Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: Paris

  • Death at a Paris Hotel

    Death at a Paris Hotel

    Lady Eleanor Swift and the handsome Hugh Seldon have finally made it to Paris, the city of romance for their honeymoon. Ellie is still wondering at being married and enjoying endless time with Hugh, a real luxury as he was always time strapped in his role with Scotland Yard.

    Clifford has accompanied them in the role of Secretary to ensure all goes well and look after Gladstone, who had to come along.

    They are raising their glasses for a toast in the luxuriously appointed dining room of the Hotel. Ellie looks up to marvel at the ornately stunning class cupola ceiling and wonders at the shadows she sees. Only moments later a man crashes thought the roof and lands on their table. He hands something to her seconds before he dies.

    Who is he and what was he doing on the roof become the central questions both Ellie and Hugh ask each other as the Hotel appear to be lax at setting a proper train of action in place, and in the general confusion Ellie is the one held responsible for the ‘murder’. Interestingly Ellie believes the man looks familiar but has no idea why.

    Despite their desire to not become involved in the case, because they are on their much-awaited honeymoon, they are reluctantly drawn into the investigation to the point where their lives are in danger and old history becomes the focal point to a series of terrible crimes.

    Once again, the team of Verity Bright bring a well-planned and plotted murder mystery to life under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower as Ellie and Hugh along with Clifford struggle to find answers to Death at a Paris Hotel.

    Death at a Paris Hotel is book 22 in the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Series and another fantastically un-put-downable murder mystery, Parisian style.

    Vale Laura Tong.

  • The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted

    The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted

    Rebecca Raisin has created another thoroughly enjoyable, gentle romance set in Paris in The Paris Bookshop for the Broken hearted as Coco, a woman who plans her life with almost military precision, finds her world imploding in the worst possible way.

    Returning home to Montparnasse, with her thirteen-year-old daughter, she is mired deep in gloom, still reeling from the shock of losing not only her business, but her money as well; she is barely able to cope with the angst of Eloise and that they will be once again living with her parents in a far to small apartment.

    Arriving at Gare du Norde, she is struggling with luggage and the crowds of people. When a good looking man gets into a side step shuffle with her, she loses her balance, he supports her and as their eyes lock, there is a positive sizzle in the air. Madness she thinks, but maybe Coupe de foudre, love at first sight.

    Weeks pass, and with her confidence at an all-time low, she discovers a bookshop up a little side street with a very catchy title. Clever marketing, she thinks and ventures inside, into a world of far more than just a bookshop; a world full of vibrant colours, delicious food, a chaotic display of books covering every surface, comfortable chairs and Valerie, the owner of the bookshop.

    Who should come into the bookshop while she is enjoying a chat with Valerie, but her rescuer, not once but twice, the very rude Henri, a man who seems to be very comfortable there. And so begins the next chapter in Coco’s life as a seller of books and so much more than she ever expected.

    The Paris Bookshop for the Broken Hearted charms with warmth, wit, fun and tragedy as Coco, Henri, Valerie and the teenage terrible Eloise, all begin again in the beauty and romance that is Paris.

    Highly recommended and absolutely perfect for escaping the everyday world.

  • Almost Nothing Happened

    Almost Nothing Happened

    Classified as a young adult novel, everything about this book calls out to be read. From the busy cover to the catchy title……..Really….in France…..Nothing happened? This is a charming, delightful story that will keep you reading to the end.

    Callum is seventeen and has behaved predictably. His parents thought he could do an educational exchange to France, where he may come to grips with the real world. He agrees, dreaming of wild parties, music and adoring girls.

    It is a short trip from England, but when he arrives at his new home he finds the parents rather aloof and fast talking, the brother and sister into the jazz scene, and his only friend is Titou, “A small hairy mutt.”  To alleviate his boredom Callum walks Titou frequently much to the dog’s delight.

    The end is in sight as Callum meets his friend at the Gare du Norde to catch the Eurostar home. However, resentful and cranky that he has had such a miserable stay, the boy misses the train and walks to his cousin’s place several kilometres away. His cousin is not welcoming but invites him to a concert. This is the beginning of the adventure that the teenager craved, until it gets almost too scary for him. Murder, drug money and night rides on the back of a lovely young woman’s scooter await him.

