This was heartbreaking, tear inducing and yet beautiful. I loved the story, the characters, the dual pov... everything about it makes it worthy of 5 stars

A unforgettable novel and I shed bucket loads of tears. It's so gutwrenching and I really think it is one of the toughest stories that I have read but also one of the most honest and touching.

This was a good story that pulled me through and had me turning the pages. It takes place in past and present and alternate viewpoints.

Raya was forced to grow up quickly when she lost both her parents by the age of seventeen and had a younger brother to care for. Another responsibility leveled on her shoulders was the leather goods store that their parents had run. Then comes the Nazi occupation of France, making life even that much more difficult. Her brother is now out of the country attending school, and Raya is working with her best friend, Charlotte. But she and her parents are Jewish and forced from their home. Raya opens hers to them, secreting them away in a hidden crawl space.

During this time, she meets and falls hard for Nicholas, a journalist. He is also working with the Resistance. Their relationship becomes serious just as Raya is faced with a tragedy that will change her life forever, and it makes her future with Nicolas less certain.

As noted at the top of this review, there are chapters that take place in the present. These are when we're with Raya in a labor camp, and they are especially evocative and potent. I felt these chapters really sped up the pacing of the novel. It also doesn't seem to matter how many World War 2 novels I've read... I'm still disgusted and shocked by humans were treated during that dark time in history--worse than animals.

The Glovemaker's Daughter is a historical saga that tugs on the heartstrings and has you wishing for a happy ending.

Another fantastic book by Shari Ryan who is one of my favorite authors. The Glovemaker's Daughter was such a great World War II historical fiction book. It takes place in German occupied Paris. The main character Raya Paschal sends her younger brother off to Switzerland to pursue his college education, following the death of her parents. She manages her parent's shop that fashions custom made leather goods. Her best friend worked at the store and when the Nazis occupied Paris, she hides her friend and her friends' parents in a hidden room in the attic. She puts herself at risk each day to protect them and her baby girl.

She meets Nicolas, who is a member of the resistance. He vows to protect Raya and he begins to fall in love with her. Three German soldiers enter the shop one day and accuse her of providing a meeting place for the resistance in the tunnel under her store. Eventually, she is arrested and sent to a concentration camp. Her glovemaking skills helps her to survive the inhumane treatment.

What happens to Raya? Nicolas? Her baby? Her friend and parents? Such a heartfelt and emotional fiction story that shows courage, love, heartbreak, survival, and sacrifice! I highly recommend this new release by Shari Ryan. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Loved the book!!

I never tire of a good war story and this one is yet another one that grab my heart and got into my soul. The story of Raya, the decisions she makes to save her baby and how her life spans out once the Germans take her to a concentration camp.

This is such an emotional read but one I couldn't put down. It is a hard story but an essential story to read. The characters will get right into your heart and head, Not knowing will make you sit up and think. This is such a heart-wrenching book to read but I devoured it as I wanted to know what happened to Raya's baby.

A very poignant read and one I highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕣’𝕤 𝔻𝕒𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕖𝕣
𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝗝 𝗥𝘆𝗮𝗻
Historical Fiction
352 pages

Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs

All Raya has left is her parents’ leather shop and a brother who lives elsewhere. In Paris in 1943, she experiences life filled with German soldiers everywhere as she tries to run her store and hide her Jewish friend and her parents.

While all of this is happening, Raya meets someone special who disagrees with what is happening to Jews, as she does. Will she be able to keep her shop? Does the family she’s hiding get caught?

Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs

This was a sad and straight forward look at life in Paris during WWII. Those left in Paris felt the loss of their friends who had been taken to concentration camps. Those who were caught helping their Jewish friends were taken to concentration camps too.

The character that really stood out and grabbed me by the heartstrings was Raya, the main character. Her emotions bring on empathy as she tries her best to do what is best.

Time in the concentration camp wasn’t described in detail and wasn’t the main focus of the story. Even without it, I could feel the tension that the characters were experiencing.

Although this wasn’t a fast-moving story, it was excellent and worth the read. I have read numerous historical fiction books about the Holocaust. In each one, I learn something new that brings an even greater sadness to that period of time. In this case, it was those who weren’t Jewish but whose towns were invaded by German soldiers.

There is a rape in this story. It isn’t written in detail, but it is a big part of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing this ebook for me to read and review.

A very moving story about the atrocities of life in France with the Nazis during the Second World War. The bravery of those in the Resistance and those French people who helped Jewish families is part of this.
Sensitively written with the right amount of history, wonderful and interesting characters.
Love, heartbreak, endurance and hope are at the heart of this novel.
Really enjoyed this author’s latest book and recommend it. 4.5 stars

This novel had me reading to the late-night hours. I was so invested in Raya’s story.

Paris, 1943
Raya’s family own a leather shop and she is trying to save her families business after her parents die and her brother is in college. The Germans are running the streets and she is harboring a Jewish family. At the hands of a Nazi Raya is violated and becomes pregnant. Her boyfriend has no idea she was raped and thinks she betrayed him.

She is sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp and is struggling to survive. Her glove making skills come in handy at the camp. She has no idea what has happened to her baby or her boyfriend as she is taken from her shop.

Will she survive the camp? This novel is so hard to read, but at the same time so important. We must never forget.

What a heart-wrenching read.
Raya treats the shop as a family member, treating it with love and carrying on the traditions shown to her by her father. All that is spoiled when it’s tainted by the presence of German soldiers , one in particular! Raya is a selfless person who really needs to learn self preservation. Fortunately there is someone in the background watching out for her.
I’ll confess I wasn’t sure when I first started reading but it didn’t take long for me to review that thought, I loved it for various reasons, it was exciting, you could feel the love in the relationships wether they were neighbours, friends or family. My main thing was that I’m more used to feeling for the woman in a relationship, this time I actually cried for Nicolas, I could feel his pain. I’m sure I’ll be speaking about this book for a long time. Thank you.

Shari J. Ryan’s new book, The Glovemaker’s Daughter, explores life in Paris during the German occupation in World WarTwo. It provides the reader with a fascinating and heart wrenching insight into the persecution and suffering that the residents of the City of Lights endured with Jewish people being a specific target but no one was spared from the agony torment and emotional pain. The story opens with a brief prologue. It’s October 1943 and Raya has been imprisoned in Ravensbruck concentration camp. She continues to protest her innocence, the Germans do not believe her nor have they any time for her words or pleas. ’Pain is all I know now-a constant companion of this war’.

Throughout the book there are chapters from Raya’s point of view as she tries to survive the horrors of the camp. I had read of this camp before but still some of the descriptions and images that came to mind whilst reading were truly appalling. Yet they were essential in order to show what Raya was going through. ’The most unthinkable sacrifice a person can make is to give up their life hoping to save another’. That’s exactly what Raya did. But was it worth it and will she ever be able to survive the torture and brutality and return to those she loved or will Ravensbruck ensnare her indefinitely in its evil clutches?

The story then moves back to May 1942 and from that point on smoothly moves back and forth between the time leading up to Raya’s capture and the period where she is in the camp. The chapters move back and forth between her point of view and Nicolas’ which I thought was brilliant as it didn’t allow things to become one sided. Instead it allowed the reader to understand and comprehend the bigger picture as to what was going on. You could see what fuelled the main characters actions and you were also provided with a good insight into their thought processes and opinions.

Raya has been on her own in Paris since her brother Alix left for university in Switzerland. She had been a mother figure and protector to him since her mother passed away with her father having died many years previously. She wanted the best for Alix and she was the one who insisted he take up the university place. She takes comfort knowing that he is safe in Switzerland but at the same time she does long for company and to have someone to have her back. She has been independent for so long and the pressure of keeping the family leather goods shop running increases daily as life in Paris under German occupation becomes even more of a struggle.

The business has been in her family for generations and this is what attempts to sustain her through the difficult and challenging times. It is her reason for getting up every morning and even more so when laws are introduced banning Jews from living in certain areas and owning property. Life for the Jewish population of Paris has become untenable and soon round ups occur with families taken from their homes and they subsequently disappear with their eventual fates unknown. Raya throughout every part of the book always puts others first before herself. It’s one of the characteristics that define her and others can see these qualities in her also. She is selfless and courageous and constantly thinks of others safety but at times I thought she was just too foolhardy and needed to think of herself or else let others do that for her. After all, if she had been more careful she may not have ended up in the camp but then saying that at the same time she wouldn’t have stood by and let those she cared so deeply for suffer and in turn the worst befall them.

Charlette works alongside Raya in the shop making leather gloves and goods and doing any repairs. They have been best friends since school and share a special bond that makes them almost like sisters. When Charlette fails to turn up for work one day Raya goes to her family home where she finds Charlette and her parents in a state of fear and shock. Being Jewish they now must vacate their home and are to be branded Jews of Paris and wear a yellow star. Raya knows that this news is not good and here is where her selflessness and awareness of others comes into play. She offers the family a place to stay in her apartments above the shop. There is a secret room where they can be concealed for the duration of the war but doing this will put everyone’s lives in peril. But ‘with times of war, come stronger acts of devotion’. The fear of concealing people eats away at Raya and I thought she lived on her nerves for the majority of the book. At times she didn’t seem stable or strong enough to keep going as she always had to look over her shoulder and one day when Germans come to the shop, well, that alters the course of her life forever.

Alongside Raya’s chapters are chapters told from Nicolas’ viewpoint. He is a journalist for a Parisian newspaper although he is no longer free to write the stories he wishes. Censorship is in strict force and the realities of what is occurring on the streets of German occupied Paris are never allowed to be revealed in news articles. Nicolas feels curtailed in his profession but away from his job, he is a fighter and a battler determined to do his bit for his country in order to see the Germans gone from the city he loves. To this end he is involved in a Resistance group - the Lion Rebelles - who work underground delivering communications and engaging in actions that will hinder the Germans. Nicolas is always dogged, brave and determined in his actions and a man that you would want by your side in times of trouble and anxiety. He is fuelled by the actions of his father, he wants to do his best in every situation he finds himself in and does not want history to repeat itself.

When Raya and Nicolas meet on the street outside the shop one day there is an instant attraction between the pair which sparks off the pages of the book. Raya has an air of innocence about her when to comes to the romantic things in life and there is also an atmosphere of caution too. But I loved how the relationship developed between the pair. It felt genuine and natural and it was lovely to see some light amidst the darkness enshrouding them. ‘Like a deep root buried beneath soil, love doesn’t just die, it finds another path, to grow around whatever obstacle is in its way’. These words couldn’t be truer for both Raya and Nicolas and there are numerous obstacles placed in their way especially when the worst occurs regarding Raya. I detested what happened to her and one scene in particular was especially difficult to read. But again the word sacrifice plays a very important role here and I just wished that Raya wasn’t always trying to protect others and battle through on her own. If she was honest and shared the load a lot of suffering could have been prevented. But I suppose that is what makes Raya a special and remarkable character, that is the lengths she goes to, to protect those she loves.

The Glovemaker’s Daughter, although not my favourite book by Shari J. Ryan, was still a very good read. The storyline kept me turning the pages because I wanted to know the exact reasons as to why Raya ended up in the camp and of course would she make it out or would the suffering, degradation and emotional and physical agony prove too much for her? If you enjoy historical fiction than The Glovemaker’s Daughter is one for you as it is heartbreaking and suspenseful in equal measure.

I have no words to express how good this book was!!!
It was thoughtful, sad, sweet, and interesting & provided just the right amount of historical context especially about Paris during that time that just kept me at the edge of my set the entire time.
I finished it within a week, I would've finished it sooner but I had family visiting and so I had to steal in some chapters here and there between showing them around (much to my dismay).
This is exactly the kind of book I LOVE to read but I also like to pepper in some sweet comedy and romance in there just so it's not super heavy since a lot of the topics mentioned within the Glovemaker's Daughter could be heavy-hearted.
Overall, 4.5/5 for the story, character development & ambience.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

At first, I did not think I was going to like this novel as the writing style is very descriptive and I'm not normally a fan.
Lucky for me I kept going because it was a good read. I added Shari J. Rayn's books to my author list so I can read some past books.

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳."

Paris, May 1942- By the age of 17, Raya Pascal had lost both her parents and was left to care for her teenage brother. Her family has owned a custom leather goods shop for generations and she's keeping it running to make ends meet during the war. She was able to send her brother away to school in Switzerland before the Germans took over Paris but takes in her best friend's family when it becomes clear that Jewish citizens are being sent away. Raya's "present day" story is being told from Ravensbrück prison and her past and present eventually collide and we learn the complete story of what went wrong and the sacrifices she had to make.

The other main character is Nicolas, journalist and member of the French Resistance. He and Raya form a relationship and although both are strong and selfless, it may not be enough to keep them together forever.

Wow!! I read this book in less than 24 hours. This was my first book by Shari J. Ryan but won't be the last as I really enjoyed her writing style. WWII-era historical fiction can be truly heartbreaking and although this book had its moments, it was also a wonderful story of lasting love, sacrifice, endurance, and bravery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me access to the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Glovemaker's Daughter tells the tale of Raya Pascal, a kind young woman who, after her parents' passing, is left to carry on the family company and see to it that her younger brother fulfills his goals, even at the sacrifice of her own. She is desperate to protect her Jewish best friend and her parents from the impending roundups when the Germans invade and start implementing racial laws. She puts herself in danger by concealing them in a secret room in her house, but she will do whatever in her power to prevent anything bad from happening to them. She slightly lowers her guard when she meets Nicolas. She wants to do more to aid in the restoration of France's freedom and he is a member of the resistance. Her ability to knit gloves saves her alive when she is unjustly detained and transported to a camp, but her love for Nicolas and her outlook on the future keep her from giving up.
Nicolas wants to contribute to a free France, but he frequently finds himself at the wrong place when he is more needed in the other due to the need to protect Raya. When Raya is arrested, the unthinkable occurs, and it is too late to save her from the trap she slipped into. While she is away, he works to ensure the safety of this person Raya cares about while also looking for her.

Shari Ryan takes you to another time and continent in this amazing work of heart surrounding the holocaust and the French resistance. Shari makes you feel as if you are one of the characters and not just a reader, you are transported from the very first word until the last word. I found myself flipping through the pages, I couldn’t put this book down. I wanted to know what happened, often found myself waking up in the middle of the night and wanting to reach for this book so finish it. I have been highly recommending this book even though its just not released.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from NetGalley and this is my completely unbiased opinion on this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read such a beautiful piece of artwork.

This book was sad, happy and so we’ll written. It is perfect for any fans of historical fiction. Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “The Glovemaker’s Daughter”. This is a gripping tale that I couldn’t put down!
This book is told with two points of view.
Raya is living in Paris during WWII. She gets dragged to Ravensbruck leaving behind her infant daughter.
Nicolas is a journalist and Raya’s boyfriend. He works for the Resistance.
Shari Ryan did not shy away from the horrors of war. But this book was also filled with determination and a mother’s love.
I won't give away the ending but it tied up the story nicely. 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.

Happy Reading!

Raya finds solitude in her shop in Paris, it’s her safe place, and her favorite place to be. She finds herself alone these days and after her parents died, she sent her younger brother Alex to Zurich to get his teaching degree. The war is far from over and as the German’s close in on France, Raya is in extreme danger. Nicolas Bardot, whom she has become very fond of, worked for the Resistance and although she herself was not a member of the Resistance she did everything possible to help and protect Nicolas. When the Germans trashed her shop, she was arrested for working for the Resistance. She wondered if that horrible, frightening day would ever end. Her only hope was the man Nicolas whom she loved, and wondering if she would ever see him again.

The Glovemaker’s Daughter written by author Shari J. Ryan was a heart wrenching story of people that survived the most horrific of times. The hope that they never seemed to lose and the smallest bit of strength they held onto to survive was amazing to me. This heartbreaking story of love and endurance was a tough topic to read, but the author does an amazing job of bringing back together a lifetime of sorrow. The survival of those that lived through the horrible war, and survived, still warms my heart. Keep the Kleenex nearby because you will surely need it. I loved this story and I highly recommend it.

"𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕. 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆."

The Glovemaker's daughter is the story of Raya, a brave and selfless woman who put others' needs before her own and risked everything to keep her Jewish best friend and her parents safe from the Germans. She meets Nicholas who is a part of the resistance but Raya has yet to face her greatest challenge and her skill as a glovemaker keeps her alive when she is wrongly arrested.

I absolutely loved Raya and Nicholas. While their romance was endearing, it was heartbreaking to read about Raya's time at the concentration camp and the atrocities people faced at the hands of the German.

Shari Ryan has crafted an incredible tale of love, endurance and sacrifice. This wasn't an easy read but I would highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction. The book is out now and available on Kindle Unlimited.

Set mainly in Paris and Ravensbruck Concentration Camp during WWII this is an emotional and at times upsetting read. Told from multiple POV’s but mainly those of Raya Pasqual and Nicolas Bardot and in dual timelines, the present starting in 1943 and one year ago. Well written with a compelling storyline this was a good read.

Briefly, in the past Raya owns a leather goods shop and since the Nazi invasion of Paris she has been sheltering her best friend Charlette and her parents from the German soldiers. When she meets Nicholas, a journalist, the attraction is immediate and soon they are meeting on a regular basis. But their lives are shattered when Raya is arrested, accused of helping the resistance and sent to Ravensbruck.

The descriptions of Raya’s life in the camp are heart wrenching particularly as we know that the descriptions are a true testament to the atrocities committed by the Nazis in the camps. Raya is a great character, she is so much stronger than she realises, and always more concerned about others than herself. It’s a bittersweet story which acts as a reminder to everyone of the horrors committed during war and it’s a pity that lessons haven’t been learned. A very good read that kept me engaged from the shocking start to the end.

Raya Pasqual had been alone in the leather goods shop and her home above, ever since her parents had died and she'd sent her younger brother Alix to Zurich to obtain his teaching degree. Now with the Germans in close proximity, and terror in everyone's hearts, Raya took each day as it came. The young man she'd met, Nicolas Bardot, had become very special to her, and she to him. Nicolas worked with the Resistance, and while Raya did nothing with them, she knew what was going on. But the day the Germans trashed her shop and arrested her for working with the Resistance was the worst of her life. What would happen to Amalia? Would someone find her and keep her safe?

The next days and months at Ravensbruck were terrifying, exhausting and absolutely bereft of any hope. But somehow Raya stayed alive, with the desire of returning to Amalia and Nicolas always forefront in her mind. It seemed doubtful her hope would be fulfilled as death came closer each and every day...

The Glovemaker's Daughter is another breathtaking, heartbreaking rendition of WWII in Paris by Shari J. Ryan, about how the French people coped, what happened to the Jewish population in the two years between 1943 and 1945, and how a caring young woman kept strong in the face of all that was thrown at her and those she loved. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is another great book from an author that I look forward to reading and one that I will remember for some time. Emotional, heart-breaking, heart-warming, tense, horrifying, gripping and totally engaging and enthralling ... these are just a few of the superlatives I can use to describe this book.

The characters feel authentic and believable and I was completely transported into their lives and was totally invested in them and whilst this is a work of fiction, I have read many non-fiction books relating to the same subject matter and a lot of the experiences that Raya and the other characters endured, are a good representation of what 'real people' went through during that horrific time.

If you enjoy historical fiction, I would highly recommend this book and many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Glovemaker's Daughter.