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The Paris Sisters #3
The Paris Promise
Paris, 1943: Keeping her eyes fixed on the Nazi officer, Antoinette slowly reaches under the pillow for the knife. She knows what she must do to save her family…
When the Germans invade Paris, Antoinette Valette’s world shatters overnight. Each day, she fears for the life of her Jewish husband and son. But as a celebrated violinist with nowhere to flee, hiding in plain sight is her only choice.
The day her beloved husband is torn from her arms, Antoinette begs the Resistance to secure her son a place on the last train leaving Paris. Holding him tightly against her chest, she promises she will find him again. But is it a promise she can’t possibly keep?
With nothing left to lose, Antoinette begins to spy on the high-ranking Nazis she plays for each night. If she is caught, she knows she will be killed. But she prays she will discover information that will save her family.
When a Nazi commander makes advances, Antoinette has to make a dangerous choice. Can she find the strength to do the unthinkable, in the hopes it can save her family and countless other innocent lives?
This gripping novel tells the story of the power of a mother’s love, in the face of unimaginable darkness. Perfect for fans of Roberta Kagan, Kristin Hannah, and Fiona Valpy.
Readers are loving The Paris Promise :
“Had me perched on the edge of my seat!… Brilliant… Once I started The Paris Promise I could not stop… A magnificent story… This is a top WW2 fiction novel that cannot be missed.” Cindy L Spear, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“An extraordinary and heart-wrenching novel… My heart was repeatedly broken… I couldn’t put the book down until I reached the very last page. I was deeply moved… A must-read… Wonderful.” Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This is a story I won’t forget… Had me on the edge of my seat… I loved every page… Hours after finishing the story the tears still fall.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Oh this book definitely had all my emotions firing. I was heartbroken!… Heartbreaking… Brilliant… I adored this book.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Left me reading until 4 in the morning so I could find out what happens… Wonderful.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Wonderful… It is such an emotional read… I loved this book, could hardly put it down.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Absolutely amazing… Absolutely fantastic… Gripping and utterly heartbreaking… I was totally absorbed… Incredible.” leona.
When the Germans invade Paris, Antoinette Valette’s world shatters overnight. Each day, she fears for the life of her Jewish husband and son. But as a celebrated violinist with nowhere to flee, hiding in plain sight is her only choice.
The day her beloved husband is torn from her arms, Antoinette begs the Resistance to secure her son a place on the last train leaving Paris. Holding him tightly against her chest, she promises she will find him again. But is it a promise she can’t possibly keep?
With nothing left to lose, Antoinette begins to spy on the high-ranking Nazis she plays for each night. If she is caught, she knows she will be killed. But she prays she will discover information that will save her family.
When a Nazi commander makes advances, Antoinette has to make a dangerous choice. Can she find the strength to do the unthinkable, in the hopes it can save her family and countless other innocent lives?
This gripping novel tells the story of the power of a mother’s love, in the face of unimaginable darkness. Perfect for fans of Roberta Kagan, Kristin Hannah, and Fiona Valpy.
Readers are loving The Paris Promise :
“Had me perched on the edge of my seat!… Brilliant… Once I started The Paris Promise I could not stop… A magnificent story… This is a top WW2 fiction novel that cannot be missed.” Cindy L Spear, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“An extraordinary and heart-wrenching novel… My heart was repeatedly broken… I couldn’t put the book down until I reached the very last page. I was deeply moved… A must-read… Wonderful.” Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This is a story I won’t forget… Had me on the edge of my seat… I loved every page… Hours after finishing the story the tears still fall.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Oh this book definitely had all my emotions firing. I was heartbroken!… Heartbreaking… Brilliant… I adored this book.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Left me reading until 4 in the morning so I could find out what happens… Wonderful.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Wonderful… It is such an emotional read… I loved this book, could hardly put it down.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Absolutely amazing… Absolutely fantastic… Gripping and utterly heartbreaking… I was totally absorbed… Incredible.” leona.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2025
907 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Kelman
16 books629 followersSuzanne Kelman is an Amazon international bestselling author in America, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Her books have sold over 475,000 copies worldwide and accumulated ten rights deals across eight territories.
Her WW2 historical fiction books are published by Bookouture - an imprint for Hachette U.K.
She is also the author of the bestselling book, "The Rejected Writers' Book Club", published by Lake Union, which is the first book in the Southlea Bay series. Other books in the series include, "Rejected Writers Take the Stage" and "The Rejected Writers' Christmas Wedding".
Kelman is an award-winning writer/screenwriter whose accolades include the Best Comedy Feature Screenplay Award from the L.A. International Film Festival, the Gold Award from the California Film Awards, and the Van Gogh Award from the Amsterdam Film Festival.
In 2015 her script, Held, was recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures and was shortlisted to the top ten in the Academy Of Motion Pictures Nichols Fellowship competition.
As well as a screenwriter and a published author, Suzanne is also a playwright, and her award-winning comedy play, "Over My Dead Body", had its World Premiere at Outcast Theatre in Washington, Fall 2019.
Born in the United Kingdom, Suzanne now resides in Washington State.
Please sign up for her newsletter to stay in touch - https://www.suzannekelmanauthor.com
Her WW2 historical fiction books are published by Bookouture - an imprint for Hachette U.K.
She is also the author of the bestselling book, "The Rejected Writers' Book Club", published by Lake Union, which is the first book in the Southlea Bay series. Other books in the series include, "Rejected Writers Take the Stage" and "The Rejected Writers' Christmas Wedding".
Kelman is an award-winning writer/screenwriter whose accolades include the Best Comedy Feature Screenplay Award from the L.A. International Film Festival, the Gold Award from the California Film Awards, and the Van Gogh Award from the Amsterdam Film Festival.
In 2015 her script, Held, was recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures and was shortlisted to the top ten in the Academy Of Motion Pictures Nichols Fellowship competition.
As well as a screenwriter and a published author, Suzanne is also a playwright, and her award-winning comedy play, "Over My Dead Body", had its World Premiere at Outcast Theatre in Washington, Fall 2019.
Born in the United Kingdom, Suzanne now resides in Washington State.
Please sign up for her newsletter to stay in touch - https://www.suzannekelmanauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 29, 2025
A gripping, emotional story of love, sacrifice, and quiet resistance in the heart of Nazi-occupied Paris.
The Paris Promise swept me away with its powerful portrayal of a mother’s fierce devotion and bravery in the face of impossible choices. Suzanne Kelman delivers an evocative, high-stakes narrative that blends espionage, heartache, and maternal love with a haunting musical backdrop that makes the story truly stand out.
Set in 1943, we follow Antoinette Valette — a renowned violinist turned reluctant spy — as she fights to protect her Jewish husband and son in Nazi-occupied Paris. When tragedy strikes and her family is torn apart, Antoinette joins the Resistance, wielding her violin as both a weapon and a lifeline. Her performances at Nazi gatherings become her covert battleground, where every note she plays risks discovery.
Antoinette’s story is harrowing, courageous, and deeply moving. Kelman captures the emotional agony of separation, the terror of living in constant danger, and the small flickers of hope that drive one mother’s defiance. While this book is the third in the Paris Sisters series, it reads perfectly well as a standalone. The pacing is taut, the historical detail immersive, and the emotional stakes unrelenting.
The Paris Promise is a poignant and powerful testament to the resilience of women in wartime. A stirring, emotionally rich WWII novel full of heartbreak and heroism.
The Paris Promise swept me away with its powerful portrayal of a mother’s fierce devotion and bravery in the face of impossible choices. Suzanne Kelman delivers an evocative, high-stakes narrative that blends espionage, heartache, and maternal love with a haunting musical backdrop that makes the story truly stand out.
Set in 1943, we follow Antoinette Valette — a renowned violinist turned reluctant spy — as she fights to protect her Jewish husband and son in Nazi-occupied Paris. When tragedy strikes and her family is torn apart, Antoinette joins the Resistance, wielding her violin as both a weapon and a lifeline. Her performances at Nazi gatherings become her covert battleground, where every note she plays risks discovery.
Antoinette’s story is harrowing, courageous, and deeply moving. Kelman captures the emotional agony of separation, the terror of living in constant danger, and the small flickers of hope that drive one mother’s defiance. While this book is the third in the Paris Sisters series, it reads perfectly well as a standalone. The pacing is taut, the historical detail immersive, and the emotional stakes unrelenting.
The Paris Promise is a poignant and powerful testament to the resilience of women in wartime. A stirring, emotionally rich WWII novel full of heartbreak and heroism.
April 25, 2025
Suzanne Kelman has delivered another emotionally charged WW2 novel that burrowed deep into my heart and made me experience every reaction imaginable. I was extremely impressed by the expressive writing and the many twists and turns throughout. Suzanne has a real talent in conveying the brokenness and suffering of the victims during the crushing Nazis period in history. We see the courage of women who fought for freedom through her vivid descriptions, dialogue and well formed characters. The Resistance, made up of both men and women, was a dedicated group of individuals who made many sacrifices to keep their families safe and to push back the darkness that surrounded them. It was a horrifying time in history and The Paris Promise shows us how frightening it really was for the victims. And making decisions would have been hard. For every action had the potential to unleash more horrors.
I appreciated the dual timeline approach in telling this story for each provides a clear picture of events. They help us slip into the shoes of the characters. The past of 1940’s is told through Antoinette, who is caught up in a terrible dilemma. She is a virtuoso violinist called upon to perform for the Nazis. Her husband Renee, the love of her life, is a musician as well. When they are torn apart, she vows to find and rescue him. And it is a promise she is determined to keep. She also has a son who is in danger and she must do all she can to protect him. This leads her into the Resistance and doing things she never would have considered before. But her love for her family and country fuel her determination. We learn of her astounding courage and the gifts she leaves behind: a violin and compass to direct those she loves to hope and revelation.
When Deanna inherits her grandmother’s violin, she is discovers it is a valuable instrument with a mystery behind it. This gift leads her on a mission to uncover the story of Antoinette’s life. What she learns shocks and unsettles her. And while on this quest for truth, she meets people she is not sure are friends or enemies. But she is guided by her friend Felicity who provides great support and valuable information during this complex search. It was fascinating to watch the mystery at the heart of this novel unfold. There were some hair-raising moments for Deanna that had me perched on the edge of my seat! Not to mention the startling trauma of Antoinette seen through her vivid account. A woman who stared hatred in the face and defied it.
This is a powerful story of secrets, tribulation, revenge, duplicity, deception, manipulation and remorse. But it is also about forgiveness, hope, healing, love, triumph, understanding and resilience. The polar opposites of humanity are on display: the capabilities of humans to be either good or evil. The extremes are seen during wartimes but also the shadows and greys that are etched into the edges of truth. And sometimes out of a bad situation, good things can materialise. Life is not always black and white. When good people are forced into bad situations, they are forced to make decisions and actions they never would have imagined.
This novel made me think about so many things. And the characters were brilliant and clearly drawn. It was easy to love certain ones and be appalled by others. Once I started The Paris Secret I could not stop as I wanted desperately to see what was going to happen on Deanna’s and Antoinette’s journeys. And when the past crosses into the present, it is downright scary!
There are a number of wise lines throughout such as: “Sometimes the greatest act of love is knowing when to let go…’ ‘
Well done to Suzanne Kelman for such a magnificent story that sings of lasting love, resilient hope and restored beauty from ashes. This is a top WW2 fiction novel that cannot be missed. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.
I appreciated the dual timeline approach in telling this story for each provides a clear picture of events. They help us slip into the shoes of the characters. The past of 1940’s is told through Antoinette, who is caught up in a terrible dilemma. She is a virtuoso violinist called upon to perform for the Nazis. Her husband Renee, the love of her life, is a musician as well. When they are torn apart, she vows to find and rescue him. And it is a promise she is determined to keep. She also has a son who is in danger and she must do all she can to protect him. This leads her into the Resistance and doing things she never would have considered before. But her love for her family and country fuel her determination. We learn of her astounding courage and the gifts she leaves behind: a violin and compass to direct those she loves to hope and revelation.
When Deanna inherits her grandmother’s violin, she is discovers it is a valuable instrument with a mystery behind it. This gift leads her on a mission to uncover the story of Antoinette’s life. What she learns shocks and unsettles her. And while on this quest for truth, she meets people she is not sure are friends or enemies. But she is guided by her friend Felicity who provides great support and valuable information during this complex search. It was fascinating to watch the mystery at the heart of this novel unfold. There were some hair-raising moments for Deanna that had me perched on the edge of my seat! Not to mention the startling trauma of Antoinette seen through her vivid account. A woman who stared hatred in the face and defied it.
This is a powerful story of secrets, tribulation, revenge, duplicity, deception, manipulation and remorse. But it is also about forgiveness, hope, healing, love, triumph, understanding and resilience. The polar opposites of humanity are on display: the capabilities of humans to be either good or evil. The extremes are seen during wartimes but also the shadows and greys that are etched into the edges of truth. And sometimes out of a bad situation, good things can materialise. Life is not always black and white. When good people are forced into bad situations, they are forced to make decisions and actions they never would have imagined.
This novel made me think about so many things. And the characters were brilliant and clearly drawn. It was easy to love certain ones and be appalled by others. Once I started The Paris Secret I could not stop as I wanted desperately to see what was going to happen on Deanna’s and Antoinette’s journeys. And when the past crosses into the present, it is downright scary!
There are a number of wise lines throughout such as: “Sometimes the greatest act of love is knowing when to let go…’ ‘
Well done to Suzanne Kelman for such a magnificent story that sings of lasting love, resilient hope and restored beauty from ashes. This is a top WW2 fiction novel that cannot be missed. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.
July 8, 2025
As with all of Suzanne Kelman’s historical fiction stories, this is a heart-warming read. The story is stand-alone though the setting as in the previous two ‘Paris Sisters’ books is France, England (and a little of Germany) during World War 2 and 2012.
Rene & Antoinette are married and have a young son Benjamin. Rene is a Jewish musician, and all Jews are being rounded up by the Nazis (in the early 1940s). In London (2012), Deanna, Benjamin's daughter finds a precious Stradivarius violin in her grandmother's things. She meets her friend Felicity at Sotheby’s to get an estimate. Deanna goes to Paris to understand what happened with her grandparents, after consulting her dad. She meets her great aunt Madeline, and her grand-niece Chloe. Yvonne, daughter of Florence who was a friend of Antoinette also provides some useful information. Felicity finds a letter indicating that the violin with Deanna was stolen by Melodie Buchet, the French lover of a Nazi officer Otto von Falkenberg. Falkenberg had himself forcibly taken the violin from Giovanni who was part of the French resistance. Giovanni, his son and daughter now live in Brazil and claim the violin. As Deanna tries to piece together what happened in the past, she understands more of what her grandparents went through at that time.
The story is told in two timelines and is beautiful. The characters have a lot of depth and I found myself rooting for Antoinette. Suzanne Kelman’s stories feature strong women characters, and Antoinette is another character who will stay with me. The convergence of the past & present is excellent (baring a rushed & slightly far-fetched unravelling of a character’s identity in Brazil).
If you like historical fiction, this is a book I strongly recommend, as indeed all of Suzanne Kelman’s books.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for a free electronic review copy.
Rene & Antoinette are married and have a young son Benjamin. Rene is a Jewish musician, and all Jews are being rounded up by the Nazis (in the early 1940s). In London (2012), Deanna, Benjamin's daughter finds a precious Stradivarius violin in her grandmother's things. She meets her friend Felicity at Sotheby’s to get an estimate. Deanna goes to Paris to understand what happened with her grandparents, after consulting her dad. She meets her great aunt Madeline, and her grand-niece Chloe. Yvonne, daughter of Florence who was a friend of Antoinette also provides some useful information. Felicity finds a letter indicating that the violin with Deanna was stolen by Melodie Buchet, the French lover of a Nazi officer Otto von Falkenberg. Falkenberg had himself forcibly taken the violin from Giovanni who was part of the French resistance. Giovanni, his son and daughter now live in Brazil and claim the violin. As Deanna tries to piece together what happened in the past, she understands more of what her grandparents went through at that time.
The story is told in two timelines and is beautiful. The characters have a lot of depth and I found myself rooting for Antoinette. Suzanne Kelman’s stories feature strong women characters, and Antoinette is another character who will stay with me. The convergence of the past & present is excellent (baring a rushed & slightly far-fetched unravelling of a character’s identity in Brazil).
If you like historical fiction, this is a book I strongly recommend, as indeed all of Suzanne Kelman’s books.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for a free electronic review copy.
May 18, 2025
A gripping novel about one woman’s unimaginable sacrifices to keep her family.
It’s a poignant story because Antoinette has to do things that make her skin crawl in order to save her family.
It begs the question what would we do faced with a similar dilemma. In this case the only choices were bad so she had to select the best bad decision and live with it,
There were a few surprises packed into the story, one I figured out early on, but the others were well veiled.
It’s a compelling read that jumps between WWII and present day to give readers a well nuanced story.
Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance read.
It’s a poignant story because Antoinette has to do things that make her skin crawl in order to save her family.
It begs the question what would we do faced with a similar dilemma. In this case the only choices were bad so she had to select the best bad decision and live with it,
There were a few surprises packed into the story, one I figured out early on, but the others were well veiled.
It’s a compelling read that jumps between WWII and present day to give readers a well nuanced story.
Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance read.
August 23, 2025
4 1/2 stars
The endurance of love
The endurance of love
April 14, 2025
Wow this story set in WW2 was intense, tragic, full of sorrow and hope. I feel it really showed the struggle of being in France with the Nazis invading, it felt real and scary. Antoinette lived her life and did what she needed to do to survive this awful time. I really enjoyed this book, although it’s book 3 in the series it’s my first and it was every bit as good as I hoped it would be. Highly recommend!
April 19, 2025
If you only read one historical fiction this year, The Paris Promise should be that book. I am so grateful that I got to read this story. I think everyone should have a chance to read this story. The world needs a reminder of the horrors of World War Two. For me, this is a story I won't forget. The dual timeline illustrates just how much the war still affects us today. I was honored to go on a Journey with Deanna as she learns the mysteries of her grandmother, Antoinette. It all starts with the discovery of a violin her Deanna's father's attic.
The author took me back to the time that Paris was in chaos. The Nazis have taken control. The cleansing has begun. The Jewish population was being round up. They didn't know who to trust. The Jewish people didn't know when they would come for them. Anyone could turn them in at anytime.
René is playing a piano at the Conservatoire when the SS enters and starts rounding up the undesirables. They had a list. He was on it. Antoinette and Ben, their son, watched as he was taken away. Watching him being taken away gutted her. It gutted me.
Antoinette will do anything to save her husband. She soon learns an important lesson. Soldiers did not care about human life. They cared about power, thinking nothing of hitting her head with the butt of a rifle. She was lucky to get away with Ben, but she failed René.
Anoinette joins the resistance as away to save René. She was desperate and soon found herself in deep with the Nazis. To save René Her bravery shines. Her dedication to the cause is inspirational. Her strength left me speechless. With people like her the Nazis were doomed.
Antoinette's story had me on the edge of my seat. I feared for her when she was with the Nazis, never knowing if her cover will be blown. The horrors she experienced, the control they weilded, had me furious.
I never knew what I would find when I flipped the page but I kept flipping. The story was intense and I loved every page. The story wouldn't let me go an I was okay with that.
It was the epilogue that completely gutted me. The Nazis tried to extinguish the Jewish people, but they didn't know how resiliant they are. Hours after finishing the story the tears still fall.
The author took me back to the time that Paris was in chaos. The Nazis have taken control. The cleansing has begun. The Jewish population was being round up. They didn't know who to trust. The Jewish people didn't know when they would come for them. Anyone could turn them in at anytime.
René is playing a piano at the Conservatoire when the SS enters and starts rounding up the undesirables. They had a list. He was on it. Antoinette and Ben, their son, watched as he was taken away. Watching him being taken away gutted her. It gutted me.
Antoinette will do anything to save her husband. She soon learns an important lesson. Soldiers did not care about human life. They cared about power, thinking nothing of hitting her head with the butt of a rifle. She was lucky to get away with Ben, but she failed René.
Anoinette joins the resistance as away to save René. She was desperate and soon found herself in deep with the Nazis. To save René Her bravery shines. Her dedication to the cause is inspirational. Her strength left me speechless. With people like her the Nazis were doomed.
Antoinette's story had me on the edge of my seat. I feared for her when she was with the Nazis, never knowing if her cover will be blown. The horrors she experienced, the control they weilded, had me furious.
I never knew what I would find when I flipped the page but I kept flipping. The story was intense and I loved every page. The story wouldn't let me go an I was okay with that.
It was the epilogue that completely gutted me. The Nazis tried to extinguish the Jewish people, but they didn't know how resiliant they are. Hours after finishing the story the tears still fall.
May 20, 2025
Antoinette Valette, a professional violinist, had always dreamed of this life. However, as the Nazis invaded Paris, her dream began to slip away. Her husband and son were Jewish, and she feared for their lives. With no place to hide, they had no choice but to blend in.
When her beloved husband was taken away, Antoinette vowed to protect her son from the same fate. She sought the help of the Resistance, hoping they could ensure her son’s safety on the train leaving Paris. Reluctantly, she had to let him go, knowing it was her only option to keep him alive. She promised him she would find him.
The Resistance offered her a unique opportunity: to use her musical talent as a spy to infiltrate the ranks of high-ranking Nazi officers. Eager to protect her son, Antoinette accepted the assignment.
“The Paris Promise,” written by Suzanne Kelman, is an extraordinary and heart-wrenching novel. It’s a tale of hope, faith, and the unwavering spirit of never giving up on one’s dreams. The author’s vivid descriptions of Paris in the 1940s immerse the reader in the story.
As I turned the pages, my heart was repeatedly broken. The writing was so well-crafted that I couldn’t put the book down until I reached the very last page. I was deeply moved by Antoinette’s story and her willingness to risk her own life to save her family. If you’re seeking a remarkable historical fiction novel, “The Paris Promise” is a must-read. I highly recommend this wonderful book.
When her beloved husband was taken away, Antoinette vowed to protect her son from the same fate. She sought the help of the Resistance, hoping they could ensure her son’s safety on the train leaving Paris. Reluctantly, she had to let him go, knowing it was her only option to keep him alive. She promised him she would find him.
The Resistance offered her a unique opportunity: to use her musical talent as a spy to infiltrate the ranks of high-ranking Nazi officers. Eager to protect her son, Antoinette accepted the assignment.
“The Paris Promise,” written by Suzanne Kelman, is an extraordinary and heart-wrenching novel. It’s a tale of hope, faith, and the unwavering spirit of never giving up on one’s dreams. The author’s vivid descriptions of Paris in the 1940s immerse the reader in the story.
As I turned the pages, my heart was repeatedly broken. The writing was so well-crafted that I couldn’t put the book down until I reached the very last page. I was deeply moved by Antoinette’s story and her willingness to risk her own life to save her family. If you’re seeking a remarkable historical fiction novel, “The Paris Promise” is a must-read. I highly recommend this wonderful book.
May 21, 2025
This is the third book in the Paris Sisters series but can easily be read as a standalone. After I’d finished reading this book I had to take time to process my thoughts before writing my review. I found this book to be absolutely amazing and one that really made me feel quite emotional at times. I’m not going to rewrite the story synopsis as that can be read in the book description above. What I will say is that Suzanne Kelman has written an absolutely fantastic book that is tense and gripping and utterly heartbreaking at times. Told in two timelines both were absolutely fascinating to read and I was totally absorbed in both timelines . Antoinette was such a brave woman and what she went through for her family was nothing short of incredible. If you’re looking for a historical fiction read to grip you from the prologue then look no further than this superb book.
July 16, 2025
3.5 I preferred the other in the series.
August 25, 2025
I love reading historical fiction books and especially when they are set during WWII. This one was also a dual timeline which is another aspect I enjoy. Suzanne Kelman is one of my favorite authors and her Paris Sisters series were wonderful reads. The characters are well developed and are threaded through the pages of each of the books, while each one is focused more on one of the sisters. I continue to be amazed at the strength and courage of the people in the resistance who fought against Hitler and his horrible actions. Your heart will break as you journey through the pages with Antoinette (past timeline) and Deanna (present time). And there is a shocking, gasp out loud moment at the end that will bring a satisfying end to the story. This series is a definite read for people who enjoy books in the WWII historical fiction genre. I will be watching closely for any future books written by this author!
For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!
For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!
April 30, 2025
In 2012, Deanna is sorting through her father’s belongings in the attic, when she comes across her grandmother’s violin. Needing to downsize, her father says to get rid of it.
Going to a local music shop in Wales, Deanna is gobsmacked to find out that the violin is a Stradivarius; a rare violin. With her friend, Felicity, working for Sotheby’s, Deanna is determined to find out more about the violin.
In Paris, 1940, Antoinette, and her husband, René, are musicians. When René is taken by the Nazis, Antoinette is determined to find him and to be reunited with him and their son, Benjamin.
This is the third book in the series, although it can be read as a standalone.
The story is beautifully written, but must have been so challenging to write.
My heart broke for Antoinette; her bravery, courage, and commitment could be felt throughout.
Deanna was very much like her grandmother, and was determined to find out the truth about her.
A compassionate and romantic tale, that touched me deeply.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Going to a local music shop in Wales, Deanna is gobsmacked to find out that the violin is a Stradivarius; a rare violin. With her friend, Felicity, working for Sotheby’s, Deanna is determined to find out more about the violin.
In Paris, 1940, Antoinette, and her husband, René, are musicians. When René is taken by the Nazis, Antoinette is determined to find him and to be reunited with him and their son, Benjamin.
This is the third book in the series, although it can be read as a standalone.
The story is beautifully written, but must have been so challenging to write.
My heart broke for Antoinette; her bravery, courage, and commitment could be felt throughout.
Deanna was very much like her grandmother, and was determined to find out the truth about her.
A compassionate and romantic tale, that touched me deeply.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 24, 2025
The Paris Promise is the third in The Paris Sisters series by Suzanne Kelman where it is now the time to learn of Antoinette’s story. It is a story full of secrets, bravery, sacrifice, persistence and strength as Antoinette is placed in an untenable situation where she must do things that are against everything she stands for and believes in. The plot reveals itself through the dual timeline format moving back and forth between Paris during World War Two and Wales/Brazil in 2012. The two timelines blend well together and there is plenty of mystery and suspense. There are innumerable twists and turns throughout the plot and I was convinced I had figured out fairly on what was going on but then the author threw a spanner in the works which had me completely thrown off track and I was a disappointed I hadn’t been correct. But then further along came another surprise and in fact I had been right initially but it’s the clever way in which this was written that has the reader believing one thing at one point and then within a chapter everything is turned on its head. At the heart of this book is a good thriller of sorts but not so much that it ventures down the path of the crime genre instead it combines perfectly with the suffering, pain, anguish and devotion that Antoinette has for her beloved husband Rene.
There is but a brief mention of the two sisters who featured in books one and two of the series so readers discovering these books for the first time needn’t worried that they wont be able to follow what is going on. Rather than the books being a direct continuation the stories stand their own ground and can be read separately. Antoinette and her husband Rene are both musicians and they lead an idyllic life with their son Benjamin until the Nazi’s invaded the City of Light and the colour was drained from the city they adored. A relentless machine of hatred has been created and with Rene being Jewish the target is very much on their backs. But Antoinette is wilful, powerful and has a passion for life and love which radiates through her every action, thought, word and deed. She is determined to stand up for what is right and just and even more so when Rene is part of a number of people arrested at a recital at the conservatoire and taken away to a camp. Antoinette can’t let the love of her life be taken just like that without a fight and boy does she fight with every ounce of tenacity that she possess.
Love is a characteristic that Antoinette carries with her every day and she knows that the bond she has with Rene is unbreakable. She will try her utmost to reunite with him even though it will cause her to venture down a dark and dangerous path and people will change their perception of her but if they knew the truth behind what drives her on then they would never judge her for it. She faces the harshest of times as she starts work for the Resistance working as a violinist in the Majestic Hotel which is the favourite haunt of the Nazi’s. She aims to be quiet and unassuming and hopefully will go undetected and in that way many titbits of vital information can be passed onto her colleagues in the Resistance movement which hopefully could free those who have been captured or even derail some of the Nazi’s future plans. But things start to get a little too close for comfort when she catches the eye of Otto Von Falkenberg.
Otto was menacing and creepy and I detested the way that Antoinette became beholden to him. It was like she was trapped within his grip and struggling to break free but at the same time she knew she had to play along with what he wanted even if it went against every fibre in her being. He became far too overly familiar with her and it read as if he thought this was his genuine right and Antoinette had to do whatever he wished whenever he asked. I thought it was remarkable that Antoinette was physically in that situation but mentally she could remove herself from what she was forced to engage in. It was a dangerous and unstable path that she was threading but she was very much conscious of not losing herself in the process. She had one ultimate goal and she never lost sight of what it was despite all the obstacles that were hurled in her direction. There was a major plot twist around the midway point and I felt it came too early for Antoinette’s aspect of the storyline and after that although she continued to be brave I just felt her story peetered out a bit and the present day storyline became much more dominant.
I thoroughly enjoyed the modern day storyline. It was very well written and really held my attention. But what I will say is that I found too much was given away in that we learned about Antoinette through Deana and I felt I was given too much info too soon because then we would go back to 1941 and instead of things being a surprise I was expecting things to happen. Now this didn’t happen all the time but it was something that was niggling away at me at certain points. Deanna is the granddaughter of Antoinette who when clearing her fathers attic so he can move into an assisted living facility discovers a very rare Stradivarius violin. Her grandmother hadn’t been wealthy or had connections. Had it been a gift or is there something darker behind it and there is something in her grandmother’s past that she knows nothing about. Advice is sought from her close friend Felicity who works in Sotheby’s and a mission soon ensues to discover who is the rightful owner of this most precious violin. Here is where the mystery and intrigue starts and the author has you guessing just exactly what is going on and questioning how did Antoinette come to be in possession of a violin that will play such a crucial and divisive role in the overall plot?
Deanna’s quest takes her and Felicity to Brazil of all places and I came to appreciate that a very good World War Two story was unfolding and one that didn’t need to feature the concentration camps in order to get the message across. I won’t say any more as to what happens in Brazil but suffice to say Deanna is just like her grandmother in that she won’t rest until she has all the answers. She knows to delve deeper than the superficial surface layers of first appearances and she never underestimates her powers of intuition. I liked her for this. There was a danger that a cliched romance element was beginning to appear for Deanna and I had my fingers crossed that it wouldn’t materialise because in my mind it didn’t feel natural but would have been contrived given the overall situation and how things unfolded. Deanna confronts the past in order to heal the present and does so with strength and an unbreakable spirit just like her grandmother all those years ago.
The Paris Promise was another great read from Suzanne Kelman, I just hope that this isn’t the last we have heard from the sisters as I think there is still at least one more sister to read about. All in all, it was very well written and researched and a little bit different from the usual World War Two historical fiction that I read which can only be a good thing
There is but a brief mention of the two sisters who featured in books one and two of the series so readers discovering these books for the first time needn’t worried that they wont be able to follow what is going on. Rather than the books being a direct continuation the stories stand their own ground and can be read separately. Antoinette and her husband Rene are both musicians and they lead an idyllic life with their son Benjamin until the Nazi’s invaded the City of Light and the colour was drained from the city they adored. A relentless machine of hatred has been created and with Rene being Jewish the target is very much on their backs. But Antoinette is wilful, powerful and has a passion for life and love which radiates through her every action, thought, word and deed. She is determined to stand up for what is right and just and even more so when Rene is part of a number of people arrested at a recital at the conservatoire and taken away to a camp. Antoinette can’t let the love of her life be taken just like that without a fight and boy does she fight with every ounce of tenacity that she possess.
Love is a characteristic that Antoinette carries with her every day and she knows that the bond she has with Rene is unbreakable. She will try her utmost to reunite with him even though it will cause her to venture down a dark and dangerous path and people will change their perception of her but if they knew the truth behind what drives her on then they would never judge her for it. She faces the harshest of times as she starts work for the Resistance working as a violinist in the Majestic Hotel which is the favourite haunt of the Nazi’s. She aims to be quiet and unassuming and hopefully will go undetected and in that way many titbits of vital information can be passed onto her colleagues in the Resistance movement which hopefully could free those who have been captured or even derail some of the Nazi’s future plans. But things start to get a little too close for comfort when she catches the eye of Otto Von Falkenberg.
Otto was menacing and creepy and I detested the way that Antoinette became beholden to him. It was like she was trapped within his grip and struggling to break free but at the same time she knew she had to play along with what he wanted even if it went against every fibre in her being. He became far too overly familiar with her and it read as if he thought this was his genuine right and Antoinette had to do whatever he wished whenever he asked. I thought it was remarkable that Antoinette was physically in that situation but mentally she could remove herself from what she was forced to engage in. It was a dangerous and unstable path that she was threading but she was very much conscious of not losing herself in the process. She had one ultimate goal and she never lost sight of what it was despite all the obstacles that were hurled in her direction. There was a major plot twist around the midway point and I felt it came too early for Antoinette’s aspect of the storyline and after that although she continued to be brave I just felt her story peetered out a bit and the present day storyline became much more dominant.
I thoroughly enjoyed the modern day storyline. It was very well written and really held my attention. But what I will say is that I found too much was given away in that we learned about Antoinette through Deana and I felt I was given too much info too soon because then we would go back to 1941 and instead of things being a surprise I was expecting things to happen. Now this didn’t happen all the time but it was something that was niggling away at me at certain points. Deanna is the granddaughter of Antoinette who when clearing her fathers attic so he can move into an assisted living facility discovers a very rare Stradivarius violin. Her grandmother hadn’t been wealthy or had connections. Had it been a gift or is there something darker behind it and there is something in her grandmother’s past that she knows nothing about. Advice is sought from her close friend Felicity who works in Sotheby’s and a mission soon ensues to discover who is the rightful owner of this most precious violin. Here is where the mystery and intrigue starts and the author has you guessing just exactly what is going on and questioning how did Antoinette come to be in possession of a violin that will play such a crucial and divisive role in the overall plot?
Deanna’s quest takes her and Felicity to Brazil of all places and I came to appreciate that a very good World War Two story was unfolding and one that didn’t need to feature the concentration camps in order to get the message across. I won’t say any more as to what happens in Brazil but suffice to say Deanna is just like her grandmother in that she won’t rest until she has all the answers. She knows to delve deeper than the superficial surface layers of first appearances and she never underestimates her powers of intuition. I liked her for this. There was a danger that a cliched romance element was beginning to appear for Deanna and I had my fingers crossed that it wouldn’t materialise because in my mind it didn’t feel natural but would have been contrived given the overall situation and how things unfolded. Deanna confronts the past in order to heal the present and does so with strength and an unbreakable spirit just like her grandmother all those years ago.
The Paris Promise was another great read from Suzanne Kelman, I just hope that this isn’t the last we have heard from the sisters as I think there is still at least one more sister to read about. All in all, it was very well written and researched and a little bit different from the usual World War Two historical fiction that I read which can only be a good thing
July 8, 2025
The Paris Promise by Suzanne Kelman is a powerful dual timeline novel that totally consumed me. It is the third book in The Paris Sisters series but can be read as a stand-alone.
The action is set in Paris in 1943 and in England in 2012. We also journey to Brazil in the latter period. The stories are linked by family as a grandmother’s life becomes the focal point of a search.
Life in occupied Paris was hard, and even harder for the Jewish population. A young mother vows to relentlessly search for her Jewish husband. Only the hope of being re-united keeps her going as events push her to the limit.
We see that people did what they did in order to survive. “People made hard choices to survive.” The bravery of a young mother is to be applauded. “We can’t judge the past by our current standings.” The past needs to be viewed with a very different pair of eyes.
A Stradivarius violin links the two timelines as a granddaughter seeks to unite a family with their violin after the Nazis had looted it during the war. What she uncovers is the stuff of nightmares. “The violin wasn’t just an artefact – it was a bridge to her father’s history.”
Brave people of Paris joined the Resistance. “We must join them [Resistance]. We cannot stand idly by while our city is torn apart by hatred and fear.” We learn that even in the darkest of times, beauty can be found. “Amid all the darkness, there was still beauty to be found.”
During the war, people behaved differently. “They had all been ordinary people once, before the war had twisted their lives into something unrecognisable.” The reader admires their bravery.
In war it is easy to lose sight of oneself but “even in the darkest times, there’s always a way to find your own true North.” We all need a focal point so we do not lose sight of the person we really are.
There is much love within the novel. We witness a mother’s sacrificial love. “Sometimes the greatest act of love is knowing when to let go.” As a mother, I just cannot imagine just how anyone could ever let their child go. It is the ultimate act of love – to put your child on a train and to never know if you would see them again. I do not think I would have had the strength to do that.
We see that “it’s [war] stolen a lot from you, but it doesn’t have to define your future.” There were dreadful times in war that haunted characters forever. In order to survive, they must look forwards or drown in the horrors of war.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Paris Promise. It was such a powerful read. It is a book that needs to be read in memory of the six million innocents who perished, and also of the brave people of Paris who stood firm in the face or pure evil.
The action is set in Paris in 1943 and in England in 2012. We also journey to Brazil in the latter period. The stories are linked by family as a grandmother’s life becomes the focal point of a search.
Life in occupied Paris was hard, and even harder for the Jewish population. A young mother vows to relentlessly search for her Jewish husband. Only the hope of being re-united keeps her going as events push her to the limit.
We see that people did what they did in order to survive. “People made hard choices to survive.” The bravery of a young mother is to be applauded. “We can’t judge the past by our current standings.” The past needs to be viewed with a very different pair of eyes.
A Stradivarius violin links the two timelines as a granddaughter seeks to unite a family with their violin after the Nazis had looted it during the war. What she uncovers is the stuff of nightmares. “The violin wasn’t just an artefact – it was a bridge to her father’s history.”
Brave people of Paris joined the Resistance. “We must join them [Resistance]. We cannot stand idly by while our city is torn apart by hatred and fear.” We learn that even in the darkest of times, beauty can be found. “Amid all the darkness, there was still beauty to be found.”
During the war, people behaved differently. “They had all been ordinary people once, before the war had twisted their lives into something unrecognisable.” The reader admires their bravery.
In war it is easy to lose sight of oneself but “even in the darkest times, there’s always a way to find your own true North.” We all need a focal point so we do not lose sight of the person we really are.
There is much love within the novel. We witness a mother’s sacrificial love. “Sometimes the greatest act of love is knowing when to let go.” As a mother, I just cannot imagine just how anyone could ever let their child go. It is the ultimate act of love – to put your child on a train and to never know if you would see them again. I do not think I would have had the strength to do that.
We see that “it’s [war] stolen a lot from you, but it doesn’t have to define your future.” There were dreadful times in war that haunted characters forever. In order to survive, they must look forwards or drown in the horrors of war.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Paris Promise. It was such a powerful read. It is a book that needs to be read in memory of the six million innocents who perished, and also of the brave people of Paris who stood firm in the face or pure evil.
May 5, 2025
This is a dual time line book that focuses on the heroic deeds that one of the main characters performed as part of the Resistance in France during WWII and her granddaughter's quest to find out more about the grandmother that she adored. In some dual time line books, it's easy to prefer the story in one time period but both time periods in The Paris Promise are full of excitement and adventure as both grandmother and granddaughter fight to save their lives and the lives of the people that they love.
