I'm the type of reader who only reads one book at a time. I just find it hard to really get immersed in a story if I'm jumping around from one fictional world to another, so I was especially distracted by the piecemeal storytelling. Between the alternating POVs and nonlinear narrative, there are essentially four different stories going on. It doesn't actually add to the overarching story and just feels like a misguided attempted to drum up some suspense. The constant jumps between time and perspective are confusing and breaks up any kind of flow Cambron tries to establish. It made it hard for me to connect with any of the characters when I was constantly trying to get my bearings and orient myself every time the chapter changed.

It’s a shame because I really wanted to like this book. It definitely has potential. The premise is intriguing premise and the opening scene pulls you in. Unfortunately, it falters a bit in terms of execution. The story never really comes together. There isn't any kind of emotional pull to the narrative, which makes it hard for the reader to engage, and the whole thing falls flat. It felt like a bit of a superficial reading of Paris in WWII, and I wish there had been more depth to the story and more character development. I also think the convergence of the stories isn't particularly compelling and some of the plot twists are a bit of a stretch. The Christian themes aren't incorporated as seamlessly as they could be but aren't obnoxiously out-of-place or in your face.

TL;DR: decent book, but it just didn't quite deliver the beautiful story the cover promises.

What first caught my eye about The Paris Dressmaker was the cover. I mean, isn't it just gorgeous? Combined with the promise of Paris, especially World War II-era Paris, and the world of fashion, and I was intrigued. I've read and enjoyed Kristy Cambron's writing before, so I thought this one would be a winner. Unfortunately, The Paris Dressmaker turned out to be an average read for me.

The summary for the book indicates that there are two timelines, with each timeline featuring a different heroine. However, there are actually four timelines--two for each woman--and while it didn't take me long to follow along, the jumps back and forth between characters and years was initially a bit disorienting. As the story continued, I felt as if these splits kept the story from being as cohesive as it ought to have been, and it made for a choppy reading experience. That being said, I generally liked all four timelines and the way they caught up to one another.

In regard to the characters, although I liked Lila well enough, I found myself much more invested in Sandrine's story. I feel like many more of the Paris-based WWII books I've read feature a lead character who joins La Resistance and fights for their country through subterfuge and cleverness. This plot makes for a fine story, and having Lila gain access to information through her role as dressmaker to the women of the Ritz is a unique addition, but it just wasn't enough to really distinguish this narrative from similar stories on the market.

Sandrine's story, however, while still having the familiar "Frenchwoman unwillingly associating with a Nazi as a cover for her clandestine work" trope, takes a more unique path in incorporating the Nazi's theft and destruction of Jewish artwork. Although I'm vaguely familiar with these actions by the Nazis and the subsequent efforts to retrieve the stolen artwork to be returned to the rightful owners, I don't think it's a detail that's been included in any Christian fiction novels I've read. Sandrine's work in La Resistance and the unique role that allows this work to be done makes for some very interesting reading, and I often found myself looking up different artists as their work was mentioned and seeing if the pieces had been recovered. The seamless inclusion of real historical events is, for me, the sign of a good story.

Frankly, I would rather have read an entire book of Sandrine's story than had a book split between Sandrine and Lila. Of course, since Lila is the titular Paris dressmaker, a book without her would've been something very different, but I think that book would've filled a more unique niche in the ever-growing genre of WWII fiction. I may have also enjoyed the book more if Lila and Sandrine's stories had intersected sooner; their paths don't cross until very late in the story, and they could just as easily never have met and their stories would be largely the same. As a reader, this seems odd, and I find myself thinking that maybe Lila and Sandrine should've been given their own novels, perhaps as companion novels or even novellas.

Overall, The Paris Dressmaker had its ups and its downs. Cambron does a nice job of evoking the strangeness and the desperation of occupied Paris, and I really enjoyed Sandrine's character and her role in saving the cultural works pilfered by the Nazis. As a whole, though, this book wasn't better than average for me, and while I might suggest it to a few people, it wouldn't be my first suggestion for a WWII read.

This book was hard to follow, trying to sort out the timelines and Lila and Sandrine's stories. Many books have recently been written about the resistance groups in France during WWII that were much easier to follow. Although this is a fascinating subject, this book was not appealing. I've enjoyed other books by this author so I'm looking forward to her next book.

Haute couture dressmaker Lila de Laurent has a stable job with the house of Chanel, a glamorous boyfriend, and a future full of possibilities. But on the night she expects René Touliard to propose, he bids her farewell, instead. Half Jewish, he chooses to join up with the French army to fight for his family and his country, leaving behind a devastated Lily.

In another part of the city, Sandrine Paquet bids her husband farewell as he leaves to join the fight against the Nazis. No one knows how many days until they reach Paris, and everyone fears their inevitable arrival. Christian Paquet warns Sandrine to stay close to the art and culture—in doing so, she’ll find a measure of safety. He leaves her with a letter she must only open when she feels desperate and secretive instructions on how to get word about him.

Two women, abandoned in a soon-to-be-occupied city, must use their resources and wits to survive Nazi occupation. Lila survives by using her talents to create haute couture for the mistresses and wives of the Nazi occupiers who station themselves at the Ritz Hotel. She uses her entre to spy on the Nazis and send all she learns to La Resistance.

An over-attentive Nazi officer orders Sandrine to put her education to work for him at a former museum where the Nazi regime sorts and catalogs the priceless art and jewels they steal from the Jews. Sandrine and her colleagues keep a secret catalog, hoping to one day reunite the treasures with their rightful owners. As the years pass, she struggles to keep the officer at a distance.

Lila and Sandrine represent the fighting spirit of the women of Paris during World War II. When ordinary women had to decide how to confront evil while ensuring the safety of their families. How long can they carry hope in their hearts with no end to the war in sight?

Why I Loved this Book


I love history, and a well-researched historical novel always gets my pulse racing. Once again, Cambron creates a multilayered tale with rich characters and the push and pull of tension.
The author pieces the stories and time periods together like a skilled haute couture dress designer. Each incident a pattern piece fitting snuggly with the others to create a masterpiece no one could have imagined.

Kristy Cambron’s lush writing and addictive narrative reveal how two gutsy women defied the Germans during the Paris occupation from 1939 to 1945. Lila makes couture gowns for top Nazi wives, while Sandrine catalogues stolen treasures for the Germans. Both gather intel valuable to La Resistance, a cause for which they’re willing to die. THE PARIS DRESSMAKER is not always an easy read due to the heartbreaking times, but an ever inspiring one, as it asks, “Would you give all if called?”

5 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 16 Feb 2021
#TheParisDressmaker #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

Kristy Cambron has been one of my very favorite authors for the past two years and I always look forward to her new releases with so much excitement because her books are amazing 😍 This one was no different.
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The Paris Dressmaker follows two Parisian women living in Paris during WWII and the German occupation of Paris. One woman is a dressmaker for Coco Chanel and the other works at a bookstore. This book follows them as they live during the occupation and do their bit to help France and the French Resistance during this hard time.
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If you know me, you know that I love WWII fiction and, to be honest, I was a little afraid that this one would be cliche with the same old storyline, but it wasn't. Kristy Cambron did a fantastic job of weaving the stories of these two women together in an easy to follow way. I really got invested in the lives of these women and the Parisians around them. And yeah, we all know the outcome of WWII, but still yet, the ending of this one was surprising and there were some heartbreaking things in there too. Also, I haven't really read much about the German occupation of Paris, so this was something a little new for me to dive into.
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All in all, this was a wonderful story that I highly recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 is simply 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦! 👗

Paris just before occupation, young girls living life’s full of promise and parties. Two extraordinary women used their talent and cunning to help the Resistance in Paris.Lila a gifted seamstress,uses her talent to silently gathe4 information from the mistresses and wives of the Nazi regime. Sandrine must catalog precious artifacts to be sent to Germany . She uses every opportunity to gather information on her husband. Two women United in spirit yet so different. Lila decides to take a more active role in the underground, reuniting with a lost love in a most James Bond way. Sandrine comes under attack from the locals who see her betraying her heritage. A easy argument to make from the safety of their homes. A first person narrative this is a look at youth lost to war and the strong women that emerged.

The Paris Dressmaker is a breath-taking book that you can preorder now. I think it’s this year’s The Nightengale, and I fully expect it to win a slew of awards because of the beautiful writing and story.

In this sweeping novel, you’ll follow two women (and a host of other characters) from 1938 to 1945. It highlights the ways that Parisienne women survived the years the German occupied the city. Kristy highlights many of the events without lingering on them…yet gives a feel for the scope of the occupation. Everything doesn’t go well for the characters, also realistic, but the hope and the grace in the pages is healing.

A time slip novel set completely around Paris during WW2. The more current time line is set during 1944 while the older time line starts in 1939 and works it's way up to 1944. Not only is the story a time slip story but both time lines follow 2 different Parisian women dealing with working with/for/around Nazis while also working with the French resistance. What I enjoyed about the story was the richness of the story and the lengths that people went to fight against what was going on, despite the dangers and sometimes unpopular decisions. The stories of the two women are beautifully intertwined and overlap with out connecting. Definitely worth the read

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

This book was a ARC via #netgalley

All opinions are my own.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I am a sucker for WWII books, and I love when its from a different countries viewpoint. And to be honest, I choose this book based on the beautiful cover alone.

I knew from the start that these 2 individual ladies stories would intertwine. Yet, *SPOILER* there stories seem to take a long time to do such.

First we have Lila, a dressmaker who is part of the Nazi Resistance. Through her trials she is reunited with her ex, Renee- who also happens to be part of the resistance- posing as a pastry chef.

Secondly, we have Sandrine- a mother and also a part of the Resistance. However from the outside people think she is working with the Nazi's helping to save precious art works.

This is where the stories start to intertwine. Sandrine, in her work, comes across a beautiful Chanel dress, which inside holds a secret message . This is also where 2 stories turn into 4. While there are the two present day stories, there is also two past stories of how everything came to be. This at times was hard to decipher which time period we were supposed to be in, and I had to keep second guessing it.

The writing was done very well, the descriptions and the character developments. I just found myself skimming over a lot of it. For that I give it 3 stars.

THE PARIS DRESSMAKER
BY KRISTY CAMBRON

This Author, Kristy Cambron whom this is the first of her work I have discovered is an author who definitely did her research for this historical novel. It is evident that this author poured her heart into penning this story that takes place during the beginning of World War II in a German occupied Paris until liberation by the British and the American's. While the title might suggest that this is a light novel it is anything but surface. It delves deep into the Resistance efforts taking place by the character's that she makes quite compelling.

Lila first worked for Coco Chanel who closes her doors and Lila finds herself inside the Hotel Ritz using her skills as a highly skilled seamstress. While Lila takes measurements of the girlfriend's and wives of the Nazi's, she gleans information from these women's loose lips while drinking champagne that she can pass onto the Resistance. She is in love with Rene who breaks things off from her without giving her a valid reason. She will find out during the war that her friend whom she thought she could trust actually secretly discloses to the Nazi's that Rene's family is Jewish and where they live and where they have fled. This causes Lila much anguish and guilt and is what propels her to work with the Resistance in doing something good to make up for what she perceives is his families death.

Sandrine is another character whom I really liked and respected. She lives with her in-laws with her young son named, Henri. Sandrine is forced by a high ranking Nazi officer to work shipping off valuable works's of art plundered by the Nazi's from Jewish families for Hitler's museum and Berlin. Sandrine's husband Christian is off fighting and she doesn't know of his fate. She really is repelled by her German handler and is seen as a Nazi collaborator by her fellow Parisian's but she is also a Resistance worker underneath keeping careful records of who the art belonged to and wants to see it returned to it's rightful families.

It took a lot of courage to work in the French Resistance during German Occupied France. I think this novel which is based in some factual historic facts of other character's whom I haven't mentioned for the brevity of this review. It is a tribute to the many people who bravely risked their lives and also a reminder of the horrific war crimes against the Jewish people who suffered unimaginably for their ethnicity only. I am guessing that one of this author's goals for writing this is this that we never forget so that it never happens again along with paying homage to the underground people who took part in the Resistance.

Publication Date: February 16, 2021

Thank you to Net Galley, Kristy Cambron and Thomas Nelson for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheParisDressmaker #KristyCambron #ThomasNelson #NetGalley

Captivating and heartrending are two words that come to mind over this book. A story of two separate women during World War II in Nazi-occupied France. At times, it was difficult to read. It also created questions of what would I do in that situation? Ultimately, it’s a story that will draw you in and make you think.

I cannot read a story like this without asking the hard questions of what I would do, or how I'd survive, if I were faced with the crises of war such as these people in this novel were. I think that is one of the crowning achievements of a novelist--to be able to provoke those questions in a reader, and Kristy Cambron does it well. Her attention to historical detail and research is remarkable. As to the emotional intrigue, the heightening danger and emotional pitch lend not only to the story but to history itself. The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was that, in reading on my Kindle, I had a hard time keeping track of the time period as the story goes back and forth between POV characters, each in forward and backward time periods, so I occasionally lost track of where I was, mostly in the first half of the book. On the Kindle, it wasn't a quick flip back to the chapter or section break to catch where I was. Time slips are very popular right now, but part of me wanted to read this story in a more straight-forward manner. Still, it was an excellent and satisfying story.

The Paris Dressmaker
by Kristy Cambron
Thomas Nelson--FICTION
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Thomas Nelson
Historical Fiction | Romance
Pub Date 16 Feb 2021 | Archive Date 07 Apr 2021

This was a difficult read for me. The story is told in two timelines and it was not an easy read. Not the book for me. Thanks to ThomasNelson- Fiction and NetGalley for the ARC.
I feel historical fiction readers will love this book. It just wasn't the best fit for me.

4 star

German occupation of Paris during World War II was shocking. No one understood how life would be impacted. The Nazis began systematically seizing and shipping art back to Germany. The Parisiennes were furious and fought against the Nazi occupation with La Resistance. Two women decide they must do what they can to free their country. Lila and Sandrine work for the Resistance while maintaining the appearance of everyday citizens. This is a very hazardous existence for these women and their families. With each message passed, the odds of being discovered elevate. The story is nerve wracking, tragic, and romantic.

The characters are memorable and the author does a masterful job of weaving her characters with the historic figures of that time. She blends fact and fiction beautifully compelling you to read on. The movement forward and backward in time as the story unfolds is something that seems distracting at certain points. It is not relayed in a linear format which may confuse some readers.

This is a wonderful book and people who are fans of historic fiction will thoroughly enjoy this read.

Kristy Cambron weaves a heartrending story of two separate women during World War II in Nazi-occupied France trying to survive but also to fight in the avenues they have been placed in. The book goes back and forth between the present (1944) and the years prior with events that brought both Lila and Sandrine to that moment. The reader feels the strain that the characters are under in trying to live in their war-torn world but also not giving in to the fear and oppression that they face. It is an excellent story showing resilience in the midst of terrifying circumstances.

Paris, 1939.
Lila de Laurent and her friend Amelie work for Coco Chanel as dressmakers and one day they arrive at work to find the salon closed. Lila begins working for another fashion designer Nina Ricci and she dresses the Nazi officer’s mistresses living at the Ritz hotel. Life in France during WW II is hard, the city has been completely over run by German soldiers and they take everything. Lila joins the La Resistance, her job at the Ritz provides perfect cover, the Nazi’s girlfriends like to chat while being measured for their new gowns and it gives Lila access to high ranking German officer’s rooms. When pastry chef René Touliard saves her from being captured, she’s drawn deeper into the resistance and she’s really worried the Germans will see through her disguise.

Paris, 1943.
Sandrine Paquet’s husband Christian is missing in action, she’s hopeful he’s still alive and she has a six year old son Henri. Captain Von Hiller notices her; she’s requisitioned by him to catalog priceless art stolen by the Nazi’s and it’s being shipped to Germany. Sandrine's considered a collaborator, of course she can’t tell anyone the truth and she actually passes on information to the resistance. When she’s asked by Captain Von Hiller to unbox a beautiful blush colored Chanel gown, she’s shocked to find a piece of stock card sewn into a seam and it has a message written on it.

The Nazi’s in Paris know the end of the war is near, for Lila and Sandrine it makes life harder. Lila and René are fighting with the La Resistance in the street of Paris and Sandrine is desperately trying to dodge Captain Von Hiller’s advances. The Paris Dressmaker is a story about two strong French women risking their lives to free France, to end the Nazi’s reign of terror in the city of lights and both have a link to that beautiful blush gown. I received a copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and four stars from me.

This book seemed to have a lot going on which at times I had a hard time following. The story is told in two timelines.
Normally I really enjoy every book this author writes. I can’t help but feel like it’s just another book about the resistance and Nazi invasion of Paris. I do think historical fiction fans will embrace it
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron is a World War II novel with a delightful cover that I loved looking at. As for the story, it was not actually what I was expecting. The plot line was interesting, and I really loved the idea of the Paris Resistance fighters and all the undercover work that they did during the 1939 – 1944. It was interesting and a little different than most novels I have read. It was a delight, BUT . . . the issue I had with the story was the delivery of the plot lines. I have read a number of timeslips novels and have no problem following the story. It usually goes back and forth between two heroines or heroes in two different time frames, but Cambron took two heroines and placed them in a number of different time frames. First, the reader starts out in 1944, then jumps back to 1939, then to 1943, then back to 1940. Sometimes when I started a new chapter, I would be confused as to what is going on. I would have to find whose perspective I was in, and the time period to see where we were out in the narrative. I really wished the story would have been told in a linear fashion. It would have been easier to follow. The romance sparkled and blossomed as the story progressed. The story, once I understood what was actually happening, evoked a sense of Parisian pride. Overall, Cambron crafted a wonderful story with unheard elements, which I liked, but the flip-flopping of the timeline confused me.

I received a complimentary copy of The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Excellent heavy read of WW2 fiction which centers on Lila and Sandrine, a dress maker, and art cataloger, both working for The Resistance while making dresses for the Germans, and handling stolen art to survive and save their lives and Paris fashion. My only issue was I kept seeing the authors name and the letters rst in the middle of the chapter breaks. Other than that, great book! My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher.