I reviewed The Last Hours in Paris for recommendation site LoveReading. I have chosen the book to sit as a Liz Pick of the Month. Please see the site for review.

The Last Hours in Paris is set during WW2 when a young Frenchwoman, Elise, falls for a German soldier, Sebastian. While indoctrinated as a child into becoming a member of Hitler's Youth Sebastian is now disillusioned and decides to help Elise help Jewish children escape from the Gestapo. The couple's assignations remain secret, helped by the sympathetic owner of a bookshop but one day the inevitable happens and they are betrayed. Separated, each believing the other is dead, they continue their lives after the war when Elise's daughter Josephine begins to question her mother about her origins and opens a can of worms.

A beautifully written romantic and historic story that is also a page turner, with an ending that I didn't forsee. Highly recommended. Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the opportunity to read and review The Last Hours In Paris.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this powerful book...

the story of elise and sebastian and what a storyline this one is.... its full of emotion and you feel everyone of those emotions

elise is helping to get the children out of paris, it is fraught with danger

sebastian, one of hitlers youths who was destined for his role in the war but sebastian is disillusioned with it all... where was the paris that he fell in love as a boy when he visited it with his grandmother, and he hates what the nazis are doing, but he is part of the war effort, but he is disillusioned with it

elise and sebastian meet for the first time in a book shop both are there to lose themselves and find a bit of peace between the shelves

this bookshop becomes a lifeline for seb at this time and he forms an unlikely friendship with the shop owner and its during one of sebs visits that he discloses about the children going missing and that the gesatpo will be watching to see if the report is true

this story is told in two parts through the book and next we meet josephine, who wants to take on the world and cant understand why her mother is so opposed to things and wanting her birth certificate and getting a passport shouldnt cause so much fuss

but it can also open up a whole can of worms....

my oh my i dont want to give away to much of this wonderful storyline as there is so much to say about this book...hitlers youths, gestapos nazis, underground. collaborators, shame...so much is covered in this book its jaw dropping at its best and you feel every emotion going....and you cry just a little bit for Elise Sebastian and Josephine as you read each of their storylines

a brilliant book that will stay with me for ages

Ruth Druart has written another powerful story set in Occupied Paris. The love story of Sébastien and Élise could have been just another WW2 stereoype but it was lifted way beyond that. Harrowing and painful details of the treatment of prisoners and collaborators took the book outside of a standard romance and made the book that much more realistic. A great cast of mostly strong characters who are well described. An excellent read for fans of WW2 fiction with a very satisfying ending. Five stars. And grateful thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read and review an e-ARC of this title.

During the Nazi control in Paris in 1944, Elise Chevalier is helping Jewish children to escape, without her mother or younger sisters knowledge.

Sebastian Kleinhaus is a soldier who started in the Hitler Youth League and came to Paris as a translator as he speaks fluent french.

Sebastian is full of rage and doesn’t like being part of Hitler’s army. He takes to visiting the book shop owned by Monsieur Le Bolzec and that’s where he meets Elise.

When Sebastian helps Elise to get the last of the Jewish children out of Paris, there is no going back.

Will Sebastian and Elise’s love survive the rest of the war ending and being separated? Can they find their way back together again?

In a French village in 1963, Elise has lived her life quietly since the war but has also lived a lie. When that lie comes back to haunt her, she has to rethink everything.

I found this to be a powerful and emotional story. It is a beautiful tale of love, grief, lies and heartache to name a few.

A lot of research has gone into this story which makes the tale and characters believable. I did not want this story to end and cheered the characters on throughout.

I have read a couple of books by this author now and look forward to reading more.

I absolutely loved this book and I loved it most for the great storytelling. You are very quickly immersed in the story and invested in the characters. The timeline is split between 1944 and 1963. There is a large section of 1944 at the beginning where the young Elise is living in occupied Paris with her mother and younger sister. She meets Sebastian in the local bookshop and their romance is touching yet dangerous and moves to heart breaking and tragic. It is so emotional.

The 1963 section follows an older Elise who has settled in Brittany. And although the war is over, the storyline continues with the same pace, tension and emotion.

Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. This is an extraordinarily good novel across two timelines and multiple settings.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Paris 1944 and Elise is in love. Her fiancé has been killed and against her best intentions has fallen in love with Sebastian , a German Officer. However, after one unforgettable evening they are torn apart.
Brittany 1963 and Josephine finds a suitcase and her birth certificate and heads to Paris to confront her grandparents.
What she uncovers will have repercussions for several people and reveal a love story which has lasted the years.

The Last Hours in Paris is a dual timeline WW2 historical fiction novel set in France.

1944 Elise is living in Nazi occupied Paris, playing a small part in helping the resistance and hates the Nazis. Sebastian, a German soldier, is trapped and alone, fighting for a cause he doesn’t believe in. Elise and Sebastian should not fall in love, but they do.

1963 Josephine lives in rural Brittany and knows something is not quite right. So, as teenagers do, goes looking and finds something hidden under her mothers bed that uncovers a secret that upturns many lives.

The story is beautifully written, the dual timelines flowing perfectly together. The historical facts have been clearly well researched through both time settings.

Elise is a strong, fierce and independent character you instantly get behind.
Sebastian is kind, caring and conflicted and you are instantly drawn to him.
Josephine is a troubled teen who knows there must be more to life, so sets off to get it.
I loved all three characters in their own way.

As the story unfolds you learn both the horrors of war and liberation, which I found shocking!

I really enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster the novel takes you on, forbidden love, secrets, revenge, moments of happiness in the darkest times, forgiveness and moving on.

The thing I enjoy most about novels set in this period is the resilience of people and how people risk everything to save others, and this is a perfect example of that.

I thoroughly enjoyed the timelines coming together and the characters finding their way back.

Though the ending is haunting! Whilst it was the “right” thing, I just didn’t want that to happen.

Josephine grows up in Brittany thinking that her father had been a hero of the resistance who died at the end of the war. At 18 she is desperate to go on a school trip to England but needs her passport. Whilst her mother is at work she searches through her mother's papers looking for her birth certificate, to find that her father was actually German! Who was her father? How can she find out about him?
She then runs away to Paris to visit her Aunt in the hope that she will answer some of her questions.. What will she find out about her mother's love affair as the Allies were gaining on Paris.
Well written and easy to read.

The historic strand of Ruth Druart's novel is set in Paris towards the end of the German occupation. The more recent part of the book takes place in Brittany and Paris. This is a story of survival in very difficult times; the French population were starving, Jews were being deported and the Germans were becoming more aggressive as their control over hostilities slipped. This then was an unfortunate time to fall in love, particularly with an enemy.

This is a gripping story, extremely well written and about little known events. Recommended for readers of family dramas, romances and those with an interest in WW2.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

What a beautifully heart-rending book. Caught up in the ugliness of war and on opposing sides - at least, according to uniform, two people fall in love. This is the absolute beauty of love - no-one can dictate to whom this feeling will come.
Our star crossed lovers try so hard to live under the radar, to not give themselves away. Sadly, the ugliness of war makes this impossible and our beautiful couple are torn in two.
There is such beauty and sorrow in the story of how life went on for Elise and we pick up her story in the 60’s.
I don’t want to spoil it for anyone reading but suffice it to say, this book is a real love story. How many people in war torn Europe must have experienced this sorrow and pain.
Do read it. You won’t be sorry.

A fabulous read and storyline especially given the painful era that the time was. The story goes between 1944 and 1963 and different chapters focus on different main characters of Elise, Josephine and Sebastian. The interaction between the French and Germans is played out and extends beyond the war. Having got to know the characters I was slightly disappointed with the end which seemed to come fairly abruptly.

This really was a powerful story. Although it is a love story set during the occupation of Paris it is so much more. Beautifully written, you can see that it has been well researched.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the advance copy of this book.

First class novel that had me enthralled from the beginning! Set in WW2 it tells of the horror of war and how terrible life was for everyone.
Elise was a very brave woman who helped young children escape from an orphanage, despite the danger she and others were putting themselves in. Elise fell in love, but it had its difficulties. It heartbreaking and moving-a well written story.

Despite enjoying this book immensely, I felt that it lacked the tension which made “While Paris Sleeps” such an excellent read.

It seemed to me early on what the likely outcome of the story would be, and whilst I enjoyed the plot and devoured the novel I don’t think I was ever surprised at the inevitable outcome.

Despite my reluctance to be consumed by the characters I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

An emotional novel about the horrors of war and revenge, a portrait of love, a story about forgiveness and how you can move on when you think it's all over. The action alternates between two periods of time, and the story is told from three points of view.

"The past is part of who we are."

In 1944, Paris was under Nazi occupation, and Élise Chevalier was furious and hated those who occupied the most beautiful city in the world, in her perception. Although the city was not destroyes by the german troops, it was no longer alive, it was just a ghost of what it once was.

Sébastian Kleinhaus wears a uniform he hates from the bottom of his heart, translates documents that show him every day how filthy the world can be and he is alone. Too alone. He has no friends, lives in a foreign city, is part of a war he does not want, and has a role that has been imposed since he was 16. We see his desire to dress in ordinary clothes and not have to dress in a Nazi uniform. We see his longing for home when he could be with his loved ones.

In 1963, Élise's daughter, Joséphine, wants to travel to the UK, so she needs a passport. Searching for her birth certificate, the teenager discovers a secret that her mother hid, for the good of them all. This is a novel about love and betrayal and its devastating impact on life.

“He wondered what it would be like to be free. To have choices. ”

Certain parts of the novel are extremely powerful. Ruth Druart captured the atmosphere of occupied Paris very well. The city is overwhelmed by a sense of tension. Parisians live in fear of being arrested and deported, they are angry and helpless in the face of disaster, but most of all, they are hungry. We are also witnessing the prejudices, judgment and cruelty of the people of Paris. As the Nazis retreat, the inhabitants become judges, jurors and executioners of the innocent, of those who tried to survive.

Although the narration of the two main characters was full of emotion, anger, frustration and helplessness, for me the most interesting and strongest was the narration of Sébastian, when I felt his conflicting emotions. The novel takes you through dozens of states, from nerves to heartbreaking sadness, from impotence to pure and emotional love to tears. It's about a lost life full of bittersweet memories.

3.5 rounded up

“A portrait of war and retribution“ of “love and forgiveness“ and of polar opposite of love with hate. Paris in 1944 is under the tight yoke of Nazi control and Élise Chevalier is full of rage and doing what she can to covertly defy the unwelcome regime. Sébastian Kleinhaus wears the uniform, translates the documents he’s asked to but he’s deeply conflicted about his enforced role. Fast forward to 1963, Élise’s daughter Joséphine wants to travel and therefore requires a passport. Is Élise’s secret past catching up with her? This is a novel of love and betrayal and its devastating impact on young lives.

Parts of the novel are extremely powerful especially the wartime sections which I find immersive reading. The author captures the atmosphere in Paris of the occupation extremely well with an almost overbearing feeling of tension and with palpable anger which contrasts well with the developing situation between Élise and Sébastian. The two main characters are portrayed well do you feel Élise’s rage, frustration and impotence but for me the most interesting and powerful is the narrative of Sébastian as you genuinely feel his conflicting emotions. There are some very good scenes especially in the bookshop of Monsieur Le Bolzec which I really enjoy. It swings from making you angry to feeling sad, it’s heartbreaking and poignant at times.

However, I feel the later timeline is less effective, it starts well but then it becomes a bit predictable with, regrettably, a faint whiff of the cheese. In fairness, though, other readers enjoy this much more than I do.

Overall, this is mostly a powerful read but it doesn’t resonate for me as much as the last book. I like the inspiration for the novel as per the authors note at the end and maybe this is why Sébastian feels the most real.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

A well researched book with a very descriptive narrative. A harrowing account of relationship of the. occupation. However contrary to the majority of reviewers I found it wasn't as engaging as I'd hoped ,having the amount of detail was a little too unnecessary. A disappointing follow up to her While Paris Sleeps.

Beautifully written book with a very powerful storyline. The reader is taken back to Paris during the occupation and is made to experience this from both sides. Also we are made to think about the futility of war and how lives are pulled apart. I really enjoyed the way the story moved between characters and also between the years. I cannot recommend this enough.

This is an outstanding book. It shows an understanding of human nature in the context of international events that makes this an absorbing and challenging read. Elisa is a Parisian suffering the effects of the
German occupation. She does the unforgivable, falling in love with a German soldier, Sebastien, whom she meets in the local bookshop. Her affair is disapproved of by her parents and friends and neighbours. She becomes a target for revenge from French resistance workers. She has to separate from Sebastien as the allies invade Paris and he has to flee. The book starts with her daughter Josephine wanting to find out more about the father she has never met. She has been misled. When she discovers the truth the question is whether her German father is still alive. This book is very well written and shows the effect of national events on the life of vulnerable individuals. I recommend it.