I have been a fan of Rhys Bowen’s books for years, especially Her Royal Spyness series. However, she has written a handful of standalone novels, and I was lucky to receive an ARC of The Paris Assignment, coming out in August.

I could not put the book down, although, since most of the book takes place during World War II, some of the scenes were tough to read. We meet the main character, Madeleine Grant, when she is studying in Paris in 1931. She falls in love with a French student and does not return home to England. She gets pregnant and then marries her lover before WWII begins.

The novel really gets going, however, when Madeleine volunteers to work undercover in France after she believes she has lost her family. The training and camaraderie among the other women would-be agents as well as some push back from the men made for interesting reading. When the women get dropped off behind enemy lines, the action is pretty heart-stopping. The resourcefulness Madeleine uses to survive kept me turning the page.

This novel had elements of thriller, adventure, romance, and family drama. It was a most satisfying read. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Absolutely great piece of historical fiction. Thank you Net Galley and Lake Union for the advance copy and the chance to offer my thoughts.

Somehow I stumbled upon Rhys Bowen and her historical fiction novels a few years ago. They’ve been an eye-opening treat for me. I only wish she could research and write more quickly.

The Paris Assignment is another gem in Bowen’s crown. Well-researched and written. You couldn’t ask for much more. I love her character portrayals of women - especially women in “men’s” jobs. Madeline, Anne, Portia were written in such realistic ways. They were recruited by British Intelligence to train and work behind the lines in France during WWII. None of them were fearless, but they all felt a deep commitment to the war effort and doing their part, all suffered loss but still stepped forward. This is Madeline’s story of living through it all.

You won’t want to miss this!

This book will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, with your heart racing quickly turning the pages until the last word. I didn't realize what was going on in Australia until reading this book. Be prepared, there are things in this book that are not pretty. The things people endured to do their part to win the war is almost beyond belief. This is another excellent World War II book by Rhys Bowen, and it is a MUST READ.

I have never read a Rhys Bowen novel before this one, but I will definitely look into her other works after reading The Paris Assignment. It’s hard to describe this novel without divulging too many details I think would be better left to discover for one’s own when reading it. In short, it’s a novel depicting the life of Madeleine, a French-British woman, during the Second World War. We begin by meeting her in Paris studying at the Sorbonne, where she meets the love of her life, Giles. They soon go on to have a child, a son called Olivier. Madeleine and Olivier travel to England as the war breaks out, whilst Giles stays in France to join the resistance. In England, tragedy strikes, and Madeleine’s life is changed forever, and she decides to join the ministry to help during the war.

This novel has several twists that I didn’t see coming which caused me to immediately have to blab on about the whole book and the emotional distress I was in to my fiancé. Trust me, you will be very upset!! I loved this story. It was emotionally captivating and very fast paced. That was, however, my one gripe with this novel, and why I did not give it 5 stars. Because of the length and how fast paced it was it almost felt rushed. The first few chapters almost felt like a different book because of this, it felt mostly added in for context. I wish it was longer so it would have had more space to breathe, for details, to revel in all the emotions and events. I think that would have made me feel much more immersed in the story.

If you love historical fiction, with a romance sub-plot, dual POV, heartbreaking storylines that will upset you, and badass female main characters, this is for you! I really enjoyed the atmosphere the author was able to convey, and learning about the role of women in the war. This is something I now wish to read more novels about. 4.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC

The Paris Assignment by Rhys Bowen is a great WWII-era historical fiction that really caught my eye and kept my attention.

I have enjoyed books by Ms. Bowen in the past, and this was a promising addition. There was mystery, suspense, drama, intense emotions throughout, love, loss, heartache, devastation, hope and promise. Yep, the reader will be taken through the full gambit with this one.

A resilient and touching novel, however definitely heavy and difficult to read at times due to some of the subject matter. After finishing, reader will definitely be left with a lot to think about.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Lake Union Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/8/23.

Rys Bowman at her best. A great book about the power of resistance and the endurance of love. You will not be able to put this one down.

As an avid Rhys Bowen fan I was very happy to be able to read The Paris Assignment. Reading Ms. Bowen's books is always a pleasure and I find that I dive deep into the characters as she slowly gives more and more into their "character" and personalities. I won't lie, reading The Paris Assignment had me emotional at times as I read about Olivier's (Oliver's plight) along with Madeleine's but I was hopeful for an ending with some sort of resolution whether it was positive or not. I could see if Ms. Bowen wants to continue to write another story and make this book into a series that she has left the room to do so.

Following Madeleine from the Sorbonne through to her days as a English Spy this book touches on how women were utilized in the war but doesn't spend too much time on the drudgery of the training and the actual resistance work. This book is more of a focus on the human aspect and relationships during the war.

I highly recommend this book to readers who are interested in WWII, the resistance, and how the whole entire world was affected by the war. The long-reaching repercussions that most people do not know about are truly touched on in this book and make a lasting impression on the reader.

Historical fiction lovers will love and devour this book by Rhys Bowen. Madeline is studying in Paris when she meets and falls in love with Giles. They have a son, Oliver and then the war starts. Giles goes off to fight and Oliver goes to an orphanage to stay safe. Parts of this book were very hard to read and I felt so sad for those who endured the “orphanage farms” over in Australia. Just terrible and inhumane living conditions for these kids. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published August 2023.

This is another great WWII read!
What does it take to make a successful spy? A lot! Yes, there were many spies who had no formal training, but every country had some well trained agents to make needed connections. Literally one time slip of a word or looking the wrong direction in the street could peg you as suspicious. You had to live your life constantly tuned in for possible inconsistencies or gut feelings of betrayal. You had to trust people and hope it wasn’t the wrong person.
This is an intriguing read and brings up some new facets of what happened with the British.
The ending was unexpected!

The Paris Assignment is another Rys Bowen WWII resistance story. This reader found it a mixed bag. The characters are somewhat cliche, except for Olivier, the heroine’s son. His story will raise your blood pressure. While this is not the best book I have read by this author, it does add to this reader’s understanding of the atrocities of war. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Highly recommend.

This book is so good. It brought out so many emotions which was expected. It pulls my heartstrings reading about WWII.
This shows how a woman working as a spy during WWII was treated. The heartbreaking challenges she faced.
I learned a lot of information that I was ignorant too. I had no clue how poorly some of the imigrant children were treated in Australia.
I definitely recommend reading this. It was a very good book that contained lots of information that should never be forgotten.

I can understand why this author's novels are read so much! I also enjoyed this story particularly from the moment Madeleine went back to England and decided to fight against the Nazis. A lot of tension started then and I got completely immersed in the storyline and the plot kept my attention till the end! Good descriptions of pre-war Paris. The romance bit was for me not so interesting (beginning and end of the book). However, I will definitely go on reading this author's novels.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

I can always count on Rhys Bowen to captivate me with a 5-star, unputdownable story! The Paris Assignment is just another fine example of her expertise. A perfect portrayal of historical fiction with a little bit of romance and suspense. This book had my emotions on speed dial! I could not even imagine the terrors of war, but I felt like I was right there sharing the same experience. The grief, loss, pain and anger were palpable and just ripped out my heart. It was very hard to read at times. I have so much respect and admiration for the brave men and women who dangerously infiltrated enemy territory and spied on the Nazis. It is an honor to be able to relive their stories, fiction or not. The book had a worthy ending and I am so glad for that, but I didn't want it to end. I really want to know what happens next. This will probably make more sense once you've read the book. And I highly recommend that you do!! I loved it!!

Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me digital access in exchange for my honest opinion!

I've been a fan of Rhys Bowen for a while and really enjoyed this novel overall. It had what I enjoyed from Rhys Bowen and it worked well in the time-period. The characters were what I was looking for and how well they worked in this story. I was invested in the story and thought the historical aspect. I can't wait to read more from the author.

"But this is my home,” her father said. “I’ve lived my whole life here. I’m close enough to my old school to come in and teach when they need help.” He gave her a pleading look. “It’s not as if we’re near an industrial or military installation. Any German plane will see we are a quiet suburban street. They won’t deliberately bomb civilians. They are a civilized society, after all.”

I was so excited to read another book by Rhys Bowen. Bowen is the rare author who can vacillate from the often funny Her Royal Spyness novels to more serious fare like this book. The book is set in World War II and the main character has to navigate her role in the war as a woman, a wife, and a mother as well as witness to the horror of a terrible war. I love the history and character development in this book. I found myself rooting for everyone and Bowen describes that numbness that often accompanies tragedy well. I also liked the broader questions that this book asks about sacrifice. The main character has to weigh the bigger picture of winning a war with the recognition that innocent people she loves may not survive in service of that win. This book was a quick read and I found it hard to put down.

Synopsis: (as a fiction book)
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Londoner Madeleine Grant is studying at the Sorbonne in Paris when she marries charismatic French journalist Giles Martin. As they raise their son, Olivier, they hold on to a tenuous promise for the future. Until the thunder of war sets off alarms in France. Staying behind to join the resistance, Giles sends Madeleine and Olivier to the relative safety of England, where Madeleine secures a job teaching French at a secondary school. Yet nowhere is safe. After a devastating twist of fate resulting in the loss of her son, Madeleine accepts a request from the ministry to aid in the war effort. Seizing the smallest glimmer of hope of finding Giles alive, she returns to France. If Madeleine can stop just one Nazi, it will be the start of a valiant path of revenge. Though her perseverance, defiance, and heart will be tested beyond imagining, no risk is too great for a brave wife and mother determined to fight and survive against inconceivable odds.


This may be my first Rhys Bowen book but it will not be my last! I was utterly sucked into the story and its excellent characters and gripping plot line. My lovers of historical fiction will just inhale this book and I can see recommending it HIGHLY far and wide within and outside of my library.

5/5 stars

#shortbutsweetreviews

I love Rhys Bowen and have read all her books - this one was exceptional and I highly recommend it and her as an author!

The book was difficult to read at times. It was tragic with instances of abuse and torture. A realistic view of the horrors of war

I liked the main characters and would happily read all books by this author.
Enjoyable. Rich characterizations, realistic emotions, and a lovely story make for a can't-put-it-down emotional read. Oh my GOSH!!!!!! I read this emotionally charged, compelling book in one sitting.