As an avid WWII historical fiction fan, I’m always on the hunt for books that are slightly different than ones I’ve read in the past. This book did not disappoint! I’ve read, and enjoyed, one other historical fiction novel by Jane Healey and I was excited to read this one.
Based on the life of American actress Drue Leyton, this novel focuses on the time period when she marries the love of her life, Jacques Tartiere, and moves to France, his home country just prior to WWII. France becomes her home and when the war breaks out and Jacques goes to help the British with their war efforts, Drue decides to stay in her new home country and do what she can to protect it, rather than fleeing to the safety of America. When Drue is approached to do a radio program that could assist in bringing American soldiers into the war, she agrees. Drue proves to be a force to be reckoned with. She is portrayed as a strong woman who does what she can to bring an end to the war. She uses her acting skills to protect herself and her loved ones when needed. She is a very likable, strong woman and I truly enjoyed reading about her. The other characters in the story are also very well developed- some of which you will likely grow to love and others not so much! I felt the hope, sadness, loss, and love of these people.
Jane Healey reveals at the end of the book what was based on true facts and real people vs things she used a bit of creativity with to make the story work. I appreciate that she stuck to a great deal of real history. I was in Europe as I read this story which made it all the more real for me. I highly recommend it to those interested in WWII historical fiction that’s a bit different from other stories previously written. Thank you to Jane Healey and Netgalley for an ARC of this wonderful book in exchange for my honest opinion.

'Goodnight from Paris' is based on real-life American actress Drue Leyton who, after marrying a Frenchman, chose to say in France for the duration of WWII and become a part of the Resistance.

Drue's husband, Jacques, joined the British Coldstream Guards as a translator early in the war. However, instead of evacuating the city back to her home in Los Angeles, Drue takes up a job in broadcasting; supporting the French Government in promoting France to Americans. Increasingly, Drue sees radio as an opportunity to plea to the Americans to see the war as not a European issue, but a world issue. Once the Nazis invade France and occupy Paris, they issue a death warrant against Drue for sharing her opinions so explicitly. However, undeterred, Drue continues her work in France and joins the Resistance that begins to form. Like many who fought with the Resistance, a cat-and-mouse, high-stakes game unfolds.

I am always captivated by everyday citizens who chose to actively stand up for what was right and fought fear daily for their own lives. As an American, well before the Americans joined the war effort, Drue stood passionately patriotic for her adopted country. I enjoyed reading about life in Paris, and France, from the onset of WWII, leading up to the occupation, until liberation. You get a real appreciation for just how long the war was, and just how many years people had to live in a state of fear and anxiety - not only for themselves but for all of their loved ones. Jane Healey does a great job of building a picture of Drue's work and courage over the duration of the war. As a reader, you become increasingly invested in Drue's life and the outcome of the war for her personally. I love reading about true-life characters, even if their story has been fictionalised for easy digestion. In my opinion, so much has been said about so few great women; so little about so many. Thank you Jane Healey for bringing another courageous woman to my attention.

I thoroughly the enjoyed the book. The writing and descriptions were excellent. The pace moved quite quickly. The story, however sad, is not new unfortunately. A newly-wed woman left in Paris to make her own life while her husband is off on some secret mission, never to return. The woman becomes part of the Resistance and in the process meets several other upstanding human beings who each in their own way fight for the same cause. The ending is when the Americans come and free France. An excellent book. An old plot.

Goodnight from Paris by Jane Healey is a beautifully written and captivating novel that transports readers to the streets of Paris during World War II. The story follows the true story of American Hollywood actress, Drue Leyton, who loses her French husband while living in Paris at the height of the war. Despite the dangers and challenges she faces, Drue is determined to do whatever she can to help the resistance. Healey does an excellent job of bringing the atmosphere of Paris during the war to life, and her depiction of the WWII France is both vivid and evocative. The plot is full of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged from beginning to end. Overall, Goodnight from Paris is a compelling and moving novel that offers a unique and powerful perspective on one of the most tumultuous periods in history. It is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and anyone with an interest in World War II.

So this is one book that has to be read it's a very important paRt of our history and of the unsung woken hero's from WWII.

Drue Leyton Tartiere was a remarkable woman and I'm happy the author wrote her story in this wonderful historical fiction novel. A definite must read

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for allowing me to read this book.

All thoughts and opinions are my own and aren't influenced by anyone else.

Goodnight From Paris is a World War Two story based on a the real life of American actress Drue Leyton. Drue married a Frenchman and was living in Paris when war broke out. Her husband went away to fight and Drue began working for a French radio station. Drue had the night shift and was broadcasting to American listeners, trying desperately to gain support from a country reluctant to get involved with the war in Europe.

When the German’s occupied France, Drue used her married name to avoid arrest. However, she was still determined to help fight the oppressors. She continued throughout the war to aid the Resistance while supporting networks that moved airmen to safety.

Although this is a fictional story, the author used many of the details of Drue’s actual life which she found during research for her writing. This story really intrigued me, especially how Americans in France were treated before and after their country’s entry into the war. Drue’s story is one more example of brave men and women who did so much for the war effort.

I honestly think that everyone should read this book. I feel like it has a deep message that needs to be received. Drue stands up for what is right and holds her own. I will recommend this story to others who like period dramas.

Inspired by the true story of Drue Leyton Tartiere, an American actress living in Paris at the start of WWII who becomes a hero of the Resistance. The story open in the early days of the war when Drue takes a position at a Paris radio station sharing news of the warfront in France that is broadcast in America. When the Nazi's march into Paris, Drue and her team are forced to flee to the countryside to continue their resistance work in a more secretive way.

A moving tale of some of the unsung heroes of the French Resistance during WWII, the story of Drue Leyton Tartiere is a wonderful story of perseverance and love of many kinds.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jane Healey, and Lake Union Publishing for providing me an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love learning about little-known roles of women in history, and I love a good story--that’s why I loved this book.

In her new novel GOODNIGHT FROM PARIS, author Jane Healey introduces us to Drue Leyton, an American film star made famous in the Charlie Chan movies of the 1930s. She’s married to a Frenchman and living in Paris when WWII breaks out. With her husband away fighting, Drue takes a job broadcasting human interest radio stories to the States. She rebels against instructions to keep her broadcasts “light” and uses her airtime to urge America to do something. This gets her on the Nazis’ hit list; yet that doesn’t stop her from joining the Resistance.

Healey’s book is fast-paced and full of suspense, romance, and friendship. Her characters are thoroughly relatable and her details of life during wartime feel so authentic. Healey deftly weaves historical events into the plot so that I was gripped by the tension of the story rather than feeling that I was reading about history, such as when Drue and other American women were rounded up and locked into a zoo, and when Drue hid the allied airmen virtually under the noses of Nazis and their collaborators.

I think one mark of a great historical novelist is when your story helps readers connect “then” with “now.” At the start of the novel, Drue and her friends can’t imagine Paris ever being occupied by the Nazis. I couldn’t help but imagine how the people of Ukraine must have felt this same way before the Russians started the bombing. That’s what I love about all of Healey’s books; her characters never feel stuck in the past.

What an enthralling and unputdownable read Goodnight from Paris is. From the opening chapter, I was fully committed to this book and I found it next to impossible to put down. It really did tick all the boxes. The characters were wonderfully drawn, the historical detailing was second to none and the story was simply riveting.

If you enjoy quality historical fiction set during WW2 then you really need to add this book to your to-read list. I highly recommend it.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.

Not your regular historical fiction. Great book based on the story of the real Drue. Heartbreaking and inspirational. Highly recommended

Jane Harley’s Good Night From Paris was such a great read. I’ve enjoyed each of her historical fiction novels, and this one did not disappoint.
I loved Drue’s character; she’s such a spitfire! Living as an American in Paris, Drue marries and begins her life in the beautiful city. War strikes and she’s encouraged to head back to America. She cannot bring herself to put an ocean between her and her new husband, who is away doing war work. Drue finds many ways to be integral to the war effort amongst many very difficult and dangerous situations.

A great historical fiction read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc. All opinions expressed are my own. 5 stars!

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher (and author) for allowing me the chance to read the ARC for this in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This book was fascinating. I had no idea that Drue Leyton was an actual person, and this made me want to research more into her life.

Growing up, I spent a lot of my teenage and early adulthood years watching documentaries on WWII, as my dad is a huge WWII buff. I can trace family to Kokoda, Borneo and various other areas of the Pacific theatre, but I didn't know much about the hardships faced by the people in Europe (apart from learning about concentration camps and Anne Frank and Corrie Ten Boom in high school), so this was a bit of an eye-opening experience.

This book starts off with life in Paris just at the start of WWII, and it continues to follow the life and experiences of Drue Leyton during the course of the war.

I found this book very hard to put down, as it drew me in and made me feel like I was experiencing Drue's own experiences. A must for anyone who wants to learn more about the remarkable people in the shadows (as such) during WWII.

WWII historical fiction novels are some of my favorites, and "Goodnight from Paris" is no different. This one is just brilliant! A page turner from start to finish, with tension that builds, writing that could be followed closely, love stories and bonds of friendships weaved seamlessly into an engaging tale.

The story surrounds American movie star Drue Leyton, who is living her dream in Paris with her husband, once-in-a-lifetime-love Jacques Tartiere. But as the Germans wage war in Europe and France fears an invasion, Jacques feels the need to serve his country despite an injury, and Drue is left in their charming picturesque apartment wondering how she, herself, can move forward during his absence. That's when she is offered a hosting job at Paris Mondiale, putting together radio spots to the Americans to describe life in France during wartime. A fire is lit under Drue, and from then on, this is a tale of utmost bravery, as she becomes more bold and honest with her radio show about the horrors of the German invasion - to the point where she is on Nazi radar. Further, we see more bravery, as she joins The Resistance, is imprisoned for being an American woman in occupied France, and aids more than one hundred British, Canadian, and American soldiers in escaping occupied France - all while remaining a terrific friend and falling in love a second time after her husband Jacques's death.

My gosh, Drue Leyton Tartiere was a remarkable woman, and this author did a great job weaving both fact and fiction in a way that kept me turning page after page after page. Thank you to Jane Healey for bringing this character (and all the others in the novel, everyone is written so masterfully) into my life - I'm not much of a history buff, but I won't forget this story of bravery.

I was provided this eBook by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Jane Healey introduces us to Drue Leyton, the American film star living in Nazi-occupied France. With her husband off in Brittany, Drue takes on the role of a lifetime, broadcasting relevant radio messages back home to the states. As her fight for the resistance continues, Leyton's joined by fellow characters, brave heroes you will root for from the very first page.

Healey has created a tour de force in this propulsive tale of courage and sacrifice and the people we love and lose along the way. Immersive and brilliantly written, I was sorry to see the story end.

After reading many WWII novels recently, I wasn't sure I'd learn anything new from another novel. Well this one felt original and its depth of research was apparent. It's based on a true story of a Hollywood actress living in France, married to a Frenchman desperate to serve his country in the war against the Nazi enemy. While he is away at war Drue (the protagonist) gets a job on a radio broadcasting program. The goal is to inform the US of the real events occurring in Europe and France; hoping to pull them out of neutrality and assist in the war effort, before it's too late. There is quite a bit of suspense, especially as she finds creative ways to help the resistance. She puts herself and others close to her in great danger in her pursuit for humanity. The characters are well developed, believable and very likable. There is deep friendship, love, heart break and a ton of risk and courage in this book. A completely enjoyable and informative read. I highly recommend it to any historical fiction fans.

I want to first say I always love a great historical fiction and this one I really enjoyed and it had everything I would expect from a good book of this genre.

The story of an American film star, married to a Frenchman and living in France during the Nazi occupation of France. And inspired by true events this is a story that grabbed me, drew me in and kept me reading as it is just such an interesting and intriguing read.

I loved that the story grew as you read more, the strength and loyalty of the characters such as Drue and how they helped in the war effort even when it was dangerous. There is passion, bravery, suspense, intrigue and so much more in this book. It is easy to read yet has all the emotion to keep you on the edge of your seat. The writing and research is wonderful and is what makes this book a success.

I loved it and would highly recommend.

Sometimes you come across an author that you just connect with, become friends with and patiently but sometimes impatiently wait for their next book to drop. That’s how it is and how I feel about Jane Healey. From the moment I finished Beantown Girls, I knew that her writing was one that I would follow closely. She has a way of beautifully weaving the bonds of friendship amidst the backdrop of a world at war and tells stories that might not be told if it were not for her own interest in the roles women played during WWII.

In Goodnight From Paris, we are introduced to Hollywood starlet Drue Leyton who fell in love with a Frenchman and left her life of bright lights and movies for the city of love, Paris. When things in Europe start to escalate, her husband Jacques joins the military in England when the French military turn him away for health reasons. In his absence, Drue joins the team at Paris Mondiale and begins transmitting radio shows back to America in hopes of gaining their sympathy for the danger growing in France. As an American in Paris, she felt it was important for her compatriots to hear first hand accounts of what was really happening. The Germans, however, didn’t like it and put a death warrant on her head. Instead of scaring her, this only fueled Drue’s desire to do something and over the course of the war became a vital member of the French resistance, eventually aiding more than a hundred British, Canadian and American soldiers escape from occupied France.

While this is a work of fiction, many of the events as well as characters are based on real life. And because it is a work of fiction, the way Jane has written it will keep you on the edge of your seat with an element of suspense that you’ll stay up late reading just one more chapter. I love this story. I love learning about new things and people during WWII. Drue Leyton is a name that’s new to me so I greatly appreciate the authors notes at the end of the book for more insight into the life of this remarkable woman.

Thank you so much to Jane Healey for inviting me to read Goodnight From Paris before it hits the shelves. I’m so grateful for the friendship we’ve built over this shared interest and I can’t wait to read what you come up with next!!

I LOVED this book; had a very hard time putting it down - I was just fascinated by the main character and by the juxtaposition of her "glamour" with the reality of the situation. By the end of the book, I was freshly horrified by what had happened and also in awe of those who protected so many. Can't wait for Jane's next book.

Loved this book! I knew it was historical fiction but didn't know the characters were actually real. The 1940's are a compelling era no matter if you are viewing the world from the United States or Europe. Drue Tartiere actually lived and worked in the incredible world of the 1940's - an actress in old hollywood USA & actually fell in love & married her French husband. This is the story of Drue & how she worked to support her adopted country. This book is well worth your time!