In 2012, Deanna is sorting through her father’s belongings in the attic, when she comes across her grandmother’s violin. Needing to downsize, her father says to get rid of it.

Going to a local music shop in Wales, Deanna is gobsmacked to find out that the violin is a Stradivarius; a rare violin. With her friend, Felicity, working for Sotheby’s, Deanna is determined to find out more about the violin.

In Paris, 1940, Antoinette, and her husband, René, are musicians. When René is taken by the Nazis, Antoinette is determined to find him and to be reunited with him and their son, Benjamin.

This is the third book in the series, although it can be read as a standalone.

The story is beautifully written, but must have been so challenging to write.

My heart broke for Antoinette; her bravery, courage, and commitment could be felt throughout.

Deanna was very much like her grandmother, and was determined to find out the truth about her.

A compassionate and romantic tale, that touched me deeply.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

A gripping, emotional story of love, sacrifice, and quiet resistance in the heart of Nazi-occupied Paris.

As a devoted reader of WWII historical fiction, The Paris Promise swept me away with its powerful portrayal of a mother’s fierce devotion and bravery in the face of impossible choices. Suzanne Kelman delivers an evocative, high-stakes narrative that blends espionage, heartache, and maternal love with a haunting musical backdrop that makes the story truly stand out.

Set in 1943, we follow Antoinette Valette — a renowned violinist turned reluctant spy — as she fights to protect her Jewish husband and son in Nazi-occupied Paris. When tragedy strikes and her family is torn apart, Antoinette joins the Resistance, wielding her violin as both a weapon and a lifeline. Her performances at Nazi gatherings become her covert battleground, where every note she plays risks discovery.

Antoinette’s story is harrowing, courageous, and deeply moving. Kelman captures the emotional agony of separation, the terror of living in constant danger, and the small flickers of hope that drive one mother’s defiance. While this book is the third in the Paris Sisters series, it reads perfectly well as a standalone. The pacing is taut, the historical detail immersive, and the emotional stakes unrelenting.

The Paris Promise is a poignant and powerful testament to the resilience of women in wartime. A stirring, emotionally rich WWII novel full of heartbreak and heroism.

I highly recommend The Paris Promise to fans of Kristin Hannah, Fiona Valpy, and Roberta Kagan — anyone who loves brave heroines, emotional depth, and immersive historical fiction.

I’ve read several of Suzanne Kelman’s books set in World War 2 and enjoyed all of them. This one is part of the series featuring the Valette sisters- each can be read as a stand alone but they are all connected.
This is a dual time line story set in 2011 and during the war years. It is the story of Antoinette, a resistance fighter forced to make some difficult choices to save her family and Deanna her granddaughter who is desperately trying to piece together her grandmother’s life during the worst period imaginable.
There is plenty of excitement in both timeframes and unusually in these type of books, I was happy reading about both periods as the two stories were so compelling. The alternate chapters really helped to build up the tension.
There were many twists, turns and mysteries as the story is told as the reader gradually learns what happened to Antoinette and why she had to act as she did.
This was both heart warming and also incredibly sad as Antoinette’s life is torn apart during the occupation. I loved the way the music featured in the story bringing Rene and Antoinette together and the fact that Deanna’s discovery of an old violin in her father’s loft is the catalyst for her discoveries about her grandmother’s life.
Forgiveness is also an important theme as is an acceptance of the past which enables Antoinette to move on. Definitely a recommended read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

Suzanne Kelman has delivered another emotionally charged WW2 novel that burrowed deep into my heart and made me experience every reaction imaginable. I was extremely impressed by the expressive writing and the many twists and turns throughout. Suzanne has a real talent in conveying the brokenness and suffering of the victims during the crushing Nazis period in history. We see the courage of women who fought for freedom through her vivid descriptions, dialogue and well formed characters. The Resistance, made up of both men and women, was a dedicated group of individuals who made many sacrifices to keep their families safe and to push back the darkness that surrounded them. It was a horrifying time in history and The Paris Promise shows us how frightening it really was for the victims. And making decisions would have been hard. For every action had the potential to unleash more horrors.

I appreciated the dual timeline approach in telling this story for each provides a clear picture of events. They help us slip into the shoes of the characters. The past of 1940’s is told through Antoinette, who is caught up in a terrible dilemma. She is a virtuoso violinist called upon to perform for the Nazis. Her husband Renee, the love of her life, is a musician as well. When they are torn apart, she vows to find and rescue him. And it is a promise she is determined to keep. She also has a son who is in danger and she must do all she can to protect him. This leads her into the Resistance and doing things she never would have considered before. But her love for her family and country fuel her determination. We learn of her astounding courage and the gifts she leaves behind: a violin and compass to direct those she loves to hope and revelation.

When Deanna inherits her grandmother’s violin, she is discovers it is a valuable instrument with a mystery behind it. This gift leads her on a mission to uncover the story of Antoinette’s life. What she learns shocks and unsettles her. And while on this quest for truth, she meets people she is not sure are friends or enemies. But she is guided by her friend Felicity who provides great support and valuable information during this complex search. It was fascinating to watch the mystery at the heart of this novel unfold. There were some hair-raising moments for Deanna that had me perched on the edge of my seat! Not to mention the startling trauma of Antoinette seen through her vivid account. A woman who stared hatred in the face and defied it.

This is a powerful story of secrets, tribulation, revenge, duplicity, deception, manipulation and remorse. But it is also about forgiveness, hope, healing, love, triumph, understanding and resilience. The polar opposites of humanity are on display: the capabilities of humans to be either good or evil. The extremes are seen during wartimes but also the shadows and greys that are etched into the edges of truth. And sometimes out of a bad situation, good things can materialise. Life is not always black and white. When good people are forced into bad situations, they are forced to make decisions and actions they never would have imagined.

This novel made me think about so many things. And the characters were brilliant and clearly drawn. It was easy to love certain ones and be appalled by others. Once I started The Paris Secret I could not stop as I wanted desperately to see what was going to happen on Deanna’s and Antoinette’s journeys. And when the past crosses into the present, it is downright scary!

There are a number of wise lines throughout that support the encompassing theme, such as: ‘Sometimes the greatest act of love is knowing when to let go…’

Well done to Suzanne Kelman for such a magnificent story that sings of lasting love, resilient hope and restored beauty from ashes. This is a top WW2 fiction novel that cannot be missed. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.

I am so grateful that I got to read this story. I think everyone should have a chance to read this story. The world needs a reminder of the horrors of World War Two. For me, this is a story I won't forget. The dual timeline illustrates just how much the war still affects us today. I was honored to go on a Journey with Deanna as she learns the mysteries of her grandmother, Antoinette. It all starts with the discovery of a violin her Deanna's father's attic.

The author took me back to the time that Paris was in chaos. The Nazis have taken control. The cleansing has begun. The Jewish population was being round up. They didn't know who to trust. The Jewish people didn't know when they would come for them. Anyone could turn them in at anytime.

René is playing a piano at the Conservatoire when the SS enters and starts rounding up the undesirables. They had a list. He was on it. Antoinette and Ben, their son, watched as he was taken away. Watching him being taken away gutted her. It gutted me.

Antoinette will do anything to save her husband. She soon learns an important lesson. Soldiers did not care about human life. They cared about power, thinking nothing of hitting her head with the butt of a rifle. She was lucky to get away with Ben, but she failed René.

Anoinette joins the resistance as away to save René. She was desperate and soon found herself in deep with the Nazis. To save René Her bravery shines. Her dedication to the cause is inspirational. Her strength left me speechless. With people like her the Nazis were doomed.

Antoinette's story had me on the edge of my seat. I feared for her when she was with the Nazis, never knowing if her cover will be blown. The horrors she experienced, the control they weilded, had me furious.

I never knew what I would find when I flipped the page but I kept flipping. The story was intense and I loved every page. The story wouldn't let me go an I was okay with that.

It was the epilogue that completely gutted me. The Nazis tried to extinguish the Jewish people, but they didn't know how resiliant they are. Hours after finishing the story the tears still fall.

Wow this story set in WW2 was intense, tragic, full of sorrow and hope. I feel it really showed the struggle of being in France with the Nazis invading, it felt real and scary. Antoinette lived her life and did what she needed to do to survive this awful time. I really enjoyed this book, although it’s book 3 in the series it’s my first and it was every bit as good as I hoped it would be. Highly recommend!

I thought i had read too many ww2 fiction books, and become to numb to feel anything. But then this book showed UP it was a tearjerker and it captivated my heart. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion