Can two completely different Americans in Paris during 1941 learn to trust and love one another?

Paul is an engineer and owner of an automotive factory seeking his fortune in German-occupied Paris. He has no choice but cooperate with the Nazis, or does he? Lucie has been in Paris for many years as a ballerina but she chooses to help her friends who must leave France with managing their bookstore on the Left Bank. He is an industrialist. She is an artist. They have nothing in common, but a love for his daughter and a love for the Lord.

Through many twists and turns we see the difficult and dangerous decisions they must make to survive under Nazi command. They learn to trust one another and others in their lives who need their help. Eventually they realize they must return to America, but this brings even more dangers as America enters the war after the Pear Harbor attack.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the developing relationship between the two main characters. Paul is widowed and they growing love and understanding he has for his four year old daughter brought an even sweeter element to the story. The dangerous months required to leave Europe for America seemed quite rushed and I wished for more details, but overall I enjoyed learning more of the world of 1941 Paris.

As usual Sarah Sundin's book was amazing. You could actually feel the fear of living in Paris during the dark days of ww2. Love the symbolism and the fact that her characters arent all saints and sinners but people trying to do their level best is exacting circumstances. Five out of five stars all the way. Loved it.

Lucie Gerard an American studying ballet in Paris, decides to stay in Paris as the Nazis march toward her beloved city. In order to help her Jewish friends escape, she buys their bookshop, leaves the ballet, and becomes the new owner and operator of Green Leaf Books. Lucie becomes aware of strange activities taking place in her shop. She inadvertently learns of a resistance group that is determined to stop the Nazis and must decide if she is willing to help. The problem is, who can she trust? Any of her friends or store patrons may be German spies. If she decides to help the Resistance, she may lose everything she holds dear, including her life. Paul Aubrey, a widower and also an American, decides to stay in Paris with his young daughter to continue running the car factory that he owns. He wants to defy the Nazis, but how is he to do that and keep his daughter safe as well as the men that work for him. Who can he trust to help him? What lengths is he willing to go to save his factory, his daughter, and the woman he is coming to love? Both Lucie and Paul are thrown together by war and must rely on each other to survive. Can love survive war and secrets? I thought that “When Twilight Breaks” was my favorite of Ms. Sundin, however this has been added to my favorites list as well! Ms. Sundin has an extraordinary way of seamlessly molding together fiction and nonfiction. The depth of detail found throughout the book, both historical and fictional are spellbinding. I found myself going down rabbit holes of looking up the real people portrayed in the book and reading about their lives as well as looking at pictures of the actual places and streets mentioned. It was a delight to be able to learn more about people, places, and events during that period in history. I was on the edge of my seat more than once, wanting to shout at the characters “run!” or “hide!”. I found myself gasping with surprise at the twists and turns that the book took. The characters had depth of emotion, strong conviction to do what was right, and the ability to stand firm even when things took a very bleak and tragic turn. Mystery, romance, intrigue, and espionage are all fashioned together into a book that mesmerizes and grips the reader. There were some slow parts in the book and also, I wasn’t sure why there were dates on every chapter. I’m not sure if they were helpful or necessary to the flow of the book (perhaps a date here and there to help the reader know when everything was taking place would have been better). However, none of that distracted from the overall movement of the book. I wanted this book to last but ended up reading it in about 3 days. I couldn’t put it down! My thanks to NetGalley and Revell Publishing for the ARC of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Sarah Sundin has done it again, an amazing page turner, that you never want to end!
Set in WWII France, and most before the American's are part of the war effort. We meet amazing people that put others before themselves, and help thwart the evil presence that is invading their lives.
We meet Lucie Girard, and her love for ballet, so much so she has spent most of her young life in France, but she cares for people more and ends up owning a bookstore. We also meet Paul Aubrey, and his owning a plant that now makes trucks for the Germans, a collaborator? Then there is precious Josie, Paul's daughter, and she steals the show so to speak!
We get to see how these lives get intertwined, and hope that somehow these people will survive.
I received this book through LibraryThing, and was not required to give a positive review.

