Within the first few chapters of The Last Letter from Paris by Kate Eastham, the names of some of the characters started to ring a bell with me. As I read so many books each year, specific details can evade me so I stopped and checked and discovered that Iris and Evie had featured in the author’s previous book The Sea Nurses. Even reading the brief prologue some of the information seemed familiar and I was glad to discover the return of much loved characters as I had felt there was definitely another story that could be told centred around these characters. This new book is a standalone though and it wouldn’t in any way feel as if you were missing out by not having read the first book.

This time around the story moves to World War Two and acknowledges how the lives of both Evie and Iris have unfolded since we left them at the end of World War One.Cora, the foundling adopted by Evie having been left by a Frenchwoman at a pier in Southampton, is now grown up and loves her life with Evie and her husband Adam in Montauk in America. But not knowing anything about her true heritage and who her mother was and how she came to be abandoned has long eaten away at her. She desperately wants to know all the details and one day she will go to France to try and find all the answers to the questions that have haunted her.

June 1940 and Iris has spent many years living in Paris following her time spent on the hospital ship Britannic. Her German husband has passed away but she is reluctant to leave the city where he is buried and she can be close to him and visit daily. Cora has for nearly a year being staying with Iris and until now she has enjoyed working in the American library but times are changing with the beginning of a new war. The Germans have marched into the city of light and the carefree days the Parisians enjoyed are over and done with. Iris finds it hard to comprehend that war once again has reached her doorstep as the memories and raw emotions from the previous war are still very much fresh in her mind.

For Cora, this time in Paris was a chance to grow independent and find her true self. Her mission to find out who her mother was and where she came from is at the forefront of her mind but given there was such scant details this to me seemed like attempting to find a needle in a haystack. I presumed the book would focus solely on her quest but as the rumblings of war grew ever present and danger, brutality, devastation, pain and suffering emerge each day the longing she has is put to the back of her mind as she tries to navigate this new world she finds herself in.

I found the book was like a ship riding through the waves, there were many peaks and troughs and lulls. It seemed that at points nothing much happened and then there was a resolution of sorts to some aspect of the story and I thought oh this happened too early and where can the story go from here. But the author took Cora on an adventure and not one full of laughs and pleasurable moments. Instead she is tested to the max and those she loves worry deeply about her as she does too when the worst happens. German soldiers take over Iris’ beautiful apartment and she is taken away with news of her whereabouts and the reason for imprisonment unknown. Cora has but a few brief moments to grab what she can and make her way to the home of Francine a long time friend of both Evie and Iris, who herself lost her husband in the last war. Francine was a wise woman and to all appearances old and just getting on with her life in Paris but appearances can deceptive and Cora soon finds that Francine is astute and well able to play the game and do her bit to stop the Germans. Here is where I felt the story really started to take off as Cora shows her true metal.

Cora is fierce, determined and headstrong and the restlessness and need to search for something drives her on. Yet at times, I found she put herself in dangerous situations unnecessarily and there was also a naivety about her. She didn’t often think of the bigger picture before she acted and as she becomes involved in the Resistance movement and although I applauded her for this I found her to be quite careless when others were trying to keep her safe whilst continuing their work. Karl, the German soldier who took over Iris’ apartment, becomes a dominant feature in Cora’s strand of the story and she is determined to avenge what he has done. She has a hatred for him that fuels her as the things take a very dramatic turn and she must flee from the city which she loved. She can’t bare to leave Iris behind not knowing whether she is alive or dead but her own life she has to put first.

Running alongside the exploits of Cora in France are chapters from Evie’s viewpoint back in America. She is distraught when she learns that Cora has gone missing on the day the Germans invaded the city. She feels helpless that she is so many miles away across the ocean unable to do anything but wander the coastline hoping and wish that things will turn out ok. I found at times going back to Evie disrupted the flow of the story when things were really getting going from Cora’s viewpoint. I understand they were there to show the connection between mother and adopted daughter and the love they had for each other and that Evie was desperate to know that someone who meant the world to her could not possibly be gone forever. There was a streak of anger in Evie too, that Cora didn’t heed the advice and get out of Paris before the Germans arrived. I think also in a way she was jealous that Cora could potentially discover news of her birth mother and that this would take her away from Evie. I felt the story would have worked perfectly without these chapters from Evie’s viewpoint but as I mentioned I do understand the reasoning for their inclusion.

The second half of the book was far stronger than the first and here is where I felt the story found its rhythm and true purpose. Cora swings from one disaster to another in her bid to evade Karl and make it to safety after an incident which turns everything on its head. I found the chapters from the midpoint to be much more taut than the earlier chapters. They were filled with information that drove the story on and there was less filler as I had found there to be quite a bit initially. Violence, inhumanity, danger, secrets and daring are all predominant features and you find yourself thinking with each turn of the page is this it for Cora? Has she taken things too far as she finds herself in numerous precarious situations? I found my reading speed picked up as I neared the final few chapters and I finally had become really invested in the outcome for Cora. The blurb mentions Max and to be honest I think the blurb needs to be rewritten in some parts because to me Max featured for such a short time and the blurb gives the impression it was for a good chunk of the book. For me, it was more about Cora getting to the safety of her end destination when all seemed lost as well as she hopefully discovering what happened to Iris.

The ending of the book was in my mind rushed and I would have loved some more exploration and again I was left with the feeling that there is room for another story. There are one or two burning questions surrounding Cora that I am desperate for answers to. I hope we will get these in the future. If not in a full-length book even a short story would suffice to satisfy my curiosity. Overall, The Last Letter from Paris, was a good read. It’s a story of daring and survival with some romance at a time when the word was falling apart and those existing in the most torrid of times did remarkable and amazing things when everything was firmly against them.

Cora Mayhew is not only trapped in Paris in June 1940, but getting a letter to her family in America will be all but impossible with World War II underway. Cora left the safety of her home, and her adoptive parents, with her strong desire to find her birth mother. While she loves the family that has raised her since birth, she has never been able to get over the fact that she needs to find the truth about her mother.

Not only does Cora find herself in danger time and again, she has made enemies along the way. However, she makes a surprising ally in a German soldier named Max Heller. Can Cora trust Max when he offers to help her?

When Cora gets closer than she could’ve imagined while trying to learn about her mother, she is not only fighting the desire to return home to America, she’s also fighting growing feelings towards Max. If she cannot return home safely then, at the very least, she would like a letter to get to her family so that they will know that she is safe.

This compelling and memorable book by Kate Eastham combines excellent historical fiction and the horrors of WWII with that of the romance that brews between Cora and Max. Danger is never far behind, especially since they should be sworn enemies. Meanwhile, Cora never lets up in her determination to find out about her birth mother. Not only does Cora experience dangers along the way, when she loses contact with her aunt during the invasion, her resilience shone through.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/u2OMpeZyLuw

Book tour stop for The Last Letter from Paris by Kate Eastman and here is my review.

It’s 1940 and Cora is in Paris looking for her birth mother. A woman who left her in the grass all those years ago. Leaving her wonderful adoptive parents to search during a war that could get more dangerous at any moment.

She sees the German flags flying and knows the people around her who have become her family, could be in danger and stays knowing the risks.

For days she’s seen the flashes in the night sky. She’s heard the drone of planes and the thump of marching boots. Doors on every corner slam shut as the German flag billows over the Eiffel Tower. Leaving Cora just one chance to get her letter out of Paris…
Things get more dangerous when a German officer takes a shine to her but after he beats her badly enough that the woman who has been serving him helps her escape, Cora finds herself running against a clock to get out of Paris and to the UK before she is arrested as a traitor.
Along the way a German soldier finds her and a baby she has found in wreckage and saves them both. Max, with his kind eyes and big heart, helps Cora without asking why she is fleeing.
Can they do enough to save their own lives?
I am a sucker for romantic historical fiction with a dash of thriller and this was really an exceptional read. Cora is exactly what I love in a main character, fierce and flawed and loyal to the bitter end. I felt the sadness she felt at always wondering why her mother abandoned her and when she does find out the truth, she doesn’t know what to do with it. As a kid who didn’t know their father, I can really appreciate the anguish to want to know no matter what.
I loved all the characters and the development of the main characters was so well done. It was told from more than one perspective and understanding Evie’s perspective on how she found Cora and raised her and how having her only child go looking for the woman who abandoned her, during a war…. gut wrenching and the author does an stunning job of bringing those fears to life.
It was a nice twist on a world war II novel and I enjoyed the fact the war was more a parallel to the real story of the two women. I found myself running through every emotion reading this book and please make sure you have a box of kleenex close by because you may not know you are crying until you feel the tears sliding down your cheek!
5 stars. @Bookouture and @netgalley, thank you so much for my review copy of this wonderful book!

The Last Letter from Paris is a heartbreaking tale which tells us of Cora, adopted daughter of Evie who we first met in The Sea Nurses, searching for her birth mother, set in 1940. Unfortunately Paris, where naive yet headstrong, Cora was living with her Aunt Iris, has been taken by the Germans. Iris is captured in her own home while Cora was out. Consequently Cora goes to Francine's. Both Francine and Iris are friends of Cora's adoptive mum and it was great to revisit them. Cora acts as a photographer for the resistance but is soon spotted and she runs. What happens over the next few weeks and months are things she'd rather forget. Can be read as a standalone as this is Cora's story. Great read.

4.5★s

It was June 1940 and her Aunt Iris, along with messages from her parents in Montauk, had been begging Cora Mayhew to leave Paris and head back to America. But twenty-three year old Cora thought she knew best - Americans wouldn't be caught up in the war, she would be safe. But the day the invasion came to Paris and Iris was arrested while Cora was out buying bread, was the beginning of a nightmare that seemed it would never end.

Iris was missing, Cora had fled to Iris' good friend Francine's home, and there they hid. Francine kept Cora safe, but the German who'd taken over Iris' home - Karl Hesser - was a cruel, heartless man and it wasn't long before Cora knew she had to escape and find her way back to America. With help, Cora made her way through enemy territory - but she had more trials to face. Would she get home again? Would she see her mother and father, whom she knew would be worrying themselves sick? And was Iris alright?

The Last Letter from Paris was an exceptional historical novel by Kate Eastham, one which I enjoyed very much. The ending was unfortunately, quite unrealistic (hence the reduction in star rating), but up until that point, I loved it. Cora had an innate strength which saw her through much, while the search for her birth mother kept her occupied until the invaders arrived in Paris. Then she had more on her mind. Francine, Iris, Lulu - all well crafted characters; there were others who held an important role in the story as well. I have no hesitation in recommending this one to fans of the genre.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is an easy to read, heartbreaking, gut wrenching novel that provides another perspective of events during WWII. I really enjoyed Cora because of how gutsy and brave she is – she is absolutely fearless and I wish I had half of her bravery. I enjoyed reading about her trials and tribulations as the American in Paris is trying to get out of Paris for her safety. Francine, Lulu, Iris and the others that she meets in Paris are all colorful characters that bring a lot to the novel. There is a bit of romance between Cora and Max, but to me it felt a bit rushed and I wished that it was explored a little bit more. I also wish that the story line about Cora’s birth mother was a bit more solidified. They never proved that the woman suspected to be Cora’s birth mother was actually her; I wish there was an answer to that. However, Cora’s adoptive mother, Evie, is the type of mother I wish every child had – she’s supportive and loving, even when it may hurt her. It was beautiful to read about the love that she has for Cora. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves to read historical fiction.

Cora is in Paris just as the Germans have invaded. Helping with the resistance puts her in harm’s way and she must flee Paris. Her train is blown up and she gets unexpected rescuing from Max, who is also a German solder.
It’s a story of survival with some romance added in. It’s a good story.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Cora Mayhew was found during world war, one by her nurse who was treating wounded soldiers in Britain. Knowing that her mother left her on the water side, Cora has always wondered about her birth mother. Now she has gone to Paris to see if she can find the woman who left her behind.

What Cora does find, is that she is trapped in German occupied Paris during the second world war. With her beloved aunt, taken by soldiers, and her apartment, conscripted for their use, Cora finds shelter with another family friend. Now Cora finds the most important thing is getting back her family. But she must first find her aunt before she can even try to return home to her parents. Which means that Cora is now in the midst of war and find herself in danger.

Can coral find iris before it’s too late? And will she be able to return home to her mother and father, who she now realizes, are all that matters in the world to her?

A great historical fiction novel that I highly recommend for anyone who loves this time period. Well written web lots of strong, female characters, and a very likable protagonist.

Set against the growing storm of WWII, Cora traveled to Paris to find answers about her birth mother.
Her entire life she has been told,the story of how she was found by Evie, her mom.
While Evie frantically worries across the ocean, Cora embarks on a career with the Resistance and also meets Max. Do they have a future together?
Eastham captures the angst, worry, and fear during the occupation of France. Cora’s attempt to find her birth mother adds an additional depth to what already is an emotionally wrenching story.

Cora is living in Paris after leaving her home to stay with her aunt. She is on a mission to find her birth mother. Cora was a foundling and she only has a couple of clues to find her birth mom.
While in Paris, she has one last chance to send her parents a letter before all communication is shut off.
The Nazis have invaded and things are getting really bad. The place she is staying at with her aunt and the Nazis have taken her. The Nazis actually let Cora gather a few things, since she is American and let her leave. She ends up staying with another family friend.
Now that the Nazis are taken over Paris, her mission focuses on finding her aunt and getting out of Paris. During her search, she comes heads-to-heads Max Heller, who seems smitten with her.
This story is heartwarming as Cora realizes her parents are truly her parents and she misses home. The journey it takes her to realize this among the chaos of the invasion sets her on a path that she could never have imagined. I am definitely looking for more of this author’s work.

A really enjoyable read that was well written with a captivating storyline and characters that made me feel EVERYTHING. I loved it

My first read by this author and it was an enjoyable WWII historical drama. Set mainly in Paris in 1940 it’s told largely from the point of view of Cora Mayhew, who travelled to Paris to stay with her Aunt Iris while she searched for her birth mother. The remaining chapters are told from the point of view of Cora’s adoptive mother Evie, who lives in America with her doctor, husband. Well-written story with a good plot it kept me engaged from start to finish. The main character Cora is a bit naive but she is also feisty and brave when it’s needed.

Briefly, as the German troops move into Paris at the start of the occupation Iris is arrested and taken away and when Cora returns to the flat she is given 5 minutes to gather some clothes and leave. Going to stay with Iris’s friend Francine Cora soon becomes involved with the Resistance and when she is nearly caught has to go on the run. Can she get home to her parents in America?

The one thing I found a bit annoying is the assumption later in the story about her birth mother, there was no proof it was her. That said it was a fast paced easy read and one I enjoyed. I felt like there were a few threads not tied up and wonder if there is going to be a sequel, if there is I’ll be reading it. There’s a bit of everything in this; spies, war, romance, friendship, and a whole bunch of amazing women. A good historical fiction read that kept me interested throughout.

Headstrong Cora Mayhew was abandoned at birth by a French red-haired mother, and eagerly adopted and raised with love in Montauk, Long Island by adoptive British parents Evie and Adam, who'd met working as nurse and surgeon at Southampton's Netley Hospital during WWI. At the age of 23 Cora left home for France, in search of her "real" mother, life experience and adventure. Evie is heartbroken but supportive, ensuring that her dear friend Iris Purefoy Becker, a fellow nurse she'd met on the hospital ship Britannic, would take good care of Cora in Paris. But nobody foresaw the Nazi occupation. When Iris is taken away and her luxury apartment commandeered, Cora escapes to the home of another old friend of Evie and Iris's, Francine King. Francine is elderly but incredibly well-connected - to firearms, jewels and the French Resistance movement!

Part romance, part historical fiction, regardless The Last Letter From Paris is a delightful combination, and I especially loved the portrayal of so many strong women characters and female bonds that manage to endure time, tension and what might at first appear to be a bit betrayal-ish. The word "growl" and the notion that one can intuit whether a loved one is alive or dead may have been used a few more times than necessary, but I was otherwise impressed by author Kate Eastham.

Cora is a lovely young, headstrong woman who went to Paris in search of her birth mother. In the process, the Nazi's invaded France and her friend was taken away. She struggled with the choice of leaving her friend behind to go back to America for safety, or staying in Paris to search out Iris. The book was able to transport my imagination to the time period and I felt all the feelings. There were a couple things that I believed could have been a bit more emphasized, but for the most part I was happily surprised by this novel.

I hadn't heard of this author going in to this book, but I really enjoyed this story and her writing. I haven't read too many historical fictions, so my opinion is just budding, but every WWII fiction I have read so far has been really good and is a sure way to get me in my emotions. I would recommend this story for those who love WWII fiction with little romance.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The story is about an American woman, Cora, living in Paris when the Germans arrive.
Courage during adversity….can she survive and find peace?
A very interesting plot with strong characters.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is set in WW2. Cora, an American, she was brought up by adoptive parents Evie and Adam.

She makes a decision to go to Paris and look for her birth mother, who left her when she was a baby. Evie has been there for her throughout her life and now felt that Cora was eager to find her real mother, as she thought that she was her mother.

Cora lived with her Aunt Iris in Paris, but then in 1940 the Nazi’s took over Paris.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was heartbreaking, how Cora wanted to find her biological mother and what she lost along the way.

I recommend this book.

Cora Mayhew, a foundling adopted at birth into a loving family, belongs and feels like an outsider all at once. She heads to Paris to search for the missing piece - the woman who abandoned her at birth. When given an opportunity to return to Paris, Cora hides her ulterior motives and accepts the challenge. What Cora can’t predict is that shortly after arriving, Paris is occupied by the Germans.

Set during the first year of occupation, a rarely utilized setting, Eastham is able to use the ominous tension to her advantage. Paris hadn’t been bombed yet, but the tension was palpable and normal activity was suspended. People tried to carry on with their lives but were in constant reminder of the enemy. Eastham shows the strength and durability of the human spirit.

It’s good to be reminded that we take ease of communication for granted. I can’t imagine being separated from loved ones without the technology to communicate with them. We pick up a cell phone and text internationally on a whim and are comforted in our unease. What must it have been like for those who didn’t have quick assurances?

While I would have appreciated a bit more character development and a tauter plot, I liked the espionage, the tension, the mystery, and the lengths Cora went to in finding where she belonged and what beliefs she was willing to bend as she tried to fit in. Eastham highlights bravery and love during wartime.

Does she find the missing piece? You’ll have to read to find out.

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Cora Mayhew has always been a fighter, ever since her adoptive mother found her abandoned in the dying years of WWI, 'If you've been dumped by your own mother, it pays to hold on to every scrap of self-belief that you have.' Despite growing up in a loving, adoptive family, Cora is determined to find her birth mother and sets off to Paris to follow a lead, 'I will do everything in my power to find the woman who abandoned me...to find myself.' Not long after moving to Paris, living with a close family friend, WW2 breaks out and both Cora and her Aunt Iris are thrown right into its midst. In order to survive in an occupied city, Cora will need to call upon all her self-belief and stay alive.

'The Last Letter from Paris' is an easy-to-read WW2, historical fiction novel. Cora is a gutsy, if not somewhat naive character who manages to navigate a number of troublesome and dangerous situations. The book contains a little bit of espionage, a dash of action and subterfuge, along with a sprinkling of romance but I would have enjoyed some further character development. For me, this was an ok, feel-good piece of historical fiction.

The Last Letter from Paris is a heart-breaking story sets in WW2. Cora was an American and raised up by her loving adoptive parents Evie and Adam in New York. Cora decided to travel to Paris to look for her birth mother who abandoned her when she was a baby. No matter what Cora decided, Evie was always there to support, although Evie felt conflict that she was eager to find her biological mother. Evie always thought she was her mother.

When Cora arrived to Paris and stayed at her aunt Iris's place, then the Nazi occupied Paris in 1940. In this mixing of feeling and the chaos happening, there was a German soldier trying to help Cora. If you were Cora, would you trust him...? Cora knew that if she had to survive, she had to play the Nazi's game.

In general this is a very compelling historical fiction which I enjoyed reading a lot. The heart-breaking, the eagerness to find her birth mother, love and trust under this chaotic period of time made this a great WW2 read.

The Last Letter from Paris is about a young, strong spirited, naïve American women in Paris, when the Nazis enter France. Although she is from a neutral country, she does her part for the French Resistance but becomes a German Officers obsession, then must fight to survive her escape from France. A story of love, hope, strength, growth, courage and the human spirit, that concluded with a lovely ending.
I would like to thank Bookouture, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.