its type of sensuality is graceful, delicate, engaging all five senses rather than relying exclusively on simmering, slithering sexuality, as the word has come to mean.

Elizabeth appears to have a sensual soul with Architectural Digest class, dichotomized with a surprising quick-charge capacity to pack the action, as exposed especially through the novel's resolution. Wow. Those spicy-go scenes were hot, fast, gritty, and riveting. Loved the "old" lady speed demon with highly honed driving skill trying to save the day, with a bit of help from unexpected sources.

As an added bonus to the action-packed scenes in the novel's resolution, the reader was given a soothing awareness of the growth and intimacy gifted through the rigors of loss and death. Through the apres-denouement, quiet, wind-down scenes, tentative answers were posed for souls who are so restless any feeling of HOME is fleeting; its seeding flounders on the hard, dry granite of ungrounded pleasure and unearned or un-manifested glory.

Somehow the concluding contemplations in THR reminded me of a short story I wrote in the early 70's (my first rejection from Atlantic Monthly), titled, "I Can Wait."

The story revolved around a 5-yr-old boy, Tommy John, who was the dramatization of an author trying to rid herself of impatience, and playing with literary wings by putting her difficult personality into a young boy instead of a girl. I had asked myself what would be the best "thing" to help slow the restlessness, to release the painful, nervous pushing of time. I wanted to help others, along with me, escape the rush, absolutely, before it was too late. Sadly, I realized what would work in ultimate, final effect.

Throughout the story I spotlighted Tommy's youthful exuberance as it rushed to repeat, "I can't wait `till..." I dramatized his speeding, nervous character by not allowing him to settle into in any single moment. The closest he came to alighting in the present, the warmest spot in the boy's heart was fueled by visits with his bedridden grandfather, who once paused perfectly to say:

"You have to stop once, Tommy John, to start living."

When the grandfather peacefully expired, from one soft breath-to-the-next, with the boy's hand resting in the large, wrinkled palm of his elder, the boy said through tears, "Please stay, Grampa. I can wait."

Adler can do Literary Classic with just the right limelight twists to blend it successfully into the high entertainment sought in escape novels. THE HOTEL RIVERIA got me through the overwhelming grieving process of having finished the intensely satisfying read of Pence's RED HOT MURDER, to be published February, 2006. As noted, blessed with an ARC, I've already read RHM; I'll will post my review as soon as it's finished and Amazon's buying page is set up to receive Customer Reviews. I can wait.

Now I know why I paused in the reading of THR. A time was coming when I would desperately need its final quarter of pages of sensually sauntering style.

Pence, Adler, Workinger, and Johnson. All 4 are authors of consequence with dramatically different literary voices. All 4 know and show where the heart lives, as they reveal a variety of riveting road-maps to The Source.

If the eyes are the window to the soul, the great voices of literature provide gateways there; for a moment in time, between the pages of a novel, words breathe and dance in the fertile mind of a reader.

Ching, ching, ching, ching, clop, clop, clop ...

Iiii''''lllll be hooooommmme for Chriiiistmas ...

In all seasons, I'll be reading good books by the glow of lamplight, or through the perfect slant of sunlight,

Linda G. Shelnutt

P.S. Tis the season; see my review of MISTLETOE & MAYHEM, by Joanne Pence & 3 other fabulous authors. Also, in ironically intriguing contrast to the warmth of lamplight and printed words, see my review of THE MEDIUM IS THE MASSAGE, Marshall McLuhan.

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Another great read from Elizabeth Alder

I really wonderfully warm, romantic, slightly mysterious read with great characters. I really enjoyed reading this, and was sad to see it end! I would defiantly recommend this book to everyone.

What Fun

If you're looking for a book just to read for fun, this is it. The characters are great (even a villainess you'll love to hate). There's a fun romance between Jack and Lola. You will love the older lady, Miss Nightingale. She is just a delight. There is humor, the mystery of a missing husband, lots of good food (I know I gained a pound or two just reading the menu's)and of course the romance. We musn't forget the animals; a pet chicken named Scramble and then there is Bad Dog and at the end a kitten named Chocolate. I found the whole book just great entertainment for a few hours. If you're feeling down and need a lift, pick up "The Hotel Riviera" at your library or order it off of Amazon. Enjoy! I did!

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She thought she was in love...
American Lola Laforet is swept away in a whirlwind wedding to a handsome Frenchman and finds herself the chef/owner of the Hotel Riviera, a gemlike retreat snuggled up against the blue Mediterranean. In their first blissful year as newlyweds, her life seems to be a dream come true. But then charming Patrick Laforet disappears one day with nothing more than a wave goodbye...

...until real romance beckoned on France's Cote d'Azur!
Six months later, Jack Ferrar, an American expatriate living on his boat, drops anchor in Lola's harbor and teaches her the true meaning of attraction. Lola is very attracted yet wary. Is he another rogue, or a man to be trusted? When various shady people-all claiming ownership of the Hotel Riviera-and the police appear, Lola and Jack have to track down the mysterious Patrick. And along the way, they fall in love. With great food, wonderful sensuality, and lush scenery, Elizabeth Adler holds you under her spell and transports you to one of the most romantic places on earth.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

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