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The Milliner's Secret
London,1937. A talented young woman travels to Paris with a stranger. The promise of an exciting career as a milliner beckons, but she is about to fall in love with the enemy...
Londoner Cora Masson has reinvented herself as Coralie de Lirac, fabricating an aristocratic background to launch herself as a fashionable milliner. When the Nazis invade, the influence of a high-ranking lover, Dietrich, saves her business. But while Coralie retains her position as designer to a style-hungry elite, Paris is approaching its darkest hour.
Faced with the cruel reality of war and love, Coralie must make a difficult choice – protect herself or find the courage to fight for her friends, her freedom and everything she believes in.
Londoner Cora Masson has reinvented herself as Coralie de Lirac, fabricating an aristocratic background to launch herself as a fashionable milliner. When the Nazis invade, the influence of a high-ranking lover, Dietrich, saves her business. But while Coralie retains her position as designer to a style-hungry elite, Paris is approaching its darkest hour.
Faced with the cruel reality of war and love, Coralie must make a difficult choice – protect herself or find the courage to fight for her friends, her freedom and everything she believes in.
512 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2015
609 people are currently reading
2127 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Meg Evans
22 books280 followersBeing a published writer has been Natalie Meg Evans’ goal from an early age. Having achieved her dream, she extracts maximum fun from it by writing the kind of books she has always loved reading. Mother to one son and currently guardian to a rescued Labrador and a Malinois (Belgian Shepherd), Natalie lives in rural Suffolk, England’s easternmost county.
In 2012, Natalie won the prestigious Harry Bowling Prize and was a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist. She was longlisted in the Mslexia new women novelists
competition, and shortlisted for a Daphne du Maurier award for romantic suspense. The Dress Thief won the readers award for the best historical novel at the Festival of Romance and was nominated for a Romance Writers of America RITA.
Her latest novels are The Locket and The Paris Inheritance, both split timeline novels with a wartime theme.
She has achieved another life-goal, as a published author of country house crime. As Kay Blythe, her first novel in this genre comes out in February 2025. Look out for Murder at Merry Beggars Hall.
In 2012, Natalie won the prestigious Harry Bowling Prize and was a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist. She was longlisted in the Mslexia new women novelists
competition, and shortlisted for a Daphne du Maurier award for romantic suspense. The Dress Thief won the readers award for the best historical novel at the Festival of Romance and was nominated for a Romance Writers of America RITA.
Her latest novels are The Locket and The Paris Inheritance, both split timeline novels with a wartime theme.
She has achieved another life-goal, as a published author of country house crime. As Kay Blythe, her first novel in this genre comes out in February 2025. Look out for Murder at Merry Beggars Hall.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
September 23, 2015
The Milliner's Secret surprised me. I didn't think I was going to like it - how wrong I was.
Cora Masson works in a hat factory in England; her life holds few pleasures. She works long hours to save money and invariably has all that she has earned taken by her drunken violent father.
During a rare day out at the races with her friend Donal, she encounters a handsome stranger, Dietrich von Ebling; to escape her home life she travels to France with him. Once there she reinvents herself as Coralie de Lirac, fabricating an aristocratic background to launch herself as a fashionable milliner.
Set in Paris from 1937 through to 1944 the Evans weaves in the political turmoil of the war years, black market gangsters, conspiracies, revenge and love into a detailed multifaceted novel. She successfully creates a story that is bigger than just the relationship between Coralie and Dietrich and engages the reader thoroughly with the secondary characters.
The real surprise for me was that when I started this book I thought I was going to hate it. The book opens in a seedy, smoky, French nightclub complete with sleezy bar owner (who's a criminal), the requisite SS and other German military. There is nothing wrong with beginning like this, but it reminded me of so many movies and clichéd ridden books that already exist, that it had me worried for what was to come.
I KEPT READING and I am so glad that I did. This became a book that I couldn’t put down and I wound up loving it.
Evans writes great characters. They are complex. They make mistakes. Coralie is impetuous and, at times, appallingly naive, and this often causes her great problems. There were moments when I wanted to scream at her and times I just loved her – all because Evan’s writing hooked me. Dietrich himself is a flawed hero who is, however, endlessly forgiving of Coralie. (The number of times they break up and get back together must be some kind of record.)
What I really liked is that, romance aside, the subplots and detail of the other characters is excellent. Very occasionally I was aware I was being "told" information, which lifted me out of the story – namely historic details, which perhaps were needed for some readers. However those moments were very brief. The horrendous political events of WWII – arrests, concentration camps, starvation and daily struggle to survive, the rise of the resistance, courage, endurance and inevitable loss are all very skilfully woven together. Evans covers a lot here and it doesn’t feel like she’s trying to do too much in one story.
I was well aware as I read what direction story was going to take in regard to its end point, but I HAD to finish and when I finished I felt a profound sense of sorrow that the journey was over. I haven’t felt that way about a book in long while.
Thank you Natalie Meg Evans.
Four Stars!
Cora Masson works in a hat factory in England; her life holds few pleasures. She works long hours to save money and invariably has all that she has earned taken by her drunken violent father.
During a rare day out at the races with her friend Donal, she encounters a handsome stranger, Dietrich von Ebling; to escape her home life she travels to France with him. Once there she reinvents herself as Coralie de Lirac, fabricating an aristocratic background to launch herself as a fashionable milliner.
Set in Paris from 1937 through to 1944 the Evans weaves in the political turmoil of the war years, black market gangsters, conspiracies, revenge and love into a detailed multifaceted novel. She successfully creates a story that is bigger than just the relationship between Coralie and Dietrich and engages the reader thoroughly with the secondary characters.
The real surprise for me was that when I started this book I thought I was going to hate it. The book opens in a seedy, smoky, French nightclub complete with sleezy bar owner (who's a criminal), the requisite SS and other German military. There is nothing wrong with beginning like this, but it reminded me of so many movies and clichéd ridden books that already exist, that it had me worried for what was to come.
I KEPT READING and I am so glad that I did. This became a book that I couldn’t put down and I wound up loving it.
Evans writes great characters. They are complex. They make mistakes. Coralie is impetuous and, at times, appallingly naive, and this often causes her great problems. There were moments when I wanted to scream at her and times I just loved her – all because Evan’s writing hooked me. Dietrich himself is a flawed hero who is, however, endlessly forgiving of Coralie. (The number of times they break up and get back together must be some kind of record.)
What I really liked is that, romance aside, the subplots and detail of the other characters is excellent. Very occasionally I was aware I was being "told" information, which lifted me out of the story – namely historic details, which perhaps were needed for some readers. However those moments were very brief. The horrendous political events of WWII – arrests, concentration camps, starvation and daily struggle to survive, the rise of the resistance, courage, endurance and inevitable loss are all very skilfully woven together. Evans covers a lot here and it doesn’t feel like she’s trying to do too much in one story.
I was well aware as I read what direction story was going to take in regard to its end point, but I HAD to finish and when I finished I felt a profound sense of sorrow that the journey was over. I haven’t felt that way about a book in long while.
Thank you Natalie Meg Evans.
Four Stars!
August 7, 2015
The Milliners Secret is the second novel from Natalie Meg Evans. Following on from the success of her début novel The Dress Thief (which won an award) the author takes us back in time to late 1930's London and to Paris during the German occupation in what was the horrific World War Two. I have to admit The Dress Thief is still sitting in my T.B.R and having heard several characters from the first book make a reappearance I was bit apprehensive about reading this one. I don't like reading sequels without knowing the background to characters but the author reassured me on Twitter that both books are distinctly separate despite a crossover of some characters and the time frame. That said I began this book in anticipation as the cover and blurb alone really had spiked my interest. Being honest I found it very slow to get going, I was enjoying it but felt we weren't getting to the real action. There was too much description in the first part of the book based in London, it was only well into the book at over 260 pages did I really begin to sink my teeth into it and from that moment on I couldn't put it down staying up late into the night to finish what turned out to be a brilliant, brilliant unputdownable book. Which goes to show you should always persist with books as they must just surprise you and if I hadn't kept going with this book I would have missed out on a fantastically told story.
The prologue opens with three women in a nightclub in Paris. They are on edge the Germans are all around and it seems the women are up to something. The scene is full of tension and dramatics. But suddenly we move back three years earlier to London and Cora Masson is once again being beaten by her father Jac for money. But she has the upper hand and despite her bruises goes on to enjoy the rare treat of a day at the Derby with her friend Donal. Here she meets the enigmatic Dietrich Graf Von Elbing and Ottilia his companion. Little does Cora know this encounter will forever change her life and take her far from everything she has known. Cora knew working in a hat factory was not the life for her. She is ambitious and realises there are better opportunities out there and she will take advantage of every one presented to her. Circumstances force her to escape from London and Dietrich comes to her aid although now living in Paris she is forced to adopt a new identity and history. In the romantic city she is simply called Coralie de Lirac. Coralie and Dietrich have this connection and bond instantaneously and there were so many ups and downs to their story that I wouldn't blame you for getting lost. Their love is wrong considering everything that is going on during the war. But world wide events should not get in the way of love even if your lover is from the opposing side.
Coralie goes through so many tough times as she attempts to find work and maybe establish her own millinery business. This proved a riveting storyline in itself as there was betrayal, secrets and nastiness galore with fellow workers in the industry. Alongside that we have the romance of Dietrich and Coralie although other men do make a reappearance. We have her friends Otillia, Úna, Violainne and many more and of course World War Two and all that it entails. I couldn't even begin to tell you any more so much happens it would only confuse you. Thank god I took some notes because at the pace I was reading I would have struggled to keep track of everything. But the author has done an amazing job of weaving everything together to produce an exciting story full of scandal, corruption, murder, collaboration, tension, betrayal and above all else the power of love. I think this quote perfectly sums up the character of Coralie more than I ever could 'a working class girl who dared to reach for her dreams found plenty of people ready to shove her back down. Down she must go .... only to bob back up again like a champagne cork'. I was with Coralie every step as she worked to achieve her dreams and thoroughly enjoyed her journey.
There were so many layers and aspects to this story. Not just that of Coralie and her friends but of bigger events ongoing apart from the struggles and deprivation in their lives. Finely balanced alongside the characters issues were the resistance groups in France struggling to achieve freedom and to win the war. We are given a detailed, insightful view into the German occupation of Paris and how ordinary French people had to survive on a daily basis alongside the Nazi's, the Gestapo and the army. Corruption, brutality and abuse were rife and Natalie has certainly opened up my eyes to an aspect of the war which I hadn't given much thought to. The historical factual information was slotted in at just the right time updating us on what was going on a world wide scale at various points during the war. It seemed natural to read of it and these paragraphs helped move the story on a couple of months or so.
The Milliners Secret is a story of a journey and a complete transformation for our main character not just in terms of her appearance and her personal details but how her guts and determination pull her through the most testing time of her life. Her love for her child always came first but yet her business brain always kicked into action when needed the most because she knew her talents, skills and know how were what would make her survive all the war was throwing at her. At times her heart did rule her head but I can't really blame her as Dietrich was a character I genuinely fell in love with myself. Working for the Germans and having such a high position in the army and the things he had to I suppose I wasn't meant to like him but there was something drawing me to him just like what happened to Coralie. Natalie made me root for a character I wasn't supposed to which is a sign of her astonishingly good writing and her way with words. She inspired emotions in me that I rarely feel for characters.
Further into the book Coralie takes on a challenge that many people would shy away from which further shows the reader her strength and ambition. What struck me most about this was although I know this was a fictional story balanced alongside true facts and events there must have been women at the time who like Coralie put their lives on the line. Women who for the good of their country and for the war effort did whatever was necessary to help their men secure victory and freedom. Where would be now if these brave women had not such played a pivotal role does not bare thinking about? The astonishing climax of the novel had me shouting out and it took an awful lot for Natalie to write that but I can't say I liked what happened considering everything we had read.
As I have mentioned before I couldn't get into this book in the beginning but just like they say with an album the more you listen the more it grows on you. That was the case for me here the further I read the more the story began to affect me and I was enthralled right to the very last page. Although I found the last chapter before the epilogue needed a bit of stretching out I felt there was a piece missing in Coralie's story that I would have liked to read more about. The epilogue did rap up the story nicely though. To keep so many strands of a story going and to keep my interest for over 560 pages was a massive undertaking from Natalie Meg Evans but she has succeeded with style. I had forgotten about minor characters mentioned in the first few chapters not thinking there were necessary to the story but the author knew what she was doing. Every character, every scene, every little detail was essential and could have not been left out otherwise huge holes would have appeared in the overall plot. I was thinking there are way too many characters to keep track of but every one of them had a role to play and by god did they play it well. I never finish books and think oh I want to turn back to page one and start rereading it again immediately (I believe there are way too many books out there that I will enjoy) but I so wanted to do that here this book was that good.
This book is simply a stunningly told tale that hopefully will win Natalie more awards. In her acknowledgements she mentions how tears were wept over the keyboard but rest assured Natalie those tears were not shed in vein you have produced a phenomenal book. Thankfully I can now go back and read The Dress Thief and discover who does make a reappearance in book two and soak up what I know will be another wonderful story. This reader is now most certainly a firm fan of the work of Natalie Meg Evans
The prologue opens with three women in a nightclub in Paris. They are on edge the Germans are all around and it seems the women are up to something. The scene is full of tension and dramatics. But suddenly we move back three years earlier to London and Cora Masson is once again being beaten by her father Jac for money. But she has the upper hand and despite her bruises goes on to enjoy the rare treat of a day at the Derby with her friend Donal. Here she meets the enigmatic Dietrich Graf Von Elbing and Ottilia his companion. Little does Cora know this encounter will forever change her life and take her far from everything she has known. Cora knew working in a hat factory was not the life for her. She is ambitious and realises there are better opportunities out there and she will take advantage of every one presented to her. Circumstances force her to escape from London and Dietrich comes to her aid although now living in Paris she is forced to adopt a new identity and history. In the romantic city she is simply called Coralie de Lirac. Coralie and Dietrich have this connection and bond instantaneously and there were so many ups and downs to their story that I wouldn't blame you for getting lost. Their love is wrong considering everything that is going on during the war. But world wide events should not get in the way of love even if your lover is from the opposing side.
Coralie goes through so many tough times as she attempts to find work and maybe establish her own millinery business. This proved a riveting storyline in itself as there was betrayal, secrets and nastiness galore with fellow workers in the industry. Alongside that we have the romance of Dietrich and Coralie although other men do make a reappearance. We have her friends Otillia, Úna, Violainne and many more and of course World War Two and all that it entails. I couldn't even begin to tell you any more so much happens it would only confuse you. Thank god I took some notes because at the pace I was reading I would have struggled to keep track of everything. But the author has done an amazing job of weaving everything together to produce an exciting story full of scandal, corruption, murder, collaboration, tension, betrayal and above all else the power of love. I think this quote perfectly sums up the character of Coralie more than I ever could 'a working class girl who dared to reach for her dreams found plenty of people ready to shove her back down. Down she must go .... only to bob back up again like a champagne cork'. I was with Coralie every step as she worked to achieve her dreams and thoroughly enjoyed her journey.
There were so many layers and aspects to this story. Not just that of Coralie and her friends but of bigger events ongoing apart from the struggles and deprivation in their lives. Finely balanced alongside the characters issues were the resistance groups in France struggling to achieve freedom and to win the war. We are given a detailed, insightful view into the German occupation of Paris and how ordinary French people had to survive on a daily basis alongside the Nazi's, the Gestapo and the army. Corruption, brutality and abuse were rife and Natalie has certainly opened up my eyes to an aspect of the war which I hadn't given much thought to. The historical factual information was slotted in at just the right time updating us on what was going on a world wide scale at various points during the war. It seemed natural to read of it and these paragraphs helped move the story on a couple of months or so.
The Milliners Secret is a story of a journey and a complete transformation for our main character not just in terms of her appearance and her personal details but how her guts and determination pull her through the most testing time of her life. Her love for her child always came first but yet her business brain always kicked into action when needed the most because she knew her talents, skills and know how were what would make her survive all the war was throwing at her. At times her heart did rule her head but I can't really blame her as Dietrich was a character I genuinely fell in love with myself. Working for the Germans and having such a high position in the army and the things he had to I suppose I wasn't meant to like him but there was something drawing me to him just like what happened to Coralie. Natalie made me root for a character I wasn't supposed to which is a sign of her astonishingly good writing and her way with words. She inspired emotions in me that I rarely feel for characters.
Further into the book Coralie takes on a challenge that many people would shy away from which further shows the reader her strength and ambition. What struck me most about this was although I know this was a fictional story balanced alongside true facts and events there must have been women at the time who like Coralie put their lives on the line. Women who for the good of their country and for the war effort did whatever was necessary to help their men secure victory and freedom. Where would be now if these brave women had not such played a pivotal role does not bare thinking about? The astonishing climax of the novel had me shouting out and it took an awful lot for Natalie to write that but I can't say I liked what happened considering everything we had read.
As I have mentioned before I couldn't get into this book in the beginning but just like they say with an album the more you listen the more it grows on you. That was the case for me here the further I read the more the story began to affect me and I was enthralled right to the very last page. Although I found the last chapter before the epilogue needed a bit of stretching out I felt there was a piece missing in Coralie's story that I would have liked to read more about. The epilogue did rap up the story nicely though. To keep so many strands of a story going and to keep my interest for over 560 pages was a massive undertaking from Natalie Meg Evans but she has succeeded with style. I had forgotten about minor characters mentioned in the first few chapters not thinking there were necessary to the story but the author knew what she was doing. Every character, every scene, every little detail was essential and could have not been left out otherwise huge holes would have appeared in the overall plot. I was thinking there are way too many characters to keep track of but every one of them had a role to play and by god did they play it well. I never finish books and think oh I want to turn back to page one and start rereading it again immediately (I believe there are way too many books out there that I will enjoy) but I so wanted to do that here this book was that good.
This book is simply a stunningly told tale that hopefully will win Natalie more awards. In her acknowledgements she mentions how tears were wept over the keyboard but rest assured Natalie those tears were not shed in vein you have produced a phenomenal book. Thankfully I can now go back and read The Dress Thief and discover who does make a reappearance in book two and soak up what I know will be another wonderful story. This reader is now most certainly a firm fan of the work of Natalie Meg Evans
February 5, 2016
This review was originally posted on [Between My Lines]I absolutely adored the concept of this book and the pretty cover didn’t hurt either. In a nutshell, it was a GOOD read with a FAB setting and a FIERCE main character. I enjoyed it but not quite as much as I had hoped for.
The Assets of The Milliner’s Secret by Natalie Meg Evans:
The Setting : Paris during the occupation of World War 2 is one of my favourite settings in books. And the setting here is vividly described and came to life within the pages.
Cora the main character was intriguing! She is straight forward and says exactly what is on her mind. And she is one TOUGH NUT! She seizes every opportunity life throws at her and runs full speed ahead with them. It is impossible to squash her, no matter how bad things get.
The romance: Nothing like a hot, forbidden romance to spice things up a little. And lots of will they, won't they see-sawing.
The fashion: I really enjoyed the glimpses of haute-couture and just how cut throat the high fashion milliner business in Paris was. And the hats, be still by beating heart, they sound amazing.
Historically Accurate: This is so important to me. It’s obviously meticulously researched and it shows.
The Liabilities of The Milliner’s Secret by Natalie Meg Evans:
The pace: For me personally it was too slow. There was so much description that I got bogged down and it made me lose my connection with the characters. I did love the characters but I feel they got lost in the detail. Because I felt the pace dragging, my enjoyment of the book went down in proportion to this. Which hurts me to say as there were so many other elements that I did enjoy.
Lots of sub-plots: There is an abundance of connected sub-plots – the fashion industry, domestic abuse, murder, hiding identities, complex romances and friendships, the occupation of Paris, deportation of Jews, the rise of the resistance, espionage, a forbidden love affair. It felt a bit over ambitious and I don’t think it fully delivered because of this.
Investment potential of The Milliner’s Secret by Natalie Meg Evans:
Overall it’s romantic and engaging and has some terrific characters. BUT the pace is slow. If you love historical romances with a World War 2 setting, I would recommend it to you. Not so much for those who aren’t already dedicated followers of this genre.
Thanks to Quercus Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Balancing the books is a quick fire review where I list the assets and liabilities of a book (as I see them) and leave you decide if you think this book is worth investing in.
The Assets of The Milliner’s Secret by Natalie Meg Evans:
The Setting : Paris during the occupation of World War 2 is one of my favourite settings in books. And the setting here is vividly described and came to life within the pages.
Cora the main character was intriguing! She is straight forward and says exactly what is on her mind. And she is one TOUGH NUT! She seizes every opportunity life throws at her and runs full speed ahead with them. It is impossible to squash her, no matter how bad things get.
The romance: Nothing like a hot, forbidden romance to spice things up a little. And lots of will they, won't they see-sawing.
The fashion: I really enjoyed the glimpses of haute-couture and just how cut throat the high fashion milliner business in Paris was. And the hats, be still by beating heart, they sound amazing.
Historically Accurate: This is so important to me. It’s obviously meticulously researched and it shows.
The Liabilities of The Milliner’s Secret by Natalie Meg Evans:
The pace: For me personally it was too slow. There was so much description that I got bogged down and it made me lose my connection with the characters. I did love the characters but I feel they got lost in the detail. Because I felt the pace dragging, my enjoyment of the book went down in proportion to this. Which hurts me to say as there were so many other elements that I did enjoy.
Lots of sub-plots: There is an abundance of connected sub-plots – the fashion industry, domestic abuse, murder, hiding identities, complex romances and friendships, the occupation of Paris, deportation of Jews, the rise of the resistance, espionage, a forbidden love affair. It felt a bit over ambitious and I don’t think it fully delivered because of this.
Investment potential of The Milliner’s Secret by Natalie Meg Evans:
Overall it’s romantic and engaging and has some terrific characters. BUT the pace is slow. If you love historical romances with a World War 2 setting, I would recommend it to you. Not so much for those who aren’t already dedicated followers of this genre.
Thanks to Quercus Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
September 5, 2015
I received this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.
I am not sure how this book is getting so many rave reviews and I am clearly in the minority here. The Milliner's Secret was a very long, very drawn out novel that never really went anywhere. For the first 100 pages or so, I was very captivated and very interested in where this story was going, but then it go so convoluted and the author spent way too much time going into detail about the war.
Understandably, the war was an important character in this novel, but I was more interested in Coralie and what was happening with her. I found myself skipping paragraphs and pages at time, skimming until I found the nuggets of the story. About half way through, I toyed with the idea of not finishing, but in the end I continued on.
Unfortunately, I would not recommend this book as it moved at much too slow a pace and quite frankly, I am not even sure what the Milliner's Secret was.
I am not sure how this book is getting so many rave reviews and I am clearly in the minority here. The Milliner's Secret was a very long, very drawn out novel that never really went anywhere. For the first 100 pages or so, I was very captivated and very interested in where this story was going, but then it go so convoluted and the author spent way too much time going into detail about the war.
Understandably, the war was an important character in this novel, but I was more interested in Coralie and what was happening with her. I found myself skipping paragraphs and pages at time, skimming until I found the nuggets of the story. About half way through, I toyed with the idea of not finishing, but in the end I continued on.
Unfortunately, I would not recommend this book as it moved at much too slow a pace and quite frankly, I am not even sure what the Milliner's Secret was.
April 29, 2022
Naujus metus kažkaip norisi pradėti su ypatinga knyga ir tiesą sakant iš pradžių tikrai nusivyliau savo pasirinkimu, pagalvojau: "nieko gero". Pagrindinė veikėja pasirodė naivi, kvaila neišsilavinusi mergiotė, kuri tikrai erzino. Skaitant toliau, knyga mane vis labiau žavėjo. Pagrindinė veikėja Kerolė taip pasikeitė, kad buvau sužavėta. Kas skaitė "Vėjo nublokšti", tai drąsiai galėčiau ją lyginti su Skarlet Ohara. Ambicinga , drąsi, kiaurai sienas einanti ,kad pasiektų savo tikslą!
August 7, 2015
also on http://chicklitpad.blogspot.co.uk
My Synopsis
Imagine This: It’s 1940s in Paris. You make hats for a living. But your dad is beating the life out of you and taking back all your hard-earned money. How’s that living?
A Londoner, you always imagine yourself living your dream in Paris. You’d escape your dad’s fists. You’d ran to Paris and begin a whole new life out there. Paris, the city of lights with many possibilities.
Except you had no idea how dark your future would turn if you make it into Paris. A one-chance opportunity presents itself, and before you know it, you are waking up in bed in the arms of a married man. In the City of Love, you become a mistress. Ahh, bliss.
Then the Germans invade, sending your life into turmoil. They’d kill any Jew, any Gypsy and definitely any Englishwoman masquerading as French with a new identity. The secret of your nationality, you’d die to keep. Because if you reveal it, you’d die anyway.
But whoever said, this secret is your biggest problem? Soon, you’d have to face devious fashion-rivals, Gestapo, a scorned lover fighting for the enemy, helping friends escape brutality and lots of danger in a city dominated and run by die-hard Nazis. When all this is accomplished, your life, if you ever have one, would never be the same again.
Coralie de Lirac/Cora Masson’s treacherous life summed for your delight.
MY REVIEW
I loved this book! So in my review, you’d know I’d be yelling at you to go buy the hell out of it along with lots of vintage hats!
Yet again, Natalie Meg Evans wows with a wild storyline set in '40s Paris—a time of war, resistance, and love if you ever have the time! Stunning! I’m fiercely very scared for debut authors releasing a sophomore title. A sophomore title which might not outrun or even match the success of their debut novel. This storyline is a winner, carving out an image for Natalie Meg Evans as a historical romance author who breaks (fashion) boundaries, destroys enemies and neatly weaves romantic plots in Paris during the second world war! I fear no more for Natalie Meg Evans' inevitable success. A star.── ★
I loved the lead! SO, SO much! Very ballsy, very daring, the kind of historical heroine that would grab you right from the start! You’d love Coralie, for the tough decisions she has to make to save herself, her little daughter, and her friends. Her struggle to make it in Paris is so engaging. Then when she finally makes it, her struggle to keep all she has from falling apart would reel you in further. A star!── ★★
Other characters are amazing! You’d love Una Kiplin, the American fast-talking, fashionista who has lots of lovers falling at her feet. You’d love Dietrich, the German-lover who would stop at nothing to protect our lead (then make love to her). You’d also adore, Ramon, our lead’s husband, who’s quite the charmer, given he’s an anarchist (are those types charming at all?). You’d also fall in love with Teddy, the flamboyant art dealer who takes a liking to our lead. Lots and lots of characters in this book you would adore. Even the ones, you’d have to hate—Serge Martel, the shady club-owner who loves to bite off ears in the throes of love-making; Lorrienne, the scorned milliner who would do anything to destroy our lead’s business; Hiltrud, the wife of Dietrich, who would take a journey of vengeance that would leave readers gasping. A star!── ★★★
There’s something about this book I cannot help but bring up. The dialogue! It’s sharp, fast, and very… different. I didn’t really realize that was one of the engaging features of Nat Meg Evans’ writings till I remembered her debut. The Dialogue embodies the beauty of the age Nat Meg Evans writes about—an age of fine sarcasm, an age of witty comebacks and innuendoes stronger than a fist. A star!── ★★★★
There’s suspense that would keep you holding this book. I can vouch that you’d only drop this book only to go get yourself a hat… after you are done reading. There’s also humour to keep you chuckling. A star.── ★★★★★
Very few writers do this: make you forget how excellent their previous title—which was also their debut—was after reading their latest! If you have read The Dress Thief (—if you haven’t, I highly recommend it!), after reading this, you'd be thinking:Debut? What debut?
I recommend this to anyone who wants something historical to get cosy with this summer. Anyone who’s been a fan of Hitler-themed novels should grab this off the shelves. If you also love couture in Paris in the forties, this book is for you. Most importantly, if you want a book with an amazing plot, an engaging heroine, do not hesitate to get this. This is not your average historical romance with leads worrying about how tight their corsets are fancying and not-quite-fancying rogues and knights—if you would pick this title expecting a standard historical read you'd be disappointed! This, is one of the many reasons I love Nat Meg Evans!
My Synopsis
Imagine This: It’s 1940s in Paris. You make hats for a living. But your dad is beating the life out of you and taking back all your hard-earned money. How’s that living?
A Londoner, you always imagine yourself living your dream in Paris. You’d escape your dad’s fists. You’d ran to Paris and begin a whole new life out there. Paris, the city of lights with many possibilities.
Except you had no idea how dark your future would turn if you make it into Paris. A one-chance opportunity presents itself, and before you know it, you are waking up in bed in the arms of a married man. In the City of Love, you become a mistress. Ahh, bliss.
Then the Germans invade, sending your life into turmoil. They’d kill any Jew, any Gypsy and definitely any Englishwoman masquerading as French with a new identity. The secret of your nationality, you’d die to keep. Because if you reveal it, you’d die anyway.
But whoever said, this secret is your biggest problem? Soon, you’d have to face devious fashion-rivals, Gestapo, a scorned lover fighting for the enemy, helping friends escape brutality and lots of danger in a city dominated and run by die-hard Nazis. When all this is accomplished, your life, if you ever have one, would never be the same again.
Coralie de Lirac/Cora Masson’s treacherous life summed for your delight.
MY REVIEW
I loved this book! So in my review, you’d know I’d be yelling at you to go buy the hell out of it along with lots of vintage hats!
Yet again, Natalie Meg Evans wows with a wild storyline set in '40s Paris—a time of war, resistance, and love if you ever have the time! Stunning! I’m fiercely very scared for debut authors releasing a sophomore title. A sophomore title which might not outrun or even match the success of their debut novel. This storyline is a winner, carving out an image for Natalie Meg Evans as a historical romance author who breaks (fashion) boundaries, destroys enemies and neatly weaves romantic plots in Paris during the second world war! I fear no more for Natalie Meg Evans' inevitable success. A star.── ★
I loved the lead! SO, SO much! Very ballsy, very daring, the kind of historical heroine that would grab you right from the start! You’d love Coralie, for the tough decisions she has to make to save herself, her little daughter, and her friends. Her struggle to make it in Paris is so engaging. Then when she finally makes it, her struggle to keep all she has from falling apart would reel you in further. A star!── ★★
Other characters are amazing! You’d love Una Kiplin, the American fast-talking, fashionista who has lots of lovers falling at her feet. You’d love Dietrich, the German-lover who would stop at nothing to protect our lead (then make love to her). You’d also adore, Ramon, our lead’s husband, who’s quite the charmer, given he’s an anarchist (are those types charming at all?). You’d also fall in love with Teddy, the flamboyant art dealer who takes a liking to our lead. Lots and lots of characters in this book you would adore. Even the ones, you’d have to hate—Serge Martel, the shady club-owner who loves to bite off ears in the throes of love-making; Lorrienne, the scorned milliner who would do anything to destroy our lead’s business; Hiltrud, the wife of Dietrich, who would take a journey of vengeance that would leave readers gasping. A star!── ★★★
There’s something about this book I cannot help but bring up. The dialogue! It’s sharp, fast, and very… different. I didn’t really realize that was one of the engaging features of Nat Meg Evans’ writings till I remembered her debut. The Dialogue embodies the beauty of the age Nat Meg Evans writes about—an age of fine sarcasm, an age of witty comebacks and innuendoes stronger than a fist. A star!── ★★★★
There’s suspense that would keep you holding this book. I can vouch that you’d only drop this book only to go get yourself a hat… after you are done reading. There’s also humour to keep you chuckling. A star.── ★★★★★
Very few writers do this: make you forget how excellent their previous title—which was also their debut—was after reading their latest! If you have read The Dress Thief (—if you haven’t, I highly recommend it!), after reading this, you'd be thinking:Debut? What debut?
I recommend this to anyone who wants something historical to get cosy with this summer. Anyone who’s been a fan of Hitler-themed novels should grab this off the shelves. If you also love couture in Paris in the forties, this book is for you. Most importantly, if you want a book with an amazing plot, an engaging heroine, do not hesitate to get this. This is not your average historical romance with leads worrying about how tight their corsets are fancying and not-quite-fancying rogues and knights—if you would pick this title expecting a standard historical read you'd be disappointed! This, is one of the many reasons I love Nat Meg Evans!
August 1, 2015
This is my second book by this author and I am hooked. While they most definitely can be read as stand alone's, you will notice that several of the same characters show up in both The Dress Thief and this one.
Mostly set in Paris during German occupation, it provides a very entertaining story. Love, intrigue, secrets, lies, adultery, plagiarism, spies, hat making, danger, and abuse come together to make this a story you will long remember.
I love historical fiction about London or Paris during the wars. Not only do you learn things, but it's a great story to be read as you go along this journey with Cora (Coralie). I definitely recommend this book.
Huge thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for giving me the chance to read and review this awesome book!
Mostly set in Paris during German occupation, it provides a very entertaining story. Love, intrigue, secrets, lies, adultery, plagiarism, spies, hat making, danger, and abuse come together to make this a story you will long remember.
I love historical fiction about London or Paris during the wars. Not only do you learn things, but it's a great story to be read as you go along this journey with Cora (Coralie). I definitely recommend this book.
Huge thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for giving me the chance to read and review this awesome book!
September 15, 2015
This book was brilliant. I love historical fiction in this period. The plot was great and the characters came alive for me. I didn't want it to end. One of the best books I've read this year :)
September 14, 2015
I went into The Milliner's Secret with great hopes. I enjoy novels set in Paris during World War II and saw its 4+ stars. While the premise is intriguing, the result did not live up to its potential. It is quite beautifully written, with a nice use of French and German names and places. However, this book is in dire need of serious editing. It is too long and convoluted, with too many situations that are unnecessary to the story.
March 22, 2016
Wow this book was an emotional roller coaster of emotions. WWII in Paris trying to survive and helping others. Cora seemed to put everyone before herself. There were many characters and different story lines going but they always seemed to connect easily.
The author does a wonderful job making you feel as if you are there in the story. You can see her making her hats. I loved it.
The author does a wonderful job making you feel as if you are there in the story. You can see her making her hats. I loved it.
July 1, 2018
Absolutely loved this book. Natalie Meg Evans is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. Definitely not 'just another book set in occupied France' this book has everything from beautiful hats, industrial espionage and serious danger.
January 1, 2016
Kindle Unlimited e-book
July 15, 2015
I was first drawn to this book by the cover. The gorgeous colors and figure dressed so prettily caught my attention while browsing future Amazon titles. When I saw it offered on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read and review. For the most part, expectations were met.
The character of Coralie took some getting used to. In the beginning, she read as a shallow diva out only to further her dreams and poo to everyone else. I found myself feeling no sympathy for her at all. Yet, once the crap hit the fan and everything happened to her in Paris, my opinion of her did a turn around. Her tenacity, pluck, and intelligence shined as she conquered the fashion world of Paris during the dark days of WWII, survived multiple brushes with danger, and built a life for herself.
I also enjoyed the overall storyline. The shifting alliances, shadowy Resistance activities, and the daily life in a war-torn city kept me engaged throughout. She balances the intimate of her character’s inner thoughts with the broader spectrum of events like the deportation of Jews and the assassination plot against Hitler to create a well-balanced whole. That’s a rare gift with a book this size and was well-appreciated by this reader.
The one thing I didn’t appreciate was how much melodrama was packed into the story in the second half, especially around Coralie’s and Dietrich’s relationship. It’s “off again, on again” pattern happened so many times that I lost count. There was enough drama with the spy/Resistance thriller elements that this constant soap opera quality was unneeded.
I also felt that the ending was rushed, due to the amount of page space dedicated to the melodrama. This book would have benefited from more resolution than one wimpy epilogue and final chapter and less see-sawing relationships.
An engrossing tale of resistance and love in Nazi France, this book looks to please all lovers of the genre. You’ll get behind the characters as life happens and grow to love the amazing story. While melodrama and a lackluster resolution do bog down the works a bit, I’d not let that stop you from checking out this book. I look forward to checking out the author’s other work, which I hear ties into this one.
Note: Book received for free from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The character of Coralie took some getting used to. In the beginning, she read as a shallow diva out only to further her dreams and poo to everyone else. I found myself feeling no sympathy for her at all. Yet, once the crap hit the fan and everything happened to her in Paris, my opinion of her did a turn around. Her tenacity, pluck, and intelligence shined as she conquered the fashion world of Paris during the dark days of WWII, survived multiple brushes with danger, and built a life for herself.
I also enjoyed the overall storyline. The shifting alliances, shadowy Resistance activities, and the daily life in a war-torn city kept me engaged throughout. She balances the intimate of her character’s inner thoughts with the broader spectrum of events like the deportation of Jews and the assassination plot against Hitler to create a well-balanced whole. That’s a rare gift with a book this size and was well-appreciated by this reader.
The one thing I didn’t appreciate was how much melodrama was packed into the story in the second half, especially around Coralie’s and Dietrich’s relationship. It’s “off again, on again” pattern happened so many times that I lost count. There was enough drama with the spy/Resistance thriller elements that this constant soap opera quality was unneeded.
I also felt that the ending was rushed, due to the amount of page space dedicated to the melodrama. This book would have benefited from more resolution than one wimpy epilogue and final chapter and less see-sawing relationships.
An engrossing tale of resistance and love in Nazi France, this book looks to please all lovers of the genre. You’ll get behind the characters as life happens and grow to love the amazing story. While melodrama and a lackluster resolution do bog down the works a bit, I’d not let that stop you from checking out this book. I look forward to checking out the author’s other work, which I hear ties into this one.
Note: Book received for free from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2022
This book starts slowly, so bear with it, because it will really hook you. Cora's transition from London to Coralie in Paris, sets her course for life during WWII in France. Her love story with Deitreich is passionate and complicated, leaving me, at times, frustrated at her actions. Her love for her friends and daughter enforce her will to survive, as she becomes a well-respected milliner and a member of the French resistance. A great read.
July 13, 2016
Confession time: I'm tired of books and films that deal with World War II and the Holocaust. I tend to actively avoid them.
I know. I know.
I'm terrible, right?
It's not that I avoid them because I don't think the period is important. There's other reasons: 1) I feel that we tend to completely ignore other wars and genocides of the 20th century & 2) often, the period is used cheaply.
Let me explain:. The events of World War II and the Holocaust are extremely important and ought not be forgotten. However, in the US, we tend to be taught about this period in school from elementary school on down while so many other important wars and genocides are never even touched. With so many books and films that center on or use WWII as its setting, we neglect the other wars/genocides and their horrors fade away. If we don't at times focus on, say, the Yugoslav Wars, the Armenian genocide, the Ottoman Greek genocide, the reign of the Khmer Rouge or the Sierra Leone Civil War, just to name a few, we run the risk of forgetting about them. Think about those conflicts I named. How much do you know about them? Exactly. It's only been 20 years since the start of the Yugoslav Wars and I am constantly shocked at how little my fellow countrymen know about the wars or the aftermath.
Secondly, I find that often, authors and filmmakers do not have the talent to use WWII/the Holocaust properly. It becomes painfully evident that for some of them, they really could have set the story in damn near any other timeframe in the 20th century, but simply chose that period for its narrative heft and emotional punch. When this is done, it totally cheapens both the story and the events. What happened to real people should not be used simply because you have no idea how to craft conflict and pain.
So, when I selected Natalie Meg Evans's "The Milliner's Secret", I have to admit that I did not have high hopes. I chose the book primarily because I enjoy historical fiction and because I wish to read more female writers. I was expecting that it would be a quick, insubstantial read. I'm pleased to say that I was wrong.
"The Milliner's Secret" begins in 1937 London, where Cora Masson toils in an unappreciated life. A chance meeting with a dashing German man, Dietrich, leads to a new life in Paris where Cora reinvents herself as a master milliner, Coralie de Lirac.
On the surface, "The Milliner's Secret" seems like it's going to be a fairly frothy romance, even as the synopsis promises that we will see Paris "approaching its darkest hour." The cover and title reinforce that idea. Happily, the novel becomes much more.
While this isn't my favorite work that I've read recently, I know that it will be a re-read for me. As I re-read anything I like, that's a compliment. There's many things I enjoyed about "The Milliner's Secret".
Coralie is an intensely flawed creature. She has many lovely qualities - she loves wholly and fiercely; she helps as much as she can; she risks her life to help those marked by the Nazis as undesirable. However, Coralie is also hot headed and brash and these qualities -and her inability to tame them - get her into trouble and cause her pain at times. Her temper causes her to do and say things that rain trouble upon her - and her loved ones - heads.
I know. I know.
I'm terrible, right?
It's not that I avoid them because I don't think the period is important. There's other reasons: 1) I feel that we tend to completely ignore other wars and genocides of the 20th century & 2) often, the period is used cheaply.
Let me explain:. The events of World War II and the Holocaust are extremely important and ought not be forgotten. However, in the US, we tend to be taught about this period in school from elementary school on down while so many other important wars and genocides are never even touched. With so many books and films that center on or use WWII as its setting, we neglect the other wars/genocides and their horrors fade away. If we don't at times focus on, say, the Yugoslav Wars, the Armenian genocide, the Ottoman Greek genocide, the reign of the Khmer Rouge or the Sierra Leone Civil War, just to name a few, we run the risk of forgetting about them. Think about those conflicts I named. How much do you know about them? Exactly. It's only been 20 years since the start of the Yugoslav Wars and I am constantly shocked at how little my fellow countrymen know about the wars or the aftermath.
Secondly, I find that often, authors and filmmakers do not have the talent to use WWII/the Holocaust properly. It becomes painfully evident that for some of them, they really could have set the story in damn near any other timeframe in the 20th century, but simply chose that period for its narrative heft and emotional punch. When this is done, it totally cheapens both the story and the events. What happened to real people should not be used simply because you have no idea how to craft conflict and pain.
