In this fantastic new World War II historical fiction novel, readers follow Paulette Leblanc as she seeks to atone for her mistakes by moving to Paris in 1942, the height of the occupation, to work for Sabine Ballard at her fashion house, Maison de Ballard, which doubles as a network of resistance fighters that includes Paulette’s new coworker Nicolle Cadieux. Readers follow Paulette as she discovers the fashion house’s secrets and gets the chance to earn redemption for her past and her mother’s arrest, but the SS are closing in and Paulette, Nicolle, and Sabine have hard decisions to make. Alternating between the three women’s perspectives, readers get the chance to explore the French resistance through this single cell, and the minor characters at the fashion house, in the circuit, and in the Nazi forces are well-written, complicated, and secretive (so readers have no idea who is a threat and who is an ally). The historical detail in this novel is absolutely fascinating, well-written, and thoroughly researched, and the characters really bring this fantastic historical setting to life. Engaging, intense, and high-stakes, this is a great new World War II historical fiction novel with incredible female protagonists that fans of the genre and Renee Ryan’s other books will love.

I really enjoyed this story. I like seeing all the ways people joined the resistance and helped those in need. I've read another of Ryan's books that is tied to this one and there is another that I need to read. I would recommend them all.

An interesting premise, however, I found that there were so many incredulous occurrences wound up making the story uninteresting. A girl with no sewing ability suddenly is able to sew and create elegant dresses? There are other examples, but I do not want to give the story away. I found it difficult to connect with the characters, although the bad guys were sufficiently bad. It may be a good book for some however, it was not for me.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Last Fashion House in Paris
by Renee Ryan
Pub DateDec 24 2024
Harlequin - Romance |Love Inspired Trade
Christian| Historical Fiction| Women's Fiction




Harelequin-Romance/Love Inspired and Netgalley sent me a copy of The Last Fashion House In Paris for review:

In the heart of occupied WWII Paris, an elegant fashion house serves as the unlikely headquarters of a daring resistance movement. It is a powerful story of survival, friendship, and second chances in which courageous women battle the Nazis behind closed doors.


France, 1942


As a child, Paulette Leblanc spent her days flirting, shopping, and sketching elegant dresses in her sketch pad. A reckless romance turned into a deep betrayal when German tanks rolled into France. After blaming herself for her mother's arrest by the Gestapo, Paulette is sent away to work for fashion designer Sabine Ballard in Paris.




Maison de Ballard, however, is not your average fashion house. While seamstresses create the perfect couture gowns, clandestine deals and secrets are being kept hidden. Nicolle Cadieux, Paulette's friend and coworker, is part of a vast network of resistance fighters escorting downed military men and Jewish families.




Paulette is soon recruited as a spy. After working as a seamstress by day and gathering information at glamorous parties by night, Paulette has a chance to redeem herself. Nicolle goes missing, and Paulette must make life-and-death decisions about who to trust, who to love, and who to leave behind...


I give the Last Fashion House five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.

Wonderful book about young woman in Paris during WW2. How I loved that the story was mostly about the woman, their survival and their own private rebellion against the Nazis who have invaded France. All the characters were lovable in their own way and I really enjoyed reading their journeys.

Paulette’s story was an interesting one to follow, from the naive girl who spent her days drawing dresses and shopping with her mother, to finding herself all alone in Paris, no longer welcome at home after a terrible mistake causes her mother to be arrested by the Gestapo. Working for her mother’s old friend, Sabine Ballard at her fashion house, she discovers that it is a front for a resistance network that gets people out of occupied France to safety, and she is determined to help and redeem herself.

I’ve been reading Renee Ryan’s books for a few years now, and I’ve always enjoyed them, so I requested this book the minute I saw it was available. The Last Fashion House in Paris was a huge improvement on the author’s previous books in my opinion. The writing was much better, the plot had me completely hooked and the narrative was more engaging too. There was also more on page action which I really appreciated as my main problem with the author’s previous books was that in keeping the focus on character arcs, there was less time for the plot itself. That said, it was kind of hard to believe that Paulette would have all these skills and be able to carry out such a dangerous job such as being a passeur with no training whatsoever.

