I really enjoyed the novel take that this book brought to wartime historical fiction. There were times that the incredibly long sentences felt overwhelming and detracted from the storyline. Nonetheless, it remains a good read.

I was not as pleased with this book as much as I had hoped. There were such long and rambling sentences that I found it difficult to get through the pages at times; not to mention the chapters. I really enjoy reading historical fiction ... especially if it is set during WWII. And this one had a little different aspect in that it showed that not all Germans and German soldiers aligned themselves with Hitler and his regime. While I was expecting more of the book to be focused on Sophie due to the cover, it really spent more time on Sebastian. While the book did improve by the a little more than halfway through, trudging through the first part had me forcing myself to read each page. However, there are plenty of very positive reviews and if you are a fan of historical fiction, then I encourage you to give it a try. Definitely don’t give up on it until you’ve read more than half of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

this is not your usual WW novel. I like the fact that she mixed it up and turned it into something else. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

A World War Two love story that, in spite of the title, starts on the island of Sark, where German doctor Sebastian first meets Sophie. As the Nazis approach, the pair become attached, but is Sophie hiding the true reason she’s come to Sark?

The Paris Affair is an interesting story, with the action split between Sebastian incarcerated in La Sante prison in 1944, and flashbacks to his time on Sark and, eventually, how he came to be in Paris. The roots of the tale begin in World War One, with the execution of Edith Cavell, and the sacrifices made by many caught up in the war. At times it is a sad story, but the love between Sebastian and Sophie flows through and around the narrative.

A good read for fans of historical fiction.

The author’s writing in The Paris Affair has surpassed itself, with prose and ideas that touch the reader deeply, making it a brilliant read for many reasons. The main character, Sebastian, is unique for the genre and time period, and his story is narrated from a first-person perspective, allowing the reader to become his advocate. Sebastian is a German veteran of WWI who has made a new life for himself on the island of Sark, where he tends his garden and wants nothing to do with the new war. The story takes place during WWII, with Sebastian telling his life story to a prison priest as he awaits execution.

The book is set in various locations, including the Channel Island of Sark, the Cornwall coast, and Paris. Despite the title, the book is not solely about Paris or an affair. While romance does play a role in Sebastian's character arc, the book is much more than that. The mysterious Sophie and the invading Nazis are about to turn Sebastian's life upside down.

The Paris Affair is a quality WWII historical fiction that is thought provoking for quiet contemplation. It is a story within a story, with a dash of mystery and romance, and an ending that will surprise the reader. It’s a book not to be missed, as it speaks to the soul and touches the reader deeply. Sebastian's story is complex and engaging, and his understanding of life and people is remarkable. It is a book that will stay with the reader long after the final page has been turned.

***arc generously received courtesy of One More Chapter via NetGalley***

Wow!!
I am utterly blown away by this mesmerising, haunting and utterly heart-breaking story which is full of so much loss and love.

"Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone." Nurse Edith Cavell,

I have to be completely honest and say it was the quote in the back blurb which caught my attention and compelled me to want to read this; true that this isn't about Edith Cavell, but it's the story of a doctor; Sebastion who is sitting waiting in a Nazi prison awaiting his execution.

For those who knows who Edith Cavell was, then you will understand the similarities between her and Sebastion.

This is a masterpiece of storytelling, Melanie Hudson is an absolute wonder, she draws the reader into Sebastion's world with her epically and emotional words, you feel every emotion, you are transported to the past with such clear and compelling stroy-telling and I am in absolute awe!

I loved every moment of this, I will admit that I shed a fair few tears, it certainly tugs at your heartstrings. The amount of research which has gone into this novel is clear to see, the sights and sounds of the setting, the relasim of the fear of the characters and the heartbreak of the journey is breath-taking!

An absolute must read, if you love WW2 historical fiction then do not let this beauty pass you by!

MY first book by this author. It was a story that I became so involved in, I didn't want to put the book down. Effected by both World Wars, this story is one about love, hardship, beliefs and outcomes. Seems much research was put into this novel and the writing is very beautiful.

Another wonderful historical book by Melanie Hudson. I loved her previous books, Dear Rosie, The Last Letter from Juliet and The Night Train to Berlin. The Paris Affair does not disappoint, I really recommend.
Thanks to the publishers Harper Collins and Netgalley for the e-arc.

I love historical fiction and The Paris Affair lived up to my high expectations! It was an emotional read, filled with complex characters that I loved. It was my first time reading Melanie Hudson, but it will definitely not be my last!!

Not only is this a very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters, but the suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds. Compulsive, gripping and an enjoyable read.

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

3.5 stars

This book was not exactly what I expected, but it wasn’t bad—just different. It was more about Sebastian (43/47) than it was about Sophie (35/39) and Sebastian. Because of the cover, I had expected more of the book to be from Sophie’s perspective than just the little bit at the beginning. Again, not a big deal, just not what I expected. I liked both of them.

I think my biggest deferment for really enjoying it more than average was the writing. It wasn’t bad. It just tended to skirt the edges of stream of consciousness, which has never been my thing. Sentences were very long and rambling, with Sebastian interrupting himself to share side details, even multiple times in the same sentence. The longest sentence I counted was 113 words (a close second was 109). I suppose it was fitting for his character, though.

I really loved this quote:

“But there is good and evil to all of us. It is more likely that I have striven to be good because I have witnessed evil on the battlefield and I have seen that good men can do bad things—I was such a man. We are all of us only a moment away from choosing to dance with the devil, and if I have striven for anything in life it has been to keep the unpleasant man that I am aware in could be at bay.”

Something else I really liked about this book was the humanity it gave to Germans and German soldiers—they weren’t all Nazis, and they didn’t all support Hitler. (Yes, there were many people who chose evil during the war, and many truly horrific things happened as a result. I do not mean to diminish that.) Sebastian was just a man who had basically been forced into service as a teenager during WWI and made choices that damaged his soul because of the love he had for his brother. But he desired peace. We as humans have a tendency to lump others into “us and them” categories. Even many of the people of Sark, who knew Sebastian, found it difficult to turn off their “German = bad” setting. But it’s vital that we take the time and make effort to distinguish between those who choose evil and those who are forced to comply.

Note:
Little swearing but also an f word. Mild, brief sex (mostly implied). Mentioned torture.

I liked the story but I found it confusing at times. There were too many characters and I got lost with all the timelines and locales. I like this author though and have read other books of hers. This one was not my favorite. I look forward to her next novel!

What a wonderful rich story! Our hero is a German traumatised by the First World War seeking a quiet life on the British Isle of Sark. He has sworn never to kill again. So when he hears the Germans are coming and there is another war, he does his best to stay out of it. But then he meets Siphie, and his heart is awakened and his priorities change. The story starts with him in a French prison awaiting execution under his twin brothers identity. He begins a conversation with a priest that takes us through his story and is central to everything. Great characters, rich, well structured and complex plot, that leaves you turning the pages well into the night. Loved it!

A very heat warming story. Hearing the love story whilst captured and awaiting death sentence is heart wrenching.
The description of the home in Sark and Cornwall is beautiful and took you to these places.
Loved this book.

I really loved the way that this story was written. Moving from Sark to Cornwall and Paris kept the pace of the story going, I really could not put it down. If you like reading books set in the Second World War but want a story that is a little different, I urge you to read this one. Wholeheartedly recommended.

I love to read books set during Ww2 and I thoroughly enjoyed The Paris Affair by Melanie Hudson. The storyline was excellent and I loved the central character. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Set during WW2 and alternating between life on the tiny island of Sark in the Channel Islands and also Paris this book was a real page-turner. I was kept on the edge of my seat from the first page to the last.

The story is romantic, heartbreaking, clever and beautifully written and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Sebastian fought for Germany in the first war and now relocated to a remote island off the Pacific that he enjoys. Now he has met Sophie and has finally tasted what love is. She changes his mind, his ideals and even if he wants to take a stand against this current war that is quickly coming to his backyard.
This story is told so visually and poetically that I couldn't help but read this in only a few sittings. It was such a different take on the war and the effect on a different area as well.

Melanie Hudson does not disappoint. After WWI, German doctor Sebastian moves to an English Channel island where he tends his patients and garden. When WWII arrives, he re-examines his views on war, patriotism and love. Poignantly his tale is told by him to a chaplain in a Nazi prison.

The Paris Affair is a brilliant read for many reasons - Melanie’s books just keep getting better and better! Her writing has gone to the next level with prose and ideas that really touched me. I was swept away by her research told through a main character that was so unique for this genre and time.

‘What once brought so much joy, peace and a sense of completeness, was lost to me, perhaps because I knew–oh how I knew–that my little place of paradise would be lost to me soon, and that one way or another, my freedom and my absolute sense of being home would be gone.’

Set in WW2 Sebastian is in prison awaiting execution. During this time, he tells his life story to the prison priest, which transports the reader to many places - the Channel Island of Sark, the Cornwall coast and, yes Paris, but how I wish the book had been titled something different as I believe it does not do it justice and could steer potential readers away. To my mind, this is not a book about Paris or an affair. This is a book that spoke to my soul - Sebastian, spoke to my soul!

‘… in Sark I had been the ‘Good Doctor’ and then Sophie had called me ‘the Generous Gardener’, but to the authorities, none of this mattered because my place of birth marked me as the enemy, and so my life was reduced to nothing. I was reduced to nothing.’

Narrated from the first person perspective, Sebastian Braun is a German veteran of the First World War and has made a new life for himself on the island of Sark. You quickly become his advocate with his endearing nature and incredible understanding of life and the people in it. He is a complex man who, changed by the horrors he witnessed in WWI, wants nothing to do with this new war. His wish is to stay in his remote refuge and tend his garden - a well-educated doctor and deep thinker. Yes, there is romance that develops Sebastian’s character arc but the mysterious Sophie and invading Nazis are about to turn his life upside down.

‘You must also know how angry I am that a wonderful, kind man who wants and knows only peace, who would never hurt a soul, is forced to choose either one awful situation or the other.’

The Paris Affair is quality WWII historical fiction - something special. If you are looking for that something extra, that next level - a story within a story - look no further. Philosophically flavoured for quiet contemplation, a dash of mystery and romance, with an ending that I simply did not see coming is what sees me recommending that this is a book not to be missed.

‘My life, looked at in such a way, has been hell. But speaking with you, I have found that if I write my story in another way, if I spin the yarn with a lighter thread, I can only conclude that I have been blessed.’










This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.