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.

@reneeryanbooks hooked me with The Paris Housekeeper. And her newest book #thelastfashionhouseofparis has continued the trend.
Paris has been taken over by evil men doing evil things. There are still those left in the city who are trying to do everything they can to keep hope and their fellow Parisians alive. A complex network operates with the head of Masion de Ballard, Sabine Ballard, at the helm. Nicolle, a seamstress and an operative in the network couriers downed RAF pilots and POWs out of France and into the free zone. Paulette trusted the wrong man and it had devastating consequences. Her sister sends her to Paris to work for Mademoiselle Ballard to keep her safe. Paulette will have a chance to redeem her past actions at the fashion house. But a mole in the network will threaten the woman and those who lm they seek to free.
This book loops in at least two other of the authors books, that I know of. One I have read and one I haven’t but you don’t need to have read the others to enjoy this one. I definitely will be going back and reading The Widows of Champagne.
Thank you to @harlequinbooks and @netgalley for providing me with a copy for review.
#bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #historicalfiction

With the Germans invading France the lives of many have changed. One young girl in particular Paulette Leblanc who lived the life of a carefree.young woman. Shopping .going out with boys and doesn’t realize some bad choices she makes. Especially when it comes to her sister Gabrielle whom Paulette has a falling out with . She is asked to leave once her mother is arrested by the Germans . Paulette blames herself for her mother’s arrest and leaves for Paris.

Mademoiselle Ballard a friend of Paulette's mother takes her in and trains her as a seamstress. Paulette in in a whole new world at the fashion house. Mademoiselle along with Nicolle Cadieux help Jewish families escape the Germans. These brave women put their lives on the line for others. Paulette sees what is happening and suddenly knows her life is truly about to change.

Amazing story of hope, compassion and courage by this network of women who strive to help mankind. Along the way there is betrayal by someone within the inner circle does not stop these women. What I liked about this story is you learn the backstory of each of these women. How the network came to be and why.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC along with the publisher. Very enlightening read.

Paulette Leblanc once spent her days shopping with her mother Hélène, drawing elegant dresses in her sketch pad and flirting with boys. When the Germans invade France, and her families Chateau Fouché-Leblanc in Champagne is seized and a naive Paulette makes a bad choice and trusts the wrong person.

She blames herself for her mother’s arrest by the gestapo, her older sister Gabrielle banishes her to Paris, to work for fashion designer Sabine at Maison de Ballard. Paulette is used to walking in the front door and instead she’s going to be an apprentice seamstress and not designing glamorous gowns like she assumed.

Mademoiselle Ballard offers shelter to women who need a job and a place to stay and is the head of a network of the resistance and Nicolle Cadieux is a seamstress by day and a night she escorts downed pilots and Jewish families to safety. Paulette is recruited as a spy, she hopes to make up for her mistakes and get even with the Germans. The SS are closing in, there’s a suspected mole in the network, it could be someone working at Maison de Ballard, and Nicolle goes missing.

With figures like Guy Marcel a member of the French underworld and Philippe Rochon lurking around and Paulette needs to work out who she can trust and this isn’t an easy thing to do with her history and tension in Paris.

I received a copy of The Last Fashion House in Paris from the publisher Harlequin Romance and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The narrative is set in 1942, three years after we first met Paulette’s character in Renee Ryan’s previous book The Widows of Champagne.

I’m glad the author decided to explore what happened to Paulette after her mother was arrested, the selfish young woman certainly changes in the latest story-line and it all ties together and in a conclusion I didn’t see coming. Five stars from me a historical saga about war, survival, secrets, friendship, second chances and making amends.

Fashion houses were the perfect setting for a resistance network as they had people coming and going, including German officer’s wives and mistresses and a reason to travel around delivering garments to customers. I highly recommend both The Last Fashion House in Paris and The Widows of Champagne.

The Last Fashion House in Paris is Renee Ryan's lasted historical fiction that takes place during WWII. Paulette is one of the daughters of a major Champagne house in France. Being immature, she falls in love with a Nazi. This brings about many problems for her family and is sent away from her home to Paris to work in the fashion house of her mother's friend, Sabine Ballard.

