The Paris Maid is the latest gripping novel from historical fiction author Ella Carey. It’s an emotional fast-paced exploration of themes such as love, courage, betrayal and family which gives us a fantastic insight into those who worked at the Ritz Hotel in Paris during the Nazi occupation of France.
The story opens with an incredibly powerful prologue focusing on the punishment imposed on French women accused of so-called ‘horizontal collaboration’ with the German occupiers during the Second World War. We see our protagonist Louise have her head shaved and being labelled a ‘femme tondue’ (shaven woman). It provides a really emotive opening to the story which immediately grips the reader and pulls them into Louise’s story.
The Paris Maid was clearly impeccably researched and historical details were seamlessly woven into the narrative. The story also features fictional portrayals of real individuals such as SOE agents who operated in France and members of the Ritz hotel staff who worked for the French resistance. Personally, I find the history of the Ritz during the Nazi occupation of France absolutely fascinating and it was wonderful to see the anti-German activities completed by the staff at the Ritz portrayed within historical fiction.
It is worth noting that you do have to stay quite switched on whilst you’re reading The Paris Maid as characters are frequently referred to using code names and aliases but by playing close attention to the intricate details and references within the narrative you can keep track of the events and who’s who.
I did find the ending to the story slightly rushed and confusing but the epilogue is cleverly crafted to provide extra clarity. The ending does provide a bit of a plot twist which I definitely wasn’t expecting and this was a nice way of keeping us readers on our toes right to the very end of the story.
The story is told through a dual timeline, alternating between Louise’s wartime experiences and her granddaughter Nicole researching them years later but unfortunately, I don’t think this was as well executed as it could have been. The concept of Nicole researching her grandmother’s wartime experiences off the back of her discovering the photo of her as a ‘femme tondue’ was really interesting but the family conflict between Nicole and her aunt didn’t add anything to the story and just unnecessarily took our attention away from Louise’s story.
I also thought it a shame that we weren’t given more specific references to the date each part of the story is taking place on as chapters were instead given more vague labels such as “Summer 1944”. More specific references to the date at the beginning of each chapter would have supported the progression of the narrative as it would help the reader to track the progression towards the Allied liberation of Paris.
Overall, The Paris Maid is a powerful and emotive story about the courage of the French Resistance and SOE agents operating around Paris, and particularly within the Ritz hotel, during the Second World War. It’s well-paced, gripping and an overall must-read for fans of WW2 historical fiction.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I have posted an extended review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk and the post is linked.

This is a great historical story set in occupied France during the Second World War. Told through a dual timeline we learn about Louise Basset, a young girl who works as a maid in the luxurious Ritz Hotel in Paris. Overrun by the Nazi party, Louise tries to keep her head down and go about her work unnoticed by these powerful men, while at the same time she is working for the French Resistance. Concurrently we meet Nicole, Louise’s granddaughter, who is trying to research her grandmothers hidden past. Will she get the answers she’s looking for ? How does Louise manage to stay below the Nazi radar? A well told tale of courage, bravery and love it is all here within the pages of this story.
For me this is a 3.5⭐️ Many thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for my advanced copy.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is most certainly a new look at the occupation of Paris and the resistance fighters during the Second World War. The concept of traitors prevailed throughout the book and disproving an old photo of a woman who was classed as a traitor to the French people became the surrounding element to the story. The dual timeline worked well in this regard with the reader gaining an insight into the wider issue of history and the past coming into the present for families. The characters all had their own personalities and the twists and turns kept me wanting to know more. Some of the twists I didn’t see coming which allowed for me to become even more invested into the book.

However, this book fell incredibly flat for me. If it wasn’t for the twists and turns I wouldn’t have kept reading this book. The storyline was bland and didn’t seem very developed. There was no climax to the story and the ending seemed rushed. While I appreciate the author trying to take a different look at the Second World War, there was so much else Carey could have done to keep the readers’ interests throughout. I expected much more from the novel than I was given, especially after the blurb hooked me into reading it.

Louise works as a maid in fancy hotel, which happens to be the home to the most powerful Nazis in France. As she cleans, she listens and watches and then reports her findings to the resistance. One day, a young Allied pilot is smuggled into the hotel. He is being hunted by the Nazis but Louise feels a special connection with him. Years later, her granddaughter Nicole finds herself at the hotel, reeling from the shock of seeing a photo of her grandmother branded a traitor.

I love historical fiction set during World War II. I always feel like there are so many stories to be told. Told in multiple timelines, we see Nicole uncover the truth about her grandmother. I will say I enjoyed the past timeline better than present day, but I think the timelines worked well together to unfold Louise’s story. If you are a historical fiction fan, you will enjoy this one! Thank you Bookouture, Netgalley and Ella Carey for the review copy and my spot on this tour 🥰

This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

Louise works at the Paris Ritz as a maid in 1944, she meets her cousin Sasha and they both work at the Ritz while also involved in the Resistance. They are constantly in danger trying to help people as they wait for Paris to be liberated. The other timeline is present day when their grandchildren find a picture from the war and are trying to figure out what really happened in their family history.

Well wow is what I'm saying....there's no other way to ease myself into this review, so I'm diving in with both hands up. I surrender that was brilliant. I can only describe the journey as mesmerising...the story stole my heart from the opening sentence and hasn't left me since.

Set amidst the back drop of the Second World War, means that you're in for a ride and a half of harrowing times. But the bravery burst forth with such sincere passion, from this stellar set of characters, leaving me on the edge of my seat throughout. I'm also throwing in the twists and turns to the narrative....Carey shoehorned everything but the kitchen sink into this storyline and just when I thought I was with it - the game changed and I was left reeling at the latest revelation. Talk about plot twists!

For me the outstanding success of this story comes in the form of the character creations. Carey is a master at her craft in this department and I was in awe at the cast I met between the pages. From her author notes it's clear she has woven real people amongst her fictional triumphs to create a story that is laced in part truth. This added an additional layer of intrigue to an already spellbinding book.

The Paris Maid will draw you into it's masterpiece and not let go. I have only the best things to say about this book and I'm honoured to have witness the story that came alive before my eyes....thank Carey for this true gift, I shall treasure it always.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This was a fascinating historical fiction that used two timelines: one of present and one during the war. I enjoyed the historical parts/resistance storyline and the mystery behind the picture, trying to figure out if "Grandma Louise" was a nazi collaborator.

There was information dumping at times and a lot of characters to keep track of which made it sometimes confusing because there were code names used as well as the true names. But overall, I did enjoy the premise and the twist...I would read another book from this author.

3.5 stars

The Paris Maid is a very well-written story that keeps you on your toes until the end! I love how the modern day family is woven into the story that occurred during WWII. The story shows how even decades later there are strong fallouts with families and the history that took place. Also, how chaotic times were when the war ended and resistants were confused for collaborators. I always enjoy stories set in the Ritz in Paris because it shows how it was a true hotbed of activity on both sides during the war. A building full of history in its walls.

Nicole is shocked and devastated to find a WWII-era photograph that appears to brand her beloved grandmother Louise as a traitor. Louise worked as a maid in The Ritz Hotel in Paris during the German occupation. Virtually invisible as she cleaned and dusted, she overheard many secrets that she shared with the French Resistance. Louise’s story crosses paths with an assortment of hotel staff and guests, an Allied pilot, and a mysterious young woman who bears a striking resemblance to her. How did this brave young housemaid end up branded as a Nazi sympathizer?

This is a wartime story of intrigue, danger, and love that touches on themes of family and loyalty. The author has a lovely writing style that is well-suited for historical fiction. I particularly enjoyed how some famous and infamous real people were seamlessly woven in amongst the fictional characters.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Harmel, Fiona Valpy, and Kristin Hannah’s “The Nightingale”. Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.

This book definitely kept me up past my bedtime!!!
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of Books on Tour! The Paris Maid is an unputdownable story by . If an author can make me “ugly cry”, then I will definitely read more of their books.
This story is told from three different perspectives.

