Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson-FICTION for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own. Kat and Ellie are sisters. When Ellie runs away to Nazi-occupied Paris, Kat will stop at nothing to rescue her (even though she doesn't want to be rescued). This book was good, but I didn't really identify much with the characters, especially Ellie-she seemed spoiled and just out for herself. The story seemed to start slow, but picked up and I really enjoyed the middle and the end of the book. Of course, there's also some romance along the way.

I started reading this, then gave up almost straight away because I couldn’t understand how two English women were in Paris in the middle of World War II.

I tried again a couple of weeks later. This time I made it to the one-quarter mark before giving up. I still didn’t know why the sisters were in Paris, and I also wasn’t convinced that the Germans would see the half-Scot, half-French bar owner as anything but an enemy. Given the central plot seems to be a will-they-won't-they be able to rescue Ellie and get out of Paris, it was important to me that I knew how they'd managed to safely get to Paris in the first place (and why neither Ellie nor her Nazi boyfriend thought Kat's appearance was odd)..

There were a lot of Americanisms that didn’t make sense in a novel that didn’t feature a single American character e.g. a temperature of 99 degrees (In England, that’s hot enough to boil water), or the eight-point buck (the English would call it a stag, or perhaps a hart). And while the SIS is the logical abbreviation of the Secret Intelligence Service, I’ve never heard of it being called anything other than MI6 in general conversation. The author did attempt some British-isms, but they didn’t work either - the phrase is "bloody hell", not “bloody well” (in this context - "no, you bloody well don't" is correct slang. And I don't think either are appropriate in clean./Christian fiction.

But those would have been minor annoyances if the story had been compelling. As it was, I didn’t much care for Ellie, and didn’t see how Kat had managed to travel to Paris. Yes, I could see she loved her sister and wanted to save her from the nasty Germans (even though Ellie's having an affair with a German officer), but even that seemed unlikely, because it didn’t explain how Ellie got to Paris in the first place, let alone Kat. All in all, it all seemed too contrived and I didn’t care.

Yes, the writing was good, but that didn’t and can’t make up for the plot flaws. I'd hoped for better.Ellie's

I relieved an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:

Glamour, treachery, and espionage collide when an English socialite rushes to save her sister from the Nazis.

As the daughter of Sir Alfred Whitford, Kat has a certain set of responsibilities. But chasing her wayward sister, Ellie, to Nazi-occupied Paris was never supposed to be one of them. Now accustomed to the luxurious lifestyle that her Nazi boyfriend provides, Ellie has no intention of going back to the shackled life their parents dictate for them—but Kat will stop at nothing to bring her sister home.

Arrested for simply trying to defend himself against a drunken bully, Barrett Anderson is given the option of going to jail or serving out his sentence by training Resistance fighters in Paris. A bar owner serves as the perfect disguise to entertain Nazis at night while training fighters right below their jackboots during the day. Being assigned to watch over two English debutantes is the last thing he needs, but a payout from their father is too tempting to resist. Can Barrett and Kat trust each other long enough to survive, or will their hearts prove more traitorous than the dangers waiting around the corner?

Review:
I'm not a fan, typically, of period pieces. They really have to capture my attention, hold on, tell me on heck of a story, and leaving me wanting more. That is exactly what this one did. I was caught up in this book so quickly. It was just within the first few pages that I just could not put it down. The book is beautifully written and is so witty. Then to add in romance in a place that you wouldn't expect to find it, a world that was desolate by the WWII and Nazi's. The plot is absolutely riveting and Paris is one of my absolute favorite places. It was a wonderful read.

When did WWII fiction become a genre in its own right? In any case, The Socialite is a worthy addition. Two English sisters find themselves swept up in the senior leadership of the Nazi Party in Paris, and how they extricate themselves is a twisting journey that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It’s a solid book that manages to stand out in this increasingly crowded genre.

This story, set amid WWII Nazi occupied France, is about two sisters. The story is of a British socialite who travels to France to save her sister who is happily living with a Nazi and doesn't want to be saved. She then becomes involved with the resistance.
We follow the sisters as they mingle in Nazi high society. This book has it all, romance, intrigue, danger, suspence. I highly recommend this book. I found it difficult to put down.
Thank to J'nell Ciesielski, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this advanced copy for my honest feedback.

This book was hard to put down. I devoured it in two sittings. The story was so captivating it made you not want it to end. I love it!

The cover is the most wonderful aspect of this novel that attracted me to the story. I have read J'nell Ciesielski's previous two novels, so I am knowledgeable about her writing style. She does a fabulous job at crafting a deep dimensional characters that carry around their share of burdens. Kate is a complex character who will do anything, literally, to rescue her sister, Ellie, from the hands of the Nazi's. While Barrett, the hero, sacrifices himself and rescues Kate and Ellie too many times to count. The plot gave me mixed feelings. It has been done before. Who didn't try to escape the Nazi's during World War II? But it had the feeling of being a slight different with the sister coming to rescue her sister who was in a current relationship with a high ranking Nazi officer. The romance between Kate and Barrett at times seemed a little out of place. I didn't really buy that they liked each other as much as Ciesielski lead on. Yes, there is the happily-ever-after moment for fans who have to have those moments in every story. Overall, J'nell Ciesielski has captured an essence of World War II played out by deeply wounded characters who wants their families whole again. Fans of Melanie Dobson or Sarah Sundin might enjoy this novel. I did.

I received a complimentary copy of The Socialite by J'nell Ciesielski from Thomas Nelson Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

The Socialite
by J'nell Ciesielski
This author was new to me but historical fiction of WW11 is not. I enjoyed this book as it had me thinking of the story of Esther in the Bible, for such a time as this.
Sisters Ellie and Kat could not be more different. Ellie runs away from the rigid life of society and into a risky relationship with a Nazi officer. Dutiful her sister Kat follows to save her sister from occupied France. Ellie is living in a fantasy world and Kat realizes their situation is not going to be as simple to get out of as she imagined. Ellie and Kat find the truth of who they are on their journey home.
We don’t always appreciate who we are and where we are placed. But just as Esther in the Bible found, we are where we are for a purpose. Ellie and Kat were where they needed to be to make a difference. They both chose to play a part in fighting back as only they could.
I enjoyed reading this book and watching the girl's choices play out.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
https://simplyannehere.wordpress.com

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a WII historical fiction novel set in France. While many novels exist set in this same location and era this novel is a true stand out for the emotional ride of sisterly love. Kat enters Nazi Paris to retrieve sister Ellie and meets resistance fighter Barrett. Kat and Barrett find love while Ellie realizes being a Nazi mistress is all things dark and evil. The escape was wonderful as was the end of Eric. I would love a follow on story about Kat and Barrett starting out in America. I appreciated the clean ro m and this made my toes tingle! Great novel and would recommend!

The Socialite is a worthwhile historical fiction WWII novel filled with intrigue and romance. It’s 1941 and socialite Ellie Whitford has escaped the confines of her upper crust British upbringing and is living the life of luxury in German occupied Paris madly in love with a Nazi, Major Eric von Schlegal. Dependable and straight-laced Katherine “Kat” heads to Paris determined to rescue her sister who she finds enjoying the life of luxury and her independence from their family. Kat enlists the aid of Barrett Anderson, a Scottish bar owner. She is unaware that Barrett has been hired by her father to bring both sisters home safely. Barrett is a colorful character whose Paris bar is a front for the Resistance. What transpires is an interesting story about how Kat and Barrett become immersed in the world of the Nazis to try and break Ellie away from her new life and also help British Intelligence. We are taken behind the scenes of the war as the Nazis plot their efforts.

The love stories are the core of the book. Kat and Barrett develop a strong bond – could a romance be possible? And the relationship between Ellie and Eric starts to change as the realities of the Nazi’s plans start to unfold.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction and the author for a complimentary copy of this book in advance of its April 14, 2020 release. Opinions expressed here are completely my own.

This book was an exceptional read. Any lover of historical fiction will truly love this book! From page one you’re sucked into the time period, the storyline and the characters themselves. With a good dash of romance and the turmoil of 1940s/WW2 Paris, this story has it all and then some. I rank this book as one of my top reads for 2020 already and don’t see many other being able to compete.

