All the Ways We Said Goodbye: A Novel of the Ritz Paris

All the Ways We Said Goodbye: A Novel of the Ritz Paris

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  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-02-18 04:17:35
  • Update Date:2025-09-07
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Beatriz Williams
  • ISBN:9780062931108
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

The New York Times bestselling authors of The Glass Ocean and The Forgotten Room return with a glorious historical adventure that moves from the dark days of two World Wars to the turbulent years of the 1960s, in which three women with bruised hearts find refuge at Paris’ legendary Ritz hotel。The heiress 。 。 。The Resistance fighter 。 。 。 The widow 。 。 。Three women whose fates are joined by one splendid hotel

France, 1914。 As war breaks out, Aurelie becomes trapped on the wrong side of the front with her father, Comte Sigismund de Courcelles。 When the Germans move into their family’s ancestral estate, using it as their headquarters, Aurelie discovers she knows the German Major’s aide de camp, Maximilian Von Sternburg。 She and the dashing young officer first met during Aurelie’s debutante days in Paris。 Despite their conflicting loyalties, Aurelie and Max’s friendship soon deepens into love, but betrayal will shatter them both, driving Aurelie back to Paris and the Ritz— the home of her estranged American heiress mother, with unexpected consequences。

France, 1942。 Raised by her indomitable, free-spirited American grandmother in the glamorous Hotel Ritz, Marguerite “Daisy” Villon remains in Paris with her daughter and husband, a Nazi collaborator, after France falls to Hitler。 At first reluctant to put herself and her family at risk to assist her grandmother’s Resistance efforts, Daisy agrees to act as a courier for a skilled English forger known only as Legrand, who creates identity papers for Resistance members and Jewish refugees。 But as Daisy is drawn ever deeper into Legrand’s underground network, committing increasingly audacious acts of resistance for the sake of the country—and the man—she holds dear, she uncovers a devastating secret 。 。 。 one that will force her to commit the ultimate betrayal, and to confront at last the shocking circumstances of her own family history。

France, 1964。 For Barbara “Babs” Langford, her husband, Kit, was the love of her life。 Yet their marriage was haunted by a mysterious woman known only as La Fleur。 On Kit’s death, American lawyer Andrew “Drew” Bowdoin appears at her door。 Hired to find a Resistance fighter turned traitor known as “La Fleur,” the investigation has led to Kit Langford。 Curious to know more about the enigmatic La Fleur, Babs joins Drew in his search, a journey of discovery that that takes them to Paris and the Ritz—and to unexpected places of the heart。 。 。 。

Editor Reviews

A sweeping historical novel about the strength of women who find themselves in impossible situations。

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Reviews

ginnybee

Three novels in one。。。。at。 First difficult to keep each story separate。 Can be read at short intervals。

R

Beatriz Williams set up a decent premise of 3 generations of strong female characters during various wars, some very real challenges faced by each generation, and unfortunately a bit too much predictibility and what felt like a "really, that's it??" type of ending。 A good listen while commuting, although the narrators, particularly for Babs, were way too "breathy" (which translated into self-pitying / superficial; Babs seemed to need a bit more of a reality check than the others) for me。 Beatriz Williams set up a decent premise of 3 generations of strong female characters during various wars, some very real challenges faced by each generation, and unfortunately a bit too much predictibility and what felt like a "really, that's it??" type of ending。 A good listen while commuting, although the narrators, particularly for Babs, were way too "breathy" (which translated into self-pitying / superficial; Babs seemed to need a bit more of a reality check than the others) for me。 。。。more

Anna Pedraza

I found this book very。。。。predictable。 Maybe it was just one two many Parisian WW2 books for me, but I found it really uninspired。

Nicole

Three different time periods, two world wars, and a family that ties it all together。

Jen

3。5。 I found it a little confusing between timelines, I think only because it was an audiobook。 I had to pause and think where did we leave this one off last time and what is their storyline? This was about 3 very different women and the stories of how they wanted to be strong and make a difference in the war and how they fell in love along the way。 WWI and WWII were backdrops to these stories, always with the atrocities of the Germans hanging over the characters’ freedom and safety。 I thought t 3。5。 I found it a little confusing between timelines, I think only because it was an audiobook。 I had to pause and think where did we leave this one off last time and what is their storyline? This was about 3 very different women and the stories of how they wanted to be strong and make a difference in the war and how they fell in love along the way。 WWI and WWII were backdrops to these stories, always with the atrocities of the Germans hanging over the characters’ freedom and safety。 I thought the authors could have elaborated on the role of these women in the story, especially La Fluer。 I felt like that part of the story could have made it more exciting and was lacking。 。。。more

Linda

4。5

Natalie

This was a well-written and absorbing read, albeit much more focused on the developing romantic relationships and personal growth of each of the three women it follows, which admittedly are all carefully and realistically developed, than the turmoil of the First and Second World Wars。 I was just hoping for a little more of the actual French Resistance in a book partially about the Resistance and for a plot twist that I couldn't predict from the first fifty pages。 This was a well-written and absorbing read, albeit much more focused on the developing romantic relationships and personal growth of each of the three women it follows, which admittedly are all carefully and realistically developed, than the turmoil of the First and Second World Wars。 I was just hoping for a little more of the actual French Resistance in a book partially about the Resistance and for a plot twist that I couldn't predict from the first fifty pages。 。。。more

Lisa

Third book I’ve read from these wonderful authors。 I loved how the stories all wove into each other。 Great historical fiction read。

Loraine Binion-Hardy

Really loved this story and how it spans the generations。 It takes a bit of attention at the beginning to follow the various characters and how they all weave together, but it soon became a favorite read as I read while exercising and before bed。 The best historical fiction I have read in a while。 Highly recommend this book。

Leslie

I enjoyed this book。 It’s interesting that there are 3 authors, each one telling the story of 3 different women spanning the time of WW1 and 2 and then the 1960’s。 All the stories are connected。 I would have given it 4 stars but there were a few unrealistic holes in the stories。 The idea of living in a hotel long term is so fascinating to me。

Lori Clark

Enjoyed it。 Worth the time。 But really more of a romance with history as the backdrop。 Star crossed love。 That I predicted the end in the first few chapters didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the complex storyline of 3 generations of people。

Richa

I was barely 50 pages in when my mind started running and these ideas (more like theories) fell in it's right place like jigsaw pieces by the time I reached halfway。 In spite of it, I was left pleasantly surprised by the book。 It was worth reading! I was barely 50 pages in when my mind started running and these ideas (more like theories) fell in it's right place like jigsaw pieces by the time I reached halfway。 In spite of it, I was left pleasantly surprised by the book。 It was worth reading! 。。。more

Gsmyles

I really enjoyed this book。 The first intriguing thing about it is that it was written by 3 extremely talented and educated women of different ages that all love historical fiction。 I am still trying to figure out if they each took a character and wrote the chapters for each main woman in the story。。。。I had hoped to read in the afterword how they choose to write "together" with the outcome being so coherent and connected。 At first, I couldn't keep any of the characters straight as this book trav I really enjoyed this book。 The first intriguing thing about it is that it was written by 3 extremely talented and educated women of different ages that all love historical fiction。 I am still trying to figure out if they each took a character and wrote the chapters for each main woman in the story。。。。I had hoped to read in the afterword how they choose to write "together" with the outcome being so coherent and connected。 At first, I couldn't keep any of the characters straight as this book travels through 3 time periods at the Ritz in Paris, and focuses on the lives of 3 strong women that lived through two wars and the aftermath。 Once into the book though, I couldn't put it down。 I really thought the characters were well developed- and although I connected all of the dots between the women/men in the book before the authors shared, it didn't bother me as much as usual to have been too omnisicent。 I do not want to share anything from the book's story as it would be too much of a spoiler。。。。But there is love, hate, adventure, war, secrets, history, and woven plots。 I am looking forward to their other collaborative works and to checking out some of their own novels which I haven't read。 。。。more

Misti

Wow!! I absolutely loved this book。 I didn’t want it to end。 Ugh! It was just so beautifully written。 I think I liked it so much because the narrators did such a fabulous job。 I don’t like to read/ listen to books that jump around in time, but I have to say, this is truly the best one yet。 I would highly recommend, however, there is sex talk, they really don’t go into detail, but the author definitely lets you know what happened with your imagination。 Lol

Katrina

A little hard to follow at first but then seen it was written about 3 different yet connected women who made a difference in their worlds。 It is well written and a good solid story。 There is minimal vulgarity and a couple overly descriptive sex scenes。 It was enjoyable to listen to the narrators。

Julie Raynor

I enjoyed the characters and how their lives intertwined。 At the same time, it was a bit hard to follow if several days had passed between readings。 I then remembered that this was a collaborative effort, so it made more sense and the interweaving became more remarkable because of it。

Wilma

The Ritz in Paris as the lynch pin that joins history of Aurelie (French deb in 1914), Daisy (her daughter) acting as courier for the resistance in 1942 Paris although her husband is a collaborator, and Babs Langford who goes to Paris in 1964 to learn more about her dead husband's work with the resistance。 Multiple barely believable coincidences link these three women (and their men), but one can set most of these aside and enjoy this beach read。 Not as good as "The Forgotten Room," another coll The Ritz in Paris as the lynch pin that joins history of Aurelie (French deb in 1914), Daisy (her daughter) acting as courier for the resistance in 1942 Paris although her husband is a collaborator, and Babs Langford who goes to Paris in 1964 to learn more about her dead husband's work with the resistance。 Multiple barely believable coincidences link these three women (and their men), but one can set most of these aside and enjoy this beach read。 Not as good as "The Forgotten Room," another collaboration of these three authors。 。。。more

Sarah

Williams is a great story teller。 I find her lead women interesting and complex enough for leisurely reading, which is why I keep coming back to her books。 I have particularly loved listening to get last few books in audio form because the reader for the different parts have been delightful。 I took away a star because I didn’t love how this one tied together in the end。

Monique Kliman

Loved this book。Great story!

Ruth Vanderhart

Meh。 2。5

Sarah

This is a story of three women whose lives are entwined。 It takes place in Paris during the wars and after。 It is an easy read without much intrigue or heartbreak but enough to carry your interest。

Dieuwke

A solid four stars for enjoyment, thrill, sadness, horror and a large spectrum of other emotions that crossed my chest while reading this book。Three authors, three story lines each set in a different time (WWI, WWII and 1964) and it all -well most of it- ties together neatly in the end。First the structure: chapters are the different protagonists in their respective time。 It’s never hard to jump from one to the other, due to names, places, times and perspective (1964 is first person narrative)。 S A solid four stars for enjoyment, thrill, sadness, horror and a large spectrum of other emotions that crossed my chest while reading this book。Three authors, three story lines each set in a different time (WWI, WWII and 1964) and it all -well most of it- ties together neatly in the end。First the structure: chapters are the different protagonists in their respective time。 It’s never hard to jump from one to the other, due to names, places, times and perspective (1964 is first person narrative)。 Seeing words, or phrases, or items, used within paragraphs from each other, helps making the unfolding storylines feel united。 Actually, one of the marvels of this book is the repetitiveness of history, the chapters dealing with more or less the same cards during different parts of recent history。Halfway the book I had a suspicions, and 2/3s into the novel I was pretty sure I had it figured out - but not sure enough, as there was at least one surprise I hadn’t seen coming。 The balance is great to sustain throughout a 440 page novel。So why not 5 stars?All due to an unlikeable protagonist, with an unlikely character development。 And despite it being pulled off at the best or the authors’ ability (or so I hope) it does feel stretched thin, to put it politely。In the grand scheme of things though, this not once made me want to even consider putting the book down。(A last note: this book, by structure, set up and plot, makes it all the more clear how the 20th century in Western Europe was such a turmoil。 It made me also realise how people I know, like my parents and uncles/aunts grew up so so shortly after the last war it is bound to have had an impact on them, too) 。。。more

Donna

These three authors have written a few books together。 Karen White is my favorite author of the three。 I've read more than a few of her novels and I love her stories and her way with words。 I could definitely see her in these pages。 On the plus side, I'm a sucker for some well placed descriptive strokes。 Some of this had me wowed。 I could see and feel the time and place。 And also, the characters were neatly drawn。 And the attention to historical detail for the setting was nicely done。However, th These three authors have written a few books together。 Karen White is my favorite author of the three。 I've read more than a few of her novels and I love her stories and her way with words。 I could definitely see her in these pages。 On the plus side, I'm a sucker for some well placed descriptive strokes。 Some of this had me wowed。 I could see and feel the time and place。 And also, the characters were neatly drawn。 And the attention to historical detail for the setting was nicely done。However, this one still had some of the same issues as past collaborative efforts。 The biggest one being that everything is picture perfect。 Usually for me, that means it's a little too "SWEET" and too "PERFECT" and that was true here。 I mean does everyone need to be on their best behavior。。。。or worst behavior? Where are the in-betweens? Sure, for being war time, there was s0me friction, but I knew what was coming。。。。and the sun did indeed shine。I like this type of story it just isn't my favorite。 So 3 stars。 。。。more

Teresa

I usually dislike reading with different timelines, however these three authors are the best and pulled it all together in the end。 An enjoyable read!

Corgi

I liked All The Ways We Said Goodbye, but it was not by favorite book by these three authors。 I had a hard time keeping the characters straight in the WWI and WWII sections。 I didn't have the same problem with the 1960's sections。 I think I understood the conclusion, but maybe not。 The authors did a good job of character and plot development。 Their writing is excellent。 Many of the same characters were in the WWI and WWII sections, but obviously different ages, I found it to be very confusing。 I I liked All The Ways We Said Goodbye, but it was not by favorite book by these three authors。 I had a hard time keeping the characters straight in the WWI and WWII sections。 I didn't have the same problem with the 1960's sections。 I think I understood the conclusion, but maybe not。 The authors did a good job of character and plot development。 Their writing is excellent。 Many of the same characters were in the WWI and WWII sections, but obviously different ages, I found it to be very confusing。 I found myself stopping and trying to remember the different characters, what was going on and the relationship with everyone。 I would recommend All The Ways We Said Goodbye to readers who have read previous books by the same trio of authors and like multi-generation and WWI, WWII and 1960's books。 。。。more

Susan Springer

This book might be considered Historical Romance as the three storylines are fiction but the time periods and locations (especially the Paris Hotel Ritz) are meticulously researched and impressively accurate。 Alternating between 1914, 1942, and 1964,three young women endure the hardships of war, the evil and cruel actions of German invaders, and suffer the consequences of loves and losses。Quite a yarn。

Freya

This is a romance novel。 And not a very good one。

Karen

Though I figured out some of the spoilers ahead of time it was still a good book。

Tracey

3。5 a slower read but a good book。

Suesnews

Loved the story but did find it difficult to follow。 There were three major characters and each received their own chapter。 So every fourth chapter cycled back。 After completing the book I had to go back and reread one of the characters and could not find an answer that I needed! Found this to be frustrating。 This is a great story that needs post-it’s on hand!!

Mary

I liked this book a lot。 However, there are three plot lines going on which I usually find a bit hard to follow。 Good story though。