Paris, 1940: The Ritz Hotel in Paris is the home of Vivian, a wealthy American widow. Her favorite chambermaid is Camille, a young French girl. Camille’s best friend, Rachael, is Jewish and works at the hotel as a maid. The Germans immediately seize the hotel when they occupy Paris. The lives of Vivian, Camille and Rachael all change as time progresses. Vivian is using her wealth to have papers forged in order to help Jews escape. Camille will do anything to help Rachael. It isn’t safe to trust anyone. The Germans are making laws forbidding Jews from working and they are rounding them up and sending them away to concentration camps. Vivian and Camille put their lives on the line to help Rachael and her mother to escape.
This is a WWII historical novel that builds to a climax.

Thank you Harlequin Books and Net Galley.

Every time I read a book that deals with World War II, I come away a bit more knowledgeable about the hardships endured by so many. While The Paris Housekeeper is a work of fiction, I have no doubt that the story told occurred somewhere and probably in a similar way. Renee Ryan conveys the horror and uncertainty of newly occupied Paris, as well as the lengths people would go to for survival. Well-told, and thought provoking, I highly recommend The Paris Housekeeper.

Renee Ryan keeps getting better and better… THE PARIS HOUSEKEEPER is a riveting tale of risk and redemption. Within the glamorous walls of the Ritz, Vivian secretly helps Jews obtain false papers to escape France. But when the Paris occupation begins, and Nazis move into the hotel, her strategy must change. To anyone outside looking in, she’s a Nazi sympathizer. But Camille, one of the housemaids, knows her secret, and together they hatch a plan to save another maid, Rachel, by hiding her – right under the Nazis’ noses. Full of danger, bravery, resilience, and sacrifice, the story tension builds until the very last moment in this WW2 page turner. Highly Recommend!

So, I absolutely loved this story.

As heartbreaking as most World War II are this book This was story of friendship and the determination of Jewish women trying to survive in Paris.

A definite recommend

Thank you Netgalley and publisher.

All thoughts and opinions are my own and aren't influenced by anyone else

Thank you net galley for giving me this opportunity to read 'The Paris Housekeeper' by Renee Ryan.
The story takes place in Paris, France at the start of WWII.
There are three main characters - Vivian, Camille, and Rachel.
Vivian is a widowed American living at the Hotel Ritz in Paris.
Camille is a chambermaid at the Hotel Ritz.
Rachel is also a chambermaid atbthe Hotel Ritz.
Camille befriends Rachel at work as no others will or do. Rachel just happens to be Jewish.
Vivian is involved in clandestine activities. What Vivian is doing is getting forged documents to help the Jewish people flee France.
The Germans invade Paris and the Hotel Ritz and a high ranking Nazi is given Vivian's suite at the hotel and she is forced to move to the other side of the hotel. Soon Vivian and the Nazi officer are involved intimately.
Camille will do anything to help her family in Brittany especially her younger sister.
Rachel is a young Jewish woman working at the hotel and being Jewish she is ultimately assigned to work in the laundry where no one will see her.
Camille befriends Vivian with hope of getting exit visas for Rachel and her mother.
These are my own opinions of this story.
I have to say that I thouroughly enjoyed reading this story.

Jewish Rachel, Frenchwoman Camille and American expat Vivian’s lives intertwine in the beautiful hotel Ritz in Paris in 1940. As the Germans invade Paris and life becomes unthinkably hard for Rachel, her friend Camille vows to help her. Vivian, the wealthy widow, works behind the scenes to help as many Jewish citizens as she can, but the cost is greater than she ever imagined. A tale of strong women, terrible cruelty and one of the darkest times in history, I couldn’t stop reading.

This WWII novel set in Paris 1940 a moving historical account of how the French government responded to the Nazi invasion and what that did to the lives of countless Parisians. Three women - Vivian, Camille, and Rachel - all from different backgrounds and socio-economic classes meet unexpectedly as the Germans storm the city. Many fled but so many could not, and it is here we find these three lives intertwined as none of them would ever have imagined. Vivian, seen as a frivolous wealthy socialite, is working feverishly behind the scenes to help those who can't help themselves. Camille and Rachel meet through work and form an alliance for safety's sake, but it becomes so much more. Twists and turns produce a captivating novel with a poignancy that won't disappoint.

When Nazi's occupy France, Camille, Rachel, and Vivian must decide where their loyalties lie and how far they are willing to go to survive. Each woman is connected to the Ritz Hotel in Paris. Rachel is a Jewish house maid, who suffers ridicule and exclusion from her co-workers. Camille, a pretty French girl, is caught up in the resistance by passing notes. Vivian, an American ex-pat, decides to fraternize with the enemy in order to continue forging documents and helping Jews escape.

I'm not entirely sure how to rate this book. The three points of view worked well for the storyline. However, the book itself was extremely repetitive. Each time the pov switched, the author rehashed the characters motivations, doubts, and struggles. This grew extremely tedious. Additionally, the book itself lacked storytelling. The author told us what happened rather than describing what happened. Because off these criticism, 3 out of 5 stars.

This is a story about courageous women working together to fight against the German attempt to rid France of every single Jewish person. Together, Camille and Vivian work to ensure the safety of Camille’s friends. This was a heartbreaking, yet touching, story of friendship and the determination of Jewish women to survive!

This story centers around three woman, and reads through three points of view in alternating chapters. A wealthy American widow, along with a French and a Jewish housekeeper/maid. They experience the horrors of living in occupied Paris while the Germans take over and destroy any sense of self-worth, dignity or independence. Each has their own story. They live with fear and shame, while trying to rise above the evil and find strength in doing what they can, and must do, for the ones they love.
The author has a real knack for letting you crawl into her characters’ skin and mind. You can feel their emotions as these women try to right the wrongs being done to innocent people around them. You witness the extreme poverty and hunger of the many at the expense of the few that live in excess. It felt like a cat and mouse game with the wealthy and a travesty for the everyday commoner.
Another good WWII book that reads with suspense while you are rooting for the people you have grown to care about. Highly recommended.

I'm not sure how I feel about Vivian at the end. It seemed a bit unrealistic. I wonder if she could have really hung on that long.

Camille Lacroix is a chambermaid at the world-famous Hôtel Ritz for an American widow, Vivian. They become friends and Camille finds out what is really going on. Their lives, nerves and plans are tested. Will they escape?

Every French citizen declared: Paris won't be invaded.

But...Paris was invaded, and the Germans took over the city and the Hotel Ritz.

The escape from the city began, but some people couldn't escape.

We meet three women who couldn't escape because of their situations and are connected to the Hotel Ritz.

Rachel is a Jewish housekeeper, Camille works at the hotel because she has to take care of her family and specifically her sister, and Vivian is an American living in the hotel.

Rachel gets treated even worse as the days rage on and more restrictions are placed on Jewish citizens, Camille feels more guilt about leaving her family, and Vivian starts an affair with a German officer, but has a secret.

What will happen to all of them?

Will they help each other or turn on each other?

Ms. Ryan added a layer of mystery along with the tension involved with keeping safe in Nazi Germany.

The last 25% will have you biting your fingernails.

THE PARIS HOUSEKEEPER is another Renee Ryan gem that will be devoured by historical fiction fans and loved by those who enjoy female characters as the main focus.

Amazing research by Ms. Ryan.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

Inspired by true events The Paris Housekeeper by Renee Ryan takes place in France in 1942 when Germany began, to invade France. It is the story of three women: Vivian, an American heiress living in Paris she tries to use her money to save as many Jewish people as she can. Rachel, a young Jewish woman who is afraid that her family will not survive the new regime. She is a fearful and angry character. Camille has a haunting and guilty disposition, her family has already been torn apart by the previous war. She works as a maid who sends all her money home to care for her family. All three women’s story changes when the Germans come to Paris and take over the town and the hotel where Vivian lives and Rachel and Camille work.
It is only at the last sixty page that the story really becomes more about the Paris Housekeeper, the book really could have been called something else.

This book is about choices, sacrifices, resilience, and friendships. I found the story to be on the slower side, maybe this was Ryan’s goal giving the reader a chance to determine what they would do in the same situation. There is an epilogue, that tied it all together beautifully. Be sure to read the author's notes!

This is my first book by Renee Ryan, but it will not be my last.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story started slow for me, but I eventually became interested in the three main characters, and overall thought it was a good read.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Publishing for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
This story takes place in 1940 in German occupied Paris. Camille Lacroix is a chambermaid at the Hotel Ritz, which is taken over by the Nazis. Soon the Nazis start rounding up the Jews and taking them to death camps. In an effort to save her Jewish friend, Rachel, Camille turns to a rich American who lives at the Hotel for help. I enjoyed this story! It was a different take on WWII. Like a lot of stories about this time in history, there was a lot of sadness. There was also a lot of hope, as Camille and Vivian fought to save Rachel and her mother. I also liked the end where the author lets the reader know what happened to the main characters. Very well-written story about f friendship, and how far we will go to save others.

This was a different take on WWII and I really enjoyed it. Definitely give this one a shot and you won’t be disappointed.

Thank you for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

I have read many books about the struggles of people during World War II in Europe trying to flee the terrors of the Holocaust and Hitler’s occupation of different countries. I like this book because it differs from the others. Instead of focusing on one or two characters of the same background, it follows three women: Vivian Miller, a wealthy American widow who secretly works to save Jews and others; Camille LaCroix, a French woman who strives to save her sister with mental illness; and Rachel Berman, a young Jewish woman struggling to find a way to flee with her mother. The three meet at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, where Vivian lives and Camille and Rachel work. The tragedy of the story is that Vivian had to accept the scorn of others because she was thought to be a Nazi mistress and collaborator, when she saved so many people and was willing to sacrifice herself for others.
Camille struggled with her belief that no French people were fighting against their occupiers and the corrupt French gendarmes and officials. I found it hard to believe that she would not have heard of the Resistance, which was active and known to exist, although their identities were hidden. She would have to be extremely sheltered to not have heard something. Also, she had to know that Vivian was working with others in a network to be able to help Jews hide and ultimately escape.
The ending was happy for Camille and Rachel. Camille even is revered. Her flaw is that she did not have the moral courage to let others know that the true heroine was Vivian.
Overall I think The Paris Housekeeper is very good. It was exciting and engrossing. I would encourage those who love reading about World War II to read it to get another perspective.

The Paris Housekeeper by Renee Ryan is a WWII historical fiction book based on the lives of three women. Rachel (and her mother) are Jewish trying to survive during this horrific time period. Camille is German working at a famous hotel trying her best to stay out of trouble and yet having a strong desire to help the Jews, especially her friend Rachel. Vivial is an American heiress living in France trying to use her wealth to help Jewish people escape from the Nazi’s as much as possible.

Camille and Vivian’s life takes a drastic change when a Nazi officer falls for Vivian and takes her as his mistress. He moves Vivian into his home and Vivian takes Camille as her housekeeper. The tension builds when Camille moves Rachel and her mother into a secret bunker right under the nose of the Nazi officer.

Camille and Vivian desperately need to get Rachel out of the house before they are discovered. The tension in the story had to wanted to skip ahead to see what is next

This is my first book by Renee Ryan, but it will not be my last.

I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much for this opportunity.

Oh my goodness! What an excellent book! It is set in German-occupied Paris. There were three heroines: Camille, Rachel, and Vivian. Camille and Rachel worked his housekeepers in the Ritz Hotel and Vivian, who was a wealthy American, lived there. When the Germans came to town, Rachel lost her job because she was Jewish. Vivian became the mistress of von Bauer, a German officer. But she only did it to get the inside scoop on what they were doing. Actually she was working underground to help Jews escape. So when von Bauer acquired his own house, Vivian moved in and brought Camille along as his housekeeper. Vivian knew that Camille needed extra money and this job would pay her three times what she was making. Also, Vivian wanted to keep an eye on her, to keep her safe. Unfortunately, because the Americans thought Vivian was converting and collaborating with the Germans, they disowned her.

Rachel had a brother and a sister. Her sister got married and they fled to New York. Her father and her brother were taken by the Germans to a concentration camp. Camille wanted to save Rachel and her mother so she asked Vivian to get them papers so they could escape, which she did. Camille found a vault under the basement in von Bauer's home and she moved to Rachel and her mother in without telling Vivian, but eventually she found out.

Oh how I enjoyed this book! And the end was a nail biter. I love how the author portrayed the characters. They were very believable. And the storyline was such that it was not at all difficult to follow. I wish I could give this book 10 stars, but alas, I can only give it five, which I did.

Life changes almost in a minute when the evil that has been invading Europe turns its ugly eyes on France. Neighbor turning on neighbor, and soon bread lines, and certain people must stand at the end, and usually don't get anything.

The author gives us faces to those that are just trying to survive, one a young girl, a member of the now hated class, another an American heiress that tries to help the less fortunate, and the third, actually the Paris housekeeper, is a beautiful young woman, she seems to have the world on her shoulders, but goes about her life doing all she can for the lest fortunate.

This is story of intrigue, danger, fear, and yet, with all that is going on, you will chuckle as at one of the solutions the young housekeeper comes up with. Yes, this is a page turner, I needed answers, and loved that there is an epilogue at the end, and be sure to read the author's notes!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.