Having enjoyed other novels by Ella Carey, I was looking forward to being back in her take on historical Paris, and I wasn’t disappointed. I took to Vianne straight away. I felt the love of her parents, the sadness at her loss and the hurt when she is left to fend for herself. The pain and trauma of the First World War haunting her memories of a happy childhood in Paris. It is her determination and ambition to design beautiful dresses that drives her forward, and I felt the excitement, following her journey from Paris to New York, where life is full of new promises for new beginnings.

Pushing her grief to a hidden place inside, Vianne embraces all New York has to offer, the hard work and new friendships, as well as the temptations. However, her past in Paris is not quite what she thinks it is and once we got a first taste of the mystery unfolding, I devoured the pages to discover the truth. Family secrets, no matter how many miles divide, have a habit of coming back.

Vianne was one of those characters who I really wanted to do well, to overcome the odds stacked against her and become a success in the world of couture. I loved the descriptions of the cut and flow of the gowns, the beading and the sequins, and reading this book, I felt the 1920’s fashion era come to life.

This book will take you from Paris to New York and the Highlands of Scotland, with some unexpected twists and mysteries to be unravelled. The more you read, the more the surprise names turn up.

Despite the traumas this book has a beautiful message and is a must read for those who have a thing for the 1920’s, fashion, romance and family dramas. It’s another great read from Ella Carey.

I do enjoy historical fiction, but I’m not a massive ‘history buff’ so it does take something a little extra special to keep me hooked and interested in this genre. Ella Carey delivers everything I look for in a story of this type.

It is a page-turner, and not just because of the huge political, technological and social changes that are described and that did happen as a result of the first world war and its aftermath, but also the believable, likeable and vibrant characters she describes and we are able to follow closely in this book. You cannot help but have admiration and sympathy with the main character, ‘the girl from Paris’, Vianne. She is brave, considerate and resilient woman.

There is an underlying social commentary throughout this book – related to the position of women, the aftermath of war, PTSD, the pull of family ties and the notion of ‘home’. However, this commentary is subtle and only adds to the main plot. Therefore, you almost learn about the social circumstances without even realising you’re doing so.

The plot contains some fantastic twists and a great deal of romance and drama alongside the backdrop and aftermath of the war in both Paris and America. These twists definitely kept me hooked, as did the fast pace that resulted from the quickly changing perspectives and the cleverly constructed dual-time narrative.

Once again, Ella has produced an emotional and gripping historical drama that proves her talent at creating likeable characters and unique storylines that are peppered with important and thought-provoking social and historical commentary. This has undoubtedly been a five star read for me and I would recommend this book and author to fans of Victoria Hislop, Heather Morris, Meghan Masterson and Ellie Midwood.

Master storyteller Ella Carey returns with a sweeping romantic epic that will hold readers spellbound: The Girl from Paris.

In 1918, the end of the First World War was finally in sight. French seamstress Vianne Mercier had spent most of the war sewing military uniforms and she is hoping that with the end of this terrible conflict, she can make her dream of designing beautiful dresses a reality. However, Vianne’s hopes are dashed by a tragic accident that claims the lives of her sister and mother. Heartbroken and mourning the loss of her family, Vianne has nobody she can turn to – not even her brother who had returned from the war a changed man. Cruel and controlling, her brother presents her with an ultimatum: she is to give up her silly ideas about becoming a designer or else risk finding herself out on the streets.

Vianne is not ready to let anyone control her, so she bravely leaves France behind and sets sail for New York. In America, Vianne quickly builds a life for herself where she is the mistress of her own destiny. She spends her days sewing exquisite gowns for the rich women of the Upper East Side and her nights tripping the light fantastic where she crosses paths with a man who could end up changing her entire life: handsome Italian Giorgio. Could Vianne at long last find the happiness she so desperately seeks?

Just when everything seems within reach, Vianne is called back home to Paris where a shocking family secret has come to light that could derail her entire future. Will Vianne’s duty to her family end up costing her Giorgio’s love? Can she find the strength and courage to go after what she really wants? Or is she about to make a decision that she will regret for the rest of her life?

An emotional historical wartime drama that takes readers into a world of high stakes, family strife, dangerous loyalties and everlasting love, The Girl from Paris is a wonderfully evocative and immensely poignant tale that draws readers in from the first page and keeps them completely and utterly mesmerized.

Vianne is such a terrific heroine. She is strong, gutsy, determined and somebody readers will root for in her quest for fulfillment and happiness. Ella Carey creates a world that is so beautifully described readers will be with Vianne and the cast of characters that people this book every step of the way.

Another must-read from Ella Carey, The Girl from Paris is a wonderful historical novel readers will love.

Another brilliant book from Ella Carey, an author I will always read, this is Vianne's story who we met in book one of the series but this time giving her back story from WW1, as always a real page turner and a great historical novel. Vianne is a great character a really strong woman who fights back against adversity leaving her home in Paris to travel alone to New York York make a name for herself. The whole series is highly recommended

The Girl From Paris by Ella Carey is truly the story of a successful woman. It is nearly the end of World War I in France. Anais and Jacques, Vianne's older siblings were coming home for their birthday. They were twins. Anais had been nursing at the front and Jacques at been at the front. The, after days of quiet, a bomb went off at the church where Anais and Maman were at mass. Vianne had opted to return home instead of attending. They were dead. That quick. Jacques returned to his post and papa deteriorated. Vianne kept his antique store, Celine, going. Then, on the last day of the war, he died, of a broken heart mostly likely. At last Jacques returned home and brought a fiancée with him . . . and turned Vianne out of their home with nothing. He needed it for himself and his new wife. It took several years but Vianne finally was boarding an ocean liner to take her to the United States, where her future awaited her. Through a series of coincidences, Vianne ended up hired as a junior designer at the atelier of Eloise Chappelle, a successful designer of haute couture to the wealthy. Many things happened to her in the years following this fateful start to her new life. Unexpected things.

This lovely book had several important themes: it was the start of the time a woman could have both love and marriage, and a career. A new concept at that time. It was about family; the horrors of war; and how war unexpectedly affects more than just the soldiers in the trenches. It took twists and turns that were out of the ordinary. The plot was delicately woven together and splendidly communicated to the reader in a series of seemingly unrelated chapters, until, suddenly, there it was. It was a bout sacrifice: for family, for a career, for a love life. The characters were wonderful, Vianne was always mature and she just got better and better. I loved every moment of it. I trust Ella Carey to never let me down.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Girls From Paris by Bookoutre, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #bookoutre, #ellacarey #thegirlfromparis

Do you have authors that you don't really worry too much about reading the blurb to see what the book is going to be about because you know that you are going to read the book anyway? Ella Carey is one of those authors for me. Sometimes though, you get surprised and that has happened to me the last two times I read her books.

I started merrily reading along about the characters called Vianne who lived in Paris with her parents and loved fashion, until suddenly


this book is set during WWI and the immediate aftermath! Not in WWII, which is what I had assumed!

This book is the third book in the Daughters of New York trilogy which I think have consistently been Ella Carey's best books. We met Vianne in the first book where she was the trailblazing, successful businesswoman who provided inspiration to the main character, Lily Rose. Now, we learn Vianne's history, how she came to be who she is, and the events that shaped her.


Vianne lives with her parents in Paris. Her brother is off fighting, her older sister Anais is a battlefield nurse and her parents run a very successful antiques business. She has always been surrounded by beautiful things and she brings this love of beauty into her passion for designing clothes. More than anything she wants to work in the fashion industry. In the mean time, she designs dresses for her mother, sketching ideas for a career and life after the war is over that may never come to fruition.

In 1918, The family is gathered together for a rare celebration when tragedy strikes. Her sister and mother are killed in a bombing of their local church, and the tragedy breaks her father. Vianne singlehandedly keeps the antiques business running, until her brother comes home with a new wife and tells Vianne that she is no longer welcome in the family home or business.

