What do you think?
Rate this book
The French Kitchen
As Paris rebuilds in the aftermath of World War II, one ex-pat uses the skills she learned in French kitchens during the war to bring long-held secrets to light.
Paris, 1952 -- An ex-pat wife living in Paris signs up for a cookery class taught by an American chef with an indomitable wit and decidedly French airs--an instructor by name of Julia Child. Amongst classes of the L'Ecole des Trois Gourmandes, with pots and pans and prim Paris wives learning to sauté in the French way, Kat Fontaine learns much more than she bargained for.
Still haunted by the years she spent serving in the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII, Kat soon finds a simple cookery class unearths the tangle of gut-wrenching memories of war and questions about the high-ranking society husband whose past is as murky as her own. But when the puzzle pieces start to come together--and her carefully crafted Paris world begins to fall apart--Kat must confront her own secrets against the mounting suspicions of the husband she thought she knew . . .
Rue, 1943 -- Deep in the heart of Nazi-controlled northern France, Manon Altier shifts between working for the enemy by day--as a French chef at the famous Château du Broutel, where names like Himmler, Rommel, and Goebbels frequent the guest list--and running with underground networks against the Vichy regime at night. Working undercover to filter information to agents within the burgeoning OSS, Manon digs deep into the glitz and glamour of a Nazi stronghold that has her teetering on the edge of being discovered at any turn. But when an intriguing stranger appears at the chateau claiming to work with the French Resistance, Manon must lean on her instincts to judge whether to run and hide or stand firm--even as a terrifying discovery tests her resolve to continue the fight.
From the heights of culinary cuisine in 1950s Paris society to the underbelly of a WWII spy network embedded deep within Nazi-controlled Vichy France--and the spy backstory of the world's most famous would-be French chef, Julia Child--The French Kitchen turns up the heat on the pasts of women whose worlds collide, and forces each to question what she thought she'd planned for a perfect future.
Paris, 1952 -- An ex-pat wife living in Paris signs up for a cookery class taught by an American chef with an indomitable wit and decidedly French airs--an instructor by name of Julia Child. Amongst classes of the L'Ecole des Trois Gourmandes, with pots and pans and prim Paris wives learning to sauté in the French way, Kat Fontaine learns much more than she bargained for.
Still haunted by the years she spent serving in the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII, Kat soon finds a simple cookery class unearths the tangle of gut-wrenching memories of war and questions about the high-ranking society husband whose past is as murky as her own. But when the puzzle pieces start to come together--and her carefully crafted Paris world begins to fall apart--Kat must confront her own secrets against the mounting suspicions of the husband she thought she knew . . .
Rue, 1943 -- Deep in the heart of Nazi-controlled northern France, Manon Altier shifts between working for the enemy by day--as a French chef at the famous Château du Broutel, where names like Himmler, Rommel, and Goebbels frequent the guest list--and running with underground networks against the Vichy regime at night. Working undercover to filter information to agents within the burgeoning OSS, Manon digs deep into the glitz and glamour of a Nazi stronghold that has her teetering on the edge of being discovered at any turn. But when an intriguing stranger appears at the chateau claiming to work with the French Resistance, Manon must lean on her instincts to judge whether to run and hide or stand firm--even as a terrifying discovery tests her resolve to continue the fight.
From the heights of culinary cuisine in 1950s Paris society to the underbelly of a WWII spy network embedded deep within Nazi-controlled Vichy France--and the spy backstory of the world's most famous would-be French chef, Julia Child--The French Kitchen turns up the heat on the pasts of women whose worlds collide, and forces each to question what she thought she'd planned for a perfect future.
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2025
194 people are currently reading
10234 people want to read
About the author
Kristy Cambron
20 books2,735 followersKristy Cambron is a USA TODAY bestselling author who writes from the space where beauty, art, and history intersect. She's an award-winning author of historical fiction, including her internationally bestselling novels, THE BUTTERFLY AND THE VIOLIN and THE PARIS DRESSMAKER, as well as nonfiction titles. Her work has been named to Cosmopolitan's Best Historical Fiction Novels, Library Journal’s Best Books, and has been featured at People Magazine, Once Upon a Book Club Box, Frolic, Book Club Girl, BookBub, and Country Woman magazine.
Her new novel, THE FRENCH KITCHEN, is available now -- in which an ex-pat wife haunted by her experiences as an undercover agent in the American OSS during WWII crosses paths with chef Julia Child in a post-war Paris cookery class, complicating the carefully constructed high-society world she’s built to hide her past.
Kristy holds a degree in art history/research writing and spent fifteen years in education and leadership development for a Fortune 100 corporation, partnering with such companies as the Disney Institute, IBM/Kenexa, and Gallup before stepping away to pursue her passion for storytelling. She's also served as Vice President and a literary agent with Gardner Literary.
Kristy lives in Indiana with her husband and three basketball-loving sons, where she can probably be bribed with a peppermint mocha latte and a good read.
(Note: *Kristy does not use AI in her work. Please visit: kristycambron.com/contact for more information.)
To connect with Kristy, visit:
Kristy's Website: https://kristycambron.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristycambron/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@kristycambron
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCambronAuthor/
And sign up for her newsletter: https://kristycambron.myflodesk.com/
Her new novel, THE FRENCH KITCHEN, is available now -- in which an ex-pat wife haunted by her experiences as an undercover agent in the American OSS during WWII crosses paths with chef Julia Child in a post-war Paris cookery class, complicating the carefully constructed high-society world she’s built to hide her past.
Kristy holds a degree in art history/research writing and spent fifteen years in education and leadership development for a Fortune 100 corporation, partnering with such companies as the Disney Institute, IBM/Kenexa, and Gallup before stepping away to pursue her passion for storytelling. She's also served as Vice President and a literary agent with Gardner Literary.
Kristy lives in Indiana with her husband and three basketball-loving sons, where she can probably be bribed with a peppermint mocha latte and a good read.
(Note: *Kristy does not use AI in her work. Please visit: kristycambron.com/contact for more information.)
To connect with Kristy, visit:
Kristy's Website: https://kristycambron.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristycambron/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@kristycambron
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCambronAuthor/
And sign up for her newsletter: https://kristycambron.myflodesk.com/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 347 reviews
August 2, 2025
The heartbeat of Cambron’s story is Julia Child and her love of French cuisine.
If you enjoyed The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers, you’ll like this one.
⭐ My review will be posted closer to publication date. ⭐
==================
UPDATED TO INCLUDE REVIEW
“In occupied France you lived by your wits or died the moment you abandoned them.”
Cambron has done a fantastic job of pulling back the curtain so readers could glimpse what it was like for people navigating their new reality during and after WW2. I was eagerly reading to pick up clues, trying to place people and events to piece together Cambron’s elaborately plotted story.
The heartbeat of Cambron’s story is Julia Child and her love of French cuisine.
My takeaways:
✔Sometimes our vision for the perfect future is upended; it’s up to us to reshape it.
✔Gut instinct saves us more than we realize
I was gifted this copy by Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
If you enjoyed The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers, you’ll like this one.
⭐ My review will be posted closer to publication date. ⭐
==================
UPDATED TO INCLUDE REVIEW
“In occupied France you lived by your wits or died the moment you abandoned them.”
Cambron has done a fantastic job of pulling back the curtain so readers could glimpse what it was like for people navigating their new reality during and after WW2. I was eagerly reading to pick up clues, trying to place people and events to piece together Cambron’s elaborately plotted story.
The heartbeat of Cambron’s story is Julia Child and her love of French cuisine.
My takeaways:
✔Sometimes our vision for the perfect future is upended; it’s up to us to reshape it.
✔Gut instinct saves us more than we realize
I was gifted this copy by Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
July 28, 2025
I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
Told in dual timelines, THE FRENCH KITCHEN is a complex story of love, espionage, mystery and intrigue all circulating around the delicacies created by classic French Cooking in the 1940-50’s.
