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The Last Time I Saw Paris
May 1940: Fleeing a glamorous Manhattan life built on lies, Claire Harris arrives in Paris with a romantic vision of starting anew. But she didn't anticipate the sight of Nazi soldiers marching under the Arc de Triomphe. Her plans smashed by the German occupation, the once-privileged socialite's only option is to take a job in a flower shop under the tutelage of a sophisticated Parisian florist.
In exchange for false identity papers, Claire agrees to aid the French Resistance. Despite the ever-present danger, she comes to love the enduring beauty of the City of Light, exploring it in the company of Thomas Grey, a mysterious Englishman working with the Resistance. Claire's bravery and intelligence make her a talented operative, and slowly her values shift as she witnesses the courageous spirit of the Parisians.
But deception and betrayal force her to flee once more--this time to fight for the man she loves and what she knows is right. Claire just prays she has the heart and determination to survive long enough to one day see Paris again...
In exchange for false identity papers, Claire agrees to aid the French Resistance. Despite the ever-present danger, she comes to love the enduring beauty of the City of Light, exploring it in the company of Thomas Grey, a mysterious Englishman working with the Resistance. Claire's bravery and intelligence make her a talented operative, and slowly her values shift as she witnesses the courageous spirit of the Parisians.
But deception and betrayal force her to flee once more--this time to fight for the man she loves and what she knows is right. Claire just prays she has the heart and determination to survive long enough to one day see Paris again...
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First published January 1, 2011
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About the author
Lynn Sheene
2 books94 followersLynn Sheene grew up in the mountains of Colorado, pen in hand, gazing through the quaking aspen trees and dreaming of far off places and eras. Her passion for stories came early from her book-loving parents and poet grandfather.
After graduating from University of California, Santa Barbara and working as an environmental consultant and science writer, Lynn turned to her dream of fiction writing. Her longtime love of Paris and the 1930's and 1940's intersected with the discovery of a French Art Deco brooch. Captivated by the jewel's possible wartime past in Occupied France, Lynn began to study this intriguing and dangerous time through research trips, memoirs and news accounts. THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS is her first novel, a story inspired by the everyday patriots who risked their lives for the country they loved.
Lynn is a member of International Thriller Writers, Romance Writers of America, Alliance Française, and the French Heritage Society. In addition to writing, Lynn enjoys travel, film, photography, art deco, and all things French. She lives in Southern California with her husband and dog.
She is currently working on her next novel set in wartime France.
After graduating from University of California, Santa Barbara and working as an environmental consultant and science writer, Lynn turned to her dream of fiction writing. Her longtime love of Paris and the 1930's and 1940's intersected with the discovery of a French Art Deco brooch. Captivated by the jewel's possible wartime past in Occupied France, Lynn began to study this intriguing and dangerous time through research trips, memoirs and news accounts. THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS is her first novel, a story inspired by the everyday patriots who risked their lives for the country they loved.
Lynn is a member of International Thriller Writers, Romance Writers of America, Alliance Française, and the French Heritage Society. In addition to writing, Lynn enjoys travel, film, photography, art deco, and all things French. She lives in Southern California with her husband and dog.
She is currently working on her next novel set in wartime France.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 500 reviews
May 26, 2011
This is the literary equivalent to a B movie. If I had to read anymore about Claire fingering her diamonds, the word "damn", or had the author list another stupid street in Paris (either leave your knowledge of street names out, or provide a map up front), I would have burned the book. The author seemed to mostly write this book to show off her 5 french phrases and insult intelligent people the world over, especially American women. If she was trying to show Claire's growth throughout the book, she failed miserably. There was no character development at all, for any of her characters. They were all quite flat. The historical fact is sketchy at best. Sheene throws in a handful of actual things that happened and then makes up the rest. She makes Claire the kind of female character I hate, the one w/ no common sense, who thinks she knows better than EVERYONE, and puts herself in ridiculously stupid situations, but somehow comes out on top, assured of how awesome she is. Really? Is that the kind of heroine people admire? And Sheene makes the French Underground seem incompetent and the Nazis, just a bunch of jerks. Sheene wrote torrid love scenes, which seemed very romance novel-y and a little out of place/surprising. I'm disappointed that Pam Jenoff said such great things about it, as evidenced by the front cover. That's mostly why I bought it. Jenoff seems to be a real stickler for fact-based fiction and this book fell far short of it. Honestly, not that good of a book at all.
June 10, 2011
In most Fiction (outside of Romance and UF) I don’t need to like the main character to enjoy the story. I guess it’s because I don’t get attached to them the same way I do Romance and UF protagonists. It’s more like watching a movie as opposed to immersing yourself in a book. But the heroine, Claire, almost made a liar out of me. She irritated me so much in the beginning of the book that I wondered if I’d even be able to finish it.
Claire is an odd mix of innocence and cunning. She is not a very nice woman and I found it hard to care about her. Her sexuality is always in the “on” position and she doesn’t waste a second in whipping it out to use it as a weapon to manipulate men. She’s selfish and materialistic and doesn’t hesitate to lie, steal, and cheat her way to the top.
Claire heads to Paris after her husband catches her in a lie about her past. Her past lover is there and she plans to look him up. Although she plans to use him as a nice cushion once she gets there, he isn’t the reason she wants to go. Claire sees Paris as her perfect home. She assumes all French men are elegant and delicious, and that all Parisians have a grace and beauty that would fit perfectly with her image of herself. She couldn’t imagine a Paris where she wasn’t rubbing elbows with the cream of the crop in society.
I really had a hard time accepting that Claire wasn’t aware of the fact that France was facing the possibility of war. She was heavily involved in her husband’s schmoozing, so I find it hard to believe that she wouldn’t be up on the current news and gossip. Especially when she’s schmoozing with a German soldier in the beginning of the book! But no, she continues on to Paris, even after she learns about the danger along the way. And then she stays and risks punishment for having no papers after Germany invades? Just because she can’t let go of what she imagines Paris to be? Honestly, that girl seemed dumb as rocks. And selfish, too. She frequently put her friends in danger because she couldn’t resist putting herself in the spotlight. That’s a dangerous place to be when you have no papers.
Eventually I was able to look past Claire and enjoy the story. The turning point for me seemed to be when she became involved with the resistance. Finally we got to focus on something other than her. I liked that her friend and contact in the resistance didn’t baby her. When it came down to working for the cause, her friend had no problem pressuring her into doing what she owed them. I was pleased to see this because it seemed a lot more realistic that way.
The time period was fascinating and I found it interesting to see the story told from a day to day point of view of someone who wasn’t being persecuted. I felt that most things were sugarcoated and that help and luck came too easily for Claire, but there were a few times there that I winced over the rough situations Claire found herself in.
I never completely believed in Claire’s change of personality, but I did eventually start to root for her success. The novel was slow paced, but the events revolving around the resistance sucked me in and made me need to know what happened. I also can’t think of any other book that I’ve read based in this time period, so that was unique. Although I had some issues with the book, it eventually won me over and I ended up really enjoying it.
Favorite Quote:
Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen.
Claire is an odd mix of innocence and cunning. She is not a very nice woman and I found it hard to care about her. Her sexuality is always in the “on” position and she doesn’t waste a second in whipping it out to use it as a weapon to manipulate men. She’s selfish and materialistic and doesn’t hesitate to lie, steal, and cheat her way to the top.
Claire heads to Paris after her husband catches her in a lie about her past. Her past lover is there and she plans to look him up. Although she plans to use him as a nice cushion once she gets there, he isn’t the reason she wants to go. Claire sees Paris as her perfect home. She assumes all French men are elegant and delicious, and that all Parisians have a grace and beauty that would fit perfectly with her image of herself. She couldn’t imagine a Paris where she wasn’t rubbing elbows with the cream of the crop in society.
I really had a hard time accepting that Claire wasn’t aware of the fact that France was facing the possibility of war. She was heavily involved in her husband’s schmoozing, so I find it hard to believe that she wouldn’t be up on the current news and gossip. Especially when she’s schmoozing with a German soldier in the beginning of the book! But no, she continues on to Paris, even after she learns about the danger along the way. And then she stays and risks punishment for having no papers after Germany invades? Just because she can’t let go of what she imagines Paris to be? Honestly, that girl seemed dumb as rocks. And selfish, too. She frequently put her friends in danger because she couldn’t resist putting herself in the spotlight. That’s a dangerous place to be when you have no papers.
Eventually I was able to look past Claire and enjoy the story. The turning point for me seemed to be when she became involved with the resistance. Finally we got to focus on something other than her. I liked that her friend and contact in the resistance didn’t baby her. When it came down to working for the cause, her friend had no problem pressuring her into doing what she owed them. I was pleased to see this because it seemed a lot more realistic that way.
The time period was fascinating and I found it interesting to see the story told from a day to day point of view of someone who wasn’t being persecuted. I felt that most things were sugarcoated and that help and luck came too easily for Claire, but there were a few times there that I winced over the rough situations Claire found herself in.
I never completely believed in Claire’s change of personality, but I did eventually start to root for her success. The novel was slow paced, but the events revolving around the resistance sucked me in and made me need to know what happened. I also can’t think of any other book that I’ve read based in this time period, so that was unique. Although I had some issues with the book, it eventually won me over and I ended up really enjoying it.
Favorite Quote:
"You care,< i>mon ami. You may not want to, but you do."
Claire leaned in, her voice a harsh whisper. "Caring for something and dying for something are two completely different things. Don't get them confused."
Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen.
August 14, 2017
Es probable que sea una rácana dando puntuación y que para otra persona no bajara de cuatro estrellas pero es que hay partes que no me han convencido. Detalles y comportamientos que no me parecen creíbles, sobre todo al principio. Engancha y se lee muy bien, pero tenía la sensación de que esa historia ya la había leído o casi esperaba que diera un giro final inesperado y, no, para nada.
Y, aun así, la recomiendo porque es una opinión muy subjetiva.
Y, aun así, la recomiendo porque es una opinión muy subjetiva.
August 27, 2013
Why was this book called "The Last Time I Saw Paris?" Sure, the book takes place there, but I expected her to be recounting memories of Paris from some other place... remembering, well... the last time she saw Paris. But she is still there. Ah well. On to the actual review.
I walked into the bookstore wanting a quick entertaining read. Since occupied France during WWII is one of my favourite time periods to read about, I grabbed this, thinking it would be a good read, if not great literature.
I was correct. I enjoyed reading the story (apart from the jarring French, German and even English(!) grammar mistakes. Haven't they editors? Looks like she just used a dictionary to look up words and directly translated from English. If Sheene is such a Francophile, one would think she would have studied some of the language).
Claire seems to be based off of Gone with the Wind's Scarlet O'Hara. I don't need a heroine who is entirely altruistic or virtuous. No indeed. But I did think that her sexuality was overused as a plot device. If there is any kind of trouble, she bares a bit of flesh and tries to look seductive. Or, if confronted with a problem that doesn't have a penis, she is saved through no merit of her own but annoyingly consistent good luck. She's also rather shallow, not neccessarily in terms of character but characterization.
This is Sheene's debut novel, and she should be proud of it, and I hope she gets better the more she writes. I will read more of her if she publishes others, because I like this era and the plot was actually ok for a "junk food" sort of read (just what I was looking for, bunch of action, despair, and a happy ending) but she is no Irene Nemirovsky. Again, not great literature. In terms Claire would understand, this novel makes an adequate one-night stand but is not relationship material. It's not one I see myself reading again and again.
Would I reccomend it? No, unless you don't care about grammar, historical implausibility, or character growth.
(Mostly I just really hope she gets a Francophone to edit her French next time.)
I walked into the bookstore wanting a quick entertaining read. Since occupied France during WWII is one of my favourite time periods to read about, I grabbed this, thinking it would be a good read, if not great literature.
I was correct. I enjoyed reading the story (apart from the jarring French, German and even English(!) grammar mistakes. Haven't they editors? Looks like she just used a dictionary to look up words and directly translated from English. If Sheene is such a Francophile, one would think she would have studied some of the language).
Claire seems to be based off of Gone with the Wind's Scarlet O'Hara. I don't need a heroine who is entirely altruistic or virtuous. No indeed. But I did think that her sexuality was overused as a plot device. If there is any kind of trouble, she bares a bit of flesh and tries to look seductive. Or, if confronted with a problem that doesn't have a penis, she is saved through no merit of her own but annoyingly consistent good luck. She's also rather shallow, not neccessarily in terms of character but characterization.
This is Sheene's debut novel, and she should be proud of it, and I hope she gets better the more she writes. I will read more of her if she publishes others, because I like this era and the plot was actually ok for a "junk food" sort of read (just what I was looking for, bunch of action, despair, and a happy ending) but she is no Irene Nemirovsky. Again, not great literature. In terms Claire would understand, this novel makes an adequate one-night stand but is not relationship material. It's not one I see myself reading again and again.
Would I reccomend it? No, unless you don't care about grammar, historical implausibility, or character growth.
(Mostly I just really hope she gets a Francophone to edit her French next time.)
July 26, 2011
This book had so much potential and fell so flat for me. You would think the story of a self-made American socialite getting caught up in the romance and intrigue of WWII-era Paris would be pretty irresistible. But this wasn't. The writing was disjointed and sometimes hard to follow. The sexual references - and there were quite a few - felt salacious rather than honest. I ultimately just was not interested in the main character's journey and that was a real disappointment. I skimmed the last 100 pages and ultimately put it down without truly finishing, which is something I've only done once or twice in my whole life. In the end, it was just plain boring.
September 6, 2015
A very good debut novel by Lynn Sheene. Historical fiction romance is probably my favorite reading combination. The setting of Paris during the German occupation of WWII made it perfect. There is intrigue involving the French Resistance and just enough romance to tie it all together. I'm amazed at the quality of first time novels today. Lynn Sheene comes right out of the gate with a winner.
July 14, 2011
I was excited to be a First Reads Giveaway Winner of this historical fiction. I like how it was set in Paris during WW II and enjoyed how the author contrasted the beauty of Paris against the horrors of the Nazi occupation with a wonderful love story woven throughout the plot.
May 7, 2011
I can't believe I won another book this week through first-reads!
5/7/11
I couldn't get enough of The Last Time I Saw Paris, and read it in less than 24 hours. There's something so romantic about those heightened days during World War II. Sheene captures the mood of German-occupied Paris so well, showing how the people suffered as the Nazis partied. Her socialite heroine's transformation was believable, and I fell half in love with the novel's hero. All in all, a very enjoyable read.
5/7/11
I couldn't get enough of The Last Time I Saw Paris, and read it in less than 24 hours. There's something so romantic about those heightened days during World War II. Sheene captures the mood of German-occupied Paris so well, showing how the people suffered as the Nazis partied. Her socialite heroine's transformation was believable, and I fell half in love with the novel's hero. All in all, a very enjoyable read.
August 20, 2022
3.5 stars. This was enjoyable but not great. I prefer to learn something new when I read historical fiction and I really didn't here. There were also a couple historical inaccuracies which bothered me. Also the title is misleading. She doesn't leave Paris so not sure why this title is chosen. Overall the book was engaging. Claire is a Manhattan socialite who needs to escape her abusive husband so she runs to her lover in Paris which has just been attacked by the Nazis. She then somehow becomes entangled with the French resistance.
August 30, 2016
Nazi-occupied Paris comes alive in Sheene's debut novel. The story is gripping and touching, filled with details I never knew about the sufferings of Parisians during WWII. If you like Paris, World War II, or just a good story of transformation and survival even in the darkest times, you will enjoy this book.
January 17, 2013
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a complete page turner from the beginning. This is a must read for those of us who are drawn to the historical fiction of the WWII era. This book has all the drama & suspense of a 1940's Nazi occupied France novel with a romance theme. I loved it.
The main character Claire is part naive adventurer, part hard as nails 1940's dame. The author paints her so vividly I felt like I was watching an old black and white film. She was a trip to watch. All the characters in fact were portrayed quite well. Maybe the scenery could have been a little more descriptive but I see why it wasn't, it may have taken away from the focus, which was the characters.
I don't want to spoil this adventure for anyone so I'll just give a few words: socialite, survivor, dreamer, determined, lover, fighter, excitement, romance, surprise.
My only gripe would be that I felt the emotions of the characters could have been deeper. Some of the trauma that they were exposed to I felt if this was real, there would have been "more". More emotional response. In that sense I felt at times they were left a little lacking. I'm guessing this may just be due to the fact that this is this author's first book. It's just that in real life, when something happens, people respond deeply & emotionally. I like reading this or experiencing this in books. The heart wrenching moments make it memorable and realistic. I digress, it was fiction after all...
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would. I'd even like to see it as a well portrayed movie. A real movie, not a lifetime movie. I've given it 4 1/2 stars because I never had a dull moment. I was propelled by interest and curiosity through the entire book. I really liked the romance and was satisfied with the ending.
The main character Claire is part naive adventurer, part hard as nails 1940's dame. The author paints her so vividly I felt like I was watching an old black and white film. She was a trip to watch. All the characters in fact were portrayed quite well. Maybe the scenery could have been a little more descriptive but I see why it wasn't, it may have taken away from the focus, which was the characters.
I don't want to spoil this adventure for anyone so I'll just give a few words: socialite, survivor, dreamer, determined, lover, fighter, excitement, romance, surprise.
My only gripe would be that I felt the emotions of the characters could have been deeper. Some of the trauma that they were exposed to I felt if this was real, there would have been "more". More emotional response. In that sense I felt at times they were left a little lacking. I'm guessing this may just be due to the fact that this is this author's first book. It's just that in real life, when something happens, people respond deeply & emotionally. I like reading this or experiencing this in books. The heart wrenching moments make it memorable and realistic. I digress, it was fiction after all...
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would. I'd even like to see it as a well portrayed movie. A real movie, not a lifetime movie. I've given it 4 1/2 stars because I never had a dull moment. I was propelled by interest and curiosity through the entire book. I really liked the romance and was satisfied with the ending.
April 23, 2011
Clara May Wagner flees her family’s decrepit, dusty family farm and heads for New York City, where she shakes the dust off her shoes and reinvents herself as the blueblood Claire Harris. Then she ruthlessly marries an extremely wealthy, but morally bankrupt, man to become the well-heeled, bejeweled, Claire Stone, socialite. By the time Claire flees her marriage, she is selfish and shallow. And those are her good points. She heads to Paris to reconnect with an old lover, another wealthy man who could keep her as a mistress and show her the Paris of her dreams. She envisions a life of dancing, drinking, living off the generosity of yet another Sugar Daddy. On the day she arrives in France, the Nazi’s are beginning their invasion. Claire is so self-absorbed that she left America totally unaware of the turmoil brewing in Europe and is surprised to find the road to Paris in total chaos. The Paris of her fantasies is already gone when she finally pushes her way into the city. The man she has designs on is only slightly interested in her. Claire’s plans may be shattered, but she is more determined than ever to stay in Paris and succeed, no matter what. Life, however, has other plans for Claire. Along the way, she finds intrigue, courage, love, and her moral center.
Lynn Sheene’s The Last Time I Saw Paris is a delightful first novel. I look forward to reading her next one.
I won my copy of The Last Time I Saw Paris through Goodread’s book giveaway.
Lynn Sheene’s The Last Time I Saw Paris is a delightful first novel. I look forward to reading her next one.
I won my copy of The Last Time I Saw Paris through Goodread’s book giveaway.
August 7, 2011
"The Last Time I Saw Paris" was an extraordinary novel. I was hesitant to actually pick up the book because it looked like the typical star-crossed lovers story. But I was proved wrong. This story starts out with a young socialite woman who lives in New York City with a husband whom she does not love. She and her husband had a pact; he would marry her if she "helped" him in his business. Well something happens that was completely unexpected, so Clare (wife) heads to Paris to live the life she has always wanted with an artist lover. But when she arrives in Paris so does the Germans and her lover is not happy to see her. Enters WWII into the story.
I can't share too much of what happens in the rest of the novel, but this novel held me tightly. I finished it in one day, locked up in my room. This book was suspenseful, romantic, and enchanting. A definite must read for people who need a book to absorb themselves into. Great read and I definitely recommend it!
I can't share too much of what happens in the rest of the novel, but this novel held me tightly. I finished it in one day, locked up in my room. This book was suspenseful, romantic, and enchanting. A definite must read for people who need a book to absorb themselves into. Great read and I definitely recommend it!
August 17, 2012
I have read about three quarters of this book and, well, it's time to quit. Yet another spoiled and insipid heroine in the tradition of Scarlett O'Hara. This plot is loaded with cliches. None of the characters seem "real"--just stereotypes lifted from other stupid romantic historical fiction novels. I think the story might make a good movie. As a book it is poorly written and completely lacking in originality. I don't know why my book club picks this stuff.
March 11, 2013
Save yourself and don't read it- it is too late for me. Pure drivel. Read like a bad pulp mystery for the first 50 pages, then just plain sophomoric for the next 100 or so, then like a bad romance for the next bit, and then back to plain sophomoric. If it had not been for a book club, I would have put it down after only 20 pages...
May 31, 2019
*You must always see the difference between what the world says is beautiful and what your heart says is beautiful.*
I quite enjoyed this one. I found our main character lovable, I wholeheartedly pulled for her throughout this novel. She made sacrifices and took risks. I found the romance charming, believable, a nice slow build.
I loved the flowers/flower shop aspect, it was a neat part of the story. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this, especially because I haven't heard anyone mention it yet. A little book outlet gem ☺️. I also got the ending I was hoping for, just what I needed to round off my books for the month 💕.
I quite enjoyed this one. I found our main character lovable, I wholeheartedly pulled for her throughout this novel. She made sacrifices and took risks. I found the romance charming, believable, a nice slow build.
I loved the flowers/flower shop aspect, it was a neat part of the story. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this, especially because I haven't heard anyone mention it yet. A little book outlet gem ☺️. I also got the ending I was hoping for, just what I needed to round off my books for the month 💕.
September 23, 2021
Una storia d'amore e di rinascita con la Seconda Guerra Mondiale a fare da sfondo.
Pesante, sotto molti punti di vista, ma ben scritta e con una protagonista non troppo simpatica che riesce a destreggiarsi, partendo da New York e arrivando a Parigi, innamorandosene.
Carino, anche se non eccelso. Ma la poesia di Parigi rimane e chiama a gran voce.
Pesante, sotto molti punti di vista, ma ben scritta e con una protagonista non troppo simpatica che riesce a destreggiarsi, partendo da New York e arrivando a Parigi, innamorandosene.
Carino, anche se non eccelso. Ma la poesia di Parigi rimane e chiama a gran voce.
February 27, 2022
This book was set in one of my favorite eras of historical fiction. The Nazi occupation and resistance in France during WWII was the backdrop for this love story. At times the book was slow moving, but the story of Claire Harris Stone is a rich portrait of survival, determination, a fight for freedom, and love. A worthy read for fans off WWII fiction.
October 29, 2012
Back-Story: I picked this up when Borders was going out of business. When that happened, I basically went to every Borders in my area and literally any book that looked interesting or the summary sounded good, I bought. This was one of them.
I got sucked in by the beautiful cover. I also have a thing for Paris and the war times so this book easily persuaded me to purchase it.
Review: For me, it was a very average read. I'm honestly really disappointed in it.
Looks- Cover is beautiful. I love the Eiffel Tower in the background and the couple of what looks to be a patriot woman and a military man in uniform. Like I said, I'm a sucker for Paris.
Content- First of all, I would've really liked to see a map in the beginning of the book. I realize the author was trying to make it seem more real and that this all could've really happened but all of the French streets and names really didn't have any meaning to me and I found it confusing trying to remember where everything happened and when and how they were all connected.
I really just find this book average. The plot didn't really grip me. I didn't feel any connection to the characters or the storyline, which is really, really unusual for me because I even found "Twilight" gripping. I thought I would really like the setting since it's in Paris and also it's during WWII which I personally find fascinating but this just didn't do it for me. From the start, I found the plot a bit confusing. It really seemed fast and blurry with random characters without much meaning when Claire is back in New York. I couldn't keep characters straight and when von Richter showed up later, I had to look again at the beginning to even know who he was. I personally don't think that the New York part even needed to be in there. The writer could've easily picked up when Claire is traveling or when she arrives in France and could've written a few flashbacks of Claire's former life with Russell Stone. The plot is very slow throughout most of the book and only picks up in the last 75 pages or so. I don't mind that part too much because that is how it was back when it was all happening. I just never felt a connection or emotion to the book. I didn't feel Claire's pain or fears. I didn't feel anxious at Marta and Anna and Claire being attacked by the German soldiers on the farm. I did feel a bit of emotion when Grey left and then when he was reportedly dead. I also felt a little emotion when Claire thought that she would be killed by the rest of the Resistance because of what happened. Overall though, I just expected more from the story. I expected emotion and terror to come through the pages. I expected there to be more chemistry and gripping-ness with Claire and Grey. I thought I would feel a squeezing uncertainty when Claire decided to leave Laurent. I wanted to feel the constant struggle of the time period. The elation of when the Allies came. I never felt any of that with this book.
There is hardly any character development. Claire is the most developed but really she doesn't seem to evolve much throughout the book. She starts off struggling and lying to keep her lifestyle and in the end she's only slightly different, in my opinion. She's only half-butt the entire time with the Resistance and only in the end truly commits to them. All of the characters seemed rather dull and flat. Grey was developed a little but not as much as you would think with a story that has romance such a large part of it.
There's also a few grammar errors which always irritate me when I read a book. I also wish that there was a list in the back of the book that translated some of the French phrases that weren't translated in the text.
Likes: The last bit of the book starting from when Claire is at the Ritz with von Richter. I started feeling a connection with the story then when Claire passes along the information she learns only to have it backfire on her when the Resistance is attacked when trying to free the prisoners. Claire became less flat when she turned her back on them in order to learn whatever she could about Grey. I liked how she went back to La Vie in Fleurs in the end. Of course, I liked the ending.
Dislikes: The story wasn't gripping. The characters weren't very developed. The story seemed badly paced. I personally could've done without all of the details of Claire's relationships with the men though the writer did handle them slightly discreetly.
Overall:
Recommend? No.
I honestly think anybody who has interest in the WWII era will be disappointed by this book. The Paris aspect isn't as disappointing. If I had checked this book out at the library, I would've never purchased it and I can guarantee I will not be rereading this in the future.
I got sucked in by the beautiful cover. I also have a thing for Paris and the war times so this book easily persuaded me to purchase it.
Review: For me, it was a very average read. I'm honestly really disappointed in it.
Looks- Cover is beautiful. I love the Eiffel Tower in the background and the couple of what looks to be a patriot woman and a military man in uniform. Like I said, I'm a sucker for Paris.
Content- First of all, I would've really liked to see a map in the beginning of the book. I realize the author was trying to make it seem more real and that this all could've really happened but all of the French streets and names really didn't have any meaning to me and I found it confusing trying to remember where everything happened and when and how they were all connected.
I really just find this book average. The plot didn't really grip me. I didn't feel any connection to the characters or the storyline, which is really, really unusual for me because I even found "Twilight" gripping. I thought I would really like the setting since it's in Paris and also it's during WWII which I personally find fascinating but this just didn't do it for me. From the start, I found the plot a bit confusing. It really seemed fast and blurry with random characters without much meaning when Claire is back in New York. I couldn't keep characters straight and when von Richter showed up later, I had to look again at the beginning to even know who he was. I personally don't think that the New York part even needed to be in there. The writer could've easily picked up when Claire is traveling or when she arrives in France and could've written a few flashbacks of Claire's former life with Russell Stone. The plot is very slow throughout most of the book and only picks up in the last 75 pages or so. I don't mind that part too much because that is how it was back when it was all happening. I just never felt a connection or emotion to the book. I didn't feel Claire's pain or fears. I didn't feel anxious at Marta and Anna and Claire being attacked by the German soldiers on the farm. I did feel a bit of emotion when Grey left and then when he was reportedly dead. I also felt a little emotion when Claire thought that she would be killed by the rest of the Resistance because of what happened. Overall though, I just expected more from the story. I expected emotion and terror to come through the pages. I expected there to be more chemistry and gripping-ness with Claire and Grey. I thought I would feel a squeezing uncertainty when Claire decided to leave Laurent. I wanted to feel the constant struggle of the time period. The elation of when the Allies came. I never felt any of that with this book.
There is hardly any character development. Claire is the most developed but really she doesn't seem to evolve much throughout the book. She starts off struggling and lying to keep her lifestyle and in the end she's only slightly different, in my opinion. She's only half-butt the entire time with the Resistance and only in the end truly commits to them. All of the characters seemed rather dull and flat. Grey was developed a little but not as much as you would think with a story that has romance such a large part of it.
There's also a few grammar errors which always irritate me when I read a book. I also wish that there was a list in the back of the book that translated some of the French phrases that weren't translated in the text.
Likes: The last bit of the book starting from when Claire is at the Ritz with von Richter. I started feeling a connection with the story then when Claire passes along the information she learns only to have it backfire on her when the Resistance is attacked when trying to free the prisoners. Claire became less flat when she turned her back on them in order to learn whatever she could about Grey. I liked how she went back to La Vie in Fleurs in the end. Of course, I liked the ending.
Dislikes: The story wasn't gripping. The characters weren't very developed. The story seemed badly paced. I personally could've done without all of the details of Claire's relationships with the men though the writer did handle them slightly discreetly.
Overall:
Recommend? No.
I honestly think anybody who has interest in the WWII era will be disappointed by this book. The Paris aspect isn't as disappointing. If I had checked this book out at the library, I would've never purchased it and I can guarantee I will not be rereading this in the future.
May 14, 2011
Originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/05/rev...
Favorite Quote: “You are late.”
Clare Harris reinvented herself from dirt poor farmer’s daughter into a dazzling socialite. She marries into money only to find out that her husband requires her to use her beauty and considerable charms on his clients. Claire has spent her whole life burying her emotions; this is a walk in the park for her. But when her past catches up with her, she knows that she must escape her husband before he forfeits her life. So she uses her wiles and wickedly ways to secure passage to Paris in hopes her former lover Laurent will be glad to see her.
She arrives in Paris just as it surrenders to the Nazi’s and soon finds herself with no money, no papers, and no Laurent. When the owner of an elegant flower shop offers her employment and a place to live, she begins to find purpose to her life beyond being a rich man’s trophy. When it becomes apparent that she has no papers she is approached by the French Resistance and made an offer-work for us and she’d be supplied with a new identity with paperwork to match. As Claire moves deeper into the Resistance, she is asked more and more to risk her life for information. When she is betrayed and an English man she has befriended and begun to love is captured, Claire risks everything to bring him home safely.
The Last Time I Saw Paris is a compelling and bittersweet novel of a young pragmatic woman’s journey of self discovery through war torn Paris during the Nazi occupation. Ms. Sheen does a wonderful job of conveying the beauty of Paris against the despair of the war to life for me. It does start out a little slow as we spend a bit of time getting to know Claire and seeing Paris through her eyes, but the pacing picks up once Claire is deep in the resistance and the action and suspense becomes more viable.
I found Claire’s character to be an enigma. When we are first introduced to her, you find yourself put off by her matter of fact attitude towards life. She is beautiful and intelligent and has no problems with exploiting that for what she wants. As the old saying goes, “butter would not melt in her mouth.” As the story progresses and we spend more time with her in Paris and in the resistance, you see her values start to slowly shift. She begins to see and identify with Parisian’s strength and courage as they struggle to survive against the rising nightmare that has invaded their beloved city. She is not the most important person in her world anymore. It isn’t an instant epitome. Ms. Sheen doesn’t change Claire but merely peels back the layers to unearth a core that was there the whole time.
When she is accused of betraying the resistance and viewed traitor, we see her determination and courage rise to the surface as she offers up her own life to ensure the survival of many others.
Our secondary characters all play in an important role is fleshing out Claire’s character but aren’t fleshed out well themselves. I believe because this is told from Claire’s POV so the only interaction you get with other characters is when she interacts with them. I found myself wanting more of an in depth look into the historical aspects of the French Resistance and to see more of what the other characters were doing behind the scenes.
The romance surprised me. While I saw it coming I didn’t quite expect the emotional lasso that it would cast upon me. Though it isn’t inherently romantic; the sexual tension was never quite there and yet it worked for me. During a time when you didn’t know if you would live to see tomorrow, two people come together and in that one moment realize THIS is what they have been risking their lives for. The romantic aspect comes into play later as when Claire realises that her lover has been captured and the resistance will not help. Her actions in attempting to locate and free him are the ultimate act of love. She doesn’t do it for her…she does it for him.
The ending is filled with dramatic suspense and heart stopping action as we watch Claire race through Paris, one step ahead of death, to a climatic finale that had me holding my breath and emitting small sob.
All in all a wonderful debut contemporary that captivated me from page one. If you are a fan of historical romance fiction, then The Last Time I Saw Paris will be a wonderful edition to your bookshelf.
Rating: B
Favorite Quote: “You are late.”
Clare Harris reinvented herself from dirt poor farmer’s daughter into a dazzling socialite. She marries into money only to find out that her husband requires her to use her beauty and considerable charms on his clients. Claire has spent her whole life burying her emotions; this is a walk in the park for her. But when her past catches up with her, she knows that she must escape her husband before he forfeits her life. So she uses her wiles and wickedly ways to secure passage to Paris in hopes her former lover Laurent will be glad to see her.
She arrives in Paris just as it surrenders to the Nazi’s and soon finds herself with no money, no papers, and no Laurent. When the owner of an elegant flower shop offers her employment and a place to live, she begins to find purpose to her life beyond being a rich man’s trophy. When it becomes apparent that she has no papers she is approached by the French Resistance and made an offer-work for us and she’d be supplied with a new identity with paperwork to match. As Claire moves deeper into the Resistance, she is asked more and more to risk her life for information. When she is betrayed and an English man she has befriended and begun to love is captured, Claire risks everything to bring him home safely.
The Last Time I Saw Paris is a compelling and bittersweet novel of a young pragmatic woman’s journey of self discovery through war torn Paris during the Nazi occupation. Ms. Sheen does a wonderful job of conveying the beauty of Paris against the despair of the war to life for me. It does start out a little slow as we spend a bit of time getting to know Claire and seeing Paris through her eyes, but the pacing picks up once Claire is deep in the resistance and the action and suspense becomes more viable.
I found Claire’s character to be an enigma. When we are first introduced to her, you find yourself put off by her matter of fact attitude towards life. She is beautiful and intelligent and has no problems with exploiting that for what she wants. As the old saying goes, “butter would not melt in her mouth.” As the story progresses and we spend more time with her in Paris and in the resistance, you see her values start to slowly shift. She begins to see and identify with Parisian’s strength and courage as they struggle to survive against the rising nightmare that has invaded their beloved city. She is not the most important person in her world anymore. It isn’t an instant epitome. Ms. Sheen doesn’t change Claire but merely peels back the layers to unearth a core that was there the whole time.
When she is accused of betraying the resistance and viewed traitor, we see her determination and courage rise to the surface as she offers up her own life to ensure the survival of many others.
Our secondary characters all play in an important role is fleshing out Claire’s character but aren’t fleshed out well themselves. I believe because this is told from Claire’s POV so the only interaction you get with other characters is when she interacts with them. I found myself wanting more of an in depth look into the historical aspects of the French Resistance and to see more of what the other characters were doing behind the scenes.
The romance surprised me. While I saw it coming I didn’t quite expect the emotional lasso that it would cast upon me. Though it isn’t inherently romantic; the sexual tension was never quite there and yet it worked for me. During a time when you didn’t know if you would live to see tomorrow, two people come together and in that one moment realize THIS is what they have been risking their lives for. The romantic aspect comes into play later as when Claire realises that her lover has been captured and the resistance will not help. Her actions in attempting to locate and free him are the ultimate act of love. She doesn’t do it for her…she does it for him.
The ending is filled with dramatic suspense and heart stopping action as we watch Claire race through Paris, one step ahead of death, to a climatic finale that had me holding my breath and emitting small sob.
All in all a wonderful debut contemporary that captivated me from page one. If you are a fan of historical romance fiction, then The Last Time I Saw Paris will be a wonderful edition to your bookshelf.
Rating: B
May 23, 2011
The Last Time I Saw Paris by Lynn Sheene
Historical Romance – May 3rd, 2011
4 stars
Claire Harris left her rich industrialist husband and Manhattan life and fled to Paris. She wanted to start her life all over again in the fabled city with a new identity. But she ignored the fact that Europe was at war and that Hitler’s army could be coming for Paris.
Claire ended up working at La Vie en Fleurs where Madam Palain took Claire under her wing. In order to get forged identity papers, Claire had no choice but to help the Resistance by becoming an informant herself. Claire finds herself falling in love with the beautiful city of Paris, doing everything she can to help the city including putting herself in danger time after time. All this time, she finds herself drawn to Thomas Grey, an Englishman who is also part of the Resistance. When Thomas is captured by the Gestapo, Claire makes the dangerous decision to pretend to ally with the Germans. But will her farce be exposed? Can she save Thomas and herself from the Nazis?
This is a solid book that starts off a bit slow but picks up speed especially towards the end. It was so exciting that I raced towards the ending. I simply needed to know if Claire would end up with Thomas! Claire starts off as a materialistic and shallow person, but as the novel progresses, I admired her courage and resilience more and more. Especially when she uses drastic methods to gain information from the Nazis. I feel like this book is more about Claire’s journey since it feels like Thomas is more of a supporting character. Even though he is the hero, the author doesn’t focus a lot on Thomas to the point where you understand and really know him. He functions as a kind of goal and motivation for Claire.
More of a historical drama than a romance novel, this is a gripping novel that provides a lot of insight into life in Paris under the Nazi occupation. Tender and, at times, bittersweet, this is a worthy read for fans who loves the WWII theme.
Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Club
Historical Romance – May 3rd, 2011
4 stars
Claire Harris left her rich industrialist husband and Manhattan life and fled to Paris. She wanted to start her life all over again in the fabled city with a new identity. But she ignored the fact that Europe was at war and that Hitler’s army could be coming for Paris.
Claire ended up working at La Vie en Fleurs where Madam Palain took Claire under her wing. In order to get forged identity papers, Claire had no choice but to help the Resistance by becoming an informant herself. Claire finds herself falling in love with the beautiful city of Paris, doing everything she can to help the city including putting herself in danger time after time. All this time, she finds herself drawn to Thomas Grey, an Englishman who is also part of the Resistance. When Thomas is captured by the Gestapo, Claire makes the dangerous decision to pretend to ally with the Germans. But will her farce be exposed? Can she save Thomas and herself from the Nazis?
This is a solid book that starts off a bit slow but picks up speed especially towards the end. It was so exciting that I raced towards the ending. I simply needed to know if Claire would end up with Thomas! Claire starts off as a materialistic and shallow person, but as the novel progresses, I admired her courage and resilience more and more. Especially when she uses drastic methods to gain information from the Nazis. I feel like this book is more about Claire’s journey since it feels like Thomas is more of a supporting character. Even though he is the hero, the author doesn’t focus a lot on Thomas to the point where you understand and really know him. He functions as a kind of goal and motivation for Claire.
More of a historical drama than a romance novel, this is a gripping novel that provides a lot of insight into life in Paris under the Nazi occupation. Tender and, at times, bittersweet, this is a worthy read for fans who loves the WWII theme.
Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Club
February 7, 2014
2.5 Stars
This book was a disappointment overall. It sounded interesting as hell, and I've been on a WWII kick lately. So a Resistance thriller in Nazi-era France sounded right up my alley. Weeeellll..... let's just say I'm impressed I finished the book at all.
The premise of the story intrigued me. An American stuck in occupied France? Yes please! And I did get the exciting escape scenes, the nail-biting confrontations with other Resistance figures and the Nazis, and the edge-of-your-seat tension on whether everyone is going to escape or not.
However... And this is a huge "however"! The main character, Claire/Clara, drives me up the frickin' wall! There were extremely faint glimmers of a character I could have liked: compassion for a Nazi victim dead on the street, a devotion to saving two girls that come to her care, and a fierce dedication to saving the man she loves.
But egads, her other character flaws totally cancel these glimmers out. She's a narcissistic wench who can't seem to solve any problems without shedding all her clothes. I question her motivations and actions more times than I care to remember. And her forging ahead without any planning? Let's just say I'm amazed she survived the war.
Unfortunately, the other characters couldn't save this novel, either. What page time they got was very limited, and what was there made them two-dimensional to the reading audience. I think I could have came to really love Grey if only he was present in the story more.*sigh* I think that could have been said for many of the secondary characters in this novel. Oh well...
I'm giving this book a 2.5 in the end. I actually finished it and enjoyed the plot itself. So it deserves at least that, I think. Yet, the main character is definitely not one to love and the secondary ones aren't present enough to allow for any love to develop for them. If you're looking for something light to read, this might be a good choice. But would I recommend it to the serious historical fiction lover who enjoys a great book? No.
This book was a disappointment overall. It sounded interesting as hell, and I've been on a WWII kick lately. So a Resistance thriller in Nazi-era France sounded right up my alley. Weeeellll..... let's just say I'm impressed I finished the book at all.
The premise of the story intrigued me. An American stuck in occupied France? Yes please! And I did get the exciting escape scenes, the nail-biting confrontations with other Resistance figures and the Nazis, and the edge-of-your-seat tension on whether everyone is going to escape or not.
However... And this is a huge "however"! The main character, Claire/Clara, drives me up the frickin' wall! There were extremely faint glimmers of a character I could have liked: compassion for a Nazi victim dead on the street, a devotion to saving two girls that come to her care, and a fierce dedication to saving the man she loves.
But egads, her other character flaws totally cancel these glimmers out. She's a narcissistic wench who can't seem to solve any problems without shedding all her clothes. I question her motivations and actions more times than I care to remember. And her forging ahead without any planning? Let's just say I'm amazed she survived the war.
Unfortunately, the other characters couldn't save this novel, either. What page time they got was very limited, and what was there made them two-dimensional to the reading audience. I think I could have came to really love Grey if only he was present in the story more.*sigh* I think that could have been said for many of the secondary characters in this novel. Oh well...
I'm giving this book a 2.5 in the end. I actually finished it and enjoyed the plot itself. So it deserves at least that, I think. Yet, the main character is definitely not one to love and the secondary ones aren't present enough to allow for any love to develop for them. If you're looking for something light to read, this might be a good choice. But would I recommend it to the serious historical fiction lover who enjoys a great book? No.
April 21, 2011
I won this historic fiction novel from the First Reads program. I entered because I have been satisfying my historic fiction itch with a lot of WWII novels lately. I mainly read books about Great Britain during the war so I enjoyed that this one was set in France because it was a nice change of pace for me.
I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book because I didn’t really enjoy any of the characters. Thankfully, Claire grew on me with time but she started out awfully flat. In general, I think all the characters could have used some more fleshing out. Sheene came up with an interesting storyline but it didn’t really stand on its own for me. It seemed that there was a lack of historic research to bolster the little details that I often enjoy the most about the historic fiction genre. There were also some points when the writing style veered dangerously close to Harlequin romance territory for me.
In the end, I did enjoy this book and felt that it got much more interesting (and intense) as the story progressed. It was a good light read and I can see many romance and historic fiction fans enjoying this novel.
I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book because I didn’t really enjoy any of the characters. Thankfully, Claire grew on me with time but she started out awfully flat. In general, I think all the characters could have used some more fleshing out. Sheene came up with an interesting storyline but it didn’t really stand on its own for me. It seemed that there was a lack of historic research to bolster the little details that I often enjoy the most about the historic fiction genre. There were also some points when the writing style veered dangerously close to Harlequin romance territory for me.
In the end, I did enjoy this book and felt that it got much more interesting (and intense) as the story progressed. It was a good light read and I can see many romance and historic fiction fans enjoying this novel.
July 18, 2011
One stubborn American woman, meets up with the French Resistance!
I loved it. It had everything I liked... drama. romance, suspense, a little action, a bit of history, and one of my favorite cities, Paris!
Although I did not like many of the characters at the beginning... especially Claire... they grew on me like friends. They were well rounded and I found myself rooting for them, even when they did things I just couldn't understand. I found that made the read even more interesting, discovering their motivations and reasoning as the novel unfolded. The characters had "hootspa" (I know: completely wrong spelling). The characters had both strength, that they didn't even know they had. I loved the idea of walking through all the different gardens in Paris... maybe being followed by an unsavory German! The descriptions were quite good, I could definitely recognize some of the different places and gardens. The bonds created and destroyed during the time is well captured, I felt.
Remember: "Elegance is in the details".
If you liked Casablanca... this is for you.
I loved it. It had everything I liked... drama. romance, suspense, a little action, a bit of history, and one of my favorite cities, Paris!
Although I did not like many of the characters at the beginning... especially Claire... they grew on me like friends. They were well rounded and I found myself rooting for them, even when they did things I just couldn't understand. I found that made the read even more interesting, discovering their motivations and reasoning as the novel unfolded. The characters had "hootspa" (I know: completely wrong spelling). The characters had both strength, that they didn't even know they had. I loved the idea of walking through all the different gardens in Paris... maybe being followed by an unsavory German! The descriptions were quite good, I could definitely recognize some of the different places and gardens. The bonds created and destroyed during the time is well captured, I felt.
Remember: "Elegance is in the details".
If you liked Casablanca... this is for you.
December 21, 2016
A romance, a drama that unfolds in occupied France during the 2nd World War. Lynne Sheene is a longtime Francophile (I count myself as one) and her research for this novel has been impeccable. I was able to follow the exploits of Claire Harris Stone through familiar streets of Paris, with ease. Claire flees a glamorous Manhattan lifestyle built on lies and follows her lover to Paris. Perhaps rather naive of events unfurling in Europe she finds herself in a city overrun by Nazi soldiers and, in exchange for false identity papers, Claire agrees to aid the French Resistance.
TLTISP is well written with a plot that contains many moments of suspense and after many incidents of despair leads to a satisfying conclusion. Another novel that evinces the courage of Parisians in the face of Nazi brutality, not quite as harrowing as The Nightingale, but an enjoyable read nevertheless.
TLTISP is well written with a plot that contains many moments of suspense and after many incidents of despair leads to a satisfying conclusion. Another novel that evinces the courage of Parisians in the face of Nazi brutality, not quite as harrowing as The Nightingale, but an enjoyable read nevertheless.
February 4, 2013
I love Paris, flower shops draw me to them and I am intrigued by stories of the French Resistance during WWII. It was a good match for me. I was drawn in by the first page.
One of the sidelights of the novel, one that hasn't been explored much (at least in my readings)was the lives led by the Parisians who remained during the four years of Nazi occupation ... how people manage to find a new normalcy in spite of their lives being turned upside down. I'm not referring to the American Claire, but the Parisians themselves. I would be very interested in further exploring this theme.
One of the sidelights of the novel, one that hasn't been explored much (at least in my readings)was the lives led by the Parisians who remained during the four years of Nazi occupation ... how people manage to find a new normalcy in spite of their lives being turned upside down. I'm not referring to the American Claire, but the Parisians themselves. I would be very interested in further exploring this theme.
February 22, 2013
This author knows and loves Paris, she finds the French resistance during World War II fascinating and personnally has a high degree of sensuality. If these ingredients also attract you as they attracted me, this book is an excellent choice. I had no slow pages or sections throughout the book and I only wish the ending had been as surprising as the journey. This book deserved a more tragic ending rather than "they live happily everafter and ride into the sunset". A worthwhile and enjoyable novel.
May 1, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It had intrigue and mystery in it as well as giving me the sense of what life was like for the Resistance Fighters in Paris during WWII.
I chose to reread this book in-between two classics that I am reading in my book blub once again I found it very enjoyable
I chose to reread this book in-between two classics that I am reading in my book blub once again I found it very enjoyable
March 12, 2011
I loved this novel from the sexy beginning to the emotional conclusion. Lynn Sheene brought 1940s Paris to life through the eyes of Claire Harris, a heroine with a past who had me rooting for her from the first page and then never failed to surprise me. And the hero? To die for.
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