Vianne decides to move to the bright lights of New York. Whilst on the ship, she has a chance meeting with influential society ladies who give her an introduction to the owner of an atelier (fashion house) in the city, and soon Vianne is making a name for herself as a designer.

Whilst living in New York brings success and a degree of freedom, there are still restrictions due to the differences in class between the women who work in the fashion house and those who are customers. One of those rules is that there can be no carousing with clients. This is bad news for Vianne who is instantly attracted to Giorgio, the son of one of her clients, and someone who is well out of her class.



As Vianne navigates the difference between class, a forbidden relationship, the cutthroat world of fashion and making a new life in a new country, suddenly there is news from home that changes everything.

I really enjoyed reading Vianne's story. We also got a few cameos from some of the older characters from the first book. I even enjoyed all the fashion talk. I am not that fussed about fashion at the best of times, and there have been times when I read books where the main character is a name dropping fashionista and I just feel a bit lost as they talk about famous designers, but while there was a lot of talk about fabric, patterns and accessories, it was still interesting to me in this book.

One of the thoughts that did cross my mind while I was reading is why aren't there more books that follow a character through both WW1 and WWII. I mean, Vianne is very young (let's say 18 or so) in 1918 then she would only be 39 at the commencement of the next war. Maybe it is that readers don't want to hear about people struggling through both of those experiences?
Rating 4/5

It was 1918 and Vianne Mercier was excited that her siblings, twins Jacques and Anais, were returning from their positions on the front for their birthday. Vianne was making her Maman a beautiful dress and she knew it would look divine. Her love of sketching and creating fashion clothing had never abated and when she could work on a specific creation, she was never happier. The weekend the twins arrived home, the three women headed for church, but Vianne pulled out at the last minute, determined to finish her mother’s dress. The sound of the bomb which shattered her world would never leave her – the church was in ruins and her Maman and sister were dead…

After her Papa died of a broken heart, and Jacques, his mind broken, kicked Vianne out on the street, she travelled to New York to broaden her horizons, to work in the industry was her goal. The memories from Paris were too much to bear – the betrayal by Jacques, heartbreaking. Starting as a junior at the atelier of Eloise Chappelle in Manhattan, Vianne was soon designing and sewing for the elite. And when she met Giorgio Conti, owner of the new Italian restaurant, Valentino’s, he supported her career. But it was a telegram from Paris which threw her life into chaos and saw her hurrying back to her city of birth. Would Vianne have to remain in Paris, to forget her dream?

The Girl from Paris is the 3rd in the Daughters of New York series by Aussie author Ella Carey and like the first two, I loved this one. Ms Carey has a flare for writing which encompasses her readers, taking us to the places she describes, including us in her stories. I could see the atelier and the seamstresses at work; Giorgio’s restaurant and its energy and incredible design; the jazz clubs and the dancing. Ms Carey is fast becoming a favourite author and I’m looking forward to #4 in the series very much. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

It’s 1918 and Vianne Mercier is a seamstress in Paris France. She sews military uniforms for the soldiers fighting in the war. The end of the war is in sight and Vianne is ready for it to be over. She wants to stop sewing the military uniforms and desires to sew the beautiful dresses that she has been dreaming of. The German bombs are dropping at a rapid pace over the city of Paris and Vianne witnesses the church burst into flames. She knows her mother and sister are trapped inside. They are both killed in the horrible air raid. The end of the war once again seems so far away. Vianne’s brother returns home from the war, and he is a very different person. He forces Vianne to give up her dream of being a dress designer or he will kick her out of their home, forcing her to be homeless and broke. She realizes she has nothing left in Paris except the heartbreak of losing her family, so she decides to sail across the ocean for New York. She pursues her dream of sewing dresses for the wealthy women of New York City. She soon meets the handsome and Italian Giorgio Conti. He encourages her to fulfill her dreams and she finds herself feeling at home in America. But then she receives word from Paris and the same people that kicked her out of her home, are now asking her to return to Paris and help them. This phenomenal story will touch your heart in so many ways, and you will find yourself feeling like you are on the journey with Vianne. The detailed descriptions of Paris and the sights and sounds of the city, will make you think you are standing in the middle of the city. You will find yourself cheering for Vianne, hoping she will do what makes her happy. This series is an amazing escape that you are sure to cherish long after you finish reading the book. This heart pounding story is one to be cherished for a long, long time. I absolutely loved this amazing story.

