The Brightest Star in Paris by Diana Biller

This is a unique story, highly enjoyable, and you must be a fan of stories with paranormal elements (specifically ghosts) for this one.

I really enjoyed The Widow of Rose House, Biller's debut novel, which was historical romance with paranormal elements. This story is a continuation of that world, set in 1878, a few years after the first one ended and with characters from the first book. This story has a deeper focus on some of the political and social upheaval in Paris post-Siege of Paris and this runs throughout the book. I haven't read much about this specific time period and it was interesting to learn more about some of these political events and how it impacted different populations.

This is a second chance, slow burn romance story of Amelie and Benedict, who is the brother of the main character from Widow. The Moore family is so delightful and quirky and loved seeing appearances from the parents as well as the two main characters from Widow. I can't wait for more from this family!

When I started reading The Brightest Star in Paris, I couldn’t quite shake the feeling that I had met Amelie and Benedict before. As the book went on and the story unraveled, that feeling intensified. Then Alma was introduced, and I went, “Ooooh, that’s where I remember Ben from!” What book was it? The Widow of Rose House. It took me almost to when Alma came to Paris (with Sam and the rest of the family) to realize that.

The Brightest Star in Paris isn’t officially part of a series but is connected to The Widow of Rose Haven. If it were part of a series, it would be book 2. It also could be read as a standalone. While the Moore family is a large part of the book, they do not take it over. Instead, the focus is on Amelie and Benedict, with the Moores’ staying in the background.

The plotline for The Brightest Star in Paris was fast-paced and well written. There was very little lag. The only lag that I noticed was right after Amelie’s collapse on stage. It didn’t last long, only about a chapter, and didn’t derail the book. Instead, it gave me a moment to collect my thoughts and prepare myself for what the rest of the book would bring.

I will admit, I didn’t know much about Edwardian Paris when I started reading The Brightest Star in Paris. I didn’t know about the invasion, the thousands of “rebels” that were killed, or the rebuilding that went on afterward. I was alternately shocked and in tears by what Amelie went through and what she did to survive. To see her gradually break free of the constraints that she put upon herself was a wonderful thing but heartbreaking at the same time.

I don’t remember much about Benedict from The Widow of Rose House, only that he was a surgeon in the Civil War and came back sick. Now, when they said ill, I thought it was a physical illness. Instead, the author painted a picture of a teenager who went to war and returned with PTSD. The author wrote about what happened to Benedict and how he dealt with his PTSD (which wasn’t a thing back then). He was right to say that Amelie saved his life the day she met him. Later on in the book, he became the rock that Amelie leaned on when her world shattered.

I liked Amelie, but I did wish that she let Benedict in sooner than she did. Or at least told him about what her sister’s father was trying to force her into doing. Her seeing ghosts and communicating with them did come as a surprise, but I did like that she didn’t freak out (much) when she realized that they were dead. She resolved two of her ghosts’ issues, and the third ghost decided to tag along with her. There was a neat twist to that plotline that I should have seen coming. Instead, it surprised me, along with Amelie, and it made so much sense.

There is romance in The Brightest Star in Paris. That romance was Amelie and Benedicts. Of course, Amelie almost messed it up, but the way she resolved it was pretty awesome!! This was a second chance romance, and I thought it was super sweet.

The end of The Brightest Star in Paris was pretty good. The author was able to resolve all of the storylines in a way that I liked. She also hinted at another book with either Benedict’s foster brother or younger sister (well, perhaps both??). I can’t wait to read that book!!

When I first found out that Benedict would be getting his own story - I was so ecstatic! After reading and falling in love with The Widow of Rose House, I was looking forward to The Brightest Star in Paris. Sadly, I had a hard time connecting with the characters and got to about 20% before deciding to DNF.

An amazing story from a new to me author who kept me entertained and lost in the characters and the world she created. A couple of my favorite tropes “second chance” and “fake relationship to real” both portrayed perfectly. This author does a fantastic job with world building and using vivid details while painting the setting of the book. I didn’t want the story to end!! The characters in this story are multidimensional, imperfect, and go through a lot of growth throughout the story. Oh, and don’t forget— ghosts.

Loved every word, I would read book one of this series to fully enjoy this story.

4 Stars

Amelie & Benedict’s story was very unique. I liked how the novel went back & forth between the current year & 12 years prior when they met. It was interesting to have the ghosts as part of the story. I enjoyed Benedict’s family & wonder if there might be a novel written for Maggie, Benedict’s sister. This novel is intriguing, mysterious, & enjoyable.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

The Moore family absolutely stole my heart in The Widow of Rose House, so I was extremely excited that Biller would continue with the family. Childhood, friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes in romance, so the book already started off on the right foot.

