I enjoyed this story of Lila and Sandrine. They endured things I hope I never face. This story is set in Nazi occupied France during WWII. Lila and Sandrine as well as others have to make hard choices about how they are going to spend these harrowing days. Lila uses her dressmaking skills to spy on the Nazis. Sandrine does her own part in an art museum that is dealing with stolen art. It was hard to see some brave women accused of being collaborators knowing that they could never refute the charges without revealing their mission.

This story follows both Lila and Sandrine in two different time periods, about three or four years apart. It took a little while to get used to the rhythm of the book. I go back and forth between reading and listening to books on my kindle and that was a little tougher with the changes.

This story portrays the resistance movement in France in a way that makes you feel the danger and the urgency. It was interesting to see how different people took part in resisting the Nazis.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

One of my favorite types of books to read lately is World War Two genre. All kinds from romance to historical! But books about the resistance, especially the French resistance might just be my top favorite. And this book is definitely up there in the top! It was so easy to lose yourself in this book along with the characters. This will be a recommendation for all my historical fiction loving readers!!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Thanks to #Netgalley for the ARC.
The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron tells the story of two very different women in Occupied Paris.
Lila de Laurent is a fashion designer from humble beginnings and Sandrine de Paquet is a married woman with a child. The story follows both women as they navigate the treacherous waters of occupation and how they learn to survive and outwit their Nazi enemies.
Kristy Cambron's writing takes you to wartime Paris and shows how quickly friends can become enemies and that the instinct for self preservation can over ride even the strongest friendships. Lila and Sandrine both help the Resistance by working for the Nazis and the dual narrative allows us see how both women in very different circumstances deal with the many privations of war.
The book is meticulously researched and well written but for me was missing something. I love reading novels set during WWII and would recommend this to readers. I give this book 3.5 stars.

This was SO much better than The Nightengale!!! A hundred, thousand times.

Before I can gush about what I loved, I do need to say that it took me some time to figure out who I was reading about and what time. We have two different stories (Lila & Sandrine) and two different time periods (pre-war/early war and "current" war). This led to some confusion for me, which granted might have had to do with ebook formatting, I'll admit. Just be aware that you do need to pay attention to the date headings to know where you are in the story, especially as you get going.

So once I figured out the flow of the story, I was able to really get into it. To be honest, I would have been perfectly happy with just Lila and Rene's storyline. But Sandrine's was interesting in its connection to the Monument's Men. I knew I recognized the name Rose Valland.

WWII stories are full of inspiration and being fiction makes that no less true. I read the stories and hope that I can be as brave. I hope that I can make hard choices and balance what I have to do. Lila and Sandrine did what they had to do to survive but also out of love.

The intrigue and suspense were intense, all the more so because you'd have a surprise of some sort at the end of a chapter and then have to wait for three chapters to get back to things. The betrayal hurt. I can and cannot imagine that kind of pain from someone that close to you, who you thought you knew.

I would have liked more of a glimpse into what happened afterward for our characters, but we just get to imagine.

: I’m blown away at the magnitude of this story and what people went through to not only save the Jews but also save amazing works of art. I was hooked by the author style of writing and her precious characters. I had no idea that all this went on as this author brilliantly shows Hitler trying to take it all, people, their culture and their way of life. I was amazed at how art was categorized and documented so after the war these treasures could be found. This author knowledge of this period – shines as she masterfully weaves a sweet and realistic love story, showing what happens to family and relationships during the war amongst Paris Resistance fighters and all the undercover work they did during the Nazi invasions.

This is a fascinating story that grabbed my heart, along with my imagination and did not let go even after I closed the book. I highly recommend this for fascinating reading and one that would be a great book club pick.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I didn't mind the jumping back and forth between time periods or Lila and Sandrine. I did feel like we needed more of the fashion aspect, since it is called 'The Paris Dressmaker'. But I did like both of our fierce women characters and how they fought for what was right, during such a grueling time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the early edition.

The Paris Dressmaker tells the stories of two brave women in Paris, Lila and Sandrine, that become members of the French Resistance during WWII. I expected their two stories to intertwine somewhere in the book. The women do meet, but their stories never truly come together.

I found the timelines very confusing for the first half of the book as the chapters not only rotate between the separate women’s stories but also jump around from 1939-1944 and not in any sort of order.

This book did have two strong women characters but failed to carry their stories through in my eyes. I really wanted to like this book but found myself struggling to pick it up and continue reading.

#NetGalley
#TheParisDressmaker
#ThomasNelsonFiction

Occupied Paris with the terror of the Nazis and the dangers of the Resistance is the backdrop for The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron. In this novel we meet two quite different couples. Sandrine and Christian Parquet, a young Parisian couple, struggling to keep their family together and Lila de Laurent and her one love, Rene, who are destiny to be together. Christian is in the French Army and Sandrine works for the art museum. While cataloging the French artwork that the Germans are stealing from the French people, she sees an opportunity to work for France and takes it. When given the opportunity to design clothes for the mistresses of German officers, Lila sees an opportunity to gather information necessary to the Resistance. Throughout all the dangers of their spying, they remain loyal to their country and to the men in their lives. While things may seem bleak at times, both ladies believe in country, hope and most especially, love. I would recommend this book as both a spy novel as well as a love story.

Time jumps back and forth can be confusing and a distraction in this book. The people are well developed and the time of the occupation is brought to life. Always like when we are shown strong women who stand up to evil surrounding them.

Ever since I saw the gorgeous cover, I knew I needed to get my hands on the Paris Dressmaker. And the story within was equally beautiful. The storyline follows two heroines whose lives have been completely altered by the chaos of World War II. Both Sandrine and Lila were presented with two choices—play it safe and allow evil to rule or take a risk in stirring change and possibly lose all.

I loved the intricate details of the city. It was almost as if Paris itself had become a character. I LOVE it when authors do that! This book is a dual timeline which shows the women’s lives set at the brink of war and close to the end of it. I thought it was a unique perspective. This author had done a splendid job of establishing the scenes at the onset so I wouldn’t get confused as to whose point of view I was in or which place in time.

I really enjoyed this story and am excited to see what this author does next!

Thank you Netgalley for a copy. All opinions are my own.

3.5/5 - Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

While this book may not my favourite, Cambron is a talented author who wove together several different story lines all while moving back and forth in time. I know that many people want darker and grittier WWII novels, but I find them incredibly difficult to read, and Cambron avoids this. She doesn't avoid any of the darkness and danger, but it didn't feel like I was reading torture-porn, or anything like that. She is clearly a thoughtful writer, and knows how to appropriately handle her subject matter for her audience.

I don't typically read WWII fiction, unless there is another factor to draw me in. I was quite interested in the dress-making/fashion aspect, but that wasn't really discussed at any length- I was disappointed the publisher chose to highlight that in the blurb when it wasn't really a main plot point at all.

Wow....my favorite book of 2020 so far! Kristy Cambron is a FANTASTIC author, and the suspense throughout the book had me on edge the entire time! She so well-developed all her characters and beautifully brought her story together. I appreciate the historical fiction genre, as she completely brought the realities of life in WW2 to life. Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review this, and I'm forever a Cambron fan!

This dual point of view story, set in occupied Paris, took me a moment to acclimate to as I had to ease into the timelines and characters, but once I got going this tale about two very brave and determined women had me up late two nights in a row! Based on true accounts of Parisiennes resisting the Nazi invasion, The Paris Dressmaker is full of intrigue, romance, and vivid details that make the story come alive.

I've read a few of Kristy Cambron's novels but with mixed reviews so I wasn't sure what to expect from The Paris Dressmaker however I can now tell you that it was completely and utterly enthralling! From the very first sentence it captured my interest and held onto it until the very end. Kristy Cambron constructed the story so artfully that it kept me on the edge of my seat and at times I found myself literally holding my breath because of events happening in the book. I loved all of the characters so much and they each had the sweetest romances!

I throughly enjoyed The Paris Dressmaker. The story revolves around the brave women of the resistance in Paris during the Nazi invasion. Kristy Cambron does a wonderful job in writing a historical fiction weaving between the dressmaker and the art historian their lives, loves, loss and how each in their own way saved treasured Paris artifacts.
Thank you #NetGalley, #ThomasNelsonPublishing and #Kristy Cambron for the advance readers copy for my honest review.

This was a wonderful story of the French resistance during World War II. I appreciated how the two stories and various timelines eventually were woven together.

The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron is a historical, dual-time novel set in Paris in World War II. It follows two women as they struggle to find a way to live within the confines of German-occupied Paris and still maintain their morals and duty to their country.
This is the first novel I’d read from Kristy Cambron, although I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about her writing. And after reading The Paris Dressmaker, I am hooked! This story combined a dramatic historical backdrop with the struggles of everyday life for people who had to live through a horrific time. The acute details of the occupation of Paris and its effect on the people, especially the women, left behind to endure the German’s reign were both fascinating and terrifying.
The author does an amazing job of using the dual timelines to create suspense and an overall sense of urgency and danger. It was difficult to talk myself out of the ‘one more chapter’ for this story. I needed to know what happened next to the characters!
And the characters in this story are all so vibrant, deep, and genuine--whether part of the Resistance or Axis Alliance. I felt the chill of having an SS officer look over your shoulder or the heart-pounding danger of walking through Paris after curfew. You will become completely immersed in this story, and you won’t want it to end.
My only complaint is it took me a few chapters to settle into the multiple timelines. This was mainly because I listened to the majority of this book, and it was difficult for me to understand where each scene was starting because it was in French. But once I was familiar with the characters and the timelines, this was no longer a problem. And I found I enjoyed listening to the amazingly beautiful voice of the narrator and her addicting accent.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Paris Dressmaker and will be adding Kristy Cambron to my list of must-read authors. Fans of Christian historical fiction will enjoy this story. Even if you aren’t a fan of dual-time stories, I believe the incredible historical detail and unforgettable characters make this book worth reading.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

EXTRAORDINARY!!

If you are a reader, you consider yourself BLESSED when you find a novel that captivates you from page one straight thru to the last word and you know the theme from this novel will stay in your heart forever! Kristy Cambron’s THE PARIS DRESSMAKER is this type of book and I highly recommend it! Cambron has written a magnificent, breathtaking novel based on true accounts of how Parisiennes resisted the Nazi occupation in World War II. She centers her storyline around two courageous women, Lila de Laurent and Sandrine Paquet, who risked everything to fight an evil they cannnot abide. Cambron has created characters that will ignite your imagination and make the reader feel as though they are a part of their world and have joined La Resistance!

Lila de Laurent, haute couture dressmaker for Maison Chanel, is out of work in the world of high fashion due to the Nazi occupation of Paris. She is soon using her skills as a expert dressmaker to infiltrate the Nazi elite. Laurent meets with clients, measures and designs masterpieces, all while collecting secrets in the glamorous Hôtel Ritz. Her clients are considered “collaborators” as the Hôtel Ritz is the heart of the Nazis’ Parisian headquarters. Sandr working at the Jeu de Paume Galerie cataloging priceless works arts that are bound for Hitler’s Berlin. These irreplaceable masterpieces have been stolen from prominent Jewish families. She also listened to the German officers who were in charge of the Galerie and gleaned all the information she could and passed it on to the Resistance. One piece she is charged with handling a Chanel gown - a gown in a tapestry of blush embroidery and brilliant tulle. This is more than just a gown as concealed in the seams is a cryptic message that may reveal the fate of a dressmaker who vanished from within the fashion elite.

While these two women are living day to day, wondering if each day may be their last, they also share another commonality. They are each madly in love! Lila is in love René who she has reconnected with after several lost years thinking he has died only to learn he has been deeply embedded in the Resistance. Sandrine is madly in love with her husband Christian who is supposedly off fighting for the French. She was not sure if he was still alive or deceased until one night when she was forced to attend a Nazi Officer’s New Year’s Eve Party. While there, she was unexpectedly reunited very briefly with her husband Christian. Their brief encounter renews her spirit and gives her strength to continue the fight. Cambron writes the love stories of these two couples in such a way that allows the reader to feel their passionate love for each other that enabled them to endure the long years of war and their inevitable separations. Yet, it was as though they each “sensed” the other was still alive! The thoughts of joyous reunions with their beloveds inspired these two women to risk everything for the men they loved.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel by Thomas Nelson and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron is a tale about the feisty Parisian fashion designer Lila de Laurent’s dalliance into the French Resistance amidst the growing shadow of Nazi Occupation and the Vichy government. A story of love, hope, betrayal, and glamor, The Paris Dressmaker is an beautiful and fully immersive experience. This book is perfect for fans of The Paris Orphan as well as The Nightingale, and while it is historical fiction, it is as faced paced as a spy thriller.

L I have read three previous books by Kristy Cambron so I was excited about her latest release The Paris Dressmaker. Once again, Cambron transports us to an unforgettable time in WWII history, this time through the fashion and art world.

The story is about two brave women who use their work positions to get information for the resistance. Lila de Laurent is an haute couture dressmaker and Sandrine Pacquet works with an art historian cataloging art confiscated by the Germans. The story follows the lives of these two women during the four-year occupation in Paris. I enjoyed both of these women's stories that gave us a glimpse of what it must have been like living in Paris during those difficult war years and how some women chose to collaborate with the Germans while others courageously smuggled information to the underground resistance.

I usually love dual timeline stories, however, in this case, I did find it slowed the pace of the story. The reason is that there was a dual timeline for both women, so it became confusing sometimes to remember where the story left off for that particular character. The novel has a strong beginning with Lila de Laurent running for her life in the Meudon Forest as she is hunted by the Nazis. Then it switches to Sandrine's story. Then it switches back to Lila's story but to a previous timeline. The chapters had cliffhanger endings but it was a while before we would get back to it and this was at times frustrating. I think, in this case, this story would have been better told with one timeline and the use of well-placed flashbacks.

Also, I was waiting for the connection between the two women but it was minor and did not converge as I had hoped. That beautiful Chanel gown that is on the front cover concealing a cryptic message ended up being an anticlimactic plot for me.

However, I appreciated the research the author did and how she based some parts of her story on true accounts. I found Sandrine's story more heartbreaking and relatable to me since she was married and a mother. She was forced into certain situations and had to make the most of it, and she did so stoically. I found she had inner strength and poise.

The Paris Dressmaker was a good read but I did like her Hidden Masterpiece books better.