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Hollywood Balaton: To Catch A Thief On The Hungarian Riviera (The Budapest Laura McLove Series) Kindle Edition

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

TOO LATE FOR PRINCE CHARMING?

It used to be said that a single woman of a certain age is more likely to be killed by a terrorist than get married.

But when terror strikes, love strikes too.


Laura McLove takes a Christmas shopping trip to Paris and falls into the arms of a handsome Hungarian, Max, in the midst of a terror attack.

Six months later and engaged to be married, she arrives at Max’s family villa on Hungary’s Lake Balaton whilst he attends to his sick mother in Budapest.

Alone at
Levendula—Lavender Villa—on the Hungarian Riviera, she encounters caretaker Mrs Szabó and stumbles on a real-life spy ring, a missing manuscript—and a mystery that leads all the way to Hollywood.

Levendula, once famous as an artists’ salon, had been under surveillance by the communist regime. What happened when the secret police came one night in 1972? And where is the missing manuscript?

In a world where everyone had been informing on everybody else, Laura attempts to uncover the truth—all the while fiancé Max is delayed, then delayed again in Budapest as their engagement begins to hang in the balance.

This light-hearted literary romance is set around the little-known Lake Balaton—the largest lake in Europe—in particular, at the stunning 'Hungarian Riviera' region.

A Hungarian-style 'Lives Of Others' with a little bit of Hollywood glamour—Read
HOLLYWOOD BALATON, book 2 of the Budapest Laura McLove series today! Can also be read as a standalone.

Laura McLove also features in
The Budapest Artists’ Club, The Sound Of Music Code and The Naked Sommelier.

Other books by Claire Doyle
The Naked Sommelier (a Laura McLove standalone)
The Budapest Artists' Club (Budapest Laura McLove series, book1)
The Sound Of Music Code (Budapest Laura McLove series, book 3)
Hungarian Folk Dancing For Beginners - a Kindle Single

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There are 4 books in this series.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Reviewed By Jaycee Allen for Readers' Favorite

Claire Doyle has done a beautiful job of painting Balaton's landscape (too often ruined by tourism) with its original magic, mystery, and romance. The colors, odors and the entire atmosphere are intense, and the images of the past with its vanished characters, faded stars, and forgotten glory are a delight. That Max seems a less than ideal lover and his extreme reactions incomprehensible only add to the story's mystery. And whether or not we agree with Laura's values, we are definitely rooting for her.
Hollywood Balaton: To Catch A Thief On The Hungarian Riviera is an intriguing and interesting quality read.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07X98QXYV
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Free Range Organic Woman (August 30, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 30, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1684 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 157 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

About the author

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Claire Doyle
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I like to write about musician protagonists in my stories. I played in a few bands over the years and have travelled in pursuit of music and festivals to France, Spain, Hungary, Transylvania, Serbia, Moravia and Romania.

My favourite novel is Ask The Dust by John Fante. My favourite films are Midnight In Paris, Some Like It Hot and Easy Rider.

My Laura McLove books are based in Hungary, where I lived for six years. My latest novel Perfect Harmony is about a young Scots woman who wants to be a songwriter. I sometimes listen to light classical music whilst writing, including Chopin, and visited the Chopin museum in Valldemossa which features in this story.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
17 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and relaxing. They appreciate the relatable story with vivid descriptions of Budapest and Lake Balaton. The book is described as a beautiful memoir with wonderful details.

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5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it relaxing and refreshing to read a mystery/romance with an older cast of characters.

"...who married her Nazi guard when the war was over and found it a captivating read...." Read more

"...It is refreshing to read a mystery/romance with a slightly older cast of characters. Very relatable...." Read more

"...A relaxing read, the author paints a vivid picture of Balaton." Read more

"...The descriptions were wonderful. This was an easy, pleasant read I did not want to end. I highly recommend this book." Read more

3 customers mention "Story quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the relatable story. They find it interesting and well-written like a memoir. The descriptions of Budapest and Lake Balaton are wonderful.

"...Very relatable. It’s always nice to explore places that are less well known to readers." Read more

"...Catch A Thief on the Hungarian Riviera by Claire Doyle was a beautiful story written like a memoir of a woman’s journey of self-awareness while..." Read more

"...with history in its background, told with a clear voice makes an interesting and very enjoyable read...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2019
    In cruising through Amazon, the premise of this book caught my interest: what if you fell in love during a terror attack. I had just finished reading a book about a woman, a concentration camp victim, who married her Nazi guard when the war was over and found it a captivating read. Although not the same premise, the themes are similar re: love during tragic events. A short book, less than 200 pages, it was a nice pick for a holiday weekend to sit and enjoy. 49 year-old Laura struggles with ennui and to rid herself of the boredom she vacations to Paris. There she meets Max, a good-looking Hungarian and feels a “deep connection.” Intensifying this connection is the fact that they were surrounded by gunshots in lockdown. While there Max mentions another place, on the Hungarian Riviera. As the story progresses, Laura goes there, to Levendula, and stumbles upon a spy ring that heightens the story tension. The turns in the plot kept the read interesting. Wanting to know will their relationship sustain and what happens as mysteries unfold kept the pace of this story moving at a fast pace. I was glad I came upon this book and read it. It did not disappoint.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2021
    An interesting and descriptive walk through Budapest and Lake Balaton. It is refreshing to read a mystery/romance with a slightly older cast of characters. Very relatable. It’s always nice to explore places that are less well known to readers.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2020
    This is the first in the series I have read. It is wonderful as a stand alone story but definitely makes me want to read the others. A little intrigue, a little history and a little romance - a wonderful weekend read to escape from the work-a-day world. The characters are well developed and the interweaving of background, current plot and location history keep the reader turning page after page. I will definitely be reading the other books in this series!
    I received an advanced reader's copy and am voluntarily leaving my review.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2020
    Laura waited for Max at the Levendula, Lavender Villa, the summer villa at Lake Balaton on the Hungarian Riviera, renowned for its healing waters. Empty since Max’s father Viktor died 5 years ago, Max and his brother have been down a few times in the summers. While Max is with his famous mother Violette who is ill in Budapest, Laura is spending time at the beautiful villa with a walled garden and grape vines with caretaker Mrs. Szabó. Engaged to Max, Laura is soon to be fifty years old and will become a lady of the house. Max tells her about a manuscript that was stolen. A family legend. Can Laura find that old book his father lost? Will she uncover a mystery from the old days, the communist era? Was Viktor a communist? Laura sips a glass of wine, soaking up the sun and the scent of lavender, living the bohemian life in Balaton while she digs into the mystery. A relaxing read, the author paints a vivid picture of Balaton.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2020
    Hollywood Balaton: To Catch A Thief on the Hungarian Riviera by Claire Doyle was a beautiful story written like a memoir of a woman’s journey of self-awareness while waiting for her fiancé to join her in a lovely old villa on the Hungarian Rivera. I loved the characters, every one of them, down to the little sparrow in the office. The location itself took on the role of a character also. The descriptions were wonderful. This was an easy, pleasant read I did not want to end. I highly recommend this book.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2020
    Hollywood Balaton is a wonderful book. Laura and Max meet in Paris during a terrorist attack. She is from the UK and he is from Budapest. They plan to marry and she precedes him to the family home, Villa Levendula in Lake Balaton, Hungary. Laura meets an eccentric cast of characters, falls in love with the charming villa, and becomes fascinated with Max's late father Viktor and his missing manuscript. The sights, the smells, the tastes, and the descriptions of Lake Balaton are so delicious, balanced by the interesting history of the area during communism. It is a new area not usually heard of in the west. I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written book. It made me want to pack my bags and head to Balatonfured. Perfect escapism in the time of COVID. This is the second book I have read in the series and I'll no doubt read the rest

    I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2021
    Mystery, romance, and intrigue, woven with history in its background, told with a clear voice makes an interesting and very enjoyable read. I am looking forward to reading more of this author
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2022
    This is a newly discovered author for me and a first time read. With a gentle nod to one of my favourite movies, I delved into Laura's story. Engaged she has travelled to her fiancés home, awaiting Max's arrival. What she encounters peaks her curiosity as she becomes engrossed in the history, locale and mystery. I enjoyed the story which was descriptive, entertaining and well written. I chose this book as an arc selection courtesy of B**kSpr**t.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Dab Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable short read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2020
    I thoroughly enjoyed this short read. Exquisite language and well-written prose along with a good story. I have passed through Hungary a few times so was pleased to learn more about the country. A story of love mixed with intrigue dating back to the 1970s (my era). It's a short book and can be read in a couple of hours. Recommended.
  • Xenon
    3.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2020
    This was a pleasant and easy read, the plot moved along at a sedate pace which I found soothing rather than boring. I found the flashbacks confusing, and I had to keep reading back to work out whether we were still in the present or not. I loved the descriptions of Lake Balaton and the mystery in the plot was interesting. I did like the book. Although it was the third in a series, it worked fine as a standalone novel.
  • Maria
    3.0 out of 5 stars Hollywood Balaton
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2020
    Interesting story in a fantastic setting. I especially liked the mature characters and the insight into Hungary's recent history. Where the book didn't quite work for me was the shifts in time periods. The lack of advance warning or clear demarcation made the read confusing at times.

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