The paranormal plot wasn't as well integrated as with Rose House and I feel like there could have been better tension between Ben and Amelia. The middle sort of messed with the pacing and I was left feeling a little wanting when Ben and Amelia finally got together.

Overall enjoyable, but it could have been more.

This is a book with second chance romance trope and also a slow burn kind. It mainly deals with mental health after trauma and how it leads to healing. Throw in historical setup and paranormal content, it becomes more than a romance novel as it has lot more than it. I did feel there was more romance though as I went into it thinkin it will be more romance centered. It let me into a different facet of Paris life and gave us a glimpse of the other side. I loved the family and the support for Amelie.

Much like protagonist Amelie, I am familiar with repressing sweeping negative emotions that stray beyond mild irritation or a light smattering of melancholic thought. Yay patriarchy. This is a tender, second chance romance, but it's about more than that-- the cages we build for ourselves to feel safe, leaving our full spectrum of feeling and living somewhere outside our reach.

Amelie is an exhausted principal dancer in the Paris Opera Ballet, 1878. She's hiding a hip injury, her entire personality, and her history to hold onto the job that sends her younger sister to school and keeps a roof over their heads. She's going through the motions: keeping up routines and appearances while she slowly unravels in her attempt to hold it all together. And then the first ghost appears. In her growing collection of hauntings, we find an adoring ballerina who accidentally danced someone to death in her ghostly state, a blunt, revolutionary arsonist, and a busybody with the most excellent, imaginative wigs. I didn't remember I was going to be treated to spooky vibes in this book, and I found it to be both an intriguing and heartfelt plotline.

In terms of romance, Amelie reconnects with a teenage summertime sweetheart, Benedict. There's a lot of baggage between them, but the banter, tension, and loyalty they share sparkle, sizzle, and ooze longing. Both their personal journeys and their path forward as a couple are well-plotted. I found the pacing to be ideal, not leaving out any fraction of the emotional spectrum while holding my interest with finesse. Benedict's offbeat family is a delight, as well, and I've never wanted to participate in a snowball fight more.

The historical backdrop is striking with an eye for providing context on a personal level for the characters. There is biting commentary towards the treatment of women, wealth disparity, and the horrors of war woven through the characters' experiences and the setting. It made for an immersive, thoughtful read.

I will definitely be seeking out more from this author, especially where the effervescent yet perpetually haunted Moore family is concerned. Thank you to SMP Romance and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Paris - 1878

The Palais Garnier theater is filled with activity as it prepares for its upcoming performance. Amelie St. James, prima ballerina, will be performing in the role of Giselle. She is posing for photos and answering questions posed by the press. She is known as St. Amie as she is beloved, pious, and kind. She cares for her younger sister and hopes to only work for a few more years before she can retire. She also hopes that her painful hip holds out that long.

Dr. Benedict Moore who has been living in the U.S. for a number of years, is being welcomed back to Paris by Dr. Victor Durand who comes from a wealthy French banking family. Benedict has been working on brain research and is in Paris for a meeting with other doctors on this subject.

Amelie is practicing at the barre when a young ballerina comes in and watches her as she also does her exercises. The next day, Amelie learns that the young girl committed suicide and was dead at the time Amelie saw her. Later, Amelie sees her in a room with a corpse. Now, Amelie realizes the girl is a ghost.

I liked “The Widow of Rose House” and was looking forward to reading this book. When there is a gap of two years between books, readers, or maybe it’s just me, tend to forget the plot of the first book. I was not intrigued by the ghosts and really didn’t know why they were added to the story. As much as I love Paris as it was my home for years, I wasn’t that impressed by this book. However, I’m happy to note that other readers are.

Copy provided by the NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Twelve years ago, Civil War Veteran and battlefield surgeon, Benedict Moore traveled to Paris with his family to recover both from the horrors of war and almost dying of malaria and malpractice. There, he met a girl, Amelie St. James, who changed his life. Put it back on track. And they fell in love. But the fates were against them. Now twelve years, another war (This time the Franco-Prussian War), and the Siege of Paris a between them they meet again. Now he’s a Doctor, a neurologist, a completely new field of study and he’s in Paris to recruit talent for a new center in New York City. She’s a prima ballerina in the Paris Opera ballet corps. More than that, she’s St. Amie the dancer who brought light to Paris after the siege.

But when another dancer is found floating in the Seine, the woman’s ghost seeks out Amelie to help her. And she has no one else to turn to other than her former love. But in order to save Amelie’s reputation, they must pretend to be courting. A pretense that shows every sign of becoming real.

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So first off, I need to state that this book is actually part of a series and this book will spoil the first book in the series JSYK. You don’t need to have read that book to understand this book, but I think it would likely help things. And I’m not sure why they aren’t linked.

Also this book does need trigger warnings. The author actually includes a blanket warning at the start of the book and does provide actual triggers on her website. So I’m just going to link to them here - https://www.dianabiller.com/the-brightest-star-in-paris - and call it good. I really wish more authors would do this. It’s really not that hard.

Moving on...

The story itself is a well-researched slow-burn second chance romance with paranormal elements and a hint of mystery. The set up is well done and there are a lot of flashbacks to their first meeting/romance in Paris. I really loved the behind the scenes look into the realities of life in Paris, particularly the life of a dancer in that time. That said, I felt that the ending was very rushed and parts of the conflict were sort of hand-waved away. But I also liked one major aspect of the ending, the hero respected the heroine’s wishes to save herself (which is an ongoing theme in this story so not really a spoiler).

The characters were deep and unusually for HistRom set in this time both over the age of thirty. Ben is a caring doctor from a loving family and definitely a bit of a beta hero. He lets Amelie take the lead in their relationship and he’s enchanted by her strength and ability. It’s lovely to see. Amelie is more complex. She’s caring and kind and loving, but she’s also a survivor, manipulative when she needs to be, often ruthlessly practical, and occasionally frustratingly stubborn. It makes sense in context. She’s got a lot of the “No one saves you but yourself” attitude so even when there’s an easy solution in front of her she doesn’t always take it. She’s also got some well-founded trust issues which make her wary of help. With reason.

I was surprised by the paranormal elements in this story since the blurb didn’t really indicate them. I like paranormal, don’t get me wrong, but I also like to know what my expectations are going in. That said, I really did like all of the ghost characters. They felt real. I’m still a little shaky on the solution to the problem... which goes back to the rushed ending.

In all, it was a fun book that I read quickly. But it’s not a perfect book and could have stood for about another 30-50 pages to wrap up all of the loose threads more satisfactorily and clearly.

Four Stars

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley

I was a HUGE fan of the author's first book, The Widow of Rose House, so naturally I was beyond excited to get my hands on her new novel early.

Sadly, it was a huge disappointment.

Biller couldn't decide what route she wanted to take this book - is it historical fiction? Romance? Sci-Fi? It often read chaotic with a strange, not very-well-developed story line that was all over the place. What worked so well in Rose House unfortunately wasn't recreated in this novel. I was bored, out-of-touch with the characters and plot, and more than once questioned why I was even wasting my time.

I was really wondering how author Diana Biller would continue this series, and I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised by the results! This book is a true delight, full of ghosts, family and second chances!

👻Ghosts-
I was surprised how uniquely and seamlessly Biller incorporated ghosts in this follow up to The Rose House Widow!

I wondered how it could be done without being redundant or turning the Moore family into a traveling ghostbuster troupe- that is not what happened. The including of the ghosts was very organic and seamless evolution of the ghost story. This book totally gave me a cross between Black Swan and The Sixth Sense vibe!

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Family-
The Moore family is back and supporting Ben this time around. I adore seeing this unique and loving family in all its incarnations! Here we see them helping young Ben recover from PTSD after the war, and again they swoop in to help an older Ben deal with heartbreak and try to help win over his love!

On the flip side we meet Amelie’s family and see their loyalty, love and devotion through many struggles.

❤️💔❤️‍🩹Second Chances-
This book is a second chance romance, but second chances abound in this story! From the ghosts to careers to life choice’s there seemed to be endless opportunity to make different decisions and find happiness!

❤️👻😍All in all, this was a good read!

The Brightest Star in Paris by Gwenda Bond is scheduled to release September 28th, 2021.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#TheBrightestStarInParis #DianaBiller #Netgalley #pinkcowlandreads

I fell in love with Diana Biller’s debut novel and The Brightest Star in Paris is a beautiful follow up that delivers a second-chance romance with a background of heartache. Amelia was a fabulous heroine. Her public persona has become second nature, edging out her own personality bit by bit as she continues to dance to support her sister.

Present day in this story is just after 1871 Paris where “Bloody Week” has left ragged, lasting scars on Paris and her citizens. This sets the stage for some heart-aching moments of grief, yearning, and anger churn through this novel. We have some brief glimpses into the past, Amelia’s mother and her meeting with Benedict during his darker times post-war.

Amelia and Benedict’s romance is a slow burn with low steam; a bit of tension and one full scene. For me, this wasn’t a sweep off the feet romance. It had this cozy, warm feeling that you get from long established relationships. Ben’s respect of Amelia’s decisions and boundaries was one of my favorite parts of that comfortable relationship they had, even after years apart. The few times when Amelia’s playful side came out in his presence were a great contrast to her day to day slog.

I always want a little more of the paranormal story arc, but even so I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of Amelia’s hauntings. The mystery surrounding their appearance kept me flipping pages. As always, getting a chance to spend some time with the Moore’s is delightful. They are one of my top three favorite fictional families.

I am so excited to read more of this family’s “ramshackle adventures” as Ben puts it. I adore the Moore clan and Benedict was a swoon-worthy, sweet cinnamon roll hero. Amelia’s journey was… a joy to read isn’t the right description. It was packed full with grief and heartache but I ended the story feeling hopefully.

Typically, second-chance romances are not my favorite but Biller whisked me away into this beautiful story of grief and romance. I absolutely recommend this read and if you haven’t read Biller’s debut |Widow of Rose House| (you can read my review here), do not pass go. Head back and read it too.

The Brightest Star In Paris
By Diana Biller

Diana Biller is such an amazing author in the historical romance fiction genre and have loved and enjoyed reading The Widow of Rose House last year, so I was looking forward to this novel, and this did not disappoint.

The Brightest Star In Paris is a story about love, finding love, traumatic experiences and its mental health repercussions, and also a very hopeful story about healing. Set years after the Siege of Paris in 1878, both Amelie and Benedict meet once more after 12 years in separation. 12 years ago, it was Amelie that saved a young man from emotional trauma after witnessing the death and devastation from the war, and now Ben coming back to Paris may be what Amelie may need to bring back even just a glimpse of the bright and cheerful self she once was.

This story had so much depth and layers that I enjoy about reading a Diana Biller story - besides the complex characters, there is so much more to enjoy in this story - as a nurse, I do love the research that goes into writing about medical issues such as syphilis, malaria, war injuries, and the toll it takes as a Civil War doctor.

An epic story that crosses two continents and timelines.

What a lovely story this was. I haven’t read The Widow of Rose House yet, and I didn’t realize it tied in with The Brightest Star in Paris, although I didn’t feel like I was missing anything.

Amelie St James does whatever she has to do in order to keep her younger sister safe. As ‘St Amie’, the Paris Opera Ballet’s prima ballerina, she’s a beacon of hope for the people of Paris after the darkness and death of war. She dances through excruciating physical pain because it keeps a roof over their heads and keeps up appearances for the public so they’ll continue to see her the way she needs them to. All of that, paired with the trauma and heartache of her past take a toll on her, but she keeps going...until her first love Benedict Moore returns to Paris and reminds her what it’s like to feel, live, and love after years of carefully locking away her emotions.

While this book was a bit darker than I expected, with themes of grief and death, plus the unexpected supernatural element (which I really enjoyed), I think Biller did a great job of balancing it all out with the sweet romance, the relationship between Amelie and her sister, and the arrival of Benedict’s family. I thoroughly enjoyed this story about love, family, and second chances.

The books in this series are so extremely up my alley! Rich historical setting, paranormal stuff, and romance with a sweet and gentle guy. I actually didn't know anything about the siege of Paris so this was educational to boot! It's a story full of pain and heartbreak and my only wish is that the romance were a little more central. I'm really excited to see what Diana Biller does in the future; I don't know of anyone else writing in quite this mode.

Something about ballerina characters leave me in awe. @danabillers The Brightest Star in Paris tells the tale of one such ballerina, Mademoiselle St. James.
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St. James is a well respected dancer battling ghosts, injuries and heartaches on the inside. On the outside? She's a stunner. But Amelie is a Black Swan on the edge of a breakdown and in love with a man whom she shouldn't, Benedict.
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The Brightest Star in Paris is a stunning historical romance set in the 1870s. Diana Biller writes with passion and dedication to history. Readers will want to cheer on Amelie as she dances and cry out as she loves on her little sister. Biller makes the Paris atmosphere come to life and for you to wish upon the brightest star. I recommend this tale to any reader who loves historical fiction, romance or historical romance.
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The Brighest Star in Paris dropped last Tueaday. Be sure to pick this up in bookstores near you!

What a beautiful story! I was swept away immediately by the glitz and glamour of the Paris Opera Ballet scene but also loved that this was a bit spooky and that we got to see the sides of Paris that aren't so glamorous. The Moore family is just so wonderful and fun and Amelie and Honorine were two characters I loved and fit in so well with their dynamic. This was a 4.5 star read for me because I do feel it was a bit long and dragged in just a few places, but I still loved it and can't wait to see where Biller takes us next!

