Already a huge fan of Kristin Harmel since “The Book of Lost Names,” I was thrilled to read her latest book. Once again, the author brilliantly incorporated historical facts into her story to create more than just an extremely enjoyable work of fiction. “The Paris Daughter” was a fascinating learning experience for me.

In 21 years of schooling, all I picked up were tiny tidbits about the American and French Revolutions. This novel inspired me to delve more deeply into some of the atrocities committed during World War II. When a story does more than merely entertain, it elevates one’s opinion of it to a different level.

Did I mention that it was a gripping page turner and I finished it in under 24 hours?

Another winner from Kristin Harmel! Extremely highly recommended!

Another great historical novel by Kristin Hamel. The character’s depth was wordy at times, but it is a riveting story about motherhood and loss, and how far someone can go in the face of adversity.

What a sad, sad story! It was well written and I would not of figured out the ending. Even though it was fiction there was lots of research done so you were able to get some facts out of it.

In the beginning of this story, the author gives readers a unique view of Paris and introduces them to two women who become good friends. No one was prepared for what happened when WWII finally came knocking on Paris’s door.

Families were scrambling to get information about the hard choices they had to make. The author shows the heartache and the agony of those choices nobody wanted to make. There were no guarantees the path they chose would bring them through safely. But a mother’s love for her children made her rise up to the challenge and do what she had to in order to keep their children safe.

What makes this story different from the rest of the after the war ends stories, is how the author follows the lives of two friends and what they do to cope with life. It wasn’t supposed to look like this. They shouldn’t have to spend months tracking down their loved ones. Some sent their children away, others left their children with friends, and still others stayed. It made me think about what I’d do. How could one go on not knowing if your child was dead or alive? How do you go on knowing your family is gone and you’re the only one left? I like how the author digs deep into the lives of these survivors and what they do to cope.

One woman was a bookstore owner who went back to America and the other was the wife of an artist in Paris, who stumbles around the city, trying to figure out what her purpose was in life. It made me think of my answer to this question. What would you do to save your children? How would you react to not finding that child?

The author states, “ I know that when you read my books, you’re reminded of our incredible human capacity for love, resilience, and survival, even in the midst of terrible times.” This story is no exception.

I enjoyed how this author took readers into the life of an artist and gave a peek into what happened to some of the art in WWII that went missing. It was fascinating to learn about the art of wood carving during that time. The imagery the author paints with her words is amazing.

I was captivated by these brave characters and the twists, turns and a few surprises their lives took, which led up to a riveting ending, I couldn’t pull myself away from. This is a story you don’t want to miss. It’s one to put on your book club’s book pick list. This author is one to watch. I adored her last novel, The Forest of Vanishing Stars, check it out.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher. 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! https://psalm516.blogspot.com/
The Book Club Network blog

SO GOOD. I absolutely love all the characters and the plot. If I could give this 6 stars, I would. It was a wonderful read that had me on tears and then smiling. Just a wonderful read

How can you make an unconscionable sacrifice to save the life of your child and then continue to live your life and not know whether she made it or not? I cannot even imagine this, but Kristin Harmel did imagine this and out of that thought came this amazing book. The story gripped me from the beginning and held on all the way through to the end and did not disappoint in anyway. I loved this book and it stayed with me for days, a sure sign of a great plot and great writing. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

Picked up this book and got immediately sucked in. I was feeling so many emotions while reading, suspense, history, mystery and a few other surprises revealed. It really hi-lighted on a special bond a mother and daughter have.

I’m another great historical fiction we are taken back to France at the star of WWII and the terrible decisions mothers and fathers had to make about entrusting their children with friends or strangers to save them. Elise and Ruth are forced to make that terrible choice. However, this novel is more than just the choice, but piecing their lives together after the war.

Elise entrusts her young daughter, Mathilde, to her friend Juliette and her husband Paul to keep her safe, while she escapes. However, disaster strikes killing Paul, the two sons and Mathilde, with only Juliette and Lucie surviving. Years later Elise finds Juliette and Lucie for closure for her daughter Mathilde. I figured out the truth pretty early on. Those little breadcrumbs for me wasn’t very well hidden, but I still enjoyed the book. Thank you @netgalley and @gallerybooks for this ARC of @kristinharmel new book coming in June 2023.

Themes: 🤱🏼👩‍👦💣🖼💔❤️‍🩹🇫🇷🇺🇸

My feelings: ☺️🥹😢💔❤️‍🩹👍🏻

#netgalley
#gallerybooks
#historicalfiction
#readmorebooks
#readmorebooksbywomen
#goodreads
#readersofinstagram

Oh wow, what a heartbreaking story of loss, love, and life. I’ve read some gripping stories of the Holocaust. This is another re-telling that is told with so much realism you feel as if you are watching it unfold in real time. It’s detailed. It’s thoroughly. But it moves along at the perfect pace to keep your attention. Another excellent book by Harmel.

Such a poignant look at the enormously difficult decisions mothers had to make during ww2, and the way tragedy can either make us bitter and self-focused or resilient and generous.

While the story was a bit predictable, it was still both heartbreaking and engaging watching it unfold. I kind of wish some of it was more fleshed out and delved into like Elise’s work in Aurignon, or during the remainder of the war with Juliette, but I get that wasn’t the purpose of this story. So many sad and devastating parts to it especially for Elise. But it was a beautiful reminder to only hold to the past loosely or you end up forfeiting your future.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are expressly mine.

Thank you to Net Galley for the privilege of reading an ARC of The Paris Daughter. Kristin Harmel has become one of my favorite historical fiction authors. I have read so many books about WWII, that I sometimes hesitate to start one, but this one was definitely one of my favorites. The author tells such a wonderful, heartbreaking story. Set in France during WWII, it touches on so many apsects, including the horror of war, friendship, love, the strength of a mother’s love, and sacrifice. I cared so much about all of the characters and the settings were described so beautifully. I highly recommend to anyone who likes historical fiction and a deeply moving story.

The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel is possibly my favorite book I’ve read in 2022. I was able to read this advanced edition via NetGalley.
It’s an historical novel beginning in Paris in 1939 when two American born mothers accidentally meet in a Parisian park and become best friends. Though the shadow of the war is creeping on to Paris, Elise and Juliette and never suspect how drastically their lives would irrevocably change within the next few years.
This is not a typical WWII historical fiction, not at all. There are some historical facts and people alluded to but the actual story is not based on a particular event.
The conclusion of the novel is located in New York City, there are also some historical facts in this part as well.

I loved Book of Lost Names, so I eas very excited to have the chance to read this book thanks to an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. As a mom, though, this was an extremely difficult read because of the devastating decisions that are made by the main characters in the book. I also felt that the ending was a bit abrupt. Overall, though, I thought that it was an important story to tell as hard as it was to read because of the emotional toll that these characters went through.

Another wonderful book from Kristin Harmel. Her historical pieces are endearing, captivating and keeps me wanting me.

Author Kristin Harmel focuses on the unimaginable choices that some mothers were forced to make during the Second World War. Certainly PTSD is at the forefront of this sad but ultimately uplifting story of three women in Paris as the Germans invade France.
Elise LeClair is married to a French artist who gets mixed up with communist groups planning to overthrow the Nazis in France. When he is captured, tortured and killed, Elise must flee but cannot take her three-year old daughter, Mathilde, with her as she will be too easily recognized with a small child. She turns to her friend, Juliette Foulon, bookshop owner and mother of three, to care for Mathilde until she can return.
Juliette and her husband look after Mathilde as though one of their own. When tragedy strikes the Foulon family, Juliette and her young daughter, Lucie, are the only survivors. Juliette cannot move away from the horrors of losing most of her family and Mathilde.
Ruth Levy, a Jewish mother in Paris, has sent her two children out of France and into relative safety with other Jewish children. Ruth and her children survive the war and Ruth will ultimately aid in bringing Elise, Juliette and Lucie together. But is this Lucie? Or is this Mathilde?
Readers will be treated to insights into the art world and wood carving as this historical drama once again portrays women in crisis who deal with hardships with eternal love and care.

WOW- “The Paris Daughter” is my first Kristin Harmel book. How have I not read this talented author before. What an amazing historical fiction based in Paris and NYC with vibrant and extremely well developed characters. Three women make life changing decisions to save their children during and after World War II. I will be picking up Ms. Harmel’s other books for sure.

This author has done it again! It took me a few minutes to get into the beginning but once I did I had to buckle up!

Such a tale of love and loss and war. Juliette seems like such a good mom until she is filled with hate and bitterness. Elise is so loving and kind and forgiving for so many betrayals toward her. Ruth and he children become such a beautiful part of their story.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.

Kristin Harmel does it again. Heartbreaking and heartwarming WWII novel based in Paris during the occupation, then moving to New York City. If ever a need, Elise and Juliette best friends promise to take care of each other’s children. But, do they?

Thank you #NetGalley, #GalleryBooks, #KristinHarmel and #TheParisDaughter for the advance readers copy.

Kristin Harmel is one of the best historical fiction writers. I read The Paris Daughter in two days. If you have not read any books by this author, or you do not typically read historical fiction, I highly recommend that you do! You will not be disappointed! Thank you Kristin Harmel for another well written and wonderful book! I highly recommend all of her books! #NetGalley

Kristin Harmel does it again. Just when I though it couldn't be equal to the "Book of Lost Names", Krsitn Harmel pulled me right in with The Paris Daughter. It's a heart wrenching story of three women, Juliette, Ruth and Elise who meet quite by accident and become friends just prior to the attack on France during WWII. The story shows the perseverance and resilience these women had. It showed the love a mother has for her child/children and what she would sacrifice. Although this is historical fiction, Kristen researches in detail events that have occurred to make the setting as realistic as possible. This emotionally packed novel is worth the read.