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20th Century #5
The Last Romantics
THE LAST ROMANTICSQUALITY FICTION FOR WOMENby NYTimes bestselling author Ruth HarrisA passionate and sweeping historical romance set in the glittering capitals of Paris and New York between the end of World War I in 1918 and the beginning of World War II in 1940.Kim Hendricks is American, a legendary war reporter and celebrated novelist, a daring big game hunter, glamorous but dangerously flawed. Nicole Redon is French, a gifted fashion designer whose shocking and revolutionary ideas changed the image of women around the world. She is beautiful, charming, lonely, haunted.He confronts a devastating tragedy. She guards a desperate secret. They meet by chance and pursue their star-crossed romance in New York and Paris, on safari in Africa, in glamorous resorts on the French Riviera and the savage blood-drenched front lines of two world wars.They were the last romantics, the first contemporaries. Destiny brought them together but would fate—and the tides of history—keep them apart?“These fascinating and complex characters will remind some of Ernest Hemingway and Coco Chanel.â€â€œA first-rate love story. I wanted it to go on forever.†Joyce Elbert"Terrific! Full of adventure and love." -- Patricia Bosworth
Mass Market Paperback
First published April 28, 1980
58 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Harris
23 books36 followersRuth Harris is a New York Times and Amazon bestselling author and a Romantic Times award winner for “best contemporary.” Ruth’s emotional, entertaining fiction has topped Amazon’s Movers and Shakers list and her highly praised novels have sold millions of copies in hard cover, paperback and ebook editions, been translated into 19 languages, sold in 30 countries, and were prominent selections of leading book clubs including the Literary Guild and the Book Of The Month Club. In their e-book editions, Ruth's novels have been featured on Ereader News Today, Pixel of Ink and Kindle Nation Daily.
Ruth writes about strong, savvy, smart and witty women who struggle to succeed and, when sometimes they don’t get what they want, they find something even better along the way. Critics have compared Ruth to Nora Ephron and Joan Didion and called her books "brilliant," “steamy,” "stylishly written," ”richly plotted,” “first-class entertainment” and “a sure thing.”
With her husband, Michael, Ruth indulges her wild side and writes bestselling thrillers with vivid characters, international backgrounds and compelling plots. Their thrillers have made numerous appearances in the top 3 of Kindle’s prestigious Movers & Shakers list; in the Top 100 in the Kindle Store; Hooked has appeared continually on three Medical bestseller lists since its publication; #1 and #2 on two different Political bestseller lists; #14 on the Thrillers bestseller list.
Publisher’s Weekly called Ruth's and Michael's thrillers "Slick and sexy [with] all the sure elements of a big seller written by pros who know how to tell a story.” Readers have raved, calling their books “awesome,” “gripping,” “chilling,” “a must-read,” and “a real page-turner.”
It's no surprise Ruth is a writer. Her Mom was an RN who had a trove of big-city hospital stories—some funny, some sad, some touching—and told them with great style. Her Dad loved words, word play and language (Ruth still has his collection of dictionaries) and he is remembered by those who knew him as "always reading." Ruth's paternal grandfather was noted for his extensive library and both her parents were avid readers: her Mom loved popular fiction and her Dad bought four or five newspapers every day and subscribed to what seemed to be every magazine published—from Life and Look to BusinessWeek and Organic Gardening.
As a girl, Ruth wanted to be a professional ice skater. In her teens, she wanted to be a lawyer—a summer job in a law office cured her! After college, she got a beginner's job in publishing and her career path—first as an editor and then as a writer—was set.
Ruth writes about strong, savvy, smart and witty women who struggle to succeed and, when sometimes they don’t get what they want, they find something even better along the way. Critics have compared Ruth to Nora Ephron and Joan Didion and called her books "brilliant," “steamy,” "stylishly written," ”richly plotted,” “first-class entertainment” and “a sure thing.”
With her husband, Michael, Ruth indulges her wild side and writes bestselling thrillers with vivid characters, international backgrounds and compelling plots. Their thrillers have made numerous appearances in the top 3 of Kindle’s prestigious Movers & Shakers list; in the Top 100 in the Kindle Store; Hooked has appeared continually on three Medical bestseller lists since its publication; #1 and #2 on two different Political bestseller lists; #14 on the Thrillers bestseller list.
Publisher’s Weekly called Ruth's and Michael's thrillers "Slick and sexy [with] all the sure elements of a big seller written by pros who know how to tell a story.” Readers have raved, calling their books “awesome,” “gripping,” “chilling,” “a must-read,” and “a real page-turner.”
It's no surprise Ruth is a writer. Her Mom was an RN who had a trove of big-city hospital stories—some funny, some sad, some touching—and told them with great style. Her Dad loved words, word play and language (Ruth still has his collection of dictionaries) and he is remembered by those who knew him as "always reading." Ruth's paternal grandfather was noted for his extensive library and both her parents were avid readers: her Mom loved popular fiction and her Dad bought four or five newspapers every day and subscribed to what seemed to be every magazine published—from Life and Look to BusinessWeek and Organic Gardening.
As a girl, Ruth wanted to be a professional ice skater. In her teens, she wanted to be a lawyer—a summer job in a law office cured her! After college, she got a beginner's job in publishing and her career path—first as an editor and then as a writer—was set.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 29, 2011
I recently read the Ruth Harris book, The Last Romantics. It is the epic story of a love affair between an up and coming Paris fashion designer, Nichole Redon and a novelist/reporter from the US, McKim Hendricks.
The story follows Nichole and Kim through life as they meet quite by chance, on the street in London, just before he is to return to the United States and marry the woman of his father’s expectations. It is a once, in a lifetime, love at first site, meeting. They are both quite taken with each other.
Both characters are artistic in their own right and become famous, Nichole for her dress designs that take women into a very modern sleek silhouette, and Kim for his novels and eventually for his reporting on the war.
The story follows the ebbs and flows of their love story and the ups and downs of their lives.
I found the story hard to read at times due to my own personal convictions regarding marriage, and affairs. I wanted to project those convictions on the main characters and get a feel good, happily ever after into the story. While there are many happier times in the story, Mrs. Harris does not leave out the tragedy that so often comes in life and shapes the people her characters are.
If you love epic romances, this is one you will enjoy. I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for my review.
The story follows Nichole and Kim through life as they meet quite by chance, on the street in London, just before he is to return to the United States and marry the woman of his father’s expectations. It is a once, in a lifetime, love at first site, meeting. They are both quite taken with each other.
Both characters are artistic in their own right and become famous, Nichole for her dress designs that take women into a very modern sleek silhouette, and Kim for his novels and eventually for his reporting on the war.
The story follows the ebbs and flows of their love story and the ups and downs of their lives.
I found the story hard to read at times due to my own personal convictions regarding marriage, and affairs. I wanted to project those convictions on the main characters and get a feel good, happily ever after into the story. While there are many happier times in the story, Mrs. Harris does not leave out the tragedy that so often comes in life and shapes the people her characters are.
If you love epic romances, this is one you will enjoy. I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for my review.
Read
July 5, 2016I thought it was okay at first.
Then I decided it was slow and I didn't like the flow. I wanted to
Like it but just couldn't.
Then I decided it was slow and I didn't like the flow. I wanted to
Like it but just couldn't.
December 11, 2022
THE LAST ROMANTICS is set in the glittering capitals of Paris and New York during the champagne-fizzed, romantic and roaring 1920's.
Kim Hendricks is American, a legendary war reporter and celebrated novelist, a daring big game hunter, glamorous and romantic, but tragically flawed.
Nicole Redon is French, a talented fashion designer whose shocking designs influence women around the world. She is beautiful, charming, lonely, haunted.
Kim confronts a devastating tragedy. Nicole guards a desperate secret. They meet by chance and pursue their star-crossed romance in New York and Paris, on safari in Africa, in glamorous resorts on the French Riviera and the savage blood-drenched front lines of two world wars.
Kim Hendricks is American, a legendary war reporter and celebrated novelist, a daring big game hunter, glamorous and romantic, but tragically flawed.
Nicole Redon is French, a talented fashion designer whose shocking designs influence women around the world. She is beautiful, charming, lonely, haunted.
Kim confronts a devastating tragedy. Nicole guards a desperate secret. They meet by chance and pursue their star-crossed romance in New York and Paris, on safari in Africa, in glamorous resorts on the French Riviera and the savage blood-drenched front lines of two world wars.
March 23, 2018
I just wonder if Ruth couldn't find a topic to write about and decided to write about some famous characters, i.e. Coco Chanel and Ernest Hemingway with different names and slightly different themes. It doesn't bother me as I enjoyed the book and it was interesting to read what the period was like between the 1st World War and the 2nd World War, the depression and how much money there was been thrown around and the way the Rich and Famous lived. I also liked the style of writing, to the point and no long explanations! But I guess its not to everyone's taste.
June 3, 2020
The Last Romantics, A Paris Love Story (Park Avenue Series Book 5)
The love story of Kim and Nicole. Nicole is a Parisian fashion designer and Kim is a American news reporter and author. From the roaring 20 ur the begin of World War II. Nicole and Kim love each other but never could make it to the alter. Ok story.
The love story of Kim and Nicole. Nicole is a Parisian fashion designer and Kim is a American news reporter and author. From the roaring 20 ur the begin of World War II. Nicole and Kim love each other but never could make it to the alter. Ok story.
January 6, 2019
Wanted to love this book but really had to force myself through much of it. Loved the glimpse into the time periods but felt the pace really dragged at many points.
April 13, 2019
An exceptionally well written book!
March 16, 2023
Eu DUVIDO que os livros do kim sejam bons o suficiente, ou o próprio Kim seja talentoso o suficiente para essas mulheres terem se sujeitado a tudo isso.
September 18, 2022
I liked this book when I began reading it. I love this era, however I am doing something I rarely do. I am not going to finish this book. When I began reading I felt that Kim was a composite of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. That was OK with me, but then the author put him in the same circle with those literary giants. I could get into that, but when the author had Sally lose Kim's manuscript in almost the same way Hadley lost important drafts of Ernest's (see The Paris Wife), my interest in the book really started to wane. The character I disliked the most was Nicole. She is almost a carbon copy of Coco Chanel. She has a similar backstory to Coco; she has a similar start in fashion by making a jersey dress for herself that other women wanted her to make for them; she has an affair with a man who's nickname is "Boy"; she has a signature fragrance. . . . Harris seems to have cloned Coco Chanel and given her the name Nicole. Done, there are other books I'd rather spend my time reading.
May 27, 2016
This was an enjoyable read. The characters are flawed in an endearing and mostly believable manner, and Ruth Harris has a captivating writing style that kept me reading even when the story itself may have left me wanting. The story includes many 'rubbing of elbows' with real celebrities of the time (Fitgerald, Hemingway) which helps draw the reader further into the artistic and fashionable setting of the era. Overall, it conveyed a not too serious sense of the hopes, fears and fashionable affairs that we have historically romanticized as central to the 20s and 30s in Paris. If you are a lover of Gatsby, then you may very well enjoy this.
January 18, 2017
I liked how the story took you through time with some actual events and people, this helped to make it more real. I loved the twist and turns on Kim and Nicole and it kept you wondering if they would ever actually get married or not. I really enjoyed the parts about how Nicole started out as an outcast and then became so important to her country that she was not allowed to leave the country or even close down her business. It kind of gives one the inspiration of being able to do whatever you want to do.
May 26, 2016
I enjoyed Harris's book Love and Money, but I just couldn't summon up a scintilla of interest in this story or the characters in it. I abandoned it at the 30% mark. The reading just became too tedious to continue. The extra star in my rating is because the book is structured securely and the writing style is sound.
May 29, 2016
My childhood
I was 5 at start of WW11 and 10 yrs old when it ended. Born in a small village only a few miles from the Gulf of Mexico. During that time we lived with rationed food and supplies. We were constantly afraid of German subs in the Gulf of Mexico. War is not romantic but this book put a touch of romance to that era. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I was 5 at start of WW11 and 10 yrs old when it ended. Born in a small village only a few miles from the Gulf of Mexico. During that time we lived with rationed food and supplies. We were constantly afraid of German subs in the Gulf of Mexico. War is not romantic but this book put a touch of romance to that era. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 26, 2016
Great!
Very engrossing! I did try to put it down, but failed. Can't wait to read more from this author, who brings history to life.
Very engrossing! I did try to put it down, but failed. Can't wait to read more from this author, who brings history to life.
May 2, 2017
I was annoyed by this book, so much name dropping. And the characters, so selfish and never seemed to figure anything out.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews