Paulette’s mother is presumed dead at the hands of the Gestapo because of a mistake Paulette mad. A secondary character in a previous book, she is here given a chance to explain herself. She is immersed in the world of Paris fashion and finds redemption with the escape lines. Her abilities seemed a little over-the-top, but made for an exciting story. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

I remember Paulette (rather unfavorably) from The Widows of Champagne. She’s now “banished” to Paris to work in the fashion house of her mother’s dearest friend, Madame Ballard. As Paulette begins her job, she meets Nicolle, a seamstress, and Phillipe who is Madame’s former son-in-law. Paulette grows and changes as she encounters firsthand the difficulties of the Jews left in 1942 France. It was good to see American Vivian Miller, Camille, and Rachel from The Paris Housemaid. There are twists and turns in the story as it comes to a conclusion. The epilogue is satisfying as the series is tied up. Suspenseful and a bit horrifying to read the treatment of the Jews by the Nazis, as well as the French people.

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

This was such an interesting and unique storyline! I really like the contrast of high society and fashion with espionage and spying on the Nazis.

**3.5 STARS**

Likes:

+ This story is about a resistance based out of a fashion house in Paris during World War II. We follow a few characters, most of them women, who brave this time to help soldiers and Jews escape occupied Paris.

+ The women in this book are taking very scary chances to help others but also to survive themselves as they watch their country turn on one another during Nazis occupation. I love how woman has a different story but similar heartbreak as they do what they can in war time. It is admirable and inspiring to see these women band together and use what power they have to help people.

+ There were some scenes, very few scenes with romance in it and I enjoyed it because it signaled hope for a better time. A slim hope for a future when the war ends. There are some twists in the story that I really enjoyed

Dislikes:

~ I felt like the ending was rushed, especially where the romance is concerned.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a very good read especially in times like these. The story of these women and men and their bravery to help those in danger is inspiring. If you like historical fiction, you might like this one.

In the WWII historical fiction canon, this is a mediocre, but fast-reading entry. The writing is fine, but these have to be some of the luckiest people who lived in Paris during this era. Paulette being able to sew dresses when she couldn't even sew a straight line is pretty implausible as was her ability to become a passeur with no training and when she was unfamiliar with the terrain. These made the book kind of implausible. As always though, I do thank NetGalley for letting me read the book in exchange for an honest review.

It is 1942. The world is at war. People are dying. Everything is betrayal and chaos. Paulette, once a young flirty girl, she now blames herself for her mother's arrest. Now she is working at a fashion house. But, there is more than fashion happening. Soon, Paulette is helping the resistance. However, she will soon be faced with choices she doesn't want to make. How will she navigate these waters? Told with Renee Ryan's usual style, very well done, as always. I would definitely recommend.

3 1/2 stars
I don't know. I felt oddly disappointed with this book. This is the first book I've read by Renee Ryan in a long time. The last book I read was a Love Inspired Historical my sister lent me years ago that I don't remember much of at all. So, I didn't completely know what to expect, but I was pretty excited about a story on a resistance network hidden by a fashion house. Her writing has amazingly evolved. It was really good. The writing was flawless, and the story was great. It had some suspense and mystery, renewing of relationships, and new friendships. I loved the focal point of the unlikely friendship between three women at different stages in life, but drawn together by the war. I really liked the three points of view from the women.
But I struggled to relate with the characters. Understandable, you may say. They were in a completely different situation. And you'd be right. But I just couldn't relate to the characters and some of their actions and decisions. And then, maybe I should have expected it by the book description, but I was surprised at the amount of promiscuity hinted at and accepted in the book for the sake of the resistance. It wasn't praised, and it wasn't explicitly detailed, but it was there, and it was accepted. The partying lifestyle was viewed as wrong, but something that had to be dealt with...it was normal for the war to turn good people bad in this way. And right when I was starting to get involved in the book, the next chapter had skipped two years, and then the very next chapter was actually the epilogue which skipped another six years. The author did a good job tying up all the loose strings, but even so, I felt slightly cheated. So many things were skipped and explained in a rush. I think this could have made a better series, rather than a single book.
My biggest quarrel with this book was the fact that it was advertised as Christian fiction, but I only found God mentioned through exclamations. The only other "Christian" aspect was several mentions of being raised in a convent, and a child being raised French Catholic rather than Jewish.
Overall, I really wanted to like this book, but I just felt like my expectations were too high perhaps. I think it was good historical fiction, thus my giving it three and a half stars. I wouldn't have been left so disappointed if it had been advertised as historical fiction rather than Christian fiction.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love that there are so many World War Two Historical Fiction books available. With each book I read I learn more. With each book I want to learn even more. The Last Fashion House in Paris gave me so much more. I was left speechless by the story and couldn't wait to start researching to gain knowledge.

