This historical fiction was full of romance; intrigue, suspense, wit and of course history. It was a well written story and I look forward to reading more of this authors work.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

"A real man sees the treasure before him, and will fight tooth and nail to be worthy of the claim. No matter how long it takes him."

This is the first book by J'nell Ciesielski that I have read and I'm wondering why I haven't read her books sooner. The author takes a fascinating look at the underground French Resistance in 1941 Paris with two English socialites, Ellie and Kat, and a Scottish/French bar owner, Barrett, as main characters. The plot held me captive as Barrett was thwarted at every turn in his attempt to get the sisters back home safely; the twists and turns in the plot definitely provided a tense undercurrent of espionage that made the story quite exciting. The dialogue between Kat and Barrett is incredibly clever and witty. Though complete opposites, Kat and Barrett were equally lovable with Kat being the upper crust lady who travels within black and white boundaries of decorum and social duty and Barrett being the self-made working class man who relies solely on his wits and strength. By getting to know each other, Kat starts to break away from what is expected and Barrett begins to understand that his worth is more than what was allotted at birth.

If you enjoy well-written historical romance, you will definitely enjoy this one. Even through the horrors and atrocities of WWII, something beautiful can come forth. I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

As this book opens, we are in Paris, and what should be a beautiful place is now occupied by the enemy. Kat has made it there and wants to convince her sister to come home to England, and this is where we join the story,
I can't even imagine the horror of living during this time of evil, but we are soon hobnailing it with the Germans and the leaders at the very top.
There is a bit of romance, violence, and a fear that those we begin to care about may not make it out alive.
I will note that this is definitely not a Christian book, and was surprised, but the read made this period very real.
I received this book through Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson- for the ARC of The Socialite written by J'nell Ciesielski
The cover and description of this book really intrigued me so I requested this book, it is an historical book set in the 1940's. unfortunately the writing style and story line did not have me from the beginning. For me it was a struggle to get through, even though there are a ton of positive reviews
The story is about two sisters, Ellie has already left England for Paris and "befriended" a Nazi named Eric, actually romantically involved, who spoils her and provides her with attention, parties, food and drink.. Her sister Kat has followed her to encourage her to make the journey home to England., where their father is a very influential person. while attending a party that her sister is hosting, Kat meets Barrett who owns a bar and is helping the Resistance. they are attracted to each other, but of course Kat initially acts proper towards him for the first few days and slowly lets her guard down
I found this book dragged a bit and didn't keep my attention, it may just be i'm not a fan of historical fiction

If you are looking for a wonderful historical fiction book with memorable characters, rich in detail than look no further. I highly recommend this book!

Earlier this week, I had the joy of reading #TheSocialite by @jnellciesielski. I absolutely love historical fiction reads and I was so taken by @jnellciesielski’s ability to take the raw history of Paris during the Nazi’s occupation. Our main protagonist, socialite Kat, is a brave woman of measure who is trying to save her sister from being the mistress of a Nazi soldier. In order to help her sister, Kat partners with British intelligence by integrating herself in the midst of the Nazi’s elite circle and feeding information back to the Resistance.


I throughly enjoyed the composition of the book and how the author transported readers through the richness of her storytelling and her ability to bring compelling characters to life. Throughout the work, I continuously an updated the ending to The Socialite and was so thrilled by the ending!

The Socialite is the first book I have read by J’nell Ciesielski. I can honestly say I like her style. The romance between Kat and Barrett was believable, and I enjoyed their chemistry. The progression of their relationship seemed as if it could have been based on a true story instead of purely fiction. At times it was hard seeing the Natzi’s point of view, and imagining how many of the officers had mistresses. Emma being one of those was an interesting point of view, and I’m sure her experience was much more glamorous than most. I enjoyed Kat’s perspective from being taken care of her whole life, to seeing that there was a lot worse suffering going on compared to rationing her lipstick. Getting to know Barrett broke down several of her misconceptions while opening her eyes to new possibilities. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Romance. I don’t remember anything strongly faith based in this story, but it wasn’t overly graphic, and didn’t have any foul language. I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing and was in no way forced to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I honestly have no idea why I requested this book on NetGalley. I haven't read HIstorical Fiction in quite a while and I'm definitely tired of WWII fiction. I'm glad I did. What a viewpoint on a war that it seems like EVERYONE has written about!
Kat's sister Ellie runs off with a Nazi and lives the high life for a while as the Nazi regime rampages across Europe. Kat has no other option than to go get her sister when her family is heartbroken by her sister's actions. A socialite, a woman of privilege, heads out to save the life of her irresponsible sister.
I loved the world building. It was refreshing and lush. It paints such a lovely image into the mind's eye and helped me, personally, to immerse myself into the story. I found myself wrapped up in the story and feeling so much for the characters. I enjoyed getting to know them and seeing how the story played out for each individual.
I'm so glad I requested this one!

Book Review ⁣
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The Socialite by J’nell Ciesielski ⁣
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars⁣
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Upon convincing her father that she is the only person who can lure her runaway sister back home from the whirlwind of Nazi occupied Paris, Kat finds she has her work cut out for her. Kat finds out she isn’t alone in her mission to rescue her sister, Ellie, from the clutches of a Nazi officer who has plans of his own for her, and must follow the lead of a Resistance frontman sent to be their safety net. In a mission of espionage,sabotage, and rubbing elbows with Nazis and Adolph Hitler, this harrowing story grows. ⁣
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This novel is full of intrigue, brushes with danger, and a little romance thrown in to soften the edges. I enjoyed the writing style, how the author managed to hold you in suspense throughout the book, and the painted a vivid picture of life in Nazi occupied Paris. The descriptions made the book come alive for me. ⁣
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I enjoyed the range and depth of the characters as well. Their backgrounds were well fleshed out and you could easily understand where they were coming from, what their motives were, and what drove them throughout the story.⁣
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I think this would make an excellent movie! ⁣
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I have come to the conclusion that I just don't enjoy books that take place in WWII. I DNF'd this one about 25% in. I didn't like any of the characters. I had a hard time buying the premise. It definitely wasn't for me.

This WWII historical fiction is...ok. A British socialite goes to occupied France to retrieve her wayward sister who is dating a Nazi officer. A man in the resistance helps her. Predictably, they face troubles and fall in love. There was nothing new in the book and I struggled to finish it. If you love WWII fiction, maybe this one is for you, but lower your standards on good writing.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy.

I was incredibly impressed with this book, as it was the perfect combination of romance, thriller, and historical fiction. I was intrigued and interested until the very end. If you're a fan of WW2 dramatics, this one is definitely for you! I also enjoyed that while it was sensual in some parts, it wasn't explicit, so I feel comfortable enough to let my teenager read this as well.

4 out of 5 stars for The Socialiate by J'nell Ciesielski. A huge thank you to the author and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read and review this fantastic book. All opinions are fully my own.

Intrigue and espionage abound in this World War II adventure.

Kat, a proper English lady, finds herself in occupied France, living in an apartment paid for by her sister's lover, a Nazi officer. As she attempts to influence her sister to return home without alienating her, she becomes embroiled in espionage and even finds herself a guest of Adolph Hitler himself!

Barrett is a scrappy Scot who runs a bar. Trains resistance fighters. And rescues damsels in distress. I enjoyed his brash confidence and quick thinking. Kat drove him crazy with her innocence and a face that gave away her feelings so clearly.

Moving quickly and whisking me away to another time and place, The Socialite was fascinating. Barrett's secrets and feelings of inadequacy due to the circumstances of his birth created a barrier between Kat and himself.

As you may imagine, with Kat's sister being a mistress, the story deals with some seedy subjects but handles them delicately. Though labeled as "Christian" on Amazon, there is no mention of God, nor any life-change due to His influence in the story, so I didn't classify it as such. In fact, the romance between Kat and Barrett was a little steamy. At one point in particular, it is clear that if their kissing had not been interrupted, things would have gone much further. There is no indication that either felt this would be wrong, other than for the sake of what society might think.

If you enjoy clean historical fiction, with a little passion, The Socialite is a great option for you.

The Socialite by J'nell Ciesielski is a WWII novel that is a perfect mixture of family, romance, espionage and eventful moments of 1941 in Nazi occupied Paris.

Kat Whitford is the oldest sister from a prominent British family. She always does the right thing so when her baby sister Ellie runs off to Paris and becomes the lover of a high placed Nazi officer Kat takes off to bring her home.

In her way of getting Ellie home is the hold Eric, the Nazi, has on her sister, the dashing American bar owner Barrett who is much more than he says he is, and the Allies who want Kat to use her socialite ways to get close to the Nazi officers to gather secrets to help them win the war.

This book was so perfectly descriptive and every scene was clear and visual in my mind. The war itself, though a major component of the plot, was not the lead story. The love Kat has for her immature selfish sister is front and center and the flirty banter between Kat and Barrett made me smile every moment they were together.

There is violence but comparatively mild to other books in this genre. Considering the backdrop of Nazi occupied Paris there are some laughs and romance. It was as light a read possible for the subject matter.

The story takes place in 1941 and I really would have loved an epilogue of where our beloved characters wound up after the war. Maybe a sequel could be in the future!
I received a free copy of this book from First Editions & the publisher via NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

From the moment I started reading The Socialite, I was swept into Nazi-occupied Paris. This is a different side of World War II than I've seen before, as it gives a glimpse of the lives of Nazi officers and even Hitler himself. The story centers around strong, dutiful English socialite Kat, who travels to Paris to retrieve her sister Ellie, the mistress of a Nazi officer. When British intelligence realizes the access to information the sisters can provide, Kat partners with Resistance trainer Barrett to gain information and then get Ellie out of France.

I really loved everything about this book—the characters, the danger and intrigue, the romance. I also loved that I was unsure how it would end (beyond Kat and Barrett's happily ever after, which I assumed was assured)—until the very last pages, I didn't know which characters would survive.

And let's talk about those last pages ... the ending is unexpected and perfect! I turned the final page with such a sense of satisfaction, while simultaneously wishing I could spend more time with the characters.

The Socialite is a beautifully written novel that will stick with me for some time, and I'll be on the lookout for more books from J'nell Ciesielski.

I definitely have a penchant for reading historical fiction set amid WWII. This book happened to take place in Paris during that era.

This book was about the relationship between two sisters - Kat and Ellie. Ellie has fallen in love with a high ranking Nazi officer and has grown familiar to a freeing lifestyle that she did not have with her parents. Even still, Kat is determined to bring her sister home despite Ellie's wishes.

Will Kat be successful? Or will her efforts be fruitless?

I really enjoyed Kat. She was a spunky, courageous, and strong female heroine. I always appreciate strong female leads and both Kat and Ellie demonstrated these qualities.

I very much enjoyed this story and would recommend it to historical fiction fans - particularly if you enjoy WWII fiction.

This book was really good! I was swept away into the story. There were parts that had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen. I really loved all the details included in this book! I'm not usually a fan of WWII stories, but I really enjoyed this one!


I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Socialite is a historical fiction novel that takes place in Nazi occupied France during World War II. Based on the description and considering this is my favorite time period when it comes to historical fiction, I had no doubt I would enjoy it. It's a unique, well-researched and engaging read.

After Ellie runs off to Paris to live with her Nazi boyfriend Major Eric Von Schlegel, it is up to her older sister Kat to bring her home. The problem is, Ellie has become accustomed to the luxurious lifestyle Eric provides and has no intention of returning to a shackled life with their parents. Kat knows she must tread carefully lest she push her sister even further away.
Enter Barrett Anderson, a charming Scot who runs a bar while working with the Resistance to train fighters right under the Nazi's noses. Unbeknownst to Kat, he has been hired by her father Sir Alfred Whitford to keep her safe - which is no easy feat - and return the sisters to England unharmed. He certainly has his work cut out for him. Things are further complicated when they are tasked with getting closer to the enemy to assist British intelligence.

Kat is a great heroine and I absolutely adored Barrett's character. I loved watching their relationship unfold. The chemistry between them was undeniable and the banter was a nice addition to the tense, dangerous setting.
I can't say I'm a huge fan of Ellie. She's incredibly spoiled and chose to ignore what Eric does in order to continue living a life of luxury. Thankfully, she does eventually come to her senses but by then it's almost too late.

I would definitely recommend picking this up if you're a fan of historical fiction set during WWII. The Socialite has it all. Glamour, espionage, romance and danger. The romance definitely stole the show for me though!

Every historical fiction novel I read gives a different perspective on the era that the novel takes place in. During Nazi ravaged Paris in the 1940s, J'nell Ciesielski creates such a romantic and suspenseful tale about society's elite that wants to get away from all the order ~ that it easily transported me to the time and setting instantly, in which the story is told. I love when an author can do that simply with the flow of their words, and J'nell clearly is a master at this talent!

The Socialite was such a great and quick read - I did not want to put t down! Plus, the cover is so beautiful and one of the reasons I submitted a request to read this novel.

Thank you NetGalley for my eARC of this story in exchange for my honest review.

THE SOCIALITE
BY J'NELL CIESIELSKI

I really enjoyed this novel of historical fiction set in occupied Paris by the Nazi's and Hitler's propaganda machine. Kathleen Whitford arrives from England to bring her semi delusional sister Ellie home. They are the daughter's of Sir Alfred Whitford who is considered influential from his money and class in English society. He is wheelchair bound and he tasks his daughter Kathleen into thinking she is the one who can convince Ellie to come home. Unbeknownst to Kat who has a good head on her shoulders and can see that Ellie is in imminent danger by having a love affair with a Nazi who is married; Kat has no idea that her father has hired Barrett Anderson to deliver both sister's back to England.

There is much glamour at first with champagne and parties as the two sister's reunite. Ellie is social secretary to her boyfriend Eric who is a high ranking Nazi who has plans for Ellie. Kat can see that her sister is a fawn among wolves in sheep's clothing. Barrett Anderson befriends Kat and he is training the French resistance efforts on the sly while owning a bar as a cover from the German's. Barrett gets a message from MI6 that the plans have changed and the two English debutantes along with him are to ingratiate themselves and learn Nazi secrets.

This novel was enjoyable as it has everything from espionage to romance and I especially loved the dialogue between all of the character's. Can Barrett safely smuggle Kat and Ellie out of occupied France and return them to their home in England? Will Kat find out that Barrett is being paid by her father instead of their budding romance and their mission? Will Eric let Ellie go or will he use all of his clout with the resources he has to stop her from leaving? This novel was perfectly paced with a unique plot and was entertaining as it didn't trigger the atrocities the Nazi's did with their evil and vile treatment of the Jewish people. This was more family based and portrayed the love of two sisters. The fantasy that Ellie was living under comes to an end when she discovers Eric's true plans for her.

Kat and Barrett have their work cut out for them as all three of them need to escape using their wits and courage. The storytelling and the characterization was expertly devised in this clever narrative. It is a lighter World War II story set in 1941 centering on two English socialites in Nazi occupied Paris without all of the cruelties that we usually are exposed to when faced with this subject. The realism of the Nazi's plundering France still took place but was more of a backdrop of the plot. Highly recommended to those who enjoy historical fiction with just the right amount of romance blended in for escapism during this very hard time we are facing with this pandemic.

Thank you to Net Galley, J'nell Ciesielski and Thomas Nelson Publishing for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Publication Date: April 14, 2020

#TheSocialite #J'nellCiesielski #ThomasNelsonPublishing #NetGalley