A solid 3 star book. There are definitely some 5 star sections in here (Joe parachuting into France and evading capture, and the last chapter detailing the horrific conditions in the concentration camps), but there are also a fair amount of 1-2 star sections detailing flight patterns/formations/aircraft specs that I frankly could not follow or retain at all. The first 30% of the book I almost gave up because it’s so technical I didn’t understand where it was going or what I needed to remember.

However, after the first major skirmish I stayed up well into the night wanting to see how Joe avoided the Germans and made it to safety. I wanted to know which of his comrades made it, what they did, who made mistakes. This was absolutely riveting. Their actions aside, I can’t even imagine having the mental fortitude to hide my stuff and run for it—all the while knowing you could be running toward danger. I can barely make it through life using Google Maps. The myriad examples of support from the French resistance was absolutely stunning! It seemed like everyone was in on it, even the kids, and it’s incredible that so many people were able to operate such a successful network.

I wasn’t expecting much out of the romance between Yvette and Joe, and honestly the pitch for this being a love story made me question reading it in the first place… but after seeing how their relationship unfolded, I think it was really a ploy to try to get more female readers. While their relationship was very sweet, it didn’t at all go where I thought it was going to go and I was left with a big “that’s IT?” at the end. I’m sure that this was the case for many wartime romances, but the constant lead up in the book caused me to believe it was going to go a different direction.

Truly, Joe and Yvette each have an incredible life story, and it’s even more shocking to see them converge. I’m ultimately glad that I read this and got to learn more about them, but I wish the book had been marketed (and edited) a bit differently.

This book was billed as a love story set in wartime Paris. At 20% read it has been nothing but boring, numbing information about planes and aerial manoeuvres that have nothing to do with the story. Add to that more information on Les Invalides that anyone would ever want to know and you have one thoroughly boring book. The author needs to decide whether he is going to write about planes, history of a monument OR a love story. And for sure there will be SOME of that information to set the stage, but huge chunks of this book need to be excised before it becomes interesting to read.

The problem with new authors (AND their editors) is that they have done extensive research and think they have to include every single piece of information they have uncovered.

I would rate this book a good 4-1/4 stars. The story does get dragged down a bit by all the technical information regarding planes, rules and regulations of the Air Force, etc. but the rest of the story certainly makes up for any short falls. The story is about Yvette and Joe and their instant attraction to each other under the most stressful of conditions during World War II and the occupation of Paris! I have just started getting into reading about the Resistance and I truly enjoyed reading this book! There was a bit of a surprised at the end that I didn't anticipate. One thing I found frustrating was not able to access the Notes while reading the book as I have an iPad ... i think the story line would have been enhanced if I had been able to! I have to give the author kudos for a well researched story ...well done!

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

An exciting, factual book about B-17 aviators shot down over France, rescued by members of the Resistance, then sheltered in the last place you'd expect - occupied Paris. Hiding (along with other Allied fighters) right under the noses of the Gestapo, one of the men even fell in love with the daughter of the home's owners. Closest to a literal "could not put it down" book that I've e ever read. Highly recommended.

ARC received from NETGALLY

Oh how the world was a different place in the 40's.

Great historical thriller on the men who flew and the country who showed their appreciation by risking their lives to help them survive. Great job!

"Escape from Paris" eBook was published in 2019 (October) and was written by Stephen Harding (http://stephenhardingbooks.com/index.html). Mr. Harding has published four books. 

I categorize this novel as ‘G’. The story is set in German-occupied France. While on a bombing raid, a B-17 is shot down on July 14, 1943. This story tells how they are rescued by the French, hidden from the Germans, and eventually smuggled out of France. 

The crew makes repeated attempts to leave France, but they are blocked again and again. Along the way one of the American flyers falls in love with the young daughter of a family hiding him in Paris. 

I enjoyed the 7 hours I spent reading this 288-page non-fiction story. I enjoyed this look at the French resistance at work in German-occupied France. I like the cover art chosen. I give this book a 4 out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/. 

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

I really enjoyed this well-researched account of the intricate resistance efforts that went into rescuing downed airmen during WWII and smuggling them back to England. After reading the Nightingale, I started reading nonfiction books such as Peter Eisner’s The Freedom Line and Seth Meyerowitz’s The Lost Airman, that told me more about the resistance’s efforts at getting downed Allied airmen back into the war.

This was an interesting addition to the others that delve into this topic. The Invalides provided a fascinating aspect to the story. I do, however, feel that the love story aspect of this book was overplayed. It leads up to an abrupt resolution that, to me, felt extremely anti-climactic after how much that storyline was hyped. If you’re looking for a fascinating historical account of the extreme sacrificial efforts made to shelter and aid Allied airmen during the war, this book is definitely for you and you will not be disappointed. If you’re looking for a strong wartime love story with a thorough resolution, this one may not be for you.

Thank you so much to Hachette and Netgalley for my free advanced digital copy.

This book contains all the elements of a page-turning WWII story - the intrigue of occupied Paris, a wartime romance, and courageous American and Allied pilots and French resistance fighters pitted against Nazi thugs. Highly recommend, especially if you loved The Nightingale!

So well written drew me introduced me to interesting people brave heroic people.This reads like an exciting novel set in the past but actually happened highly recommend this book this author.. #netgalley#hatchettebooks

Escape From Paris provides a vivid picture of what Allied airmen and the people who formed the various networks of the French resistance went through during World War II. The author obviously did a lot of research (there are copious footnotes), but was still able to write a compelling narrative, focusing on just a handful of personal stories of (mostly American) downed aviators and one French family in particular. The accounts of how the members of the resistance managed to effect the downed airmen's escape from Occupied France are detailed and show the reader how much they put themselves in danger by doing this work. I have a branch of my family who is French and so I had a particular interest in reading on this topic. While familiar with World War II history in general, I found that I learned a great deal while reading this book. Who knew there were "military tourists" in Paris while the city was occupied by Nazi Germany? Not me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and DaCapo Press (Hachette) for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

Escape from Paris is a great historical fiction with great characters. The storyline is interesting and entertaining. Well written and I would read more by this author.

Escape from Paris by Stephen Harding is a fabulous, gripping, suspenseful historical fiction novel based smack dab in the middle of WWII occupied Paris.
This novel will suck you right in to its vortex of suspense, romance, and espionage.
The main characters had complexity and were like able. The stories were adventurous, but believable, which is good considering it is based on true events of downed American pilots on Bastille Day and their interactions with the French Resistance and locals, and the events that folded thereafter. Sometimes authors can make a real-life story unbelievable, which was not the case with this excellent selection.

You felt vested in the downed pilots and Resistance and championed their cause.

There was just the right dash of romance and realism thrown in to add a human nature aspect that continued to draw the reader in and invest in their ending.

A great, thrilling read. Anyone that loves suspense, and a great war epic will love this novel.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Da Capo Press for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

This is a wonderfully told story that is better than fiction. I found it hard to put down.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.