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The Last Time I Saw Paris

by Lynn Sheene (Goodreads Author)

3.74 of 5 stars 3.74 · rating details · 1,079 ratings · 203 reviews

A stunning debut novel of a young American woman who becomes a spy in Paris during World War II.

May 1940. Fleeing a glamorous Manhattan life built on lies, Claire Harris arrives in Paris with a romantic vision of starting anew. But she didn't anticipate the sight of Nazi soldiers marching under the Arc de Triomphe. Her plans smashed by the German occupation, the once- p...more

Paperback, 354 pages

Published May 3rd 2011 by Berkley Trade (first published 2011)

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Historical Fiction 2011

48th out of 115 books — 586 voters

Tatiana and Alexander by Paullina Simons

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Amazing WWII fiction (some with romance)

18th out of 63 books — 148 voters

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Community Reviews

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Apr 22, 2011 Kathy Duncan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Clara May Wagner flees her family’s decrepit, dusty family farm and heads for New York City, where she shakes the dust off her shoes and reinvents herself as the blueblood Claire Harris. Then she ruthlessly marries an extremely wealthy, but morally bankrupt, man to become the well-heeled, bejeweled, Claire Stone, socialite. By the time Claire flees her marriage, she is selfish and shallow. And those are her good points. She heads to Paris to reconnect with an old lover, another wealthy man who c...more

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Jun 10, 2011 Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-vixen-reviews, first-reads-arcs-won-a-copy, angst, cheating-sleeps-with-someone-else, france, historical, rape-abuse, read-2011, spy

In most Fiction (outside of Romance and UF) I don’t need to like the main character to enjoy the story. I guess it’s because I don’t get attached to them the same way I do Romance and UF protagonists. It’s more like watching a movie as opposed to immersing yourself in a book. But the heroine, Claire, almost made a liar out of me. She irritated me so much in the beginning of the book that I wondered if I’d even be able to finish it.

Claire is an odd mix of innocence and cunning. She is not a very...more In most Fiction (outside of Romance and UF) I don’t need to like the main character to enjoy the story. I guess it’s because I don’t get attached to them the same way I do Romance and UF protagonists. It’s more like watching a movie as opposed to immersing yourself in a book. But the heroine, Claire, almost made a liar out of me. She irritated me so much in the beginning of the book that I wondered if I’d even be able to finish it.

Claire is an odd mix of innocence and cunning. She is not a very nice woman and I found it hard to care about her. Her sexuality is always in the “on” position and she doesn’t waste a second in whipping it out to use it as a weapon to manipulate men. She’s selfish and materialistic and doesn’t hesitate to lie, steal, and cheat her way to the top.

Claire heads to Paris after her husband catches her in a lie about her past. Her past lover is there and she plans to look him up. Although she plans to use him as a nice cushion once she gets there, he isn’t the reason she wants to go. Claire sees Paris as her perfect home. She assumes all French men are elegant and delicious, and that all Parisians have a grace and beauty that would fit perfectly with her image of herself. She couldn’t imagine a Paris where she wasn’t rubbing elbows with the cream of the crop in society.

I really had a hard time accepting that Claire wasn’t aware of the fact that France was facing the possibility of war. She was heavily involved in her husband’s schmoozing, so I find it hard to believe that she wouldn’t be up on the current news and gossip. Especially when she’s schmoozing with a German soldier in the beginning of the book! But no, she continues on to Paris, even after she learns about the danger along the way. And then she stays and risks punishment for having no papers after Germany invades? Just because she can’t let go of what she imagines Paris to be? Honestly, that girl seemed dumb as rocks. And selfish, too. She frequently put her friends in danger because she couldn’t resist putting herself in the spotlight. That’s a dangerous place to be when you have no papers.

Eventually I was able to look past Claire and enjoy the story. The turning point for me seemed to be when she became involved with the resistance. Finally we got to focus on something other than her. I liked that her friend and contact in the resistance didn’t baby her. When it came down to working for the cause, her friend had no problem pressuring her into doing what she owed them. I was pleased to see this because it seemed a lot more realistic that way.

The time period was fascinating and I found it interesting to see the story told from a day to day point of view of someone who wasn’t being persecuted. I felt that most things were sugarcoated and that help and luck came too easily for Claire, but there were a few times there that I winced over the rough situations Claire found herself in.