A lovely, lyrical second chance romance. Amelie is a prima ballerina with a saintly reputation, trying to fight though her chronic pain long enough to make provide a life after ballet for her and her sister. Benedict is her first love who has now returned to Paris after the war.

This is a period of French and Parisian history about which I knew next to nothing - Biller fleshed out the historical period beautifully.

The book is much more Amelie's than Benedict's. She's the one in motion, while he provides a solid place to come back to. There are a lot of heavy themes - murder, threat of sexual assault, illness, grief - which contribute to my lasting sense of the book as being fairly serious. But there are moments of levity - particularly when Benedict's family comes into the picture.

Also, and I did not know this going in, there are ghosts. Actual literal ghosts. The ghostly parts were my favorite, and I'm mildly disappointed that there weren't more ghostly hijinks.

Overall, a lovely book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Brightest Star in Paris is a second chance romance between Paris's prima ballerina Amelie St. James and Dr. Benedict Moore. They first met 12 years ago in Paris, back when Benedict was going through a dark time in his life. After spending the summer together, Benedict and Amelie said goodbye and Benedict returned to the States.

Now, 12 years later, Amelie and Benedict cross paths again in Paris. It's perfect timing because Amelie is being haunted by the ghosts of her past. Literally. Because Amelie is such a famous person in Paris, she and Benedict fake a courtship for the press so they can work together behind the scenes to figure out a way to banish the ghosts.

This was an...unexpectedly heavy book. I found Amelie very relatable, if a bit frustrating. Amelie is stuck in a rut. She's built a reputation for herself as a Saint. She needs to uphold that reputation through her dancing and her everyday life because that's the only way she can financially support herself and her baby sister. She's become an automaton, very much like most of us today are automatons in our workplace. Amelie is stuck for financial reasons. She no longer feels the joy of dancing and she can't get out.

On top of being stuck in a rut, Amelie is still grieving for her mother. She hasn't properly processed her grief because Amelie immediately became her baby sister's guardian after their mother passed away. And keep in mind the historical context: Amelie's mother's death was slow and painful during the Siege of Paris, when people did not have access to food, water, or medication. These chapters were rough to read, especially since Amelie herself was so young. She was thrust into the role of guardianship and motherhood at such a young age, so she was unable to properly grieve her mother's death. Instead, she buried her grief deep down so she could take care of her sister.

There's a lot to unpack when it comes to Amelie and I've barely scratched the surface. Amelie has a traumatic past, but so does Benedict. During the flashback chapters, we meet a very different Benedict who assisted in the war and escaped death's clutches, only to fall into depression. The flashback chapters are integral because they provide a solid background and foundation for Benedict and Amelie's romance.

The Brightest Star in Paris is a romance, but I would argue that this book is first and foremost Amelie's story. It's Amelie's growth that is the heart of this book. And Amelie cannot be with Benedict until she pushes herself out of her rut and learns that life can be so much bigger than what she is used to. That being said, I eventually got frustrated with Amelie because she repeated history with Benedict and did not even give him the benefit of a two-sided conversation to properly discuss their situation. By the time I got to the final act, I was sick and tired of Amelie hurting Benedict this way. It was constantly emphasized that Amelie can save herself. But the fact of the matter is that everyone needs help once in a while, and this includes Amelie. The fact that she cannot admit she needs help is not healthy. And I wish Benedict had brought this up in the conversation. Instead, Benedict just...let her go. I get that Amelie needed space to figure out herself and her situation. But there's no reason why she should have pushed Benedict away for that.

As for the ghostly subplot, it was an interesting one and the author used this subplot as a tool to advance Amelie's character growth and development. I thought this was exceedingly well-done, especially with the inclusion of Amelie's mother's art. As such, the moment of epiphany and the moment of expression and finally letting everything out felt extremely cathartic for Amelie and myself as the reader. Perfectly done. I just wish Amelie hadn't hurt Benedict before all of this happened.

For those who have read The Widow of Rose House, you are obviously familiar with Benedict. Just a heads up: this book is not as steamy as The Widow of Rose House. But I think the steam level was in sync with Amelie and Benedict's story. Could I have used more steam? Hell yes, especially since their romance was such a slow burn. But I also feel like if the steam level was higher, it would have felt...out of place?

Overall, this was a very well-written and atmospheric historical romance and the inclusion of ghosts makes it perfect for the October season. Just keep in mind that it is a heavy story, so prepare yourself for that.

P.S. I would like to be adopted by the Moores. Also, pretty sure Maggie and Henry are next...

CW: Death of a parent, PTSD, mention of wars and the consequences of wars on the poor. The author also has a list of content warnings on her website.