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The Paris Maid
Paris, 1944. “Traitor!” yells the crowd as they push me down onto a stool. “Nazi collaborator.” Tears blur my vision as the razor grazes my scalp, waves of blonde hair falling to the ground. As men paint a swastika across my face, I hold onto one small glimmer of hope. They have no idea who I am.
Louise Basset works as a housemaid at The Ritz Hotel, home to the most powerful Nazis in France. As she changes silk sheets and scrubs sumptuous marble bathtubs, she listens and watches, reporting all she can to the Resistance. The only secret she never tells is her own.
Everything changes for Louise on the day a young Allied pilot, hunted by the Nazis, is smuggled into the hotel. As he and Louise share a small carafe of red wine hidden amongst her cleaning bottles, she feels her heart begin to open. But if Louise trusts someone with the truth, what will happen?
Years later, her granddaughter Nicole looks up at the ornate façade of the infamous Paris hotel. She is reeling from her recent discovery: a black-and-white photograph of her grandmother as a young woman, head shaved, branded a traitor. Devastated by her new legacy and about to start a family of her own, Nicole searches for answers.
When a French historian calls Louise by a different name, Nicole realizes there must be more to her grandmother’s story. Was the woman who taught Nicole so much about family and loyalty a resistance fighter, or will her granddaughter have to live with the knowledge that she is descended from a traitor? And will Nicole be able to finally move forward with her life if she can uncover the truth?
An utterly heart-shattering and gripping novel about love, betrayal and how one courageous young woman paid a terrible price to save those she loved. From top-ten bestseller Ella Carey, fans of Fiona Valpy, The Nightingale and Rhys Bowen will never forget The Paris Maid.
Louise Basset works as a housemaid at The Ritz Hotel, home to the most powerful Nazis in France. As she changes silk sheets and scrubs sumptuous marble bathtubs, she listens and watches, reporting all she can to the Resistance. The only secret she never tells is her own.
Everything changes for Louise on the day a young Allied pilot, hunted by the Nazis, is smuggled into the hotel. As he and Louise share a small carafe of red wine hidden amongst her cleaning bottles, she feels her heart begin to open. But if Louise trusts someone with the truth, what will happen?
Years later, her granddaughter Nicole looks up at the ornate façade of the infamous Paris hotel. She is reeling from her recent discovery: a black-and-white photograph of her grandmother as a young woman, head shaved, branded a traitor. Devastated by her new legacy and about to start a family of her own, Nicole searches for answers.
When a French historian calls Louise by a different name, Nicole realizes there must be more to her grandmother’s story. Was the woman who taught Nicole so much about family and loyalty a resistance fighter, or will her granddaughter have to live with the knowledge that she is descended from a traitor? And will Nicole be able to finally move forward with her life if she can uncover the truth?
An utterly heart-shattering and gripping novel about love, betrayal and how one courageous young woman paid a terrible price to save those she loved. From top-ten bestseller Ella Carey, fans of Fiona Valpy, The Nightingale and Rhys Bowen will never forget The Paris Maid.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2023
1120 people are currently reading
884 people want to read
About the author
Ella Carey
29 books685 followersElla Carey is the USA Today and Amazon charts bestselling author of Secrets of Paris series, as well as the standalone kindle bestsellers, Secret Shores, The Things We Don’t Say and Beyond the Horizon, set around the brave, unsung Women’s Airforce Pilots of World War Two.
A New York Secret is the first in Ella's new Daughters of New York series and published on March 12th, 2021. Laced with all the glamour of New York, the book is set in an exquisite Uptown restaurant where Lily Rose is training to become head chef in the 1940's. Ella traveled to New York to research the book, which involved going incognito on foodie tours, visiting some of New York's most famous restaurants, and exploring the atmospheric streets of Greenwich Village. The whole experience resulted in her developing a serious addiction to cannoli, a passion for The Strand Bookstore, a love for The Village, along with six new novels set in New York, all to be published in the coming years.
The second book in the series, The Lost Girl of Berlin, released on July 12th, 2021, and is set in the aftermath of the Second World War amongst the ruins of Berlin and then, in fabulous post war New York, and the third book in the series is The Girl from Paris, telling the story of Vianne Mercier, a Parisian fashion designer who travels to New York, and for whom beautiful couture is a fairytale.
Ella was born in Adelaide, Australia, and was educated at the University of Adelaide, completing a music degree in classical piano at the Elder Conservatorium, and an arts degree with a double major in History and English Literature.
Ella lives in Melbourne, Australia with her family. Ella's house is run by one very elderly and adored Italian Greyhound, and one cute puppy called Sassy who thinks she is the boss! And Ella's garden is managed by four chickens, Miss Pertelote, Annie, Harriet and Fox's Dinner.
Ella has recently signed a nine-book deal with Hachette UK imprint Bookouture. Bookouture have published all of Ella’s previous books, which have reached over one million readers in English alone, and are also publishing Ella's New York series for publication in 2021, 2022 and 2023. This sweeping historical series of six books, featuring unforgettable characters, will tell the stories of dazzling hopes and difficult dreams in America, before, during and after the Second World War.
Ella's New York series and her Paris Secrets Series have been sold for translation into many countries into over twenty languages.
When she’s not writing, Ella enjoys studying Italian, walking along the beach, travelling when she can, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves to chat with her readers, and would be delighted for you to join her lovely group of long time readers on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ellacareyaut..., and on her website at www.ellacarey.com, where you can find more information about the background behind her books, and join her mailing list for regular updates about her upcoming novels.
A New York Secret is the first in Ella's new Daughters of New York series and published on March 12th, 2021. Laced with all the glamour of New York, the book is set in an exquisite Uptown restaurant where Lily Rose is training to become head chef in the 1940's. Ella traveled to New York to research the book, which involved going incognito on foodie tours, visiting some of New York's most famous restaurants, and exploring the atmospheric streets of Greenwich Village. The whole experience resulted in her developing a serious addiction to cannoli, a passion for The Strand Bookstore, a love for The Village, along with six new novels set in New York, all to be published in the coming years.
The second book in the series, The Lost Girl of Berlin, released on July 12th, 2021, and is set in the aftermath of the Second World War amongst the ruins of Berlin and then, in fabulous post war New York, and the third book in the series is The Girl from Paris, telling the story of Vianne Mercier, a Parisian fashion designer who travels to New York, and for whom beautiful couture is a fairytale.
Ella was born in Adelaide, Australia, and was educated at the University of Adelaide, completing a music degree in classical piano at the Elder Conservatorium, and an arts degree with a double major in History and English Literature.
Ella lives in Melbourne, Australia with her family. Ella's house is run by one very elderly and adored Italian Greyhound, and one cute puppy called Sassy who thinks she is the boss! And Ella's garden is managed by four chickens, Miss Pertelote, Annie, Harriet and Fox's Dinner.
Ella has recently signed a nine-book deal with Hachette UK imprint Bookouture. Bookouture have published all of Ella’s previous books, which have reached over one million readers in English alone, and are also publishing Ella's New York series for publication in 2021, 2022 and 2023. This sweeping historical series of six books, featuring unforgettable characters, will tell the stories of dazzling hopes and difficult dreams in America, before, during and after the Second World War.
Ella's New York series and her Paris Secrets Series have been sold for translation into many countries into over twenty languages.
When she’s not writing, Ella enjoys studying Italian, walking along the beach, travelling when she can, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves to chat with her readers, and would be delighted for you to join her lovely group of long time readers on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ellacareyaut..., and on her website at www.ellacarey.com, where you can find more information about the background behind her books, and join her mailing list for regular updates about her upcoming novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
April 6, 2023
4.5★s
It was 1944 in Paris when Louise was working as a maid at the luxurious Ritz Hotel, where it was now home to many top-level Nazis. Louise watched and listened while doing her work, basically invisible, and each night she would report to Frank, who would pass it all on to the Resistance. The Germans were always on the hunt for members of the Resistance and those working with them in the Ritz had to take care.
When pilot Kit Harrington and his brother Charlie flew their bomber over Paris and it was shot down, they both thought they'd be captured by the Germans. Indeed they searched for them both - neither knew where the other was, whether they were safe or captured. When the Resistance individually helped the pair, they had no idea if they would survive the war...
Present day, and Nicole Beaumont received an old black and white photo from her aunt who lived in Paris. This photo would be the beginning of a family searching for answers to secrets held during the war, and after, and with both Nicole's beloved Granny Louise, and her mother, dead, she wasn't sure she'd find the answers. But heading for Paris was the first step.
The Paris Maid by Aussie author Ella Carey is another wonderfully written historical novel which is based on fact. I did find myself a little confused for some of the story, as I tried to work out who was who, as they only had a code name. But I'm still finding Ms Carey's historical novels breathtaking, and the suffering of the people of Paris before the city was liberated is hard to swallow! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
It was 1944 in Paris when Louise was working as a maid at the luxurious Ritz Hotel, where it was now home to many top-level Nazis. Louise watched and listened while doing her work, basically invisible, and each night she would report to Frank, who would pass it all on to the Resistance. The Germans were always on the hunt for members of the Resistance and those working with them in the Ritz had to take care.
When pilot Kit Harrington and his brother Charlie flew their bomber over Paris and it was shot down, they both thought they'd be captured by the Germans. Indeed they searched for them both - neither knew where the other was, whether they were safe or captured. When the Resistance individually helped the pair, they had no idea if they would survive the war...
Present day, and Nicole Beaumont received an old black and white photo from her aunt who lived in Paris. This photo would be the beginning of a family searching for answers to secrets held during the war, and after, and with both Nicole's beloved Granny Louise, and her mother, dead, she wasn't sure she'd find the answers. But heading for Paris was the first step.
The Paris Maid by Aussie author Ella Carey is another wonderfully written historical novel which is based on fact. I did find myself a little confused for some of the story, as I tried to work out who was who, as they only had a code name. But I'm still finding Ms Carey's historical novels breathtaking, and the suffering of the people of Paris before the city was liberated is hard to swallow! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2023
This is NOT just another historical fiction book about the French Resistance!
With so many books out there set during WW2, featuring the Ritz over-run by Nazis, involving cameo appearances by Chanel and highlighting the French Resistance, Ella Carey’s books stand a head above.
Why? Because she doesn’t just re-tell this dangerous period in history and pepper it with interesting characters, she recreates it for her readers. Her attention to setting grabs readers’ attention and then she holds it with authentic characters … all while continuting to pull in her readers and engage them so that they feel they are part of the story.
“The Ritz is not just any magnificent hotel. The Swiss-owned hotel is officially neutral, but the reality is everyone is tied to one side or the other, sometimes both. If the inhabitants of the hotel are not Nazis, then they are underground. If they are not underground, then they are collaborators. Only a fool would answer their bedroom door in the Ritz.”
Carey plants a seed of doubt with her readers, making them question the motives of all the characters. This keeps the plot moving along and the reader involved.
Carey knows how to tap into readers’ emotions. I’ve read about many downed pilots in enemy territory before, but the little angel in this story kept me interested and alert. The sibling bond was well developed, so those of us with siblings related to Charlie and Kit.
The central mystery was threaded throughout the story and once I learned that a beloved family member of the main character had been accused of something unspeakable, I just had to find out how and why. I felt like I was being reeled in for the duration of the story. I love that feeling!
There’s no doubt that Carey’s love of Paris and her father’s involvement in the RAF added to the authenticity of this spectacular story.
Historical fiction lovers will not want to miss this book as it’s Carey at the top of her game.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
With so many books out there set during WW2, featuring the Ritz over-run by Nazis, involving cameo appearances by Chanel and highlighting the French Resistance, Ella Carey’s books stand a head above.
Why? Because she doesn’t just re-tell this dangerous period in history and pepper it with interesting characters, she recreates it for her readers. Her attention to setting grabs readers’ attention and then she holds it with authentic characters … all while continuting to pull in her readers and engage them so that they feel they are part of the story.
“The Ritz is not just any magnificent hotel. The Swiss-owned hotel is officially neutral, but the reality is everyone is tied to one side or the other, sometimes both. If the inhabitants of the hotel are not Nazis, then they are underground. If they are not underground, then they are collaborators. Only a fool would answer their bedroom door in the Ritz.”
Carey plants a seed of doubt with her readers, making them question the motives of all the characters. This keeps the plot moving along and the reader involved.
Carey knows how to tap into readers’ emotions. I’ve read about many downed pilots in enemy territory before, but the little angel in this story kept me interested and alert. The sibling bond was well developed, so those of us with siblings related to Charlie and Kit.
The central mystery was threaded throughout the story and once I learned that a beloved family member of the main character had been accused of something unspeakable, I just had to find out how and why. I felt like I was being reeled in for the duration of the story. I love that feeling!
There’s no doubt that Carey’s love of Paris and her father’s involvement in the RAF added to the authenticity of this spectacular story.
Historical fiction lovers will not want to miss this book as it’s Carey at the top of her game.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
April 8, 2023
Grandma Louise's daughter found a photo of her after the war with a swastika on her forehead and being paraded through the streets of France.
Her daughter sent it to Nicole.
Nicole couldn't believe Grandma could have been a Nazi collaborator.
Or maybe she was and that's why she would never talk about the war.
Nicole had to find out the truth, but could she after all these years?
We follow Nicole, Louise, and soldiers as the story unfolds and truths are revealed.
THE PAIRS MAID will keep you glued to the pages as you live through the war with Louise, soldiers, The Resistance, and all the citizens trying to stay alive.
You will also hope Nicole finds out that her Grandmother is innocent because she can't think of her grandmother any other way than the way she knew her.
THE PARIS MAID is historical fiction and a mystery wrapped up into one good read.
Enjoy!! 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Her daughter sent it to Nicole.
Nicole couldn't believe Grandma could have been a Nazi collaborator.
Or maybe she was and that's why she would never talk about the war.
Nicole had to find out the truth, but could she after all these years?
We follow Nicole, Louise, and soldiers as the story unfolds and truths are revealed.
THE PAIRS MAID will keep you glued to the pages as you live through the war with Louise, soldiers, The Resistance, and all the citizens trying to stay alive.
You will also hope Nicole finds out that her Grandmother is innocent because she can't think of her grandmother any other way than the way she knew her.
THE PARIS MAID is historical fiction and a mystery wrapped up into one good read.
Enjoy!! 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
March 21, 2023
I wonder why does every historical fiction book with World War timeline background always end terribly sad? Truly! Why can't we end it in such a happy note?🥲
Before I go on to my review, I would like to give some background on this story.
The plot:
So basically Nicole who lived in London with her husband and currently pregnant is shocked to find a message from her distant (on a relationship basis) a picture of her grandmother was punished in front of The Ritz hotel at France as a collaborator to the Nazi. Nicole couldn't accept the fact that her grandmother, Louise, was a collaborator so she flew to Paris to investigate the real story behind the picture. So we follow Nicole's journey and Louise's journey back in 1944.
Now, you see I already said in my update that the premise of the story is very weak. Why? It's because there was a very small info dump about Nicole's family and Louise's family that I cannot fathom why would Nicole go through that length? I mean of course it's bad if you found out your grandmother is a part of the Naz but she said that her grandmother didn't like to talk about the past. The relationship between Nicole and Louise felt nonexistent so I couldn't persuade myself to believe that this is a very strong foundation to start the whole plot.
Since this is dual timeline book, I would say the past timeline was better than the present. Well, actually I couldn't even review the present time timeline due to how little they exists in the book. The present time mostly consists of the journey of Nicole investigating the picture but I wouldn't even called it investigating, since she did nothing but prodded and poked the picture and ask around. I mean I supposed it's because she's pregnant and there was no way to make a pregnant lady embarked on a thrilling investigation alone in another country by herself, but still, since there was only few chapters for present time and there was barely even scene where she investigated the picture I still wouldn't called it investigation. Now this conclude to my conclusion that this book could do very well without being a dual timeline book. The author and the editors could remove the present timeline completely and this book would end in a better note. Because I prefer the past timeline than the present and it almost even felt like the present timeline was unnecessary. So even though the plot's inside was great but it wasn't framed properly
the ending:
Although sad and succeeded in making my heart break a little, it was something new that I haven't read before. It did impress me a little but other than that it was just that, though it could've been packed in a better packaging as a plot-twist. I'm sure it could be a lot more impactful if the author do that.
the writing:
I was confused when I found out that we have 3 POVs in here. But Insupposed the last time I read a historical fiction book with WW2 background also consists of 3 POVs, so I supposed you couldn't help that with a dual timeline book either. But it wasn't fit to my liking even though the author used the 1st person POV and I even liked Kit's POV better and the author used 3rd person POV in his. The writing just felt proper in Kit's POV and in Louise's there was just too much sentence and monologs that made no sense in my head. There was a lot of unnecessary monologs too.
the characters:
It was weird that there were so many characters in this book and yet no one speaks through me. It's like nobody stood out than the rest you know? Though of course Louise and Kit certainly made more impactful impression in my head and though it's quite sad since Nicole is also the main character here but she was just so plain, boring and flat. I supposed I couldn't even review her since there were barely any of her POV in the book.
final thoughts:
I have mixed feelings and though it was exhilarating and fun to read some points were just didn't make sense to me. It's been a while though to have a book that I dreamed about, most of the time it was a sign of a good thing and I supposed it is a good thing. I devoured this pretty fast because I'm just to curious to find out about the ending, so 3 stars for this book.
If you're into historical fiction with world war 2 and resistance story are what you enjoy, I recommend this to you 😉
ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ
Enormous thanks to Ella Carey, her publisher, and netgalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review🫶🏻
Cheers to another accepted arc for this month to read 🥂🥳
Hope I'll enjoy this one!🤞🏻
Before I go on to my review, I would like to give some background on this story.
The plot:
So basically Nicole who lived in London with her husband and currently pregnant is shocked to find a message from her distant (on a relationship basis) a picture of her grandmother was punished in front of The Ritz hotel at France as a collaborator to the Nazi. Nicole couldn't accept the fact that her grandmother, Louise, was a collaborator so she flew to Paris to investigate the real story behind the picture. So we follow Nicole's journey and Louise's journey back in 1944.
Now, you see I already said in my update that the premise of the story is very weak. Why? It's because there was a very small info dump about Nicole's family and Louise's family that I cannot fathom why would Nicole go through that length? I mean of course it's bad if you found out your grandmother is a part of the Naz but she said that her grandmother didn't like to talk about the past. The relationship between Nicole and Louise felt nonexistent so I couldn't persuade myself to believe that this is a very strong foundation to start the whole plot.
Since this is dual timeline book, I would say the past timeline was better than the present. Well, actually I couldn't even review the present time timeline due to how little they exists in the book. The present time mostly consists of the journey of Nicole investigating the picture but I wouldn't even called it investigating, since she did nothing but prodded and poked the picture and ask around. I mean I supposed it's because she's pregnant and there was no way to make a pregnant lady embarked on a thrilling investigation alone in another country by herself, but still, since there was only few chapters for present time and there was barely even scene where she investigated the picture I still wouldn't called it investigation. Now this conclude to my conclusion that this book could do very well without being a dual timeline book. The author and the editors could remove the present timeline completely and this book would end in a better note. Because I prefer the past timeline than the present and it almost even felt like the present timeline was unnecessary. So even though the plot's inside was great but it wasn't framed properly
the ending:
Although sad and succeeded in making my heart break a little, it was something new that I haven't read before. It did impress me a little but other than that it was just that, though it could've been packed in a better packaging as a plot-twist. I'm sure it could be a lot more impactful if the author do that.
the writing:
I was confused when I found out that we have 3 POVs in here. But Insupposed the last time I read a historical fiction book with WW2 background also consists of 3 POVs, so I supposed you couldn't help that with a dual timeline book either. But it wasn't fit to my liking even though the author used the 1st person POV and I even liked Kit's POV better and the author used 3rd person POV in his. The writing just felt proper in Kit's POV and in Louise's there was just too much sentence and monologs that made no sense in my head. There was a lot of unnecessary monologs too.
the characters:
It was weird that there were so many characters in this book and yet no one speaks through me. It's like nobody stood out than the rest you know? Though of course Louise and Kit certainly made more impactful impression in my head and though it's quite sad since Nicole is also the main character here but she was just so plain, boring and flat. I supposed I couldn't even review her since there were barely any of her POV in the book.
final thoughts:
I have mixed feelings and though it was exhilarating and fun to read some points were just didn't make sense to me. It's been a while though to have a book that I dreamed about, most of the time it was a sign of a good thing and I supposed it is a good thing. I devoured this pretty fast because I'm just to curious to find out about the ending, so 3 stars for this book.
If you're into historical fiction with world war 2 and resistance story are what you enjoy, I recommend this to you 😉
ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ
Enormous thanks to Ella Carey, her publisher, and netgalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review🫶🏻
Cheers to another accepted arc for this month to read 🥂🥳
Hope I'll enjoy this one!🤞🏻
April 6, 2023
I love Ella Carey’s stories, they are written with emotion and love and this one is no exception, MS Carey takes us to Paris as Paris is about to be liberated in 1944 and England in present time as Nicole starts searching for answers about her Granny Louise, it is an emotional journey but so beautifully told.
When Nicole Beaumont is sent an old photo of a woman on the back of a truck, head shaved and swastika on her head she is shocked to recognize her as her beloved Granny Louise, this starts Nicole on a journey to Paris to the Ritz Hotel and then to meet with her aunt and cousin, Nicole is determined to get answers she knows in her heart that her Granny Louise would never have been a Nazi collaborator.
Louise Basset has been working as a maid at The Ritz Hotel in Paris cleaning rooms that the Nazis occupied, Louise has a great memory and mind for codes and while she works she listens and reports back to the resistance. When a young allied pilot is bought in to be hidden till they can safely get him out of Paris a friendship begins for Louise and then a young German woman Sasha is sent to share Louise’s room, things are getting more dangerous.
Nicole and her aunt and cousin talk to the French historian working at the Ritz to get help searching for answers and what they hear is nothing that they expected, what are the answers?
This is a page turner as we get to know some fabulous characters in such hard times but the strength of the resistance will always amaze me and Ella Carey tells the story with compassion and so much love, this is one that I would highly recommend, a beautiful story.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
When Nicole Beaumont is sent an old photo of a woman on the back of a truck, head shaved and swastika on her head she is shocked to recognize her as her beloved Granny Louise, this starts Nicole on a journey to Paris to the Ritz Hotel and then to meet with her aunt and cousin, Nicole is determined to get answers she knows in her heart that her Granny Louise would never have been a Nazi collaborator.
Louise Basset has been working as a maid at The Ritz Hotel in Paris cleaning rooms that the Nazis occupied, Louise has a great memory and mind for codes and while she works she listens and reports back to the resistance. When a young allied pilot is bought in to be hidden till they can safely get him out of Paris a friendship begins for Louise and then a young German woman Sasha is sent to share Louise’s room, things are getting more dangerous.
Nicole and her aunt and cousin talk to the French historian working at the Ritz to get help searching for answers and what they hear is nothing that they expected, what are the answers?
This is a page turner as we get to know some fabulous characters in such hard times but the strength of the resistance will always amaze me and Ella Carey tells the story with compassion and so much love, this is one that I would highly recommend, a beautiful story.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
March 19, 2023
The Paris Maid is an intriguing story set mainly at the Ritz hotel in occupied Paris 1944.
Working stoically as a maid, Louise picks up the nazi residents chatter and works closely with the French resistance.
All becomes very dangerous when Sasha, a secretary for a high placed nazi, is put in place to live with Louise in their Ritz staff quarters. But who is Sasha and how much of a threat is she really?
The story takes us back and forth from 1944 to present day, where Louises decendents try to figure out who is the girl in an old photograph, branded with a swastika? Did their grandmother support the nazis or is there an underlying story?
While I don't usually choose books covering war, having read previous books by this excellent writer, I couldn't let this one pass. And am I glad!
The Paris Maid is a captivating read that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story moves fast, the characters are well developed and interesting, The Ritz is still a glamorous place, although catering to the wrong crowd at the time.
The story of the two women, the incredible work of the resistance and the incoming support from the allied forces took my breath away. The outcome is magnificent, although a bit abrupt. I guess I just didn't want this book to end.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
Working stoically as a maid, Louise picks up the nazi residents chatter and works closely with the French resistance.
All becomes very dangerous when Sasha, a secretary for a high placed nazi, is put in place to live with Louise in their Ritz staff quarters. But who is Sasha and how much of a threat is she really?
The story takes us back and forth from 1944 to present day, where Louises decendents try to figure out who is the girl in an old photograph, branded with a swastika? Did their grandmother support the nazis or is there an underlying story?
While I don't usually choose books covering war, having read previous books by this excellent writer, I couldn't let this one pass. And am I glad!
The Paris Maid is a captivating read that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story moves fast, the characters are well developed and interesting, The Ritz is still a glamorous place, although catering to the wrong crowd at the time.
The story of the two women, the incredible work of the resistance and the incoming support from the allied forces took my breath away. The outcome is magnificent, although a bit abrupt. I guess I just didn't want this book to end.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
April 8, 2023
Louise Basset not only works hard at a Paris hotel, she also works hard for the Resistance. Going in out of the guests’ room works to her advantage. Louise does a good job at keeping her double life a secret, but when she meets a young Allied pilot named Kit Harrington, she finds herself tempted to reveal the truth.
As The Paris Maid is a dual-timeline story, readers are also introduced to Louise’s granddaughter Nicole decades later. Having found an old photograph of her grandmother with a shorn head, labeled as a traitor, leads Nicole to look for answers about the reason behind that photograph.
Nicole struggles to get the answers she seeks, all while the story shifts back and forth to allow readers to see what actually happened to Louise during those dark days of World War II.
Ella Carey has written yet another impactful story, one that was impossible to pull away from. This book, like her previous ones, lends credence to her amazing research, and excellent writing talent, as she brings her characters to life by showing their courage, even amidst heartbreak.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
As The Paris Maid is a dual-timeline story, readers are also introduced to Louise’s granddaughter Nicole decades later. Having found an old photograph of her grandmother with a shorn head, labeled as a traitor, leads Nicole to look for answers about the reason behind that photograph.
Nicole struggles to get the answers she seeks, all while the story shifts back and forth to allow readers to see what actually happened to Louise during those dark days of World War II.
Ella Carey has written yet another impactful story, one that was impossible to pull away from. This book, like her previous ones, lends credence to her amazing research, and excellent writing talent, as she brings her characters to life by showing their courage, even amidst heartbreak.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
April 7, 2023
It's not very often that I am drawn into a story in the opening pages. The Paris Maid is an exception. I was captivated from the opening passages, and devoured this story in one sitting. Set in dual timelines, present day London and Nazi occupied Paris of 1944, the story alternates mainly through the eyes of Nicole and her grandmother Louise, with an ensemble of supporting characters like Kit, a fighter pilot for the Allied forces.
Nicole is devastated to learn that her beloved late grandmother may have harboured a scandalous secret from a dark period of Nazi occupied Parisian history, so she sets off to Paris to uncover the truth. It begs to answer the question: How well do we know the people we love?
Ella Carey writes with an ease, and she masterfully weaves the characters in and out of the storyline. I also love how she has snuck in some famous names throughout the novel. The story is beautiful and heartbreaking. If WWII historical fiction is you jam (like mine is), you should plant this one firmly on your TBR list now!
Pub date: 6 April 2023
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Nicole is devastated to learn that her beloved late grandmother may have harboured a scandalous secret from a dark period of Nazi occupied Parisian history, so she sets off to Paris to uncover the truth. It begs to answer the question: How well do we know the people we love?
Ella Carey writes with an ease, and she masterfully weaves the characters in and out of the storyline. I also love how she has snuck in some famous names throughout the novel. The story is beautiful and heartbreaking. If WWII historical fiction is you jam (like mine is), you should plant this one firmly on your TBR list now!
Pub date: 6 April 2023
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
April 6, 2023
Paris, 1944: Louise Basset is a housemaid at the Ritz Hotel in France. The guests of the Ritz are among the most high ranking and most powerful Nazis in France. Louise always has an ear on the conversations going on around her. She would then inform Frank of everything she hears. Frank would then pass the information on to the Resistance. The Germans were always looking for members of the Resistance, but Louise was hiding in plain sight. Meanwhile, Pilot Kit Harrington and his brother Charlie were flying their bomber over Paris when they were shot down. They feared what would happen to them if they were captured by the Germans. They separated from each other, and they didn’t know if the other was captured or rescued. Present day, Louise’s granddaughter Nicole Beaumont, is in the Ritz hotel her grandmother worked in. Nicole receives an old photo from her aunt. In the photograph is her grandmother, Louise when she was a young woman. Nicole decides she must uncover the truth about her grandmother’s story, but will she be proud of the family secrets she discovers or will she be ashamed?
This was a phenomenal story of heartbreak, courage and inspiration. I am in awe of the things people experienced during the World Wars. They would stop at nothing to get whatever they needed to help the Resistance. This unputdownable book was so heartbreaking I couldn’t stop crying. This resonated through to my very core. What a beautifully written and researched historical fiction. This one is sure to stay with me for a very long time. Thank you Ella Carey for such a gripping and wonderful story…I loved it and I definitely recommend it!!
This was a phenomenal story of heartbreak, courage and inspiration. I am in awe of the things people experienced during the World Wars. They would stop at nothing to get whatever they needed to help the Resistance. This unputdownable book was so heartbreaking I couldn’t stop crying. This resonated through to my very core. What a beautifully written and researched historical fiction. This one is sure to stay with me for a very long time. Thank you Ella Carey for such a gripping and wonderful story…I loved it and I definitely recommend it!!
May 3, 2023
I generally really enjoy historical fiction but to me this book wasn’t very remarkable and it was all quite surface-level. I think this is probably just my personal preference and other historical fiction readers may really enjoy the book. I liked the characters and thought the story was entertaining, however I didn’t really care for the present day story line that much and preferred the past story line. The twist at the end was unexpected but it came off a bit confusing to me, I had to reread a couple bits to fully understand what was going on. Overall, I thought the book was fine, I wouldn’t read it again but I still had a nice time reading it.
March 20, 2023
What an astoundingly powerful WW2 story of significant depth! Once I started reading The Paris Maid I could not stop as I was drawn in from the first line and became lost on the pages as they fluttered past. My eyes barely noticed the breaks in the chapters as I was so focused on the scenes and the characters and their movements.
I have enjoyed all the books I have read by Ella Carey but this one is in another league. It’s as if this is the novel she was always meant to write. This one shines with a fresh vibrancy. The detail is stunning, the story-telling flawless, the characters believable and heartbreaking. The plot is unforgettable: even with its multi-layers, two timelines and three viewpoints, it is easy to keep track. For the separate strands weave together into a unified whole towards the end providing a clear picture once all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place.
This story felt extremely personal, as if born from a sincere emotional connection. I kept thinking while reading The Paris Maid there was something extra special about it. Then I discovered from the author’s notes, it was inspired by her father’s involvement as ‘an RAF pilot dropping parachutists over France for the Resistance during the Second World War’. Obviously Ella was deeply moved by her father’s stories of his experiences. Plus, from the historical research she gathered on important people of the time. For these heroes become a large part of the story’s fabric giving it an air of authenticity. Real persons such as: Arletty the French actress, Blanche Auzello the wife of the managing director of the Ritz, Frank Meier the head bartender of the Ritz who helped the French resistance, Pearl/Pauline Witherington who commanded a band of 3500 French Resistant fighters and Henry C Woodrum B-26 pilot who was shot down but escaped the Nazis. Together with her fictional leads, this combination created a strong believable reading experience.
The modern timeline begins with a dilemma. A young woman, schoolteacher Nicole, has just discovered her beloved grandmother was suspected of being a Nazis supporter. She has received a photograph from her aunt that brings this question into focus. Nicole cannot believe this to be true of her much loved grandmother Louise. So, she sets out on a mission to Paris to uncover the truth. But just before she goes, she pulls out a Grimm's Fairy Tale book with a strange inscription inside the front cover owned by her grandmother. What does it mean?
The clues are in the detail. It is a complicated story. And this story is told from three points of view: present day by schoolteacher Nicole and the historical ones by war airman Kit and maid Louise. And I must not forget the setting. Most of the main drama circles around the famous Ritz Hotel in Paris—a place with a lot of impressive history of its own. The glamour, fashion, foods and style of Paris comes through the text very well providing an authentic feel.
In the historical thread: we get to know Maid Louise extremely well. Her story is heartbreaking but her bravery is inspiring. She is determined to stay focused on her maid’s job, trying to remain anonymous but the people she meets and interacts with, begin to change her life. She wants to help in the war against the Nazis. But a woman named Sasha enters her space and she suspects she is her enemy. How can she manage all her activities with someone spying on her? Then she learns the truth about her father, and it sets her on a dangerous mission.
There are some very intriguing characters in this novel. Even an appearance by a famous American novelist! Resistant fighters known as the dressmaker and the butcher are intriguing heroic souls. Kit the pilot provides quite an amazing account of his experiences that detail the inner workings and dangers of the resistant fighters.
In my opinion, this is Ms Carey’s finest work to date. She utilises flawlessly all the best writing techniques imaginable—including fine-tuned suspense! There is a great flow to the plot with some serious on the edge of your seat action. This is a story about many things (including family roots and identity) but the one bright flag that flies high in the sky is the unfathomable cost of sacrifice. Fear is replaced by courage in those who fight against the deplorable injustices rampant under Nazi rule. Yet hope continues to rise in the defenders' hearts, that freedom will one day be won. Eventually it does but not without the loss of many innocent lives: those caught in the crossfire and those who pushed back against the darkness. It was a harrowing time.
Thankfully, the efforts of those who fought will never be forgotten. For stories like Ella Carey’s keeps those memories alive--those fierce acts and quiet acts of courage. I cannot say enough what an incredible tribute this is to those who resisted evil. Even though we know through historical accounts mostly what happened—as far as the war is concerned, The Paris Maid contains many unexpected twists and surprises. That’s the beauty of weaving fact with fiction. It proposes other things that might have happened. And Ella has done well. It is a genuinely moving WW2 novel that I am so glad I read and highly recommend. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.
I have enjoyed all the books I have read by Ella Carey but this one is in another league. It’s as if this is the novel she was always meant to write. This one shines with a fresh vibrancy. The detail is stunning, the story-telling flawless, the characters believable and heartbreaking. The plot is unforgettable: even with its multi-layers, two timelines and three viewpoints, it is easy to keep track. For the separate strands weave together into a unified whole towards the end providing a clear picture once all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place.
This story felt extremely personal, as if born from a sincere emotional connection. I kept thinking while reading The Paris Maid there was something extra special about it. Then I discovered from the author’s notes, it was inspired by her father’s involvement as ‘an RAF pilot dropping parachutists over France for the Resistance during the Second World War’. Obviously Ella was deeply moved by her father’s stories of his experiences. Plus, from the historical research she gathered on important people of the time. For these heroes become a large part of the story’s fabric giving it an air of authenticity. Real persons such as: Arletty the French actress, Blanche Auzello the wife of the managing director of the Ritz, Frank Meier the head bartender of the Ritz who helped the French resistance, Pearl/Pauline Witherington who commanded a band of 3500 French Resistant fighters and Henry C Woodrum B-26 pilot who was shot down but escaped the Nazis. Together with her fictional leads, this combination created a strong believable reading experience.
The modern timeline begins with a dilemma. A young woman, schoolteacher Nicole, has just discovered her beloved grandmother was suspected of being a Nazis supporter. She has received a photograph from her aunt that brings this question into focus. Nicole cannot believe this to be true of her much loved grandmother Louise. So, she sets out on a mission to Paris to uncover the truth. But just before she goes, she pulls out a Grimm's Fairy Tale book with a strange inscription inside the front cover owned by her grandmother. What does it mean?
The clues are in the detail. It is a complicated story. And this story is told from three points of view: present day by schoolteacher Nicole and the historical ones by war airman Kit and maid Louise. And I must not forget the setting. Most of the main drama circles around the famous Ritz Hotel in Paris—a place with a lot of impressive history of its own. The glamour, fashion, foods and style of Paris comes through the text very well providing an authentic feel.
In the historical thread: we get to know Maid Louise extremely well. Her story is heartbreaking but her bravery is inspiring. She is determined to stay focused on her maid’s job, trying to remain anonymous but the people she meets and interacts with, begin to change her life. She wants to help in the war against the Nazis. But a woman named Sasha enters her space and she suspects she is her enemy. How can she manage all her activities with someone spying on her? Then she learns the truth about her father, and it sets her on a dangerous mission.
There are some very intriguing characters in this novel. Even an appearance by a famous American novelist! Resistant fighters known as the dressmaker and the butcher are intriguing heroic souls. Kit the pilot provides quite an amazing account of his experiences that detail the inner workings and dangers of the resistant fighters.
In my opinion, this is Ms Carey’s finest work to date. She utilises flawlessly all the best writing techniques imaginable—including fine-tuned suspense! There is a great flow to the plot with some serious on the edge of your seat action. This is a story about many things (including family roots and identity) but the one bright flag that flies high in the sky is the unfathomable cost of sacrifice. Fear is replaced by courage in those who fight against the deplorable injustices rampant under Nazi rule. Yet hope continues to rise in the defenders' hearts, that freedom will one day be won. Eventually it does but not without the loss of many innocent lives: those caught in the crossfire and those who pushed back against the darkness. It was a harrowing time.
Thankfully, the efforts of those who fought will never be forgotten. For stories like Ella Carey’s keeps those memories alive--those fierce acts and quiet acts of courage. I cannot say enough what an incredible tribute this is to those who resisted evil. Even though we know through historical accounts mostly what happened—as far as the war is concerned, The Paris Maid contains many unexpected twists and surprises. That’s the beauty of weaving fact with fiction. It proposes other things that might have happened. And Ella has done well. It is a genuinely moving WW2 novel that I am so glad I read and highly recommend. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.
April 18, 2023
Louise works as a maid in fancy hotel, which happens to be the home to the most powerful Nazis in France. As she cleans, she listens and watches and then reports her findings to the resistance. One day, a young Allied pilot is smuggled into the hotel. He is being hunted by the Nazis but Louise feels a special connection with him. Years later, her granddaughter Nicole finds herself at the hotel, reeling from the shock of seeing a photo of her grandmother branded a traitor.
I love historical fiction set during World War II. I always feel like there are so many stories to be told. Told in multiple timelines, we see Nicole uncover the truth about her grandmother. I will say I enjoyed the past timeline better than present day, but I think the timelines worked well together to unfold Louise’s story. If you are a historical fiction fan, you will enjoy this one! Thank you Bookouture, Netgalley and Ella Carey for the review copy and my spot on this tour 🥰
This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
I love historical fiction set during World War II. I always feel like there are so many stories to be told. Told in multiple timelines, we see Nicole uncover the truth about her grandmother. I will say I enjoyed the past timeline better than present day, but I think the timelines worked well together to unfold Louise’s story. If you are a historical fiction fan, you will enjoy this one! Thank you Bookouture, Netgalley and Ella Carey for the review copy and my spot on this tour 🥰
This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
March 14, 2025
I don’t usually reach for historical fiction books, but I found this at a thrift store & it was so good!! Very entertaining & insightful. I really enjoyed this book’s storyline, characters, and the cohesive ending. Each chapter represents one of the characters, constantly switching & telling the story from their different POVs. I loved this layout - it kept the storyline entertaining and unique to each character’s experience & thoughts.
March 22, 2024
4.3/5 I really enjoyed this WWII historical fiction book taking place in a Paris Hotel. Two different perspectives during the war and then a granddaughter in present day looking for answers.
March 6, 2023
Nicole is shocked and devasted to find a WWII-era photograph that appears to brand her beloved grandmother Louise as a traitor. Louise worked as a maid in The Ritz Hotel in Paris during the German occupation. Virtually invisible as she cleaned and dusted, she overheard many secrets that she shared with the French Resistance. Louise’s story crosses paths with an assortment of hotel staff and guests, an Allied pilot, and a mysterious young woman who bears a striking resemblance to her. How did this brave young housemaid end up branded as a Nazi sympathizer?
This is a wartime story of intrigue, danger, and love that touches on themes of family and loyalty. The author has a lovely writing style that is well-suited for historical fiction. I particularly enjoyed how some famous and infamous real people were seamlessly woven in amongst the fictional characters.
Perfect for fans of Kristin Harmel, Fiona Valpy, and Kristin Hannah’s “The Nightingale”. Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.
This is a wartime story of intrigue, danger, and love that touches on themes of family and loyalty. The author has a lovely writing style that is well-suited for historical fiction. I particularly enjoyed how some famous and infamous real people were seamlessly woven in amongst the fictional characters.
Perfect for fans of Kristin Harmel, Fiona Valpy, and Kristin Hannah’s “The Nightingale”. Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.
April 27, 2023
I just finished reading The Paris Maid by Ella Carey and here is my book tour stop review!!
The Ritz hotel has been overtaken by the Nazi’s and it’s Louise Basset's unpleasant job to clean up after them. The sad thing about being a maid, you go unseen. The best part of being a maid in the resistance? You go unseen. Louise risks her life daily sharing information she finds left lying around by arrogant men and when a young pilot crash lands and is found by the resistance, she knows she must do more to help the people of Paris and the beautiful man she enjoys spending time with.
Her granddaughter in the present day, works to find out why there was a photo of her grandmother with her hair shaved off and branded a traitor. This is not the woman she knew growing up and needs to know the truth about her heritage.
Who was Louise? Was she a loyal resistance fighter or was she the traitor that Paris made her out to be?
I loved this book! Loved it. The book comes from the POV of Louise in 1944 Paris and Kit, a pilot that crashes fighting against the Germans. Modern day time follows Nicole and her search for answers. The character development was charming and I felt fully connected to all the people the author introduces us too. I loved Louise so much. All the women during that war who didn’t hide, they fought like heroes. I love books like this and I have read many so this book had a lot to measure up to and it is definitely in the top 5 of best WW2 novels ever written for me.
The plot was fantastic and I usually don’t like multiple POV but it really rounded out the story to have them all and gave more depth to what was happening to other people and how they felt.
So cleverly done. I did shed a few tears and the little plot twist at the end I really didn’t see coming and just added real value to the story as a whole!
Brilliant! I highly recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction and especially world war 2 books.
5 stars
Thank you to @netgalley and @bookouture for my copy of this book and my views are my own
The Ritz hotel has been overtaken by the Nazi’s and it’s Louise Basset's unpleasant job to clean up after them. The sad thing about being a maid, you go unseen. The best part of being a maid in the resistance? You go unseen. Louise risks her life daily sharing information she finds left lying around by arrogant men and when a young pilot crash lands and is found by the resistance, she knows she must do more to help the people of Paris and the beautiful man she enjoys spending time with.
Her granddaughter in the present day, works to find out why there was a photo of her grandmother with her hair shaved off and branded a traitor. This is not the woman she knew growing up and needs to know the truth about her heritage.
Who was Louise? Was she a loyal resistance fighter or was she the traitor that Paris made her out to be?
I loved this book! Loved it. The book comes from the POV of Louise in 1944 Paris and Kit, a pilot that crashes fighting against the Germans. Modern day time follows Nicole and her search for answers. The character development was charming and I felt fully connected to all the people the author introduces us too. I loved Louise so much. All the women during that war who didn’t hide, they fought like heroes. I love books like this and I have read many so this book had a lot to measure up to and it is definitely in the top 5 of best WW2 novels ever written for me.
The plot was fantastic and I usually don’t like multiple POV but it really rounded out the story to have them all and gave more depth to what was happening to other people and how they felt.
So cleverly done. I did shed a few tears and the little plot twist at the end I really didn’t see coming and just added real value to the story as a whole!
Brilliant! I highly recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction and especially world war 2 books.
5 stars
Thank you to @netgalley and @bookouture for my copy of this book and my views are my own
March 27, 2023
When I saw that this book was historical fiction set in WW2 times which happens to be one of my fave genres, it was an easy choice for me to decide to give this book a read, plus the book cover and blurb were highly appealing.
It didn't take me long to be drawn into the stories of Louise, Kit, Sasha and Charlie back in 1944 and that of Nicole in present day, I was captivated right from the first few chapters. I loved how the story went back and forth from 1944 to present day which was done so seamlessly.
Overall I loved the story, it was shocking, emotional, heart breaking and insightful in equal measures. The story really pulled me in and grabbed me tight. It was tense hard reading in places when you imagine that this is what it really was like in Paris back in WW2 times. It was also insightful too as I learnt a fair bit in regards to WW2 in Paris and the Nazi’s, the history of which I was not fully aware of, so it’s thanks to this story that I now have a more in-depth view of just how things were really like back in those times.
I thought the story was brilliantly well written and the characters are all so very well portrayed and believable. I have absolutely loved reading this from start to finish.
It didn't take me long to be drawn into the stories of Louise, Kit, Sasha and Charlie back in 1944 and that of Nicole in present day, I was captivated right from the first few chapters. I loved how the story went back and forth from 1944 to present day which was done so seamlessly.
Overall I loved the story, it was shocking, emotional, heart breaking and insightful in equal measures. The story really pulled me in and grabbed me tight. It was tense hard reading in places when you imagine that this is what it really was like in Paris back in WW2 times. It was also insightful too as I learnt a fair bit in regards to WW2 in Paris and the Nazi’s, the history of which I was not fully aware of, so it’s thanks to this story that I now have a more in-depth view of just how things were really like back in those times.
I thought the story was brilliantly well written and the characters are all so very well portrayed and believable. I have absolutely loved reading this from start to finish.
March 16, 2023
4.5 Stars!!
When Nicole received a shocking photograph in the mail of her grandmother from the end of WWII, things turned upside down for her. Her Granny Louise never mentioned her life during the war to her family. Nicole loved her Granny very much, surely there had to be some mistake. So she sets off for Paris and the Ritz Hotel for answers. Who was her grandmother? Why did she hide her life during the war from her family.
Louise was a maid working at the Ritz during the German occupation. The Ritz, a place full of Grace and glamour and overrun by Nazis. For Louise, it was a place to hide from herself and her heritage. She was very skilled in memorization and became a part of the resistance operating within the walls of the hotel. When an stranded RAF pilot finds his way to the hotel, she hides him and keeps him company. It’s not long though before her family catches up with her and things take a drastic turn.
In a beautifully set dual time line story, we are showered with familial secrets, brave strong women and the desire to do more and learn more to preserve a family legacy that began during a time of terror. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture and Ella Carey for early access to this amazing story!
When Nicole received a shocking photograph in the mail of her grandmother from the end of WWII, things turned upside down for her. Her Granny Louise never mentioned her life during the war to her family. Nicole loved her Granny very much, surely there had to be some mistake. So she sets off for Paris and the Ritz Hotel for answers. Who was her grandmother? Why did she hide her life during the war from her family.
Louise was a maid working at the Ritz during the German occupation. The Ritz, a place full of Grace and glamour and overrun by Nazis. For Louise, it was a place to hide from herself and her heritage. She was very skilled in memorization and became a part of the resistance operating within the walls of the hotel. When an stranded RAF pilot finds his way to the hotel, she hides him and keeps him company. It’s not long though before her family catches up with her and things take a drastic turn.
In a beautifully set dual time line story, we are showered with familial secrets, brave strong women and the desire to do more and learn more to preserve a family legacy that began during a time of terror. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture and Ella Carey for early access to this amazing story!
April 6, 2023
The Paris Maid
By: Ella Carey
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Having read a substantial amount of historical fiction set during WWII in Paris, I have always been shocked that The Ritz in Paris was one of the few buildings not bombed. This of course was because the Nazis took over the hotel.
Current day in London, Nicole receives a message with an old photo from 1944 with a women with a shave head and a swastika painted on her forehead. She believes this is her grandmother, but how could she have been a traitor?
Nicole and her husband are expecting their first child, and she is determined to prove her grandmother was not a traitor. Sadly her mother and grandmother have passed so she has to rely on others.
Paris, 1944-Louise starts working as a housemaid at The Ritz. She is shocked at how many high ranking Nazis along with others are staying at the hotel. She has been working with the resistance and quickly ends up helping a downed pilot. She has been able to do this relatively easy as she has her own room.
Soon another girl Sasha is her roommate and another maid. Sasha is well known for being the mistress of a high ranking Nazi. Both girls have their secrets. A few twists kept me engrossed in this well-written novel.
Will Nicole be able to clear her grandmothers name or will she be devastated? Family is extremely important and plays an important role in this emotional novel.
Thank you Bookouture, NetGalley and author Ella Carey for this wonderful novel, which is available April 6, 2023.
QOTD? What was the last book you read by an Author that you absolutely could not put down? This one is a must for historical fiction lovers.
#ellacarey, #theparismaid, #bookouture, #netgalley, #bookreview, #booksconnectus, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50
By: Ella Carey
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Having read a substantial amount of historical fiction set during WWII in Paris, I have always been shocked that The Ritz in Paris was one of the few buildings not bombed. This of course was because the Nazis took over the hotel.
Current day in London, Nicole receives a message with an old photo from 1944 with a women with a shave head and a swastika painted on her forehead. She believes this is her grandmother, but how could she have been a traitor?
Nicole and her husband are expecting their first child, and she is determined to prove her grandmother was not a traitor. Sadly her mother and grandmother have passed so she has to rely on others.
Paris, 1944-Louise starts working as a housemaid at The Ritz. She is shocked at how many high ranking Nazis along with others are staying at the hotel. She has been working with the resistance and quickly ends up helping a downed pilot. She has been able to do this relatively easy as she has her own room.
Soon another girl Sasha is her roommate and another maid. Sasha is well known for being the mistress of a high ranking Nazi. Both girls have their secrets. A few twists kept me engrossed in this well-written novel.
Will Nicole be able to clear her grandmothers name or will she be devastated? Family is extremely important and plays an important role in this emotional novel.
Thank you Bookouture, NetGalley and author Ella Carey for this wonderful novel, which is available April 6, 2023.
QOTD? What was the last book you read by an Author that you absolutely could not put down? This one is a must for historical fiction lovers.
#ellacarey, #theparismaid, #bookouture, #netgalley, #bookreview, #booksconnectus, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50
December 26, 2025
Á good book. The storyline was different from the typical WWII stories about the French resistance as it also talked about the German resistance in Germany opposing Hitler. It also considered the situation of French/German citizens of France.
October 17, 2023
Full of twists and turns
When you decide to research your family history, you never know what you will find. What if your dearly loved grandmother turned out to have been a collaborator in Paris at the Ritz during the 2nd World War? This fascinating and heartbreaking novel explores exactly that question using a dual timeline format. While reading, I was able to predict some happenings, but there were twists and turns enough that the ending came as a complete surprise to me.
When you decide to research your family history, you never know what you will find. What if your dearly loved grandmother turned out to have been a collaborator in Paris at the Ritz during the 2nd World War? This fascinating and heartbreaking novel explores exactly that question using a dual timeline format. While reading, I was able to predict some happenings, but there were twists and turns enough that the ending came as a complete surprise to me.
April 9, 2023
The Paris Maid is duel timeline story as well as told in alternating chapters from each main character in the book. There are many characters to keep track of which did take me awhile to figure out who was who.
A historical novel about the resistance fighters and their resilience during WWII. The majority of the story revolves around the resistance working at The Ritz where many German officers were guests.
A emotional historical story that is a must read for any historical fiction lovers.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
A historical novel about the resistance fighters and their resilience during WWII. The majority of the story revolves around the resistance working at The Ritz where many German officers were guests.
A emotional historical story that is a must read for any historical fiction lovers.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 6, 2023
The Paris Maid is the first book I have read by Ella Carey and I really don’t know how this author hasn’t been on my reading radar before as this was such a cleverly crafted story that draws you in right from the brief prologue. Once it has you in its grip it does not relinquish its hold until the final word and along the way you go on such a journey with the characters. Some of the characters that feature in the story are real people that lived and worked in the Ritz Hotel in Paris during World War Two and the end notes providing details of these people were very interesting and made me want to research more about them. I think blending fictional characters with real life people added even more authenticity and drama to the story.
The brief prologue is detailed and descriptive and perfectly sets the scene for what the book will be about. It occurs as Paris is liberated.The French people having been humiliated, oppressed and abused by the Nazi’s occupation of their country are retaliating in a big way. Anyone deemed to have collaborated with the Nazi’s receives punishment. But one women, Louise, still has a secret and one which she is determined will never be shared. My interest was certainly piqued but then we are taken back to London in the present day and from that point on the story is a dual timeline novel moving between the present day and Paris in 1944. In London, Nicole has received a picture from her Aunt Mariah of her grandmother Louise taken in Paris in 1944. It shows her head shaven and her face branded with a swastika. Nicole is shaken to her core and can’t fathom that this is the woman she loved so much and misses so deeply.
Granny Louise couldn’t possibly be a Nazi collaborator. Nicole feels her world has been torn from under her. What do you do if you learned a beloved family member had been accused of something unspeakable and then that leads you to thinking what would other family members think? Nicole wants to know the truth and to redeem her grandmother’s name for surely Louise was not involved in anything like that but the evidence in the photo paints a very different picture. Nicole is pregnant and wants her child to know the truth about the woman she loved most in the world so she travels to Paris to meet with her Aunt Mariah and cousin Pandora. Relations between the family members have been strained but Nicole will insist on getting to the bottom of things.
The chapters move back and forth between the past and present with the past dominating and rightly so. To be honest, I became so engrossed and enraptured by the brilliant story unfolding in the summer of 1944 that at times I completely forgot about Nicole and her quest. At times, it felt a bit jarring to return to the present but thankfully it was only ever briefly and then we got back to Louise’s story which I really couldn’t get enough of. Nicole is the one who forges the link between the two time periods. She is needed in the book but I just wanted to read all about the past as it was so engrossing with memorable characters who live long in your mind.
Louise works as a maid in the opulent and quite frankly fascinating Ritz Hotel in Paris. Alongside Claude, the hotel manager, and his wife Blanche and Frank the bar man, Louise engages in resistance undercover activities. Louise speaks several languages and she is known for being able to memorise facts and numbers very quickly commiting to her memory details that would seem inconsequential to others but do help with the larger picture. She had planned to go to university but the war put paid to that and now she uses her talents to translate codes and messages and their group in the hotel pass on information to the Allies. The world famous Ritz is officially neutral but really people are on one side or another or perhaps both? Louise’s father left when she was 12 and her mother was left to rear Louise and started her own small sewing business. Louise writes to her mother every week but has heard nothing from her and she is now desperate to know whether she is safe or has she fallen into the wrong hands?
Louise was an outstanding character. She always had her wits about her and was filled with such confidence, grit and determination. No one was going to intimidate her and prevent her from doing her undercover work and as she flits from one area to another in the hotel she knows all that is going as Goring resides in one room not to mention all the other Germans who frequent the hotel and the bar. When Sasha arrives as the assistant to the military governor of occupied France and is given a bed in Louise’s room even that does not put her off. Instead, she becomes even more alert because she knows a dangerous and complex game is being played where the stakes are very high. She becomes even more deeply involved in Resistance work but to say much more would just give too much away. Suffice to say her own heritage has a very crucial role to play within the overall plot of the book. Louise, was just such a fabulous character and one of the best female characters I have read in a historical fiction book in a long long time.
Running concurrently with Louise’s story is that of Kit, an American pilot whose crew is shot down over Northern France and who subsequently needs to get back to safety. I was so smug in that I thought I had it all figured out very early on. All the connections seemed to arise too early or it was just far too easy to guess. But boy was I wrong and in the best way possible. I really love having the wool pulled over my eyes and Ella Carey did this so successfully which only added to my overall enjoyment of the book.
The Paris Maid was an impressive story packed full of twists, turns and surprises and it has made me definitely want to read more by Ella Carey. It’s not often these days that I am genuinely surprised by the revelations that occur towards the end of a book but I was in this case. It was so refreshing not to have guessed the ending and to be honest it really was a mind-blowing twist that had me reeling in shock and had me reassessing my opinion of certain characters and their actions. In fact, it made me want to go back to the beginning and start all over again just so I could look for things that I had missed the first time around and perhaps gain an even deeper understanding of all the nuances and work that was done by the people in the Ritz and beyond. The only thing I will say is that I felt the ending was very rushed. The book itself ended at the 82% mark -with the remainder being chapters from a previous book by the author and details of her other books. I found this very disconcerting as I thought that I had a good bit still to go and I wanted this as I was really enjoying the entire story as it is such a page turner.
In my opinion, the ending was just too quick and I admit to getting confused as to who was who and how things worked out. I needed to reread paragraphs several times to ensure I had everything correctly worked out. A little more development and not having the need to tie everything up in a page or two at the conclusion would have been welcome. I wasn’t ready to leave the characters and I felt they had a little bit more to say. But aside from that, The Paris Maid was a brilliant read and it has renewed my faith that the historical fiction can be fresh and innovative as at times it can become repetitive despite how much I love reading books in this genre. It’s a story of raw emotions, heartbreak, courage, secrets and the further it progresses the more difficult it becomes to put down.
The brief prologue is detailed and descriptive and perfectly sets the scene for what the book will be about. It occurs as Paris is liberated.The French people having been humiliated, oppressed and abused by the Nazi’s occupation of their country are retaliating in a big way. Anyone deemed to have collaborated with the Nazi’s receives punishment. But one women, Louise, still has a secret and one which she is determined will never be shared. My interest was certainly piqued but then we are taken back to London in the present day and from that point on the story is a dual timeline novel moving between the present day and Paris in 1944. In London, Nicole has received a picture from her Aunt Mariah of her grandmother Louise taken in Paris in 1944. It shows her head shaven and her face branded with a swastika. Nicole is shaken to her core and can’t fathom that this is the woman she loved so much and misses so deeply.
Granny Louise couldn’t possibly be a Nazi collaborator. Nicole feels her world has been torn from under her. What do you do if you learned a beloved family member had been accused of something unspeakable and then that leads you to thinking what would other family members think? Nicole wants to know the truth and to redeem her grandmother’s name for surely Louise was not involved in anything like that but the evidence in the photo paints a very different picture. Nicole is pregnant and wants her child to know the truth about the woman she loved most in the world so she travels to Paris to meet with her Aunt Mariah and cousin Pandora. Relations between the family members have been strained but Nicole will insist on getting to the bottom of things.
The chapters move back and forth between the past and present with the past dominating and rightly so. To be honest, I became so engrossed and enraptured by the brilliant story unfolding in the summer of 1944 that at times I completely forgot about Nicole and her quest. At times, it felt a bit jarring to return to the present but thankfully it was only ever briefly and then we got back to Louise’s story which I really couldn’t get enough of. Nicole is the one who forges the link between the two time periods. She is needed in the book but I just wanted to read all about the past as it was so engrossing with memorable characters who live long in your mind.
Louise works as a maid in the opulent and quite frankly fascinating Ritz Hotel in Paris. Alongside Claude, the hotel manager, and his wife Blanche and Frank the bar man, Louise engages in resistance undercover activities. Louise speaks several languages and she is known for being able to memorise facts and numbers very quickly commiting to her memory details that would seem inconsequential to others but do help with the larger picture. She had planned to go to university but the war put paid to that and now she uses her talents to translate codes and messages and their group in the hotel pass on information to the Allies. The world famous Ritz is officially neutral but really people are on one side or another or perhaps both? Louise’s father left when she was 12 and her mother was left to rear Louise and started her own small sewing business. Louise writes to her mother every week but has heard nothing from her and she is now desperate to know whether she is safe or has she fallen into the wrong hands?
Louise was an outstanding character. She always had her wits about her and was filled with such confidence, grit and determination. No one was going to intimidate her and prevent her from doing her undercover work and as she flits from one area to another in the hotel she knows all that is going as Goring resides in one room not to mention all the other Germans who frequent the hotel and the bar. When Sasha arrives as the assistant to the military governor of occupied France and is given a bed in Louise’s room even that does not put her off. Instead, she becomes even more alert because she knows a dangerous and complex game is being played where the stakes are very high. She becomes even more deeply involved in Resistance work but to say much more would just give too much away. Suffice to say her own heritage has a very crucial role to play within the overall plot of the book. Louise, was just such a fabulous character and one of the best female characters I have read in a historical fiction book in a long long time.
Running concurrently with Louise’s story is that of Kit, an American pilot whose crew is shot down over Northern France and who subsequently needs to get back to safety. I was so smug in that I thought I had it all figured out very early on. All the connections seemed to arise too early or it was just far too easy to guess. But boy was I wrong and in the best way possible. I really love having the wool pulled over my eyes and Ella Carey did this so successfully which only added to my overall enjoyment of the book.
The Paris Maid was an impressive story packed full of twists, turns and surprises and it has made me definitely want to read more by Ella Carey. It’s not often these days that I am genuinely surprised by the revelations that occur towards the end of a book but I was in this case. It was so refreshing not to have guessed the ending and to be honest it really was a mind-blowing twist that had me reeling in shock and had me reassessing my opinion of certain characters and their actions. In fact, it made me want to go back to the beginning and start all over again just so I could look for things that I had missed the first time around and perhaps gain an even deeper understanding of all the nuances and work that was done by the people in the Ritz and beyond. The only thing I will say is that I felt the ending was very rushed. The book itself ended at the 82% mark -with the remainder being chapters from a previous book by the author and details of her other books. I found this very disconcerting as I thought that I had a good bit still to go and I wanted this as I was really enjoying the entire story as it is such a page turner.
In my opinion, the ending was just too quick and I admit to getting confused as to who was who and how things worked out. I needed to reread paragraphs several times to ensure I had everything correctly worked out. A little more development and not having the need to tie everything up in a page or two at the conclusion would have been welcome. I wasn’t ready to leave the characters and I felt they had a little bit more to say. But aside from that, The Paris Maid was a brilliant read and it has renewed my faith that the historical fiction can be fresh and innovative as at times it can become repetitive despite how much I love reading books in this genre. It’s a story of raw emotions, heartbreak, courage, secrets and the further it progresses the more difficult it becomes to put down.
May 22, 2023
‘Who could be more invisible than a maid?’
I love Ella Carey books. She is one of those authors who you don’t even have to read details about the book because you know you will read anything of hers whatever the topic. The Paris Maid centers on The Ritz hotel in Paris during WWII with a group of resistance fighters operating right under the Nazis who are guests of the hotel.
It is a dual time narrative. Firstly, the past returns to the summer of 1944 with a number of characters: Louise, a maid at The Ritz who assists with The French Resistance, her family and some Allied fighter pilots shot down and forced into hiding. The contemporary timeline tells the tale of Louise’s granddaughter who is trying to research her grandmother's hidden past.
‘… the Ritz is not just any magnificent hotel. The Swiss-owned hotel is officially neutral, but the reality is everyone is tied to one side or the other, sometimes both.’
This was not one of my favourite books from Ella. To my mind, there were too many characters which did not allow me to bond satisfactorily with any one individual or couple. It also meant you had to pay attention to exactly whose point of view was taking place. I also feel that the contemporary timeline fell somewhat flat and was only there to serve the purpose of historical discovery. Whilst there was a great twist and the epilogue filled in all the gaps, I just somehow wished to have dived deeper with some characters and events earlier in the read.
The Paris Maid is the latest novel from historical fiction author Ella Carey. It’s an emotional exploration of themes such as love, courage, betrayal, family and provides a unique insight into those who worked at the Ritz Hotel in Paris during the Nazi occupation of France.
‘This was a time of history that seems incredible to us now, and yet that is only a whisper of a generation away … the best thing we can do is to understand, and to honor the members of our family who fought so hard for our freedom.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
I love Ella Carey books. She is one of those authors who you don’t even have to read details about the book because you know you will read anything of hers whatever the topic. The Paris Maid centers on The Ritz hotel in Paris during WWII with a group of resistance fighters operating right under the Nazis who are guests of the hotel.
It is a dual time narrative. Firstly, the past returns to the summer of 1944 with a number of characters: Louise, a maid at The Ritz who assists with The French Resistance, her family and some Allied fighter pilots shot down and forced into hiding. The contemporary timeline tells the tale of Louise’s granddaughter who is trying to research her grandmother's hidden past.
‘… the Ritz is not just any magnificent hotel. The Swiss-owned hotel is officially neutral, but the reality is everyone is tied to one side or the other, sometimes both.’
This was not one of my favourite books from Ella. To my mind, there were too many characters which did not allow me to bond satisfactorily with any one individual or couple. It also meant you had to pay attention to exactly whose point of view was taking place. I also feel that the contemporary timeline fell somewhat flat and was only there to serve the purpose of historical discovery. Whilst there was a great twist and the epilogue filled in all the gaps, I just somehow wished to have dived deeper with some characters and events earlier in the read.
The Paris Maid is the latest novel from historical fiction author Ella Carey. It’s an emotional exploration of themes such as love, courage, betrayal, family and provides a unique insight into those who worked at the Ritz Hotel in Paris during the Nazi occupation of France.
‘This was a time of history that seems incredible to us now, and yet that is only a whisper of a generation away … the best thing we can do is to understand, and to honor the members of our family who fought so hard for our freedom.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
March 7, 2023
The Paris Maid was such a good book, when you start reading it there are some areas where it got a little confusing but by the end I completely understood what had gone on.
If you enjoy reading about the time around WWII i highly recommend this. It shows how people put themselves on the line to help complete and total strangers and the strength and tenacity that these people had to make it through this war.
I highly recommend!
If you enjoy reading about the time around WWII i highly recommend this. It shows how people put themselves on the line to help complete and total strangers and the strength and tenacity that these people had to make it through this war.
I highly recommend!
January 30, 2025
“The Paris Maid”, is a multi narrative novel set in World War II depicting the struggles French women had trying to navigate life within the confines of the Nazi occupation in France. Courageous women were trying to save lives working for the French Resistance and it is a novel of resilience, friendship and truth under the umbrella of the Ritz Hotel in Paris, a hotel that housed the most powerful Germans. There is duality in the timeline in this historical fictional novel, which brings things full circle and the results are astounding. This book although a fictional account was inspired by key colleagues of the French Resistance in France. Those imperative to the partial success of the resistance movement worked right under the Germans noses at the hotel and that takes skill. These people should never be forgotten for their bravery and heroism. Many impact others with no acknowledgment, no credit and it is books like these that keeps them alive in the mind of a reader.
Nicole has been sent a photograph from her Aunt Mariah, and the picture is of her grandmother Louise in France in 1944. The photograph portrays Louise as a Nazi collaborator, branded a traitor. Nicole loved her grandmother dearly , pregnant with her own child she deems this as pure lies, this can’t be her grandmother’s legacy so she sets off to Paris determined to reveal the truth and put an end to these fabricated lies. But are they lies? Nicole will find out the truth as to who Louise really was, but the truth will be a harsh reality as hidden secrets become known. In barbaric times people did the unexpected, the unthinkable. Nicole however will sink all of her energy into retracing her family ties and untangling the web of lies and deceit. It’s a storyline that will keep you guessing. I really enjoyed the dramatic twists in the plot as Louise’s story starts to unfold as the German occupation is slowly coming to a close. I think that if the author added just a couple of short chapters including Arielle it would have made the plot more dramatic. Nonetheless, it was a captivating read.
The more I read about World War II, the more I learn about it. More importantly, I learn about those people that were instrumental in saving as many lives as possible. Their spirits live on in the form of a single book like this one. War has a hefty price tag associated with it, saving lives was a costly endeavour, especially when you are trying to save someone you love. The characters in this book are tenacious, resilient, and fill with determination and it is a poignant and suspenseful tale about the horrors of war, a time when trust was an issue, but essential. Misplaced trust could be deadly and fear becomes replaced by courage. This book is genuinely a moving World War II story.
4.5 stars
Nicole has been sent a photograph from her Aunt Mariah, and the picture is of her grandmother Louise in France in 1944. The photograph portrays Louise as a Nazi collaborator, branded a traitor. Nicole loved her grandmother dearly , pregnant with her own child she deems this as pure lies, this can’t be her grandmother’s legacy so she sets off to Paris determined to reveal the truth and put an end to these fabricated lies. But are they lies? Nicole will find out the truth as to who Louise really was, but the truth will be a harsh reality as hidden secrets become known. In barbaric times people did the unexpected, the unthinkable. Nicole however will sink all of her energy into retracing her family ties and untangling the web of lies and deceit. It’s a storyline that will keep you guessing. I really enjoyed the dramatic twists in the plot as Louise’s story starts to unfold as the German occupation is slowly coming to a close. I think that if the author added just a couple of short chapters including Arielle it would have made the plot more dramatic. Nonetheless, it was a captivating read.
The more I read about World War II, the more I learn about it. More importantly, I learn about those people that were instrumental in saving as many lives as possible. Their spirits live on in the form of a single book like this one. War has a hefty price tag associated with it, saving lives was a costly endeavour, especially when you are trying to save someone you love. The characters in this book are tenacious, resilient, and fill with determination and it is a poignant and suspenseful tale about the horrors of war, a time when trust was an issue, but essential. Misplaced trust could be deadly and fear becomes replaced by courage. This book is genuinely a moving World War II story.
4.5 stars
October 28, 2023
I found this book very difficult to finish but I am SO glad I did. The ending had me in tears. I wish I had appreciated the entire story as much as I did at the end.
What I didn’t like:
- I found some details pretty far-fetched. The many family connections are just too coincidental/unrealistic. Also, the way the characters know at least two famous people- Arletty and Coco Chanel. Then they come across Ernest Hemingway. It just seemed like a reach to me.
- For me, it was hard to follow. There were a lot of characters here, several going by other names as well.
- Some important details felt rushed. It needed more to fully develop.
- Finally, it had to many similarities to The Nightingale for me (i.e. estranged sisters, a father who had become a drunk and abandoned his family after WWI only to actually be fighting against the Nazis, extreme bravery as several females rescue and protect displaced soldiers, the main character’s children not knowing their parent’s brave past, etc.). I’m sure this wasn’t the author’s intention but with so many similarities to an extremely popular book, it comes across as trying to also reach that level of popularity without being original.
Big spoilers:
I loved the shock at the end. I was completely stunned to find that their grandmother/mother was actually Sasha. And to learn that the Louise we had believed escaped and lived a wonderful life had actually been murdered- devastating. I cried. I especially cried reading the epilogue. I wanted so badly to find that Charlie and Louise did in fact end up together after the war and that Charlie was their grandfather/father. To know that he always loved her was so sad and beautiful.
I was tempted to give this book just two stars because it was so hard for me to get through for the reasons listed at the top of this review, but that ending really did me in. 3/5 for me!
What I didn’t like:
- I found some details pretty far-fetched. The many family connections are just too coincidental/unrealistic. Also, the way the characters know at least two famous people- Arletty and Coco Chanel. Then they come across Ernest Hemingway. It just seemed like a reach to me.
- For me, it was hard to follow. There were a lot of characters here, several going by other names as well.
- Some important details felt rushed. It needed more to fully develop.
- Finally, it had to many similarities to The Nightingale for me (i.e. estranged sisters, a father who had become a drunk and abandoned his family after WWI only to actually be fighting against the Nazis, extreme bravery as several females rescue and protect displaced soldiers, the main character’s children not knowing their parent’s brave past, etc.). I’m sure this wasn’t the author’s intention but with so many similarities to an extremely popular book, it comes across as trying to also reach that level of popularity without being original.
Big spoilers:
I loved the shock at the end. I was completely stunned to find that their grandmother/mother was actually Sasha. And to learn that the Louise we had believed escaped and lived a wonderful life had actually been murdered- devastating. I cried. I especially cried reading the epilogue. I wanted so badly to find that Charlie and Louise did in fact end up together after the war and that Charlie was their grandfather/father. To know that he always loved her was so sad and beautiful.
I was tempted to give this book just two stars because it was so hard for me to get through for the reasons listed at the top of this review, but that ending really did me in. 3/5 for me!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2023
Pregnant with her 1st child, Nicole is panic-stricken by a picture sent by an aunt researching family history. The image is at complete odds with treasured memories of her beloved grandmother. Will Nicole’s child ever be old enough to learn their family history includes a Nazi collaborator? There must be a mistake. Can Nicole discover the truth in Paris, or should the past be kept a secret?
The story is told in dual timelines by 3 POVs. In the present day, Nicole Beaumont wants to learn the truth about her grandmother, Louise Bassett, a housemaid, at The Ritz Hotel Paris in 1944. The past will be revealed from POVs by Louise and Kit Harrington, an American bomber pilot and older brother to Charlie, both flying missions over France from Stansted Air Force Base, England.
The well-written story is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking. I wanted to turn the pages as quickly as possible and in the same moments slowly, particularly as Louise and Kit told of the past. It is a story of courage, sacrifice, resilience, duty before self, and honor above all.
The story is told in dual timelines by 3 POVs. In the present day, Nicole Beaumont wants to learn the truth about her grandmother, Louise Bassett, a housemaid, at The Ritz Hotel Paris in 1944. The past will be revealed from POVs by Louise and Kit Harrington, an American bomber pilot and older brother to Charlie, both flying missions over France from Stansted Air Force Base, England.
The well-written story is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking. I wanted to turn the pages as quickly as possible and in the same moments slowly, particularly as Louise and Kit told of the past. It is a story of courage, sacrifice, resilience, duty before self, and honor above all.
"This was a time of history that seems incredible to us now, and yet that is only a whisper of a generation away, and I realize one thing is true. We cannot change what has happened, and we cannot fight it, but the best thing we can do is to understand, and to honor the members of our family who fought so hard for our freedom."There is beauty in reading the Author’s Note, as the reader learns the author’s inspiration for the novel and the individuals that are not only characters in a story but lived the experiences brought vividly to life with the author’s creativity and gripping storytelling.
April 9, 2023
This book opens at the end of WWII with a traumatic description of a woman accused of collaborating with the Nazi’s having her head shaved and being tarred. Set in duel timelines, 1944 during the occupation of Paris, and and the present, the plot follows four main characters. Louise Basset a housemaid at The Ritz Hotel, her granddaughter Nicole who travels to France to find out the truth about her grandmother and two American airmen shot down during a bombing raid near Paris.
Briefly, after seeing an old photograph of her beloved grandmother with her head shaved and a swastika painted on her face Nicole has to find out the truth. As WWII is ending Louise is cleaning room for many of the most senior German officers and their paramours in one of the most iconic hotel of the time. But she wants to do more to help the resistance, regardless of the danger involved. However, when an injured American airman is brought to the hotel to be hidden she discovers feelings she thought she never had.
This is an enthralling historical drama which uses a lot of factual information and I found the historical detail very interesting. Louise isn’t a particularly likeable character. However, when it becomes clear why she is the way she is her personality becomes much more understandable. I particularly enjoyed the story of Louise’s mother, it’s amazing just how brave and resilient members of the La Résistance were. A good WWII historical novel that kept me engaged from start to end, very enjoyable read.
Briefly, after seeing an old photograph of her beloved grandmother with her head shaved and a swastika painted on her face Nicole has to find out the truth. As WWII is ending Louise is cleaning room for many of the most senior German officers and their paramours in one of the most iconic hotel of the time. But she wants to do more to help the resistance, regardless of the danger involved. However, when an injured American airman is brought to the hotel to be hidden she discovers feelings she thought she never had.
This is an enthralling historical drama which uses a lot of factual information and I found the historical detail very interesting. Louise isn’t a particularly likeable character. However, when it becomes clear why she is the way she is her personality becomes much more understandable. I particularly enjoyed the story of Louise’s mother, it’s amazing just how brave and resilient members of the La Résistance were. A good WWII historical novel that kept me engaged from start to end, very enjoyable read.
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