The World War II time line is told through the story of Antoinette. She is a violinist and is married to Rene and they have one small child. Rene is a well known pianist who teaches at the local Conservatoire and is Jewish. When the Nazis take all of the Jewish musicians during a performance, Antoinette knows that she must do something to get the love of her life out of danger. She reluctantly sends her young son to safety outside of Paris and joins the Resistance. She infiltrates one of the Nazis hotels by playing music for their parties. While there she is forced to do things that frightened her but she knew that whatever she had to do would help save her husband. Antoinette's story line was very scary as she put her life on the line every day to help the Resistance and to try to reunite her family.
The second time line takes place in 2012 when Deanna is cleaning out her father's house so he can move to a smaller home. While cleaning out the attic she found a violin and when she had it appraised, she found out that it was a Stradivarius and worth millions of dollars. She didn't know why this violin was in the attic and why her grandmother had never played it but she was determined to figure out where it came from. Her search leads her to South America to a elderly man who worked in the Resistance with her grandmother. Things begin not to add up and she has to decide who really is the owner of the violin.
This is a beautifully written and well researched historical fiction story that looks at family and how their love and strength affect future generations. This is a WWII historical fiction that you don't want to miss.
The World War II time line is told through the story of Antoinette. She is a violinist and is married to Rene and they have one small child. Rene is a well known pianist who teaches at the local Conservatoire and is Jewish. When the Nazis take all of the Jewish musicians during a performance, Antoinette knows that she must do something to get the love of her life out of danger. She reluctantly sends her young son to safety outside of Paris and joins the Resistance. She infiltrates one of the Nazis hotels by playing music for their parties. While there she is forced to do things that frightened her but she knew that whatever she had to do would help save her husband. Antoinette's story line was very scary as she put her life on the line every day to help the Resistance and to try to reunite her family.
The second time line takes place in 2012 when Deanna is cleaning out her father's house so he can move to a smaller home. While cleaning out the attic she found a violin and when she had it appraised, she found out that it was a Stradivarius and worth millions of dollars. She didn't know why this violin was in the attic and why her grandmother had never played it but she was determined to figure out where it came from. Her search leads her to South America to a elderly man who worked in the Resistance with her grandmother. Things begin not to add up and she has to decide who really is the owner of the violin.
This is a beautifully written and well researched historical fiction story that looks at family and how their love and strength affect future generations. This is a WWII historical fiction that you don't want to miss.
June 27, 2025
First of all, I am a fan of Suzanne Kelman's writing and have enjoyed everything I've read of her works. The Paris Promise is book 3 in the Paris Sisters series, that focuses on one particular French family and how each of the daughters responded to the challenges of living in wartime France. Each story also has dual timeline to pull the details of the books together.
The Paris Promise was an epic culmination to the series. It tells the story of Antoinette, a musician (violin) and her Jewish husband Rene (who was also a musician) and a young son Benjamin. As conditions grew more severe under the Nazi's, they knew it was only a matter of time until something terrible was bound to happen. I don't tend to remember dreams, but this story really got under my skin and I had vivid, horrifying dreams as if I was living the events firsthand. Although there was nothing they could do to free themselves of persecution, this family chose to stand strong and do what they could. Antoinette became a resistance member and Rene arranged musical perfomances including many Jewish musicians and students.This ultimately led to a disturbing arrest scene which Antoinette had to watch helplessly. Knowing her young son was also at risk due to his heritage, she asked and received help in getting him out of Paris by train to safer conditions.
In 2012, Deanna is helping her father sort out his house prior to making a move, and discovers a rare Stradivarius violin that had apparently belonged to her grandmother. With the help of a knowledgeable friend, she set out to find out more about the provenance of the violin. Their search ultimately led Deanna to South America and into danger.
Back in wartime Paris, Antoinette is willing to do whatever she has to, in order to protect her husband even if it makes her seem to be a collaborator. When a high ranking German officer discovers her skill on the violin, he brings a magnificent instrument for her to play at officer soirees, and grows increasingly interested in making her his private plaything. Can she go through with his wishes if it will save those she loves the most? It all culminates in a desperate resolve and Antoinette is forced to flee for her life. Will she survive and reunite with her son or husband? What else will happen to her along the way? It makes for a fascinating read that kept me glued to my seat!
This book can be read as a stand-alone but I think will be most fully understood if read as part of a complete series. I definitely recommend it to those who like WW2 fiction.
Many thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an uncorrected proof to read. All opinions are entirely my own.
The Paris Promise was an epic culmination to the series. It tells the story of Antoinette, a musician (violin) and her Jewish husband Rene (who was also a musician) and a young son Benjamin. As conditions grew more severe under the Nazi's, they knew it was only a matter of time until something terrible was bound to happen. I don't tend to remember dreams, but this story really got under my skin and I had vivid, horrifying dreams as if I was living the events firsthand. Although there was nothing they could do to free themselves of persecution, this family chose to stand strong and do what they could. Antoinette became a resistance member and Rene arranged musical perfomances including many Jewish musicians and students.This ultimately led to a disturbing arrest scene which Antoinette had to watch helplessly. Knowing her young son was also at risk due to his heritage, she asked and received help in getting him out of Paris by train to safer conditions.
In 2012, Deanna is helping her father sort out his house prior to making a move, and discovers a rare Stradivarius violin that had apparently belonged to her grandmother. With the help of a knowledgeable friend, she set out to find out more about the provenance of the violin. Their search ultimately led Deanna to South America and into danger.
Back in wartime Paris, Antoinette is willing to do whatever she has to, in order to protect her husband even if it makes her seem to be a collaborator. When a high ranking German officer discovers her skill on the violin, he brings a magnificent instrument for her to play at officer soirees, and grows increasingly interested in making her his private plaything. Can she go through with his wishes if it will save those she loves the most? It all culminates in a desperate resolve and Antoinette is forced to flee for her life. Will she survive and reunite with her son or husband? What else will happen to her along the way? It makes for a fascinating read that kept me glued to my seat!
This book can be read as a stand-alone but I think will be most fully understood if read as part of a complete series. I definitely recommend it to those who like WW2 fiction.
Many thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an uncorrected proof to read. All opinions are entirely my own.
June 18, 2025
1943, Antoinette's Jewish husband has been seized by the Nazis and she joins the Resistance, promising to bring him home. 2012, Deanna finds a valuable violin belonging to her late grandmother and fears the secrets she may unover...
The Paris Promise is a dual timeline historical novel set in Paris in the 1930s-40s and England in 2012. It is part of the Paris Sisters series but each book works as a stand alone story.
Talented musicians Antoinette and Rene and their young son Benjamin look on bewildered as the Nazis march to power and then through France. Rene is Jewish and wants to protects his friends as well as his family. But this puts him in danger and he is seized by the Nazis. Antoinette joins the Resistance with the single aim to undermine the invaders and keep her husband safe. She has to get close to one Nazi in particular and this makes her assess her moral code.
Meanwhile Deanna in 2012 is trying to clear her dad's house and uncovers a Stradivarius that he received from his mother. Investigating the providence of the violin, she uncovers some uncomfortable information and worries for the implications for her family.
The writing style and content are emotive and engaging. I felt the dilemmas that Antoinette and Deanna face were authentic and believable. The plot and characters are made even more poignant when the author's note confirms that they were based on real events and people. The research is thorough and commendable.
The Paris Promise is an emotionally gripping historical novel.
The Paris Promise is a dual timeline historical novel set in Paris in the 1930s-40s and England in 2012. It is part of the Paris Sisters series but each book works as a stand alone story.
Talented musicians Antoinette and Rene and their young son Benjamin look on bewildered as the Nazis march to power and then through France. Rene is Jewish and wants to protects his friends as well as his family. But this puts him in danger and he is seized by the Nazis. Antoinette joins the Resistance with the single aim to undermine the invaders and keep her husband safe. She has to get close to one Nazi in particular and this makes her assess her moral code.
Meanwhile Deanna in 2012 is trying to clear her dad's house and uncovers a Stradivarius that he received from his mother. Investigating the providence of the violin, she uncovers some uncomfortable information and worries for the implications for her family.
The writing style and content are emotive and engaging. I felt the dilemmas that Antoinette and Deanna face were authentic and believable. The plot and characters are made even more poignant when the author's note confirms that they were based on real events and people. The research is thorough and commendable.
The Paris Promise is an emotionally gripping historical novel.
April 27, 2025
I’ve read several of Suzanne Kelman’s books set in World War 2 and enjoyed all of them. This one is part of the series featuring the Valette sisters- each can be read as a stand alone but they are all connected.
This is a dual time line story set in 2011 and during the war years. It is the story of Antoinette, a resistance fighter forced to make some difficult choices to save her family and Deanna her granddaughter who is desperately trying to piece together her grandmother’s life during the worst period imaginable.
There is plenty of excitement in both timeframes and unusually in these type of books, I was happy reading about both periods as the two stories were so compelling. The alternate chapters really helped to build up the tension.
There were many twists, turns and mysteries as the story is told as the reader gradually learns what happened to Antoinette and why she had to act as she did.
This was both heart warming and also incredibly sad as Antoinette’s life is torn apart during the occupation. I loved the way the music featured in the story bringing Rene and Antoinette together and the fact that Deanna’s discovery of an old violin in her father’s loft is the catalyst for her discoveries about her grandmother’s life.
Forgiveness is also an important theme as is an acceptance of the past which enables Antoinette to move on. Definitely a recommended read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
This is a dual time line story set in 2011 and during the war years. It is the story of Antoinette, a resistance fighter forced to make some difficult choices to save her family and Deanna her granddaughter who is desperately trying to piece together her grandmother’s life during the worst period imaginable.
There is plenty of excitement in both timeframes and unusually in these type of books, I was happy reading about both periods as the two stories were so compelling. The alternate chapters really helped to build up the tension.
There were many twists, turns and mysteries as the story is told as the reader gradually learns what happened to Antoinette and why she had to act as she did.
This was both heart warming and also incredibly sad as Antoinette’s life is torn apart during the occupation. I loved the way the music featured in the story bringing Rene and Antoinette together and the fact that Deanna’s discovery of an old violin in her father’s loft is the catalyst for her discoveries about her grandmother’s life.
Forgiveness is also an important theme as is an acceptance of the past which enables Antoinette to move on. Definitely a recommended read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
May 8, 2025
This is Book 3 of Suzanne Kelman's series "The Paris Sisters" and I think it was the most suspenseful book of the 3 that I've now had the pleasure of reading. The Vallette sisters in this series are all living in Paris when the Nazis occupy France during WWII. They each have their own unique personalities and special skills and abilities. Antoinette Vallette's life during the occupation is dramatically and tragically portrayed in The Paris Promise but she is not the only main character in the novel. There is a dual timeline that features Antoinette in the 1940's and includes an intriguing mystery for her granddaughter, Deanna, to go about solving in her 2012 timeline. Both timelines have such well-developed characters that you can't help but love and care about them due to the hearts full of love that these two women have for their families. Their love of family has each of them in their own time, and in their own way, put themselves in harrowing situations that left me reading until 4 in the morning so I could find out what happens to them. I will not spoil this wonderful book for anyone by giving details of what they go through - I will simply encourage everyone who enjoys reading about women during WWII in France, and a granddaughter's reaction to the discovery of that story, to read The Paris Promise. I highly recommend this book. It is part of a series but can easily be read as a standalone story. I received an ARC from NetGalley but all opinions are my own.
May 18, 2025
Superb Tale Of Survival And Love Offers Hope For Modern Era. This is one of those dual timeline WWII historical fiction tales that manages to create a solid amount of survival tension without ever actually going into the concentration camps... and is rare in that it offers a fair amount of modern day hope as well.
The timelines here are each done particularly well, with tension ratcheting up throughout the book in each as hints are placed and ultimately secrets are revealed, and the timelines manage to play into each other in more than the usual ways - very nearly to what I hold as the ultimate visual in the dual-timeline approach, that of the final fight in the movie Frequency and in particular *that* sequence. Kelman never goes anywhere near there really, yet also manages to very nearly create the same effect in the reader's mind at one point.
Overall simply a superbly crafted, multi layered story that offers pointers for the modern era without ever being preachy about them at all - simply using its own story to show some things that we may consider more broadly, should we so choose. And yes, we very much should take these things to heart in reality, if we truly seek to avoid the horrors shown (and not shown so directly) here.
Very much recommended.
The timelines here are each done particularly well, with tension ratcheting up throughout the book in each as hints are placed and ultimately secrets are revealed, and the timelines manage to play into each other in more than the usual ways - very nearly to what I hold as the ultimate visual in the dual-timeline approach, that of the final fight in the movie Frequency and in particular *that* sequence. Kelman never goes anywhere near there really, yet also manages to very nearly create the same effect in the reader's mind at one point.
Overall simply a superbly crafted, multi layered story that offers pointers for the modern era without ever being preachy about them at all - simply using its own story to show some things that we may consider more broadly, should we so choose. And yes, we very much should take these things to heart in reality, if we truly seek to avoid the horrors shown (and not shown so directly) here.
Very much recommended.
May 30, 2025
5 stars = changed my perspective
This well-written timeslip book is about how far one woman will go to keep her promise to find her husband when the Nazis take him. And her son, when she puts him on a train to safety.
The story centers around a Stradivari violin that modern-day Deanna discovers in her father's attic. She discovers an entirely different side to her grandmother.
When the Nazis invade Paris in 1943, Antoinette Valette’s world shatters overnight. In an instant, she goes from being a celebrated violinist to fearing for the life of her Jewish husband and son. With nowhere to flee, hiding in plain sight is her family’s only choice.
Alone and with nothing left to lose, when the Resistance ask Antoinette to use her musical talent to spy on high-ranking Nazis, Antoinette doesn’t hesitate. Playing her violin at elaborate dinner parties each night allows her to listen to their conversations. And although she risks her life every day, it is the only way to reunite with her family.
This story seems to have one failing attempt after another. But it shows the courage both Deanna and Antoinette embody to protect their family and to discover the truth about the violin.
This well-written timeslip book is about how far one woman will go to keep her promise to find her husband when the Nazis take him. And her son, when she puts him on a train to safety.
The story centers around a Stradivari violin that modern-day Deanna discovers in her father's attic. She discovers an entirely different side to her grandmother.
When the Nazis invade Paris in 1943, Antoinette Valette’s world shatters overnight. In an instant, she goes from being a celebrated violinist to fearing for the life of her Jewish husband and son. With nowhere to flee, hiding in plain sight is her family’s only choice.
Alone and with nothing left to lose, when the Resistance ask Antoinette to use her musical talent to spy on high-ranking Nazis, Antoinette doesn’t hesitate. Playing her violin at elaborate dinner parties each night allows her to listen to their conversations. And although she risks her life every day, it is the only way to reunite with her family.
This story seems to have one failing attempt after another. But it shows the courage both Deanna and Antoinette embody to protect their family and to discover the truth about the violin.
May 22, 2025
The Paris Promise by Suzanne Kelman is a stunning conclusion to s deeply moving trilogy. With her signature lyrical prose and masterful storytelling, Kelman brings the story full circle in a way that is both heart-wrenching and hopeful.
Set against the evocative backdrop of wartime Paris, this novel seamlessly blends historical detail with emotional depth. The characters, especially Florence and her circle, feel like old friends whose fates you've been holding your breath for. Every moment is charged with the tension of the times, yet there's a persistent thread of resilience and love that pulls you through.
Kelman excels at creating moments that linger - quiet conversations, impossible choices, and the small acts of courage that define a life. While this book can be read on its own, those who've followed the series will find a particularly satisfying resonance in how past threads are tied together.
The Paris Promise is a story of bravery, sacrifice, and the enduring power of hope. It's not just a book - it's an experience that stays with you long after the final page.
Set against the evocative backdrop of wartime Paris, this novel seamlessly blends historical detail with emotional depth. The characters, especially Florence and her circle, feel like old friends whose fates you've been holding your breath for. Every moment is charged with the tension of the times, yet there's a persistent thread of resilience and love that pulls you through.
Kelman excels at creating moments that linger - quiet conversations, impossible choices, and the small acts of courage that define a life. While this book can be read on its own, those who've followed the series will find a particularly satisfying resonance in how past threads are tied together.
The Paris Promise is a story of bravery, sacrifice, and the enduring power of hope. It's not just a book - it's an experience that stays with you long after the final page.
May 15, 2025
This is another of Suzanne Kelman’s emotionally charged WW2 stories. As usual Suzanne has pulled the reader in, so that we experience the many twists and turns in the plot as we fe3l each characters suffering, pain and brokenness. The men and women of the resistance are strong and dedicated, each one shows resilience as they each make personal sacrifices as the Nazi war engines move ever closer to uncovering their identity.
Once again Suzanne’s characters make decisions which all have consequences central to the dual storyline which surround the inherited violin. Read the book to find out the mystery behind it. After a few chapters, you too will be drawn in and I guarantee you won’t want to put the book down until the last scary moment!
Thank you once again Suzanne for this story of love, hope and resilience. Thank you too to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ark in exchange for my freely given and honest review.
Once again Suzanne’s characters make decisions which all have consequences central to the dual storyline which surround the inherited violin. Read the book to find out the mystery behind it. After a few chapters, you too will be drawn in and I guarantee you won’t want to put the book down until the last scary moment!
Thank you once again Suzanne for this story of love, hope and resilience. Thank you too to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ark in exchange for my freely given and honest review.
July 10, 2025
The last of the series introduces Antoinette, another Valette sister also married to a Jewish man. He is taken by the Nazis. She is determined to find him, but for that she has to go undercover with the resistance and infiltrate a Nazi stronghold.
The work she does is dangerous but she is willing to risk everything, except her son. Him, she places on a train leaving Paris for the safety of the countryside. She doesn’t know if she will ever see him again.
When the Nazi officer who is her mark starts getting a little too close, she must decide how far she is willing to go.
Antoinette was a violinist and it is the discovery of a Stradivarius that leads Deanne to start looking for her family’s history and that’s how the story comes out.
But like a hornet’s nest, her explorations lead to unwelcome truths, that she has a chance to resolve once and for all.
It’s a powerful series with amazing women at the centre of these stories. It just goes to show how much women did at that time and so many of them do not have any credit for the risks they took, their hardships and sacrifices.
One thing that bothered me through the series was that there were a lot of loose ends. No closure on many characters. Snippets of information that didn’t get completed.
But other than that they were a good read.
The work she does is dangerous but she is willing to risk everything, except her son. Him, she places on a train leaving Paris for the safety of the countryside. She doesn’t know if she will ever see him again.
When the Nazi officer who is her mark starts getting a little too close, she must decide how far she is willing to go.
Antoinette was a violinist and it is the discovery of a Stradivarius that leads Deanne to start looking for her family’s history and that’s how the story comes out.
But like a hornet’s nest, her explorations lead to unwelcome truths, that she has a chance to resolve once and for all.
It’s a powerful series with amazing women at the centre of these stories. It just goes to show how much women did at that time and so many of them do not have any credit for the risks they took, their hardships and sacrifices.
One thing that bothered me through the series was that there were a lot of loose ends. No closure on many characters. Snippets of information that didn’t get completed.
But other than that they were a good read.
December 25, 2025
this was a great book though diificult at times!
Book was very hard for me as a child that grew up with a step father
who unfortunately for me was not real pleasant he left my mother when I was thirteen and I was so glad to see him go any way that my story not this one I thought she did a fantastic ending and I cried she had put a compass in his blanket when the doctor took him to his adopted parents and when they finally met again she was so thrilled at what a wonderful man he had become!!! Do enjoy the book and just block out the part about what I said about my step father he really wasn’t my father at all ! Don’t post this on Amazon orGoodreads
Please it’s way too personal and certainly don’t post it !!!to Jeff roisman he is my current husband and this would really hurt him too
Book was very hard for me as a child that grew up with a step father
who unfortunately for me was not real pleasant he left my mother when I was thirteen and I was so glad to see him go any way that my story not this one I thought she did a fantastic ending and I cried she had put a compass in his blanket when the doctor took him to his adopted parents and when they finally met again she was so thrilled at what a wonderful man he had become!!! Do enjoy the book and just block out the part about what I said about my step father he really wasn’t my father at all ! Don’t post this on Amazon orGoodreads
Please it’s way too personal and certainly don’t post it !!!to Jeff roisman he is my current husband and this would really hurt him too
May 24, 2025
I just finished the third book in the Paris Sisters series, and it was a compelling dual-timeline read. When Deanna discovers a Stradivarius violin in her father’s attic, it launches her into a search for answers about her grandmother Antoinette’s mysterious past in Paris during World War II. The historical storyline was rich and emotional, as we learned more about Antoinette’s resilience and determination shining as she navigates life after her husband is taken away to the camps.
The present-day story involving the mystery surrounding the violin kept the story moving at a great pace. I enjoyed watching Deanna and her friend follow the trail of clues, uncovering both her family history as she learned more about the strength of her grandma. A great blend of history, mystery, and heart—I’m looking forward to the next in the series!
Thanks @bookouture, @netgalley, and the author for this arc.
The present-day story involving the mystery surrounding the violin kept the story moving at a great pace. I enjoyed watching Deanna and her friend follow the trail of clues, uncovering both her family history as she learned more about the strength of her grandma. A great blend of history, mystery, and heart—I’m looking forward to the next in the series!
Thanks @bookouture, @netgalley, and the author for this arc.
May 21, 2025
This book revolves around a long forgotten Stradivarius violin. I enjoyed the dual POV, learning Antoinette’s story, and her granddaughter’s journey in finding the story behind the violin. I was very invested in Deanna’s POV. Even though her father wasn’t ready for the truth about Antoinette, Deanna definitely was.
There was a lot of suspense in this one. The most Deanna discovers, the more in danger she is. Suzanne does a great job sucking you in. I read this one in a day because I just needed to know how it would end.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.
There was a lot of suspense in this one. The most Deanna discovers, the more in danger she is. Suzanne does a great job sucking you in. I read this one in a day because I just needed to know how it would end.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.
May 30, 2025
The Paris Promise
This last book in the Paris Sisters tells the heartbreaking story of Antoinette. How her life was almost destroyed during the War, with the loss of her husband, and the unspeakable horrors of the war and surviving the Nazi occupation. The story, as with the other two, flips back and forth between her family in the 2010’s and back to her and the war years. The characters are wonderful and horrid, the tale of the war years heart-wrenching; and the years of her family trying to make sense of those long-ago and unknown years. Loved it!
This last book in the Paris Sisters tells the heartbreaking story of Antoinette. How her life was almost destroyed during the War, with the loss of her husband, and the unspeakable horrors of the war and surviving the Nazi occupation. The story, as with the other two, flips back and forth between her family in the 2010’s and back to her and the war years. The characters are wonderful and horrid, the tale of the war years heart-wrenching; and the years of her family trying to make sense of those long-ago and unknown years. Loved it!
May 23, 2025
It took me a minute to get into the story, once I did, I found myself captivated by the sheer determination of Antoinette. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, trying to keep tracks on her Jewish husband, torn with the choices she has to make, her life is one big mission. To complicate things she captures the attention of a Nazi Officer who sets his sights on her and a cat and mouse game commences.
It's well written, told from a dual timeline perspective, a recommended read.
It's well written, told from a dual timeline perspective, a recommended read.
May 24, 2025
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book but man i am an emotional wreck now....
at times it was hard to read the choices that poor Antoinette had to make for her family and her fight to survive during the war....
its gripping in its extreme but what a storyline
this author certainly knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat
at times it was hard to read the choices that poor Antoinette had to make for her family and her fight to survive during the war....
its gripping in its extreme but what a storyline
this author certainly knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat
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