Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
Thus first four chapters of this OUTSTANDING book are utterly fabulously intriguing. Can't wait to read the whole book.

Thank you net galley for this sneak peek. These first four chapters set in WWII show that a great story lies ahead. Estelle is a strong female character and much is in store for her.

2 Books Review-Both by Natasha Lester
🔖The Paris Orphan (Extended Preview)
Original Publication Date: September 3, 2019 .
🔖The Paris Seamstress (Preview)
Original Publication Date: August 11, 2018
.
Description from NetGalley... .
🔖The Paris Orphan
“New York City/Paris, 1942: When American model Jessica May arrives in Europe to cover the war as a photojournalist for Vogue, most of the soldiers are determined to make her life as difficult as possible. But three friendships change that. But her success will come at a price...France, 2005: Decades after World War II, D'Arcy Hallworth arrives at a beautiful chateau to curate a collection of famous wartime photos by a reclusive artist. It's the opportunity of a lifetime, but this job will uncover decades of secrets.”
🔖The Paris Seamstress
“1940: As the Germans advance upon Paris, young seamstress Estella Bissette is forced to flee everything she's ever known. She's bound for New York City with her signature gold dress, a few francs, and a dream...Present day: Fabienne Bissette journeys to the Met's annual gala for an exhibit featuring the work of her ailing grandmother - a legend of women's fashion design. But as Fabienne begins to learn more about her beloved grandmother's past, she uncovers a story of tragedy, heartbreak and family secrets that will dramatically change her own life.”
.
Thank you to @NetGalley @grandcentralpub for the digital ARCs in return for my honest review.
.
My thoughts...
🔖The Paris Orphan (Extended Preview)
The premise of the story was interesting. It had a slow start and it looked to be promising. However, because of the slow start, I didn’t connect with the characters. I still have some interest in the story, but, it’s not on top of the TBR pile. .
🔖The Paris Seamstress (Preview)
This book’s pace is much faster, but as much as I like fast paced plots, this ended up lacking depth. I hope that it will get more detailed as the story goes, but I wouldn’t rush out to buy it. .

Overall thoughts... From this experience I will be super choosy with “preview books.” They come to an abrupt end. Knowing you won’t get to the end is distracting. Hopeful for great excerpts in the future.

"The Paris Seamstress" is just a sneak preview I love historical fiction! Estelle's charming character has just enough kick to get herself into a little bit of trouble. I can wait to see where New York takes her, and especially her developing relationship with Sam. the special relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter as they attempt to heal the heartache of the past. I especially loved the relationship between the grandmother and granddaughter as they attempt to heal the heartache of the past..
Now. just to wait to read the rest....!!!

I think the premise is really interesting, and it stars off strong. When we first meet Estella, she's living in Paris with her mother and working at an atelier. Chapter 1 starts off strong...but over the course of the 4 chapters in this sample a lot happens. Too much, too fast. Because the pacing of the plot is so quick, it lacks the depth I expected it to have. I'm kind of disappointed, but I might read the full book sometime. As far as historical fiction goes, this isn't the best I've read. I think the writing needs to be more fleshed out to do the story justice.

Another wonderfully written Historical Fiction book

When Estella Bissette is sent to the US by her mother during WWII, she takes a few clothes and her sewing machine. Estella and her mother worked in fashion in Paris and now she has the chance (she hopes) of working in NYC fashion. Estella is hired to work in a fashion "knock off" house, which she hates, but sees it as a stepping stone to one day having her own line.

Fast forward to the 21st century. Estella has now become a world famous fashion designer. Her dream did come true. Fabienne Bissette, Estella's granddaughter is summoned to NYC from Australia by her grandmother. Estella is dying and wants to take Fabienne back home to Paris To where her love of fashion began. While in Paris, Fabienne meets people from her grandmothers past. She learns the story of just who Estella Bissette was during WWII and the risk she put herself in to help take down the Nazis.

I normally don't like books that have flashbacks in with the story, but this one was so well written that I didn't even realize at times whether I was in the 20th or 21st century. The characters made me feel like I was in the underground world of the French Resistance as well as the fashion houses of NYC I laughed at Estella's antics to "ditch" her granddaughter in Paris, and cried when she died.

Natasha Lester was a new author for me, but I will be reading more from her. If you want a good Historical fiction read, this would be the book for you.
This books gets 4-1/2 stars from me.

Thanks to Natasha Lester, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the ARC.
An atmospheric and compelling preview of an enticing novel. One to pursue and enjoy.

This sample had me downloading the rest of the book. Well written, briskly paced, and expertly crafted to engage a read both with the familiar and the unique.

Would recommend for any fans of historical fiction and fashion.

This free preview of "The Paris Seamstress" is an interesting look into the characters and the beginning of the book. I'll definitely be picking up a copy of the novel to read the rest.

I received a complimentary preview of ch. 1-4 of #TheParisSeamstress for review from #NetGalley

This historical fiction novel starts off by quickly introducing readers to an engaging plot with strong character development and also introduced some interpersonal relationships that will likely develop further as the book progresses.

This was an incredible novel that drew me in and never let go. I felt emotionally invested in the characters’ lives and couldn’t stop reading.

I loved this book! i received chapters 1-4! i had to buy the book so I could finish it! Great read! I will be reading more by this author! Thank you!

Just a sneak preview but I’m already eagerly waiting for the whole book. I love historical fiction and this book fits right in. Estelle is a charming character with just enough paunch to get herself into a little bit of trouble. I can wait to see where New York takes her, and especially her developing relationship with Sam. Now just to wait to read the rest.

This was a great preview, showcasing an interesting female character and wonderful descriptive writing. The author has an amazing talent to make a place (WWII Paris) come alive, to the point that the setting becomes a character in itself.

Wow a lot seems to happen in these first four chapters! I’m very intrigued as to what will happen in the rest of the story and if Estella will somehow end up back in France during the war.

Estella grew up in the ateliers where her mother worked. She thought her father died in the Great War before she was born. Her goal is to design clothes.
When the Germans invade France in 1940, Estella’s mother insists she flee to America where, it turns out, she was born. Her father was an American, not a Frenchman. Aboard ship, she meets Sam, a New Yorker who desires to be in the fashion industry. Along with a model, they decide to form their own company.
This four-chapter sample promises adventure for plucky Estella, and the questions of whether she ever saw her mother again and who was her father.

Thank you for the preview! The excerpt seems fascinating and I've added this book to my mountainous tbr.

This book had a little bit of a slow start, but once it really got started it was beautiful. Switching between a ‘present day’ character to a character set in WWII was a wonderful aspect of the story and worked quite well. There was a lot of fashion talk so those in the know of the fashion world will enjoy the beautiful descriptions. Plus the budding romance was very sweet. Although WWII was the time frame for parts of the book it was not a main aspect of what was going on with the character though it did have effects on where the character was, as she left her mother and home in France to come to America. Overall just a beautiful novel.

This is fantastic and I’m excited to read the entire book! I’m so disappointed that I had to stop reading after only four chapters.

I was blown away by The Paris Seamstress. I read a lot of WWII, female perspective fiction. I enjoy learning about the challenges overcome, feel that reading historical fiction helps honour those that came before and teaches us what to do or not to do in the future. Usually in a WWII book you are prepared to be emotionally wrung out by the end or even in the first 10%. The Paris Seamstress is different. It's not any less impactful but it's a very different story from a different outlook on WWII other than the heart of Europe, the front-line fighting or a concentration camp like we are familiar with.

Setting
Our lead gal has been sent to New York, USA in order to be out of the way of the Nazi's invading and about to occupy Paris. Our Parisian lead gal is in her late teens/early twenties through the book. She is about to have to fight hard just to survive on the streets and in the fashion industry of New York. Luckily she has had an upbringing in the Paris fashion scene and can copy fashions (or create her own) that will help her generate income. But first she has to break out and be noticed in New York.
One of the great things about how Natasha Lester has set-up The Paris Seamstress is that it could be any time period, and any woman's story of breaking into any industry. There are specifics of course here in terms of gender, the war creating a lack of supplies, and also being an immigrant but these are the 'things to overcome' that could be easily modified. The core of this story is about fighting to be seen, heard and become an influence on society in some way. Don't be dissuaded if you aren't big into fashion. Clothing is not the heart of the story; overcoming odds and persevering is what this book is really about.

Characters
The most endearing part of this story is the characters. Not only is our lead gal genuine, tough but emotional, and hard-working; she is also passionate in so many ways. Be it in her romantic relationships, her work or her desire to be successful or her sorrow over the losses of the war.
There are other wonderful supporting or 'almost main' characters including her business partners: another young gal working as a model and a man she meets on the boat on the way to New York (who cuts the fabrics economically). There is also a charming (and rich) suitor but you'll have to read it to learn about this mysterious man. I can't tell you about most of the other wonderful people we encounter as there are too many spoiler opportunities! Just know all the characters are well fleshed out and endearing in their own ways.

The War Carries On
We do experience (from a far) Pearl Harbour and the introduction of the USA into WWII. Lester also takes us back to the streets of Paris during occupation for a time and all around New York experiencing classes from dirt poor to filthy rich. These varying view points give a well rounded out feel for what WWII was like for those not in the heat of the battle or occupation; but instead living in a bustling city like New York. Even our time in Paris during occupation is a little surreal and a bit jolly at moments (which Lester does on purpose to show a point). Eventually of course the war does taper off and we find out what happens to our leading characters; but don't be deceived the war is still a major factor and is what drives many of our character decisions.

The 'Present' Story
Did I make it sound like the whole book was set in WWII time? Yeah I wish.
My sole complaint about The Paris Seamstress is I could have lost ALL of the present day story with the granddaughter of our fashionista in New York and missed not a lick of her story. There is a mystery throughout the book that she keeps alive; but I really didn't care about it at all to be honest. It felt unnecessary and the 'reveal' was way more relevant to the impact it made on our WWII characters than it was to the present time ones. I just wanted to keep being along for the stories of our characters during WWII. Of course the mystery ties everything together but honestly without it this is still be an amazing five star book. It felt like an editor told Lester something like, these days people like the split perspective in time for historical novels so add that in. I'd have preferred more scenes with our leading lady encountering high society and snobbery in New York, or our model's exploitation concerns than read about the present day granddaughter at all.

Overall
If you want to read about a strong female lead in WWII I think you'll really enjoy this. There is a lot about fashion but I'm not a very picky fashion girl and didn't find it boring. Most of the fashion talk is about conserving and using cheaper fabric, creating clothes women want to wear (not have to wear) and other feminist style ideas. There is a romance, and it is bittersweet. I can't say much more than that. For sure this is a novel about staying strong, ensuring you believe in yourself and that life is not fair but we find a way to carry forward and be content (if not truly happy). It is more driven by our characters than the mystery itself. I adored this book and cannot wait to recommend it out to all historical fiction fans and even readers outside the genre boundaries. A good story about people creates a space where the genre becomes irrelevant and is instead just a great character driven read.