Such an outstanding historical read that absolutely keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. I loved the characters and the twist and turns in the books that kept me guessing until the end.
I highly recommend this book!

The French Kitchen is a beautifully written novel that blends historical fiction, mystery, and romance with the rich, sensory world of French cuisine. Kristy Cambron masterfully weaves a dual-timeline narrative, taking readers on an emotional journey through resilience, love, and the power of family. At its heart is Kat, a determined woman on a relentless quest to find her brother, a goal that anchors the entire story and keeps us deeply invested in her struggles and triumphs.

Initially, I found the constant movement between timelines and the pacing a bit challenging, and I considered giving the book a 4-star rating. But Kristy Cambron’s writing is just too good—I couldn't justify anything less than a 5. Midway through, I finally understood why she structured the story this way, and it made me appreciate it even more. The alternating timelines weren’t just a stylistic choice; they added layers of suspense and meaning that made the final revelations all the more satisfying.

Kat is an unforgettable protagonist. Her resilience is inspiring, especially in how she adapts to her hearing impairment by learning to read lips—an incredible display of ingenuity and strength. Following her journey was exhilarating as she navigated challenges most of us would never want to face.

The romance subplot was another highlight. It was touching, heartwarming, and intriguing, with just the right balance of suspense and mystery. And every scene felt intentional—no wasted moments, no filler.

I have to admit, I’ve only eaten French food once, and I wasn’t impressed. But after reading about the delicious and exquisite dishes in this book, I need to give it another try—soon!

I was also fascinated by Julia Child, who plays a role in the story. This was my first time reading about her, and I found myself researching her life, her masterpieces, her show, and even her service in the war.

This is my first time reading a Kristy Cambron novel, and it’s a masterclass in excellent writing. As a writer, I have so much to learn. Her style reminds me of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina—rich in subtext and nuanced storytelling that makes every scene feel layered with meaning. The way she wove historical details into the narrative without overwhelming the reader was masterful. I also appreciated how she used sensory details, especially in the descriptions of food, to immerse us in the setting.

Kat’s emotional journey was deeply compelling, and I admired how her resilience never wavered, even when she faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The romance was beautifully interwoven into the story—subtle yet powerful, never overshadowing the main plot but complementing it perfectly.

This book has left a lasting impression on me, both as a reader and as a writer. It’s the kind of story that lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page. I’ll definitely be checking out more of Kristy Cambron’s work!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A great historical fiction read spanning WWII and the years after.
I got a little confused and had to concentrate with the dual time line and dates but once I got into the book it became a seamless read.
I love cooking and I love historical fiction and this book ticked both of these.
Kat Harris joins the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in the hope of finding out what has happened to her brother Gavin. We meet a cast of characters while she is working for the resistance and cooking meals for high ranking Nazis. Following the war Kat returns to France to continue her search for what happened to her brother and many of the characters from her resistance work and war days reappear. Who can she trust?
Loved that Julia Child who actually worked for the OSS makes an appearance.
Lots of intrigue and twists to keep you reading into the night.

I love time travel, historical fiction, World War II settings, and Julia Childs. This book has the unique distinction of combining all four! This story is mainly set during the World War II time period and revolves around the lives of spies working for the French resistance. There are multiple storylines and a dual timeline which all tie together nicely for a satisfying conclusion.

Cambron has created a lovely story of love, betrayal, loss, and loyalty that will leave you guessing until the very end! Highly recommend!

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

Refreshing. That would be my word to describe this book. I don't normally read stories centered around World War II, but Kristy Cambron managed to do the unimaginable: she got me to read a book based on that theme TWICE! It was crazy from the prologue and the second half of the book. I could feel my emotions rising and falling. There are five main reasons why I loved "The French Kitchen."

First, who knew the kitchen would be a perfect place for a spy to be? I love it when authors play with seemingly ordinary activities and transform them into something epic. In this case, for both protagonists, it was life or death to do a good job and remain undetected. On many occasions, I admired each one's skill and determination, which brings me to my next point.

Second, Cambron has a great ability to create deeply human characters. Each one had a distinct personality and a defined purpose. Above all, the female protagonists stood out for me: Kat and Manon (honorable mention to Julia Child). Despite having different motivations, they fought strategically to seek justice or protect what they loved most. I really liked that the jobs they had at the beginning of the story were unconventional for a woman at that time. I also have to admit that the qualities or flaws she gave to other characters made them much more believable and relatable.

Third, there was an interesting plot development. Playing with two timelines piqued my curiosity to keep reading throughout the book. Despite knowing what had "supposedly" happened, it was satisfying to read that it had actually happened from the perspective of several characters without being in first-person. Plus, I couldn't wait to see when their paths would cross.