So, when I selected Natalie Meg Evans's "The Milliner's Secret", I have to admit that I did not have high hopes. I chose the book primarily because I enjoy historical fiction and because I wish to read more female writers. I was expecting that it would be a quick, insubstantial read. I'm pleased to say that I was wrong.
"The Milliner's Secret" begins in 1937 London, where Cora Masson toils in an unappreciated life. A chance meeting with a dashing German man, Dietrich, leads to a new life in Paris where Cora reinvents herself as a master milliner, Coralie de Lirac.
On the surface, "The Milliner's Secret" seems like it's going to be a fairly frothy romance, even as the synopsis promises that we will see Paris "approaching its darkest hour." The cover and title reinforce that idea. Happily, the novel becomes much more.
While this isn't my favorite work that I've read recently, I know that it will be a re-read for me. As I re-read anything I like, that's a compliment. There's many things I enjoyed about "The Milliner's Secret".
Coralie is an intensely flawed creature. She has many lovely qualities - she loves wholly and fiercely; she helps as much as she can; she risks her life to help those marked by the Nazis as undesirable. However, Coralie is also hot headed and brash and these qualities -and her inability to tame them - get her into trouble and cause her pain at times. Her temper causes her to do and say things that rain trouble upon her - and her loved ones - heads.
January 14, 2016
Absolutely beautiful! A must read! An epic sweeping love story, a story of humanity, a story of war, and a love affair with Paris. A story filled with love, heartbreak, betrayal, passion, suffering, and hope. Twists and turns galore that will leave you spell bound. Add a heaping dose of glamour and couture fashion. What more can you want in a book? An excellent writer with a fine touch? Natalie Meg Evans is just that. I'd never read anything by this author before but I will read everything of hers hereafter. Warning: you will stay up all night reading and need a tissue handy. Hallmarks of an excellent book by my standards. Highest recommendation.
August 5, 2015
What an exciting book of twists and turns. It captured the spirit of Paris (as I envision it to be in WWII) perfectly. Wonderful read for WWII fans!!
August 5, 2015
"The Milliner's Secret" is a great introduction of Natalie Meg Evans to me. Even though I have her debut novel "The Dress Thief" on my TBR pile, I still didn't come to reading it, which is a real shame and I am going to make it up as soon as possible. I love reading a good historical fiction and this author for sure brilliantly slots into this category.
This is for sure not a quick, easy read, and I don't only mean the number of pages. There are many subplots woven together and connected to each other, but soon you are going to find your own pace and love this book. It's full of twists, turns and surprises, many characters that just shine through the pages, and the storytelling is incredibly engaging. And we can't forget this beautiful, gorgeous cover that so brilliantly brings out the atmosphere of those times and the subject matter of the story itself.
On one hand, I was not so sure what to think about Coralie, especially as the story developed and she became involved in a relationship with a German officer - you know, it was war, the Germans were occupants and often talking with a German was seen as a collaboration, and what about having a relationship? Coralie has led a relatively comfortable life and even though she had her problems, very serious problems, mostly she had her and her friends bellies full, she didn't have to worry about a place to live, about her clothes or her job, all thanks to the relationship with Dietrich. And now compare her life to the thousands of others who didn't have this what she had, who have struggled, starved and didn't have a place to live. A little unfair, right? On the other hand, I think we should also admire Coralie, her loyalty and, in fact, stubbornness, and that she wasn't afraid of taking such risks. And she of course took a lot of risks, not only when we consider her love life, but also her private life. Next to being the mistress of a German officer, she also proved that she is a woman with a backbone, that she can think and make up her mind for herself, and that she's willing to risk her own life to help others.
So yes, Coralie is a very complex character, a character that is changing throughout the story, the same as your opinion about her is changing. There was a lot of drama in her life, she was forced to do things so dangerous that we can't imagine it, and in the end she was still able to built a life for herself and find her peace. She starts as a shallow, not too likeable drama queen and ends as a mature woman who has survived not only a war, but much, much more. She loved with all her heart, and she hated with all her heart, and this profound dedication often put her into danger. She often first said and did and only then thought, which in those times was truly dangerous thing to do.
Of course there were many other characters in the book, and all of them played a very crucial part to the story, and I quickly grown to like or dislike all of them, but not a single one of them left me indifferent. And the author has made them very mobile characters and I found myself changing my opinion about them, wondering whom I can trust, who is the friend and who is the enemy.
I will admit it, I had problems with this book at the beginning. I struggled a little with it, because as much as I was sure that all that's happening will be significant to the rest of story, or there wouldn't be this story at all without this beginning, I just couldn't get into this book and I had a feeling that it terribly drags on. I have already started to panic, really panic, when I though, boy, either the plot will start to unveil and the book gain a pace, or I'm going to put it down. Which would be a real shame, believe me - yes, I'm smart now, after finishing this long, but nevertheless hooking and wonderful story. I'd maybe love to see more complex end to this book. I mean, this story was long, it was a big book, and in comparison to the number of pages and the way the story rolled around, the end seems a little too rushed. Yes, everything was explained and neatly wrapped up, but I think it just deserved a little more.
It is for sure a novel that you're going to long remember. It is really full of all that you could look for in a book: drama, secrets, intrigue, danger, spies, but also love, hope and clothes. It is not only a great historical fiction, but also a brilliant, entertaining story with moments that are going to take your breath away.
The author has incredibly well described Paris in the war - times, and effortlessly transported us into the atmosphere of the dimly - lit and full of smoke restaurants, the vintage fashion, the streets and moods of occupied city. She showed us few faces of the war and she wonderfully intertwined the real facts and situations with fiction in this story. Next to hat - making and wonderful descriptions of clothes, the author also wrote about Resistance in Paris, about the deportations of Jews or the plot to murder Hitler - we all know about those things and yet Natalie Meg Evans has this talent to skilfully weave in those fact to her story and describe them in a new way.
Also, the descriptions of the war - torn cities and their residents are not going to stop to amaze me. Maybe it is because I learnt my history in Poland, the country that was so destroyed by the war, and reading about it in the books, seeing all the black and white photographs, I pictured the lives of the people in totally different way. Not like Coralie's, or others that had time to go to the cafe from time to time, to enjoy their time, to work.
This book was not only about Coralie, but it was also a great testimony of WW II, and there were truly heart - wrenching and very touching moments that brought tears to my eyes. This is amazing how well the author balanced the story, how she knew when it's time for a more relaxing and even funny scenes, to come back with some historical facts that quickly changed the mood and brought again to our attention what this book is truly about. But this story is not a sad one, I wouldn't say this, Ms Evans has just with subtleness and a lot of skill placed her story around the war.
The story was really complex and the situations changed very quickly, the same as characters - it often happened that I truly didn't know who is a spy, whom I can trust and whom I shouldn't trust. After the initial confusion and slow start, the pace was flowing and I can't stop thinking about this incredible atmosphere that the author created, as you really didn't know if the next knock on the door might be your last one. I truly enjoyed the writing style and the way the story was told and altogether, this novel has ticked all the boxes for me - I highly recommend it!
Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.
January 27, 2022
“Politika kaip vynas ir senas sūris yra suaugusiųjų skoniui, jos nederėtų brukti vaikams.”
“Verčiau jau būti vienišai tarp nepažįstamų nei vienišai tarp senų draugų.”
“…>jei nebranginsi to, ką turi, žmonės iš tavęs atims. Kuo daugiau jie iš tavęs prisivogs, tuo mažiau tave gerbs.”
“Stilius nėra nei mada, nei prabanga, kai jis yra, jo neįmanoma apibrėžti, bet jo stoka bado akis.”
“Aistra liepsnoja kaip sausi šiaudai<…>Vyrai dažnai ima ir išeina, o mes, moterys, liekame žarstyti pelenų.”
“Tiems, kurie nejaučia gėdos, visada puikiai sekasi.”
“Žmonės ir viltys gali žūti, bet pinigai išlieka. Tiesiog jų šeimininkų darosi vis mažiau.”
“Juk idėjos, kaip ir vaikai, gimsta iš vilties. Kuo jos taps vėliau, galima tik spėlioti.”
“…>apgaulės nauda trumpalaikė. Gyvenimas - didelis ratas, kiekviena apgavystė mus atskiria nuo tų, kuriuos mylime, ir atima iš mūsų dalį žmogiškumo.”
“Verčiau jau būti vienišai tarp nepažįstamų nei vienišai tarp senų draugų.”
“…>jei nebranginsi to, ką turi, žmonės iš tavęs atims. Kuo daugiau jie iš tavęs prisivogs, tuo mažiau tave gerbs.”
“Stilius nėra nei mada, nei prabanga, kai jis yra, jo neįmanoma apibrėžti, bet jo stoka bado akis.”
“Aistra liepsnoja kaip sausi šiaudai<…>Vyrai dažnai ima ir išeina, o mes, moterys, liekame žarstyti pelenų.”
“Tiems, kurie nejaučia gėdos, visada puikiai sekasi.”
“Žmonės ir viltys gali žūti, bet pinigai išlieka. Tiesiog jų šeimininkų darosi vis mažiau.”
“Juk idėjos, kaip ir vaikai, gimsta iš vilties. Kuo jos taps vėliau, galima tik spėlioti.”
“…>apgaulės nauda trumpalaikė. Gyvenimas - didelis ratas, kiekviena apgavystė mus atskiria nuo tų, kuriuos mylime, ir atima iš mūsų dalį žmogiškumo.”
February 11, 2018
Read on Kindle.
September 23, 2015
The Milliner's Secret surprised me. I didn't think I was going to like it - how wrong I was.
Cora Masson works in a hat factory in England; her life holds few pleasures. She works long hours to save money and invariably has all that she has earned taken by her drunken violent father.
During a rare day out at the races with her friend Donal, she encounters a handsome stranger, Dietrich von Ebling; to escape her home life she travels to France with him. Once there she reinvents herself as Coralie de Lirac, fabricating an aristocratic background to launch herself as a fashionable milliner.
Set in Paris from 1937 through to 1944 the Evans weaves in the political turmoil of the war years, black market gangsters, conspiracies, revenge and love into a detailed multifaceted novel. She successfully creates a story that is bigger than just the relationship between Coralie and Dietrich and engages the reader thoroughly with the secondary characters.
The real surprise for me was that when I started this book I thought I was going to hate it. The book opens in a seedy, smoky, French nightclub complete with sleezy bar owner (who's a criminal), the requisite SS and other German military. There is nothing wrong with beginning like this, but it reminded me of so many movies and clichéd ridden books that already exist, that it had me worried for what was to come.
I KEPT READING and I am so glad that I did. This became a book that I couldn’t put down and I wound up loving it.
Evans writes great characters. They are complex. They make mistakes. Coralie is impetuous and, at times, appallingly naive, and this often causes her great problems. There were moments when I wanted to scream at her and times I just loved her – all because Evan’s writing hooked me. Dietrich himself is a flawed hero who is, however, endlessly forgiving of Coralie. (The number of times they break up and get back together must be some kind of record.)
What I really liked is that romance aside, the subplots and detail of the other characters is excellent. Very occasionally I was aware I was being "told" information, which lifted me out of the story – namely historic details, which perhaps were needed for some readers. However those moments were very brief. The horrendous political events of WWII – arrests, concentration camps, starvation and daily struggle to survive, the rise of the resistance, courage, endurance and inevitable loss are all very skilfully woven together. Evans covers a lot here and it doesn’t feel like she’s trying to do too much in one story.
I was well aware as I read what direction story was going to take in regard to its end point, but I HAD to finish and when I finished I felt a profound sense of sorrow that the journey was over. I haven’t felt that way about a book in long while.
Thank you Natalie Meg Evans.
Four Stars!
Cora Masson works in a hat factory in England; her life holds few pleasures. She works long hours to save money and invariably has all that she has earned taken by her drunken violent father.
During a rare day out at the races with her friend Donal, she encounters a handsome stranger, Dietrich von Ebling; to escape her home life she travels to France with him. Once there she reinvents herself as Coralie de Lirac, fabricating an aristocratic background to launch herself as a fashionable milliner.
Set in Paris from 1937 through to 1944 the Evans weaves in the political turmoil of the war years, black market gangsters, conspiracies, revenge and love into a detailed multifaceted novel. She successfully creates a story that is bigger than just the relationship between Coralie and Dietrich and engages the reader thoroughly with the secondary characters.
The real surprise for me was that when I started this book I thought I was going to hate it. The book opens in a seedy, smoky, French nightclub complete with sleezy bar owner (who's a criminal), the requisite SS and other German military. There is nothing wrong with beginning like this, but it reminded me of so many movies and clichéd ridden books that already exist, that it had me worried for what was to come.
I KEPT READING and I am so glad that I did. This became a book that I couldn’t put down and I wound up loving it.
Evans writes great characters. They are complex. They make mistakes. Coralie is impetuous and, at times, appallingly naive, and this often causes her great problems. There were moments when I wanted to scream at her and times I just loved her – all because Evan’s writing hooked me. Dietrich himself is a flawed hero who is, however, endlessly forgiving of Coralie. (The number of times they break up and get back together must be some kind of record.)
What I really liked is that romance aside, the subplots and detail of the other characters is excellent. Very occasionally I was aware I was being "told" information, which lifted me out of the story – namely historic details, which perhaps were needed for some readers. However those moments were very brief. The horrendous political events of WWII – arrests, concentration camps, starvation and daily struggle to survive, the rise of the resistance, courage, endurance and inevitable loss are all very skilfully woven together. Evans covers a lot here and it doesn’t feel like she’s trying to do too much in one story.
I was well aware as I read what direction story was going to take in regard to its end point, but I HAD to finish and when I finished I felt a profound sense of sorrow that the journey was over. I haven’t felt that way about a book in long while.
Thank you Natalie Meg Evans.
Four Stars!
August 7, 2015
Novel set in Paris (“French was the language of the hat trade”)
The Milliner’s Secret is a follow on to The Dress Thief, set in pre-war Paris but can absolutely be read as a stand alone.
Cora is a Bermondsey girl through and through, with a dad who, at the drop of a hat (no pun intended) would beat seven bells out of her (in other words, thrash her to within an inch of her life). She works in a lowly position at milliners Pettrew and Lofthouse.
Through her work she wins a ticket to attend Epsom Downs Races and duly takes her friend Donal. A bit of betting and socialising make it an enjoyable day out until she meets Dietrich in the company of Ottilia, and somehow there is a spark. Before long she is at the station fulfilling a long held dream of travelling to Paris, now with him, with no prospect of a job other than the patronage of the rather handsome German man. Cora does not “wait for life to unfold…she rides after it, like a gaucho roping a steer“. And that is certainly how the spirited heroine negotiates her way in the new city as war unfurls.
However, she soon finds herself on the verge of destitution because Dietrich has disappeared and she needs to work fast to keep her head above water. She thus assumes the persona of Coralie de Lirac – of course, she has knowledge of French through her Belgian father. Various encounters later she is running her own hat shop whilst war is escalating and soon she is in a new relationship with Ramon Cazaubon. Pregnancy ensues to complicate her life and little Noëlle arrives. As she actively engages in the Resistance during the war years, whilst keeping her hat business afloat, Coralie is definitely “a working class girl who dares to reach for the stars“! Wheels within wheels, people of all nationalities populate the storyline and those who have disappeared soon reappear. But who can Coralie trust?
Paris remains unscathed in the early years but the inevitable hardships of the time descend. The Germans take up residence in The Crillon at the heart of the city; and is that a Swastika atop the Eiffel Tower?
It is clear that Natalie has done a lot of research and has taken a great deal of care to set the developing storyline against a backdrop of monumental unfolding history. Enjoy!
The author talks to us about writing, books and hats: http://www.tripfiction.com/milliners-...
The Milliner’s Secret is a follow on to The Dress Thief, set in pre-war Paris but can absolutely be read as a stand alone.
Cora is a Bermondsey girl through and through, with a dad who, at the drop of a hat (no pun intended) would beat seven bells out of her (in other words, thrash her to within an inch of her life). She works in a lowly position at milliners Pettrew and Lofthouse.
Through her work she wins a ticket to attend Epsom Downs Races and duly takes her friend Donal. A bit of betting and socialising make it an enjoyable day out until she meets Dietrich in the company of Ottilia, and somehow there is a spark. Before long she is at the station fulfilling a long held dream of travelling to Paris, now with him, with no prospect of a job other than the patronage of the rather handsome German man. Cora does not “wait for life to unfold…she rides after it, like a gaucho roping a steer“. And that is certainly how the spirited heroine negotiates her way in the new city as war unfurls.
However, she soon finds herself on the verge of destitution because Dietrich has disappeared and she needs to work fast to keep her head above water. She thus assumes the persona of Coralie de Lirac – of course, she has knowledge of French through her Belgian father. Various encounters later she is running her own hat shop whilst war is escalating and soon she is in a new relationship with Ramon Cazaubon. Pregnancy ensues to complicate her life and little Noëlle arrives. As she actively engages in the Resistance during the war years, whilst keeping her hat business afloat, Coralie is definitely “a working class girl who dares to reach for the stars“! Wheels within wheels, people of all nationalities populate the storyline and those who have disappeared soon reappear. But who can Coralie trust?
Paris remains unscathed in the early years but the inevitable hardships of the time descend. The Germans take up residence in The Crillon at the heart of the city; and is that a Swastika atop the Eiffel Tower?
It is clear that Natalie has done a lot of research and has taken a great deal of care to set the developing storyline against a backdrop of monumental unfolding history. Enjoy!
The author talks to us about writing, books and hats: http://www.tripfiction.com/milliners-...
September 14, 2017
Cora wants to make something of herself, so when she has the chance to go to Paris she grabs it with both hands. She renames herself Coralie de Lirac and makes sure she is well connected. She's a skilled milliner and her beautiful hats are soon being in high demand. However, there's a price to pay for the life she now leads. Making sure her secrets will remain hidden and being part of a crowd that lives dangerously are taking its toll.
When the Second World War breaks out everyone in Paris has to make sacrifices. It is no longer a safe place to live and work, but it's Coralie's home. She can't sit still and idly watch, Coralie is a woman of action. This might get her into trouble, but it also enables her to offer her loved ones some much needed protection. Will Coralie and the people around her survive the war and what sacrifices does she have to make in the name of love?
The Girl Who Dreamed of Paris is a fantastic story about an interesting woman. Coralie is bold, fierce and determined and she always manages to get herself out of nasty situations. I greatly admired her courage, her pizzazz and her brazenness. She follows her instincts, she's courageous and she is willing to do anything for the people she loves. She can stand up for herself and she's both street smart and intelligent. This makes her story incredibly intriguing. Coralie is a brilliant heroine and I loved every word of her story.
Natalie Meg Evans writes about a difficult period in history in an impressive way. She describes the tension in Europe and especially in the city of Paris, the gruesome mistreatment of people and the fear and famine most of the population have to live with in a stunning honest way. Meanwhile her story also remains romantic because of Coralie's actions and the glamorous life she leads. The finale is unexpected, heartbreaking and absolutely amazing and it moved me to tears. I was captivated from beginning to end by Coralie and absolutely loved The Girl Who Dreamed of Paris. It's an absolute must-read.
When the Second World War breaks out everyone in Paris has to make sacrifices. It is no longer a safe place to live and work, but it's Coralie's home. She can't sit still and idly watch, Coralie is a woman of action. This might get her into trouble, but it also enables her to offer her loved ones some much needed protection. Will Coralie and the people around her survive the war and what sacrifices does she have to make in the name of love?
The Girl Who Dreamed of Paris is a fantastic story about an interesting woman. Coralie is bold, fierce and determined and she always manages to get herself out of nasty situations. I greatly admired her courage, her pizzazz and her brazenness. She follows her instincts, she's courageous and she is willing to do anything for the people she loves. She can stand up for herself and she's both street smart and intelligent. This makes her story incredibly intriguing. Coralie is a brilliant heroine and I loved every word of her story.
Natalie Meg Evans writes about a difficult period in history in an impressive way. She describes the tension in Europe and especially in the city of Paris, the gruesome mistreatment of people and the fear and famine most of the population have to live with in a stunning honest way. Meanwhile her story also remains romantic because of Coralie's actions and the glamorous life she leads. The finale is unexpected, heartbreaking and absolutely amazing and it moved me to tears. I was captivated from beginning to end by Coralie and absolutely loved The Girl Who Dreamed of Paris. It's an absolute must-read.
January 5, 2017
Whoa. This book is basically an epic. I kept thinking of it as "Gone with the Wind" but in Paris during WW2 and with lots of hats. Not that Scarlet and Coralie have anything in common, besides the drive to survive. There are moments where Coralie is rather as clueless has Scarlet at times, but it was interesting to see her grow throughout the book. This is a really long book for the subject. That surprised me, and I thought I would lose interest honestly, but I never did. Coralie is a main character that I wasn't 100% sure I ever really liked. She has a temper, she sleeps with the enemy, you aren't sure where her allegiances lie, she reacts without thinking of consequences, but as someone who constantly preaches about how we need imperfect characters (sorry about that), Coralie is perfect. She's human. She's a good friend, but not the best. She's a good mother, but not the best. She's not even a perfect lover. Perhaps that's what continued to draw me in, because she made the kind of mistakes that I could see myself making, and I wanted to see what would happen next. There are a few bits that seem rather unrealistic (I won't mention what to avoid spoilers), but it's a book. So if you suspend belief for those few paragraphs, you get over it. There are also a few loose ends that ended too nicely or randomly, hence the only four stars. But it's a good read. If the premise intrigues you (hats/WW2/fashion/Nazis) and you want to dedicate the time (which, my reading goal for 2017 is to not let long books intimidate me), then read it. Let me also say that I keep reading books about Nazis and Frenchwomen falling in love. Are authors/readers craving that Romeo and Juliet theme or what?
August 12, 2015
I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the beginning, especially the scene at the Derby, and the characters that the author created. I also really like her writing style and all of the great descriptions that she includes in the book. So what went wrong? Honestly, I got bored with the story when Coralie and Dietrich get to Paris. I have tried to convince myself to pick it up to keep reading so that I can give a complete review, but I just haven't been able to make myself do it.
*Spoiler - When they get to Paris, it felt like it was all about when their "first time" would be and then just more of the same. I appreciated that the author was not graphic at all with it. Just before that, I learned that Dietrich is married and it kind of ruined the story for me. At that point, I didn't really like him anymore and then when he tells Coralie that he is also in love with Ottilia, that just pretty much sealed the deal for me. I no longer really cared about the characters so what would make me want to read the book?
*Spoiler - When they get to Paris, it felt like it was all about when their "first time" would be and then just more of the same. I appreciated that the author was not graphic at all with it. Just before that, I learned that Dietrich is married and it kind of ruined the story for me. At that point, I didn't really like him anymore and then when he tells Coralie that he is also in love with Ottilia, that just pretty much sealed the deal for me. I no longer really cared about the characters so what would make me want to read the book?
September 29, 2015
The Milliner's Secret by Natalie Me Evan is the story of a young lady who left the abusive relationship with her father to move to Paris. Cora met a stranger in her travel and he helped her set up her new life as a milliner in Paris.
Set before WWII, Cora befriends a German who is also a high-ranking officer. He becomes her lover but during their relationship he would suddenly disappear and reappear, without any notice. However, she seeks protection from him. She also discovers that her work is filled with competion, not all of it nice.
Natlie Meg Evan is created a story that flows well and has characters that are complex but yet connect to the reader.
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Set before WWII, Cora befriends a German who is also a high-ranking officer. He becomes her lover but during their relationship he would suddenly disappear and reappear, without any notice. However, she seeks protection from him. She also discovers that her work is filled with competion, not all of it nice.
Natlie Meg Evan is created a story that flows well and has characters that are complex but yet connect to the reader.
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
April 17, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It was a sweeping tale of Cora Masson, a poor Londoner in the 1930's who changes her fate and her name when she meets a handsome German man, Dietrich. He takes her to Paris and she begins to work toward her dream of designing and owning a hat store. Time passes as World War II begins and Paris is occupied by the Germans. Dietrich returns to her life - I'm thinking "please don't be a Nazi - please don't be a Nazi" - but he is!
I thought this was a great story of one woman's resilience during WWII. I enjoyed the characters that came and went from Coralie's life. This made me want to be a European lady and wear fabulous hats.
I thought this was a great story of one woman's resilience during WWII. I enjoyed the characters that came and went from Coralie's life. This made me want to be a European lady and wear fabulous hats.
April 12, 2017
An enjoyable historical novel set mainly in Paris in the 1930s and 1940s. A tad long, but really enjoyed the characters, the well-evoked setting, and learning a little bit about the world of hat design and making. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to review.
August 30, 2015
Good
This was interesting but confusing in parts. The characters were memorable and I really enjoyed coralie . She was very brave
This was interesting but confusing in parts. The characters were memorable and I really enjoyed coralie . She was very brave
September 14, 2015
Grrr. I loved this story. I hated the ending. Where's my happily ever after?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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