Thank you Ella Carey for such an amazing addition to the Daughters of New York series. This is one series I didn’t want to end, because I felt such a connection with all of the characters in each story. I absolutely loved this story, and I highly recommend it.

This was a nice and easy but interesting read. I liked the way it had been fully researched but came across as readable as well (hope that makes sense). I devoured this in one afternoon as I wanted to trace her journey through Paris and New York.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

Ella Carey has a magical voice for writing stories that bring out the emotions and the strength in her characters and this one was so good, I first met Vianne in the first book in this series and now we get to know her a lot more and journey with her from the war torn streets of Paris to New York in the 1920’s and see her fulfill her dreams to become a fashion designer and to find love.

Paris 1918 and the war is raging but Vianne is knitting balaclavas for the troops but designing and sewing beautiful dresses for her mother, her sister is a nurse in Belgium and her brother fighting in the trenches but Vianne wants nothing more than peace and to do what is in her heart and that is to create the beautiful clothes that she dreams of one day.

Life changes in a heartbeat and the drop of a bomb towards the end of the war when Vianne’s mother and sister are killed, her father dies of a broken heart and her brother returns from the war a different man and Vianne knows that it is time to make her dreams come true and that means going to New York and work at becoming the designer she wants so much. The trip to New York sees her have an opportunity to call on an atelier on her arrival, here she meets Eloise and life is soon moving in the direction that Vianne wants.

Not only is Vianne designing clothes for the rich and famous she is becoming popular with many in New York, attending the night clubs and dancing away the night at times, she also meet Giorgio Conti who has just opened up a new restaurant in New York and there is a spark between them but can Vianne take a change on losing all that she has worked for?

Then another shock for Vianne when news arrives that makes her leave New York for Paris and she must again put her life aside for family, but will fate step in and help Vianne find the life that she has worked hard for, find the love that is there waiting for her, you must read this one and see where Vianne’s life leads.

I truly loved this beautifully written and compelling story, Ella Carey has taken me on a journey back in time with a strong caring woman who goes out gets what she wants who finds the love that she deserves and the brilliant career that has been her dream since she was a young girl. It is filled with emotions and love. The dresses that are designed came to life for me on the pages with the descriptions of them I felt like I was back in the 1920’s. This is one that I would highly recommend, a must read, it was a page turner for me as I am sure it will be for any reader.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

Vianne Mercier dreams of being a designer. She sketches in her book at night while her family sleeps. Her sister Anais is off doing her part in the war by caring for the wounded. Her brother, Jacques is on the front lines. Vianne feels useless but is too young to leave her home. Then one day Vianne's siblings are scheduled to come home and her mom is ecstatic. She is going to throw a party and Vianne decides to make her mom an exquisite dress to wear. Before the day can come to pass though, an unspeakable tragedy befalls the family.
Nothing is the same now so Vianne decides to go to New York and try her hand at fashion. From the moment she leaves Paris, it's obvious that her career is predestined.

The main character, Vianne is a well written character. Readers are able to feel her pain at losing her family and her home in Paris as well as her happiness in New York. She is a strong and resilient woman who works hard to meet her goal in life but never puts her dream above her family and friends. She's a caring woman who takes care of her friends while she continues to follow her dreams.

This is a fantastic look at New York City during the 1920's. A lot is written about the clothes that women are wearing and the nightlife in the city. The author has done significant research about this time period and manages to stitch a few real people in her story.

This book is more than just historical fiction - it's a close look at a strong woman who is pursuing her dream as she deals with family, friends and love. The novel was incredible and told mostly from Viannes perspective. I thought she was a strong woman who would do anything to fulfill her dreams. I've read all the novels in this series and this was by far my favorite. I'm so happy I got a chance to read this one. I would definitely read this again.

Beautiful story about a young woman determined to fulfill her life long dream- fashion design and her own business.
Vianne loses her mother , father and sister in a matter of weeks - leaving Vianne to run her father's antique store until her brother's return at the end of the war.
Upon Jacques' return with his wife, Vianne is kicked out. With the help of mother's best friend, Vianne has a home, a job as a seamstress. And finally has the money to book passage to New York.
Fate plays a hand - landing Vianne a designer job at an atelier. Her dreams become reality as young entrepreneur Giorgio Valentino tempts Vianne's strict dedication.
Amazing story - women supporting women, mentoring and pushing women in business to live their dreams, hold off on marriage.

I love this third book in the Daughters of New York series by Ella Carey. Vianne is a talented seamstress (we already know this from A New York Secret) when her life is turned upside down. She is a very strong young woman who is determined to be the best she can be. Reading this emotional but gripping novel will give you the answers!

Another great story in the Daughters of New York books!

This is Vianne's story - she lives in Paris with her parents, her sister is a war nurse and brother is fighting the war. She dreams of being a famous couture designer. While home on leave from the war, her sister and mother are killed in an air raid. Her father's health fails and her brother returns to war. Vianne is left to hold the family business together while putting her dreams aside. Once her brother returns, he turns her out of the business and demands she leave the family home as he's taken a new bride. With nothing left for her in Paris, Vianne ventures off to follow her designer dreams. Her story is incredible! As is the twist that comes in her family.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

The Girl from Paris is set in Paris and in New York City. It begins in 1918 as World War I is close to ending but the devastation from the German artillery continues to make it unsafe in Paris. Vianne is a seamstress who lives in Paris with her parents. She has dreams of designing and sewing beautiful dresses but for now she is repairing military uniforms. Her older sister is a nurse and her brother is in the Army so both are away from home. The book begins with Vianne's excitement that both of her siblings will be coming home on leave at the same time. Her brother is emotionally damaged from what he's seen during the war and doesn't talk much to his family. Her sister is as vivacious as ever and is thrilled to be home. Vianne, her sister and their mother go to church together but Vianne decides to go home and finish the dress that she is making for their mother. Right after she leaves, a German bomb lands on the church and kills her mother and sister. Her father can't function after their deaths and Vianne is filled with sadness but it all gets worse when her brother returns to the family home at the end of the war and tells her that she can no longer live there because his new wife will be moving in. He puts her out on the street with no regard for her life. She finds a friend of her mother's to live with and when she realizes that there is nothing left for her in Paris, she decides to move to New York. She doesn't know anyone in the city but a chance encounter with a wealthy woman on the ship gives her an opening to apply to one of the dress makers in the city. She thrives working in the small design house and continues to work towards her goal of having her own couture house in New York. She also begins to fall in love with a restaurant owner and her life begins to change from sadness for her family to success and happiness in her new life in Paris. When she receives information about an issue in Paris, she feels like she has to return immediately.

Will Vianne find the courage to follow her heart, return to New York and her life with Giorgio? Or will duty bind her to the family she had left behind and force her to remain in France?

The main character, Vianne is a well written character. Readers are able to feel her pain at losing her family and her home in Paris as well as her happiness in New York. She is a strong and resilient woman who works hard to meet her goal in life but never puts her dream above her family and friends. She's a caring woman who takes care of her friends while she continues to follow her dreams.

This is a fantastic look at New York City during the 1920's. A lot is written about the clothes that women are wearing and the nightlife in the city. The author has done significant research about this time period and manages to stitch a few real people in her story.

This book is more than just historical fiction - it's a close look at a strong woman who is pursuing her dream as she deals with family, friends and love. All three books in this series have been excellent.

Unlike the first two books in this series, this book doesn't take place close the the second world war, instead it begins during the first world war in France. These books are all standalone stories, but they have links to the other books. Vianne, who is the Girl from Paris of the title, has appeared before in A New York Secret but there she was a sucessful businesswoman and designer. Now we see her story of how she got there.
The book deals with the effect that the first world war had on those who lived through it. For Vianne and her family it destroyed them. Ripping the family apart and having both an emotionally and physically. Vianne moves to New York to start a new life and there she faces the new modern world that is open to young women, but also the constraints that still exist.
I don't want to give away spoilers to this book. I think that it might be enough to say that I read it in just over a day as I wanted to see what was going to happen and how Vianne's life would unfold. This was a great read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Vianne is living in Paris and there is hope that the war will end soon, but not soon enough as she leaves church to finish a project only to have that church bombed killing her mother and sister. Sending her family in a tailspin, Vianne decides to escape to America to forge a different path for her life and to make it on her own. After some chance encounters and a lot of hard work she is heading in the right direction when news from Paris will send her home to confront the things she ran from.

First, I started this book with reading the synopsis and I am so glad that it didn't spoil all the good bits, so I won't do that here either and I suggest before you read to not dive too deep into any reviews, so you can experience the book with only the information in the synopsis, it is worth the ride.

With that said, my thoughts will be brief. I loved Vianne as a character. A woman at a time where they were either to be home growing a family or in the workforce plugging the holes in society left by men off at war. Vianne was strong and a woman who wanted more for herself than what society laid out and had dreams to become the next fashion designer and create pieces that women can wear and love. I would love to have a sequel that takes Vianne into the next phase of her life and to see where she ends up.

While the war was a catalyst in this book, I appreciated that it wasn't the sole focus for the events in the book. I have become quite a fan of Ella Carey and I hope she has many more stories to tell.

Enjoyed. Will be sharing full review on the blog tour next month.

Did find the ending wrapped up very quickly..

A good mixture of WW1 history and women’s rights .

The Girl From Paris by Ella Carey is a great historical fiction that is the third book of the Daughters of New York series. I really enjoyed this one.

The author takes us to the heart of Paris and NYC during WWI and the post-war era of the 20s. We get to see how both continents, its cities, their respective cultures, and their citizens are dealing with these massive social, economic, and structural upheavals and changes. Just because the war is over, doesn’t mean the fallout has been completed.

Vianne is such a great character. She is strong, creative, smart, likable, and has a burning ember inside her that she finally gets to tap into.

Forced to travel to NY due to massive, devastating family losses and changes, she is fortunate enough to meet another kindred spirit that helps her finally realize her dreams. But just when it looks like she has succeeded, additional obstacles are tossed her way. Will she be able to overcome these difficulties and finally find her dreams of designing, finding love, and finding her place? I really enjoyed finding out.

I have enjoyed several past books by Ms. Carey and this was equally as great.


5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Bookouture for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/4/22.

World War I just might be coming to an end and Paris streets might be safe yet again. Vianne Mercer is a seamstress. After honing her craft by sewing military uniforms what she really desired was to create beautiful dresses that she could design even just by thinking of them. But, the war was still going on and due to a raid that killed her mother and sister Vianne’s dreams went up in smoke. Not only did her father give up hope, he no longer cared for for the family’s shop. Once her brother came home from the war, Vianne was certain that between the two of them they would be able to keep the business going.

However, he returned home a changed man with a wife on his arm and he turned her out. Her options were very slim. Vianne made the difficult decision to sail to New York. Perhaps she could achieve her dream after all. Vianne’s visions of designing became clearer, and her career started to shine, giving her hope yet again. However, despite the fame she had been achieving, she was forced to return to Paris.

Meanwhile, there was a secret that emanated from the war that had a strong impact on Vianne, her life and her decisions. As she struggled to find her feet again, she could not help but miss a man that she met in New York named Giorgio, but she fairly well had lost hope of ever being happy.

What a stellar book! An excellent addition to a fabulous series, with the first two books being A New York Secret and The Lost Girl of Berlin. While each book could be read as a stand-alone, I am pleased that I have been able to thoroughly enjoy each of these marvelous books. With this one, The Girl From Paris, readers are treated to another strong, compassionate and successful woman at a time when women were expected to simply marry and start a family.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.