Review: Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman

Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Published: August 2020
 

Charlotte Foret is a woman living in Occupied France during World War II. She likes to say that "It had taken Hitler to maker her a Jew." With the help of a German soldier, she was able to survive that difficult time and make it to America with her daughter Vivi. Now working for a publishing house in New York and living at the top of her boss's building, she must navigate life with the questions her daughter has about the past and her future. The story goes back and forth from war time in 1942 and Charlotte's life 10 years later in 1952. Will Charlotte be able to answer her daughters questions, and why is everything such a big secret.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Historical Fiction is not one of my favorite genres, but every once in a while there is a book that really grabs your attention and sucks you in. This book wasn't that at first for me. I think what drew me to the story initially was her working in publishing in New York. That has always been a dream of mine. About 30% of the way through the book, I started to get interested in Charlotte and her past. It was very interesting. Books have been a part of her life, her whole life. Her father was in publishing and she is working at a bookstore in France and then full circle she gets to America and is in publishing.

Charlotte's story starts off really well and then takes a turn it really didn't have to in order for the story to be great. I don't want to go into more, without giving away too much. Overall, this book is about escaping, forbidden love, building a new life, loving your daughter, and facing the truths of your life.

SOMETHING TO ENJOY WHILE YOU READ:

FRENCH 75 COCKTAIL RECIPE

Ingredients

1 lemon

3 tablespoons (11/2 oz) gin

11/2 tablespoons (3/4 oz) fresh

lemon juice

1 tablespoon (1/ 2 oz) simple syrup

1 cup ice cubes

1/4 cup (2 oz) dry sparkling wine,

such as brut Champagne, chilled

Preparation

Slice peel from lemon in long, thin spiral. Reserve lemon and set peel aside.

Combine gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into chilled Champagne flute and top with sparkling wine.

Create lemon twist by curling lemon peel around finger. Garnish drink and serve immediately.

View all my reviews

To learn more about this book, or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

Review: Always by Sarah Jio

Always by Sarah Jio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kailey Cain is a reporter for the Herald in Seattle. She is engaged to Ryan Winston who is just about the perfect guy. One night while as they are leaving a restaurant after having a nice dinner, she gives her leftovers to a homeless man who looks strangely familiar. Soon she discovers the homeless man is Cade McAllister her estranged ex-boyfriend, but he doesn't recognize her as easily. What happened to him over the past ten years? Kailey is determined to find out, but at what cost.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine books for the opportunity to read and review this book Always, was a quick read that I found hard to put down. I had to know what was going to happen next. It captivated me from the beginning and held my attention throughout. This is not your typical love story and some of the story was a bit predictable, but I thought there was going to be a villain in the story. What would you do if your boyfriend seemed to just vanish off the face of the earth and then ten years later, here he is, homeless and very unclear of exactly who he is and how he got to be in this position. Would you risk your current relationship to save this other person who had no one else that could help him?

What a difficult decision forKailey to have to make. Everyone in her life is very supportive of the idea of her helping Cade including her fiancee, Ryan. But how much is going to be able to take and understand before it all becomes too much. You can feel for everyone involved in this situation, that it's messy and nearly impossible to figure out. But love always conquers all right and the love for the right man will shine through and guide Kailey to the right decision.

This is a great romantic book for all.

View all my reviews 






















Purchase a copy of this book for yourself by clicking the book cover below: