Jane Healey is one of my all time favorite authors and Goodnight from Paris did not disappoint! I absolutely loved with impeccably written historical fiction read! I learned so much through this book, which is always a mark of a great read in this genre, as it was told in post WW2 Paris. It was so atmospheric in the way it transported me to the streets of Paris and was if I was there to experience the sights, smells, and sounds through the writing. Bursting with historical facts and details, this emotional and compelling tale delves into themes of resilience and sacrifice, love and friendship. It was truly touching in the ways it ended and showed the ways hope remains in the hardest times. I could not believe this was written based on a true story! I was captivated from start to finish.

Many thanks to Lake Union and Netgalley for the gifted e-copy!

I'm a huge historical fiction fan, but even more so when you can learn actual historical facts while reading the fiction. This book did just that for me. It was very interesting, and a new topic on the time period that I haven't read a ton about before. That's always refreshing to find!

I did not know about Drue Leyton before this, but the author did her research well. Some of the characters were actually in her life. Can you imagine going from Hollywood acting, to defying Nazis and trying to save as many people as possible? She would have been an interesting person to know.

I absolutely adore Jane Healey! She writes some of my favorite historical fiction stories. This one was another great adventure and I enjoyed it so much. My only let down is I thought the whole radio concept would play a bigger role in the overall story. Otherwise I thought it was great!

“Goodnight from Paris” by Jane Healey is a delightful historical fiction novel that transports readers to the romantic and tumultuous world of World War II-era Paris. The story follows the journey of Ruby Henderson, an American journalist who finds herself reporting from Paris during the war. As the city faces bombings, rationing, and uncertainty, Ruby discovers love in the most unexpected places. She meets and falls for Marcel Benoit, a dashing French photographer with secrets of his own. Their romance blossoms amidst the chaos, and the streets of Paris become their refuge. But as the war intensifies, Ruby must confront heart-wrenching choices that will shape her future.

“Goodnight from Paris” is a captivating tale that skillfully blends historical accuracy with heartfelt emotion. The vivid descriptions evoke the sights, sounds, and flavors of wartime Paris, making it feel like you’re strolling along the Seine or sipping coffee at a charming café. Whether it’s the thrill of forbidden love or the ache of separation, the emotions are palpable. The novel also explores themes of friendship, sacrifice, and resilience, reminding us that even in the darkest times, love and hope endure.

How many stories can be told about WWII yet each one can still remain so fascinating? The based on true events story of an American film star who becomes a political radio broadcaster up until Hitler threatens her life was one I’ll never forget.

There is beauty in many of the chapters, but this was often pretty suspenseful. At times, the pacing had me frantically flipping the pages. What she endures and all that she sacrifices in the name of Paris was just captivating. There is romance, of course, wartime romance, full of passion and sometimes tragic. I loved Drue’s resilience and loyalty to everyone she encounters. I think she is truly someone to admire and several of the supporting characters were much the same.

The author is a brilliant writer. I felt sick to my stomach at times, not knowing if Drue’s efforts and true identity would be discovered. And the author captures the imagery so well I almost felt like I was watching a movie. And what a movie this would be!

Overall, this was a great book and I highly recommend to anyone even if you’re not big into historical fiction. Honestly, I read this last year and I keep saying it was truly one of the best WWII books I’ve ever read.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and @netgalley for my gifted e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

All of Jane Healey’s books have been a source of pleasure for me, but this one is particularly captivating. I was unable to stop reading until I reached the final page. . Even though this is classified as historical fiction, you will acquire a lot of factual knowledge and the characters in this fascinating story are based on real historical figures of this era.

Historical fiction, particularly around WWII, is not my usual cup of tea but Jane Healey's novel, Goodnight from Paris, definitely made me rethink that! I learned this after I finished the book in the author's note, but turns out this was based on Drue Layton's true story. I loved learning about this unspoken woman who made such impactful contributions to the war effort, from the way she assisted the army to helping anyone she came across however she could. She's such a brave, heroic woman, and I'm so glad I got a chance to learn about her life through Healey's novel. Highly recommend!

I absolutely adored Beantown Girls, so I was excited to read another book by the author. Unfortunately this one did not hook me like Beantown Girls did. I never felt a connection to the main character despite her amazing war efforts which made it a slog to finish.

I enjoy historical fiction books that are heavily fact-based, as this one is. It tells the story of American actress, Drue Leyton, who is married to a Frenchman and living in Paris when WWII disrupts their lives. Her husband leaves to work as a liaison to the British military, and Drue begins working with jornalists and political operatives to do radio broadcasts to the U.S. with the goal of convincing Americans to enter the war and help France. This newfound role as an activist puts her on the Nazi's hit list. As the war comes closer and the Nazis invade Paris, she is thrust more and more into a vital role in the resistance. Drue and her friends and neighbors are courageous and cunning and do their part to free France from German occupation. I appreciated that this book covered the bulk of the war years rather than one narrow period so that the reader has a fuller picture of the tenacity and fortitude that was required to prevail in the end, even in the face of great loss, hardship, and danger. Some of the dialogue seemed to include vocabulary that was too modern, but it didn't get in the way of the storytelling, in my opinion. Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for the chance to read this advanced reader copy.

From the author of "The Beantown Girls" we get another novel this one based on a true story, this book takes you to France at the beginning of WW2 and tells of an American actress who is married to a Frenchman and makes France her home. Drue faces loss of the men she loves and remains tough in believing she has to help in the French resistance against the Germans. Very enjoyable characters and storyline throughout the book. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Drue Leyton Tatiere is a Hollywood actress who was famous for starring in the Charlie Chan films. Drue has married a Frenchman and lives in Paris. When WWII breaks out, her husband leaves to fight in the war. Drue’s agent wants her to return to America, but Drue refuses. Instead, she gets a job broadcasting a radio station to persuade America to go to war. When France is conquered, Drue’s life becomes endangered. Drue is willing to do anything to risk her life to win France’s freedom and end the war.

I had never heard of Drue Leyton before. Thus, her story was very new to me. I loved Drue’s devotion to her husband, Jacques. Drue had many opportunities to go to America for safety and return to acting. However, she refused because she wanted to help her husband. Therefore, I admired Drue’s determination to fight for her cause. I found her to be very courageous, intelligent, and strong. She was a fascinating heroine, and I was intrigued to see what happened to her.

Overall, this novel is about love, war, and resilience. I really loved the characters in the novel. They seemed very realistic. My favorite was Dorothy Thompson, who was a famous journalist. I also found the radio aspect in the first half of the novel to be very intriguing. I did think that the middle part of the novel tended to drag. Nevertheless, Goodnight from Paris was very enthralling and entertaining. Mrs. Healy made war-torn France come alive! The story was very engaging, and it captured my attention within the first few pages. I also loved that the novel was told in first-person! Even if you are tired of the overwhelming amount of novels set in WWII, Goodnight from Paris is definitely a must-read! It has glamor, action, and romance! I recommend this novel for fans of The Queen of Paris, The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre, and Code Name Helene!

Thank you NetGalley, Publishers, and Jane Healey for gifting me a copy of Goodnight From Paris in return for my honest opinion.

3.5/5 stars

In Nazi-occupied France, an American film star takes on the most dangerous role of her life in a gripping novel about loyalty and resistance, inspired by a true story, from the Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Secret Stealers.

Paris, 1939. Hollywood actress Drue Leyton, married to Frenchman Jacques Tartière, lives as an expatriate in love. But when her husband is dispatched to Brittany to work as a liaison for the British military, Drue finds herself alone with her housekeeper, adrift and heartsick in her adopted city. With her career and fame forty-five hundred miles away, Drue accepts an opportunity that will change her life forever.

Befriended by seasoned wartime journalist Dorothy Thompson and urged on by political operative Jean Fraysse, Drue broadcasts radio programs to the United States. Her duty: shake America from its apathy and, as Nazis encroach and France is occupied, push for resistance and help from the US. As Drue and Jean fall under suspicion, Hitler sends his own message: when Drue’s adopted country is conquered, she will be executed.

In a Paris that is no longer safe, Drue’s political passion is ignited. She’s prepared to risk anything to fight the enemy no matter how dangerous it gets—for her, for everyone she loves, and for everything she’s fighting for.

I love reading books with strong female protagonists and this one did not disappoint! Drue is a Hollywood actress who could have moved back to the United States at any point, but she stayed and helped Paris and France itself. Even with the threats of death, she did not waiver in her bravery and strength. I really enjoyed the aspect of the radio show and it was a topic I hadn't seen in a historical fiction book before.

Jane Healey did a wonderful job creating relationships with other major and minor characters in her book, including friends, coworkers, and her husband. I do wish we had more chemistry and passion towards the end of the book, even though I didn't like it I could understand why. I also felt like the last part of the book was rushed and not as well done as the beginning of the book was.

In my opinion, Jane Healey is a master storyteller! I fell in love with her writing in THE BEANTOWN GIRLS and THE SECRET STEALERS. Her characters are well developed, and her research is impeccable. GOODNIGHT FROM PARIS is an amazing story about Drue Leyton Tartíere. Drue was an American actress who had minor parts in a few movies before she married Jacque Tartiere and settled in Paris. When the Germans declare war in 1939, her husband, Jacque traveled to Brittany to help out the French. Drue wants to help the war effort, and she agrees to broadcast the plight of the French on a nightly radio program in the United States including a broadcast that was heard by FDR. We follow Drue’s life through the difficult war years which involve feigning an illness to be released from a facility holding American women. Her work in the Resistance was phenomenal. I appreciated Healey’s detailed notes about what people who appeared in the book were real and what characters were not. The bravery of Drue Leyton Tartiere was amazing, and I am so glad that her story has been told. My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. I also purchased an Audible copy to listen to the story after reading it. The opinions in this review are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Our story begins in 1939.

Drue Leyton Tartière, a Hollywood actress who resides in Paris decides that rather than return to the safety of the United States at the beginning of the second world war - she will stay put in Paris, her adopted home. Drue is offered a position as the "voice to America from Paris" - the goal to remind American listeners what is happening in Paris in 1939 - and encourage them to get involved.

The story then slowly progresses to her role in the French Resistance - the love and loss that she suffers, the Nazi death warrant issued for her, and her eternal fear of being captured.

I`m going to give this book 3.5 stars. And here's why.

1. I love that this was based on a real person and actual events in her life. You can tell that the author did her research and worked hard to get it right.

2. I wish it had been with the timeline jumping back and forth a bit - not that we need to know that Drue survived the entirety of the war - but perhaps start the story in 1942 - and then jump back to 1939 to give us the back story. I think it might have caught my interest sooner - because the first third of the book just felt like it was so much "build up" to where we are going, with a particular focus on Drue's love for her husband Jacques (who is away fighting with the British Army).

3. I like a historical read with some intrigue - and this one had it, it just took some time to get there. And I think I just am more used to novels of this kind starting with the "bang" - bringing us the backstory and then getting us back to the "event" that started it all. In this case, the author really stuck to a more chronological storyline, and I think it just made it harder for me to get really engrossed in the story.

4. BUT - once I got into it - it was solid. This book was well written, and once we got out of Paris it became more fast-paced and it felt like it became about more than simply "Drue doing her part because she loves France and Jacques".

If historical, WWII based fiction is your jam - I think you'll enjoy it.

If you prefer a real "espionage" type read - this might be a case of "too little, too late" for you - but perhaps knowing that it is based on a real person, and the events that she lived - might be just want you need pick this up and give it a try.

The one thing that bothered me was some of Drue's interactions with the Nazi's - the author would make her angry and flippant - and I just don't know if I believe that she would have said some of those things out loud. I feel like she must have thought it - but to say it? When you're concerned you might get arrested and killed... I didn't feel those interactions were 100% accurate. That said - I didn't do the research so I could be wrong.

3.5 stars - recommended for lovers of historical, WWII fiction. It isn`t an angsty read - but it is a solid, well written one.

It's 1939 and American movie star Drue Leyton is living in Paris with her French husband Jacques. She loves her adopted city and even after her husband goes to Britain to work as a liaison for the British military, she refuses to take his advice and return to America where he knows she will be safe. She's asked to do radio broadcasts from France to America to explain how bad things are in Paris and to try to convince Americans that they need to get involved in this war. Her other goal is to help the French resistance. Her radio program becomes so popular that Hitler vows to execute her as soon as his troops invade Paris. Instead of being quiet, she continues her work with the resistance and flees Paris to begin doing her radio broadcast in a safer area of France. She also gets involved in hiding downed English pilots until they can be returned back home. Drue took a lot of chances to help people in her adopted country and was considered a hero.

Interestingly enough, this novel is based on a real American actress Drue Leyton who worked with the French resistance during the war. There were also other people in the book based on real people who helped France during this time. I had never heard of Drue Leyton and all of the work she did to help France and have spent time goggling her to find out more about her life. This book was an interesting and well researched book about a real hero of the war.

Any fan of historical fiction will greatly enjoy this book. Great writing with good characters. Different plot that brings something new to the WW2 historical fiction genre. Highly recommend!

What a woman Drue Layton was! This story is so rich in historical detail and i was enthralled by Drue’s work and achievements during the war. I appreciated the author’s note at the end and all of the research that was done.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am enjoying the current trend of taking a little know historical character or event, adding an imaginary script and thus creating a novel based on past reality. This is one such book about a little known actress who had a role in fighting for good in WW2. A new twist, an adventure to discover and another heroine to add to a growing list! Thanks for introducing us to Drue Leyton.

Goodnight From Paris is an engaging tale that immerses readers in the life of actress Drue Leyton during WW2. While informative and full of action, the story lacks the emotional depth I seek in books about this era. Nonetheless, the characters' unwavering determination shines through, making it a worthwhile read.