Madeline Valette is the next sister to have her story told in Suzanne Kelman’s, Paris Sister’s series. Book one gave us brief glimpses of her where there were suggestions that she disappeared for periods of time which made me curious but all is revealed here. The story moves back and forth between two timelines, Paris during World War Two and the present day setting takes place in Britain and Germany. There was a lot of chopping and changing between the two periods but after a while I did become accustomed to the fact each chapter would be from a different viewpoint.

As the title The Bookseller of Paris suggests Madeleine runs her own bookshop, The Elegance of Ink (what a great name for a bookshop) in Paris. Her business is her sanctuary and anchor, a small island in a sea of instability following the death of her beloved husband Alex and the invasion of Paris by the Germans. Madeline cares for all her customers and without them and the bookshop she would be truly lost and adrift as the grief she feels is deep and long lasting.

Madeline receives a letter addressed to her late husband. It’s from a woman named Ada asking for help. It transpires that Ada was his former wife who resides in Berlin and she needs help in getting their half Jewish son Kurt out of Berlin. For the laws against Jews are increasing by the day and if captured Ada and her son will be sent to a camp. Madeleine is bereft when she reads this letter as she never knew Alex had been previously married let alone that he had a son. From the point of when she reads the letter this is where the reader sees the true grit, resilience and strength that Madeline possesses and this will be tested time and time again throughout the course of the story. Anyone else would have probably binned the letter and not given it any more thought. After all, it was a deceit by Alex, an omission of the truth and why should she take this burden on herself when all she is trying to do survive the war which has brought so much upheaval to the citizens of Paris and beyond. It took a lot of courage to decide that she would search for Kurt and bring him to Paris if she could and I admired her for taking on this quest which was relentless and put her in great danger many a time.

Soon Madeline is part of the Resistance and thanks to her American passport, courtesy of Alex’s heritage, she is able to slip in and out of Germany carrying back banned books and literature and using microfilm to copy important documents. At the same time she hopes to find news of Ada and Kurt's whereabouts. I thought it so incredibly brave that time and time again she slipped into the lion’s den. She could just have easily hidden herself in the bookshop continuing her daily life just trying to get by to the end of the war. Instead, she chose to put herself out there in the firing line and her trails lead her to Eichenwald, a beautiful house in Berlin where a Jewish family once lived but now is home to Frederick Mueller, a member of the Gestapo. When she learns important life altering information, Madeline doesn’t run from the source instead she wants to know more and finding Alex’s son and getting him to safety is always at the forefront of her mind.

The story takes a dark turn when we learn of Frederick and what he is capable of but in the middle when Madeline meets Jacob, the caretaker for the estate, I felt this was where a lull occurred. The same happened in the present day timeline also. It kind of came out of nowhere and dragged the plot down for a good chunk of the midway point of the book as I thought it transformed into a full blown love story and the aspects regarding espionage, spying and secret agents took a back seat as did the main crux of the story. Don’t get me wrong I know there is usually some form of romance in books in this genre and especially those that use the dual timeline format but I wanted more action, adventure and excitement and I found myself thinking oh I’m not enjoying this as much as the first book. With every turn of the page I was waiting for the pace to pick up again and then thankfully around the 75% mark it did and things got back on track and I found myself fully invested in the eventual outcome. Even, if at some points I found myself getting mixed up with some details regarding events or links establishing themselves between the past and the present. A reread of a couple of pages every so often helped me with this issue. Madeline became a warrior in her quest and I thought the way her story evolved became bittersweet, emotional and poignant.

Olivia is the character who we follow in the present and although I preferred Madeline’s story, the modern day aspect was still a vital cog in the overall wheel. Olivia has suffered from such emotional trauma in her past that she is still finding it difficult to reconcile and move on. When the details of what she went through emerge you can understand why she feels this way. She is an antiquarian bookseller and upon discovering a link to her families past in a sale lot of books she went to view, a whole can of worms is opened up. She questions everything she thought she knew about her family and one thing makes her think that she needs to delve deeper into the past. For what she learns surely can’t be true. A photograph and a bundle of letters has her setting out on her own quest as Madeline did all those years ago.

