Historical fiction is slowly creeping its way into becoming one of my favorite genres. Generally, the novels I have read have been exceptional, Mistress of the Ritz does not disappoint. The novel tells the story of Claude and Blanche Auzello. The characters of Claude and Blanche are real, as is the Hotel Ritz. There are many missing pieces of information in the real story, yet the author is able to weave in and create two well rounded characters. Each character including the Hotel Ritz feels like a real, visceral entity.

Both Claude and Blanche are flawed and I found them to be very realistic, and their relationship feels raw and real. Both Blanche and Claude seem to have so many secrets both from the world at large and each other. It is their secrets that both divide and unite them. The story is definitely bittersweet, but since a lot of the backbone of the story is based on true events, the author stays true to the real life path of these characters, who are both ordinary and extraordinary at the same time. A worthwhile read for anybody, but especially for fans of historical fiction. Novel supplied by Netgalley.

Historical fiction is my jam. It's my favorite genre and I've read a lot of it over the years. A lot of the HF books I've been reading as of late have been centered around WWII and have variations of the same story: people trying to live their lives in France, Russia and even Germany when BAM! The Nazis are here! Everything changes for them, and the story ensues and provides insight as to how these families deal with their new realities.
This book, however, takes on a different setting entirely. Yes, it's set in Paris, France when the Nazi regime rolls into town and slowly but surely takes over and changes everything. But there's a twist! The focus is completely centered around The Ritz, Paris, a hotel that shifts from a true paradise for royals and celebrities from all around the world to a Nazi hub toward the war effort.
I was so enthralled by the story line as well as the writing style! I thought the voices (2 protagonists, husband and wife duo) were distinct from one another and I loved the dynamic between them. Not only were they dealing with making their marriage work, but they were partners in running the Hotel with their perspective roles and even keeping secrets from the Germans (and each other) as they each worked for the Resistance.
I enjoyed finding out the truth behind the secrecy, and seeing characters come out of their shells and do what they could to bring down the dreaded Nazi threat.
Definitely one of my favorite reads of this year so far.

Claude is the director of the famous Ritz Hotel. He and his American wife, Blanche help keep this famous hotel running smoothly. When the Nazis move in and take over, it threatens everything these two have fought for. But, they are not finished fighting yet. With many secrets and espionage tactics, these two help with the war effort in unique and covert ways.

This book is slow in the beginning and to tell you the truth, I was not a fan of Claude at all. He was way too domineering and demanding of Blanche. But don’t worry…Blanche can handle it. And boy does she ever! This is not what this book is about but I did enjoy their horrendous fights. And Blanche HATED Chanel. She and Chanel have very entertaining interactions which really added to the unique atmosphere of the Ritz.

This is not my favorite Melanie Benjamin story. It moves a little too slow. But the famous setting and the famous people from the past are very thrilling. This really give the reader a different aspect to surviving WWII.

I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review.

This book took me by surprise. As I started to read it, I had a hard time connecting with Blanche and Claude. Claude is the director of The Ritz and Blanche The Mistress. Before the German occupation, they lead cushy lives. And when The Ritz is overtaken by soldiers their lives become much more complicated than they already were. Their inability to communicate was frustrating, especially as they each navigated Paris, The Ritz and their marriage through the Nazi occupation in France. As I started to understand why they had a hard time communicating with one another, my opinion of them turned around. And in the end, I was moved by this book.

ARC provided by NetGalley

Wow!! The twist and turns kept me up late. Highly recommend this book about the Ritz during WW2.. It was an interesting look at challenges of living in Paris.

I received this book from NetGalley for a honest review.

Engrossing story based on the true couple who managed the Ritz in Paris during WWII.

Claude, the husband, is French, and Blanche is his American wife. Many other famous real people are also featured in the book (Chanel! Hemingway! and with a different point of view than I've seen done before.)

After beginning with how they met, the story focuses on their relationship with each other, as well as what they do during the Occupation.

I had read other stories about the same timeline and topic, but I definitely enjoyed this one the best. It was not dry.

Written as a drama, and changing view points back and forth between Claude and Blanche, I could not put it down!

What a great historical fiction! You can tell by the writing that it was extensively researched and much is known about the Occupation of Paris by the Germans but little is known about those who lived and worked at the iconic Ritz. The characters truly come alive on the pages of this book and the story is at times inspiring and heart breaking. You definitely feel the emotions of the times in this story. The book changing viewpoints is a wonderful way to show how the main couple is so different yet similar in their outlook. I would definitely recommend this book. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

I received an advanced copy of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an interesting read. Benjamin interprets the effects of WWII in such a unique way. The book is more than a retelling of how German officers took over hotels throughout Paris and how they rounded up unsuspecting citizens. It humanizes both the Germans and the Parisians. The Ritz was the place to go to see and be seen. It also was a mask for people to hide behind. The Azuellos exhibited how the Ritz gave them strength and courage to act contrary to their public personas. The Ritz though was also the Azuellos crutch as they leaned on it to get through a tumultuous marriage and the devastation caused by the war. Throughout every step, the lives they led at the Ritz was how they identified themselves. This book was both insightful and thought provoking.

I read a lot of historical fiction and much of it is about WWII and I was excited to find a new take on it in "Mistress of the Ritz." The story revolves around the Auzellos - Blanche, an American woman, and her husband Claude, who eventually becomes the manager of the storied Ritz in Paris where everyone from Ernest Hemingway to Coco Chanel visit. Together, Blanche and Claude are the master and mistress of the grand hotel, catering to the whims and keeping the secrets of the famous guests.

But in 1940, the Germans take Paris and with it, the Ritz, making it one of their headquarters and forcing the Auzellos into a new way of life. Their choices make for a suspenseful ride and show how even those who were not enlisted found a way to participate in the fight to bring down the Nazis.

When I got to the author's note, I was shocked to find that Melanie Benjamin based this story on a real-life couple and their associates and experiences during WWII. I wish the author had told the story in a more linear timeline which would have gotten to the action quicker but if you're a fan of historical fiction based on actual events, this is a great read.

The Mistress of the Ritz tells the story of Claude and Blanche Azuello. Claude meets Blanche in the 1920's. She is a visiting actress and he is a hotel Manager. The story details their marriage and their life at the Paris Ritz before and mostly during the German occupation. The novel goes into the moral dilemmas that each person faces while living under occupation. It also explores their lives as a married couple from different perspectives, she's an American and he a traditional Frenchman. How they resolve these moral dilemmas, in their marriage and as people living a in a terrible time, makes for an exciting and engrossing tale.

I recently read one of Melanie Benjamin’s books and was really taken by her research and writing abilities. When I saw that she had another book coming out so soon, I was eager to jump on board and see how this one compared.

To be honest, I was way more excited about this book than the original book I read, The Girls in the Picture. This one sounded a little more like something I would be into. While I loved the ‘old Hollywood’ vibe in The Girls in the Picture, WWII is more my time period.

As with the first book I read by this author, I love the cover art and found my eye being drawn to the cover again and again. It promised the elegance and romantic vibe of the city of Paris, but also indicated something a little more tragic on the horizon.

Summary

In March 1940, the Nazis sweep Paris and immediately take up residence in one of the city’s most iconic sites: The Hotel Ritz. There, under a roof legendary for its unprecedented luxury and for its fabled residents–including Coco Chanel, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Cole Porter, Hemingway, Balanchine, Doris Duke, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and now Hermann Göering–the Nazis rule over a paralyzed city.

But two residents of the Ritz refuse to be defeated: its director, Claude Auzello, and his beautiful American actress wife, Blanche. They not only oversee the smooth workings of the hotel, but both Blanche and Claude throw themselves fearlessly into the dangerous and clandestine workings of the French Resistance.

This is a true-to-life novel of a courageous woman and her husband who put their marriage–and ultimately their lives–in jeopardy to fight for freedom. Intimate, fearless, and moving, it spins a brilliantly and unforgettably vivid human portrait at a time of unimaginable crisis and sacrifice (summary from Goodreads).

Review

Lately there has been a rash of historical fiction novels based on women spies during the World Wars and I am totally here for it! So much emphasis is put on soldiers in the wars with women often being depicted as sock knitting home bodies waiting for their men to come home.

As many of us know, there were a number of women who went to work in factories and took up the jobs of men who were off fighting. But as we have seen in recent years, there were a number of women who also worked in covert ops, spying, and espionage in the wars. Many of those women risked their lives to pass on information or save the lives of soldiers or innocent people. This particular book, while historical fiction, is based on a real life woman which made it so much more exciting for me to read!

When I started this book, I didn’t know if the characters were based on real people or not, but I strongly suspected that they were. Benjamin wrote with such knowledge on the characters and the time period that I couldn’t help but suspect they were based on real life individuals.

This book was very emotional and not something I would call a ‘light’ read by any means. I often found myself nervous for the characters, anxious about the occupation, and of course all the risks the characters were taking. It was a book that I easily became invested in from the start.

There was also quite a bit of romance in the story which I thought nicely balanced the heavy historical content. I also liked how the author addressed some of the issue that Blanche struggled with, such as actually liking some of the Nazi soldiers. I thought that was a very realistic issue that I often wonder about sometimes and I liked how the author moved the characters through issues such as that.

Overall I enjoyed this book and reading about new historical tidbits during a time period where so much material is in the market, I felt like this book stood out and a cross between romance and more serious historical fiction. A wonderful blend of the two!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I thought the strongest parts of the story were the ones that described the effects of the takeover and Paris and the Ritz both before and during the war. Claude and Blanche seem like they had a great story to tell. I tend to find conflicts caused by cultural differences far more interesting than conflicts caused by simple lack of communication. Also, Blanche seemed to make some foolish choices just to make them a lot of the time.

The atmosphere was great, and I thought the author did a nice job of providing context. I cared about Claude and Blanche, even if they were frustrating at times. I'm still not sure how I feel about the end. Maybe a little more time spent on Claude and Blanche's lives after the war would have been nice.

I was reluctant to read another book based on World War II, and there are so many, as well there should be, knowing we must never forget the horrors of war and especially WWII. The reason I didn’t want to read this was I needed something not as heavy but I succumbed to the pull of The Ritz Hotel and how it played a major roll in the Nazi occupation of Paris and actually served as its headquarters in Paris. Being a historical novel written by the amazing story teller/historian, Melanie Benjamin it was a no brainer as I have enjoyed all her writings....and, a bonus, I was able to obtain an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) from NetGalley. Having recently read and reviewed on my blog, Ritz and Escoffier, which I really loved, I was interested to learn more about how The Ritz survived this horrific period in history.

The story revolves around the Ritz French General Manager, Claude Auzello and his American wife, Blanche. Beginning with their whirlwind courtship, and his advancement as a hotelier it then follows them through the intrigues of living with and serving the enemy in their Hotel. Becoming an important part of the Resistance evolves and using historical facts Benjamin keeps the story moving with intrigue, love affairs, behind the scenes hotel stories as well as how everyday citizens respond to crisis in order to survive.


Obviously, wartime at the Ritz was one of the darker chapters in the hotel's history. When they arrived in Paris, the Germans used the hotel as a swanky headquarters for high-ranking officers, Hermann Göring among them. The Nazis took over half the hotel, allowing the other half to remain open to guests. Gone were the halcyon days of Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Porter and the romantic thoughts of Proust....instead the uniforms and boots of Nazi’s filled the lobby, bar and rooms of the legendary hotel. The hotel staff ate well from the leftovers of the invaders and, of course Claude and Blanche lived on site.

I felt the story told us more of Blanches role as she became more independent of her husband in trying to find her way in a hostile environment, to help those in need, as well as a more self sufficient woman.

Having done extensive research on Paris Haute Couture, I do know quite a bit about how the French Couturiers survived, some are briefly mentioned, and of Hitler’s desire to move Couture to Berlin, not mentioned in the book but worth your while to research if you are interested, it is a fascinating story. I did enjoy the encounter, in the book, between Blanche, who is wearing a Schiaparelli dress, and Mademoiselle Chanel’s comments to her. Chanel and Schiaparelli were arch enemies and this sentence conveys this animosity perfectly.

Gabrielle Chanel plays a minor role in this novel but her presence is definitely there and she makes an occasional appearance. It was while she was staying at the Ritz during the war years that she had a romantic liaison with Baron Hans Gunther von Dincklage, a German officer and spy. She also took care of him in her home, Villa Pausa on the French Riviera, after the war. There is much speculation about Chanel and the Nazi’s....was she a collaborator, was she a spy for the British...for more on this story I recommend you also read Sleeping With The Enemy: Coco Chanel’s Secret War.

I know you want to know if I recommend reading this book....by now you must know I don’t review books I don’t like so the answer is yes, read it.

What an opportunity to write an historical novel built on just a few known facts. In many ways, the author succeeds in developing the two main characters and making the Ritz Paris a character also. Because the most revealing aspect of their lives happens during the Nazi occupation during WWII, I was hoping for more inclusion of the French Resistance and more interactions with the Nazi soldiers headquartered at the Ritz. Unfortunately, Blanche (the main female character) seems so many times to act out of character as a ditzy unthinking woman instead of the strong, caring human being she is also portrayed as. I did love all the famous name dropping of guests of the hotel and the ending was so appropriate.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC to read and review.

An enjoyable book about the goings on at the Ritz hotel in Paris during WWII. This is a true story while taking some liberties. A married couple where the husband managed the hotel and cheated on his wife. His American wife who was quite spoiled and did as she pleased. It was a sad situation watching how the german’s took over the hotel.

Another wonderful Historical Fiction read for 2019!

Based on true events, The Mistress of the Ritz introduces you to the Auzello’s, the power couple behind the Ritz hotel. Headstrong American Blanche, and her hotel director French husband Claude, are hosts, the mistress and master of the Ritz. Doting on guests and providing the glitz and glamour that only the Ritz is known for.

Taken to the events in 1940 Paris, where German forces sweep through the city and occupy the lovely hotel.

This book features all of the things I love when it comes to historical fiction. Strong character building, a new sense of learning something about a time in history I was previously unaware of, and a little dash of romance thrown in for good measure.

I loved this book and was drawn to the glamour that existed within the walls of the Ritz Hotel, as well as to Blanche, and was pulling for their marriage in such a hard time of history.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Delacorte Press and Penguin Randomhouse for this complimentary digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own

Captivating, affecting, & illuminating!

MISTRESS OF THE RITZ by MELANIE BENJAMIN is an engaging, suspenseful, and hauntingly beautiful historical fiction novel that totally captures something extraordinary here as well as fully capturing my heart. I was immediately taken with this story and found myself totally mesmerized and in awe of MELANIE BENJAMIN’S ability to weave such a fantastic story that is based on real-life people and actual historical events with her own liberties of juicy fictional storytelling.

MELANIE BENJAMIN delivers a vividly descriptive, interesting, and well-written read here with characters and a setting that totally captivated and intrigued me. I was totally taken and fascinated with both Claude and Blanche’s dynamic relationship as well as with their lives spent in the highly acclaimed Hotel Ritz in Paris.

I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed how this story unfolded right from the very beginning. And I was totally wrapped up in this couple’s relationship and loved the suspense of the unraveling of the secrets and lies.

** This was a Traveling Sisters Read **

Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Lovely, intriguing, majestic, eye-catching and a fitting representation to storyline.
Title: Appealing, suspenseful, intriguing and absolutely love how the title plays so fittingly into storyline.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, beautiful, fluid, vivid, engaging, and captivating. I totally connected with and absolutely loved MELANIE BENJAMIN’S writing style.
Plot: Haunting, memorable, fascinating, inspiring, suspenseful, perfectly-paced, original, absorbing, enjoyable and entertaining. I absolutely loved that this book was inspired by the real-life couple of Claude and Blanche and the setting of the Ritz. As I thoroughly enjoy books that are based on real life events and people. Knowing that just makes the story that much more appealing, memorable and fascinating to read.
Ending: An exceptional and extremely palpable ending that warmed my heart but also left it a little broken-hearted.
Overall: 4.5 Stars! I was totally captivated by this book and totally taken with these characters and their lives and with the events that happened at the Ritz. A book that I am glad that I took my time with and savoured every single word! Loved this book so much!!!! Would highly recommend!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Delacorte Press & Melanie Benjamin for the opportunity to read an electronic ARC of this book.

d rate this at least a 4. I generally like Melanie Benjamin’s books, as The Aviators Wife and The Girls in the Picture, as they are very thoroughly researched on the topics she writes about. Mistress of the Ritz is an intriguing historical fiction account of Claude and Blanche Azuello, he the straight laced manager of the Ritz and she his flamboyant, independent ex-flapper American wife during some turbulent years in Paris, 1923-1945. Although I had never heard of either one before I read this novel, it is a novel about their daring, courage and resistance during the Nazi takeover of France, and particularly at the Ritz which served as a Nazi headquarters in Paris. However, it also is about the Azuellos’s tumultuous marriage with many secrets and lies, and although from different upbringings, and diametrically opposed perspectives on life and living, how in the end they both truly loved each other. I loved reading about life at the Ritz, with all of its opulence and luxury, with the likes of its colorful guests, such as Coco Chanel (a longtime resident), F. Scott Fitzgerald Ernest Hemingway to name a few. Ms. Benjamin gave such a real life depiction of life in the Ritz that you felt like you were there. The characters were all generally well defined. I received a copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I absolutely loved this book. Once I opened it up it was so hard to out down. The author is able to pull you directly in and feel for the chats right away. So glad I read it.

Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin. I like historical fiction. You read a story about something that happened long ago, an author writes about it. Melanie Benjamin writes about Blanche as Mistress Of the Ritz. She does it beautifully. . Is a story that sometimes breaks your heart. You get to the end and you want to find out more about the history. Read it.