Paulette grows up quickly under the direction of Sabine. She knows nothing about the activities that take place in the house aside from fashion. She befriends Nicole who has many secrets of her own. Paulette will do anything to atone for her past and is hence brought into the resistance working with Sabine, Nicole and many others. There are many twists in the story and times when you are sitting on edge wondering what will happen.

The writing is good and flows smoothly. The characters leave you rooting for some and hating others. As with the other Renee Ryan books, this one hooks you in and doesn't let go until you discover all.

Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this newest Renee Ryan book. I highly recommend buying it when it is released in December,

How do you know if the person you are talking to is really who they appear to be?

You didn’t know for sure in occupied France.

We meet Paulette who found out you couldn’t trust a German officer she had fallen in love with, and then her sister forced her out of their home.

Luckily Paulette had a place to go. She went to a Paris fashion house headed by her mother’s best friend.

The fashion house was a busy place and one filled with Resistance workers. Paulette became involved.

Did she get too involved? Could her mother's friend protect her?

THE LAST FASHION HOUSE IN PARIS is another fabulous read by Ms. Ryan where we follow Paulette as she grows in confidence and helps save French citizens but at risks to herself and her fellow Resistance workers as well as friends.

We also get to learn about the fashion industry and how it survived during the war.

Historical fiction fans and fashion fans will not want to miss Ms. Ryan’s newest, well-researched gem. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

In 1942 occupied France,Paulette falls in love with a Nazi officer who betrays her. Her family banishes her to Paris, to work for her mother’s best friend, Sabine, who runs a respected fashion house. She painstakingly learns to sew couture gowns, but soon realizes the fashion house is a front for the French resistance. Determined to make amends, she risks her life to help Jews and others escape the Nazis.

This is a fast paced, heart wrenching story of danger,self sacrifice, revenge and redemption. It is a homage to the bravery of ordinary French citizens fighting to free their country from Nazi oppression.

I would like to thank Harlequin - Romance and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book and give my honest opinion. I downloaded this book and then quickly lost my kindle. The day I found it, I started reading it and could not put it down. This is the story of Paulette, a young girl who lived in the country side is sent off to Paris after a betrayal in her family and she goes to work for Maison de Ballard, one of the last fashion houses in Paris. Very soon after starting, Paulette finds out that there both Ballard and Nicolle (a coworker) are both in the resistance. This book has everything, intrigue, drama, scary bits, love, and fashion. The twist in the second to last chapter made me cry for a long time (no spoiler but things aren't all that they seem!) Do not hesitate to read thisbook!

The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan is World War II fiction at its best. This wonderful book offers us a compelling glimpse into the French resistance in World War II as well as the fashion scene in a city famous for its fashion world wide. This book addresses issues which were fresh and new in a genre which has so many different voices. I greatly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves clean, romantic, World War II fiction which also teaches us all much needed history.

The Last Fashion House in Paris takes place during the time period of the Nazi occupation of France, and tells the story of Paulette LeBlanc, who is banished from her home by her sister after she unwittingly spills a family secret - that her beloved mother is half Jewish - to her Nazi boyfriend, who has her promptly arrested. Paulette is sent to Paris to work for her mother's best friend, Mademoiselle Sabine Ballard, who owns her own fashion house in Paris. Mademoiselle is not just a savvy businesswoman, she is also an active member of the French resistance, working to help downed servicemen and Jews escape from occupied France. Paulette is encouraged to join the Resistance as she bonds with Mademoiselle, another "passeur" (Resistance helper/guide) named Nicolle, and with Philippe, the handsome widower of Sabine's deceased daughter. There is so much going on in this easy-to-read story - I found myself being pulled into the story right away. This is the third book I have read by Renee Ryan and I was pleased to see characters from her other novels in this one - I remembered Paulette from The Widows of Champagne and there's also Vivian, an American who was featured in The Paris Housekeeper. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very good! The writing was very good and it was so emotional. The author handled the tough stuff in the book really well.