So I was browsing NetGalley and had been in a historical fiction kind of mood when I saw the cover for The Socialite by J’nell Ciesielski. I don’t know what it was, but I fell in love with that cover and knew I’d be requesting it no matter what it was about! (This is a super bad habit I’m finding myself doing way too often lately.) I’m actually thinking about doing a monthly series titled “I Chose A Book by its Cover and…” But that’s a post for another day.

Basically, the cover drew me in and the description sealed my fate. I HAD TO READ THIS BOOK! So I did (obviously) and I loved it!

The Story:
The Socialite is about two English debutantes who find themselves in occupied France during World War II.

Kathleen Whitford has convinced her father to allow her to travel into Paris in order to retrieve her younger sister, who has run away with a Nazi officer. Kathleen is a mix of bravery, cowardice, strength, sarcasm, wit and naivety all rolled up into one very complicated woman. Of course, it’s not so easy to tell all that when we’re first introduced to her, as she’s about to sneak her way into a party teeming with German soldiers. When it’s revealed the hostess of this get together is Kat’s sister, Eleanor Whitford, my jaw literally dropped open!

Eleanor believes she’s found the perfect man in Major Eric von Schlegel. Despite his Nazi ideology, Eleanor is convinced he’s a good man who will care for her in a way she has never been loved before. So, of course, she’s not interested in going back with Kat to their father’s house, where she’s expected to live by high society standards. She resents that Kat always does what’s expected of her and never seems to just let go.

Kat’s world is further turned upside down by the introduction of Barrett Anderson, a Scottish bar owner she meets as he is also crashing the Nazi party her sister is throwing during Kat’s first night in Paris. Barrett is also living a very complicated life and he and Kat are drawn to each other for multiple reasons…none more interesting/disturbing than the hidden fact that Barrett is working for Kat and Ellie’s father.

Barrett views Kat in much the same light her sister does and he’s pretty uncompromising:

And you always follow the rules, don’t you? No matter who gives them or for what reason. My guess is you don’t ask the reason. You simply obey.

Barrett Anderson, The Socialite by J’nell Ciesielski
As the story unfolds, Kat, Ellie and Barrett are all shown to be more than meets the eye. And the trio end up trying to escape the Nazis together among multiple twists and turns that come together to create an amazing story I can see myself reading over and over again!

The Characters:
This is a novel where the characters really make it a memorable, wonderful read. They’re well developed and likable. I even found myself at I’ve point not completely hating evil Eric!

I think it’s speaks a lot to the writing itself that the author was even able to get these characters to a dinner with Hitler and make it believable. In fact, dinner with Hitler was one of my favorite scenes!

My favorite stories are always those where the people and places stick with me for years. The characters in The Socialite are definitely going to do that!

Conclusion:
If I haven’t already made it clear, let me just wrap up this review by saying I absolutely loved reading The Socialite by J’nell Ciesielski and definitely recommend picking it up if you’re looking for some historical fiction! It’s way more than just a pretty cover!

This book is my first foray into J'Nell Ciesielski's writings, and I don't think it will be my last.

Kat Whitford has been charged by her father to go to occupied Paris and bring her sister, Ellie, home. Ellie was known to be often in the company of a German Officer, and because of her father's position within the government, Ellie knew too many secrets that the officer could mine from her. It was imperative for Kat to be successful in bringing Ellie home. To hedge his bets, Sir Alfred Whitford engaged the services of Barrett Anderson, a Secret Intelligence Service member. Barrett was in Paris because of a choice given to him after being arrested for defending himself in a fight.

The Socialite takes the reader through Paris and across France to escape the Nazi occupation, but it was not without its dangers and risks.

J'Nell writes with intrigue, romance, and action that make this novel a fast-paced read, compelling the reader to flip the pages as fast as possible. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a crawl-through-the-mud escape.

My thanks go to NetGalley.com and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing the galley I read for this review.