I never completely believed in Claire’s change of personality, but I did eventually start to root for her success. The novel was slow paced, but the events revolving around the resistance sucked me in and made me need to know what happened. I also can’t think of any other book that I’ve read based in this time period, so that was unique. Although I had some issues with the book, it eventually won me over and I ended up really enjoying it.

Favorite Quote:

"You care,< i>mon ami. You may not want to, but you do."

Claire leaned in, her voice a harsh whisper. "Caring for something and dying for something are two completely different things. Don't get them confused."

Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen.(less)

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Jul 13, 2011 Lois rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was excited to be a First Reads Giveaway Winner of this historical fiction. I like how it was set in Paris during WW II and enjoyed how the author contrasted the beauty of Paris against the horrors of the Nazi occupation with a wonderful love story woven throughout the plot.

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May 07, 2011 Tanya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, historical-fiction, i-own-it

I can't believe I won another book this week through first-reads!

5/7/11
I couldn't get enough of The Last Time I Saw Paris, and read it in less than 24 hours. There's something so romantic about those heightened days during World War II. Sheene captures the mood of German-occupied Paris so well, showing how the people suffered as the Nazis partied. Her socialite heroine's transformation was believable, and I fell half in love with the novel's hero. All in all, a very enjoyable read.

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Aug 29, 2012 Ron rated it 3 of 5 stars

A fairly good read, despite some French spelling errors (mon ami when referring to a girl, etc) and the "baited breath" (I wonder what it was baited with??). From Amazon:A stunning debut novel of a young American woman who becomes a spy in Paris during World War II.

May 1940. Fleeing a glamorous Manhattan life built on lies, Claire Harris arrives in Paris with a romantic vision of starting anew. But she didn't anticipate the sight of Nazi soldiers marching under the Arc de Triomphe. Her plans sm...more

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Dec 08, 2011 Sonia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

L’ultima volta che ho visto Parigi è di sicuro un romanzo che sa come presentarsi: ci si trova di fronte a un’immagine di copertina così romantica e struggente - così francese; si ha tra le mani un romanzo dal formato così piacevole… Si è davvero ben predisposti nei confronti della storia che presto ci verrà raccontata, qualunque essa sia.
Confesso che dopo essere stata affascinata dalle prime due pagine, le successive non mi hanno trasmesso subito nulla di positivo. Temevo fosse la solita stori...more L’ultima volta che ho visto Parigi è di sicuro un romanzo che sa come presentarsi: ci si trova di fronte a un’immagine di copertina così romantica e struggente - così francese; si ha tra le mani un romanzo dal formato così piacevole… Si è davvero ben predisposti nei confronti della storia che presto ci verrà raccontata, qualunque essa sia.
Confesso che dopo essere stata affascinata dalle prime due pagine, le successive non mi hanno trasmesso subito nulla di positivo. Temevo fosse la solita storia della donna che fugge in cerca dell’amore, che quell’amore sarebbe stato difficile da conquistare e che lei tra mille stenti e dolori l’avrebbe poi ritrovato nonostante la guerra. Dio, com’è prevedibile la mia immaginazione! Ormai corre lungo dei binari prestabiliti di pregiudizi e snobismo verso storie già sentite!
Fortunatamente, mentre le pagine sembravano percorrere quelle strade che mi ero prefigurata, un negozio di fiori sbuca all’improvviso da dietro l’angolo e dà una sferzata inaspettata alla storia.
La vie en fleurs (stupenda scelta come nome per un negozio di fiori) spunta fuori per sorprendere la protagonista, me e tutti i lettori.
Claire, infatti, giunta a Parigi dall’America (fuggita prima dal padre, poi dal marito) per orgoglio decide di non darla vinta all’amante Laurent e cerca di cavarsela da sola. Sarà accolta da Mme Poulain, proprietaria onesta e generosa de La vie en fleurs, che le fornirà un lavoro, del cibo, un letto e soprattutto amicizia e fiducia. Sono gli anni dell’occupazione nazista e niente è al sicuro in quel particolare momento: Claire si troverà suo malgrado ad aiutare la resistenza, a fare da spia per loro, rischiando la sua stessa vita ma incontrando l’amore là dove meno avrebbe creduto di trovarlo.

Raccontare così la storia, riassumerla in poche righe è riduttivo, ma ci dovevo provare.
È la storia del terrore di una guerra, dell’indipendenza e della forza di una donna, della necessità della cieca fiducia e dell’unione per un obiettivo più grande: la libertà. Claire è un bel personaggio, una donna che da contadina diventa una signora con alte pretese per poi ritornare alle origini ma andarne fiera. È una donna che sa cavarsela da sola, sa vivere per sé e sa cosa vuol dire aiutare gli altri. Il suo coraggio e la sua sfacciataggine mi hanno ricordato a tratti Rossella O’Hara, anche se non potrà mai eguagliare quel misto di capriccio e egocentrismo che era la mitica Scarlett.

Una storia sul periodo nazista che non si sofferma sui campi di concentramento e sul loro orrore, ma che ma che ci racconta la guerra dalla parte di chi ha provato a resistere al nemico, ad organizzarsi contro di esso. E ce l’ha fatta.

http://cuoredinchiostro.blogspot.com/...(less)

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Jul 18, 2011 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

One stubborn American woman, meets up with the French Resistance!

I loved it. It had everything I liked... drama. romance, suspense, a little action, a bit of history, and one of my favorite cities, Paris!

Although I did not like many of the characters at the beginning... especially Claire... they grew on me like friends. They were well rounded and I found myself rooting for them, even when they did things I just couldn't understand. I found that made the read even more interesting, discovering...more

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May 26, 2011 Virginia rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is the literary equivalent to a B movie. If I had to read anymore about Claire fingering her diamonds, the word "damn", or had the author list another stupid street in Paris (either leave your knowledge of street names out, or provide a map up front), I would have burned the book. The author seemed to mostly write this book to show off her 5 french phrases and insult intelligent people the world over, especially American women. If she was trying to show Claire's growth throughout the book,...more

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May 22, 2011 Bookaholics rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Last Time I Saw Paris by Lynn Sheene
Historical Romance – May 3rd, 2011
4 stars

Claire Harris left her rich industrialist husband and Manhattan life and fled to Paris. She wanted to start her life all over again in the fabled city with a new identity. But she ignored the fact that Europe was at war and that Hitler’s army could be coming for Paris.

Claire ended up working at La Vie en Fleurs where Madam Palain took Claire under her wing. In order to get forged identity papers, Claire had no choi...more The Last Time I Saw Paris by Lynn Sheene
Historical Romance – May 3rd, 2011
4 stars

Claire Harris left her rich industrialist husband and Manhattan life and fled to Paris. She wanted to start her life all over again in the fabled city with a new identity. But she ignored the fact that Europe was at war and that Hitler’s army could be coming for Paris.

Claire ended up working at La Vie en Fleurs where Madam Palain took Claire under her wing. In order to get forged identity papers, Claire had no choice but to help the Resistance by becoming an informant herself. Claire finds herself falling in love with the beautiful city of Paris, doing everything she can to help the city including putting herself in danger time after time. All this time, she finds herself drawn to Thomas Grey, an Englishman who is also part of the Resistance. When Thomas is captured by the Gestapo, Claire makes the dangerous decision to pretend to ally with the Germans. But will her farce be exposed? Can she save Thomas and herself from the Nazis?

This is a solid book that starts off a bit slow but picks up speed especially towards the end. It was so exciting that I raced towards the ending. I simply needed to know if Claire would end up with Thomas! Claire starts off as a materialistic and shallow person, but as the novel progresses, I admired her courage and resilience more and more. Especially when she uses drastic methods to gain information from the Nazis. I feel like this book is more about Claire’s journey since it feels like Thomas is more of a supporting character. Even though he is the hero, the author doesn’t focus a lot on Thomas to the point where you understand and really know him. He functions as a kind of goal and motivation for Claire.

More of a historical drama than a romance novel, this is a gripping novel that provides a lot of insight into life in Paris under the Nazi occupation. Tender and, at times, bittersweet, this is a worthy read for fans who loves the WWII theme.

Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Club(less)

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Mar 09, 2012 Kathryn Lynn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: wwii

Why was this book called "The Last Time I Saw Paris?" Sure, the book takes place there, but I expected her to be recounting memories of Paris from some other place... remembering, well... the last time she saw Paris. Ah well. On to the actual review.

I walked into the bookstore wanting a quick entertaining read. Since occupied France during WWII is one of my favourite time periods to read about, I grabbed this, thinking it would be a good read, if not great literature.

I was correct. I enjoyed rea...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Megan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: average, disappointing, historical-fiction, romance, adult, tragedy

Back-Story: I picked this up when Borders was going out of business. When that happened, I basically went to every Borders in my area and literally any book that looked interesting or the summary sounded good, I bought. This was one of them.

I got sucked in by the beautiful cover. I also have a thing for Paris and the war times so this book easily persuaded me to purchase it.

Review: For me, it was a very average read. I'm honestly really disappointed in it.

Looks- Cover is beautiful. I love the...more Back-Story: I picked this up when Borders was going out of business. When that happened, I basically went to every Borders in my area and literally any book that looked interesting or the summary sounded good, I bought. This was one of them.

I got sucked in by the beautiful cover. I also have a thing for Paris and the war times so this book easily persuaded me to purchase it.

Review: For me, it was a very average read. I'm honestly really disappointed in it.

Looks- Cover is beautiful. I love the Eiffel Tower in the background and the couple of what looks to be a patriot woman and a military man in uniform. Like I said, I'm a sucker for Paris.

Content- First of all, I would've really liked to see a map in the beginning of the book. I realize the author was trying to make it seem more real and that this all could've really happened but all of the French streets and names really didn't have any meaning to me and I found it confusing trying to remember where everything happened and when and how they were all connected.

I really just find this book average. The plot didn't really grip me. I didn't feel any connection to the characters or the storyline, which is really, really unusual for me because I even found "Twilight" gripping. I thought I would really like the setting since it's in Paris and also it's during WWII which I personally find fascinating but this just didn't do it for me. From the start, I found the plot a bit confusing. It really seemed fast and blurry with random characters without much meaning when Claire is back in New York. I couldn't keep characters straight and when von Richter showed up later, I had to look again at the beginning to even know who he was. I personally don't think that the New York part even needed to be in there. The writer could've easily picked up when Claire is traveling or when she arrives in France and could've written a few flashbacks of Claire's former life with Russell Stone. The plot is very slow throughout most of the book and only picks up in the last 75 pages or so. I don't mind that part too much because that is how it was back when it was all happening. I just never felt a connection or emotion to the book. I didn't feel Claire's pain or fears. I didn't feel anxious at Marta and Anna and Claire being attacked by the German soldiers on the farm. I did feel a bit of emotion when Grey left and then when he was reportedly dead. I also felt a little emotion when Claire thought that she would be killed by the rest of the Resistance because of what happened. Overall though, I just expected more from the story. I expected emotion and terror to come through the pages. I expected there to be more chemistry and gripping-ness with Claire and Grey. I thought I would feel a squeezing uncertainty when Claire decided to leave Laurent. I wanted to feel the constant struggle of the time period. The elation of when the Allies came. I never felt any of that with this book.

There is hardly any character development. Claire is the most developed but really she doesn't seem to evolve much throughout the book. She starts off struggling and lying to keep her lifestyle and in the end she's only slightly different, in my opinion. She's only half-butt the entire time with the Resistance and only in the end truly commits to them. All of the characters seemed rather dull and flat. Grey was developed a little but not as much as you would think with a story that has romance such a large part of it.

There's also a few grammar errors which always irritate me when I read a book. I also wish that there was a list in the back of the book that translated some of the French phrases that weren't translated in the text.

Likes: The last bit of the book starting from when Claire is at the Ritz with von Richter. I started feeling a connection with the story then when Claire passes along the information she learns only to have it backfire on her when the Resistance is attacked when trying to free the prisoners. Claire became less flat when she turned her back on them in order to learn whatever she could about Grey. I liked how she went back to La Vie in Fleurs in the end. Of course, I liked the ending.

Dislikes: The story wasn't gripping. The characters weren't very developed. The story seemed badly paced. I personally could've done without all of the details of Claire's relationships with the men though the writer did handle them slightly discreetly.

Overall:
Recommend? No.
I honestly think anybody who has interest in the WWII era will be disappointed by this book. The Paris aspect isn't as disappointing. If I had checked this book out at the library, I would've never purchased it and I can guarantee I will not be rereading this in the future. (less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Mackenzie rated it 5 of 5 stars

"The Last Time I Saw Paris" was an extraordinary novel. I was hesitant to actually pick up the book because it looked like the typical star-crossed lovers story. But I was proved wrong. This story starts out with a young socialite woman who lives in New York City with a husband whom she does not love. She and her husband had a pact; he would marry her if she "helped" him in his business. Well something happens that was completely unexpected, so Clare (wife) heads to Paris to live the life she ha...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Farin rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Last Time I Saw Paris was not what I expected it to be, in the very best sense. Lynn Sheene tells the incredible story of Claire, a woman who flees from New York to Paris after her past catches up with her. She arrives with the sole intention of meeting up with her lover and living the glamorous life, but walks into a country on the brink of war instead. In exchange for identity papers, Claire reluctantly begins working for the Resistance. As she sees the effects of the Nazi occupation on he...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Pamela rated it 3 of 5 stars

A very solid 3/ 3.5 stars. ( Goodreads!!! Come on!! .5 star option please!)

The story line of this book was awesome, and I thoroughly enjoyed its premise. Full of mystery, suspense, and multiple relationship story lines to draw you in. The characters themselves left a bit to be desired though. I don't feel like I really got to know any of the many characters well, at all. That is, except for the protagonist who drove me nuts. In my opinion, there was far too much emphasis put into her beauty, jew...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Janelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Good premise, pretty nicely written, however there were glaring problems with the storyline - one of the worst was WHY WAS CLAIRE IN PARIS? WHY DIDN'T SHE GET THE HECK OUT OF DODGE WHEN SHE HAD THE CHANCE? If she went to be with Laurent, she was an idiot - wait, she was an idiot! What kind of idiot would stay in a foreign country that she had no business being in and stay while the Nazis took it over? Also, I kept wondering what happened to her husband - his death was never explained, only that...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Annette rated it 4 of 5 stars

The year is 1940 and Claire Harris Stone age 29 lives in New York City with her husband Russell. They live an affluent, high society, social climbing lifestyle. Each of them have an angle going and they use and abuse each other. A man from Claire's past knocks on her door one fateful evening. He reminds her what she left behind. Claire in an impulsive decision and with the help of someone that "owes" her, leaves on the next flight to Paris, France. Never mind that Nazi Germany is on the outskirt...more The year is 1940 and Claire Harris Stone age 29 lives in New York City with her husband Russell. They live an affluent, high society, social climbing lifestyle. Each of them have an angle going and they use and abuse each other. A man from Claire's past knocks on her door one fateful evening. He reminds her what she left behind. Claire in an impulsive decision and with the help of someone that "owes" her, leaves on the next flight to Paris, France. Never mind that Nazi Germany is on the outskirts of Paris. Claire with the determination of an obstinate mule begins anew in Paris.

Claire is an assertive, aggressive, selfish, impulsive, independent-minded, stoic, sarcastic, prideful, overly-confident gal. She has a commanding presence, when she walks into a room, there is a remarkable hush, and all eyes turn toward her. Yet, I felt that early on in the story she was hiding something, a past that had scarred her and caused her to become bitter. Her bravado is a mask---a stiffly-placed mask, hiding the pain of her earlier life. To me in the beginning she was not a likable character, but I cared about what happened to her. This I love! When I read a story that has a character or characters that I don't like, yet I'm drawn to them, I become invested in the story because I care what happens to them. As the story progressed, and certain experiences and people she became involved with molded her strengths and softened her rough edges. Claire is a the main character of the story as well as the heroine. She was a reluctant heroine at first, becoming involved in the resistance of Parisians against Nazi Germany. Her remarkable talents and abilities become useful in this life or death game against the enemy.
The Last Time I Saw Paris gives a solid description of the events that unfolded before Nazi Germany invaded France and Paris. The affects on civilians are brought into the story. Their fear and hatred of the enemy, the intense pride and love for their nation are all explored.
The layer of characters are written with just the right amount of information. They added chemistry to Claire's story, they did not vier off and take away from her. They complimented each other.
My favorite secondary character was a middle-aged woman who owns a flower shop named La Vie en Fleurs. Her mentoring of Claire brought about a positive difference in both of them.
Claire is a gal who is sexually aggressive, while the story is not explicit. She knows what she wants and goes after it.

