Brilliantly written and what a premise!
I've read lots of Nazi based novels but this makes for a refreshing change. A new angle I have never heard of.… WOW... What A Ride!... blew me away… The narrative grabs the reader by the throat and doesn't let you breathe until the end…

DNF @ 39%

Nearly halfway through the novel and nothing has happened beyond what the book blurb tells us. Whenever I think about opening it up again I just feel bored after a couple pages and put it back down again. Sorry, it just wasn’t for me!

Chloe’s chapters were not enjoyable for me whatsoever. I don’t understand why she gets so offended when Etienne suggests her grandmother might have been involved with the Nazi party given her association with Chanel. Plenty of people during that time were forced to be involved, but it doesn’t mean they believed it was right. It’s a pretty logical connection to make in my mind, and I understand wanting to dig deeper and learn the truth but why get all offended?

Funnily enough, I also didn’t like Entienne. He was pretentious and I didn’t find him charming or funny at all. I actually found it strange the weird lengths he went through to apologize to Chloe. Like… she’s a stranger to you so just drop it? I didn’t pick up any chemistry between them. It’s a no from me.

It’s true what many other reviews are saying that Adele’s chapters are significantly more interesting to read. It’s just a life perspective that isn’t as well known today and I’d like seeing all the tasks she had to do and what living in Paris during WWII looked like.

The problem for me was it was all pretty plotless. Like, by 39% into a book I feel I should know what the conflict of the novel is, but I didn’t. While Chloe may not know whether her grandmother was involved with the Nazis or not, the reader already knows so there’s not really a mystery to unveil here. I thought when Adele saved the child it would lead to her needing to sneak around and risk her life to save her, but instead the child was relocated quickly and was not an issue for Adele anymore. It was just unsatisfying to read when nothing dramatic was happening. If you enjoy more of a character-study book and want to learn more about Chanel and WWII, I think you would enjoy this.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The market is quite awash with wartime Paris novels but this one was a real gem and really stands out from the rest.

Its 2018, and our protagonist Chloe is at the Ritz Paris auction where her Grandmother had lived in WW2 as Coco Chanels assistant, the auction fascinated me, they sold off everything from an original Bathtub to furniture from Coco Chanels suite...and this leads us to the time hop part of the story! Taking us down the rabbit hole and divulging secrets of Coco Chanels connection to the Nazis in WW2.

Both eras of the story kept me hooked. Some of the WW2 was set in St Nazaire which is not far from where I live and it's made me want to research the area more.

A really well researched novel by the author, I love books that weave historical facts in with fiction.

I'd highly recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction, love stories and Paris 🇫🇷💋

Thanks to @Netgalley and @avonbooksuk
For the ARC of this novel

#cocochanel #netgalley

Chloé has always wanted to learn more about her grandmother Adèle‘s time as Coco Chanel’s assistant during Nazi occupied Paris. At an auction in Paris Chloé meets Etienne, a handsome Parisian who is also interested in Coco’s past. He drops the bomb that Coco was actually a Nazi agent, sending Chloé’s world spinning. Who really was Adèle, and what was her involvement in the resistance? Lorna Cook does a wonderful job weaving together all the history and questions pertaining to Coco Chanel and those close to her in Paris. A great historical fiction pick!

I love Lorna Cook's books and feel this one is the best I have read. Wonderful narratives and descriptions. Highly recommend.

This was a quick, light read- one that I devoured in about 24 hours. It utilizes two timelines to investigate the actions of Coco Chanel and her assistant during the occupation of Paris during WWII. It has a little bit of everything- romance, mystery, suspense, historical facts- and is a book I would like to own.

I appreciated that it does not sensationalize Coco Chanel’s life, or the atrocities of WWII. It is not grotesque, and yet, the reader understands the horrific events that were occurring.

The author includes references for further reading, especially regarding Chanel’s involvement in the war. I wasn’t aware of this connection and look forward to researching it further.

Many thanks to Lorna Cook, NetGalley and Avon Book UK for the e-ARC in exchange of honest review.

review voluntarily.
This book relates a dual timeline story around Chloe and her grandmother, Adele. The publisher's information incorrectly details that Chloe has gone to Paris to uncover the truth about her grandmother's history but she has actually gone there for a break away from her old life now her divorce is completed. The reader learns about the history through Adele's narration which is linked to what Chloe slowly discovers through investigation of recovered documents and books. I thought some of the words and phrases used were strange, cumbersome, or poor grammar, such as "She goes on a Zimmer frame" "That's because she's ninety-seven" - no it isn't, It's because she has mobility issues, our queen is 96 and doesn't use a stick! - and 'she plumped up the cushion that looked as if it had clearly been slept upon' - the word 'clearly' is implicit and superfluous. The descriptions of giving blood refer to it dripping slowly into the bottle but it is important that blood is drained quickly to maintain quality for transfusion. The persistent messages from Rob asking Chloe if they had made a mistake divorcing seemed to throw her into a quandary but I didn't understand why she didn't just block his contact instead of getting upset. Halfway through the book we were told Chloe had a half day off, but then spent the entire day with Etienne.
I thought the progress of this book was very slow and I only persisted to the end because other reviewers had indicated it was worth it but I didn't think the end was surprising. In my opinion it is historical fiction but not gripping or heartbreaking.

As usual in my reviews I will not rehash the plot...

This was an enjoyable light read, but with more depth to it than I expected due to the subject matter - occupied Paris during the Second World War. It was an interesting read due to the Coco Chanel connection - which is something I intend to read more about as I wasn't aware of it before.

I liked the way the book moved between two different timelines - the war and present day. The main characters in each time period were interesting and likeable - Adele and Theo (plus Coco of course!) in the 1940s, and Chloe and Etienne in present day.

Recommended if you like time-shift novels with a touch of romance and great characters!

I will happily read more by this author.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

I haven't read a lot of WW2 books and I loved this one. I am looking forward to reading more books by the author

“The Dressmaker’s Secret” is set in Paris during WW2. Adele who has just aged out the orphanage she has grown up with is walking the streets of Paris in search of employment. She finds it as the assistant to Coco Chanel. Together, they do what they have to do to survive Occupied France.
Adèle’s granddaughter Chloè knows only that her grandmother worked for Coco Chanel. Adèle never talks about her life during the war. Chloè goes to an auction in hopes of buying something from Coco Chanel’s suite in the Ritz for her grandmother. She is set on a path to discover what her grandmother did during the war.
It is evident that Lorna Cook did research not only on Coco Chanel but life during and after the Occupation of France. She does an amazing job of combining fact and fiction. I was intrigued from the moment soldiers knocked on the door all the way to the end. Cook was able to write a dual timeline story that had the perfect combination of both time periods. This was my first Lorna Cook but it will definitely not be my last.
Thank you, Lorna Cook, NetGalley and Avon Book UK for the e-ARC in exchange of honest review.

Spoilers ahead****

I’m in the minority when I say that this book didn’t work for me. I really didn’t care for Adele’s wishy washy personality during the war. I understand her motivation to stay with Chanel but I honestly was tired of her. Given she was the 'heroine' of this story I expected more from her during wartime.

What didn’t sit right with me was that Chloe maintains Adele never spoke about the war; that she didn’t like to talk about what happened. However at the end it was revealed that Chloe’s mother is Melodie, the child that was rescued. It was also revealed that Melodie had been aware of her adoption and origins since she was a young child. So why all the secrecy?

The subject matter is new to me, I had no idea about Coco Chanel’s activities during the war, so I applaud the new angle. But as for the title…who was The Dressmaker? Adele is an assistant and Chanel doesn’t make or design a single item during this time period so I thought it was confusing.

A great WW2 story that I couldn't put down. The two main characters of Adele and Chloe were both very likeable and so you were immediately drawn into both timelines stories. I was also fascinated by the Coco Chanel aspect and her part in the war so definitely a book for historical fiction fans

I really enjoyed The Dressmaker’s Secret. I loved that as the book progressed we were learning about Adele’s life through her granddaughter Chloé’s eyes.

I have read a lot of historical fiction but I really appreciated the different take this book took on. I learned so much about Coco Chanel’s position in the war which I didn’t know prior to reading.

This was a smashing book to read. I enjoyed it very much especially as it was a dual time-line. Set in present day and during the Second World War it had everything I love in a book . I’ve read quite a few of Lorna Cooke’s books and they never disappoint. She is such a wonderful writer and writes a very good story. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

There are lots of historical fiction stories out there that I enjoy reading. The meticulous details that that goes into researching the story and how the author ties real life events and characters with fictional ones always interest me. But there is more to this story as she uses a real famous person.

Paris, in 1941 during WW2, Adèle works for Coco Chanel and lives in The Ritz Hotel together with the German officers. As the war goes on, Adèle finds herself helping the resistance putting herself in danger and the man she falls in love with.

Present day, Adèle’s granddaughter Chloè knows little about her grandmother Adèle as she never talks about her life during the war. Chloè finds herself in Paris to uncover the truth about Adèle’s past and at the same time to bring her respite and fresh start from her recent divorce. She is not sure if she is ready to learn the truth about her grandmother and how it will affect their relationships.

I find this one not just captivating but very interesting as to how the author presents a very touchy subject without condemning the people and overshadowing the story itself. Until recently, there are documents and news that surface on how Coco Chanel’s role in the occupied Paris. I don’t really know her except for her bags and perfume and of course as a fashion icon. But whatever it is, we do not know what a person is capable of doing during war. It just goes to show people’s weaknesses during this difficult time.

Going back, it is a well-researched story that has alternating timelines during WW2 with Adelè and present time with Chloè. I like how their stories blend together and played out well in the end. The author gives us the old theme with a fresh take on war fiction. It will capture your imagination on how it is to be present in war-torn Paris and how the people live their lives in one of the most depressing time in history. As with this kind of story, there are sadness, heart breaks, suspense, long buried secrets, romance and unexpectedly happiness.

If you are a fan of historical fiction or dreaming to be in Paris one day, I would highly recommend that you pick this up.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Book UK for the e-ARC in exchange of honest review. The Dressmaker’s Secret is out today Jan 27.

This is the 4th book by Lorna Cook - I have read them all - once again it is a then an now. Then is during WWII and set in Paris. Adele is working for Coco Channel. Paris was a dangerous place to be during the occupation. Adele had met an American doctor giving blood, he works very hard and hates the Nazis. Things get very dangerous for him after the Americans enter the war. They fall in love and then all the American medical staff are rounded up and taken away.

The now, 2018 Chloe recently Divorced goes to Paris for a gap year. She decides that she wants to find out about what her Grandmother did during the war as it had never been talked about. She attends an auction at the Ritz where her Grandmother had lived with Coco.

Another fantastic read from Lorna. Warning, have some tissues handy towards the end, I just could not put this book down. When I knew the publication date, it did not mean anything to me, but reading the book it became obvious. Also the amount of research that has been carried out to make this a memorable read is incredible.

I can recommend this and have no hesitation in giving it 5*

My thanks to netgally and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review which I freely give.

This is a lovely, romantic but also serious historical fiction story about Adele, an orphan who finishes her convent education and moves to Paris where she lands a job as Coco Chanel's assistant. Their gadabout traveling life has been disrupted by the Nazi occupation of Paris. Chanel closes her fashion house, selling only her fragrances during wartime. They move into the Ritz, which has been taken over and occupied by Nazi officers. Cook tells this story from Adele's perspective, as she learns more about what the Nazis stand for, observes people being taken from their homes, never to be seen again, learns bits and pieces about the resistance and a lot about Chanel's political as well as romantic involvement with the Germans. Along the way, Adele meets and befriends an American doctor, seeks help from him when she takes an impulsive action that could cause her serious trouble, and she must confront her own roles, always on the periphery, in facilitating Chanel's problematic behavior as well as the doctor's dangerous resistance related behavior. The Dressmaker's Secret also is about Chloe, Adele's British granddaughter. It is 2018 and Chloe, recently divorced after a short lived, loveless marriage, moves to Paris for a year. She helps a friend from university run her boutique, as her friend just had a baby and needs help. Adele has shared with her grandchildren that she worked for Coco Chanel for five years, but never discussed the experience of living in Paris during the war. Chloe learns that evidence came out some years ago confirming longstanding rumors about Chanel: She collaborated with the Nazis. Was her grandmother complicit? As she visits places her grandmother lived and worked and researches the files on Chanel, Chloe needs to learn the truth. Adele is 97 and time is short. Lorna Cook is a wonderful writer. She tells Chanel's story during the period well and consistently with what I already knew about this. Adele, an imagined character is a sympathetic person, an employee, yet in some ways the person who knows more about Chanel than anyone. Her conflicting feelings about Chanel, about her own privilege in having food and a safe place to stay, about the doctor's extracurricular work and whether she should be doing more are compelling. A fast and enjoyable read.

This is a great historical drama/romance set mainly in Paris. My first read from this author as I normally shy away from books with a strong romance bent but I was drawn to the because of the Coco Chanel connection; and I’m so glad I did. This was a fabulous story, written in two timelines - 1941 during the German occupation of Paris and the present.

Briefly, in 1941 Adèle, an orphan brought up by nuns, is working as an assistant to Coco Chanel and living in the Ritz hotel. When she meets and falls in love with an American doctor she also becomes embroiled in helping his work for the resistance. With Coco Chanel living openly with a German officer Adèle is playing a dangerous game. In the present Adèle’s granddaughter is recently divorced and has gone to Paris as a ‘year out’. When she meets the rather mysterious Etienne he offers to help her investigate her grandmother’s past, but is she prepared to hear the truth?

I was completely unaware of Chanel’s collaboration with the Nazi’s and the depth to which she had been prepared to go to maintain her lifestyle regardless of the effect on others. The two stories meet seamlessly at the end with two big reveals, one of which I was expecting, the other I wasn’t. A really enjoyable read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

📖BOOK REVIEW📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

#TheDressMakersSecret by @lornacookauthor

⏩for synopsis

Well I must say I’m mightily impressed with this read - not only was it a great story; it incorporated everything I love - a duel timeline, real history, a great plot with realistic and relatable characters. I think the Cook did a great job of depicting this largely unknown piece of history; she really made you care for the characters, especially Adele, and experience the horrors and the joys along side them. Although to some extent you knew what direction the book was going to take, I still felt it was very atmospheric, held the tension of the plot and had my on the edge of my seat at one point! 😉

I found it easy and enjoyable to read. The duel timelines ran seemly and I was sad to finish the book - I felt I could of carried on enjoying Adele’s story for a lot longer!

With thanks to #Netgalley, author #LornaCook, #AvonBooks for allowing me to read this one early!

OUT: Jan 27th

-EMILY

@avonbooksuk @netgalley

@the_book_girls_1

Interesting concept of the book with information that I was unfamiliar with, but ultimately I found the slow start very difficult to power through & just wanted to finish the book.