This is a beautifully written compelling story of intrigue and romance, beginning in 1947, post-war as Yvette arrives in Paris, France to testify in the trial of Louise Dulac, a film star. Yvette's last memories of Paris are when she worked undercover as a courier, riding her bike all through Paris, when she was actually working for the Resistance as a spy.

As this compelling story unfolds, the chapters alternate between focusing on the post-war era of 1947, and during the war in 1944. . Gabby and Yvette are sisters, and while Yvette, the more courageous of the two is out risking her life each day,, Gabby is also working for the Resistance while caring for an severely wounded Englishman who is also a spy.

Catherine Dior, sister of the well-known fashion designer, Christian Dior, plays a prominent role in this fascinating story. She also works for the Resistance and convinces the sisters to join. Christian Dior, as well as the beautiful gowns he creates also make an appearance in this captivating story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper-Collins Publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. The thoughts and remarks concerning this book are my own.

This book is a great example of historical fiction. The action was engaging. The characters were vibrant. All the story lines were woven together in a satisfying fashion. The spotlight on the costs of war during the occupation of Paris made the reader empathize with the residents and develop a greater sense of how their world was turned upside down. This book delivered on my expectations. I'm glad I spent time with this novel.

Paris, France - 1944 and 1947

1947
Yvette Foucher has returned to Paris from New York where she fled in the closing months of the war. Famed actress Louise Dulac has summoned Yvette to testify at her trial, hoping that the court will not convict her of treason. Yvette's former job in Paris working for a fashion designer helped her get some minor mannequin work in New York. Now she is back in Paris, and one of the designers she knew during the war is having his first fashion show tomorrow. Would Christian Dior remember the scrawny Yvette? And what about his sister, Catherine? How will she welcome Yvette after her harrowing time with the Nazis? The other thing gnawing at Yvette's heart is seeing her sister, Gabby, and their mother for the first time since she fled France. Yvette has never responded to any of Gabby's letters, but now she must put the war behind her and face reality.

Gabrielle Foucher has been invited by Catherine Dior to attend her brother, Christian's, first fashion show. Life is hectic for Gabby as she shares the concierge duties of her apartment building with her mother, so this time away is very valuable to her. As she settles in to watch the amazing fashions, Gabby is stunned to see her sister modeling several of the dresses! She had no idea Yvette had returned to Paris. The years since the war haven't been easy for Gabby or their mother. And memories of what she did during the waning years of the war weigh heavily on Gabby.

1944
Some of Gabby's duties assisting her mother as concierge for their building include checking on some of the residents, cleaning the public areas, and seeing to deliveries. While the Dior apartment has a maid, most of the other residents are on their own, including elderly Madame LaRoq, who is bedridden, so Gabby made sure the woman had at least one decent meal a day. This day, Madame LaRoq asks Gabby to make sure that when Catherine returns from the countryside, that she visits her. Curious, Gabby let Catherine know. What could they possibly have in common? However, Gabby has more worrisome thoughts, especially about her sister who constantly shows her hatred for the Nazis and is friends with a group that works behind the scenes against the Germans.

Yvette's job working for the House of LeLong includes making deliveries or picking up supplies all over Paris. She bicycles through the streets, avoiding the German occupiers as much as she can. One day, she is sent to the Ritz Hotel to deliver a design made by Dior for famous actress Louise Dulac. It is an uncomfortable delivery, however, when Yvette finds a German colonel with Dulac. It is obvious that they are, well, close. She assists the actress with the garment and flees. But when she leaves the hotel, she discovers that her bicycle has been stolen. Yvette is approached by a man who rode the elevator down with her. He claims to be a Swedish diplomat and he gets her another bicycle, although Yvette isn't sure how. She later has several run-ins with this same man.

Both Gabby and Yvette know that the Allies have landed at Normandy, and that the war will soon be over, but the Nazis are not going to leave Paris willingly, nor will they stop punishing her citizens for fighting them. Yvette is determined to resist the Germans in any way that she can. She is certain that she can talk herself out of any dangerous incident. But Gabby wants nothing to do with endangering her life or her mother's, and yet, she, too, will find herself drawn into a perilous situation.

SISTERS OF THE RESISTANCE is a page-turning emotional foray into the last few months of the German occupation and the war itself. The author has done impeccable research into this era, and it shows in the tightness of the writing. While this is fiction, the incredible true story of Catherine Dior's involvement in the Resistance brings out the reality of what the French accomplished behind the scenes. Don't miss this incredible novel.

Wells has written a book that will be an excellent addition to the category of historical novels that reflect France's role during Nazi occupation of their country. There seems to be a proliferation of books written about French compliance lately and I am so impressed with the insights and story that Wells has penned.
Based on the DIor resistance movement in France, the story is told through the eyes of two French sisters who join the Resistance. The Nazi horror is so well conveyed and human nature so aptly described.. The plot focuses on the decisions that French citizens had to make to survive. What the author conveyed so clearly is the choice that every individual must make for themselves. The Nazi menace conquered France and the sisters chose to defeat the evil while others made a different choice.
I listened to the audio version which made the story come alive. The narrator added to the mood of the book but the story's content stands by itself. I learned so much historically. You were able to identify with the characters and you were rooting for them on every page. It ended so well, once again, reaffirming the survival of the human spirit. What an amazing book!

Another great WW2 historical fiction. Perfect for fans of the Nightingale and the Paris Secret! The novel is based off the true story of Catherine Dior’s Paris spy network during WW2.

Yvette and Gabby are sisters but they couldn’t be more different. However, they both find themselves working for the Resistance in Nazi-occupied Paris. Alternating between 1944 and 1947, their story unfolds in a page turning and riveting novel full of secrets, courage, and fashion.

I loved this book and look forward to sharing it with our audience for our favorite books of 2021 in addition to considering it for a monthly book pick for our book club. Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you, Willaim Marrow and Net Galley for the gifted Advanced reader's copy!
Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells
Sisterhood, Spies, Secrets.
Set in Paris between 1944 and 1947 the world is heavily laden under the second world war.
Sisters Gabby and Yvette are as different as can be but have one thing in common, surviving the war and helping as many people as possible. While they don't understand each other risks, they know one another's motives. We learn of their war efforts and the work of the resistance and the Dior family.
I read this book over a snowy weekend, I could not put it down.

Christine Wells creates a riveting tale of espionage, love, drama, and the strength of the female bond. With several well-developed female characters at the center of the story it’s hard not to be inspired by their grace, bravery, compassion, and perseverance. Patriotism, so often portrayed in male driven war stories, takes on a different wardrobe within this tale, woven into the classic elegance of a Christian Dior gown. This novel celebrates that a woman can be both strong but chic, demure but tenacious, and gutsy but honorable. These women will do whatever it takes to ensure their country and their people are safe.
The historical setting is described beautifully, as if taken directly from a painting in the Louvre. The scenery perfectly mirrors the tone of the novel as it ebbs and flows from scene to scene, capturing the heartfelt emotions and the suspenseful intrigue.
This book is about a pair of sisters, but the sisterhood reaches far beyond the two of them. Told from each of their perspectives in a parallel timeline, this novel is a beautifully written story of the women who saved the world during WWII.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to pick up another by Christine Wells. If you’re into Historical Fiction, you need this on your shelf. And even if you don’t think you are, pick it up anyway and I promise you’ll find yourself so wrapped up in this world you’ll forget things like this actually happened. Then when you realize that’s true, you’ll gain an even deeper appreciation for what you’ve just experienced.

Yvette and Gabby are as different as sisters can be. In German occupied Paris, both get involved with the resistance...unbeknownst to each other...in very different way. Yvette becomes a courier and Gabby hides and cares for a wounded English man. The choices they make put their lives and the lives of their family at risk but to each sister, the risks are worth it.

I loved this story. It was emotional yet suspenseful. There are very strong female characters throughout this story. I love how it sheds light on the women that were involved within the resistance...one even had a very famous last name, Dior. What is even more great about this story is that it really sheds light on the fact that WWII was very different for everyone...even members of the same family.

This is a must read for a wintery weekend!

Thank you NetGalley and Christine Wells for early access to this unforgettable novel!

Women of the Resistance has been a bit topic lately, and with good reason. It's exciting to now finally be able to read about the many contributions they made, including Miss Dior. Christine Wells adds to those acclaimed books with her own terrific story complete with well researched history and interesting characters. Bravo! Five Stars!

Five star read, I throughly enjoyed this book - the writer took me to the middle of Paris in the midst of the War. It was an amazing story. I was riveted and didnt want anything to interrupt my reading. I haven't read the author before but will be looking for her books in future. Highly recommended for those who love a well written book particularly if you are as interested in WWII as I am. Thank you for the opportunity.

I really, really wanted to read this book !! So much so I requested it from a few different sites and after receiving it from one site I didn't remember to cancel my request on the other site, so my apologies to all, but I am doing two separate reviews so no one is short-changed. Any confusion was solely on my part and due to my own negligence.
I loved this book ! It is everything I expected it to be and much more!! Two sisters, Yvette and Gabby Fouche, as different from each other as night and day, separately, unknown to the other become involved in the French Resistance during WWII.. Their involvement comes about through their neighbor fashion designer Christian Dior's sister Catherine Dior who was already deeply involved in the Resistance.
The story chronicles the sister's involvement during the war and the repercussions that are felt several years after the end of the war. Set against the world of high fashion in Paris, this novel is filled with spies, double agents, Resistance fighters and collaborators. At times making it difficult to tell who is who and on which side are they fighting, making the novel that much more intriguing. I am sure it was the same for the real life heroic men and women who served and sacrificed so much to rid evil from the world.
From past to present we feel great emotion through both sister's stories, and learn that only through accepting the past for just what it is...the past, can we go on with the future.
This is my new number one favorite book and I believe it is going to be one of the top releases of 2021. Written along the lines of other great Historical Fiction novels such as " The Nightengale ", by Kristin Hannah, I recommend to all Historical Fiction fans. A must read for 2021.
#NetGalley, #SistersoftheResistance, #ChristineWells, #WilliamMorrowandCustonHouse