Fourth, and my favorite point, I LOVED that this book took a different approach to World War II. Simply exploring what happened afterward speaks volumes. Even certain historical figures like Julia Child appear. It wasn't just about surviving and escaping, but about finding the truth. Evaluate whether your gifts or talents should be used for a greater good. Can I let go of what happened as if it were nothing, or will I use those experiences to become a new person? What does letting go really mean? These are a couple of reflections I took away from the book.

Fifth, love can be expressed through more than one medium. There are sibling relationships, for which you would go to the ends of the earth to find. There are friendships that provide comfort and understanding in the midst of a desperate situation. There are people in love who would do anything to save you or be your rock. It's surprising how love was explored from so many angles.

Finally, the only thing I didn't like about the book was that there were several detailed descriptions in the first half, and some villains or antagonists were predictable. Aside from that, "The French Kitchen" is an exceptional read. It offers a different perspective on human behavior in one of the world's most memorable battles. It makes you want to know what the future holds for our beloved characters, along with delicious dishes. My biggest takeaway from all the chapters is: How are you going to live in the present? Don’t miss it!

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

Kristy Cambron writes the most beautiful, complex stories. She is masterful at writing seamless multiple timelines and her knowledge of the events, places and times is always flawlessly researched. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book and as expected I was immediately captivated by the characters, the intrigue, and the romance. I really liked the way real life people and events were beautifully woven in to the plot. Julia Child is such a quirky, interesting and enjoyable personality who paired so well with The French Kitchen's multifaceted main character Kat. The fascinating story moves back and forth between 1943 and the early 1950's mostly set in France during and post WWII. I am usually drawn to a favorite character in a story but that was impossible here because of the wonderfully complex cast of characters. The cover of the book is gorgeous and matches the story within. No doubt my favorite book this year and I'm willing to bet it still will be come August when it finally releases. Put this one on your must read list.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

WOW. Kristy Cambron brings another wonderful story of intrigue, history and wonderful characters to life in this book. It follows Kat as she gets into WWII and spying. She weaves this story if Kat with real life spy and chef Julia Childs story it is very interesting. If you like historical fiction that keeps you wanting more this is for you.nI really enjoyed this book. I received an arc copy to read and give my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange of my honest opinion. I've read every one of Kristy Cambrons books and she just keeps getting better. A wonderful split time story of intrigue, spies, romance, and a surprise I didn't expect. Julia Childs' part in the story just make it even better. Kristy puts such detail in her stories and I respect the amount of research that has to be involved. The ending was very satisfying. I don't know how she does it but I already can't wait for her next won! Highly recommend!

I LOVED this book! At first I got frustrated because it keeps switching to different years/periods of time & different people, but I think that was partly due to it being an ebook format. It would definitely be easier to read as a hard copy.

However, the author did such a fabulous job tying everything together, I ended up really enjoying the book & look forward to reading other books by this author!

I love to cook & watch cooking shows, so that aspect initially drew me to this book, which I have to say it wasn't as much about that, but it definitely was fun having Julia Child be a character in the book.

Great characters, great plot, surprising twists & more. You won't be disappointed!

(I received this as an ARC read. All opinions are my own.)

I always enjoy a historical fiction book and a duel timeline I learned things I didn’t while reading this story. I enjoyed the development of the characters also.
Thanks for the advanced copy NetGalley and the publisher.

The French Kitchen is a well written historical novel set during WWII. A dual timeline plot that is effortlessly woven. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advance digital copy. This is my unbiased review.

Terrific read with intrigue, spies, romance, with real people and events involved in the plot. Any reader who likes a good mystery may enjoy this one.

Unraveling the past in order to move forward in the present, the main character 'Kat' answers a cryptic telegram taking her back to France years after the war ends. The author skillfully leads the reader back and forth between two timelines--1943 and 1952--as pieces of the past come together to solve the puzzle of what happened to Kat's brother during the war.

Loved how the author mixed real people into the plot, especially Julia Child and the art of French cooking, and her role in the OSS during WWII. Her research on women in the OSS shines through in her characters and made the story feel plausible. The tension rises towards the end as the final piece falls into place and all is revealed.
Satisfying read overall. Not much spiritual content, but a good, clean read. Recommend!

I loved this book! At the beginning it was a bit confusing, but the timelines got clearer as the book continued. Well-written with interesting characters, this story kept my attention. There were unexpected twists, heart-wrenching details, and heroic moments. A clean and good WW2 novel. I also LOVED the kitchen/chef aspect of it. A chef myself, I enjoyed the kitchen atmosphere and the parts that Julia Child played. I recommend this book. 4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley & the published for an arc of this book. This is my honest opinion.