    Excitement and terror go hand in hand in this racy novel but we always read with a smile and squeeze of compassion, for seventeen can be a tough year.

  • Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel

    Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel

    Its 1 November: Anais and her cousin Manon are standing on the pavement looking at all she has left from what she considered a terrific marriage, when the sign from the dilapidated L’Hotel du Parc, almost hits her on its trajectory to a crashing finale at her feet.

    Still in shock, she is then accosted by what she considers a younger Hemingway look alike, wearing a beanie, the owner of the bar next door, berating her for her carelessness, along with lack of maintenance of the Hotel and so begins her first day of ownership of the seventies style décor, slowly decaying, badly in need of renovating L’Hotel du Parc.

    She is a popular author of romance fiction and is on a deadline to have her new manuscript ready for her Agent, but can only come up with scenes where she kills the so called hero; naturally still venting her hurt and anger with her former husband François-Xavier, who took all she had worked for and left her with the run down, worn out hotel, very little money in the bank and huge mortgage.

    Anais needs to have the hotel open for Christmas, which is only seven weeks away, get her unfinished manuscript to her agent Margaret, somehow keep the peace, her peace, with Noah, the man next door and owner of the La Generation Purdue Wine Bar, which seems almost impossible.

    When a massive crashing sound in the night sees the ornate, gold edged mirror located on the third floor, lying on the floor surrounded by debris revealing a hidden passage extension, Anais and Manon are intrigued but there are two very curious questions that need answering, why and when.

    As the days filled with hard work roll on, Anais still has not completed her manuscript, Noah, the Hemmingway look alike is still giving her grief, builders are hired and a treasure trove of items are uncovered in many of the rooms. Anais along with some serious encouragement for Manon begins to see there is a wonderful Hotel beginning to emerge from the disaster.

    Love slowly blooms in the most unexpected way in Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel as Anais and Manon both discover that love with the right person can be truly wonderful.

    Rebecca Raisin has created another wonderful romance in the wider style of the genre, set once again set in Paris, with a new heroine Anais, as she faces up to some terrible calamities in her life and eventually discovers that where there is a way, there can often be a will, even if it is a major struggle.

  • A Love Letter to Paris

    A Love Letter to Paris

    A Love Letter to Paris is a truly romantic, in the old fashioned sense of the word, love story that warms the heart, as Lilou goes about creating the perfect match for her friend Emilienne, who is always getting her heart broken into a million pieces.

    Of British French parentage, Lilou is an out and out romantic, who sells bundles of love letters, amongst other memorabilia, at her little stall in the Marche Dauphine at the Saint Ouen Flea Market. She wonders if people can still fall in love through letters and could the lost art of writing love letters, be the answer to the woes of trying to find love in a fast paced, technologically focused world.

    Digging around in the world of online dating, she realises it is not just Emilienne who has issues with finding love, she also does as her last love affair ended in a disaster. She ponders developing a ‘slow-burn’ dating site where people are matched through hand written love letters and sends Emilienne a free questionnaire under the name of Paris Cupid.

    That was six months ago and Paris Cupid has exceeded Lilou’s expectations, also becoming a very popular gossip item around the Flea Market, as no one can guess who is behind Paris Cupid; it is Paris’s best kept secret.

    Disaster strikes when Emmanuel Roux a much beloved Parisian sit com TV Star turns out to be the man she has matched Emilienne with; a man who is known as the Playboy of Paris. He has gone public stating he has met the love of his life, they are to be married and it is all down to Paris Cupid!

    As the gossip level rises people in the marketplace are beginning to wonder who really is Paris Cupid and could it possibly be Lilou. She is in a constant state of worry and then to add to her troubles there is the very ‘delectable’, according to her friend Genevieve, Pascale who seems to do nothing other than scowl at her and complain about everything!

    Lilou is so busy with her market stall, trying to avoid being discovered as Paris Cupid and encouraging her friends to find their true love, she fails to notice she is the target of someone trying to woo her in the old fashioned way, with secret notes left in the stall and mysterious flower deliveries.

    A Love Letter to Paris is light hearted, well written and an absolute joy to read, as Lilou and her friends tread the pathway to true love, Parisian style and discover that love is often found with the most unlikely people.

  • The Paris Agent

    The Paris Agent

    Despite large numbers of volunteer Special Operational Executive (SOE) agents having been dropped into occupied territory and thus having a huge impact on the outcome of World War II; until recent years there was very little acknowledgement of their valuable contribution to the war effort. Even less is known about the work of the capable, courageous female operatives, who often with only a month’s training demonstrated their bravery as they fearlessly executed intelligence missions.

    Best-selling author Kelly Rimmer in her meticulously researched historical fiction novel ‘The Paris Agent’, has based her main characters on the heroic British – French spy Violette Szabo and British courier Diana Rowden, both of whom carried out dangerous assignments and were murdered in a German concentration camp close to the end of the war. 

    In 1970 after the recent death of his wife, who had discouraged him from delving into the past, retired secret service agent Noah Ainsworth feels the need to make contact with ‘Remy’ the man he believes saved his life during WWII.

    With the aid of his daughter Charlotte, he begins to piece together his time as a SOE, and the role of the female agents Eloise (aka Fleur) and Josie (aka Chloe) who with limited training, joined him behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied France. As the search for ‘Remy’ develops, the reader is exposed to the mystery, betrayal, sacrifice and intrigue surrounding the work of the SOE agents.

    I highly recommend this moving, well written dual-timed novel set in 1944 and 1970, because it not only exposes the reader to the horrors of war but also to the power of female friendship. The page turning action, intrigue, mystery and suspense will keep the reader engaged until the very last page, when the two story lines come together in an emotional climax.

  • The Lost Song of Paris

    The Lost Song of Paris

    Inspired by the remarkable heroic achievements and bravery of women involved in World War II espionage, Sarah Steele’s enthralling third book “The Lost Song of Paris” is not only a tribute to them but also an absorbing story of love, courage and unsung service to country.  By using a dual timeline, it links two women from different periods of time together; Amy in 1997 and “Colette” during WWII”.

    Archivist Amy’s interest is captivated when the “Colette” file is released under the Official Secrets Act from WWII. Determined to discover the true identity of the much maligned, renowned concert pianist “Colette”, who was thought to be a Nazi collaborator, she discovers the workings of the amazing Special Operations Services and spy network and thereby uncovers some remarkable stories of bravery and self-sacrifice.

    This well written, comprehensively researched piece of WWII fiction is based on true facts and real people, whose dedication to defeating the Nazi regime cannot be underestimated.  The touching stories, of the well-developed, deep, main characters Amy, Verity, Sophie and Alec will keep readers engaged until the unexpected turn at the end. It is a wonderful, enlightening, powerful story.

    A riveting must read which won’t disappoint and should be shared with a friend or book club.

  • The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris

    The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris

    Powerful, captivating and immensely enjoyable The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris captures the devastation of the war years in Paris, the destruction caused by the German occupation, the tireless and dangerous work of the underground to not just smuggle military personnel out of the war zone, but many thousands of Jewish women and children.

    Jacques is a dreamer, a lover of books, a man with a dream of one day owning his own bookshop. When the chance presents itself to not only take on the lease of a dusty, unloved shop he seizes the opportunity. It also comes with a flat up the stairs, accessible from the Shop.

    He is in love with Matilde, a curator at the Musee de l’Homme, stunningly beautiful and in his mind out of his reach. She is a woman of strong options and beliefs which does not bode well in a Paris entering the dark days of the German occupation of Paris.

    Kevin and Juliette are on their last night in Paris, going to dine out at a highly recommended restaurant before flying back to America the next day. Juliette is feeling frustrated as she has always had a deep yearning to find the bookstore in a picture much loved by her Grandmother.

     She accidently discovers Kevin is having an affair with their neighbour and decides that she would like to remain in Paris for a while longer to try and discover, not just where she believes her Grandmother lived during the war years, but who she is and what she wants to do with her life.