WW2? check.
Persecution of the Jews? check
French Underground? check
Life in occupied Paris? check
Spies walking a narrow line? check
High fashion? check
Character growth? 100% check.
Great story about how people persevered through the occupation and living on the edge of a knife to help the Jews and all others like them survive? 100%.

In this story, I loved how we saw two points of view--and how they had to learn to trust each other and rely on each other to survive. The add in of being in the fashion world of France during WW2 was just extra. It never ceases to amaze me the depths of the risks that happened to protect the Jews during this time. I will never stop reading it because I need to be reminded of both how deep man's depravity can go towards other men--but also how much sacrifice men will make to allow others to survive.

*I was given a complimentary copy of the ARC by the publishers and Netgalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
I read a lot of WWII historical fiction as well as enjoying books about fashion design since I majored in Fashion Design when I started college. I enjoy reading about both. This book seemed a little abrupt as it rushed through the story, but it is okay as a complete story as well, detailing the lives of some of the people involved with the Resistance in France and the hazards they faced.

The Last Fashion House in Paris
by Renee Ryan
Publisher: Harlequin - Romance | Love Inspired Trade
Series: None but it does tie in characters from other novels
Rated: 4
Obtain: Borrow or buy
Back of the Book: “In the heart of occupied WWII Paris, an elegant fashion house is the unlikely headquarters of a daring resistance network. Behind closed doors, courageous women vie to save loved ones and strangers alike from the Nazis in this powerful story of survival, friendship and second chances.
France, 1942 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.
But Maison de Ballard is no ordinary fashion house. While seamstresses create the perfect couture gowns, clandestine deals and secrets take place out of sight. Mademoiselle Ballard is head of a vast network of resistance fighters—including Paulette’s coworker and friend Nicolle Cadieux—who help escort downed military men and Jewish families to safety.
Soon Paulette is recruited as a spy. Working as a seamstress by day, and gathering information at glamorous parties by night, Paulette at last has a chance to earn the redemption she craves. But as the SS closes in, and Nicolle goes missing, Paulette must make life-and-death decisions about who to trust, who to love, and who to leave behind…”

Impressions: Although this is a stand-alone novel you will find characters from other novels such as The Paris Housekeeper and The Widows of Champagne interwoven into the plot. Like Ryan's other novels, I found it hard to put this book down always wanting to read one more page. The plot was intriguing and the characters interesting. It is far too easy to look only at one's outward appearance but in this novel the war had everyone hiding something. Finding out that everyone was not who they seemed on the outside gave each person a depth to discover while reading. This was not a Christian novel and did not allude to anything spiritual. It did suggest sexual relationships but did not expand on any intimacy.

Quotes: “What makes one soul more worthy than another?” - This question of the sanctity of life is still on the minds of many today. From slavery to abortion, people have chosen to pick and choose who deserves to live and to what freedoms they have. I find it interesting and sad how this idea of the worth of life is still an issue today.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Terrific story set in 1940's France during the German Occupation. Fans of World War Two will want to add this to their reading lists! Overlapping the previous books in the series, but easy to read on its own.
Suspenseful in parts, with characters who make real history come alive, and a bit of romance. It is a tribute to the many people who formed the web of the French Resistance, risking their lives to help others escape, especially the brave women who worked as guides. They are inspirational and should not to be forgotten.
I was intrigued from the start as Paulette was sent to Paris in 1942, seeking a new start and personal redemption for past mistakes.
I loved Nicolle's character and backstory that comes into play. They both had good reasons for personal risk, and made the storyline interesting. I like how the author weaves in characters from the other books, adding another layer to their stories without giving much away. I couldn't read it fast enough hoping for a good ending. The epilogue gave a nice round out to the whole series. No real faith references, but a good, clean read. .
Recommend! Terrific read!

The Last Fashion House in Paris was a fanciful book that held my attention from the very beginning. France had been taken over by Hitler. Paulette's mother was Jewish. She had fallen in love with a German officer and had betrayed her mother to him which caused her mother to be taken away. Her sister, Gabrielle, decided to send her away from Reims to Paris to live with their mother's best friend, Mademoiselle Sophie Ballard, who owned a fashion house. Paulette had a dream of opening her own fashion house so working for Mademoiselle was like a dream come true.

