From the heights of culinary cuisine in 1950s Paris society to the underbelly of a WWII spy network embedded deep within Nazi-controlled Vichy France–and the spy backstory of the world’s most famous would-be French chef, Julia Child–The French Kitchen turns up the heat on the pasts of women whose worlds collide, and forces each to question what she thought she’d planned for a perfect future.

This is a bit slow in spots. But the ending is so very good! I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the hunt for Kat’s brother. Add in the cameo appearances from Julia Child and you have a pretty good read!

I also enjoyed the “sort of” love story between Kat and her “sort of” husband. Yes! You need to read this to find out.

This story is a good mysterious tale with some twists and turns you will not see coming!

This is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. Excellent job with all the French pronunciations!

Need a WWII spy novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

Dual timelines...

Set in post war, 1952 and in the world of Julia Child, Kat is in rebuilding mode.
But the construct is a dual timeline of Manon in 1943.
An interesting concept executed very well.
Recommend.

EVOCATIVE, INFORMATIVE, & ESPIONAGE

Award-winning author Kristy Cambron has truly brought her A-game with this evocative dual-time novel, "The French Kitchen." I highly recommend reading it!

The story revolves around Kat Fontaine, a woman who risks everything to uncover the truth about her brother, Gavin, and whether he is dead or alive. Struggling to come to terms with his disappearance, Kat engages in espionage during the 1940s. To hide in plain sight, she works as a chef, gathering and sharing information with the OSS (Office of Strategic Services).

Nearly ten years later, Kat is in a marriage of convenience and finds herself invited to attend cooking classes. To her surprise, these classes are taught by none other than Julia Child, who has her own history with the OSS. Julia quickly picks up on Kat's advanced culinary skills, especially her impressive vegetable chopping techniques, and suspects that Kat is not who she claims to be.

In a private conversation, Julia and Kat bond over the challenges of living on the edge, prompting each to question their original plans for a perfect future. As Kat navigates her cloak-and-dagger activities, one wonders: Did she find any clues about her brother?

Thomas Nelson and NetGalley provided me with a copy of this novel. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own and free from outside influence.

With each book of Kristy Cambron's I read, I am becoming more and more a fan. The French Kitchen added to my love for her books and was a story I didn't want to part ways with. I was so invested in the characters and the outcome, it made me really cherish the end. Cambron has this beautiful way of bringing history to life through her characters' lives and romances. I love the blend of facts and fiction and the appreciation for others her books leave me with, like with this one, I am grateful for those who worked in that ever precarious world of espionage and resistance during WWII.
I don't want to accidentally spoil any twists in this book, so I'll be somewhat brief. I will say that I liked how the characters all connected throughout the book and each time something was revealed my eyes went big and I thought "ooo, I like that", though it also had some "oh no" and "what!" moments too. The setting was really intriguing. I loved seeing Julia Child in this post WWII era moment while also getting a glimpse at the spy she was. The different POVs offered so much depth and layers to the story. The romances were good in the buildup and the extra measure of tension from the danger laying around every corner. It was realistic and informative.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from Uplit Reads and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I recommend this book.

Thank you to @ThomasNelson and #netgalley for the #gifted advanced copy of The French Kitchen.

🪂A Historical Romance Set in WWII France, Post-War Paris, and the World of Julia Child.

What intrigued me most was that Julia Child contributed to the war efforts with the OSS (which later became the CIA). Though she is a minor character the details of her role gave familiarity to the story.

If you like historical women’s fiction, multiple POV and timelines intersecting which builds tension into a compelling narrative of found family against the backdrop of Europe; The French Kitchen is not one to miss.

This dual timeline story is set largely in France in the 1940s WWII era and the early 1950s, It focuses on Kathryn (Kat) Harris, AKA Cèléne, during the time she was working for the United States Office of Strategic Services. Kat and her brother remained close even after each chose a different parent to live with following their parents' divorce. Kat was much more suited to helping in her father's garage than attending her mother's society parties. Her proficiency with languages acquired at Wellesley College, the mechanical skills she had picked up at the garage, her innate talents, and her strong will made her a perfect candidate for the OSS. Unfortunately, one skill that she lacked that became crucial to the success of her mission was cooking, in particular cooking French Cuisine. On-the-job training had to suffice, and the skills she acquired remained useful to Kat after the war as she sought to locate her brother, or at least to learn what happened to him after she'd last seen him in France.

The French Kitchen is very well-written. Readers are transported in space and time. Their emotions become highly engaged, emotions of fear, longing for things to be different, courage, regret, and even of love and joy in the midst of chaos and pain. This is a gripping story that does not easily let go of a reader even as it draws to a close. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

While I enjoy World War II fiction, this book took me beyond that! I’m absolutely in love with this book. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book in this genre that I loved this much. I could not put it down from the moment I started to read it.

Kristy Cameron has earned herself a spot on my MUST read authors list. WOW!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing and Kristy Cambron for the free ARC of The French Kitchen. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First, I want to wish The French Kitchen a Happy Birthday week! It's been a while for a new Cambron release, and I was delighted and honored to read it and to now provide you with a review.

Kristy Cambron has certainly found her writing niche. While I have read most of her books, I have strongly gravitated towards her WWII epic sagas, including The Butterfly and the Violin, loving the depth of development required to create these beloved and complex tomes.

The French Kitchen follows in the footsteps of these other novels, providing deep historical knowledge, genuine character development and a nail-biting plot that leaves you guessing until the very end. This time, Cambron "ups-the-ante", so to speak, with three separate time settings that gracefully meld together like the tastiest of bechamels, whose ingredients are just "comme-ci comme-ca" until they are whisked together.

I love cooking, I love French culture, I love the glamour of the 1940s and I love WWII history. The French Kitchen hits all these touchpoints for me and more! The main character, Kat, is equal parts glamour, intelligence and enigma, making her story arc compelling, as bit by bit, Cambron reveals who she really is. She reads like a modern-day spy in some of the latest movie hits.

Finally, never could I have anticipated the wild twists and turns the plot creates or how the story would end. I am always amazed at the time and dedication historical fiction writers take to create their works of art. I stand in the shadows wishing I could do the same. Props to Cambron for always searching out the hidden jewels of history and providing us with a feast for our senses.

The French Kitchen is a book for any lover of WWII history and historical fiction. Evocative and emotional, it will linger in your mine like the very finest wine.

P.S. I loved it so much, I'm reading it for a second time.

WOW!!! This book has it all. I admit it was a bit hard at the beginning to keep track with the back and forth of the time jumps but it really needed to be that way. I loved the characters. They were complex and interesting and real. The relationships were beautifully woven throughout the book. During wartime, especially, it is so hard to know who to trust and befriend and who is your enemy. I found the plot twists surprising and intriguing. I had a really hard time putting the book down when I needed to get something else accomplished. This book is simply amazing.

Kat served as a spy in Paris for the American OSS during World War II. Now, in 1952, she is back in France, trying to find out what happened to her brother Gavin, who was missing and eventually declared dead by the American government. She questions everything she thinks she knows, including her husband, to get to the truth. In 1943, Manon works as chef in the Chateau du Broutel, serving Nazi party members, by day but spends her nights helping the French resistance. Someone in their resistance network is a mole, though, and she and the other Maquis need to figure out who it is before they all get outed.

How beautiful is this cover? I love dual timeline stories, and I liked the fact that these timelines were actually not that far apart; we got to see Kat dealing with unresolved threads from her time in the war. Manon was my favorite character in the book. I am still not quite sure about the twist at the end, though.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I also got the privilege of hearing the author speak at an event on the release day of this book, and she is such a sweet woman. It was interesting to hear her talk about her writing process.

The French Kitchen is a historical novel focusing on two lead characters and two timelines. During World War II, Kat Fontaine travels to France to search for her brother Gavin, who is missing. She becomes involved in the Resistance movement, where she works with chef Manon Altier, who is involved with Kat's brother - and the Resistance. Most of the story takes place during the war (1943), but there are flash forwards to 1952 in Paris, involving Julia Child, who is teaching classes that Kat takes. There is a mysterious man, Gerard, a chief of police, who Kat marries, and many secrets to unravel.

I wanted to read this book because I love historical fiction. I am a Francophile, a foodie, and interested in Julia Child's life.

This began as a slow read for me - there is a lot of back and forth between timelines and focus on Kat and Manon. I appreciated that the chapters were clearly labeled with the place and date, which helped, but I did find myself flipping back and forth in the book a number of times to get my bearings.

Midway through the book there were more flashes to 1952, Julia Child was introduced, and the book really picked up speed for me. At that point I was hooked - up late at night, reading, taking breaks in the afternoon, reading again.

This was a fascinating story with many twists and turns involving the war (and the aftermath of the war), Kat's search for her brother, and her relationship with Gerard. The historical details are beautifully done and I found this book very immersive.

I recommend The French Kitchen for fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone interested in World War II, Paris, or culinary history.

4 ⭐
I chose this book because the blurb said the story featured Julia Child. I found her portion of the story to be intriguing, despite the fact that she was more of a side character in the book. She did end up playing an important role in the story, and I thought that was fun. Although historical fiction isn't my genre of choice, I still enjoyed The French Kitchen.

The story is told in dual timelines & flashbacks which made it very difficult for me to follow for at least the first half. After finishing it, I realize that might be "part of the fun" especially for some. The build was slow, lacking suspense for the first part, but the details proved important, and everything resolved very satisfactorily in the end. The characters were well developed, and the author did a good job making you wonder who to trust until the end. I think lovers of historical fiction (especially WW2/post WW2 Paris) will really enjoy reading The French Kitchen. It would make a great movie with a classic feel (I picture it black and white, colorized, or even Technicolor), and I think reading the story did give somewhat the same effect as watching a good WW2 classic.

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

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to @kristycambron @tnzfiction and @thomasnelson for the #gifted book and accompanying audiobook.

Prepare to be captivated by a gripping historical fiction novel that weaves together intrigue, espionage, and romance against the backdrop of World War II and its aftermath.

Kat, a fiercely determined woman whose relentless pursuit to find her missing brother propels the story and keeps readers deeply engaged with her emotional struggles and triumphant victories. What begins as a simple cooking class in postwar Paris transforms into a profound journey, rich with mystery and poignant themes of identity, memory, and resilience.

With multiple timelines that converge, the story reveals intricate clues about Kat's life, her brother's fate, her husband's secrets, and the other spies she collaborated with during the war. A delightful surprise is the inclusion of Julia Child, who adds a charming layer to the narrative. The romance is beautifully crafted, touching and heartwarming, yet laced with suspense and intrigue. Each character is a joy to meet, their stories intertwining in unexpected ways.

The narrator's exceptional performance elevates the experience, bringing the characters to life with a stunning range of accents that draw you into their world.

If you have a passion for historical fiction infused with espionage, romance, and mystery, this book is a must-read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Well, it looks like I may be an outlier with this historical fiction dual timeline, which spans events in the U.S. and France in the 1940s and 1950s. I guess I just found it all a bit overdramatic and chaotic in many places. Kat was always looking for her brother, and I wondered if he needed to be seen. On the other hand, I did quite enjoy the author's note, and the Julia Child vein was quite fascinating..

How do you know the good guys from the bad guys when they are all friends or fellow villagers. Kristy Cambron makes you wade through this question while reading her newest book, The French Kitchen. I completely enjoyed this book, as I have all of Cambron's books. She gives a very different perspective of history than what is taught in history books. The women she includes are examples we all strive to be, strong, intelligent, and loving.
Manon is working for the resistance while being head chef at the Chateau du Broutel, headquarters for the Nazis. With names like Himmler, Rommel, and Goebbels visiting, working for the enemy is not only dangerous, but also quite often a hair's breadth away from death.
Kat joins the Office of Strategic Services to find her brother, who has disappeared after heading out to war. Years after the war she is still trying to find answers, when a cryptic letter arrives with just the note - G is alive.
A dual time story that will leave you flipping pages as fast as you can to discover what happen to everyone. Working as a spy or a resistance anywhere during WWII meant your life expectancy was short. History has proven that, so every time I read a book with main characters that are part of either or both groups I worry which ones will be gone before the end of the story. It does make for great reading and Cambron makes you care for all of her characters.
The French Kitchen is a beautiful piece of writing. One where you are sure to learn something new about what it is like to stand up against a wrong.

The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron was a book that took me on twists and turns. This dual timeline novel takes place during and after WWII and follows the efforts of secret agent, Kat Fontaine, to uncover secrets and face the betrayals of her past. With the intrigue of Parisian patriotic efforts to thwart Nazi rule, danger lurking around every corner, and romance in unlikely places, this book certainly keeps you guessing.

While I initially struggled to follow the story, by the end I was fully engaged and rooted in the plot. I loved the depth of emotion, the struggles of the characters, and the suspenseful plot. This is an unpredictable tale you will not want to miss!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

WW2 multi timeline adventure/romance

This is an interesting WW2 and post WW2 multi timeline adventure/romance. The attention to time and historical detail is very good, the story is interesting and the characters complex. A good book to read on vacation.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-limited e-arc via Netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

🥖 There was a lot I liked about this. I mean, female spies during a war!? I’m always in. And of course, when you’re talking about WWII novels you’ve got to have something I haven’t heard of before. Some of you may know this, but I had no clue Julia Child served in some capacity for a spy agency! She actually plays a very small role in this, but I did enjoy learning about the Resistance efforts within the kitchens cooking for the Nazis.

🥖 If you consume a ton of this genre and are always looking for more— I definitely think this is worth adding to your list!

🥖 Why it won’t be a favorite:
- it’s VERY hard to follow for a good portion of the novel— there are multiple POV’s & timelines plus add in spy names and real names and it’s tough to keep everyone straight
- the big twist at the end fell flat for me. It was pretty far-fetched and not fleshed out. This was a pretty solid 4⭐️ until the end was a bit of a womp womp.

🥖 Lastly, and this is just an aside, but this is marketed as Christian fiction for some reason, but I don’t think religion was mentioned once. It’s also marketed like Julia Child is more involved but she just isn’t.

🥖 Overall, this was an informational and interesting read, but not a new fave.

This is my 2nd book by Kristy Cambron and I look forward to reading more of her books.
This captivating historical story is based in Paris, France in a dual timeline line of 1942 and postwar 1953.. The main characters are Kit, an American OSS operative working with the local resistance group while simultaneously looking for her brother and Manon Altier, a French chef at the famous Château du Broutel, who while cooking for high ranking Nazi's is also an important part of the resistance.
Manon must covertly teach Kat how to cook to fit the story of a competent sous chef, never knowing who might turn them in if discovered.
In 1953, Kat receives a telegram regarding her brother, Gavin, and she returns to Paris, nor only physically, but emotionally relives the past, with flashbacks of the events during the war, slowly revealing what happened with building suspense. Kat signs up for cooking classes with the rest of the Parisian group, with Julia Child, who also served during the war and creatively becomes a pivotal figure.
The historical details are well written, making you feel the fear and despair the Nazi's evoked with their acts of violence and cruelty, see and almost taste the food prepared, even feel the various weather conditions that contribute to the plot. The acts of bravery and courage are inspiring, the friendships and family dynamics are the thread that keeps the story connected.
The supporting characters are believable and engaging, the plot twists kept me guessing.
There is war time violence without being overly graphic, the wartime romances are clean as well as heart warming for their development during wartime.
The opening chapters were somewhat difficult to follow with several people's POV along with their real and code names and some characters dropping in and out. It does smooth out and is easier to follow and then you're hooked.
If you enjoy clean, inspirational , historical stories, (I wouldn't really call it Christian historical) with intrigue, loyalty, suspense, characters that are engaging, and cooking that appeals to the senses, with a satisfying ending, this is a must read for you. Enjoy!
A deep note of appreciation to publisher, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC, it was a privilege and a pleasure. All opinions expressed are my own.

The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron is another excellent read.
This captivating story has many interesting facts and details of the eras in which it takes place. I loved all the details and descriptions.
The characters in this book were some of the best I’ve ever read.
A story that draws you in and doesn't let go.

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!