This was a beautifully written story by Kristin Harmel. As the story unfolds she takes you on a journey across decades and although the beginning years are full of tragedy, the story is also full of love and hope. I loved this one and definitely recommend this to any historical fiction readers, especially if you're interested in the WW2 genre.

“Because when we find ourselves in darkness, we can’t wait for the light to find us"

Thank you NetGalley and Kristin Harmel for an advanced readers copy of this book and the opportunity to share my thoughts.

Kristin Harmel is just one of the best! I cannot put her books down. This was another amazing story with a twist at the end - I never know how they are going to end up. I loved it!

A descendant of Robin Hood, Colette Marceau was trained early by her mother, Annabel, on how to steal jewelry. During the Nazi occupation of Paris, mother and daughter kept busy redistributing wealth. But one night, the Marceaus are arrested. Only two-year-old Liliane escapes but while the rest of the family is in prison, her body is discovered in the Seine.

More than seventy years later, Colette is in Boston, financing a Holocaust remembrance charity by repatriating jewelry. She recognizes a bracelet in an exhibit in a local museum as the twin to the one that she still wears--the pair of bracelets that led to her mother's arrest and ultimate execution. Working with her dear friend, and pseudo-daughter, Colette tries to learn how the bracelet came to be in the possession of a Boston family. As she uncovers long-buried family secrets, she also learns the truth of what happened that fateful Paris evening.

This dual timeline novel is fascinating in its details of Nazi-occupied Paris. When parsed, the story line seems implausible but that doesn't keep the reader from being drawn in. And I loved how spry Colette and her nonagenarian beau are. I'm a sucker for all these World War II novels. #TheStolenLifeofColetteMarceau #NetGalley

Another winner by Kristin Harmel. Great character development, great historical aspects,and you feel deep emotions as you read any of her stories and this one didn’t not disappoint. I am always ready for her next adventure.
Thanks to the author for a great story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.
This author is always a 5 star for me.

Kristen Harmel has written another winner in The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau!Colette Marceau is an unlikely jewel thief who was taught how to steal from her mother.You must decide how you feel about the morality of her stealing from the rich and cruel like Robin Hood to give to the needy II found this premise rather unsettling but enjoyed the book.Colette and her mother Annabel stole jewels during the Second World War to help the French Resistance-until tragedy struck.Something very meaningful from her past shows up in a museum and Colette must search for answers in the loss of her sister and a priceless bracelet.This book of historical fiction is told in dual timeline that is very easy to follow.It has all the good things-characters,action,mystery and romance!You will enjoy your time in this book!

Kristin Harmel does not dissapoint. The Queen of WWII novels has wowed her readerss once again. The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau.brings fact in history while creatively develops character. Of great depth.

it righteous to do bad things for the right reasons? It's WWII France and a family of gypsy, jewel thieves, are doing what they, for generations, have done best. They steal from the rich and give to those less prosperous. And, imagine that those riches were indeed under the ownership of the Jews before the German invasion of WWII began. Does that justify thieving from the Germans to help the now repressed Jews?
Interesting dual timeline story with the driving force of realization, diamonds really are forever.

A story of love, loss, despair, dishonesty
, desire, friendship and hope.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel.

#rhestolenlifeofcolette
#netgalley
#kristinharmel

4.5 stars! Such a good book. Lots of history, emotion, and tears. Kristin's books are always so good and this one didn't disappoint.

Colette’s family led a tragic life in the 1940’s, but Colette has tried to continue with the family’s traditions for many years. When a very unique piece of jewelry is featured in a jewelry show, Colette is led on a twisty adventure to find out what truly happened to her sister. This was a very well-written story and kept me absolutely absorbed! As the story neared the ending, I found myself wanting to keep reading about the characters! Loved it!

Thank you to #simonaudio , @librofm , and #netgalley for this #giftedaudiobook in exchange for my unbiased review. Kristin Harmel is one of my favorite historical fiction writers. She has a talent for writing sweeping historical novels that pull you in through her gripping plots. This book was enticing and emotional. You must put this audiobook on your TBR list! Also, try The Winemaker's Wife. It is my favorite book of hers to date.

I am not always the biggest fan of historical fiction, but this plot really had me entertained. I do love a World War II storyline so this didn't disappoint. I also liked the flashbacks between 1940s and 2018.

This book will definitely be in my top ten book of the year. It was perfection. A story that kept me turning the pages. Kept me in tears and even a laugh or two. Mostly it made me believe in life. As hard as things are now and were back then, there is always hope for the future. Never give up...

This is the story of a family. Or a mother and her daughter. Colette is so young when her mother, Annabel, starts teaching her about the family "tradition." They are descendants of Robin Hood. We have all heard of him right? They steal from the rich. The ones that do harm and have little regard for others, and use it to help the underprivileged. The ones who need it most. In this case it's the underground helping the Jews to escape the Germans.

This story is told in two timelines. Back in the early/mid 1930s/1940s, and then in 2018. Told before and during the time Colette's mother is captured by the Germans for stealing. When Colette's little sister is taken by someone and murdered. When she herself and her father are also arrested. The guilt that follows Colette. She blames herself for Liiane's abduction and subsequent death.

This is also a story of much hope. Of a love story that was never allowed to blossom. Colette met a boy named Tristan when she was only fourteen and it seems they fell in love. What an innocent age. Tristan was a Jewish boy though. When the Nazi's came and put the Jews in prisons and shipped them off to concentration camps, Tristan was one of them. Colette lost him. She dedicated her life to helping the weak and finding the man who took her sister.

This book is so emotional and so good. It's about a family and shows that blood is not always what makes a family. Sometimes it's being there for others. Though blood family is very much at the center of this story too. Colette was a strong woman. She never gave up trying to find the man who took Liliane. It all starts with a bracelet. The exacte twin to the one Colette has. Whoever own it had to be the one who took Liliane.

This book is one of the best I have read. This author can write a story that always pulls you in and captures your heart. Her research is impeccable. She puts her whole heart in each story she writes.
Please read the AUTHOR'S NOTE at the ending too. It's well worth it. I'm so glad Kristin Harmel got her writing abilities back. So very glad.

Don't forget to get those mammograms ladies. They can be lifesaving. May 21st was mine. Please get them every year!!

Thank you to #NetGalley, and #GalleryBooks, for this ARC.

Egads! Is there another writer if historical fiction that consistently knocks it out of the park more than Kristin Harmel? I think not. This is the tale of Colette - a master jewel thief that was taught by her mother and a survivor of WWIi to boot! Colette loses so much during the war and it changes who she becomes. And as she ages, her mother’s wisdom that was passed down in her early years comes to fruition in the most remarkable ways. This one from NetGalley left me with a book hangover…. I may start it again tomorrow

Extremely readable, this (unfortunately timely once again) historical fiction was beautifully written and pulled me right in and held my attention throughout. I read this over two days.

Full five star read. This one was excellent.



Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the DRC

Kristin Harmel just knows how to tell a story. I always devoured her stories and this one was no different. Told in alternating timelines and when the connections all finally fall into place it just blows you away!

This is such a vibrant WWII dual timeline read. I loved it cover to cover. Colette is a jewel thief who is carrying on the family tradition. Her family dates from Robin Hood to steal from the rich and give to good causes and deserving people. During WWII her family is taken, and a valuable jewel was lost with them. Her sister had it sewed into her clothing but was found murdered after the Nazi's kidnapped her and thew her body in the river. Colette has always grieved her family and those that were lost during that time. In present day she is in her Nineties and continuing her life's work. She has many achievements behind her in utilizing stolen jewels to help others. When the item her sister had with her appears in a museum Colette wants closure and proceeds to investigate where it came from and who had it.

I loved the well-crafted story and the flow of this inspiring story. Colette is a wonderful main character and a brilliant courageous woman. The author is masterful at creating a WWII era story that captures her readers. A book I highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher, to Net Galley and to the author. My review opinion is my own.

Set in dual time lines 1940 and 2012 about Colette who is a jewel thief who might be a descendent of Robin Hood.
Drama,suspense,agnst,twists,mystery which starts with the occupation of Paris ,her mother who also a thief and the Germans and continue in Boston and a missing bracelet..
Very good interesting intriguing story and characters.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Although the ending tied things up a little too neatly to be believable, this book is well worth the ride! Historical fiction is my favorite and this one ticked all the boxes for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC!

Kristin Harmel consistently gives us heroines who embody strength, courage, and resilience. They are also achingly real with flaws, fears, and insecurities. She brings a freshness to WWII era historical fiction that feels new and creative.

In THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU we meet an unlikely heroine. Colette Marceau is a spry, spirited woman approaching her ninetieth birthday while still actively practicing her craft as an accomplished jewel thief. But, Colette is no ordinary criminal—she’s part of a family business of Robin Hood-esque thieves who steal from the wicked to aid the persecuted. She got her start in pre-WWII Paris; trained by her mother with the understanding that she will never steal for her own benefit.

Fast forward to the present day and Colette is still at the top of her game; stealing to fund a Boston Holocaust museum. She carries a heavy burden since the German occupation of Paris when her mother and sister were killed as s result of her mother’s activities to help the Jews who were being rounded up and sent to their deaths. When Colette learns that a long missing bracelet is to be included in a museum exhibit, she sees it as her last chance to find the answers that have eluded her about her sister’s death and hopefully find the person responsible.

Moving seamlessly between Paris in the 1940s and present day Boston, Harmel weaves a story of love and longing, heartbreak and healing, and the keeping of promises made decades before. It moved me to tears, caused me to gasp, and had me marveling at the difference a single human can have on the world.

I highly recommend this epic novel. Don’t miss the author’s note at the end of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

The 1940s story that caught my attention most in the dual timeline story. The Stolen life of Colette Marceau isn’t based on any historical real life people, but it is based on events that took place in France- like the largest roundup of Jewish people and their deportation. There are some incredible twists in this story, a few I suspected, and a lot of emotional moments.
I appreciate the ARC and our library has purchased a copy of the novel

I'm convinced Kristin Harmel cannot write a bad book. I've read many of her fabulous historical fiction works and this one is right up there with her others. We are taken on thrilling journeys with Colette, a jewel thief descending from Robin Hood, who is trying to heal from the past while searching for answers to a mystery. The story unfolds in smooth flowing dual timelines revealing tragic events and family secrets, both heartbreaking and heartwarming. A great summer read to escape from the heat! My thanks to Gallery Books for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.