Timeline one begins in 1943 when Kat’s brother joins the war from their wealthy, Boston home. It’s not long before he is lost, missing or worse. Kat is recruited and agrees to serve, using her special skills, but only if she can look for her brother when not working. Her plans go sideways from night one resulting in her meeting Manon, the head chef at an exclusive chateau where the Nazi elite gather to strategize in northern France. Manon works feverishly to train Kat to be her sous chef and maintain their cover to continue aiding the flow of information between the OSS and Resistance forces. When Kat is called out of the kitchen to attend an important event with the Captain of the French Guard, duplicitous players wreak havoc that cause life changing damage to everyone involved.
Ten years later, Kat is back in Boston, the war is over and her brother has been declared dead until she receives a puzzling note that sends her off to Paris, dropping everything, immediately. In this timeline, we are reunited with many of the characters from the first. By way of flashbacks or two characters calling each other out on lies they have told, the truth about what actually happened during the failed, critical mission at the chateau, is eventually revealed.
Paris isn’t recovered from the war yet. People are calling out neighbors and strangers who they think might be war criminals. Trust is low, supplies are low but hope is beginning to grow. Author, Kristy Cambron, does a good job of creating the atmosphere in post war Paris. I also enjoyed the role of Julia Child. Unlike the publisher blurb and some reviewers, I don’t think she stands out or takes a premium position at all. Current day readers know her as a lager than life caricature and therefore, she looms large. In reality, she’s a retired OSS agent, living in Paris and she happens to be a good cook at this point in time, no notoriety yet. Because of her husband, they live a wealthy life in a home that was miraculously spared any damage from Nazi bombing. All that to say, her actual life story fit this fictional perfectly.
What doesn’t fit perfectly for me is the sentence structure Cambron falls into when arriving at a new location or introducing a new character. There are so many fragments, non-sentences, snippets and starting many of these with the new favorite word: AND… This is so jarring and disruptive to the reading experience. In addition, it’s annoying to have to reread passages in order to understand them. Did Cambron use AI to write these passages? Something about them is very different and not in a good way.
[UPDATE 6/6/25 - Author, Kristy Cambron, assures me that she AND her publisher do not avail themselves of AI technology when it comes to writing or producing artwork for their books. This is fabulous news and I’m ever so thankful to her for contacting me with that information.]
If you’re a foodie, there’s plenty to enjoy here. You’ll want to dust off your JOY OF COOKING or get ready to look up recipes for classic French dishes. At the same time, make sure you’ve paid the gym membership! Thriller, mystery and espionage readers will be tangled up until the last few pages and lovers of Historical Fiction and WWII with subtle romance will enjoy the intricacies📚
Read and Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks
Told in dual timelines, THE FRENCH KITCHEN is a complex story of love, espionage, mystery and intrigue all circulating around the delicacies created by classic French Cooking in the 1940-50’s.
Timeline one begins in 1943 when Kat’s brother joins the war from their wealthy, Boston home. It’s not long before he is lost, missing or worse. Kat is recruited and agrees to serve, using her special skills, but only if she can look for her brother when not working. Her plans go sideways from night one resulting in her meeting Manon, the head chef at an exclusive chateau where the Nazi elite gather to strategize in northern France. Manon works feverishly to train Kat to be her sous chef and maintain their cover to continue aiding the flow of information between the OSS and Resistance forces. When Kat is called out of the kitchen to attend an important event with the Captain of the French Guard, duplicitous players wreak havoc that cause life changing damage to everyone involved.
Ten years later, Kat is back in Boston, the war is over and her brother has been declared dead until she receives a puzzling note that sends her off to Paris, dropping everything, immediately. In this timeline, we are reunited with many of the characters from the first. By way of flashbacks or two characters calling each other out on lies they have told, the truth about what actually happened during the failed, critical mission at the chateau, is eventually revealed.
Paris isn’t recovered from the war yet. People are calling out neighbors and strangers who they think might be war criminals. Trust is low, supplies are low but hope is beginning to grow. Author, Kristy Cambron, does a good job of creating the atmosphere in post war Paris. I also enjoyed the role of Julia Child. Unlike the publisher blurb and some reviewers, I don’t think she stands out or takes a premium position at all. Current day readers know her as a lager than life caricature and therefore, she looms large. In reality, she’s a retired OSS agent, living in Paris and she happens to be a good cook at this point in time, no notoriety yet. Because of her husband, they live a wealthy life in a home that was miraculously spared any damage from Nazi bombing. All that to say, her actual life story fit this fictional perfectly.
What doesn’t fit perfectly for me is the sentence structure Cambron falls into when arriving at a new location or introducing a new character. There are so many fragments, non-sentences, snippets and starting many of these with the new favorite word: AND… This is so jarring and disruptive to the reading experience. In addition, it’s annoying to have to reread passages in order to understand them. Did Cambron use AI to write these passages? Something about them is very different and not in a good way.
[UPDATE 6/6/25 - Author, Kristy Cambron, assures me that she AND her publisher do not avail themselves of AI technology when it comes to writing or producing artwork for their books. This is fabulous news and I’m ever so thankful to her for contacting me with that information.]
If you’re a foodie, there’s plenty to enjoy here. You’ll want to dust off your JOY OF COOKING or get ready to look up recipes for classic French dishes. At the same time, make sure you’ve paid the gym membership! Thriller, mystery and espionage readers will be tangled up until the last few pages and lovers of Historical Fiction and WWII with subtle romance will enjoy the intricacies📚
Read and Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks
July 30, 2025
1952, Paris. Kat Fontaine is newly married to Gérard and is still haunted by the years she spent serving in the American Office of Strategic Services or OSS in France during World War Two. Kat joined because her brother Gavin Harris was a member and he went missing in Northern France and she doesn't want to believe he's dead.
Kat is taking a French cookery class taught by Julia Child and with a friend Mimi, from Boston and she wonders why Kat can slice and dice like an expert and maybe she just has the knack.
1943, Rue. Manon Altier is chef at the famous Château du Broutel cooking for high ranking German officers, and she runs an underground network against the Vichy regime and is waiting for a new assistant Célène. Kat arrives at the chateau claiming to be her and an OSS agent, Manon is worried they have a mole and traitor amongst them and the stakes are high.
It could be anyone working the Château, the place has numerous maids, waiters and sous chefs, and is visited by delivery men and Vichy police and Manon doesn’t know who she can trust and Kat has no idea if she has ever met Gavin, she can't ask her and risk blowing her cover.
I received a copy of The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron from Edelweiss and HarperCollins Christian Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review. The dual timeline story takes you from Paris society, to Château du Broutel and where all is not what it seems and the narrative is full of intrigue, secrets, lies, deception and false leads.
Inspired by the real life of American chef Julia Child and she also worked for Office of Strategic Services in Ceylon and China, however she was only a minor character in the novel and not what I was expecting. The past and present collide, the truth is uncovered and I didn’t guess the ending or who the traitor was.
A historical thriller and I wouldn’t class it as Christian fiction and I highly recommend. Stunning cover and plot and five stars from me.
Kat is taking a French cookery class taught by Julia Child and with a friend Mimi, from Boston and she wonders why Kat can slice and dice like an expert and maybe she just has the knack.
1943, Rue. Manon Altier is chef at the famous Château du Broutel cooking for high ranking German officers, and she runs an underground network against the Vichy regime and is waiting for a new assistant Célène. Kat arrives at the chateau claiming to be her and an OSS agent, Manon is worried they have a mole and traitor amongst them and the stakes are high.
It could be anyone working the Château, the place has numerous maids, waiters and sous chefs, and is visited by delivery men and Vichy police and Manon doesn’t know who she can trust and Kat has no idea if she has ever met Gavin, she can't ask her and risk blowing her cover.
I received a copy of The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron from Edelweiss and HarperCollins Christian Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review. The dual timeline story takes you from Paris society, to Château du Broutel and where all is not what it seems and the narrative is full of intrigue, secrets, lies, deception and false leads.
Inspired by the real life of American chef Julia Child and she also worked for Office of Strategic Services in Ceylon and China, however she was only a minor character in the novel and not what I was expecting. The past and present collide, the truth is uncovered and I didn’t guess the ending or who the traitor was.
A historical thriller and I wouldn’t class it as Christian fiction and I highly recommend. Stunning cover and plot and five stars from me.
August 23, 2025
Rue 1943 and Paris 1952
I'm a huge Kristy Cambron fan and fully expected to love this novel. The intrigue and search for a missing brother plus famous Julia Childs as a character were great elements of the novel. However, I had difficulty following the switch between timelines and characters. I've listened to other time slip novels by Kristy Cambron and followed along (fully absorbed even) without difficulty. However, this reader was challenged to keep up with the storyline of The French Kitchen.
The cover is lovely. The voice of narrator Saskia Maarleveld is a good one.
My gratitude to publisher Thomas Nelson for a complimentary audiobook copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
I'm a huge Kristy Cambron fan and fully expected to love this novel. The intrigue and search for a missing brother plus famous Julia Childs as a character were great elements of the novel. However, I had difficulty following the switch between timelines and characters. I've listened to other time slip novels by Kristy Cambron and followed along (fully absorbed even) without difficulty. However, this reader was challenged to keep up with the storyline of The French Kitchen.
The cover is lovely. The voice of narrator Saskia Maarleveld is a good one.
My gratitude to publisher Thomas Nelson for a complimentary audiobook copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
August 8, 2025
Outstanding narration. This story has it all. Love, betrayal, espionage, and mystery. This is dual timeline. During WWII and after. Intriguing and kept me engaged throughout. Julia Child even makes an appearance in her work during WWII and later as a world famous chef. There was a double agent and this caused so many twists. Highly recommend.
I was blessed with an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
I was blessed with an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
August 8, 2025
This was a great audiobook and the narrator was perfect. The way she was able to change her accents and voice with the characters was so impressive. I love WW2 historical fiction, but I'm picky about it. I need a story that is unique. Not something I've read over and over. THIS one gave me that. Inspired by the real life of the American chef, Julia Childs, she does make appearances in this book. Taking place over two timelines, 1943, Rue Manon Altier, cooks for German officers and runs an underground spy network. And in 1952, post WW2 intrique, and family drama. There was mystery, espionage and romance. I loved reading about Kats work during the war and her mission to find her missing brother. This one was excellent. It sounded so good and I just knew I was going to love it and I was right.
Thank you to the publisher, librofm, and Uplit Reads for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher, librofm, and Uplit Reads for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
August 20, 2025
"War was not for lovers, nor courage for fools."
Umm..wow! This was my first book by Kristy Cambron, and certainly not my last. I knew next to nothing about Julia Childs, other than the fact that she was a chef/famous cook. It was so interesting to get glimpse into her life during World War 2.
I was fascinated by this story from beginning to end, with so many twists and turns in the plot.
I loved the rich culinary setting with spies, world war 2 France, and stunning romance.
There are some very sad parts, but I loved the ending and watching all of the loose ends get properly tied up.
Kat signs up to help the OSS so that she can search for her brother who went missing during the war.
This book has a dual timeline--1943 and 1952.
I definitely recommend this fabulous historical romance! The audio was so well done!
Content Guide:
Language: none
Romance Content: Closed-door: Passionate kissing (not descriptive), implied intimacy between married couple
Violence/gore: Moderate: People are shot in the head several times, murder, some wounds, bloody descriptions
Substance Use: Mild-Wine is drunk by characters throughout the book
Prejudices: none
Religious Themes: none
Other: Loss of loved ones, missing family member, death
Book Info:
Series: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction with Romance; World War 2
Romance Level: Closed-door
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: August 5, 2025
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
POV: Multiple POV Third Person
Thank you to the author and publisher for the review audio copy on Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Umm..wow! This was my first book by Kristy Cambron, and certainly not my last. I knew next to nothing about Julia Childs, other than the fact that she was a chef/famous cook. It was so interesting to get glimpse into her life during World War 2.
I was fascinated by this story from beginning to end, with so many twists and turns in the plot.
I loved the rich culinary setting with spies, world war 2 France, and stunning romance.
There are some very sad parts, but I loved the ending and watching all of the loose ends get properly tied up.
Kat signs up to help the OSS so that she can search for her brother who went missing during the war.
This book has a dual timeline--1943 and 1952.
I definitely recommend this fabulous historical romance! The audio was so well done!
Content Guide:
Language: none
Romance Content: Closed-door: Passionate kissing (not descriptive), implied intimacy between married couple
Violence/gore: Moderate: People are shot in the head several times, murder, some wounds, bloody descriptions
Substance Use: Mild-Wine is drunk by characters throughout the book
Prejudices: none
Religious Themes: none
Other: Loss of loved ones, missing family member, death
Book Info:
Series: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction with Romance; World War 2
Romance Level: Closed-door
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: August 5, 2025
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
POV: Multiple POV Third Person
Thank you to the author and publisher for the review audio copy on Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 24, 2025
The best book I’ve read in a long time. I stayed up late reading, eager to find out what would come of these characters.
I think this might be my new favorite from Kristy Cambron!
I think this might be my new favorite from Kristy Cambron!
July 29, 2025
The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron
3.5 Stars
BLOG POST: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
Read if you love:
- Historical Fiction
- Undercover Operations
- Julia Child
- Hidden Identities
- Dual Timeline
- WWII Fiction
- Paris/France Settings
- French Language
- Kitchens and Cooking in Books
Kristy Cambron really has the attention to detail in her books and this one was really interesting! We follow Kat, who is recruited by the OSS as an agent in 1943. She is hoping to find her missing brother and agrees to go to France as a spy. Years later in 1952, she is still searching for her brother and becomes acquainted with others she knew during the war time. We see different timelines here for the same characters, with multiple identities and plans.
I really liked Kat's character, she is very sharp and in her undercover operations she is working in a kitchen that caters to the Nazi elite. She is tied in with the resistance and there is a lot of suspicion.
In 1952, we see her marriage to Gerard, a man she married for several reasons...but not love. Kat does not truly trust him and their marriage is very unique in tension, small bits of affection but not a huge romantic one.
As others have mentioned, this book takes a lot of brain power to keep up. We have many timelines, different POVs and code names that took me out of the story at times. I loved the writing style, the characters and food/kitchen bits, but I did struggle to keep up with what was going on. If I am honest, I believe I missed several pieces and this book deserves more of a deep dive, re-read from me one day.
The ending was great to see so much resolved and the bit of romance development that occurred.
Regardless of those things, this is a very immersive story that you should take time to sit with and anyone who enjoys a good WWII fiction story will like it. I think the added layer of Julia Child was also nice because so many know of her from her cooking/kitchen days.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson, NetGalley and Kristy Cambron for a complimentary copy of the audiobook and ebook to read and review. I have this one pre-ordered as well and look forward to meeting her at our local bookstore on her book tour! All thoughts are my own.
3.5 Stars
BLOG POST: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
Read if you love:
- Historical Fiction
- Undercover Operations
- Julia Child
- Hidden Identities
- Dual Timeline
- WWII Fiction
- Paris/France Settings
- French Language
- Kitchens and Cooking in Books
Kristy Cambron really has the attention to detail in her books and this one was really interesting! We follow Kat, who is recruited by the OSS as an agent in 1943. She is hoping to find her missing brother and agrees to go to France as a spy. Years later in 1952, she is still searching for her brother and becomes acquainted with others she knew during the war time. We see different timelines here for the same characters, with multiple identities and plans.
I really liked Kat's character, she is very sharp and in her undercover operations she is working in a kitchen that caters to the Nazi elite. She is tied in with the resistance and there is a lot of suspicion.
In 1952, we see her marriage to Gerard, a man she married for several reasons...but not love. Kat does not truly trust him and their marriage is very unique in tension, small bits of affection but not a huge romantic one.
As others have mentioned, this book takes a lot of brain power to keep up. We have many timelines, different POVs and code names that took me out of the story at times. I loved the writing style, the characters and food/kitchen bits, but I did struggle to keep up with what was going on. If I am honest, I believe I missed several pieces and this book deserves more of a deep dive, re-read from me one day.
The ending was great to see so much resolved and the bit of romance development that occurred.
Regardless of those things, this is a very immersive story that you should take time to sit with and anyone who enjoys a good WWII fiction story will like it. I think the added layer of Julia Child was also nice because so many know of her from her cooking/kitchen days.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson, NetGalley and Kristy Cambron for a complimentary copy of the audiobook and ebook to read and review. I have this one pre-ordered as well and look forward to meeting her at our local bookstore on her book tour! All thoughts are my own.
August 4, 2025
The French Kitchen was a detailed historical novel set during WWII France, Post-Paris, and was inspired by the legendary Julia Child, the famed chef who also worked as a spy during the war. The story features two narratives, both of which have two timelines--during the war and post war--so it was interesting to go back in time to see the characters' lives during the war & how things progressed for them after the war & how both plot threads tied together in the end.
While The Paris Dressmaker will always be my favorite novel of Cambron's, this one was quite enjoyable--a clean read with powerful themes and heartwarming romance. If you love wartime novels, pick this one up!
While The Paris Dressmaker will always be my favorite novel of Cambron's, this one was quite enjoyable--a clean read with powerful themes and heartwarming romance. If you love wartime novels, pick this one up!
August 31, 2025
4.25 stars "As Paris rebuilds in the aftermath of World War II, one ex-pat uses the skills she learned in French kitchens during the war to bring long-held secrets to light."
This brilliant historical fiction novel weaves true events, secrets, spies, betrayal, romance, and French cuisine in Vichy controlled France. Told in dual timeline in 1943 and 1952, we meet Kat, an American OSS operative, Mason a spy operating as a chef in a French kitchen, and Julia Child who did teach cooking classes in Paris in 1952 amd had also worked for the OSS.
All their lives are inextricably linked when Kit is assigned to cook in the French Kitchen with Manon in 1943 and then takes a cooking class from Julia Child in 1952 when France is still recovering from the aftermath of the war. Over the eight years, Kit is determined to find out what happened to her brother Gavin and get to the truth of those who betrayed them. This book is so engaging and immersive, and fans of Kate Quinn and Kristin Harmel will devour this delicious story. 🇫🇷
Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson - TNZ fiction, UpLit Reads, and Kristy Cambron for an advance listening copy, advance reader's copy, and finished copy in exchange for my honest review. The audiobook performance by Saskia Maarveled is pure perfection as she voices two FMC's, multiple men, and the iconic Julia Child herself.🎧
This brilliant historical fiction novel weaves true events, secrets, spies, betrayal, romance, and French cuisine in Vichy controlled France. Told in dual timeline in 1943 and 1952, we meet Kat, an American OSS operative, Mason a spy operating as a chef in a French kitchen, and Julia Child who did teach cooking classes in Paris in 1952 amd had also worked for the OSS.
All their lives are inextricably linked when Kit is assigned to cook in the French Kitchen with Manon in 1943 and then takes a cooking class from Julia Child in 1952 when France is still recovering from the aftermath of the war. Over the eight years, Kit is determined to find out what happened to her brother Gavin and get to the truth of those who betrayed them. This book is so engaging and immersive, and fans of Kate Quinn and Kristin Harmel will devour this delicious story. 🇫🇷
Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson - TNZ fiction, UpLit Reads, and Kristy Cambron for an advance listening copy, advance reader's copy, and finished copy in exchange for my honest review. The audiobook performance by Saskia Maarveled is pure perfection as she voices two FMC's, multiple men, and the iconic Julia Child herself.🎧
August 9, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Well, it looks like I may be an outlier with this historical fiction dual timeline, which spans events in the U.S. and France in the 1940s and 1950s. I guess I just found it all a bit overdramatic and chaotic in many places. Kat was always looking for her brother, and I wondered if he needed to be seen. On the other hand, I did quite enjoy the author's note, and the Julia Child vein was quite fascinating.
Paris, 1952--Still haunted by the years she spent serving in the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII, ex-pat Kat Fontaine, now living in Paris, finds a simple cookery class led by indomitable chef Julia Child unearths the tangle of gut-wrenching memories of war. Determined to find her brother who went missing during the war and is presumed dead, Kat questions everything, especially her high-ranking society husband whose past is as murky as her own. But when the puzzle pieces start to come together--and her carefully crafted Paris world begins to fall apart--Kat must confront her own secrets against the mounting suspicions of the husband she thought she knew . . .
Rue, 1943--Deep in the heart of Nazi-controlled northern France, Manon Altier shifts between working for the enemy by day--as a French chef at the famous Chateau du Broutel, where names like Himmler, Rommel, and Goebbels frequent the guest list--and running with underground networks against the Vichy regime at night. Working undercover to filter critical information to agents within the burgeoning OSS presence in France, Manon digs deep into the glitz and glamour of a Nazi stronghold that has her teetering on the edge of being discovered at any turn. But when an intriguing stranger appears at the chateau claiming to work with the French Resistance, Manon must lean on her instincts to judge whether to run and hide or stand firm--even as a terrifying discovery tests her resolve to continue the fight.
#TheFrenchKitchen #NetGalley
Publication Date 05/08/25
Goodreads Review 05/08/25
Well, it looks like I may be an outlier with this historical fiction dual timeline, which spans events in the U.S. and France in the 1940s and 1950s. I guess I just found it all a bit overdramatic and chaotic in many places. Kat was always looking for her brother, and I wondered if he needed to be seen. On the other hand, I did quite enjoy the author's note, and the Julia Child vein was quite fascinating.
Paris, 1952--Still haunted by the years she spent serving in the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII, ex-pat Kat Fontaine, now living in Paris, finds a simple cookery class led by indomitable chef Julia Child unearths the tangle of gut-wrenching memories of war. Determined to find her brother who went missing during the war and is presumed dead, Kat questions everything, especially her high-ranking society husband whose past is as murky as her own. But when the puzzle pieces start to come together--and her carefully crafted Paris world begins to fall apart--Kat must confront her own secrets against the mounting suspicions of the husband she thought she knew . . .
Rue, 1943--Deep in the heart of Nazi-controlled northern France, Manon Altier shifts between working for the enemy by day--as a French chef at the famous Chateau du Broutel, where names like Himmler, Rommel, and Goebbels frequent the guest list--and running with underground networks against the Vichy regime at night. Working undercover to filter critical information to agents within the burgeoning OSS presence in France, Manon digs deep into the glitz and glamour of a Nazi stronghold that has her teetering on the edge of being discovered at any turn. But when an intriguing stranger appears at the chateau claiming to work with the French Resistance, Manon must lean on her instincts to judge whether to run and hide or stand firm--even as a terrifying discovery tests her resolve to continue the fight.
#TheFrenchKitchen #NetGalley
Publication Date 05/08/25
Goodreads Review 05/08/25
February 28, 2025
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.
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.
September 11, 2025
I've been wanting to read another book in WWII recently, and this one fit the bill perfectly. I loved having a glimpse into the French Resistance and SOE operatives working in France.
There were so many characters and they were all well done. I loved discovering who was really who (because, after all, you weren't working undercover with your real name ... or were you?).
My favorite parts of the story were by far the homefront in France.
There is a description of a massacre, for those sensitive to gore of any kind.
I honestly don't recall any spiritual threads in this book. It was clean, but now that I'm thinking back, besides some mentions of "Thank Providence," it wasn't a strong Christian book in my opinion.
The romance threads were sweet and somewhat slow burn.
For those who love WWII, it's a good read.
Audiobook Review: 3.5 stars
The narrator is amazing. She really put life into all of the different characters. As far as narration went, I have no complaints!
Stars are docked because the quality of the audio was fuzzy and it took me a lot of concentration to understand everything. It sounds like it didn't go through the final audio check. I listened to a sample on retail sites to see if it was just my ALC, but they sounded the same. I realize as a musician I'm more sensitive to the recording quality, but it made a huge difference in my listening experience, and not in a positive way.
Also, I don't think this is the best book for me in audio. Because the timeline was constantly shifting, I sometimes lost track of where I was in the timeline. Also, having a ton of French words and me not speaking French, I didn't understand some of what was going on (this could have also been affected by the poor audio quality making all French words and names blur together in my ear), whereas if I had seen it on the page, it would have helped a lot.
I didn't think I was picky about audiobooks, but the audio quality took me out of the story.
I received an ALC from NetGalley and provided my honest review.
There were so many characters and they were all well done. I loved discovering who was really who (because, after all, you weren't working undercover with your real name ... or were you?).
My favorite parts of the story were by far the homefront in France.
There is a description of a massacre, for those sensitive to gore of any kind.
I honestly don't recall any spiritual threads in this book. It was clean, but now that I'm thinking back, besides some mentions of "Thank Providence," it wasn't a strong Christian book in my opinion.
The romance threads were sweet and somewhat slow burn.
For those who love WWII, it's a good read.
Audiobook Review: 3.5 stars
The narrator is amazing. She really put life into all of the different characters. As far as narration went, I have no complaints!
Stars are docked because the quality of the audio was fuzzy and it took me a lot of concentration to understand everything. It sounds like it didn't go through the final audio check. I listened to a sample on retail sites to see if it was just my ALC, but they sounded the same. I realize as a musician I'm more sensitive to the recording quality, but it made a huge difference in my listening experience, and not in a positive way.
Also, I don't think this is the best book for me in audio. Because the timeline was constantly shifting, I sometimes lost track of where I was in the timeline. Also, having a ton of French words and me not speaking French, I didn't understand some of what was going on (this could have also been affected by the poor audio quality making all French words and names blur together in my ear), whereas if I had seen it on the page, it would have helped a lot.
I didn't think I was picky about audiobooks, but the audio quality took me out of the story.
I received an ALC from NetGalley and provided my honest review.
August 17, 2025
“When a person starts digging for answers, they have to be prepared for it to change everything.”
Wow. The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron completely swept me away and is without a doubt one of my top favorite reads of the year and of all time.
First—I couldn’t put it down. Second—I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I finished. And third—the writing? Absolutely spectacular. Cambron is a mastermind at weaving dual timelines, suspense, romance, and unforgettable characters into a story that grips your heart and keeps you turning pages late into the night.
What you’ll find inside:
– Dual timelines (WWII France + 1950s Paris) that are flawlessly executed.
– Spy networks, betrayals, and a race against time.
– Gorgeous romance with tropes I love (he falls first, forced proximity, and second chances).
– Plot twists that had me guessing until the very end.
– And yes…Julia Child, which adds such a delightful and unexpected layer.
This book has it all: survival, heart, suspense, and one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve read in a long time. If you enjoy historical fiction, romantic tension, and stories that linger with you—trust me, you don’t want to miss this one.
All the stars. Two thumbs up. Truly, one of the best reads of my year—and maybe of all time.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The French Kitchen is available now!
Content/Trigger: wartime scenarios, violence, suspenseful action, espionage, alludes to intimacy between a married couple (no explicit details), romance-kisses only.
Wow. The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron completely swept me away and is without a doubt one of my top favorite reads of the year and of all time.
First—I couldn’t put it down. Second—I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I finished. And third—the writing? Absolutely spectacular. Cambron is a mastermind at weaving dual timelines, suspense, romance, and unforgettable characters into a story that grips your heart and keeps you turning pages late into the night.
What you’ll find inside:
– Dual timelines (WWII France + 1950s Paris) that are flawlessly executed.
– Spy networks, betrayals, and a race against time.
– Gorgeous romance with tropes I love (he falls first, forced proximity, and second chances).
– Plot twists that had me guessing until the very end.
– And yes…Julia Child, which adds such a delightful and unexpected layer.
This book has it all: survival, heart, suspense, and one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve read in a long time. If you enjoy historical fiction, romantic tension, and stories that linger with you—trust me, you don’t want to miss this one.
All the stars. Two thumbs up. Truly, one of the best reads of my year—and maybe of all time.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The French Kitchen is available now!
Content/Trigger: wartime scenarios, violence, suspenseful action, espionage, alludes to intimacy between a married couple (no explicit details), romance-kisses only.
February 1, 2025
•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•
{𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒉 𝑲𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒏}
🥖 Release Date: August 5, 2025 🥖
.
.
.
Without fail, I always find myself deeply immersed in Kristy Cambron’s stories! Her multiple timelines and wide array of characters make for riveting tales that take place during the World Wars. This particular book follows the timeline of a Bostonian woman, recruited to serve as an OSS agent in France during WWII. The story flips between 1943, following the events of the war, and 1951, the aftermath of the war and seeking explanations for unanswered questions. Cambron kept me guessing until the final pages wrapped up the conclusion of this beautiful book!
Kathryn “Kat” Harris found herself recruited and working for the OSS (American Office of Strategic Services) after her brother, Gavin, joined up and then went missing. Having grown up separated after their parents’ divorce, Kat deeply valued her relationship her with her younger brother and was willing to do whatever it took to get him back, even if it meant working uncover in occupied France. Her knowledge of languages and her ability to read lips made Kat an invaluable asset to the OSS and she found herself posing as Célène, a kitchen maid at the Château du Broutel.
Chef Manon Altier, head chef at the Château du Broutel, lived a life of fear that at any time the Reich would discover her secrets and she would be taken by the Gestapo. When her new kitchen maid fails to show up, Manon begins to fear the worst, but then Célène falls from the heavens (literally) to take up the position. Together, they work undercover against the Vichy regime to filter information to OSS agents. Living in a time when neighbor reported neighbor, life was dangerous for anyone, but especially for those working against the Reich.
The romance in this book was written very tastefully and I enjoyed it immensely! We got to watch true love develop through hardships, distrust, and the uncertainties of war.
“𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚎’𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎, 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜.”
.
.
.
I received a complimentary arc of this book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. All opinions listed are purely my own.
{𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒉 𝑲𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒏}
🥖 Release Date: August 5, 2025 🥖
.
.
.
Without fail, I always find myself deeply immersed in Kristy Cambron’s stories! Her multiple timelines and wide array of characters make for riveting tales that take place during the World Wars. This particular book follows the timeline of a Bostonian woman, recruited to serve as an OSS agent in France during WWII. The story flips between 1943, following the events of the war, and 1951, the aftermath of the war and seeking explanations for unanswered questions. Cambron kept me guessing until the final pages wrapped up the conclusion of this beautiful book!
Kathryn “Kat” Harris found herself recruited and working for the OSS (American Office of Strategic Services) after her brother, Gavin, joined up and then went missing. Having grown up separated after their parents’ divorce, Kat deeply valued her relationship her with her younger brother and was willing to do whatever it took to get him back, even if it meant working uncover in occupied France. Her knowledge of languages and her ability to read lips made Kat an invaluable asset to the OSS and she found herself posing as Célène, a kitchen maid at the Château du Broutel.
Chef Manon Altier, head chef at the Château du Broutel, lived a life of fear that at any time the Reich would discover her secrets and she would be taken by the Gestapo. When her new kitchen maid fails to show up, Manon begins to fear the worst, but then Célène falls from the heavens (literally) to take up the position. Together, they work undercover against the Vichy regime to filter information to OSS agents. Living in a time when neighbor reported neighbor, life was dangerous for anyone, but especially for those working against the Reich.
The romance in this book was written very tastefully and I enjoyed it immensely! We got to watch true love develop through hardships, distrust, and the uncertainties of war.
“𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚎’𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎, 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜.”
.
.
.
I received a complimentary arc of this book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. All opinions listed are purely my own.
November 28, 2025
I think if I would've read this when I'm not so tired and short on reading time lately, I would've enjoyed this a lot more. Usually, I love this author's dual timelines and character POVs, but I was so confused for pretty much all of the book, which really took away from the enjoyment for me. When reveals happened, they didn't hit as hard because I just wasn't following a lot of the story as much as I needed to. I definitely want to revisit this in a less busy season so I can better understand and enjoy the story especially since I did really enjoy parts of it still and the mentions of French culture and cuisine were really good!
August 7, 2025
I love Kristy Cambron's books! I love how she weaves stories from two or three time periods and becoming invested in all of them to seeing how they all connect together! Amazing!
This book pulled me in and had me wondering how all of these characters were going to connect. Especially with the beginning scene and the way the author set up the story!
I loved how it all pulled together! Paris in 1952 and Rue, France in 1943! The talk of the spy network and the culinary aspects were very intriguing! I felt like I was there enjoying all of the flavors, and then my heart would be racing the next moment as I was hoping the spies would be safe and accomplish their missions successfully!
The twists and reveals were amazing! I started to make guesses the further into the book I got and some of them I figured out and others I was surprised by! I love when that happens while I'm reading and invested in a book!
I read and listened to the audiobook of this one! I really enjoyed the narrator. This was the first book I've listened to that she narrated and enjoyed how she brought the French aspects to life!
I thought after reading the synopsis that Julia Child would feature more in the story than she did and that she was going to be one of the main characters. Turns out she was a secondary character in the story but I loved the moments she was on page. I had read another book that was about her and her time during WWII that releases in a month. It was fun knowing more about her life and service while hearing some of it in this one. She's an incredible woman!
There is a sweet love story that is a slow-burn one but will have you loving how it all comes about!
Content: Clean. Some moments of mild peril. Sweet love story with a fade to black scene, it was kept very clean.
I received a copy of the digital book and the audiobook from the publisher/producer, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading & Listening!!!
This book pulled me in and had me wondering how all of these characters were going to connect. Especially with the beginning scene and the way the author set up the story!
I loved how it all pulled together! Paris in 1952 and Rue, France in 1943! The talk of the spy network and the culinary aspects were very intriguing! I felt like I was there enjoying all of the flavors, and then my heart would be racing the next moment as I was hoping the spies would be safe and accomplish their missions successfully!
The twists and reveals were amazing! I started to make guesses the further into the book I got and some of them I figured out and others I was surprised by! I love when that happens while I'm reading and invested in a book!
I read and listened to the audiobook of this one! I really enjoyed the narrator. This was the first book I've listened to that she narrated and enjoyed how she brought the French aspects to life!
I thought after reading the synopsis that Julia Child would feature more in the story than she did and that she was going to be one of the main characters. Turns out she was a secondary character in the story but I loved the moments she was on page. I had read another book that was about her and her time during WWII that releases in a month. It was fun knowing more about her life and service while hearing some of it in this one. She's an incredible woman!
There is a sweet love story that is a slow-burn one but will have you loving how it all comes about!
Content: Clean. Some moments of mild peril. Sweet love story with a fade to black scene, it was kept very clean.
I received a copy of the digital book and the audiobook from the publisher/producer, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading & Listening!!!
February 1, 2025
To start with, I think the cover of this book is stunning! This story is mainly set during WWII and the lives of undercover spies. There are multiple time lines to follow in typical Cambron style. At first I wasn't sure I would ever be able to keep the many characters and timelines separate but a few chapters in and I realized how the author was tying things together so it made a lot more sense. I enjoyed all of the perspectives shown during heavy war time and also after the war which I thought was a unique perspective. What did these people who were so pivotal to the war effort do once it was over? Did they have regrets? Were they still trying to right wrongs? Could they trust anyone?
So many things are touched upon between these pages that it makes for quite a captivating story. It was really interesting to read about the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) and what they did to help the war effort. It truly is astounding. There is a romance that you really don't expect and it added a sweetness to the plot. Julia Child makes an appearance which made for a fun plot twist. While a little slow to start, this book had my full attention and was difficult to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I highly recommend if you enjoy historical fiction. This is one of Cambron's best!
Five Stars.
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
August 23, 2025
Be patient with this one. It is layered and complex but SO worth it. At first, I worried I could not keep up with the dual timelines, undercover identities, and multiple points of view. But once it clicked? Wow. This story is UNFORGETTABLE. I am going to keep this review short so I do not give anything away. There are so many secrets in the one book, I want to make sure I give you room to unpack and delve into this story.
Kat is searching for her missing brother and enters a marriage of convenience to get help, but no one is who they seem. (she and her husband included) Meanwhile, Manon works undercover in a French kitchen that is secretly helping the resistance. The stakes are high, the risks are real, and the emotional weight is powerful! Be prepared for a roller coaster of emotions.
This book blends historical fiction, mystery, and romance (yes, two love stories) in such a gripping way. The romance declarations... swoony! I highlighted so much , tabbed so many pages, and reread certain portions multiple times. I definitely plan to reread it now that I know how all the pieces connect. This is a story that will live in my mind rent-free for quite some time.
I received a complimentary copy. This is my honest opinion. Highly recommend.
Kat is searching for her missing brother and enters a marriage of convenience to get help, but no one is who they seem. (she and her husband included) Meanwhile, Manon works undercover in a French kitchen that is secretly helping the resistance. The stakes are high, the risks are real, and the emotional weight is powerful! Be prepared for a roller coaster of emotions.
This book blends historical fiction, mystery, and romance (yes, two love stories) in such a gripping way. The romance declarations... swoony! I highlighted so much , tabbed so many pages, and reread certain portions multiple times. I definitely plan to reread it now that I know how all the pieces connect. This is a story that will live in my mind rent-free for quite some time.
I received a complimentary copy. This is my honest opinion. Highly recommend.
August 29, 2025
Mysterious, romantic, & magnificently written! With her characteristic beautiful prose, Kristy Cambron brings France to life in this suspenseful, intriguing, dual time line WWII historical romance. The French Kitchen is a book that needs to be read twice; once for the immersive experience, & again to appreciate all the subtle clues & nuances. Set in 1943 & 1952, this stunning adventure follows the missions of Kat Fontaine as she enters war time service to find her missing brother, & Manon Altier, a French chef who works for the Resistance right under the nose of the German occupiers.
More comfortable in her deceased father’s automotive garage than her mother’s society parties, Kat Fontaine gives up everything to serve in WWII & find her missing brother. When approached to work in the OSS, Kat accepts & soon finds herself in a tangle of lies, subterfuge, & danger. When she returns to Paris after the war, she enters a marriage of convenience with a wealthy Parisian to finally learn the truth about her brother. Mixing with Paris high society & taking cooking lessons from the famous Julia Child, Kat risks everything including her heart to unearth the past.
Mason Altier’s a brilliant chef who lost everything in the war. Putting aside her fears, she risks her life to work for the Resistance. The stakes are high & every day she walks a dangerous tightrope serving delicious meals to the German elite, evading the Vichy regime, & trying to discern the traitors within.
This story captivated me from the beginning. I loved both time lines & how they intersected throughout. The mysteries completely pulled me in & discovering the truth about Kat’s brother is at the heart. The pulse pounding suspense had me on edge with cat & mouse games, double agents, & hidden identities.
I loved Kat’s & Gerard’s romance! Marriage of convenience is such a favorite trope. I enjoyed the undercurrent of attraction between them as secrets need to be unraveled. The romantic tension is palpable as Kat must decide whether to trust Gerard. Julia Child makes a fantastic cameo & I enjoyed seeing a new side to her.
The audiobook is fantastic! The narrator did a beautiful job bringing this story to life. I loved how she voiced both male & female characters. Her French accent is wonderful.
Highly recommend this amazing story! I received advanced copies from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily.
More comfortable in her deceased father’s automotive garage than her mother’s society parties, Kat Fontaine gives up everything to serve in WWII & find her missing brother. When approached to work in the OSS, Kat accepts & soon finds herself in a tangle of lies, subterfuge, & danger. When she returns to Paris after the war, she enters a marriage of convenience with a wealthy Parisian to finally learn the truth about her brother. Mixing with Paris high society & taking cooking lessons from the famous Julia Child, Kat risks everything including her heart to unearth the past.
Mason Altier’s a brilliant chef who lost everything in the war. Putting aside her fears, she risks her life to work for the Resistance. The stakes are high & every day she walks a dangerous tightrope serving delicious meals to the German elite, evading the Vichy regime, & trying to discern the traitors within.
This story captivated me from the beginning. I loved both time lines & how they intersected throughout. The mysteries completely pulled me in & discovering the truth about Kat’s brother is at the heart. The pulse pounding suspense had me on edge with cat & mouse games, double agents, & hidden identities.
I loved Kat’s & Gerard’s romance! Marriage of convenience is such a favorite trope. I enjoyed the undercurrent of attraction between them as secrets need to be unraveled. The romantic tension is palpable as Kat must decide whether to trust Gerard. Julia Child makes a fantastic cameo & I enjoyed seeing a new side to her.
The audiobook is fantastic! The narrator did a beautiful job bringing this story to life. I loved how she voiced both male & female characters. Her French accent is wonderful.
Highly recommend this amazing story! I received advanced copies from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily.
July 14, 2025
"To look back is not to lament all we've lost, but to see how past experiences have shaped us into who we are."
Kristy Cambron is a master at weaving emotionally gripping and unforgettable historical fiction. I enjoyed her previous books set during WWII and this newest offering did not disappoint. The plot in 1943 Northern France worked almost like a flashback to fill in the backstory of the plot in 1952 Paris. Kat and Manon's third person voices in 1943 were brave, fearless, resourceful, and loyal as they worked in occupied France's chateau kitchen while working with the Resistance, OSS, and SOE. The cloud of danger and urgency was palpable in the midst of secrecy, espionage, subversion, double agents and heart-breaking betrayals. Gerard and Kat's third person voices carried the 1952 segment of the story and it was fascinating to see how much they had matured yet still hurt from their losses during the war. Gerard was a stalwart and compassionate hero, fully committed to the cause he had pledged himself. Kat learned to temper her impulsiveness and fiery stubbornness of youth but wasn't afraid to challenge others' decisions to make her own way. Both Gerard and Kat were afraid to love but learned to conquer their fears.
The suspense and intrigue were delightful, as were the two romances that bloomed even in the middle of war. The subplot of searching for Kat's brother who was declared missing during the war brought plot twists upon plot twists, which all came together at the end. I also enjoyed meeting fictionalized Julia Child here.
I have to admit that I didn't fully follow the plot until about a third way into the book - I got a bit confused between the 1943 and 1952 plots and had trouble connecting the dots between the two timelines. I don't know French so maybe that contributed. I was also confused about some of the characters singled out at the end of the story and how they were tied to what happened at the end of 1943 storyline. Regardless the writing was melodic, the setting unrivaled, characters unforgettable, and life lessons learned timeless.
If you enjoy historical fiction, you will love this book. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
Kristy Cambron is a master at weaving emotionally gripping and unforgettable historical fiction. I enjoyed her previous books set during WWII and this newest offering did not disappoint. The plot in 1943 Northern France worked almost like a flashback to fill in the backstory of the plot in 1952 Paris. Kat and Manon's third person voices in 1943 were brave, fearless, resourceful, and loyal as they worked in occupied France's chateau kitchen while working with the Resistance, OSS, and SOE. The cloud of danger and urgency was palpable in the midst of secrecy, espionage, subversion, double agents and heart-breaking betrayals. Gerard and Kat's third person voices carried the 1952 segment of the story and it was fascinating to see how much they had matured yet still hurt from their losses during the war. Gerard was a stalwart and compassionate hero, fully committed to the cause he had pledged himself. Kat learned to temper her impulsiveness and fiery stubbornness of youth but wasn't afraid to challenge others' decisions to make her own way. Both Gerard and Kat were afraid to love but learned to conquer their fears.
The suspense and intrigue were delightful, as were the two romances that bloomed even in the middle of war. The subplot of searching for Kat's brother who was declared missing during the war brought plot twists upon plot twists, which all came together at the end. I also enjoyed meeting fictionalized Julia Child here.
I have to admit that I didn't fully follow the plot until about a third way into the book - I got a bit confused between the 1943 and 1952 plots and had trouble connecting the dots between the two timelines. I don't know French so maybe that contributed. I was also confused about some of the characters singled out at the end of the story and how they were tied to what happened at the end of 1943 storyline. Regardless the writing was melodic, the setting unrivaled, characters unforgettable, and life lessons learned timeless.
If you enjoy historical fiction, you will love this book. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
October 19, 2025
I enjoyed The French Kitchen, but I wanted it to be better.
What I Liked:
*The characters. Most everyone was developed, interesting, and fun to read about. I especially liked Kat and Manon, which was good as they were the main points of view.
*The romances. These were sweet with the appropriate amount of thrill since the characters are falling in love during a war.
*The espionage. No clue how accurate things were, but they worked for the story, and I loved the kitchen spies!
*The ending. I don’t care if anyone thinks it was cheesy, it was the happy ending I wanted.
*Julia Child. Her presence didn’t overwhelm the story, and I enjoyed learning more about her work in the OSS and post-war.
What I Didn’t Like:
*The various timelines. Dual timelines are fine, but this was more? Maybe? I’m unclear. Honestly, I had to keep flipping back to figure out when we were, and that slowed things down.
*The big twist. It came out of nowhere. There were no clues leading up to the reveal of the big bad.
*The pacing. It felt like this story lasted forever. I’d read and read and read and still only have gotten through a few chapters. I’m not sure if this was due to the multiple timelines or what, but I didn’t whiz through this one like I have with Cambron’s other books.
Also to note, this isn’t really a Christian fiction. It was still a clean romance, but it didn’t really have many if any faith aspects to the story. Just a note to readers.
All in all, The French Kitchen was an interesting read but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected.
What I Liked:
*The characters. Most everyone was developed, interesting, and fun to read about. I especially liked Kat and Manon, which was good as they were the main points of view.
*The romances. These were sweet with the appropriate amount of thrill since the characters are falling in love during a war.
*The espionage. No clue how accurate things were, but they worked for the story, and I loved the kitchen spies!
*The ending. I don’t care if anyone thinks it was cheesy, it was the happy ending I wanted.
*Julia Child. Her presence didn’t overwhelm the story, and I enjoyed learning more about her work in the OSS and post-war.
What I Didn’t Like:
*The various timelines. Dual timelines are fine, but this was more? Maybe? I’m unclear. Honestly, I had to keep flipping back to figure out when we were, and that slowed things down.
*The big twist. It came out of nowhere. There were no clues leading up to the reveal of the big bad.
*The pacing. It felt like this story lasted forever. I’d read and read and read and still only have gotten through a few chapters. I’m not sure if this was due to the multiple timelines or what, but I didn’t whiz through this one like I have with Cambron’s other books.
Also to note, this isn’t really a Christian fiction. It was still a clean romance, but it didn’t really have many if any faith aspects to the story. Just a note to readers.
All in all, The French Kitchen was an interesting read but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected.
August 4, 2025
The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron had me scratching my head. The story is told from two different heroines' perspective, then told in two different time periods. As I was reading, I had a hard time keeping the two stories apart. While I love a good World War II spy novel, I really was drawn into the concept of the story, but it sadly did not deliver for me. The action was a little on the downside, and the romance really was not there. It wanted to be, but it was weak at times. The surprise ending was nice, but I felt like the story really didn't set up to have that type of reveal. I enjoyed the setting. I liked traveling through Europe during a horrific time in world history. Cambron does a good job at allowing her readers to see and feel the setting. Her prose is nicely handled. I loved how she crafted some sentences and used words to convey a feeling or color that I would not have thought of to describe things, but it worked perfectly for the story. Overall, The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron really did not deliver the type of story that I was promised to have been given. I wanted more suspense. Maybe just one heroine in the two different timelines.
I received a complimentary copy of The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron from Harper Collins Christian Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
I received a complimentary copy of The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron from Harper Collins Christian Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
August 4, 2025
This book is SO complicated- note taking is a must. A physical book would be helpful for note taking & flipping around to help keep track of whoxs who. There are aliases for aliases and the same character may have 3 or 4 names in the various timelines. There's are two Celenes (both are aliases)- the original Celene who disappeared and her replacement. The audio is good but many of the voices are too similar and it's already hard to keep characters straight. Overall it's a good book but best to be aware that it's one you need to work at. Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson, and Zondervan Fiction Audio for providing an e-arc and an audio arc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 6, 2025
EVOCATIVE, INFORMATIVE, & ESPIONAGE!
Award-winning author Kristy Cambron has truly brought her A-game with this evocative dual-time novel, "The French Kitchen." I highly recommend reading it!
The story revolves around Kat Fontaine, a woman who risks everything to uncover the truth about her brother, Gavin, and whether he is dead or alive. Struggling to come to terms with his disappearance, Kat engages in espionage during the 1940s. To hide in plain sight, she works as a chef, gathering and sharing information with the OSS (Office of Strategic Services).
Nearly ten years later, Kat is in a marriage of convenience and finds herself invited to attend cooking classes. To her surprise, these classes are taught by none other than Julia Child, who has her own history with the OSS. Julia quickly picks up on Kat's advanced culinary skills, especially her impressive vegetable chopping techniques, and suspects that Kat is not who she claims to be.
In a private conversation, Julia and Kat bond over the challenges of living on the edge, prompting each to question their original plans for a perfect future. As Kat navigates her cloak-and-dagger activities, one wonders: Did she find any clues about her brother?
Thomas Nelson and NetGalley provided me with a copy of this novel. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own and free from outside influence.
Award-winning author Kristy Cambron has truly brought her A-game with this evocative dual-time novel, "The French Kitchen." I highly recommend reading it!
The story revolves around Kat Fontaine, a woman who risks everything to uncover the truth about her brother, Gavin, and whether he is dead or alive. Struggling to come to terms with his disappearance, Kat engages in espionage during the 1940s. To hide in plain sight, she works as a chef, gathering and sharing information with the OSS (Office of Strategic Services).
Nearly ten years later, Kat is in a marriage of convenience and finds herself invited to attend cooking classes. To her surprise, these classes are taught by none other than Julia Child, who has her own history with the OSS. Julia quickly picks up on Kat's advanced culinary skills, especially her impressive vegetable chopping techniques, and suspects that Kat is not who she claims to be.
In a private conversation, Julia and Kat bond over the challenges of living on the edge, prompting each to question their original plans for a perfect future. As Kat navigates her cloak-and-dagger activities, one wonders: Did she find any clues about her brother?
Thomas Nelson and NetGalley provided me with a copy of this novel. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own and free from outside influence.
July 30, 2025
✨️4.25 stars✨️
Set between 1943 Nazi-occupied France and 1952 post-war Paris, The French Kitchen follows two women whose lives slowly intertwine—Kat Fontaine, an American spy looking for her brother, and Manon Altier, a French chef forced to cook for the enemy while secretly aiding the resistance.
This isn’t just a war story. There are subtle romance, personal growth, and how survival often hinges on the smallest, most human choices.
This book approaches war from a different angle, not just the fight during but the quiet aftermath. The trauma, the rebuilding, and the truth that is somehow lost between sound of guns.
Talking about characters, i honestly liked all. I was swooning over GAVIN & CAPITAN FONTAINE all through the book😁. Kat was a solid character, central and compelling with sharp-edges and immense grief.
But it was Manon who truly stole the show for me. She's graceful, guarded, and quietly fierce. I found myself drawn to her just as much, if not more, than Kat. The bond btn these two women was another highlight. Their bond forged through shared trauma, secrets, and a silent understanding of what’s at stake.
I also liked that there was not only romantic love but also sibling loyalty, deep friendship, and that quiet, steadfast love that keeps people going when everything else is falling apart. It’s a reminder that love can be loud, or it can be a silent promise between two people fighting for something bigger.
Only reason for this not being 5star i that the narration from both timelines sometimes felt a bit mushe, which was a bit confusing.
Overall, i really liked the stor. Thee narration by Saskia Maarleveld might've made it even better🙌🏼. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson fiction for providing the ARC for my honest review.
Set between 1943 Nazi-occupied France and 1952 post-war Paris, The French Kitchen follows two women whose lives slowly intertwine—Kat Fontaine, an American spy looking for her brother, and Manon Altier, a French chef forced to cook for the enemy while secretly aiding the resistance.
This isn’t just a war story. There are subtle romance, personal growth, and how survival often hinges on the smallest, most human choices.
This book approaches war from a different angle, not just the fight during but the quiet aftermath. The trauma, the rebuilding, and the truth that is somehow lost between sound of guns.
Talking about characters, i honestly liked all. I was swooning over GAVIN & CAPITAN FONTAINE all through the book😁. Kat was a solid character, central and compelling with sharp-edges and immense grief.
But it was Manon who truly stole the show for me. She's graceful, guarded, and quietly fierce. I found myself drawn to her just as much, if not more, than Kat. The bond btn these two women was another highlight. Their bond forged through shared trauma, secrets, and a silent understanding of what’s at stake.
I also liked that there was not only romantic love but also sibling loyalty, deep friendship, and that quiet, steadfast love that keeps people going when everything else is falling apart. It’s a reminder that love can be loud, or it can be a silent promise between two people fighting for something bigger.
Only reason for this not being 5star i that the narration from both timelines sometimes felt a bit mushe, which was a bit confusing.
Overall, i really liked the stor. Thee narration by Saskia Maarleveld might've made it even better🙌🏼. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson fiction for providing the ARC for my honest review.
October 23, 2025
I struggled getting into the book with the 3 different story lines and the author’s writing style. I found myself constantly rereading scenes several times cause I didn’t understand what was happening because of the way it was worded. but once I hit the half way mark I started to enjoy the story more as it started to pick up.
However, the ending left me so confused with more questions than answers. I don’t understand why her step dad became the villain or what his motives were. There was no hint leading up to it and he only makes a few appearances in the story.
Julia Childs isn’t in the book as much as I hoped she would be. I would’ve liked to see more of her and learned more of what she did during the war but we only get a brief explanation.
I don’t think Manon’s story line contributed to the book. I would’ve preferred to see everything from Kat’s perspective. I think it would’ve made the story flow smoother.
I wanted to see more of Kats time while healing in Gerarde’s home. More of her in the kitchen at the chateau, developing her skills as a chef, and developing relationships with the other kitchen staff not just Manon and Valens. I feel there was more to tell at the chateau than what we got.
However, the ending left me so confused with more questions than answers. I don’t understand why her step dad became the villain or what his motives were. There was no hint leading up to it and he only makes a few appearances in the story.
Julia Childs isn’t in the book as much as I hoped she would be. I would’ve liked to see more of her and learned more of what she did during the war but we only get a brief explanation.
I don’t think Manon’s story line contributed to the book. I would’ve preferred to see everything from Kat’s perspective. I think it would’ve made the story flow smoother.
I wanted to see more of Kats time while healing in Gerarde’s home. More of her in the kitchen at the chateau, developing her skills as a chef, and developing relationships with the other kitchen staff not just Manon and Valens. I feel there was more to tell at the chateau than what we got.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2025
A satisfying story in all respects! Action, intrigue, romance AND Julia Child lending a hand in the kitchen as well as in sorting out the past. Loved it!
August 28, 2025
Absolutely loved it! The story has an intricate and layered plot line that hooked me from the opening paragraphs. The writing and pacing are excellent, the character development is fantastic, and I was easily swept back in time.
WWII historical fiction is so compelling to me, and The French Kitchen skillfully blends that with mystery, espionage, intrigue, danger, complicated family relationships, and romance.
There are multiple POV’s, a dual timeline (1943 & 1952), and a lot of twists and turns. The book ends with a twist that took me completely by surprise. It was an emotional read with a lot of tense moments, a few heartbreaking ones, but also happy ones with the romance element and the culinary cuisine that had me craving French food.
A highlight of the book were the appearances of Julia Child. She doesn’t play a large role, but the scenes she’s in added to the story.
I alternated between reading the book and listening to the audio, which made it an even better reading experience. With the complex storyline and the dual timeline, it was helpful to go back to the physical book and see what I might have missed.
The narration by Saskia Maarleveld was exceptional! She does an amazing job at giving voice to a variety of characters and accents. When she was the voice of Julia Child, I had to remind myself that It was the same narrator, because she really nailed it.
If you enjoy historical fiction with a lot of depth and feeling, I highly recommend this one.
Thanks to the author and publisher for a gifted copy. Thanks to NetGalley and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.
WWII historical fiction is so compelling to me, and The French Kitchen skillfully blends that with mystery, espionage, intrigue, danger, complicated family relationships, and romance.
There are multiple POV’s, a dual timeline (1943 & 1952), and a lot of twists and turns. The book ends with a twist that took me completely by surprise. It was an emotional read with a lot of tense moments, a few heartbreaking ones, but also happy ones with the romance element and the culinary cuisine that had me craving French food.
A highlight of the book were the appearances of Julia Child. She doesn’t play a large role, but the scenes she’s in added to the story.
I alternated between reading the book and listening to the audio, which made it an even better reading experience. With the complex storyline and the dual timeline, it was helpful to go back to the physical book and see what I might have missed.
The narration by Saskia Maarleveld was exceptional! She does an amazing job at giving voice to a variety of characters and accents. When she was the voice of Julia Child, I had to remind myself that It was the same narrator, because she really nailed it.
If you enjoy historical fiction with a lot of depth and feeling, I highly recommend this one.
Thanks to the author and publisher for a gifted copy. Thanks to NetGalley and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 347 reviews