The Paris Secret in Aussie Readers

Mar 26, 2020 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020-release, reviewing-by-request, sent-by-publisher, own-read, historical-fiction, aussie-authors, net-galley, arc

What a phenomenal read!!! Outstanding, heartfelt and breathtaking, The Paris Secret might just be Aussie author Natasha Lester’s best yet!

As Kat Jourdan – fashion conservator – discovered beautiful Dior gowns in an old cottage in Cornwall she hadn’t known her grandmother back in Australia had owned, she had no idea the grandmother she’d loved her entire life had secrets. As Kat searched and investigated, she was taken back to England in 1939 where sisters Skye and Liberty Penrose were part of th ...more

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Mar 28, 2020 Helen rated it it was amazing

I have just finished this book and wow, I am feeling so many emotions at the moment and I am not sure where to start, I have loved every one of MS Lester’s books that I have read, they just have so much heart and feeling in them the characters are so real and historical events are described with so much truth that she makes you feel that you are back in these eras going through what the characters are at the time, this is a must read set over three timelines, I loved getting to know Skye, Libert I have just finished this book and wow, I am feeling so many emotions at the moment and I am not sure where to start, I have loved every one of MS Lester’s books that I have read, they just have so much heart and feeling in them the characters are so real and historical events are described with so much truth that she makes you feel that you are back in these eras going through what the characters are at the time, this is a must read set over three timelines, I loved getting to know Skye, Liberty, Margaux and Nicholas and I hope you will as well.

Skye and Liberty Penrose live on the coast of Cornwall with their mother, growing up without a father, their mother teaches Skye to fly a plane at a young age, Skye is filled with so much energy, she is bright and lovable, when she is a young teenager she meets another young teenager Nicholas Crawford and after a cartwheel they become firm friends. But life moves on and Nicholas moves away and Skye and Liberty are sent to France to stay with an aunt, but after the death of her mother Skye wants to get back to her beloved Cornwall.

In 1939 Skye is flying planes for the war effort, were she meets up again with Nicholas and her estranged sister Liberty, Nicholas is now engaged to a French woman Margaux but her feelings for Nicholas have grown stronger but she must turn her back on him. Times are really hard and there are a lot of secrets being kept for the war effort, Skye shows her strength and caring nature at all times and does what she must to help the war effort.

In 1947 in Paris fashion designer Christian Dior releases his first collection of fabulous clothing with mannequin Margaux Jourdan, he has named the collection after his sister Catherine who worked with the resistance during the war and who is very good friends with Margaux, they have a special bond.

2012 in Sydney Australia and Kat Jourdan who is a fashion conservator is asked by her beloved grandmother Margaux to check up on the cottage she owns in Cornwall where Kat discovers sixty five of the most gorgeous Dior gowns, this starts a lot of questions from Kat as to where they came from and when author Elliot Beaufort gets in touch with her from England and starts asking questions about her grandmother, there are more questions to answer and secrets to uncover.

This is a heart wrenching story from start to finish, it shows what people will do to protect the people they love, it is a love story, a story of friendship which lasts a lifetime, a story of families, of war time, but it was a story I could barely put down. MS Lester has a magical voice with words, she knows how to transport the reader back in time and to different countries, I bow down to you the research you put into this one was awesome. I loved it, there are so many emotions, so many tears and smiles as well, this book has it all and I can highly recommend it. Thank you Natasha Lester and Hachette Aus.
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Apr 06, 2020 Janine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: for-review

Another outstanding novel from Natasha Lester. I have read all but one of Natasha's novels and have read all of her historical fiction books. I can honestly say that she gets better and better with each new book!

This book covers two time periods - WWII focusing on Margaux, Skye & Liberty, and Nicholas. And Kat in modern times. Such a sweeping tale which has a bit of everything - romance, heartbreak, bravery, birth and death etc. The story of Skye and Nicholas was heartbreaking! Friends as childr ...more

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Apr 18, 2020 Rhoda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Thank you to Hachette Australia for a kindle version of this book to review. Thirty pages in I rushed out to buy the book, as it already had me enthralled!

The story is told in a few different timelines. In 1928 ten year old Skye befriends Nicholas near her house in Cornwall and a firm friendship is established until Nicholas has to return to New York four years later.

In 1939 Skye joins the war effort as a pilot where she again crosses paths with Nicholas, who is now engaged to Margaux.

In 1947 M ...more

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Apr 26, 2020 Tanya rated it it was amazing

The French Photographer by Natasha Lester was one of the standout books for me for 2019, so there was never a doubt in mind I was going to read The Paris Secret. I had it on a preorder, even though I haven't actually read what the book was about. As far as I'm concerned? Lester wrote it, I want to read it.

As in her previous books, The Paris Secret is told in dual timelines. Skye is a pilot, transporting planes for the ATA during WWII. In 2012, Kat is working as a fashion conservator when her gra The French Photographer by Natasha Lester was one of the standout books for me for 2019, so there was never a doubt in mind I was going to read The Paris Secret. I had it on a preorder, even though I haven't actually read what the book was about. As far as I'm concerned? Lester wrote it, I want to read it.

As in her previous books, The Paris Secret is told in dual timelines. Skye is a pilot, transporting planes for the ATA during WWII. In 2012, Kat is working as a fashion conservator when her grandmother asks her to check on a cottage she owns in Cornwall. A cottage that is filled with Dior gowns, one of which has never been seen before. The two stories twist together to give a view of Skye's life during - and after -the war.

One thing I truly love about Lester's books is the blending of fact and fiction. Whilst Skye and her story might be fictional - what she went through was true for so many people. Having to fight to be a pilot - just because she's a woman. Being held to different standards as other pilots - just because she's a woman.

Beyond that, she opens up this whole aspect of history I've never known anything about, never even considered, and she makes it accessible, puts it right in front of you. Elliott, one of the character in the book says:

"Take the palace there. Anyone can tell you who built it, how long it took, when the kings first lived there. But I want to tell you what it was like to be the man straddling the tower as he hung the clock right at the top, most likely without a rope to harness him. I want to tell you how wondrous it might have been, but how dreary and backbreaking it most likely was. I want to make you see the place as animate, rather than just an assemblage of red brick."

And look, I don't know if Lester is speaking of her own thoughts and feelings there, but that is exactly how her books make me feel. She shows the wonder that is possibly, but she also shows the horror and the fear. The good juxtaposed with the bad, because the two usually do exist side by side.

The title, and the cover, to me suggest a book that is more light and frivolous than this is. It's a gripping read, but it's also confronting. It's not always easy to read, and after I'd turned the last page my mind did not stop churning. These incredible woman lived - they existed - and I knew nothing about them. People suffered unimaginable horrors....and I just don't have the words. It's fiction, but it's not. ...more

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May 22, 2021 Karen rated it really liked it

A fantastic read, a story about strong courageous women during WW2 and their contribution to the war in Europe. Liberty and Skye Penrose the daughters of a single mother and adventurer, Vanessa Penrose who died when on a solo flight to Australia. The girls had lived in Cornwall, but were taken to France to live with their Aunt when she took off on her solo flight. Skye returns to England but Liberty remains in France. When war is declared Syke joins the Air Transport Auxilary where she reconnect ...more

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