I recommend this story to anyone who loves a love story, World War II fiction books, and a different view coming from the eyes of an American woman living in Paris during the invasion. (less)

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Jul 19, 2011 Bonnie (Words at Home Blog) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

Original review posted at: http://www.handsandhome.ca/2011/07/th...

The Last Time I Saw Paris is an absolutely breathtaking historical fiction, which takes place in occupied Paris during WWII. This book had it all for me. Beautiful writing, rich characters, romance, excitement, and gritty historical details.

Lynn Sheene is an exciting author for me because not only does she tell a fantastic story but also her writing is so descriptive that the settings and characters really come to life. She wrot...more Original review posted at: http://www.handsandhome.ca/2011/07/th...

The Last Time I Saw Paris is an absolutely breathtaking historical fiction, which takes place in occupied Paris during WWII. This book had it all for me. Beautiful writing, rich characters, romance, excitement, and gritty historical details.

Lynn Sheene is an exciting author for me because not only does she tell a fantastic story but also her writing is so descriptive that the settings and characters really come to life. She wrote about small details, like gardens or a lunch of cheese and apples in a way made them feel essential to the story without becoming tiresome. Her writing was a perfect illustration of the Parisian Elegance that Madame Palain embodied and she really brought 1940s Paris to life for me.

I loved the way Sheene developed her characters. We saw so many sides of Claire and I really felt as though I knew her innermost struggles. From her desperation to escape a life of poverty as a dirt farmer’s daughter and make a life as a New York socialite, to her need to give up high society in search for true happiness in Paris. What she sacrificed in money and status she gained in friendship, love, grace and true elegance. At the beginning of the novel Claire was nothing more than a silly, gold digging little girl who would do anything to be a part of New York High Society. When her past is revealed and she is exposed for being the daughter of a poor farmer she runs away to Paris to find her lover and hopes to live a life of Parisian luxury.

When Claire arrives in Paris she has no money, no legal papers and no friends to lean on. She survives only because of a chance encounter with Madame Palain and this woman’s willingness to take Claire under her wing. She joined the Resistance as a way to stay in Paris, but finding happiness and staying in Paris came with a very high price. Claire had to sacrifice some of the things she held most dear to her heart in order to stay in the country, find fulfillment and to be able to truly love.

There were times that I felt Claire’s tension, uncertainty and desperation so strongly they could have been my own emotions. Claire’s desire for a more fulfilling life for herself transcends the pages and I became so invested in this character. I did not always appreciate her methods but could understand them as the last resort for a woman who had next to nothing and desired the best of everything. Certainly her own naivete and selfishness put her in this position in the first place but I came to have compassion for this lost soul and was happy to see her growth towards the end of the novel.

In The Last Time I Saw Paris, Sheen vividly portrays the fear, dejection and desperation of occupied Paris. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys WWII era historical fiction, or a good love story.

I received a free copy of The Last Time I Saw Paris from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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Dec 19, 2012 Marla rated it 4 of 5 stars

Over the last few years I have become interested in what happened during WWII. This year I have read several fiction books based during that time. This is one of them. I really enjoyed this book. Clair is an Oklahoma farm girl who is dirt poor and heads to NY to get a better life. She fabricates her background and marries into society. When her husband figures out she isn’t society, she flees to Paris to find a man she had an affair with how she thought she was in love with. When she gets to Par...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Sidra rated it 3 of 5 stars

Overall, I liked the book. If there was an option to give it 3.5 stars, I would. I've read a lot about WWII and I like fiction set in WWII. This one got my attention because it was set in occupied France. Honestly, I would have probably liked this book much better if I hadn't read Those Who Save Us last summer. It was a much more realistic story of a woman stuck in a Nazi Occupied region. This book settles on an American socialite who lied her way into the upper crust Manhattan and then lies her...more

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Jun 29, 2011 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Wow, it took me FOREVER to read this book!

I almost gave up on it early on when I felt like the author was ripping off other books. The strange man from the midwest showing up and revealing that the glamourous Manhattan socialite is really a runaway farmgirl named Clara May reminded me just a little too much of that part in Breakfast at Tiffany's when the strange man from the midwest shows up and reveals that the glamourous Manhattan socialite is really a runaway farmgirl named Lula May. Also, s...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Sheene had a lot of story to tell here and this was a bit oddly paced at times with some character development that suffered a little, but overall a pretty interesting and entertaining read about a woman who's built a life upon lies in upper crust 1940's Manhattan, only to discover herself and her truth in Nazi-occupied Paris where she joins the French resistance. It's a great concept, especially if you're a historical fiction buff, and Sheene mostly writes really well. The heroine getting herse...more

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Jun 29, 2011 Karla rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

3.5 stars

This was very enjoyable, compelling historical fiction. It started slowly but once Claire got involved with the resistance the speed picked up and there was plenty of action. There is a romance in the story but the main characters are apart for much of the book. I think the author did a good job describing the setting and developing the characters.

I'm frequently reading books and think "This would be a fabulous read if the author had only changed this or that" Well, this book falls into...more

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Apr 20, 2011 Dimity rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, historic-fiction, reading-women-2011, wwii, 2011, reviewed, swapped-away, read-women-fiction

I won this historic fiction novel from the First Reads program. I entered because I have been satisfying my historic fiction itch with a lot of WWII novels lately. I mainly read books about Great Britain during the war so I enjoyed that this one was set in France because it was a nice change of pace for me.

I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book because I didn’t really enjoy any of the characters. Thankfully, Claire grew on me with time but she started out awfully flat. In general, I...more

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Dec 10, 2011 Diana rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I was given this book I wasn't quite sure I wanted to read a book about the German Occupation of Paris but I picked it up and must say 1/2 way through I couldn't put it down. This book gives you drama, mystery, suspense and yes romance not just for a man but for a city.
I must admit that I got lost in the authors names of streets and french phrases and wish there had been a map and dictionary in the back but it did not deter me from enjoying the book. We sometimes forget the bravery of other...more

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Apr 23, 2011 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I was very excited to win this book on first reads, I haven't read a good historical fiction novel in a while.
The story follows Claire Harris Stone, originally a poor farm girl who escaped her family's dirt farm to the bigger city of New York. Using her feminine wiles to social climb her way up to a loveless, but wealthy marriage, Claire's time as New York socialite ends quickly as her true roots are uncovered. She runs away to Paris, a city glamorized by her previous lover Laurent Olivier, s...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Christine Brennen-leigh rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was reluctant to start The Last Time I Saw Paris. I was hoping it would be a really good read, and I was saving it. I decided to take it on a trip with me. A few days before departure, I decided to read "just a few pages" to get it started. Well I leave on my trip tomorrow without the book, I stayed up late for two nights devouring it. Lynn Sheene tells the story of Claire, a woman running from her past and starting a new glamorous life in Paris. What she finds is a country on the brink of war...more

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Apr 20, 2011 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was simply a treat. Ms. Sheene has such a talent of creating an occupied Paris in WWII. I just wanted to devour the book and I did in a weekend. The story was compelling and the heroine was fascinating. I could easily imagine a January Jones-like Hollywood actress portraying Claire in the movie version of this book.

However, there are two reasons that prevented me from giving this book five stars: One, the writing at times was rough, much too hurried in the fine details. Ms. Sheene has such...more

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May 14, 2011 Tori smexys_sidekick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-for-smexybooks

Originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/05/rev...

Favorite Quote: “You are late.”

Clare Harris reinvented herself from dirt poor farmer’s daughter into a dazzling socialite. She marries into money only to find out that her husband requires her to use her beauty and considerable charms on his clients. Claire has spent her whole life burying her emotions; this is a walk in the park for her. But when her past catches up with her, she knows that she must escape her husband before he forfei...more Originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/05/rev...

Favorite Quote: “You are late.”

Clare Harris reinvented herself from dirt poor farmer’s daughter into a dazzling socialite. She marries into money only to find out that her husband requires her to use her beauty and considerable charms on his clients. Claire has spent her whole life burying her emotions; this is a walk in the park for her. But when her past catches up with her, she knows that she must escape her husband before he forfeits her life. So she uses her wiles and wickedly ways to secure passage to Paris in hopes her former lover Laurent will be glad to see her.

She arrives in Paris just as it surrenders to the Nazi’s and soon finds herself with no money, no papers, and no Laurent. When the owner of an elegant flower shop offers her employment and a place to live, she begins to find purpose to her life beyond being a rich man’s trophy. When it becomes apparent that she has no papers she is approached by the French Resistance and made an offer-work for us and she’d be supplied with a new identity with paperwork to match. As Claire moves deeper into the Resistance, she is asked more and more to risk her life for information. When she is betrayed and an English man she has befriended and begun to love is captured, Claire risks everything to bring him home safely.

The Last Time I Saw Paris is a compelling and bittersweet novel of a young pragmatic woman’s journey of self discovery through war torn Paris during the Nazi occupation. Ms. Sheen does a wonderful job of conveying the beauty of Paris against the despair of the war to life for me. It does start out a little slow as we spend a bit of time getting to know Claire and seeing Paris through her eyes, but the pacing picks up once Claire is deep in the resistance and the action and suspense becomes more viable.

I found Claire’s character to be an enigma. When we are first introduced to her, you find yourself put off by her matter of fact attitude towards life. She is beautiful and intelligent and has no problems with exploiting that for what she wants. As the old saying goes, “butter would not melt in her mouth.” As the story progresses and we spend more time with her in Paris and in the resistance, you see her values start to slowly shift. She begins to see and identify with Parisian’s strength and courage as they struggle to survive against the rising nightmare that has invaded their beloved city. She is not the most important person in her world anymore. It isn’t an instant epitome. Ms. Sheen doesn’t change Claire but merely peels back the layers to unearth a core that was there the whole time.

When she is accused of betraying the resistance and viewed traitor, we see her determination and courage rise to the surface as she offers up her own life to ensure the survival of many others.

Our secondary characters all play in an important role is fleshing out Claire’s character but aren’t fleshed out well themselves. I believe because this is told from Claire’s POV so the only interaction you get with other characters is when she interacts with them. I found myself wanting more of an in depth look into the historical aspects of the French Resistance and to see more of what the other characters were doing behind the scenes.

The romance surprised me. While I saw it coming I didn’t quite expect the emotional lasso that it would cast upon me. Though it isn’t inherently romantic; the sexual tension was never quite there and yet it worked for me. During a time when you didn’t know if you would live to see tomorrow, two people come together and in that one moment realize THIS is what they have been risking their lives for. The romantic aspect comes into play later as when Claire realises that her lover has been captured and the resistance will not help. Her actions in attempting to locate and free him are the ultimate act of love. She doesn’t do it for her…she does it for him.

The ending is filled with dramatic suspense and heart stopping action as we watch Claire race through Paris, one step ahead of death, to a climatic finale that had me holding my breath and emitting small sob.

All in all a wonderful debut contemporary that captivated me from page one. If you are a fan of historical romance fiction, then The Last Time I Saw Paris will be a wonderful edition to your bookshelf.

Rating: B(less)

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Aug 31, 2011 Melanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I thought this book was good. For some reason, maybe the beautiful cover, I was expecting a bit more from it. Really, it was a glorified romance novel. I don't particularly like these women who seem obsessed with finding/saving their "true love" at all costs. That being said however, I definitely enjoyed the historical aspects of this story and would love to see the movies, if only for the costumes. Lynn Sheene did an excellent job of conjuring visuals, which I do enjoy. However, I had the plot,...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Michelle Wheeler rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book had so much potential and fell so flat for me. You would think the story of a self-made American socialite getting caught up in the romance and intrigue of WWII-era Paris would be pretty irresistible. But this wasn't. The writing was disjointed and sometimes hard to follow. The sexual references - and there were quite a few - felt salacious rather than honest. I ultimately just was not interested in the main character's journey and that was a real disappointment. I skimmed the last 100...more

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About Lynn Sheene

Lynn Sheene grew up in the mountains of Colorado, pen in hand, gazing through the quaking aspen trees and dreaming of far off places and eras. Her passion for stories came early from her book-loving parents and poet grandfather.

After graduating from University of California, Santa Barbara and working as an environmental consultant and science writer, Lynn turned to her dream of fiction writing. He...more

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Quotes from The Last Time I Saw Paris

“You must remember, Madame Harris, elegance is in the details.” — 5 people liked it

“Beauty might be a gift to our souls from the heavens. Luxury, purchased. But suddenly she understood. There was strength in elegance.” — 3 people liked it

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