Mademoiselle worked for the French Resistance. She had a woman working for her named Nicole who was a passeur. Her job was to rescue fallen British soldiers and see them out of France into Spain so they could get back home to England. After a while, She employed. Paulette to work for the resistance. She had her go to German parties and spy. She had a man named Rochon go to the parties to protect her. Before long, Paulette became a passeur. Her job was to see a Jewish mother and daughter into Spain.

While she was going to the German parties, Paulette ran into a German officer by the name of Wolfe who had been responsible for taking her mother away. Needless to say, she blatantly distrusted this man.

When Paulette and Rochon came back from her trip with the mother and daughter the Germans were at the fashion house. Mademoiselle's right hand woman, Genevieve, had been a mole and had sold her out. She didn't know about her resistance work, but she made up stories. She wanted to get her out of the fashion house so she could take over. When Paulette found out what she had done she was furious. But it wasn't long before Genevieve got busted by the Germans as well.

This book was both a drama and a love story. I thought the author did a stellar job with story development. And the characters were all totally believable. If I didn't know better I would think it was historical fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I gave it five stars.

A riveting novel of mystery, intrigue, love, and great courage. Beautiful and elegant Paulette Leblanc has grown up in wealth due to her family’s vineyards and the famous wine those vineyards make. When the Nazi’s take over her country and her home, Paulette is wooed by a handsome officer resulting in scandal and the arrest of her mother by the Gestapo. Facing guilt and grief, Paulette is sent to a fashion house in Paris. Determined to make a new life for herself, Paulette is apprenticed to the famous Sabine Ballard. As time goes by, Paulette begins to realize that not everything at the fashion house is as it seems. Secrets abound and danger lurks around every corner. Seeing something in Paulette that Paulette herself does not see, Mademoiselle Ballard recruits her to work in the Resistance. As Paulette grows ever entrenched in the world of the Nazis and Gestapo to gain intelligence, the more danger she finds herself in. After secrets are uncovered, Paulette will have to make decisions about who to save, and who to trust. When members of the Resistance start disappearing, Paulette vows to keep working to help Jewish people escape, even at the expense of her own life. The Last Fashion House in Paris is a novel that will have readers on the edge of their seats until the last word. Full of rich historic detail, Renee Ryan has woven together a novel that will captivate the hearts and minds of the reader. The depth of emotion and the journeys that each character must take is mesmerizing. It was also fascinating to see real life characters show up as well as some of the fictional characters in Ryan’s previous book, “The Paris Housekeeper.” The ending will leave readers breathless! I thank NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC of this book. I am not required to leave a positive review. All opinions within this review are my own.

I had recently read a soon to be published book about Coco Chanel and her relationship with the Nazis that allowed her to survive World War II. I was interested to see how The Last Fashion House in Paris, which is about the same time in history, would depict the French Resistance efforts. This novel is very good. The three main characters ( Paulette, Mme. Sabine, and Nicole, are complex women whose pasts mold them and prepare them to face the challenges of getting people to safety and interacting in the charged political world. The story is gripping and I couldn’t put it down.

1942-1944 Paris, France

It was a pleasant surprise to find characters from prior novels featured in this one.

After falling in love with a Nazi, Paulette is no longer welcome at home and goes to Paris to learn to be a seamstress. She is quickly accepted by the owner and one of the other seamstresses. But there is more happening with the dressmaker. Mademoiselle Ballard leads an elaborate network that work against the Nazi Regime.

The biggest takeaway is the emotion and risk that were taken by Parisians in helping Jews escape the city and country. The raw feeling of doing your best, but wondering if it's enough and wondering if you are next to be arrested. I cannot imagine the difficulty in navigating so many duplicitous co-workers and acquaintances. Who can be trusted and who cannot?

While the entire novel was good, the final 25% was incredibly suspenseful and page turning.

Another wonderful WWII novel by the author.