Rhys Bowen does historical fiction so well and The Paris Assignment is not to be missed! This is a compelling story of perseverance, heartbreak, hope, and defiance amidst the backdrop of WWII. With wonderful characters, strong historical detail, an atmospheric setting, and reflective themes, this story of a courageous wife and mother makes for a powerful read of the resistance movement. Definitely add this one to your TBR!

Many thanks to Lake Union and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

Always reaching for WWII stories, I found “The Paris Assignment” intriguing in a number of ways, including—

•••Another continent (not the USA) in addition to Europe

•••The perspective of a child in a substantial portion of the book

•••Women spies (fave topic) speaking French

•••More twists than expected

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of “The Paris Assignment.”

Love Rhys Bowen! This novel was especially excellent, though, so...6 enthusiastic stars!

This was a historical fiction novel following Madeleine Grant who marries a man named Giles and they have a son named Oliver. War breaks out and Madeline and Oliver head to England to try and stay safe. But sadly, her son passes away and Madeleine is left trying to pick up the pieces and figure out how to move forward. Madeleine decides she has nothing to lose and joins the resistance against the Nazi’s.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend for any historical fiction fan!

A very interesting take about World War II and the resistance movement. Well written and well conceptualized. Thank you for a great read!

I'm a fan of historical fiction, and have loved other Rhys Bowen books and this one was equally entertaining. Madeleine is a Brit who falls in love with a French journalist while studying at the Sorbonne in Paris. When WWII hits, Madeleine and their son go to England for safety, however, amidst tragedy and the chaos of war, she soon finds herself working for the ministry and the war effort, praying that she will find Giles alive when she returns to France. A tale of struggle and courage, it's definitely a good one for fans of WWII historical fiction. Thanks so much to Rhys Bowen, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-arc.

A lovely story during WWII which takes you to different parts of the world during this conflict. I loved following Madeleine Grant and how she comes of age during this time of strife. The story of the women who joined the SOE was very illuminating, bringing to light a small part of WWII which isn't discussed very often.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

This was a beautiful and heart wrenching story of love, sacrifice, and family set against a harrowing time of war. Many atrocities happened during WWII, and reading books like this one are so important.

Rhys Bowen is a busy author. She has her long running Molly Murphy and Her Royal Spyness series. In addition, Bowen has written a number of stories set during WWII. The Paris Assignment is one of those.

Londoner Madeleine Grant meets her future husband, Giles, in Paris. The two are living a charmed life with their young son when the world changes for them, just as it did for many others. WWII’s impact is hitting them. This leads to the geographical separation of the couple. What happens to each of them (including some tragedy) forms the basis for this good work of historical fiction.

Rhys Bowen fans and those who enjoy WWII fiction may well enjoy this title.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

The Paris Assignment gives a unique WWII perspective though the eyes of a small boy, Oliver, who was sent from Britain to Australia to keep him safe. The narrative shifts between Oliver's experiences and his mother's, who trains to be a spy and returns to France to help in the resistance. Oliver navigates unfamiliar territory in Australia along with dealing with the anxiety of separation while his Mom struggles on thinking she lost her son. Overall, "The Paris Assignment" is gripping story of bravery, sacrifice, and the hope that follows.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of The Paris Assignment by Rhys Bowen in exchange for my honest review and opinions. I'm not a huge historical fiction fan but the cover and description of this caught my attention and I'm so glad it did. What a fantastic story that will captivate you and leave you thinking about the book long after you finish it. I definitely will be reading more Rhys Bowen in the near future.

Historical fiction is not my thing. I really tried but this did not work for me. I really wanted to like it

During a semester at the Sorbonne, British citizen Madeleine Grant falls for Giles Martin. Despite objections from their families, they start a happy life in Paris with their son, Olivier. But when World War II breaks out and the Nazis take over France, Madeleine and Olivier flee to London while Giles joins the Resistance.

As bombings increase in London, Madeleine sends Olivier to the countryside, only to tragically learn he's killed in a train bombing. Grief-stricken and wanting to help the war effort, Madeleine joins a group of French-speaking women trained as spies sent to France.

This novel follows the Martin family from Britain to France to Australia during World War II and afterward. It's a gripping story of love, sacrifice, war's horrors, and the hope that follows.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read The Paris Assignment.

The Paris Assignment by Rhys Bowen was not the book I was expecting. The story of Madeline’s time as a spy in France during WWII was entertaining. However, the story of her son was unexpected.

This is a standalone WWII historical fiction book. Madeleine is a Londoner who married a Frenchman and had a son. They go back to London just prior to the invasion of France, while Madeleine’s husband stays to join the army. After her son’s accidental death, Madeleine goes back to France working for the SOE and the Resistance.
5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

The writing is solid, creating a vivid atmosphere, but the plot is a mix of captivating moments and predictability. Characters are well-developed, though some lack depth. Pacing fluctuates, making it a decent but not outstanding read.

There were so many storylines packed into this that it made the story a bit of a mess.
So much was crammed in that it all felt superficial and poorly written. You cannot just chuck in a storyline about big topics like the Australian farm orphanages and only skim over it as this feels cheap to the reader and as if the author has only done the bare minimum with regards to research. The pacing was slow which made engaging with the story difficult yet the ending was super rushed. There were also a lot of issues with stilted dialogue and weird unrealistic character interactions that felt forced.
This was a hugely disappointing read and I wouldn't recommend picking it up.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

A story about WWII and Madeleine, a woman, wife, mother who face terrinble tragedy early in the story. She volunteers to help the resistance in France and she continues to face more struggles and challenges. What I enjoyed most about this story is that despite the horrific conditions and constant stuggles that come with war, as a reader, we are reminded that there is so much good and people willing to help.

A story of war that is woven together so beautifully to show the bravery, courage, determination and love of the human spirit.

When WWII starts, Madeline’s husband joins the resistance and is adamant she go to England with their son to stay there with her family. She reluctantly agrees becoming a teacher. However, she soon takes a government position that will take her back to France.

I think my expectations were different than what I read because of the synopsis. Madeline’s job in France doesn’t really happen until the last ⅓ of the book. I also felt like the Oliver storyline was weird. It just felt like a device to get Madeline to agree to go abroad. I wish Madeline didn’t have kids and then it could’ve focused more on her spy-work.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.