I couldn't imagine not knowing who to trust. I couldn't imagine thinking "seeing is believing" but realizing it was all deception. There is a lot of rubbing elbows within the Paris circles. With every party attended those in the resistance risked their lives.

Sabine runs the last Fashion House in Paris. Under the cloak a haute couture she runs major resistance network. She doesn't just help downed pilots escape, but she is helping to save those of the Jewish community. Her actions create a lot of drama. There is a lot of risk for those assisting her. Reading about the escapes was nail biting. When a traitor is discovered I wanted to scream.

It was the talented writing of Renee Ryan convincing me that it was all very real. It was a fascinating read with losses but major victories. I can only hope that actual survivors of World War Two got to experience some of what the characters within The Last Fashion House in Paris enjoyed in the end.

Captivating! I simply could not put it down. The Last Fashion House in Paris can totally be read as a standalone, but it beautiful includes characters from two other stories: The Widows of Champagne The Paris Housekeeper by Author Renee Ryan. I highly recommend all three!

The Last Fashion House in Paris takes place in France during WWII and the heroic efforts of the resistance during the occupation of the Nazis.

"What have I done? Her mother was gone, made to disappear by the Nazis and their unquenchable hate for Jews. All because of Paulette. She'd thought her actions noble, even inspired."

Paulette LeBlanc is sent from the Fouche-LeBlanc Chateau in Reims France to Mademoiselle Sabine Ballard Fashion House in Paris to start over. We, the readers, are taken on a journey with Paulette as she learns to become a better person through hard work and finding purpose in her work for the resistance. She meets Nicolle, Andre, and Phillipe along the way.

Themes of combating evil, who to trust, things aren't always as they seem, betrayal, brutality, secrecy, friendship, love and loyalty. I loved it!

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin-Romance for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
This story takes place in occupied Paris, France during WWII. Paulette Leblanc is a young woman who is used to the good life. Unfortunately, she makes a terrible mistake, and her mother is captured by the Nazis. She is sent to a fashion house to work with fashion designer Sabine Ballard. She doesn't know it, but the fashion house is involved in the resistance network. She becomes a spy to help the network. I liked this book. At times, my heart was beating a little faster because I thought they were going to be caught. I can't imagine the courage it took to become part of the Resistance. There were so many people who put their life on the line to save others. The author ended the story with a lot of hope for all the characters that I had come to know so well. Highly recommend to all historical fiction lovers!

This was such a riveting read, the author had me page turning for answers.
This is a period of time that evil had spread it's wings over Europe, and we are there to witness some of the atrocities that were happening. We are in France and in one of the nations famous fashion Houses, and things are not always as you perceive, and people whom are not showing their true colors! Yes this is a time of War II, and we put faces to those whom help and those who collaborate with the enemy.
This a time of resistance and those whom trust the enemy! Some the characters are from previous reads, but this one can be read alone.
Whom do you trust, even with the most secure measures things go wrong!
I love the research the author did, and enjoyed her notes at the end!
So glad to read this, pray this never happens again!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin Romance, and was not required to give a positive review.

Paulette must leave home after an ill-fated affair with a Nazi. She joins a fashion house in Paris and also joins the resistance. Interesting historical fiction novel about how the fashion industry survived during war times. A very telling story ab0ut the risks many people took to help Jewish people during that time. Highly recommend this book for historical fiction and fashion fans. Thankful for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was a well written and researched book about WW two. I have read many books about this time period and the events surrounding it but this was a different book than the ones I've read. It was very original. Some of the characters were carried over from previous books but this can easily be read and enjoyed on it's own. I received an ARC copy of this book but the opinions are my own. I highly recommend reading this book.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader of this novel. This was a historical WWII fiction set in mainly Paris/France. I felt the style of writing was ok but there were lots of glimpses into the future that needed to be more than a glimpse for the reader to retain the knowledge. I liked how there were a few plot twists in the novel and really appreciated the authors note on the real history at the end.

Review coming soon!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Opinions are mine.

I have not read Renee Ryan in quite some time, but was intrigued by the summary of The Last Fashion House in Paris. Oh my goodness, it is a good book! I thought the first two chapters a bit slow, but by chapter three things really started moving! I loved the characters, the setting, the descriptions and the plot line.

The time line is Nazi occupied France. The story centers around Paulette who made a grave mistake in trusting her German lover with a family secret and leads to her mother being arrested and vanishing. Paulette's sister sends her to Paris to a fashion house run by her mother's best friend. Here she is humbled and feels she is doing penance to atone for her sins. Eventually, Paulette is given the chance to be a spy for a resistance network run by the fashion house designer, Mademoiselle Ballard. Here is something Paulette knows would make her mother proud!

I think anyone who loves Historical fiction will love The Last Fashion House is Paris! I loved following along as Paulette discovers her moxie and strength. I definitely recommend this book!

Lots of great aspects of WW2 in France going on in this book - fashion in Paris, gangsters making the most of the war, resistance espionage and escorting escapees out of the country. It showed well how sometimes things aren’t what they look like on the surface and often ethics or choices can be very grey. War blurs so many lines and makes things rarely black and white.

All the main themes worked really well tied all together pretty seamlessly. I liked the characters and perspectives of Paulette, Nicolle, and Sabine. I thought they complemented each other and I liked their storylines.

There were some weird transition gaps, missing details or jumps in scenes or character actions that would have made more sense if they were fleshed out more but maybe by the time the book is published it’ll be edited a little more.

The crossover between the other books was great but apparently it actually was more like a series, at least with The Widows of Champagne and this, and there were tie ins with Paris Housekeeper. I read Paris Housekeeper awhile ago but never Widows. I wish I’d known they were in sequence and were listed as an actual series so I could’ve read them that way. This one can stand alone, but it would’ve given more context to Paulette if I’d read the other first.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

Bravo!! This was definitely a true masterpiece to read! I have always been connected to the World War II era! Paulette is it true tale of redemption and bravery! I literally felt as if I was in her shoes whenever she had to make tough choices. I felt as if I was an actress, and this book was a movie! It's not easy coming back from mistakes that were never intentional. She allows some light to break through the shadows holding her back. I very much admired her for this! 📰

Paulette once had dreams! Dreams she did not see being torn away by enemies and more. When she sent away to a fashion house she learns not everything is as it seems. It is a resistance house! To fight against the Nazis and their schemes! 🫢

I really admire how the author dived into the survival mode/physiological aspect of the characters! There are decisions being made left and right and decisions we have come to see at certain turning points of the book and ones that I did not see coming. 🌌

I found family! War intrigue! Redemption at its peak and more!! You definitely need to read this book! It is a rare gem and will forever shine on my bookshelves! 🥳

Wonderful! 💗

I loved this one it showed us the inner workings of a fashion house during the war and also how the underground worked . It had engaging characters and was well plotted to keep you reading till the end .
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me review book

This is a very interesting read. Pauline, the star character, leaves her home in Reims, France for Paris and goes to work for a very good friend of her mother’s in the fashion industry. You get an inside look at what happened in the fashion industry inParis during World War II. Also a firsthand look at how the underground worked. It is well written, and all the characters are extremely interesting. It’s ties together nicely in the end, which is always a plus.