    So sets the scene as the story of Jacques, Matilde, Juliette and the deadly and destructive days of Paris under occupation, combine and the immense power of love, courage and hope that was and is ever present.

    The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is story about everyday people who are forced to make choices and decisions which can and did, have deadly consequences and the bravery shown by so many in the face of terrible adversity.

    Swinging between today’s world and world of long ago, Daisy Wood has very carefully kept the historic detail as accurate as possible and has also created characters who immediately feel they are people you may have known all your life.

    The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is an excellently constructed story that is very difficult to put down once begun.

  • The Last Hours in Paris

    The Last Hours in Paris

    Occupied Paris in the autumn of 1944 is a city overwhelmed by a sense of tension; one of the most beautiful cities in the world is just a ghost of its former self. Parisians live in fear of being arrested or deported by their Nazi captors. It is a terrifying time; a period of distrust and distress.

     Then why does a young Parisian, who has nothing but contempt for the Germans, risk being labeled a collaborator by forming a union with a German? How will the secrets surrounding this relationship affect their daughter years later?

    Elise Chevalier, working by day in a bank, helps at a shelter for Jewish children in the evening, where she risks the lives of herself and that of her family by assisting the resistance movement to smuggle some of the residents out of the country. Sebastian, a document translator with a French mother is a reluctant wearer of the German uniform; he despises the power and the way of life it represents. After a chance encounter in a bookshop, Elise is ill prepared for the effect this young German will have on her life.

    Years later in Brittany, Josephine Chevalier uncovers a secret which shakes her to the core; she is determined to unearth the truth. Will Elise’s secret past catch up with her?

    Inspired by the story of her East German great-uncle, author Ruth Druart, has written a powerful well researched book about a time that for many readers is hard to imagine. By capturing the atmosphere of Paris during the occupation extremely well, the reader is exposed to the prejudice, judgement and cruelty of the ordinary residents of Paris. 

    I highly recommend this riveting dual timeline novel. Not only will you find it difficult to put down but you’ll also be totally immersed in the plot and the lives of the three main characters until the final page. Definitely a book you’ll recommend to friends.

  • Small Acts of Defiance

    Small Acts of Defiance

    Small Acts of Defiance from Michelle Wright is without a doubt a brilliant piece of historical fiction that has been meticulously researched, which shows through in the storytelling as the nightmare of occupied Paris during the Second World War is set out as if it was an event occurring today, not more than seventy years ago.

    Having lived in Paris for more than eleven years, Wright adds authenticity to the story with intimate knowledge of the streets of Paris, especially around Notre Dame where a considerable amount of the story is set. During her studies there she began to realise that while the French are very passionate about some of the aspects of their history there is a less than flattering side that is seldom discussed.

    Lucie and her mother Yvonne return to Paris, the birth place of Yvonne, after a shattering family tragedy in Australia only to arrive at a time when the German invasion of Poland was dawning. Parisienne’s carried on living life as normal, refusing to believe that Paris would fall to their old foe the Germans, until there came a time only several months after their return, when this became a fact to be faced.

    As time progressed and it was apparent that Paris was now under the firm and brutal hand of the Nazi regime, Lucie and her mother struggled to adjust to a life so different to the one left behind in Australia. Dependant on her brother for their home and livelihood, Yvonne and Lucie find themselves trapped in a world of fear and distrust.

    Lucie, a talented artist eventually has to make a decision to use her talents to help the resistance movement, which becomes more and more apparent as she be befriends Alina, a girl of Jewish decent. When the Nazi’s begin a crackdown on the French- Jews, Alina’s grandfather Samuel is the first of her family be arrested and sent to one of the camps.

     Faced with brutality, hatred and an ever growing resistance movement, Lucie and eventually Yvonne have to decide how far they will go to create Small Acts of Defiance and defend the lives of those they now call friends.

    It is interesting to note Michelle Wright has used the little known and very dangerous rescuing of new-born babies from the maternity hospitals, to use in the fabric of the story; a campaign that was carried out by women across Paris in the darkest days of the Nazi brutality at enormous risk to those involved.

    It is hard to believe Small Acts of Defiance is a debut novel from Michelle Wright as the work flows, is totally immersive and brilliantly written.