Terrific read with intrigue, spies, romance, with real people and events involved in the plot. Any reader who likes a good mystery may enjoy this one.

Unraveling the past in order to move forward in the present, the main character 'Kat' answers a cryptic telegram taking her back to France years after the war ends. The author skillfully leads the reader back and forth between two timelines--1943 and 1952--as pieces of the past come together to solve the puzzle of what happened to Kat's brother during the war.

Loved how the author mixed real people into the plot, especially Julia Child and the art of French cooking, and her role in the OSS during WWII. Her research on women in the OSS shines through in her characters and made the story feel plausible. The tension rises towards the end as the final piece falls into place and all is revealed.
Satisfying read overall. Not much spiritual content, but a good, clean read. Recommend!

I loved this book! At the beginning it was a bit confusing, but the timelines got clearer as the book continued. Well-written with interesting characters, this story kept my attention. There were unexpected twists, heart-wrenching details, and heroic moments. A clean and good WW2 novel. I also LOVED the kitchen/chef aspect of it. A chef myself, I enjoyed the kitchen atmosphere and the parts that Julia Child played. I recommend this book. 4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley & the published for an arc of this book. This is my honest opinion.

WWII novel about allied spies working in a hotel kitchen, and the turmoil they face in the aftermath of the war. Part of the story features Julia Childs as friends of one of the characters. Honestly, I found this a bit of a slog. The story was interesting, but a little confusing with the switching time lines and alias of the different characters.

This was a dual timeline book--but the timelines were fairly close. Only about 10-15 years apart. They follow the life of an American female who joins the spy ring agency during WW2 purely to find where her brother disappeared to. We see her in the 1950s in a "relationship" with a mysterious Captain from her times working in the war. A french captain who was a Vichy police supporter. But she has some kind of connection with him.

More gets revealed in the blasts from the past of her time during the war.

We also see the life of Manon--a french chef during WW2 working in a house occupied by Nazi elite officers. She tries to also participate covertly to help the French underground.

All the lives of these people get woven together throughout the book--but the overall plot is our American trying to find out the fate of her brother.

Although this is listed as a Christian fiction, don't expect it to have any inspirational insights or scripture. Just a clean read for WW2. Yep, another one of those.

4 Stars

*thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a copy of the novel. All opinions are 100% my own.

Can Kristy Cambron get any better? Yes, yes, she can!

At first, I wasn’t sure of The French Kitchen. It seemed to go in every direction except our main character, Kathryn (Kat) Harris, who was solid. I liked that she didn’t go with the crowd; she marched to her rhythm. Her character is multi-layered, and I connected to her in a way I don’t always with female characters.

The French Kitchen opens up with Kat undercover in the field with Xandre, who we’ll meet up with later in a surprising turn of events. The changing timelines at first were annoying, but as I continued, they didn’t bother me as much, and I found it necessary to the plotline to keep everything moving succinctly. I loved getting to know Manon, Gerard, Julia, and Dominique. As Kat’s search for her missing brother continued, the layers kept coming, and I never really knew what to expect, but the mystery and the intrigue of this time was attention-grabbing for me

My gratitude to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson. All opinions expressed are honest and mine.

This book was amazing! I love cooking and historical books and this was the perfect combination of both. The writing was wonderful. I highly recommend!

I enjoyed reading this story, though it took a bit to really get a hang of the characters and the jumping of the storyline. This type of timeline is one that makes ebook a less than ideal format for reading since you can't just flip back in the pages to remind yourself of times and places. I found that made this a bit more difficult to get into the story and characters.

Overall, it was a good story and I didn't mind reading it. I didn't find it memorable, though I enjoyed it. I am a bit underwhelmed since Julia Child is one of my favorite people from history and cooking and this is just, well, didn't really live up to what I expected. Not a bad read, just not my favorite.

The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron is a fascinating dual timeline story that takes place during the Nazi occupation in France 1943 and early 1950s in Paris after World War II.
I love historical fiction and this book delivers!!! I loved how the author weaves actual events into her amazing story. Julia Child, the famous French Chef, played an integral role as a spy in the French Resistance. Another main character, Manon, is a French Chef during the day, serving the Nazi’s and at night she is part of OSS, Office of Strategic Services, an underground network providing important information to the Americans. Another main character is Kat who joined the French Resistance to find her brother, Gavin, who also joined and went missing. Kat's knowledge of languages and her ability to read lips made her an invaluable asset to the OSS and she also posed as Célène, a kitchen maid at the Château du Broutel. She was very valuable as an undercover spy.
There are many well-developed characters, secrets and shocking circumstances in this story. I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for an advanced readers copy.

WWII, dual time lovers and those of you in love with France, you’re going to love this book.

I loved the setting of resistance work being done out of a kitchen in a castle full of Nazis. Bring in the OSS, Julia Child and numerous other characters, some intrigue, some villains and you have the potential for a great book.

What carries the story is the excellent writing, the setting, the relationships between the characters, and the aftermath in 1951. It gives a real feel for the effect of a war, way beyond the time it officially ended.

Initially I struggled to place the different characters in the different timelines. Unusual words such as “men in litzen” are found in several locations. Some conversations were puzzling to me and not as fully explained as maybe a reader would like.

Julia Child is portrayed just the way I remember her from her cooking shows, larger than life. Very well done! My favorite quote came from Julia, “To look back is not to lament all we’ve lost, but to see how past experiences have shaped us into who we are.”

I appreciate the sensitivity towards the culture of the country. There are several examples, one of them is Kat shouting Julia’s name across the market, something that’s not done in Europe and is specifically mentioned as very American. It’s a pleasure to see an American author, writing a story taking place on a different continent, be aware of the differences.

Excellent research as always. I’d highly recommend getting a copy and losing yourself in the pages of this book for hours. You’ll have withdrawal symptoms once you’re done!

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me with a free complimentary copy. A review was not required. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The French Kitchen was a great World War II novel. Lately, I feel like I've read quite a few historical fiction novels that would technically be considered dual timeline in that the story is told by characters in two distinct timelines. More traditionally, these timelines have quite a bit of distance between them (as in decades or more), but the ones I've read recently have been interesting in that the dual timelines are quite close together. The French Kitchen is told by the same characters in both the World War II timeline but also just a few years post-war in the 1950's. Cambron provides mystery, intrigue, war, spies, cooking (and even a celebrity chef in Julia Child), and a plethora of memorable characters. The French Kitchen is a five star pick for historical fiction fans, especially for those who enjoy learning about the more subtle forms of resistance.


I received a complimentary copy of The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Things are cooking in Kristy Cambron's The French Kitchen. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and sprinkling in iconic characters including Julia Child, the author serves up a sizzling story!

On the menu is Kat's narrative weaved between dual timelines. Like a fine wine, Kat's story in 1952 serves up a seasoned veteran having survived secret missions. The supporting characters are appropriately named as they provide Kat, security, shelter and as a sense of belonging. While Kat's brother has been declared dead, she remains determined to bring his legacy home.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #TheFrenchKitchen in exchange for an honest review. The captivating story kept me in suspense until the final chapter. That being said, readers need to pay careful attention to dates listed at the beginning of each chapter. The book darts between the decades so make sure you're surefooted to avoid a misstep.

Kristy Cambron is one of my favorite authors, and she did not disappoint with this new historical novel. I took off one star because it was a bit confusing at times, jumping between multiple time periods, and there were so many characters to keep up with. I took a few notes to help me with the timeline and characters. Overall, it was a beautiful story with a nonpredictable resolution. I would definitely recommend it.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own*
The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron is such a beautifully written book. I don’t know how Kristy does it, but her writing is so eloquent throughout. This book follows Kat as she receives a telegram bringing her back to France after WWII in search of her brother. She runs into the captain who she thought was her enemy and strikes a deal to stay in France and continue her search. Like other novels, the timeline jumps between present day and the past to pull the entire story together. Also, appearances by Julia Child - so good!!
I very much enjoy Kristy’s writing style and how vivid a picture she paints. This story was a perfect blend of historical fiction with a hint of romance. The timeline jumping does take some getting used to. I wish I had read this as a physical book to be able to go back and forth between the timeline jumping easier. It took me a bit to fully understand what happened at the end, but goodness what a surprise.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC.

4⭐️ always recommend!

Julia Child and Kat Fontaine both volunteered for the osso (Office of Strategic Service), which is how their paths crossed. Readers get a peek into the early life of Julia Child. It's interesting to learn about what the Office of Strategic Services did to support the war effort. Kat Fontaine uses her cooking skills well in that effort.

Not having read the synopsis before reading the first page, I immediately began to assume that Julia Child would have a larger part in the novel. It wasn't until I was approximately 35% (or so) into the story that Julia does make an appearance, and then pops up again towards the very end.

I found this book fascinating as well as thrilling once I adjusted to thinking about Julia Child's part in it. The story flips between 1943 and 1951. Kat joins the OSS with her brother, and he goes missing. Kat is determined to find him. She will do whatever it takes to get him back. Even if it involves working undercover in occupied France. She ends up posing as Celene, a kitchen maid at the Château du Broutel.

Most of the events take place after World War II. Disguised as waiters and cooks, spies have a hidden job that goes beyond what you can see. It was intriguing.

I really enjoyed this story and got hooked on it quickly. I never suspected that kitchens could help in the war efforts the way they did. I really liked the peeks into Julia Child's early cooking and help in the OSSO. The sweet romance was a delightful surprise.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher, Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

If you love stories about France (especially Paris), French cooking (especially Julia Child), World War II (especially in France), strong women (especially spies), and love (especially complicated situations), you will love this book! Following a large cast of characters through World War II and again 8 years later, Cambron weaves together an amazing and convoluted story of determination, love, betrayal, questionable loyalties, lost loved ones, and much more. You may not want to read the cooking scenes when you’re hungry :-) There are also gut-wrenching events that are not fun to read about, but part of the reality of war. Overall, this is an amazing book.

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

I enjoyed this dual time novel that focus on the aftermath of World War II. With the focus on French Kitchens and how a French chef helped with the war. It neat seeing how writers keep findind all of these untold stories from World War II that lead to new World War II novels that don't feel like repeats.

This fascinating story takes place in France in 1943, when the Nazi’s were in control. The timeline then jumps up to the early 1950s in Paris after World War II. Kristy Cambron does an extensive amount of research, so there is often an element of actual history in her books that is woven into the fictitious story that is very appealing. What a surprise to learn that Julia Child, the famous French Chef played an integral role as a spy in the French Resistance.
Manon is a French Chef during the day, serving the Nazi’s and at night she is part of an underground network providing important information to the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Kat Harris Fontaine, an American from Boston, joined the French Resistance to find her brother, Gavin, who also joined and then went missing. Kat, and Manon prepare elaborate meals by day and join forces at night where some frightening discoveries come to light. It is a dangerous time to take such risks. Because of a birth defect which left Kat deaf in one ear, she is adept at reading lips, which has proved to be invaluable for an undercover spy.
There are many moving parts to this story with strong, well-developed characters and of course a multitude of secrets and shocking circumstances come to light. I could have not guessed the conclusion of this fast-paced story, therefore when I did get to the end, it was an unexpected surprise.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

“In occupied France you lived by your wits or died the moment you abandoned them.”

Cambron has done a fantastic job of pulling back the curtain so readers could glimpse what it was like for people navigating their new reality during and after WW2. I was eagerly reading to pick up clues, trying to place people and events to piece together Cambron’s elaborately plotted story.

The heartbeat of Cambron’s story is Julia Child and her love of French cuisine.

My takeaways:
- Sometimes our vision for the perfect future is upended; it’s up to us to reshape it.
- Gut instinct saves us more than we realize

If you enjoyed The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers, you’ll like this one.

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

To start with, I think the cover of this book is stunning! This story is mainly set during WWII and the lives of undercover spies. There are multiple time lines to follow in typical Cambron style. At first I wasn't sure I would ever be able to keep the many characters and timelines separate but a few chapters in and I realized how the author was tying things together so it made a lot more sense. I enjoyed all of the perspectives shown during heavy war time and also after the war which I thought was a unique perspective. What did these people who were so pivotal to the war effort do once it was over? Did they have regrets? Were they still trying to right wrongs? Could they trust anyone?
So many things are touched upon between these pages that it makes for quite a captivating story. It was really interesting to read about the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) and what they did to help the war effort. It truly is astounding. There is a romance that you really don't expect and it added a sweetness to the plot. Julia Child makes an appearance which made for a fun plot twist. While a little slow to start, this book had my full attention and was difficult to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I highly recommend if you enjoy historical fiction. This is one of Cambron's best!

Five Stars.





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

•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•

{𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒉 𝑲𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒏}

🥖 Release Date: August 5, 2025 🥖
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Without fail, I always find myself deeply immersed in Kristy Cambron’s stories! Her multiple timelines and wide array of characters make for riveting tales that take place during the World Wars. This particular book follows the timeline of a Bostonian woman, recruited to serve as an OSS agent in France during WWII. The story flips between 1943, following the events of the war, and 1951, the aftermath of the war and seeking explanations for unanswered questions. Cambron kept me guessing until the final pages wrapped up the conclusion of this beautiful book!

Kathryn “Kat” Harris found herself recruited and working for the OSS (American Office of Strategic Services) after her brother, Gavin, joined up and then went missing. Having grown up separated after their parents’ divorce, Kat deeply valued her relationship her with her younger brother and was willing to do whatever it took to get him back, even if it meant working uncover in occupied France. Her knowledge of languages and her ability to read lips made Kat an invaluable asset to the OSS and she found herself posing as Célène, a kitchen maid at the Château du Broutel.

Chef Manon Altier, head chef at the Château du Broutel, lived a life of fear that at any time the Reich would discover her secrets and she would be taken by the Gestapo. When her new kitchen maid fails to show up, Manon begins to fear the worst, but then Célène falls from the heavens (literally) to take up the position. Together, they work undercover against the Vichy regime to filter information to OSS agents. Living in a time when neighbor reported neighbor, life was dangerous for anyone, but especially for those working against the Reich.

The romance in this book was written very tastefully and I enjoyed it immensely! We got to watch true love develop through hardships, distrust, and the uncertainties of war.

“𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚎’𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎, 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜.”
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I received a complimentary arc of this book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. All opinions listed are purely my own.