A gripping tale with danger around every corner:
What a thought provoking and amazing book! It revealed the complexities of war and the bravery of those willing to stand up and fight for what they believed in. Kat comes from a well-to-do and privileged background yet she is willing to risk it all to save her spoilt and misguided younger sister. She is pulled into the dark and dangerous world of espionage and the French Resistance; luckily she has charming Barrett to guide and protect her. As they spend more time together Kat and Barrett fight their mutual growing attraction, sure that their vastly different backgrounds mean they could never have a lasting relationship. They each have insecurities and things in their past that they have to work through and I enjoyed seeing their personal growth.
This is a sweet, clean love story about putting your trust in another and learning your own self worth. It takes you on a wild ride through Paris, the French countryside and even into Bavaria, Germany. I highly recommend this book and look forward to hopefully reading more from this talented author!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

A book about two sisters set during WW2. I enjoyed the story and the characters. I thought the book rambled a bit but it did keep my interest. It’s a nice romance book! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

I received a complimentary copy of this book from netgalley. My comments are entirely my own. The book starts out as though it is not yet completed and needs revisions. However as you get into the book it starts to flow better. The story takes place in Paris during WWll. It involves two sisters one (Eleanor) who has run away from home and is living with a Nazi (Eric) and the second sister (Kat) who has come from England to “rescue” her. Ellie (Eleanor) is living the life of a socialite and has no intention of returning to England. Nat gets involved with Barrett who is working with the resistance and is recruited to infiltrate Nazi society. (This is where the novel doesn’t appear to be finished). The four of them (Kat, Ellie, Barrett and Eric) are involved in Nazi high society even meeting with Hitler. It is unclear whether or not they obtain information for the Resistance or England.. Kat and Ellie eventually decide to escape from Eric, after he has detained them in Ellie’s apartment. The later part of the novel, which flows better than the first part, is about their escape. There are two love stories, Eric and Ellie, and Kat and Barrett. The love stories are well written and interesting. The novel needs to be tidied up, then it would appeal to Romance readers.

Once I started reading this book, I found it difficult to put down. I especially enjoyed the covert operations set during the rise of the Third Reich. The story really manifested the lavish lifestyles of German higher-ups as opposed to the poverty they left in their wake. There were times the romance element outshined everything else. Since I'm more of an action/history person I would have preferred more of a downplayed romance, but I realize I'm in the minority here. Most people absolutely love romance, so if you like a strong dose of love, this book is definitely for you. :)
I received a free copy from NetGalley. These opinions are entirely my own.

I really enjoyed this story of a British socialite's journey into Nazi occupied France to save her sister. The plot was interesting and unique. There was romance and suspense and unseen twists and turns. Thank to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

THE SOCIALITE by J'NELL CIESIELSKI is a book that gripped me from the beginning right to the last page. The author describes very well the terror of living in Nazi occupied France during WW11, and the horrors that were perpetrated by Hitler and his minions.
When Kathleen Whitford, a young British socialite, goes to Paris to try and snatch her love struck sister, Ellie, out of the arms of Major Eric von Schlegel, she has her work cut out. In order to keep an eye on her sister, she is drawn into socializing with the enemy, quite often at the Blue Stag, owned by Barrett Anderson. She is good at this, having been brought up in the higher echelons of society. In the beginning she has no idea that her father, the illustrious Sir Alfred Whitford, has sent Barrett on a mission to bring his daughters home safely. When the powers that be in England see her success in Nazi society, they send orders that she and Barrett are not to think of rescuing Ellie until they have infiltrated Nazi society and gained intelligence for Britain, which could even help end the war.
There is so much more to the plot than this, but I do not want to tell you any more and spoil things for you.
Full of romance and suspense and with great characters, I really recommend The Socialite as a most enjoyable and exciting read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

It was interesting to see resistance from inside the “inner circle” of the Nazis but the historical fiction aspect fell a little flat for me. It was really my investment in the romance that kept me reading and even then I wasn’t fully invested until past the halfway mark.

I would have liked to see more details of the glitz and glamor described in the blurb. You wouldn’t even know it’s set in Paris unless you had read it in the blurb.

The one thing I just could not get over was how often the main characters openly talked about their operation against the nazis while quite literally surrounded by Nazis. It seemed to be very unrealistic for people to criticize the regime while standing mere feet away from Hitler himself.

Overall it was an okay read but definitely not my favorite historical fiction.