I also loved the plot connection to The Paris Housekeeper, which I read last year. It took me a minute to place it, and it certainly wasn’t necessary to know in terms of understanding the plot, but I love finding Easter eggs like this in books! I still do have a few of Ryan’s books to catch up on, so I wonder if there are any more subtle connections between books. Hopefully I’ll get to those this year! I would definitely recommend this book for historical fiction fans!

Intriguing, daring, and a hard book to put down! The story centers around Paulette, a young woman who learns her lessons like so many of us the hard way. She makes a grave mistake and is sent to her mother's best friend's fashion house/business in France to start fresh. She meets many good people there and learns new skills. She ends up being an active participant as a spy in support of the French Resistance. The time period is set during World War II and describes the struggles the Jews and other countries had to endure. A story of betrayal, trust, forgiving, and forgetting. I believe you will enjoy this book over a nice cup of coffee. I look forward to reading more from this author. I received this e-book for free from Harlequin via NetGalley, and the opinions I express are honest and my own.

Ms. Ryan has done it again. She has given us a story that is very creative in its story telling, and also a story that you might not know happened. I knew that some fashion houses stayed open during the war, like Chanel, but not in this capacity. The whole premise is how a fashion houses can save many lives during WWII by smuggling them out of France so that the Gestapo didn’t harm them.

I simply adored a few of the characters, specifically Nicole and Sabine. There are others that you will fret about (especially their safety).

Renee Ryan’s latest historical fiction novel The Last Fashion House in Paris is a fabulous suspenseful story of redemption, forgiveness, adventure, and sisterhood.
As always Ryan research is impressive. She incorporated the resistance and their work in fashion houses during the war. They were one of the few French businesses that were permitted to be open since German wives desired garments designed for them by a Paris designer.


Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan was a captivating historical fiction novel that was both well written and well plotted. It took place in the early 1940’s in Reims, France and later in Paris, France. The Last Fashion House in Paris featured three strong female protagonists that dedicated themselves to upending the Nazi occupation in every way they were able to achieve no matter how dangerous it proved to be. This was a terrifying time to live through. Most of the fashion houses in Paris experienced many hardships including a lack of supplies and putting up with antisemitism from some of their customers. They also served as a source of cover for Resistance activities. The pace of The Last Fashion House in Paris was just right and often had me holding my breath to find out what was going to happen.

Paulette Leblanc was nearly twenty years old when the Nazis took over Chateau Fouche- Leblanc, her childhood home. The Nazis now had control over family’s vineyards and their champagne business. They helped themselves to the best and most valuable bottles of champagne without any shame or regret. When the Nazis first arrived in France, Paulette’s mother Helene commissioned new identity papers for herself. Helene Leblanc’s father had been Jewish and two of her grandparents were also Jewish. In the eyes of the Germans that made her Jewish. She hoped that her new identity papers would hide all that from the Nazis. They probably would have if one of the Nazis SS officers hadn’t lured Paulette with his charm and false promises of love making Paulette think that she could trust him with this information. Paulette thought she could trust Friedrich Weber, the SS officer who had seduced her, but she was sadly mistaken. Her mother was arrested and taken from their home. Paulette blamed herself for her mother’s fate. What had she done? Her mother was probably dead now because Paulette had fallen for the wrong kind of man and trusted him explicitly. To make matters even worse, Paulette’s older sister Gabrielle, was sending her away from the only home Paulette had ever known. Gabrielle had told Paulette that it was no longer safe for her to remain in Reims. Paulette was being sent to Paris. Sabine Ballard, one of Paulette’s mother’s dearest friends and owner of Maison de Ballard had agreed to take Paulette on as an apprentice and also to provide respectable lodgings for her. Paulette could not believe that she was being banished from her home, sister and grandmother. How would she cope with her guilt over her mother’s fate in this new life?

Once Paulette arrived at Maison de Ballard, Sabine Ballard greeted her warmly and immediately instructed Paulette that she would learn how to operate a sewing machine. This was not the position Paulette imagined for herself but she would work hard, learn and earn her place. At one time, Paulette and her mother had been customers at Maison de Ballard. Here she was now, being instructed to learn how to operate a sewing machine. Paulette had led a very sheltered and comfortable life until now. Then, shortly after Paulette had arrived, one of Sabine Ballard’s most accomplished and talented seamstresses, Nicolle Codieux, took Paulette under her wing. Nicolle not only instructed Paulette in every aspect that was required of the seamstresses that were employed by Mademoiselle Ballard’s fashion house but she became Paulette’s best friend and confidant. The two women learned to trust each other and they slowly started sharing some of the secrets that they had hidden from others. Paulette soon learned that Sabine Ballard’s Maison de Ballard was much more than just a fashion house. Sabine Ballard not only provided a safe place for her seamstresses to live but she was very involved with the resistance movement. She helped downed pilots escape from France so that they could continue to fight in the war against the Nazis. In addition, Sabine helped Jewish families escape from the Nazis and the atrocities they were committing against the Jews. She also gathered information that would be helpful for the allies. When Sabine thought that Paulette showed promise in her ability to help the resistance, she approached her and asked her if she was willing to help. Paulette was sent to attend parties that high level Nazi officers and their wives would be invited to. Many of these parties were held at the home of the French mobster, Guy Marcel, a very dangerous and intimidating man. Paulette’s, Nicolle’s and Sabine’s safety was compromised and challenged more than once. When missions started to take the wrong direction, Sabine suspected that there was a mole in her tight group of people she trusted. Who was responsible for leaking sensitive information to the enemy?

The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan described the role that a similar fashion house to the one portrayed in The Lat Fashion House in Paris played during the Nazi occupation of France during World War II. It portrayed the courage, determination and sacrifice that was made by these brave, selfless and dedicated women and men. Every time they attempted to help either a downed pilot or Jewish family find safety from the Nazis they put themselves in great danger. I loved the friendship that Paulette and Nicolle cultivated and the relationship that both Paulette and Nicolle forged with Sabine. Both Nicolle and Paulette came to look upon Sabine as a mother figure and Sabine regarded them as daughters. I really enjoyed the ending as well. The Last Fashion House in Paris focused on the themes of hope, secrets, survival, fashion and design, strength, loss, guilt, friendship, second chances and espionage. I look forward to reading more books by Renee Ryan and highly recommend this one.

Thank you to Love Inspired Trade for allowing me to read The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Two years ago, I discovered that I liked Renee Ryan’s style of writing. Sometime around then, I listened to The Widows of Salzburg. Because I listened to it rather than reading it, I was not able to write a review, although I enjoyed most of the story (except when someone was killed). This year, I was offered an advance copy of The Last Fashion House in Paris since I had reviewed The Secret Society of Salzburg.

I didn’t realize until I started reading The Last Fashion House in Paris that it is a sequel to The Widows of Salzburg.That immediately increased my interest in it—and for the most part, I was not disappointed. Paulette was a fairly minor character in the first book, except for her major, tragic mistake near the end, but this book is all about her. Suddenly, this spoiled teenager is on her own in a cruel world and must grow up.
The story is also about Nicolle and her underground work. That was fascinating. I think my interest in that started about 35 years ago when I picked up an old copy of a book called Paris Underground. In that book, a woman told about how she and a friend or two helped to spirit British airmen to safety. The Last Fashion House in Paris tells a fictionalized version of that work. It really brings occupied Paris to life.
This book is called Christian fiction. I did not find any references to faith, however. The general feel was clean, but there were no references that I noticed to belief in God and doing what they did because of that. It was more that there were people in need, and they were being helped in order to undermine the Nazis who had invaded the country. I did really enjoy the story and had a hard time putting it down. It is very well written and gripping!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
WARNING: I didn’t plan to write a review for this site, so didn’t keep detailed notes. It is a war story, so there are mentions of the Gestapo doing terrible things—although no details. There are references to the way German officers used women; one woman is a mistress to a high officer. There is also a lot of lying. The worst scene, in my opinion, was one where a woman killed a man in self-defense. There may have been a couple of kisses, but they didn’t stand out. For a war story containing two romances, it was pretty clean.

Set during WWII in occupied Paris at a fashion designer’s atelier, this story weaves together both design and resistance. Paulette joins a group of seamstress learning the trade at Maison de Ballard, but there is much more going on than meets the eye. She befriends Nicole and quickly gets involved with resistance work. Full of friendship, secrets and danger.

Thank you net galley for giving me this opportunity to read this book.
The story takes place in France during WWII.
Some of the characters are from the novel 'The Widows of Champagne'.
Paulette is the younger sister of Gabrielle. Paulette is involved with an older man who just happens to be a Nazi. Her sister, Gabrielle, doesn't like the relationship one bit and so, sends Paulette to Paris to work for Sabine Ballard's fashion house.
As you read this story you will find that the fashion house is like no other.
Paulette soon becomes friends with Nicolle one of her co-workers.
Nicolle helps families escort downed militay men and families to the safe zone in France.
On one of Nicolle's missions something goes horribly wrong and it's up to Paulette to find her co-worker/friend.
As was mentioned in the book - "people aren't whom they seem".
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which keptbme guessing if some of the characters were bad or good.

Paulette Leblanc had grown up in not worrying about anything, just concentrating on enjoying life by shopping, flirting with the boys and drawing dresses. Then Germans entered into France in 1942 and her life changed completely. Her mother is arrested by the Gestapo, their house is seized and her sister banishes her to Paris for work. Instead of drawing and modeling dresses and other clothes, Paulette is now forced to work as an apprentice seamstress for Mademoiselle Ballard. But the fashion house isn’t all that it seems like at all, it is in fact a front for part of the Resistance helping people to escape. Paulette wants to help but is hesitant after she was betrayed before but she knows she has to take a chance in order to save lives. She just hopes it is the right one. If you have read The Widows of Champagne by Renee Ryan before then you will recognize Paulette from that story. Now in this book it is her time to redeem herself.

Renee Ryan has managed to put together a book that takes you to the past where love, betrayal, trust and more pull you in and don’t let you leave until you have finished completely. Even then you find yourself wanting more.

This is a very moving story about several women fighting to get through Hitler's reign during World War II. Paulette, who was fooled into trusting a man she shouldn't have, seeks redemption by going to stay and work with her mother's good friend, Sabine, who is a very successful designer with her own fashion house. What Paulette doesn't know is that Sabine uses her business to cover the fact that she is helping Jewish people escape Paris once it becomes deadly for them to stay.



Nicolle, one of Sabine's workers in the fashion house, has become a trusted confidant and passeur, a transporter for Jewish people escaping. Sabine and Nicolle secure documents including new identities for them and Nicolle physically helps get the people to safety. Nicolle is dealing with her own heartbreak due to the war and finds comfort and purpose in saving as many lives as she can.



Paulette quickly learns the ropes and is taken into the secret part of the fashion house business. She is extremely willing to work, trying to atone for things she has done and things she believes she has done in the past. The relationships between these women are quite moving and inspirational.



The horrors of what the Jewish people went through and imagining a hometown become occupied and taken over is unfathomable, but it did happen. Ms. Ryan does an excellent job of bringing those feelings out and while I was saddened reading some of the story, I was also totally invested in what was going to happen to these characters.



I really enjoyed Ms. Ryan's other book, The Secret Society of Salzburg, too. I always enjoy an engrossing story that teaches me more about factual events, and this is one of those stories.



Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the advance copy. No review was required.

Normally for the month of December I would be hard pressed to read something that doesn’t evoke Christmas spirit. However this book was absolutely incredible and gripping. This historical fiction about Paulette and the Maison de Ballard was so fascinating that it had me going on “side quests” to learn about the French resistance and talking about it with my history loving husband. Paulette also grew as a character which was beautiful against the backdrop of war and the tasteful romance was so sweet. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own!

My first book by Renee Ryan did not disappoint and now I will read more.

This historical fiction novel provided a suspenseful story of the hope and survival after betrayal and loss during occupation of France during World War II.

We are introduced to three women and their efforts to resist the Nazis.

Paulette LeBlanc is sent to Paris by her sister, after an affair with a German soldier leads to her mother's arrest and disappearance. During her time in Paris, she is able to turn her life around by helping the resistance rescue those who are in danger like her mother.

Sabine Ballard is the best friend of Paulette's mother and owns a fashion house in Paris, She helps young women who have no place to go and puts them to work in her fashion house. Sabine is Jewish and knows she is at risk. After losing her own daughter to the Nazis, she becomes a central part of the resistance helping rescue Jews and English airman through a network to get them out of France.

Nicolle Cadieux, works at the fashion house and also works for Madam Sabine's network as a passeur, escorting English airmen trapped in Nazi territory, get back home. Nicolle lost her husband in the war and has hidden her son in with friends to hide his Jewish heritage.

I absolutely recommend this novel about strong women who suffered great tragedy in their lives, but didn't let that stop them from helping others. Instead they put their lives on the line to help save their country and the people they love.

Paulette Leblanc was a foolish young girl. When the Germans arrived in her village she was taken in by the attentions of an SS officer. Her actions led to the arrest and disappearance of her mother, who she believed had died at the German’s hand. As a result, her sister Gabrielle banished her from their home and sent her to Paris. A position was arranged with designer Sabine Ballard, a friend of her mother. Paulette was a daughter of privilege who had gone to the Maison de Ballard for fittings in the past, but now she was to become a seamstress. Shunned by the other workers, she is mentored by Nicolle Cadieux, a young widow. What Paulette does not know is that Sabine also runs a resistance network and Nicolle is her passeur, guiding Jews and downed Allied pilots to safety. As Paulette comes to terms with her mother’s disappearance, becomes more confident and develops her friendship with Nicolle she becomes more aware of the activities around her and Sabine recruits her. At first she attends parties attended by high ranking Nazis. With her aristocratic bearing, she blends in and is able to bring rumors and intelligence back to Sabine. She is accompanied by the husband of Sabine’s late daughter to keep her safe. When she observes him talking to the German who arrested her mother she questions the feelings that have been growing between them. One of Nicolle’s missions goes horribly wrong and it is up to Paulette to finally take on the role of passeur.

From a flirty teen to a capable designer and seamstress with the confidence to face the danger of discovery in her role for the resistance, Paulette is a wonderfully developed character. This is a story of second chances, as Sabine offers shelter to her workers who have nowhere else to go and works to rescue as many Jews as she can. It is also a second chance for Paulette to prove herself and find love. At times it displays the joys of friendship yet there are also moments of suspense and danger. Renee Ryan’s story is beautifully told and will stay with you long after the last page. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin/Love Inspired for providing this book.

Once, Paulette Leblanc spent her days flirting, shopping and drawing elegant dresses in her sketch pad. Then German tanks rolled into France, and a reckless romance turned into deep betrayal. Blaming herself for her mother’s arrest by the Gestapo, Paulette is sent away to begin a new life in Paris, working as apprentice to fashion designer Sabine Ballard.

I am in the minority on this one. My friend over at Silvers Reviews loved this book. You can see her review here. We usually agree on most of the books we read. In my opinion, this is more of a 3.5 stars rounded up. This is why I always say…read the book yourself.

This story dragged a good bit for me. And because of the holiday season and the festivities, this is probably my fault. I just had a hard time connecting to this story. Plus, I have read several WWII books lately and it may mean I need a change. Now, I did enjoy it. It was just a tad slow.

All of that being said…this has family drama, secrets. and intensity. Sabine is tough, smart and connected. Paulette starts out a bit naïve. But, she soon turns into a good resistance worker with a unique flair.

Need a good French Resistance tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Whenever I read a book about the German occupation in France during WWII, my heart just breaks for the people that had to endure such hardships at that time and what they were forced to become at a time the world turned upside down for them. Who knows what we would do ourselves to keep ourselves and our loved ones alive? I think just about anything! The author has meticulously researched this time in history and has written a few books about this time period. This is the latest one. I loved the characters and the emotions it made me feel. I connected with them on such a deep level. I ached for them when they had to do things they never would have done otherwise but for their country and their love of other humans, they did it. The French Resistance saved so many people and some who participated in it gave their lives for it.
We meet 3 women in this story - Paulette, Simone and Nicholle. Simone was the owner of a large fashion house in Paris that was allowed to continue operating during the occupation because it supplied many of the wealthy Germans and others with its clothing - both men & women. However, Simone, underneath it all, used it as a cover for French Resistance and was able to get many Jews and downed British pilots out of France. Paulette, after an affair with a Nazi and arrest of her mother, was banished from her home and sent to Simone to learn to work in the fashion industry but becomes a stronger woman as she works for the Resistance and overcomes her foolishness. Nicolle works in the fashion house and has a sad back story. She also works for the Resistance and becomes friends with Paulette. The lives of these 3 women intertwine as the war rages on and the threat of betrayal comes closer. Who is friend and who is foe? Wonderful story!