WWII novel about allied spies working in a hotel kitchen, and the turmoil they face in the aftermath of the war. Part of the story features Julia Childs as friends of one of the characters. Honestly, I found this a bit of a slog. The story was interesting, but a little confusing with the switching time lines and alias of the different characters.

This was a dual timeline book--but the timelines were fairly close. Only about 10-15 years apart. They follow the life of an American female who joins the spy ring agency during WW2 purely to find where her brother disappeared to. We see her in the 1950s in a "relationship" with a mysterious Captain from her times working in the war. A french captain who was a Vichy police supporter. But she has some kind of connection with him.

More gets revealed in the blasts from the past of her time during the war.

We also see the life of Manon--a french chef during WW2 working in a house occupied by Nazi elite officers. She tries to also participate covertly to help the French underground.

All the lives of these people get woven together throughout the book--but the overall plot is our American trying to find out the fate of her brother.

Although this is listed as a Christian fiction, don't expect it to have any inspirational insights or scripture. Just a clean read for WW2. Yep, another one of those.

4 Stars

*thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a copy of the novel. All opinions are 100% my own.

Can Kristy Cambron get any better? Yes, yes, she can!

At first, I wasn’t sure of The French Kitchen. It seemed to go in every direction except our main character, Kathryn (Kat) Harris, who was solid. I liked that she didn’t go with the crowd; she marched to her rhythm. Her character is multi-layered, and I connected to her in a way I don’t always with female characters.

The French Kitchen opens up with Kat undercover in the field with Xandre, who we’ll meet up with later in a surprising turn of events. The changing timelines at first were annoying, but as I continued, they didn’t bother me as much, and I found it necessary to the plotline to keep everything moving succinctly. I loved getting to know Manon, Gerard, Julia, and Dominique. As Kat’s search for her missing brother continued, the layers kept coming, and I never really knew what to expect, but the mystery and the intrigue of this time was attention-grabbing for me

My gratitude to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson. All opinions expressed are honest and mine.

This book was amazing! I love cooking and historical books and this was the perfect combination of both. The writing was wonderful. I highly recommend!

I enjoyed reading this story, though it took a bit to really get a hang of the characters and the jumping of the storyline. This type of timeline is one that makes ebook a less than ideal format for reading since you can't just flip back in the pages to remind yourself of times and places. I found that made this a bit more difficult to get into the story and characters.

Overall, it was a good story and I didn't mind reading it. I didn't find it memorable, though I enjoyed it. I am a bit underwhelmed since Julia Child is one of my favorite people from history and cooking and this is just, well, didn't really live up to what I expected. Not a bad read, just not my favorite.

The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron is a fascinating dual timeline story that takes place during the Nazi occupation in France 1943 and early 1950s in Paris after World War II.
I love historical fiction and this book delivers!!! I loved how the author weaves actual events into her amazing story. Julia Child, the famous French Chef, played an integral role as a spy in the French Resistance. Another main character, Manon, is a French Chef during the day, serving the Nazi’s and at night she is part of OSS, Office of Strategic Services, an underground network providing important information to the Americans. Another main character is Kat who joined the French Resistance to find her brother, Gavin, who also joined and went missing. Kat's knowledge of languages and her ability to read lips made her an invaluable asset to the OSS and she also posed as Célène, a kitchen maid at the Château du Broutel. She was very valuable as an undercover spy.
There are many well-developed characters, secrets and shocking circumstances in this story. I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for an advanced readers copy.

WWII, dual time lovers and those of you in love with France, you’re going to love this book.

I loved the setting of resistance work being done out of a kitchen in a castle full of Nazis. Bring in the OSS, Julia Child and numerous other characters, some intrigue, some villains and you have the potential for a great book.

What carries the story is the excellent writing, the setting, the relationships between the characters, and the aftermath in 1951. It gives a real feel for the effect of a war, way beyond the time it officially ended.

Initially I struggled to place the different characters in the different timelines. Unusual words such as “men in litzen” are found in several locations. Some conversations were puzzling to me and not as fully explained as maybe a reader would like.

Julia Child is portrayed just the way I remember her from her cooking shows, larger than life. Very well done! My favorite quote came from Julia, “To look back is not to lament all we’ve lost, but to see how past experiences have shaped us into who we are.”

I appreciate the sensitivity towards the culture of the country. There are several examples, one of them is Kat shouting Julia’s name across the market, something that’s not done in Europe and is specifically mentioned as very American. It’s a pleasure to see an American author, writing a story taking place on a different continent, be aware of the differences.

Excellent research as always. I’d highly recommend getting a copy and losing yourself in the pages of this book for hours. You’ll have withdrawal symptoms once you’re done!

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me with a free complimentary copy. A review was not required. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.