Louise Basset- works at The Ritz in Paris, during WWII. She is separated from her mother and her father left the family when she was a child.

Kit - is a pilot who got shot down in France. He is trying to locate his brother
who was also on the downed plane.

Nicole - is Louise’s granddaughter who is expecting her first child. She travels from England to France to learn more about her grandmother’s history.

What follows is a gripping adventure that will keep you guessing. This book was sad, happy, and very well written. I could picture The Ritz Hotel, I could feel the emotions of Louise strongly. Yes, at one point I cried.

Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

READ THIS BOOK IF YOU
Are looking for a different type of WWII story
Like a novel with multiple narrators
Need a good cry

Let’s get to know each other better!

QOTD: I’m putting my review up later than normal today because I was celebrating Easter with my family. What is a special tradition you have with your family?

My answer is in the comments.

Happy Reading!

#The Paris Maid #EllaCarey #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #HistoricalFiction #BooksSetDuringWWII #BooksSetInParis #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks

I adore historical fiction, so I was very excited to bang a place on the book tour for this new WW2 book.

Set both in occupied France in 1944 and present day, the dual timeline explores one families history and their efforts during the war.

Back in 1944, the story follows a housekeeper, Louise, working at The Ritz hotel in Paris. The hotel is a base for many Germans working and living in Paris.

In the present day, Nicole, Louise’s granddaughter, struggles to piece together information shared that suggested that her grandmother was a traitor who worked with Germany and against her country.

I really enjoyed the 1944 storyline and following the events of Louise and the other characters who came into the fore later in the story. It really captured the struggles that those living in Paris faced and the difficult decisions that impacted and shaped both their own futures and that of their families. The present day storyline tied in really well, but as always with dual timelines, I just always end up loving the other so much more.

The storylines were all tied together well and whilst I did foresee some of the ‘twists’ that were revealed as the story unfolded, it didn’t detract from the story as a whole, which was a lovely read.

I would have loved to have been a little more emotionally invested, I think that whilst the suspense was great in places and the stories were moving, overall it didn’t tug at my emotions like I had anticipated it would. This was beautiful read nonetheless and will be eaten up by those who are eager to read historical fiction like I am.

Thank you for the gifted e-arc @bookouture , so glad I read this one. Watch out for it hitting bookshop shelves this week and is also available on kindle unlimited.

I just love Ella Carey's historical fiction books.
The author writes with such passion you can tell how well researched the book is as well. Based on some actual people and events and I love how realistic this makes the books she writes.
This is a dual timeline book taking place in Paris 1944 and modern times.
Modern times, Nicole a young woman ready to start her own family is a happy woman. A shocking discovery about a woman she thought she knew so well has her taken aback.
A young woman stares back at her from a black and white photo, the face so familiar, the features so like her own. It's her grandmother, head shaved, tears in her eyes and branded a traitor. Nicole is shocked and saddened.
With the help of a French historian Nicole makes discoveries about her grandmothers' life when she was younger.
As a young woman she is a housemaid at the fancy Ritz Hotel, home to the most powerful Nazis in France. Right under their noses in their hotel a young Allied pilot, that the Nazis are searching for is someone Louise can open up to. As he's hidden Louise feels just may be able to trust him with a secret. If this trust is misplaced it could mean her life though.
Absolutely heartbreaking! This story is just amazing and kept me in its grips. I couldn't put it down.

Pub Date 06 Apr 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This book opens at the end of WWII with a traumatic description of a woman accused of collaborating with the Nazi’s having her head shaved and being tarred. Set in duel timelines, 1944 during the occupation of Paris, and and the present, the plot follows four main characters. Louise Basset a housemaid at The Ritz Hotel, her granddaughter Nicole who travels to France to find out the truth about her grandmother and two American airmen shot down during a bombing raid near Paris.

Briefly, after seeing an old photograph of her beloved grandmother with her head shaved and a swastika painted on her face Nicole has to find out the truth. As WWII is ending Louise is cleaning room for many of the most senior German officers and their paramours in one of the most iconic hotel of the time. But she wants to do more to help the resistance, regardless of the danger involved. However, when an injured American airman is brought to the hotel to be hidden she discovers feelings she thought she never had.

This is an enthralling historical drama which uses a lot of factual information and I found the historical detail very interesting. Louise isn’t a particularly likeable character. However, when it becomes clear why she is the way she is her personality becomes much more understandable. I particularly enjoyed the story of Louise’s mother, it’s amazing just how brave and resilient members of the La Résistance were. A good WWII historical novel that kept me engaged from start to end, very enjoyable read.

This was an incredibly written Historical Fiction novel - swapping between Paris during WWII and present day. The research was thoroughly done, the characters were incredibly dimensional and the writing was perfect. Switching between characters and timelines, I found that the book weaved together easily. The experiences of those during the Nazi occupation was horrific, but the bravery of those in the resistance was incredible.

The story starts with a woman, Louise, being punished in 1944 in Paris as a traitor. She was a maid in the Ritz Hotel and working for the resistance. Years later, her granddaughter Nicole discovers a photo of her grandmother, showing her to be a traitor. So Nicole begins searching for the truth. What will Nicole find out about the woman that she idolized?

A must read for any fans of historical fiction.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Louise Basset not only works hard at a Paris hotel, she also works hard for the Resistance. Going in out of the guests’ room works to her advantage. Louise does a good job at keeping her double life a secret, but when she meets a young Allied pilot named Kit Harrington, she finds herself tempted to reveal the truth.

As The Paris Maid is a dual-timeline story, readers are also introduced to Louise’s granddaughter Nicole decades later. Having found an old photograph of her grandmother with a shorn head, labeled as a traitor, leads Nicole to look for answers about the reason behind that photograph.

Nicole struggles to get the answers she seeks, all while the story shifts back and forth to allow readers to see what actually happened to Louise during those dark days of World War II.

Ella Carey has written yet another impactful story, one that was impossible to pull away from. This book, like her previous ones, lends credence to her amazing research, and excellent writing talent, as she brings her characters to life by showing their courage, even amidst heartbreak.

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

I love Ella Carey’s books and this new title doesn’t disappoint. Another wonderfully engaging story set in two time periods - the present day and during WWII in Paris. The protagonist of the story is Louise who is a maid in the Ritz Hotel during WWII. There is so much to Louise’s story that you can’t but help to bond with her as a character.
Nicole (present day, London) has received a photo from her Aunt in Paris of what appears to be her grandmother Louise with her head shaved and a Swastika on her forehead but could her beloved Granny Louise really be a traitor to France. This sets Nicole on a search for who her grandmother was and why did none of the family know of her history.

Another emotionally charged and suspenseful historical fiction book by an author I look forward to reading each time a new title is available. A definite 5/5 and don’t forget to read the Authors note as many of the book characters were based on real life characters living and working at the Ritz during the German invasion of the city of Paris.

I just finished reading The Paris Maid by Ella Carey and here is my book tour stop review!!

The Ritz hotel has been overtaken by the Nazi’s and it’s Louise Basset's unpleasant job to clean up after them. The sad thing about being a maid, you go unseen. The best part of being a maid in the resistance? You go unseen. Louise risks her life daily sharing information she finds left lying around by arrogant men and when a young pilot crash lands and is found by the resistance, she knows she must do more to help the people of Paris and the beautiful man she enjoys spending time with.

Her granddaughter in the present day, works to find out why there was a photo of her grandmother with her hair shaved off and branded a traitor. This is not the woman she knew growing up and needs to know the truth about her heritage.

Who was Louise? Was she a loyal resistance fighter or was she the traitor that Paris made her out to be?

I loved this book! Loved it. The book comes from the POV of Louise in 1944 Paris and Kit, a pilot that crashes fighting against the Germans. Modern day time follows Nicole and her search for answers. The character development was charming and I felt fully connected to all the people the author introduces us too. I loved Louise so much. All the women during that war who didn’t hide, they fought like heroes. I love books like this and I have read many so this book had a lot to measure up to and it is definitely in the top 5 of best WW2 novels ever written for me.

The plot was fantastic and I usually don’t like multiple POV but it really rounded out the story to have them all and gave more depth to what was happening to other people and how they felt.

So cleverly done. I did shed a few tears and the little plot twist at the end I really didn’t see coming and just added real value to the story as a whole!

Brilliant! I highly recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction and especially world war 2 books.

5 stars

Thank you to @netgalley and @bookouture for my copy of this book and my views are my own

I love Ella Carey’s stories, they are written with emotion and love and this one is no exception, MS Carey takes us to Paris as Paris is about to be liberated in 1944 and England in present time as Nicole starts searching for answers about her Granny Louise, it is an emotional journey but so beautifully told.

When Nicole Beaumont is sent an old photo of a woman on the back of a truck, head shaved and swastika on her head she is shocked to recognize her as her beloved Granny Louise, this starts Nicole on a journey to Paris to the Ritz Hotel and then to meet with her aunt and cousin, Nicole is determined to get answers she knows in her heart that her Granny Louise would never have been a Nazi collaborator.

Louise Basset has been working as a maid at The Ritz Hotel in Paris cleaning rooms that the Nazis occupied, Louise has a great memory and mind for codes and while she works she listens and reports back to the resistance. When a young allied pilot is bought in to be hidden till they can safely get him out of Paris a friendship begins for Louise and then a young German woman Sasha is sent to share Louise’s room, things are getting more dangerous.

Nicole and her aunt and cousin talk to the French historian working at the Ritz to get help searching for answers and what they hear is nothing that they expected, what are the answers?

This is a page turner as we get to know some fabulous characters in such hard times but the strength of the resistance will always amaze me and Ella Carey tells the story with compassion and so much love, this is one that I would highly recommend, a beautiful story.

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

Paris, 1944: Louise Basset is a housemaid at the Ritz Hotel in France. The guests of the Ritz are among the most high ranking and most powerful Nazis in France. Louise always has an ear on the conversations going on around her. She would then inform Frank of everything she hears. Frank would then pass the information on to the Resistance. The Germans were always looking for members of the Resistance, but Louise was hiding in plain sight. Meanwhile, Pilot Kit Harrington and his brother Charlie were flying their bomber over Paris when they were shot down. They feared what would happen to them if they were captured by the Germans. They separated from each other, and they didn’t know if the other was captured or rescued. Present day, Louise’s granddaughter Nicole Beaumont, is in the Ritz hotel her grandmother worked in. Nicole receives an old photo from her aunt. In the photograph is her grandmother, Louise when she was a young woman. Nicole decides she must uncover the truth about her grandmother’s story, but will she be proud of the family secrets she discovers or will she be ashamed?

This was a phenomenal story of heartbreak, courage and inspiration. I am in awe of the things people experienced during the World Wars. They would stop at nothing to get whatever they needed to help the Resistance. This unputdownable book was so heartbreaking I couldn’t stop crying. This resonated through to my very core. What a beautifully written and researched historical fiction. This one is sure to stay with me for a very long time. Thank you Ella Carey for such a gripping and wonderful story…I loved it and I definitely recommend it!!

The Paris Maid is a beautiful and heartbreaking story narrated in dual timelines with the first timeline taking place in Nazi occupied Paris during WWII. Half German, half French Louise works as a maid at the Ritz Hotel while also working for the French resistance. The present day timeline is narrated by Nicole, granddaughter of Louise who is devasted to learn that her great grandmother may have harboured secrets during the war and sets off to Paris to uncover the truth.

The book just reeled me in right from the first page and I devoured the book in a couple of days. I loved Ella Carey's writing and the way she has masterfully crafted her characters and incorporated even some real life characters among the fictional ones.

This is an intriguing, suspenseful and genuinely moving WWII novel. Thank you @bookouture and @netgalley for an early access to this wonderful book.
The book is out now.