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Jackie's Paris
She longed for freedom and adventure...but was she truly ready? Twenty-year old Jacqueline Bouvier is anxious to leave her overbearing family for the chance to study in Paris. Aching for freedom from difficult family relationships--and the constant pressure to find a husband--she wants to submerge herself in academics, the arts, and all Paris has to offer. As she sets sail, she has no interest in falling in love. However, her striking beauty catches the eyes of Paris' most elite bachelors--and a mysterious rogue. Before long, Jackie is swept into a whirlwind romance, as unexpected as it is extravagant. But doubts creep in. Is she ready for love, and would she truly consider building a life so far from her family? Confusing her even more is the attraction she's fighting to a man wrapped in mystique and questionable intentions. Jackie's time in Paris will leave her with a wealth of memories, life-long friendships, unconventional adventures, and intense scars from heartaches. Heartaches and lessons that will unknowingly prove more useful for her future than she could ever have imagined.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2021
86 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 19, 2023
I love historical fiction so was looking forward to reading about a year in the life of Jackie Bouvier. I received a complimentary copy from voracious readers only in exchange for an objective review. This is a hard review for me to write given that the book on many levels was not my style. A few steps up from a Harlequin romance with a focus on what Jackie’s love life could have been while she was in Paris. I found all that a bit tedious but I found enough interesting tidbits to read to the end. Clearly, I found it a somewhat absorbing read! Enjoyed learning some of the historical aspects of life in post WWII France, as well as about real life personalities. It was the traumas of her love life and multiple coincidences that had me rolling my eyes. Otherwise, I thought the author did a good job of weaving fact with fiction.
July 28, 2021
For this and other book reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
Long-time readers of Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews know that I have a thing about the Kennedy family. I find them fascinating, faults and all. So when Triumph Productions contacted me about getting an advanced reader’s copy of a book about Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy’s life before she met her husband, I jumped at the chance. The book, Jackie’s Paris, was released today. I was given a copy of the book in advance in exchange for an honest review.
From Amazon: “She longed for freedom and adventure…but was she truly ready?
Twenty-year old Jacqueline Bouvier is anxious to leave her overbearing family for the chance to study in Paris. Aching for freedom from difficult family relationships–and the constant pressure to find a husband–she wants to submerge herself in academics, the arts, and all Paris has to offer. As she sets sail, she has no interest in falling in love. However, her striking beauty catches the eyes of Paris’ most elite bachelors–and a mysterious rogue. Before long, Jackie is swept into a whirlwind romance, as unexpected as it is extravagant. But doubts creep in. Is she ready for love, and would she truly consider building a life so far from her family? Confusing her even more is the attraction she’s fighting to a man wrapped in mystique and questionable intentions. Jackie’s time in Paris will leave her with a wealth of memories, life-long friendships, unconventional adventures, and intense scars from heartaches. Heartaches and lessons that will unknowingly prove more useful for her future than she could ever have imagined.”
It would be right to call this a love triangle, a quadrangle actually. When Jackie arrives in France, she meets three men: Paul, a handsome man who is cousin to someone she knows from home, Philip, a very dashing and rich young man, and Marceau, a man of mystery that sweeps Jacqueline off her feet. We know she won’t end up with any of the men long-term, but who will hold her attention the most? That is the question.
As Jacq-kleen (how she preferred her name pronounced after hearing it said that way in France) attends her classes and socializes with the men, we are treated to a Jackie that isn’t that much different than the one the public thought they knew. She was raised to be a proper lady, which means wearing gloves and not speaking out of turn and proper introductions and no behavior that would reflect poorly on her family.
For the most part, Jackie behaves. Soon, it is apparent that Paul will have to be happy to have her just as a friend, because she thinks of him more like a brother. Philip is handsome and charming and is always one to have grand sweeping gestures, like private tours of museums and grand dinner parties. Jackie likes Phillip, but there’s no real spark for her. She’s got her heart set on Marceau, a man she barely knows (I can’t remember if his last name is ever given), who leaves just as mysteriously as he appears.
There are several times in the text where we’re reminded that Jacqueline will one day be married to the most powerful man in the world. In chapter 8, she admits “…she was thrilled that Philip was trying too hard–especially with a private tour of Versailles. Such a stark contrast to Marceau’s actions, and Jackie believed she deserved to be treated like royalty. Though she couldn’t ensure that her feelings toward Philip would change because of this.” Here we see the sense of entitlement that she was raised with, in the upper echelon of society.
During Jackie’s time in France, she matured from the one who pulled pranks at school, to the level-headed beauty who spoke carefully and although she admitted to hating politics, had a natural affinity for it. In chapter 11 it is revealed that “she’d changed in only a few short months. She’d mastered the art of telling white lies and had become proficient at both sneaking around Paris at night and at guarding secrets.” Jacqueline worried she would become unrecognizable to her friends and family when she returned to the U.S. in the spring.
As many young people learn, Jackie gets burned at sharing her innermost thoughts and dreams and secrets. It was at this tender age that she decided she could never trust another person with her deepest darkest thoughts and internalize her emotions for private consumption.
There was a great nod to the real Jackie in Chapter 13, when she visits the Mona Lisa. She had seen the famous painting several times and was always awed by it. She wondered if some day the painting would make it’s way to the United States so more people could see it because not everyone could make a trip to Paris. This is in fact something Jacqueline did during her time as First Lady; she arranged for the Mona Lisa to be loaned to the U.S. for a short time.
Jackie realizes she can’t stay with Philip. He’s simply too needy, and in constant need of praise. Although she realizes she will miss the sort of lifestyle she’d grown accustomed to whenever she was with him. She always had the best service, the best food, and in the grandest places. Her heart really does belong to Marceau, but he’s got secrets of his own that are revealed and make the match impossible.
There was a line late in the book that stuck out to me. After the climactic events unfold, Jackie realizes that “Maintaining my dignity is the best tribute I can give.” And isn’t that the way we always remember Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis? A woman of great dignity at all times, in times of tragedy and times of joy.
You don’t have to be a big fan of the Kennedys to like this book. If you can enjoy France in the late 1940’s, and like a light romance, this book is for you. I can’t wait for the next volume in this new series!
Long-time readers of Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews know that I have a thing about the Kennedy family. I find them fascinating, faults and all. So when Triumph Productions contacted me about getting an advanced reader’s copy of a book about Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy’s life before she met her husband, I jumped at the chance. The book, Jackie’s Paris, was released today. I was given a copy of the book in advance in exchange for an honest review.
From Amazon: “She longed for freedom and adventure…but was she truly ready?
Twenty-year old Jacqueline Bouvier is anxious to leave her overbearing family for the chance to study in Paris. Aching for freedom from difficult family relationships–and the constant pressure to find a husband–she wants to submerge herself in academics, the arts, and all Paris has to offer. As she sets sail, she has no interest in falling in love. However, her striking beauty catches the eyes of Paris’ most elite bachelors–and a mysterious rogue. Before long, Jackie is swept into a whirlwind romance, as unexpected as it is extravagant. But doubts creep in. Is she ready for love, and would she truly consider building a life so far from her family? Confusing her even more is the attraction she’s fighting to a man wrapped in mystique and questionable intentions. Jackie’s time in Paris will leave her with a wealth of memories, life-long friendships, unconventional adventures, and intense scars from heartaches. Heartaches and lessons that will unknowingly prove more useful for her future than she could ever have imagined.”
It would be right to call this a love triangle, a quadrangle actually. When Jackie arrives in France, she meets three men: Paul, a handsome man who is cousin to someone she knows from home, Philip, a very dashing and rich young man, and Marceau, a man of mystery that sweeps Jacqueline off her feet. We know she won’t end up with any of the men long-term, but who will hold her attention the most? That is the question.
As Jacq-kleen (how she preferred her name pronounced after hearing it said that way in France) attends her classes and socializes with the men, we are treated to a Jackie that isn’t that much different than the one the public thought they knew. She was raised to be a proper lady, which means wearing gloves and not speaking out of turn and proper introductions and no behavior that would reflect poorly on her family.
For the most part, Jackie behaves. Soon, it is apparent that Paul will have to be happy to have her just as a friend, because she thinks of him more like a brother. Philip is handsome and charming and is always one to have grand sweeping gestures, like private tours of museums and grand dinner parties. Jackie likes Phillip, but there’s no real spark for her. She’s got her heart set on Marceau, a man she barely knows (I can’t remember if his last name is ever given), who leaves just as mysteriously as he appears.
There are several times in the text where we’re reminded that Jacqueline will one day be married to the most powerful man in the world. In chapter 8, she admits “…she was thrilled that Philip was trying too hard–especially with a private tour of Versailles. Such a stark contrast to Marceau’s actions, and Jackie believed she deserved to be treated like royalty. Though she couldn’t ensure that her feelings toward Philip would change because of this.” Here we see the sense of entitlement that she was raised with, in the upper echelon of society.
During Jackie’s time in France, she matured from the one who pulled pranks at school, to the level-headed beauty who spoke carefully and although she admitted to hating politics, had a natural affinity for it. In chapter 11 it is revealed that “she’d changed in only a few short months. She’d mastered the art of telling white lies and had become proficient at both sneaking around Paris at night and at guarding secrets.” Jacqueline worried she would become unrecognizable to her friends and family when she returned to the U.S. in the spring.
As many young people learn, Jackie gets burned at sharing her innermost thoughts and dreams and secrets. It was at this tender age that she decided she could never trust another person with her deepest darkest thoughts and internalize her emotions for private consumption.
There was a great nod to the real Jackie in Chapter 13, when she visits the Mona Lisa. She had seen the famous painting several times and was always awed by it. She wondered if some day the painting would make it’s way to the United States so more people could see it because not everyone could make a trip to Paris. This is in fact something Jacqueline did during her time as First Lady; she arranged for the Mona Lisa to be loaned to the U.S. for a short time.
Jackie realizes she can’t stay with Philip. He’s simply too needy, and in constant need of praise. Although she realizes she will miss the sort of lifestyle she’d grown accustomed to whenever she was with him. She always had the best service, the best food, and in the grandest places. Her heart really does belong to Marceau, but he’s got secrets of his own that are revealed and make the match impossible.
There was a line late in the book that stuck out to me. After the climactic events unfold, Jackie realizes that “Maintaining my dignity is the best tribute I can give.” And isn’t that the way we always remember Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis? A woman of great dignity at all times, in times of tragedy and times of joy.
You don’t have to be a big fan of the Kennedys to like this book. If you can enjoy France in the late 1940’s, and like a light romance, this book is for you. I can’t wait for the next volume in this new series!
August 15, 2021
Fascinating Fictionalized Account of Jackie's Semester Abroad in Paris
The writer seamlessly merges historical fact and fiction into this enthralling tale of Paris in the 1940s. Jackie finagles financing the trip by approaching her grandfather. Her mother only agrees after assuring herself that Jackie will be not be staying at the school but at the home of a "good" family. She attracts the eyes of several rich bachelors (including one mysterious suitor) and is wined and dined.
If you like romances with love triangles and a bit of intrigue that is loosely based on a famous person's life, you'll love this book.
The writer seamlessly merges historical fact and fiction into this enthralling tale of Paris in the 1940s. Jackie finagles financing the trip by approaching her grandfather. Her mother only agrees after assuring herself that Jackie will be not be staying at the school but at the home of a "good" family. She attracts the eyes of several rich bachelors (including one mysterious suitor) and is wined and dined.
If you like romances with love triangles and a bit of intrigue that is loosely based on a famous person's life, you'll love this book.
August 9, 2023
Jackie's Paris is a historical fiction novel by Mercedes King.
I enjoyed following Jackie's journey through Paris that is financed by her Grandfather after approaching him.
The novel was interesting and easy to follow and I really enjoyed it. There was even some romance thrown in that included love triangles.
I found the authors writing style of merging fact with fiction fascinating and brilliant.
A really enjoyable read that I highly recommend. I can't wait to see where Jackie's adventures take her next in book 2.
💖 Thank you to the author, Mercedes King for my copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
I enjoyed following Jackie's journey through Paris that is financed by her Grandfather after approaching him.
The novel was interesting and easy to follow and I really enjoyed it. There was even some romance thrown in that included love triangles.
I found the authors writing style of merging fact with fiction fascinating and brilliant.
A really enjoyable read that I highly recommend. I can't wait to see where Jackie's adventures take her next in book 2.
💖 Thank you to the author, Mercedes King for my copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
July 4, 2024
Jackie's Paris is an enjoyable read so long as you are not looking for historical accuracy. Mercedes King explores the emotions Jackie might have had, particularly when it comes to the men she meets and socializes with. While the writing is smooth overall, it is marred by an unacceptable number of usage errors: who's when whose should be used, discrete when discreet should be used, and sadly, even callus when callous should be used. In addition, the number and types of comma errors far exceed the lenient realm of fiction. These errors really are road bumps. She needs a better editor.
July 18, 2021
This book grabbed my attention on page one but it got better and better the more I read. By the end, I didn't want the book to end! I found myself feeling the inner turmoil Jackie must have felt as she processed her feelings, or lack thereof, for more than one man in a time when such decisions were often made for women.
I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in this series. I just absolutely must know what happens once Jackie returns home from Paris!
I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in this series. I just absolutely must know what happens once Jackie returns home from Paris!
December 16, 2022
Jackie: Facts and Fiction about her time in Paris
It's amazing what an author can create by taking true biographical information, add a few items that could have happened and change it into an interesting piece of fiction. Everything in this book could have happened to Jackie while she studied in Paris. Some of it did. MS King has added what could've happened between the facts to make it an easy, fun to read book.
It's amazing what an author can create by taking true biographical information, add a few items that could have happened and change it into an interesting piece of fiction. Everything in this book could have happened to Jackie while she studied in Paris. Some of it did. MS King has added what could've happened between the facts to make it an easy, fun to read book.
January 28, 2026
As a fan of Jackie Kennedy, I was interested in this book as a work of historical fiction. I will say that it did have a resemblance to her known history, though parts of it seemed very unrealistic. I enjoyed it, but it fell short for me in a few places. I was curious to know more of her early years, and though I know this was primarily a work of fiction, I do feel that it exposed me to more of her past. I am interested in the other books in this series.
January 18, 2025
Hard for me to picture!
As one who revered JFK, and Camelot, events in this book may or may not have taken place. I just can't quite picture Jackie is some of these situations, as they deviate so from what I have read about her. This author just takes a few too many liberties, in writing about real people!
As one who revered JFK, and Camelot, events in this book may or may not have taken place. I just can't quite picture Jackie is some of these situations, as they deviate so from what I have read about her. This author just takes a few too many liberties, in writing about real people!
July 8, 2024
À must read !
This was an amazing book with so much excitement and knowledge about the life Jackie lived while in Paris. Her experiences were inspiring and helped, in many ways, to understand how she became the person she was! I loved it and couldn’t put it down !!
This was an amazing book with so much excitement and knowledge about the life Jackie lived while in Paris. Her experiences were inspiring and helped, in many ways, to understand how she became the person she was! I loved it and couldn’t put it down !!
March 15, 2025
Okay to be fair this is hardly historical or factual. That being said, however, it gives the flavor of Paris and it's geography and "feels" of that time. It's a potato chip book but sometimes a nice potato chip and a sip of a brisk soda is what one needs. And this was mine and it was delightful!
June 11, 2022
I loved this novel on Jackie Kennedy. Very entertaining & I could picture Jackie throughout the whole book.
April 11, 2023
I enjoyed reading this work of fiction about Jacqueline Bouvier’s year spent studying in Paris. I’m anxious to read the remaining books in this collection!
May 7, 2023
I loved this book , I could not put it down , it has everything . First love , loss of love , trust and emerging at the end a wiser woman, so exciting , set in Paris and you feel like your there.
June 23, 2024
At least it was free.
If you are looking for a book about Jackie that is pure fiction, this is for you. It was not for me.
If you are looking for a book about Jackie that is pure fiction, this is for you. It was not for me.
July 12, 2024
As an historical fiction, this was interesting. I would have liked if the author had written more in the afterword about her research to indicate which parts of the book had been based on history.
August 3, 2024
wonderful read
This story grabs you right from the start. It was very easy reading. It was hard to put this book down. I really enjoyed the story cover to cover
This story grabs you right from the start. It was very easy reading. It was hard to put this book down. I really enjoyed the story cover to cover
November 10, 2024
This was an enjoyable book which sparked my memories of Paris. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
February 21, 2025
Another winner in the life of Jackie's per Miss King.
March 17, 2026
I got this book as a present from a friend who knows I am interested in Kennedys. Replace Jackie's name with Jane, Samantha,... and it does not impact the book.
A romance book about perfect American who every man in Paris fell in love with.
Jakie Kennedy might look perfect when she was first Lady, but she definitely was not perfect in her twenties!!! What a wasted opportunity.
A romance book about perfect American who every man in Paris fell in love with.
Jakie Kennedy might look perfect when she was first Lady, but she definitely was not perfect in her twenties!!! What a wasted opportunity.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews