Thoroughly enjoyable, this tense drama of the French resistance during World War II, follows the dangerous intrigue in a Paris fashion house. Young Paulette, sent into "exile" in Paris after her mother is taken by the Gestapo, finds herself working as a seamstress in her family friend's couture business. Once a daughter of a wealthy family, she is more familiar with the other side of the fashion world -- in fact, she's now working in the midst of the shop where her own clothes were fitted when being in the height of style was within her means. Working hard to adjust to her new lot in life becomes much more than sharpening her skills as a creator of high style. Paulette soon learns that there's far more to her new job than the frivolities she used to enjoy. As the Nazi grip on France tightens, she joins with her newfound friends in their dangerous efforts to help enemies of the Reich escape to freedom. Facing danger to help her countrymen and aid in the downfall of the evil German regime, Paulette finds her true worth and lasting love even as she succeeds in her mission.

THE LAST FASHION HOUSE IN PARIS by Renee Ryan is an engrossing story of friendship, resilience and survival set in the early 1940s in Nazi-occupied Paris. As a young woman from a wealthy family, Paulette LeBlanc is accustomed to spending her time, flirting, shopping and socializing. She has little interest in her family’s generations-old and renowned wine empire, Chateau Fouché-LeBlanc. After a dangerous relationship with a Nazi soldier leads to devastating consequences for her family, Paulette is sent away to Paris to work as an apprentice to her mother’s friend and famous fashion designer, Sabine Ballard. Little does she know that behind elegant fashion house is a secret resistance network working to save as many lives as they can from the Nazis. Her guilt over betraying her family leads Paulette to join their efforts, taking extraordinary risks to redeem herself. The story is beautifully-written and thoroughly engaging. I didn’t want to put it down. In fact, once I learned that Paulette was a character in a previous book by Renee Ryan, THE WIDOWS OF CHAMPAGNE, I had to get that book and read it immediately. I highly recommend both books and everything I’ve read by this author. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy of THE LAST FASHION HOUSE IN PARIS.

The Last Fashion House in Paris was such a great story and was really well written! I truly enjoyed all of the characters and felt their bravery throughout the book.

Paulette is sent to work in a Fashion House in Paris owned by her mother’s best friend. As she is learning to sew, she becomes part of the resistance group that helps downed airmen and Jews escape to safety. This is such a wonderful story about taking care of those around you and doing all that you can to help one another.

I loved seeing how Paulette’s character changes from the beginning of the story to the end. Her friendship with Nicolle is so sweet and endearing.

This book was easily a great stand alone read but I am excited to go back and read The Widows of Champagne, where we first meet Paulette!

This is an amazing story with emotion, friendship, and grit that truly showed the strength of those who lived through period of history and all they had to endure together. I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my eARC! All thoughts are my own.

Very interesting WWII fiction book based on a Paris fashion house whose owner is part of the French Resistance. The main characters Paulette, Nicolle and Mademoiselle Ballard are all intriguing characters. The story moves a bit slow at times but builds to a fascinating ending in the last 1/3 of the book. There is intrigue, family drama, a bit of mystery and romance in this one. Paulette goes from someone you wouldn't want to be friends with to a heroine in her own right.

This book is part of a series and I hadn't read the other books in the series but was able to pick right up with this one with no issues. I can see this one being good for ages 14+. There are some scenes with French gangster and Nazi's but the story is both historically accurate and not too descriptive for younger readers. It is a clean historical book, light on romance with a small amount of chaste kissing but nothing more descriptive.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is an exciting and page turning story about a young spoiled French woman who finds redemption working for the resistance in Paris. The author did extensive research about the way that the resistance worked and about dress shops during the war. They were one of the few French businesses that were allowed to stay open because the German wives wanted clothes designed for them by a Paris designer.

Paulette was a spoiled young woman who spent her days partying and flirting with the available men in her family estate outside of Paris. Since there were few eligible French men available, she began to flirt with the Germans who occupied her home. She erred by trusting the wrong person and she and her mother ended up in prison. She was released and when she got home, her sister banished her to Paris to work for her mother's best friend as an apprentice seamstress. She blamed herself for her mother's arrest and was willing to go to Paris were she went from a well to do person who had clothes fitted at the salon to a worker who sewed the designer dresses. She made few friends in the beginning but eventually became friends with Nicolle who often disappeared from the salon. Paulette started to pay attention and realized that Maison de Ballard was more than a fashion shop. The owner controlled a huge network of resistance people who helped downed flyers return to their country and helped Jewish people escape. She wanted to become part of the resistance so she was assigned to start attending parties to pick up information that the network could use. Soon she finds herself in situations that are very dangerous but she is able to use her new skills to keep herself out of danger. When her friend disappears, she realizes how much danger she is in and has to make some important decisions on who to trust and how she can help the resistance the most.

This book was a real coming of age story for Paulette - she changed from being a spoiled brat only interested in herself to putting herself in dangerous situations to help save other people. One of the most difficult things was learning who to trust - she had made a mistake with trust when she lived at home and had a lot to learn about trust when she joined the resistance. This was another wonderful World War II story about a strong woman who puts her life on the line to help save her country and the people she loves.

One of the plot points I liked in Renee Ryan's WIDOWS OF CHAMPAGNE was when Paulette Leblanc accidentally betrayed her mother and was subsequently banished from her home. Banishing Paulette and leaving her fate unknown demonstrated how WW2 divided families, often forever. You couldn't help but wonder what happened to Paulette once she left home.

Three years later, in THE LAST FASHION HOUSE IN PARIS, Ryan finally shares with readers Paulette's fate and does so in magnificent fashion.

The book opens immediately after Paulette's betrayal. We immediately learn of her deep regret. One youthful indiscretion has destroyed her family. Her mother has disappeared after being arrested by the Nazis, her grandmother is lost to dementia, and her sister hates her. She's sent to Paris where her family hopes she will grow up and start anew. Meanwhile Paulette wants is to fix the past and atone for her sins.

Enter the House of Ballard where Paulette goes to work as a seamstress. Sabine Ballard is Paris's premier fashion designer and a member of the Resistance. She takes Paulette under her wing and turns her into a spy for the organization. In my opnion, Sabine Ballard is the book's most interesting character (more so than Paulette) as she works both sides of the street. She harbors Jews from the Nazis but is business partners with a notorious German collaborator. She spends the entire novel on borrowed time.

The other POV character is Noelle Cadieux, a Jewish seamstress who works on the escape line and who is dangerously close to an emotional breakdown from the stress. I loved her storyline as well because it broke my heart.

In fact, while I loved all three, if I was pressed, I would say that Paulette's redemption arc was #3 compared to the others - which is ironic since her redemption is why I wanted to read the book.

Regardless, Ryan weaves the three women's stories brilliantly. To fulfil their missions, all three women find themselves taking greater and greater chances. Ryan doesn't let up the tension, and by the time you reach the climax, you'll wonder how the women will make it out alive.

Bottom line: This is a wonderful story of redemption, forgiveness, adventure, and sisterhood. The writing is top notch. The research is spot on. The only mystery is why haven't more people haven't discovered Renee Ryan's books?

PS: Readers of THE PARIS HOUSEKEEPER will be excited to see a few Easter Eggs as well.

Disclaimer: I am a friend of Renee's, but that doesn't change my opinion of her writing. It's awesome.

Disclaimer #2: I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for this honest review.

A compelling story of a young woman, Paulette, who makes a terrible choice, and is sent to Paris to work in the fashion house of her mother's best friend. It is WWII, and Paulette finds more than couture work; she becomes part of the atelier's support for the French Resistance helping Jews and downed Allied pilots escape the Nazis. Unputdownable!

Completely engaging story with mystery, intrigue, guilt (both warranted and unwarranted), secrets, devastation and hope, set in Paris during the Nazi takeover of WWII. Kept me wondering, guessing, and on the edge of my seat throughout. My first Renee Ryan book - but certainly not my last!

Historical fiction readers will not want to miss this story set during WWII. Paulette, having destroyed her reputation was shipped off to Paris to work for her mother’s friend at her fashion shop. The undercover operation at the shop plus the fashion industry makes for an interesting story. Loved that Madame helped so many and Nicolle became Paulette’s close friend. Recommended!

Title: The Last Fashion House in Paris
Author: Renee Ryan
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

France, 1942

Once, Paulette Leblanc spent her days flirting, shopping and drawing elegant dresses in her sketch pad. Then German tanks rolled into France, and a reckless romance turned into deep betrayal. Blaming herself for her mother’s arrest by the Gestapo, Paulette is sent away to begin a new life in Paris, working as apprentice to fashion designer Sabine Ballard.

But Maison de Ballard is no ordinary fashion house. While seamstresses create the perfect couture gowns, clandestine deals and secrets take place out of sight. Mademoiselle Ballard is head of a vast network of resistance fighters—including Paulette’s coworker and friend Nicolle Cadieux—who help escort downed military men and Jewish families to safety.

Soon Paulette is recruited as a spy. Working as a seamstress by day, gathering information at glamorous parties by night, Paulette at last has a chance to earn the redemption she craves. But as the SS closes in, and Nicolle goes missing, Paulette must make life-and-death decisions about who to trust, who to love and who to leave behind…

I really enjoyed this read! I felt so sorry for Paulette from the very first page. Yes, what she did was horrible, but I can’t imagine living with such guilt. The goings-on at the fashion house were fascinating, and the clandestine errands were riveting. I loved all the main characters, and really enjoyed how it tied in Ryan’s other book.

Renee Ryan is from Florida. The Last Fashion House in Paris is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/ Love Inspired in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Last Fashion House in Paris, by Renee Ryan


(Blog link live 12/24).

I loved my first experience with Renee Ryan's writing two years ago, and I've been looking forward to read more of her work ever since. I was going to get a copy of one of her backlist titles, but somehow I never ended up doing so... When the opportunity to read her newest story The Last Fashion House In Paris arose, I decided to give in and read this book first. What I didn't realize is that this is actually a companion novel to both The Widows Of Champagne and The Paris Housekeeper, because I would have read those books first otherwise... I can confirm that this story can easily be read as a stand-alone as well though, and it was without doubt another excellent piece of WWII historical fiction!

The Last Fashion House In Paris is set in WWII France, both in Paris and the free zone. The main focus is on the French resistance during the war, which has been done before of course, but the focus on fashion helped making the story stand out for me. I could appreciate the fact that this story was based on true events, and the incorporation of historical facts and references helped the story feel more authentic. The Last Fashion House In Paris uses a multiple POV structure, switching between the three women most important in the plot (Paulette, Nicolle, Sabine). This structure helped creating a multi-faceted plot with each focusing on different aspects of the war.

I admit that it took me a little while to properly warm up to Paulette, but once she shows her strength and determination I was fully on her side. Nicolle's POV was probably the most intense with her job of being a passeur and her complicated past... And I loved Sabine's POV for the fashion angle it provided as well as more insight in the resistance network. The main focus of the plot is on female friendship, overcoming hardship and resilience... There is even some romance, but it isn't the main focus of this story (something that is always a bonus for me).

There is just something about Renee Ryan's writing that is extremely engaging, and combined with the intriguing plot and lots of dangerous moments it is impossible to stop turning those pages. Especially the second half, where more and more complications arise, things start moving at a record speed... And I couldn't put this book down. If you enjoy well writting and engaging WWII historical fiction stories that offer a little something extra, I can definitely recommend The Last Fashion House In Paris. I can't wait to return to some of the characters when read the two related books!

The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan is a delightful discovery for readers who enjoy seeing characters from previous novels make appearances in this latest installment. The novel is incredibly suspenseful and keeps readers eagerly turning the pages.

I have enjoyed every book that I have read by Renee Ryan and that includes "The Last Fashion House in Paris". While the term "Fashion House" conjures up images from the movie "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris" or the Netflix series "Halston", this book is less about high fashion in Paris as it is about the lives of women in Paris during the Nazi occupation of France. More specifically, it is a book that is focused on 3 women who work in a Paris Fashion House written in 3 storylines of Paulette, Nicolle, and Sabine, but also gives the reader insight into the lives of other women in, and outside of, the fashion world, as each one makes choices about how to live, or simply survive, during the final few years of WWII. There certainly are sections of the book that cover some of the day to day details of the world of haute couture which are very insightful for those of us who have never experienced buying, selling, or creating high fashion. What makes this book one that kept me reading past midnight are the relationships that the 3 main characters build with each other (as well as other important characters we meet) and their work in the French Resistance. Their work leads to a great deal of suspense which kept me turning those pages! There is some overlap with characters from Ryan's "Widows of Champagne" and her novel "The Paris Housekeeper" but "The Last Fashion House in Paris" is a perfectly good standalone novel. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading books with strong female main characters and portrayals of life during WWII. I received an ARC from NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

Know that this is a sequel to Widows of Champagne and that there might be times when if you missed that one, you might feel as though you are missing something. That said, it's actually fine as a standalone. Fans of the WWII genre will enjoy this for is portrait of Paris during the war and for the strong women. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. While the themes are not unique, it's still a good read.

Paulette Leblanc was once a carefree young socialite. However, when the Germans took over France, her imprudent actions led to an unimaginable loss. She is banished from her home and sent to Paris to live and train at Maison de Ballard. Mademoiselle Sabine Ballard is not just a top fashion designer; she heads a network of resistance fighters, including seamstress Nicolle Cadieux and the mysterious Philippe Rochon. They have been rescuing downed Allied pilots and helping Jewish refugees reach safety. When it becomes evident that there is a traitor within the organization, Paulette is recruited to help spy for Sabine and realizes she cannot trust anyone.

The Last Fashion House in Paris is another engaging World War II-era story by Renee Ryan. It features characters from her other novels and reads well as a standalone. While the tragedy of the war is present, this book focuses on the people, with the horrors kept in the background. Paulette's journey from a self-centered young woman to a brave individual who thinks of others as she seeks redemption makes for a worthwhile read. This well-researched book pays homage to those who risked their safety for others.

My thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin for allowing me to review this very good arc.

I did not know this was a follow up to another book where characters in this book were mentioned in the prior book. I think things would have been filled in a bit better, but good nonetheless. Paulette LeBlanc did a horrible thing and her sister sends her away to their mother s friend who has a fashion house in Paris that secretly does work for the Resistance.

Good book. Paulette a bit annoying, but good read.

I decided not to finish this one. I didn't realize it was a sequel and the characters were not compelling enough for me to jump in halfway. But I will try it again once I read the first one.

The Last Fashion House in Paris picks up where The Widows of Champagne ends.
After her mother is arrested by the Gestapo, Paulette is sent to Paris to work as an apprentice to famed fashion designer, Sabine Ballard. But what looks like a glamorous atelier is actually home to brave resistance fighters. Soon Paulette joins them as a spy, working alongside the daring Nicolle and Philippe, both of whom harbor secrets of their own. As the Nazis draw closer, loyalties will be tested and Paulette will be forced to question whom she can trust and what she is willing to risk.

I loved The Widows of Champagne and absolutely hated the character of Paulette - props to the author because she was so well written as the spoiled, selfish character. But I knew that if Renee Ryan had chosen to follow her for the sequel, there was more to learn about her. I was right - Paulette grows into a woman driven to do better by regret. She becomes a worthy protagonist. I love reading realistic consequences and character growth.

We just finished watching The New Look on AppleTV (a fantastic series about Dior and Chanel during the war) and this evoked the same feelings. The Resistance juxtaposed against the glamour of couture is a brilliant way of showing the grittiness that was the dark side of the industry and what was done to survive.

If you enjoy strong female driven historical fiction, this is a duology I highly recommend.

This was such a good book!

Overview:

Language/Profanity: A character is said to swear, a couple of 'My God' in french.

Faith: None

Romance/Sex: Romance? There was surprisingly only a bit, with a few kisses, and only towards the end. But there is lots of women who have affairs witht he Germans. Our MFC was in a relationship with a Nazi but I don’t knew how far it went.

Action/Adventure: Lots and lots

Other: Men learing, hatred against Jews, concentration camps, the danger Resistance members faced, gangsters, ect.

This...was a good book. It was interesting to see the Resistance from the POV of French women, and it was also neat to see the Fashion House work.
The writing itself was amazing, very crisp and articulate making it very enjoyable to read.
But, from a Christian POV, I saw lots of hopelessness in the characters as they lived. They did not have the peace of God, and in some way, it showed in the book. But, over all, it was a very good read, and I am grateful to NetGalley for giving me a copy to read and review.

How far would you go to do the right thing and protect innocent people? Reading about the holocaust, whether fiction or nonfiction, is never easy. As I read this story, I honestly do not know if I would have the courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.
I enjoyed seeing Paris during occupation from the unique perspective of a fashion house. It was an enjoyable and smooth read that kept me guessing. I have not read anything else by this author, but although this story seems to have grown out of another book, I had no trouble reading this as a stand alone novel. It was mostly believable, except for how quickly Paulette caught on to sewing and entering into the resistance movement. I was also disappointed that, for a book that was touted as Christian, there were no Christian elements. It was clean, but no mention of scripture or God in a positive light or relying on Him for help. The characters were all independent and self reliant with no seeming need or place for God in their work. I actually went back to NetGalley mid book to double check that it was in the Christian category, and it surprisingly was. I almost exclusively read Christian books and this one definitely lacked the spiritual connection I’m used to.
For a book about the holocaust, this was an engaging and interesting story based on truth. If you love historical fiction, especially WWII, I recommend giving it a try.
*I received a complimentary copy of this e-book courtesy of Harlequin Love Inspired Romance through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.