19 February 2021

The Paris Dressmaker | Book Review + Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK


Based on true accounts of how Parisiennes resisted the Nazi occupation in World War II—from fashion houses to the city streets—comes a story of two courageous women who risked everything to fight an evil they couldn’t abide.

Paris, 1939. Maison Chanel has closed, thrusting haute couture dressmaker Lila de Laurent out of the world of high fashion as Nazi soldiers invade the streets and the City of Lights slips into darkness. Lila’s life is now a series of rations, brutal restrictions, and carefully controlled propaganda while Paris is cut off from the rest of the world. Yet in hidden corners of the city, the faithful pledge to resist. Lila is drawn to La Resistance and is soon using her skills as a dressmaker to infiltrate the Nazi elite. She takes their measurements and designs masterpieces, all while collecting secrets in the glamorous Hôtel Ritz—the heart of the Nazis’ Parisian headquarters. But when dashing René Touliard suddenly reenters her world, Lila finds her heart tangled between determination to help save his Jewish family and bolstering the fight for liberation.

Paris, 1943. Sandrine Paquet’s job is to catalog the priceless works of art bound for the Führer’s Berlin, masterpieces stolen from prominent Jewish families. But behind closed doors, she secretly forages for information from the underground resistance. Beneath her compliant façade lies a woman bent on uncovering the fate of her missing husband . . . but at what cost? As Hitler’s regime crumbles, Sandrine is drawn in deeper when she uncrates an exquisite blush Chanel gown concealing a cryptic message that may reveal the fate of a dressmaker who vanished from within the fashion elite.

Told across the span of the Nazi occupation, The Paris Dressmaker highlights the brave women who used everything in their power to resist darkness and restore light to their world.

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: February 16, 2021


MY REVIEW

Another story from Kristy Cambron that does not disappoint!

World War II presented countless choices, decisions, and ethical dilemmas, and there is no shortage of difficult ones in The Paris Dressmaker, which features women with different perspectives of the Nazi occupation of Paris and what they must do to survive. When the Nazis invade, dressmaker Lila de Laurent finds herself out of a job—and in a new world of rations, propaganda, and resistance. On the other side of the occupation, Sandrine Paquet works to catalog art stolen from Jewish families, but has her own reasons for getting involved in resistance.

As the story alternates between perspectives, the story between these women unfolds and proves to be an uplifting, addicting one. Full of courage and fight and choosing to do what is right amidst harrowing circumstances, set against a vivid Paris backdrop, The Paris Dressmaker is historical fiction at its best. I highly, highly recommend it.


I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kristy Cambron is an award-winning author of historical fiction, including her bestselling debut The Butterfly and the Violin, and an author of nonfiction, including the Verse Mapping Series Bibles and Bible studies. Kristy’s work has been named to Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal Reviews’ Best Books, RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, received 2015 & 2017 INSPY Award nominations, and has been featured at CBN, Lifeway Women, Jesus Calling, Country Woman Magazine, MICI Magazine, Faithwire, Declare, (in)Courage, and Bible Gateway. She holds a degree in Art History/Research Writing and lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, where she can probably be bribed with a peppermint mocha latte and a good read.


We have 5 paperback copies of The Paris Dressmaker up for grabs!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on February 26th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

The Paris Dressmaker
TOUR SCHEDULE


Tuesday, February 9

Wednesday, February 10

Thursday, February 11

Friday, February 12
Excerpt at Heidi Reads
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Saturday, February 13

Monday, February 15

Tuesday, February 16

Wednesday, February 17
Interview at Novels Alive

Thursday, February 18

Friday, February 19
Review at Hallie Reads

Monday, February 22
Review at Nursebookie

Tuesday, February 23

Wednesday, February 24
Review at Novels Alive

Thursday, February 25

Friday, February 26
Review at The Lit Bitch

2 comments:

  1. I was waffling about this one, but you have convinced me to give it a go. I do love historical fiction based on real events. Wonderful review.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So happy you enjoyed The Paris Dressmaker! Thank you for being on the tour!

    Amy
    HF Virtual Book Tours

    ReplyDelete