It was almost as if Olivia had a map that she had to follow, uncover the clues and hidden meanings and the answers she so desperately wanted regarding her heritage will make themselves known. In doing so she will connect with her grandfather Kurt who has remained an enigma for as long as she can remember. She tries to get through to him but he is cold, aloof and hurting so very deeply. He has blocked the trauma of past and refuses to unlock it. But Olivia is resolute and her journey takes her to Germany where she meets Markus and as mentioned previously this is where romance took over until things went back to familiar territory with the search. But what does Olivia uncover, and will this knowledge help bridge the gap between the past and present?

Reading Suzanne Kelman’s end notes I discovered that the character Of Madeline was based upon Adele Kibre, a woman who saved thousands of books and produced over 3,000 reels of microfilm smuggled from Nazi occupied territories. This made the admiration I had felt for Madeline grow even further. I love when stories are based upon real people as it sheds light on little known people who did so much so selflessly for the war effort. The epilogue to The Bookseller in Paris was fitting and emotional and it gave the story a resolute and conclusive ending. The literary themes throughout will bring a smile to your face and apart from the over reliance of romance halfway through I found this to be an engrossing and fascinating read which has left me eager to know which sister will feature in book three.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this dual timeline book, which is set in 1940 and 2011.

We read about Madeline, in Paris, whilst still mourning the loss of her husband, is keeping the bookshop going, hoping that books will distract the people from the war and how it’s causing tension.

Soon, she is enlisted to sneak books out of Berlin, putting herself in danger in the process.

We then read about Olivia in 2011, when she finds a photo of her grandmother, taken during the war, which raises lots of questions about her past. She decides to find out more about her background.

The stories of both Madeline and Olivia were exceptional, making you feel happy and sad for them and their courage.

The story kept you hooked throughout with everything that was happening.

I highly recommend this book.

A quick engaging read about finding one’s history from one POV and living that history in another POV.

I loved this book so much more than the first. The characters were easier to connect with, there was less going on but more drama and storytelling. The secret spy aspect was also engaging.

I also loved the unique POVs these stories have - one is from current day and one is from history.

This was close to a 5 star read for me but fell just short as I thought the ending was a bit rushed.

*ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and truthful review.

**posting to Tik Tok on 8/4 & 8/5 along with August month end review. Review also left on Goodreads.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awe inspiring book

well she did it again... suzanne kelman made me cry at the ending.....

told in a duel time line, the war years tell the tale of Madeline, a bookseller from paris and also known as the story keeper who helped to get thousands of books away from the germans and to safety, but along with that she also had to find her deceased husbands first wife and his child kurt....

the other time line is taken up with olivia, at a book sale olivia stumbles across photos hidden in some old books that are of her great grandmother and she vows to find out all she can about her.....

but she also wants to reunite her family with her estranged grandfather as she journeys to germany to deliver a book to one of the buyers she stumbles across devastating photos that hint at her grandfathers earlier life

what a tale this was... gripping in its entirety and with tears running down my face at the end... but what a ride...

cant wait for the next book in this series

This is quite the compelling series about sisters in Paris during WWII and their individuals and collective experiences.
Madeline has known a lot of heartache and will experience ever more but it’s set against the backdrop of love of books and patriotism for providing justice in the face of pernicious evil.
There’s much to read in this novel and it comes full circle at the end.
I always like reading the author’s note at the end because it provides keen insight to the story,

This dual time line historical romance is set in World War 2 and 2011. In the earlier time period the reader follows the story of Madeleine Valette who runs a bookshop in Paris whearas the more modern setting is about, Liv a young woman who reconnects with her grandfather whilst trying to trace his family history. A war orphan, Kurt has lived a solitary life in Scotland reluctant to have any contact with his family.
As the book progresses the author tells his story through Madeleine’s eyes and includes her wartime exploits as a member of the French Resistance with the codename of StoryKeeper.
As well as being an historical romance there is also plenty of excitement as the characters in the War try to evade the Nazis.
I liked both Madeleine and Liv, both damaged in different ways but trying to do their best. Both find love in the course of the novel which made the story all the more poignant.
I must admit that the ending moved me so much that I had tears in my eyes- it’s truly a beautiful story and I highly recommend it, particularly if you are a fan of historical books set in the war years.
I’ve read a few of Suzanne Kelman’s books and they’ve all been compelling and well researched so if you enjoy “The Bookseller of Paris”, I suggest you read some of her others too.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

Historical fiction at its finest! The dual timeline and having it base on a true story was absolute perfection! I highly recommend reading this book!

Madeline Valette runs a bookshop in Paris. It’s 1940 and the Germans have seized Paris. Madeline is trying to help her Jewish friends, but knows she can’t do this for long as she’s being watched.

Banned books need to be smuggled out of Berlin, before they are ruined. When the Resistance ask Madeline if she can help, she jumps at the chance, as she can use her job as a cover.

The book has two storylines and Livi has found some photographs and a book that belong to her estranged grandfather. Determined to find out about her family history, she embarks on a journey that has her wondering if she should leave things in the past.

This is a beautifully written story, that made me feel emotional at times.

Not just a book based on true events from WW2, it also has an element of romance too.

A powerful and heart-wrenching tale that can’t not tug on your heart strings.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

What. A. Book!

The Bookseller of Paris, the second installment in Suzanne Kelman’s Paris Sisters series, is a captivating read that deepens the mystery introduced in The Last Day in Paris. I devoured each book in a single day, unable to resist their allure.

Kelman’s storytelling is masterful, weaving together history, romance, and suspense into a compelling narrative. We follow Madeline Valette, a book-loving widow, and Olivia, a present-day historian and book dealer. A chance discovery at auction — something that can only happen in a book — a mysterious box secured after a fierce bidding war—propels Olivia's story forward. Inside, she uncovers a rare Hesse book, a collection of haunting poems, and a photograph that will forever change her life.

The novel beautifully intertwines Madeline's past with Olivia's present, creating a rich tapestry of characters and events. Both women are fully developed and captivating protagonists. With its blend of history, romance, suspense, and family drama, the novel keeps readers captivated as they root for both characters’ triumphs and empathize with their challenges. I found myself returning to the first book throughout reading to reference characters or situations that were threaded between the two books, which made the reading all the more richer.

A must-read for World War II enthusiasts, The Bookseller of Paris is a poignant exploration of the Holocaust and it's aftermath without graphic detail. It’s a story of hope and human connection that will stay with you long after the final page.

4.5 stars rounded up

This is the 2nd book in The Paris Sisters series, but could also be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel. It's a dual timeline WWII novel full of heartbreak, hope, courage, and healing. Characters from the first book make brief appearances and I can see already that this series is going to tie together nicely without being repetitive. Suzanne has a lovely writing style that draws you right in from the very first page and makes you feel like you are a part of the story.
I really connected with the main characters - they are well developed and their experiences are relatable. I enjoyed being part of Livi's healing journey and my heart broke for Kurt. I also had a few laughs along the way at his grumpy old man tendancies. I would have loved to have more of Kurt's story, but maybe that will be revisited later in the series! In the WWII timeline, my heart broke for Madeline and all that she endures. I think her timeline was my favourite out of the 2.
I enjoyed reading the author notes at the end of the book explaining what parts were based on fact.
If you're looking for a quick historical WWII novel based on fact that's insightful, has a touch of romance, and isn't too heavy, I highly recommend you pick up this book. I look forward to reading more in this series and continuing the journeys of the Valette sisters!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture publishers, and Suzanne Kelman for the opportunity to read an advance copy for review. My review is unbiased and all opinions are my own.

Was a powerful, heartbreaking read. I felt so as many emotions while I read this book.

This story is told in two POVs and in two different eras. Madeline Valette, owns a bookshop in Paris, in 1940. She's a widow, her husband, Alex, passed away unexpectedly. When Maddy gets a letter in the mail addressed to Alex, she never expected to read what was inside. Her husband's first wife, which Maddy, didn't know about, had a child with Alex, and she never told him. She was engaged to a German soldier and then he joined the Nazi's. But her son looks just like Alex, and Alex was Jewish. So she needs help getting out of the country. Madeline is determined to find that child. So with help from a friend in the US, she decides to help the Resistance and became a spy. Her code name was Story Keeper.

Jump ahead to the future, England 2011. Olivia, is a antiquarian. She loves researching rare books and finding out their history. Livi's been chasing down her great-grandmother's pictures and letters, that were found in a book at an auction. Livi's grandfather, Kurt, was that child that Madeline rescued almost 70 years ago. Due to her stubbornness, Livi refuses to give up until she gets closure for reclusive grandfather, who cut himself off of family and the world.

Putting together the pieces of this puzzle, was page turning. I loved it!

A definite must read!

*Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed this dual timeline World War 2 historical fiction. The author weaves a tale that about seven year old Kurt Armstrong and his escape from occupied Berlin. His mother knows that her son is in danger. His father is Jewish. Out of desperation he writes to Alex asking for his help.

Madeline mourns for her husband, Alex who died two years earlier. Imagine her surprise when he receives a letter telling him about Kurt. There is only one thing she can do, rescue a stepson she didn't know existed from an ex-wife that she never knew about it.

Madeline's determination to find Alex puts her in a unique situation to rescue banned books and documents. Trip after trip she searches for Alex as she smuggles books and film documenting books out of Germany under the guise of buying and selling books. The reader gets a small glimpse into the dangers those devoted to save a culture, a history encounter every day. Every breath may be the last. Every person encountered might turn you in.

In 2011, Kurt's granddaughter, Olivia, is at an estate auction. She stumbles across pictures of her Great-great grandmother Ada, some poetry and letters. Following Olivia's journey searching for the truth was the most exciting portion of the story. First she has to contact a grandfather she really doesn't know. Kurt has lived his life thinking he is the son of a monster. He has kept his distance. He had to keep his birthright secret.

Olivia goes to Germany searching for answers. I became obsessed with her discoveries. I devoured the stories. My heart broke for Jacob, a resistance worker that had been close to Madeline. It was so much fun watching her and Marcus solving puzzles. The were able to solve mysteries, and fill in gaps in Berlin's WW2 resistance history.

The Bookseller of Paris by Suzanne Kelman is an intriguing historical fiction book with dual timelines. Madeline is the owner of a bookshop in Paris during 1940. She begins to work with the Resistance by acquiring and hiding banned books from the Nazis. When a letter arrives addressed to her late husband, she discovers her husband has a son by another woman named Ada. Because her husband was Jewish, it puts his son in danger. Madeline begins a search to locate this woman and her son Kurt.
The story switches to 2011 where we find Livi who is an antique bookseller. At an auction she discovers a book containing a photograph of a woman who resembles her great grandmother. Livi sets out to find out more about her family’s past by reaching out to her grandfather.
This is a wonderful story of triumph over adversity, courage, love, and redemption. Both women in the story press on through difficult circumstances in a search for truth and forgiveness. It is heartwarming and heartbreaking at times. This story held my attention throughout. I love how both women in the story were steadfast in their search for meaning while facing discouraging and life-threatening obstacles. This book is a five-star read for sure.

I was asked by NetGalley to review this really well written and well researched World War 2 story.

it is 1940 in Paris and Madeline is running a bookshop that her late husband and her started - still stricken with grief and with the war and uncertaintly shewants books to comfort people and take them away from the war.

There is two timelines running through this story.

Madeline is recruited to smuggle books out of Berlin and even more dangerous she is hiding people from the Nazis also

In 2011 Olivia finds a photo of her grandmother during the war and wants to find out more about what her grandmother did during the war.

The book is remarkable, and of two women.

Recommended read

Going between two timelines, you learn the story of a young woman's origins.

Timeline #1 features Madeline, a young woman in Paris, widowed and the proprietor of a bookstore. She receives a letter addressed to her late husband begging he help his ex-wife get their son out of Germany. Madeline is blindsided as she did not know he's been married before and from the letter, he had no knowledge of a son. She feels compelled to help this women and hopes to fill a void with her step-son.

Timeline #2 features Livi, a thirty-something woman in London who discovers photos of her great-grandmother inside a book at an auction. She's disturbed to see her relative alongside a Nazi officer, seemingly in love. She decides to reach out to her estranged grandfather, Kurt, to learn more about her family's past.

Overall, the story was enjoyable and the plot moved along at a clip that kept me interested. There were times when things didn't fully make sense to me, especially when it came to motivators for Madeline and Livi.

What I did like was reading one person's take on how the women who risked their lives to smuggle out books and documents from Nazi-controlled areas. The characters and places were mostly fictional, but reading the author's note gives you the names of the people and places that inspired her.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

A dual time line novel about Madeline during WWII and Livie in 2011 - and Kurt the child that binds them. As is sometimes the case, the WWII timeline was more interesting than the later one and I would have been fine with an expanded WWII story and an epilogue about what happened. That said, I admired Madeline for her bravery and for the fact that she went into Germany to find her husband's son-something very few can imagine doing much less would have done. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of the genre.

A story of love, betrayal and war. Written in two timelines by the talented Ms. Kelman whose stories are filled with passion, bravery and forgiveness. They are based on great women of the past. And true to form, once again, Suzanne has enchanted, inspired and educated me with her latest outstanding war rendition The Bookseller of Paris with characters that lept off the page, found a way into my heart and made me feel a multitude of emotions.

In the historical timeline, we meet Madeline who is modelled after real life heroine, Adele Kibre, an exceptional spy chosen to preserve knowledge by the Allies during WW2. This woman successfully and bravely carried important material across enemy lines. She had numerous connections with bookstores, libraries and underground groups and navigated through some dangerous territory. Microfilm was the key and Adele learned micro-photography to take shots of important documents. She had an amazing life of service and it is easy to see why she sparked Ms Kelman’s story.

Fictional character, Madeline is a symbol of bravery and resilience. She is a Parisian bookseller. But she is so much more. She is a preserver and protector of stories, history and other important reading material—keeping hope alive in readers’ hearts. Which is why she gets the code name Story Keeper when she becomes a Resistance agent. She is a woman of action and we witness her dedication. Besides her Resistance duties, she also is on another mission that involves her late husband. After receiving a letter from a German woman named Ada, she learns her husband was married before and has a son. After recovering from the initial shock, she vows to find Ada and her part-Jewish son, Kurt, and save them. What follows are some nail biting events that kept me on the edge of my seat!

In the more recent timeline, we learn about this boy who is now an old man and a grandfather to another point of view character, Livi. His scars are evident from the events he witnessed. Much healing is needed. His granddaughter, in pursuit of answers, discovers who was his father. This knowledge will set him free from the torments of his greatest fears. And Livi will uncover the missing piece of her own life.

I have not mentioned the romantic elements of this novel. But yes, there are some wonderful relationships in both timelines of couples that I admired. I won’t delve into that area for the review, though, but rather leave it for the reader to enjoy! There are some beautiful and heartbreaking moments romantically.

During the reading of this novel, I was reminded of an article ‘How the American Librarians Helped Defeat the Nazis’ and was amazed at how they used their skills to gather and share intelligence with Allied forces. These women played an important role that we must never forget for they have left behind a great legacy of knowledge as a result of their courageous acts.

The Bookseller of Paris is another excellent story by Suzanne Kelman that provides an unforgettable experience. This is a glorious tribute to the story keepers of the past. The cast of characters are memorable, the plot has many twists and reveals and many scenes are haunting. The poetic prose is beautifully rendered. I had to keep a box of tissues close by as my eyes were constantly fighting back the tears. It is obvious this story is close to the author’s heart as her sincerity and love for her characters shine through. 5 Stars for an Epic reading experience. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.

historical-fiction, historical-figures, historical-places-events, history-and-culture, historical-setting, widow, friends, friendship, relatives, dual-perspectives, dual-time-frames, due-diligence, France, Germany, books, bookseller, grief, London, resilience, resistance-efforts, self-identity, smuggling, women's-fiction, fiction****

The story of each woman is compelling and convincing. For Madeline it is the years of WW2 and her smuggling of books between Germany and Paris. For Olivia it is 2011 and primarily in London where a chance encounter with a book at auction makes her question her own past. In each story, there is the need to find a young Jewish boy to whom she has ties. The struggle for each examines how self-perceptions changed for each woman. But. I feel they might have been more moving if sequential rather than entwined.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you.

The Bookseller of Paris is the gripping story that has two strong women featured.

Its 1940 in Paris and Madeline grieving for her late husband continues to run their bookshop hoping that books will continue to give people comfort and a distraction from the stress of the war.

Madeline is recruited to smuggle books out of Berlin as well as putting herself in even greater danger hiding people from the Nazis.

In 2011 we met Olivia who is finds a photo of her grandmother during the war which raises many questions and she is on a mission to learn more of heritage.

Both women have remarkable stories and I cheered for them both, I cried for them both but most of all I admired them.

The tension mounts with every chapter.

Suzanne Kelman is a master of bringing history to life and The Bookseller of Paris is no exception.

Highly recommend The Paris Sisters series or any book by Suzanne Kelman.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the privilege of reading and reviewing The Bookseller of Paris.

An enjoyable read. An original WW2 story based on real events and characters. The actions of those involved show how brave some of these people were. A nice link between WW2 and current day. A god summer read.