In the late 1930s, Paris is occupied and people do what they must to survive. Lucie gives up her dream of being a prima donna to help others. Paul works with the Germans, even though he disagrees with everything they represent. They're from two separate worlds and don't seem to fit together except in the realm of books. When America officially declares war on Germany, everything will change for these two, but how will it all play out? Sarah has a way of writing that transports the reader to another place and time! While this book isn't necessarily a sequel to When Twilight Breaks, there is a link between the two male protagonists, who both attended Harvard together. They're stand-alone, but there's a teeny bit of follow up from the last book.

I have been eagerly awaiting the latest installment to Sarah Sundin’s newest series and was excited to get a chance to review Until Leaves Fall in Paris. The first half of the book moved a little slow for my taste, and I wasn’t sure if the romance would be too cliche. However, by the end of the book I was quickly reading to see what would happen. Lucie is a sweet ballerina who falls for a widower who she initially believes is aiding the Nazis in her beloved city of Paris. I love how her character grew throughout the story into a strong but sweet heroine. Until Leaves Fall in Paris is a excellent WWII novel, that entertains and is not too intense for sensitive readers.

Sarah Sundin has penned another excellent historical WWII romance novel. Though I believe this is intended to be a stand-alone novel, fans who have read "When Twilight Breaks" will be happy to see some familiar names included in this one. If you haven't read that book though, you won't be lost at all as this is technically a stand-alone novel. Taking place in occupied Paris before America enters the war, this book follows 2 American expatriates living in Paris as they navigate the "normal" of German occupation in a land that's not technically their own. Filled with great character development as well as intrigue and an action-packed climax, this book packed a punch. I liked how both Paul and Lucie fought back in their own unique ways, and the lessons they learned about God and how varying gifts can complement each other. I also adored little Josie, Paul's 4 year old daughter. This one had a fabulous story-line with wonderful characters, a solid faith thread and a unique look at history. This is one I'd definitely recommend to fans of historical fiction, particularly WWII fiction. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

France in the beginning days of the occupation by Germany... A ballerina turned bookstore owner and a single dad who owns and runs an automobile factory. Both of the main characters attend church, pray, and seek to do the right thing. For Paul, that means earning the disdain of all his former friends and pitting the woman he's interested in against him. Thus we have a delightfully suspenseful enemies to lovers story. I pretty much liked every word and twist in this book. Although the situation for Paul and Lucie becomes dicey, I never really feared whether they would survive or have their HEA, which is fine with me. It had tense moments without being too intense, and I cried happy tears when good things happened. Because I liked them both so much, they broke my heart more than once. I admired them for their integrity and their willingness to take the hard road and grow. I also somewhat related to Lucie's character arc, being unsure of her own abilities but she was still willing to step our and do the scary thing.
I think you all will like this book. I read a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions are my own.

I am frankly amazed at Sundin's talent to come up with unique and creative stories, all set within a fairly specific genre (WWII fiction). It seems (said the non-author :D) like a topic could be exhausted at a certain point--but _Until Leaves Fall in Paris_ happily proves me wrong.

I continue to learn things about WWII in this read that I didn't know before. I continue to be happily surprised at Sundin's skills as a writer and storyteller. And, I continue to get sad when the story ends, because I'm simply not ready to say goodbye!

This read is particularly poignant, making me noticeably, viscerally react at points (maybe I shouldn't read before bed or at certain times of the month? Oh, who am I kidding ... lol!). I really had to sit with it for a while after finishing!

While a standalone novel (best I can tell :D #storyofmylife), readers will see some familiar names from When Twilight Breaks - and apparently that will also continue in an upcoming book, per the author's note at the end! Yay! #squee I loved catching a glimpse of what those characters were up to after that book's end.

Fans of The Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War II will particularly enjoy this read.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin is a great WWII-era historical fiction that has it all: romance, history, suspense, mystery, and intrigue.

I have been a fan of Ms. Sundin for a while now, and this book is no exception.

Such a beautiful cast of characters, especially the two main characters: Lucie and Paul. Both from different walks in life, both living in Paris during the German occupation. Both finding themselves doing what they can to help save as many innocent people as possible under the radar, all while trying to find their own safety and love in life.

Such a beautiful, heartwarming, and of course at times, heartbreaking story. The inclusion of the underground network and resistance just added a fabulous component of heightened drama and stakes to this period romance. The slow burn of the chemistry and affection between the two characters was perfect and balanced well with the fevered pitch of the war, lives on the line, and being caught and worse…

The characters were well-written, likable and realistic, had great chemistry, strong moral compasses, and I am really glad they found the ending that they did.

It is so wonderful to find that ray of hope and to be able to hold onto that element of faith in such a devastating and dark time.

A beautiful and memorable book that I highly recommend.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Revell Publishing for this stunning 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 2/1/21.

Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin features a brave hero and heroine who are stuck in France and are willing to sabatoge the Germans at every step. The story features the resistance and the inner workings of how they actually worked. Learning about what they actually did to threaten the Germans was a delight to read and learn about. The overall plot idea was interesting and held my attention, but at times, the story did move at a slow pace to move the story along. Of course, Sundin's research was well-handled since it brought the story to life. I enjoyed the historical elements of the story. The romance, on the other hand, developed at a nice pace. Slow and steady won the hand of love. If readers enjoyed this novel, then they might enjoy reading The White Rose Resists by Amanda Barrett. The novels have the same resistance twist to the plot. Overall, Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin is an interesting novel on the importance of standing up for what a person believes in. I believe this is a great novel to invest time in.

I received a complimentary copy of Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

A very well written inspirational romance set in occupied France. Very good plot and character development. If you enjoy historical books I recommend this one. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

This is a wonderful historical romance. Lucie Girard is a ballerina who has bought her Jewish friends' American bookstore in Paris to allow them to escape the Nazis. Paul Aubrey is a widower who runs a branch of his family's automobile manufacturing company in Paris. Both are part of the underground resistance, unbeknownst to each other. When the United States finally enters the war they are to be put into interment camps and it becomes imperative that they escape the country and flee back to the US.

There is so much history her but also a great family story. This book is culturally rich and a well crafted tale. I highly recommend it.

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my own honest opinion.

Sarah Sundin is one of my favorite authors, and Until Leaves Fall in Paris is a great addition to her book catalog! I really enjoyed getting to know Paul, Lucie, and Josie, and learn more about Paris during the tumultuous years of 1940-41. The inspiration for Lucie’s story (see the author’s note) is especially close to my heart, and it was so cool to see that familiar story within this book. It was a treat getting to see old character friends, and I was intrigued by the teaser for Sundin’s next book. I can’t wait for more stories from her! 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sarah Sundin delivers another epic tale filled with danger, romance and all the good feels! Grab a coffee and settle in because Until Leaves Fall in Paris will not be easy to put down.

​Sundin excels at WWII fiction. Her evocative prose sets the reader right down into the scene's action. Her characters are engaging, and I will miss them terribly.

As always, the author has included a faith element that defines her characters and enhances the story. More than once, I found myself asking whether I would be as brave as Lucie or Paul if faced with similar circumstances.

I appreciated the details of what the people of Paris went through when Hitler invaded France. There was a lot I didn't know about the resistance efforts, so this was not only entertaining but also enlightening.

If you love WWII books, intrigue, danger and romance - this book has it all. I cannot recommend it enough!

This was a quick book to read - not due to the length - but because I wanted to read it to find out what happens! After finishing, I added it to my library system's selection list since I enjoyed it so much. Sarah Sundin's books, are well written, contain stories of a historical nature and usually contain a visit from former characters (in this case, the main characters from "When twilight breaks".

I got this free in exchange for an honest review. I genuinely enjoyed this book (as I do all of Sarah's books). Sarah takes the time to research properly and create interesting characters, infusing them into a rich plot. This is probably why I've enjoyed all of her books thus far. I'm already looking forward to the next one (advertised in the back of the book).

I always enjoy books by Sarah Sundin. This is no exception. The story of Paul and Lucie and Josie caught my interest from the beginning. The downfall of Paris and the takeover by the Nazis, Paul’s work and the Resistance all kept me reading late into the night. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that likes to read historical fiction.

Thank you very much to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this exceptional novel in exchange for an honest review, as well as to one of my top favourite authors, Sarah Sundin, for writing it.

Two Americans in Nazi-occupied Paris. A war divides them. A bookstore unites them.
As the Nazis march toward Paris in 1940, American ballerina Lucie Girard buys her favorite English-language bookstore to allow the Jewish owners to escape. Lucie struggles to run Green Leaf Books due to oppressive German laws and harsh conditions, but she finds a way to aid the resistance by passing secret messages between the pages of her books. Widower Paul Aubrey wants nothing more than to return to the States with his little girl, Josie, but the US Army convinces him to keep his factory running and obtain military information from his German customers. As the war rages on, Paul offers his own resistance by sabotaging his product and hiding British airmen in his factory. After they meet in the bookstore, Paul and Lucie are drawn to each other, but she rejects him when she discovers he sells to the Germans. And for Paul to win her trust would mean betraying his mission. Can they work together for the higher good, or will it cost them everything they love?

I really loved the leaf motifs that this book carried throughout. Infused with inspiration, the commonplace becomes extraordinary. The humble leaf, for example – from the simple shapes of some to the complex web of veins in others – has captivated artists, including jewelry designers, for centuries. The simple leaf has transformed into enduring beauty throughout the periods of history.Leaves hold symbolism in many cultures, but in general, they symbolize fertility and growth. The green leaves of spring and summer depict hope, renewal and revival. Blazing yellow, orange and red leaves of fall represent the change of season. Ultimately, fallen leaves complete the circle of life with the final stages: decline and death. It is a fitting title for this book, as although the leaves fell during the dark days of Paris, they also came back again when the war ended and Paris was back to being one of the most famous cities in the world. In the Chinese tradition, leaves represent all of the beings in the universe; they collectively allude to people because of their vast number. In heraldic coat of arms, leaves represent different virtues or qualities. For example, oak leaves represent strength, heroism and victory. Grape leaves represent plenty, freedom and rebirth. Holly or mistletoe represents truth, foresight and defense.

Americans in France consists of immigrants and expatriates from the United States as well as French people of American ancestry. Immigration to France from the United States date back to the 19th century. Paris was the art capital of the world in the nineteenth century and has attracted painters, sculptors, and architects from around the world including the United States. In the decades following the American Civil War, hundreds of Americans joined the throngs headed to Paris. American artists, who formed the largest contingent of foreign painters and sculptors in Paris, were only one segment of the capital's extensive American colony, which also included writers, businessmen, diplomats, and others in more-or-less permanent residence. Many American artists stayed together, and enclaves of them developed on the Left Bank, along the rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs and near the École des Beaux-Arts and the Académie Julian's headquarters. Although some lived in Paris for long periods—even the rest of their lives—most insisted on identifying themselves as American.

Beginning in the 1920s, U.S. intellectuals, painters, writers, and tourists were drawn to French art, literature, philosophy, theatre, cinema, fashion, wines, and cuisine. It was during this time that jazz was introduced to the French and black culture was born in Paris. With the defeat and dismantling of Austria at the end of World War I, Paris replaced Vienna as the cultural capital of Europe, if not of the world. Many foreigners settled in Paris during this period, some briefly and some long-term, some exiles and some voluntary, because of Paris's tolerance for unorthodox sexuality, politics, and art. The movement built on itself, as the more intellectuals and artists moved to Paris, the more attraction it had for others. Among the Americans living in Paris during this period are Paul Bowles, Aaron Copland, Ernest Hemingway, Henry Miller, Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, and Alice B. Toklas.

When France officially declared war on Germany in September 1939, as a response to the Third Reich's invasion of Poland, more than ten thousand Americans lived in or near Paris. Although that declaration was followed by roughly nine-months of what often was called the "phony war" or "drôle de guerre," the inevitability of coming conflict led most of those expatriates to leave France while they could. In June 1940, the inevitable occurred with massive German attacks and after scarcely three weeks of battle, Nazi troops marched uncontested through the gates of Paris and some 5,000 Americans still were in the French capital. For various reasons, such as family ties and professional obligations, they had chosen to remain in Paris. At that moment, the United States was not at war, however, and not militarily allied with anyone. It was still a neutral nation. German occupying forces were legally obligated to treat U.S. citizens better than French nationals even though many were bi-nationals with French passports as well as American ones.

Americans who stayed in the capital endured most of the shortages and hardships of their French neighbors but to some extent for nearly a year and a half they were not imprisoned by German occupying authorities. However, their lives were not easy and often tragic, in particular for African-Americans and Jewish Americans who were frequently singled out by the Nazis for harsher than normal treatment. Because the United States still remained neutral, the German occupying forces at first allowed long-standing institutions in the French capital such as the American hospital, the American library, the American church, the American Chamber of Commerce as well as various others of a commercial or charitable nature to remain open.
When the United States entered the war, it led to a clamp down on U.S. citizens in German-occupied northern France. Many were rounded up and sent to internment camps. Those who were not still were obligated to report regularly to German occupying authorities or French police. Internments applied initially only to men although, in September, 1942, German authorities began to intern American women as well.

Sylvia Beach (14 March 1887 – 5 October 1962), born Nancy Woodbridge Beach, was an American-born bookseller and publisher who lived most of her life in Paris, where she was one of the leading expatriate figures between World War I and II. She is known for her Paris bookstore, Shakespeare and Company, where she published James Joyce's controversial book, Ulysses (1922), and encouraged the publication of and sold copies of Hemingway's first book, Three Stories and Ten Poems (1923). Shakespeare and Company remained open after the Fall of Paris, but by the end of 1941, Beach was forced to close. She was interned for six months during World War II at Vittel until Tudor Wilkinson managed to secure her release in February 1942. Following her release she occasionally assisted the American member of the French Resistance, Drue Leyton in sheltering allied airmen shot down in France. Beach kept her books hidden in a vacant apartment upstairs at 12 rue de l'Odeon. Ernest Hemingway symbolically "liberated" the shop in person in 1944, but it never re-opened for business.

The Bibliothèque nationale de France (French: "National Library of France") is the national library of France, located in Paris. It is the national repository of all that is published in France and also holds extensive historical collections. During 1940–1945, more than two million books were lost through the ravages of war, many of them forming the irreplaceable local collections in which France abounded. Many thousands of books, including complete libraries, were seized by the Germans. Yet French librarians stood firm against all threats, and continued to serve their readers to the best of their abilities. In their private lives and in their professional occupations they were in the van of the struggle against the Nazis, and many suffered imprisonment and death for their devotion. Despite Nazi opposition they maintained a supply of books to French prisoners of war. They continued to supply books on various proscribed lists to trustworthy readers; and when liberation came, they were ready with their plans for rehabilitation.

The American Church in Paris is the first American church established outside the United States. It started in 1814, when American Protestants started worshipping together in different homes around Paris. The first sanctuary was built in 1857, on rue de Berri. The American Church continues to minister to many Anglophone Protestants in Paris, both American and other English speaking communities, with multicultural programming, and a congregation of over nearly 40 nations and 35 Christian denominations.
Similarly, American Cathedral in Paris has served the American community since the 1830s, when services were organized in the garden pavilion of the Hôtel Matignon. A parish was formally established in 1859 and the first church building consecrated in 1864 on Rue Bayard.

Hiram "Harry" Bingham IV (July 17, 1903 – January 12, 1988) was an American diplomat. He served as a Vice Consul in Marseilles, France, during World War II, and, along with journalist Varian Fry, helped over 2,500 Jews to flee from France as Nazi forces advanced. William Christian Bullitt Jr. (January 25, 1891 – February 15, 1967) was an American diplomat, journalist, and novelist. He is known for his special mission to negotiate with Lenin on behalf of the Paris Peace Conference, often recalled as a missed opportunity to normalize relations with the Bolsheviks. He was also the first U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union and the U.S. ambassador to France during World War II. Miriam Davenport or Miriam Davenport Ebel (June 6, 1915 – September 13, 1999) was an American painter and sculptor who played an important role helping European Jews and intellectuals escape the Holocaust during World War II.

At the start of World War II in 1939, the Portuguese Government announced on 1 September that the 550-year-old Anglo-Portuguese Alliance remained intact, but since the British did not seek Portuguese assistance, Portugal was free to remain neutral in the war and would do so. In an aide-mémoire of 5 September 1939, the British Government confirmed the understanding. As Adolf Hitler's occupation swept across Europe, neutral Portugal became one of Europe's last escape routes. Portugal was able to maintain its neutrality until 1944, when a military agreement was signed to give the United States permission to establish a military base in Santa Maria in the Azores and thus its status changed to non-belligerent in favour of the Allies.

The French Resistance (French: La Résistance) was a collection of organisations who fought the Nazi occupation of France and the collaborationist Vichy régime during the Second World War. Resistance cells were small groups of armed men and women (called the Maquis in rural areas)] who, in addition to their guerrilla warfare activities, were also publishers of underground newspapers, providers of first-hand intelligence information, and maintainers of escape networks that helped Allied soldiers and airmen trapped behind enemy lines. The Resistance's men and women came from all economic levels and political leanings of French society, including émigrés, academics, students, aristocrats, conservative Roman Catholics (including priests and nuns), Protestants, Jews, Muslims, liberals, anarchists, and communists.

The French Resistance played a significant role in facilitating the Allies' rapid advance through France following the invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944. The French Resistance provided military intelligence on the German defences known as the Atlantic Wall and on Wehrmacht deployments and orders of battle for the lesser-known invasion of Provence on 15 August. The Resistance also planned, coordinated, and executed sabotage acts on the Nazi electrical power grid, transport facilities, and telecommunications networks. The Resistance's work was politically and morally important to France both during the German occupation and decades that followed. It provided the country with an inspiring example of the patriotic fulfilment of a national imperative countering an existential threat to French nationhood. The actions of the Resistance stood in marked contrast to the collaborationism of the Vichy régime. 1940 was the year of initial shock, and counteraction, and 1941 was when armed resistance began.

Françoise Frenkel (14 July 1889 - 18 January 1975) was a lifelong book lover, bookstore owner and author. With her husband, in 1921 she opened the "Maison du Livre français", Berlin's first specialist French book store, which she ran till 1939. Frenkel was a Pole of Jewish descent. On 27 August 1939 she belatedly escaped from Germany as a passenger on a special train to Paris which had been organised by the French embassy. Shortly before June 1940, which was when the invading German army reached Paris, she joined the thousands of Parisians fleeing to the south of the country. As the Nazi invaders tightened their grip on southern France she was forced to flee again, crossing into Switzerland near Annecy, on her third attempt, in June 1943. She survived. She wrote the famous "Rien où poser sa tête" ("No place to rest her head") also known as "The Bookshop in Berlin."

The Paris Opera Ballet (French: Ballet de l'Opéra national de Paris) is a French ballet company that is an integral part of the Paris Opera. It is the oldest national ballet company, and many European and international ballet companies can trace their origins to it. It is still regarded as one of the four most prominent ballet companies in the world, together with the Royal Ballet in London, the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow and the Mariinsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg.Just as prestigious as the Paris Opera Ballet is its dance school, the Paris Opera Ballet School (French: École de danse de l'Opéra national de Paris), considered to be one of the world's best dance schools. The Palais Garnier is an opera house at the Place de l'Opéra in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, France. It was built for the Paris Opera from 1861 to 1875 at the behest of Emperor Napoleon III. Initially referred to as le nouvel Opéra de Paris (the new Paris Opera), it soon became known as the Palais Garnier, "in acknowledgment of its extraordinary opulence" and the architect Charles Garnier's plans and designs, which are representative of the Napoleon III style. It was the primary theatre of the Paris Opera and its associated Paris Opera Ballet until 1989, when a new opera house, the Opéra Bastille, opened at the Place de la Bastille. The company now uses the Palais Garnier mainly for ballet. The theatre has been a monument historique of France since 1923.

In 1929, Jacques Rouché invited 24-year-old dancer Serge Lifar to become the maitre de ballet of the Paris Opéra Ballet, which had fallen into decline in the late 19th century.As ballet master from 1930 to 1944, and from 1947 to 1958, he devoted himself to the restoration of the technical level of the Opéra Ballet, returning it to its place as one of the best companies in the world. Lifar gave the company a new strength and purpose, initiating the rebirth of ballet in France, and began to create the first of many ballets for that company. During his three decades as director of the Paris Opéra Ballet, Lifar led the company through the turbulent times of World War II and the German occupation of France. Lifar brought the Paris Opéra Ballet to America and performed to full houses at the New York City Center. Audiences were enthusiastic and had great admiration for the company of dancers.

I also loved getting reacquainted with Peter and Evelyn from the previous stunner book, When Twilight Breaks. I cannot wait for the next standalone novel set in occupied Denmark starring Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt.