The Paris Dressmaker
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-05-13 14:30:58
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Kristy Cambron
- ISBN：B08CMQTR92
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Chelsea
，
This was a good book， and I really liked the two women's stories！ I did have a hard time with the messy timeline， so I couldn't give it 5 stars。 It jumped around a lot， back and forth， plus between the two narrations， it was just really chaotic。 I never knew if I was jumping with the same character， or how far back/forward， and it really took me out of the story every time。 But if it had been chronological， it would have been really great！ The women were so strong， and I loved reading about thei This was a good book， and I really liked the two women's stories！ I did have a hard time with the messy timeline， so I couldn't give it 5 stars。 It jumped around a lot， back and forth， plus between the two narrations， it was just really chaotic。 I never knew if I was jumping with the same character， or how far back/forward， and it really took me out of the story every time。 But if it had been chronological， it would have been really great！ The women were so strong， and I loved reading about their bravery during the war。 So many women have great stories that we haven't heard before， so I love discovering new ones through historical fiction。 And I'd definitely read more by this author！I received this book free from the publisher。 I was not required to write a positive review。 The opinions I have expressed are my own。 。。。more
Barb
，
This book is based on true events; however， the characters are primarily fictional。 I found the book enjoyable but I had a very hard time with the jumps between time periods。 Sometimes we were in 1941 and other times in 1944。 There were also jumps between characters and so it was difficult at time keeping it straight with the abundant scattering of French phrases。 Sometimes these were translated; other times， not。Overall， it tells the story of the important role the women of Paris played in WWII This book is based on true events; however， the characters are primarily fictional。 I found the book enjoyable but I had a very hard time with the jumps between time periods。 Sometimes we were in 1941 and other times in 1944。 There were also jumps between characters and so it was difficult at time keeping it straight with the abundant scattering of French phrases。 Sometimes these were translated; other times， not。Overall， it tells the story of the important role the women of Paris played in WWII。 Definitely worth reading。 。。。more
Sara Beth Lyon
，
4。5 stars for the masterful story that depicts the heartbreak and hope that existed for the women of Paris during WWII。 Although a bit slow to start and not knowing the French language threw me off a bit … these two separate stories， tragically and beautifully weaving together to show the grit， heart， and faith that were required to not only survive， but also to fight back and thrive in war torn Paris from 1939-1944。
Robin
，
A bit melodramatic at times， but the history calls for it。
Karen
，
I liked each woman’s story but the jumping around of time was unnecessary。
Jeanne
，
I picked this up at Goodwill and didn’t realize it was so-called “Christian fiction” which I would not generally read。 The story is interesting， the characters well developed but their ability to escape the brutality of the Nazis was completely unrealistic。
Lisa
，
2。5 rounded upThe story was enjoyable， but there were some things about it that I did not like。 1） I hated the constant back and forth between time within chapters。 Coupled with switching storylines each charater， it made following the events a little harder。 Honestly， at times， I forgot some events that happened a few years in the past and some did not。 It got wonkier when the two main lines started to be written mere months apart rather than at the same point in time in 1944。 This could have b 2。5 rounded upThe story was enjoyable， but there were some things about it that I did not like。 1） I hated the constant back and forth between time within chapters。 Coupled with switching storylines each charater， it made following the events a little harder。 Honestly， at times， I forgot some events that happened a few years in the past and some did not。 It got wonkier when the two main lines started to be written mere months apart rather than at the same point in time in 1944。 This could have been a great story if the timelines were just normal and the story unfolded over time。2） I really did not feel like any of the characters were really fully developed or that the story really had much to say or was developed。 With the WWII genre and women resistance fighters being a constant theme in many books， an author needs to really write an outstanding story to make it memorable or to add more to the genre。 This one just did not do either。 3） I failed to really see how the stories intertwined; they felt like two independent stories that could have been written better if written as independent books。4） I never did get why the dress was important or what message it was carrying; it was an insignificant part of the stories。This could have been a much better book， but it was just too ambitious with the two different storylines and timelines not matching。 At times， it was something that I felt like I was forcing myself to read so I could return it to the library; it was overdue。 。。。more
Kate
，
Like The Butterfly and the Violin and A Sparrow in Terezin， Cambron's newest novel， The Paris Dressmaker， takes the reader back to WWII， this time to Paris and into the lives of two fictional resistance fighters， both fighting for their city and for freedom， both risking their lives。。。a trip to a death camp or instant execution a consequence of being caught。I read a lot of WWII historical fiction， and while some stories share basic structural similarities， I have never read one that overlapped。 Like The Butterfly and the Violin and A Sparrow in Terezin， Cambron's newest novel， The Paris Dressmaker， takes the reader back to WWII， this time to Paris and into the lives of two fictional resistance fighters， both fighting for their city and for freedom， both risking their lives。。。a trip to a death camp or instant execution a consequence of being caught。I read a lot of WWII historical fiction， and while some stories share basic structural similarities， I have never read one that overlapped。 Although they deal with tragic and sometimes horrifying details of world history， I see a bigger narrative of hope， of fighting for what matters most and of remaining faithful to God through perilous circumstances。 It's a reminder that history can and does repeat itself。The Paris Dressmaker requires time and focus to soak in all the details。 Kristy alternates between her two main characters' stories told from different time periods from 1939-1944。 It is not linear， but I think if it had been written as a linear story， it would have lost some of its mystery， its emotionality and its dramatic finish。In her Author's Note， Kristy describes writing about real locations in Paris， almost making them life-breathing characters。 If her locations become characters， the dress on the front cover certainly becomes one， embodying the Paris before the war， the resilience of an arduous journey through the war and a reminder of the beauty that lasted。Recommended for lovers of great Christian fiction， WWII fiction， and strong female protagonists。 。。。more
Jaymie De
，
It was really hard to keep track of the two characters in the two different timelines。 It felt like four different stories chopped up and spliced together。 However， towards the end I couldn't put it down。 Very interesting wrap-up！ It was really hard to keep track of the two characters in the two different timelines。 It felt like four different stories chopped up and spliced together。 However， towards the end I couldn't put it down。 Very interesting wrap-up！ 。。。more
Kelly H （Readallaboutit）
，
Not only does this book have a beautiful cover， this story inside is equally as beautiful。 You can't help but root for these characters as your cheer with them and your heart breaks with theirs。 This was the first book I have ever picked up that was set in this time and wow， am I glad I did。 The first chapter immediately drew me in， the first sentence starting that off。 All throughout the story， you could feel the intensity of the times and the desperation。 For a while， it may feel like there's Not only does this book have a beautiful cover， this story inside is equally as beautiful。 You can't help but root for these characters as your cheer with them and your heart breaks with theirs。 This was the first book I have ever picked up that was set in this time and wow， am I glad I did。 The first chapter immediately drew me in， the first sentence starting that off。 All throughout the story， you could feel the intensity of the times and the desperation。 For a while， it may feel like there's "nothing really going on" and that it is going a bit slow， but there really was a lot happening。 As you read this， it feels like you're watching a movie。 The scenes just came to life and so did the characters。 It feels like you're there watching it all happen。 Your heart can't help but go out to these characters with all the trouble they go through and my heart melted during reunion scenes。 It can be a bit confusing at times if you don't pay attention to the dates because it does skip around quite a bit。 And the trope that is fake dating was included but in the way of faking a marriage。 I。 Loved。 That。 And the epilogue was so sweet！！ I loved this book， it was the best that I have read in a while！Content:Language: 1 use of 'dear God'。 1 use of 'hell on earth'。Violence: nothing gory。 People killed， some shown others just spoken of。 Violence expected with WWII。 Blood is shown but just mentioned as such。 People shot and stabbed。 Women shamed for working with Nazis。 Man hit over the head with a statue。 Guns held to people。 Explosions heard。 Romance: kisses， caresses， embraces。 Woman gets pregnant from being with husband and another from an affair。 Women accused of being prostitutes。 Women are paramours。 Man chases after married woman and is almost forced to go with him but escapes。 Age: 13+ 。。。more
Aarohak
，
O2。5Hmm， yet another example of botching a good storyline。 This book has some good sections， but the timeline is all messed up and Cambron’s intentions of intertwining two lead PoVs did not come out as gracefully as one would expect。Of course， it sheds light on various interesting topics like Nazi Collaborators， French Resistance， Art restorers etc。。 I could see how Cambron wanted to keep Art and fashion at the heart of the story， showing struggle of Paris and Parisians in a different light， whi O2。5Hmm， yet another example of botching a good storyline。 This book has some good sections， but the timeline is all messed up and Cambron’s intentions of intertwining two lead PoVs did not come out as gracefully as one would expect。Of course， it sheds light on various interesting topics like Nazi Collaborators， French Resistance， Art restorers etc。。 I could see how Cambron wanted to keep Art and fashion at the heart of the story， showing struggle of Paris and Parisians in a different light， which is a good plot indeed， but not well executed。 It had a potential to be so much better。 。。。more
Billye
，
This was a very interesting book about WW2 in Paris and was also a love story。
Lucy Shields-laughlin
，
I struggled hard with this book。 Could not keep characters straight or who was who。 The wording of the book was brutal。 Should have given up on it。
Dana Jayne
，
While this book was relatively enjoyable， not only does it jump back and forth from the perspectives of Lila and Sandrine but it also jumps around from approx。1939-1944 which made it hard for me to become actually engrossed in what was happening。 I see why it was done that way， but it wasn’t for me。
Katrina D。
，
The story was top notch and the characters were memorable。 I loved how many strong and brave women were featured in this story， fighting back against the occupation in a variety of ways， even though they were often grossly misunderstood or underestimated。 I particular loved the juxtaposition of the struggling masses lining up for shoes or bread verses the wealthy elite ordering couture gowns for their parties。 I just wish this story was in chronological order。 It felt like too much back and fort The story was top notch and the characters were memorable。 I loved how many strong and brave women were featured in this story， fighting back against the occupation in a variety of ways， even though they were often grossly misunderstood or underestimated。 I particular loved the juxtaposition of the struggling masses lining up for shoes or bread verses the wealthy elite ordering couture gowns for their parties。 I just wish this story was in chronological order。 It felt like too much back and forth， often several times within a chapter。 Having to sort out the timeline took me out of the story more than once， especially with Sandrine’s part of the story。 The should-be-tense moment when we find out how Lila got shot feels a little flat because we already know how that scene ends。 That sort of thing。 Overall， a good story to add to my growing WWII novel collection。 。。。more
Stephanie
，
A nice idea for a book that highlights a specific group of women in Paris working for La Résistance during WWII。 Unfortunately， the characters were a bit flat for me， and the romance subplots were more distraction than enrichment。 Really interesting to read about Coco Chanel though。 Would like to know more about that。
LA
，
What a fascinating book about haute couture and the preservation of art during WWII。 The story moves between two women， seemingly unconnected during the years of 1939-1945。 Lila de Laurent is a fashion designer for Coco Chanel， her designs sought after and her face recognizable as the dressmaker to employ。 Sandrine Paquet is in survival mode， archiving artifacts for the Nazi’s at the cost of her reputation。 But both women become intimately connected through their bravery and the love of country What a fascinating book about haute couture and the preservation of art during WWII。 The story moves between two women， seemingly unconnected during the years of 1939-1945。 Lila de Laurent is a fashion designer for Coco Chanel， her designs sought after and her face recognizable as the dressmaker to employ。 Sandrine Paquet is in survival mode， archiving artifacts for the Nazi’s at the cost of her reputation。 But both women become intimately connected through their bravery and the love of country and family， and by one man who will risk it all for humanity。There’s so much subterfuge， the reader will turn the pages faster than s/he can read them。 Action， intense scenes and clues pepper the pages as the reader experiences the anxiety of a volatile time in history。 The author paints a vivid picture of the artistic world， bringing to life the designs and masterpieces of a bygone era。Several female characters are introduced， their choices of how to survive vastly different from one another。 The reader is given a glimpse into the desperation of some of them to do whatever it took to live while their lives were endangered。Once again， Kristy Cambron delivers a powerful story of survival in a time that changed our world。I received an ecopy from the publisher through Net Galley。 All opinions expressed are my own。 。。。more
Nancy
，
The story is heart-wrenching and beautiful at the same time。 I think I forget that Paris was occupied so long。 Learning of how the Parisians survived that horrific time is educational and inspiring。 As the author stated in her note， we must remember history as it happened。 Books like this do that， even in a Fiction book。 I read part in paperback， ebook and finished listening to the audio book， which I highly recommend。 Once I knew the characters and timelines well enough， I started the audio boo The story is heart-wrenching and beautiful at the same time。 I think I forget that Paris was occupied so long。 Learning of how the Parisians survived that horrific time is educational and inspiring。 As the author stated in her note， we must remember history as it happened。 Books like this do that， even in a Fiction book。 I read part in paperback， ebook and finished listening to the audio book， which I highly recommend。 Once I knew the characters and timelines well enough， I started the audio book。 I enjoyed hearing the narrator and how to pronounce the names and places in French。 It made the story come alive in my mind。 I received a copy of this book from the publisher。 All views stated here are my own。 。。。more
Lisa M。
，
this was another one of Krist Cambron's multiple time frame books。 We had two characters and each of them did "time jumping" so to speak。 It would go from one character being in the 1930s to the other being in the 1940s。 then it would jump back in time even earlier。 then jump ahead。 If you can keep up with that--than you will enjoy this amazing book based on a true circumstance in the fashion world during WW2。 This book takes place in occupied France for most of the book， but shows the lifestyle this was another one of Krist Cambron's multiple time frame books。 We had two characters and each of them did "time jumping" so to speak。 It would go from one character being in the 1930s to the other being in the 1940s。 then it would jump back in time even earlier。 then jump ahead。 If you can keep up with that--than you will enjoy this amazing book based on a true circumstance in the fashion world during WW2。 This book takes place in occupied France for most of the book， but shows the lifestyles from before occupation to liberation。 this book went well with a different book I recently read （not a CF book） about a similar topic of saving artwork and the underground movement to return items。 this kept you going all the way to the end when all the characters "met" and came full circle。I loved the fashion aspect of this。 That dress absolutely appeals to me！ I loved the story created for it。 。。。more
Barbara
，
I wanted to like this， I really did。 I live a good WWII historical fiction， especially one based in truth。 The book summary sounded so promising but for me it just fell flat。 Multiple storylines from multiple timeframes confused me and I had to backtrack to make sense of it frequently。 And the writing wasn’t great either。 There were times I had to reread a sentence multiple times to make sense of it。 It has a good premise but it just didn’t live up to it。
Leya Delray
，
This is a great and engaging story， but， I also found it a bit confusing in places。Set in occupied Paris， and very well researched， I found it fascinating and thought-provoking。 The action and suspense also kept me turning pages at a frantic rate。 But the beginning and ending both confused me， for different reasons。 The beginning was slightly confusing because it followed two completely separate characters who were each bouncing back and forth between two separate timelines （the beginning of the This is a great and engaging story， but， I also found it a bit confusing in places。Set in occupied Paris， and very well researched， I found it fascinating and thought-provoking。 The action and suspense also kept me turning pages at a frantic rate。 But the beginning and ending both confused me， for different reasons。 The beginning was slightly confusing because it followed two completely separate characters who were each bouncing back and forth between two separate timelines （the beginning of the occupation， and the last few months of the occupations）。 I had to concentrate a lot to keep track of who's head I was in and what year I was in at first。 If it had simply followed one woman in two timelines， or two women who each existed in one timeline， I don't think I would have had a problem。 But written like it was， it was little like reading 4 different stories at once， which was a challenge to follow。This gradually became easier though， as I kept reading。 And the timelines eventually caught up to each other so there wasn't so much jumping around。 That helped。The ending was confusing for a very different reason。 I simply could not make sense of Lila's motivation for her final big action sequence。 **SPOILERS AHEAD**Why was it necessary to run out into the Paris streets in the middle of the final uprising， just to retrieve the ledger？ I don't get it。 The Nazi's were already being driven out of Paris， and the Resistance fighters were already planning to stop the train with all the art on it。 Why did she so desperately need the records of who all the stolen art belonged to RIGHT THEN？ Why was it worth risking her life， and Rene's when the could have just waited until the next day， when the shooting stopped， and then go get the ledger without any risk？ Surely one extra day wouldn't have mattered？ I can't imagine the Resistance folks would have stopped the train and been like "Anybody know who this stuff belongs too？ No？ Then lets just hand it out as door prizes。" They already knew it had been stolen， and I'm sure they weren't expecting to be able to return it all the same day they stopped the train。 So I just could not make any sense of why it was worth risking the lives of multiple people （and in the end， sacrificing the life of one character） to run out and get that ledger。 Maybe I missed something， and there was actually I good reason it was so urgent， but I never figured it out。 And consequently， the final rush of action felt hollow to me， as if the characters were just doing things for the sake of drama and suspense， instead of actually having logical motives。 Was it a good read？ Definitely。 But the amount of time I spent feeling confused was a bit annoying。 。。。more
Firetruckmama
，
3。5
Jane
，
Really 4。5 stars。Enjoyed the story of the Paris Dressmaker。 It's set in Paris and all the locations are real addresses that one can see on streetview。 It gives the reader a real sense of the city during the war。 As one reads the he stories of Lila and Sandrine one needs to pay attention to the dates of each installment。 You know that the characters will connect but when and how is the question。 Fun read especially for those who have been to Paris。 A book to recommend。 Really 4。5 stars。Enjoyed the story of the Paris Dressmaker。 It's set in Paris and all the locations are real addresses that one can see on streetview。 It gives the reader a real sense of the city during the war。 As one reads the he stories of Lila and Sandrine one needs to pay attention to the dates of each installment。 You know that the characters will connect but when and how is the question。 Fun read especially for those who have been to Paris。 A book to recommend。 。。。more
Christy Glover
，
I did enjoy this book。 I thought it was a good storyline。 At times it was suspenseful and I couldn’t wait to see what the outcome was。 To me it is a good book， if I put it down and I’m thinking about it so much that i just want to read it more。 It also made me what to know more about the impact women had during WWII。 If I have one complaint it would be the jumping of timelines。 I listened to this by audio。 So I had a hard time figuring out which timeframe and character I was listening to。 I wou I did enjoy this book。 I thought it was a good storyline。 At times it was suspenseful and I couldn’t wait to see what the outcome was。 To me it is a good book， if I put it down and I’m thinking about it so much that i just want to read it more。 It also made me what to know more about the impact women had during WWII。 If I have one complaint it would be the jumping of timelines。 I listened to this by audio。 So I had a hard time figuring out which timeframe and character I was listening to。 I would recommend this to others。 。。。more
Terri Heckmaster
，
The timeline jumping back and forth was a challenge。 The book was lovely， but way to much effort had to be dedicated to sorting out dates。
Andrew
，
I would highly recommend this book。
Pam Burke
，
Great author。 WWII historical fiction。 Rave reviews。 All that added up to what I expected to be a wonderful book -- and I was not disappointed。As with most historical fiction， The Paris Dressmaker includes a mixture of real and fictional characters and events。 The major elements of the story are based on true accounts of how a variety of brave men and women not only survived but strongly resisted the enemy during the Nazi occupation of Paris。 The amount of research that Kristy Cambron put into t Great author。 WWII historical fiction。 Rave reviews。 All that added up to what I expected to be a wonderful book -- and I was not disappointed。As with most historical fiction， The Paris Dressmaker includes a mixture of real and fictional characters and events。 The major elements of the story are based on true accounts of how a variety of brave men and women not only survived but strongly resisted the enemy during the Nazi occupation of Paris。 The amount of research that Kristy Cambron put into this book is astounding and causes the story to jump to life off the page。The strategy of the timeline is intriguing。 The story spans a period of about five years but is presented in a non-chronological manner。 It is also told mainly from the context of two different women。 This process provides insight when and where it is needed and brings the stories of the main characters together at just the right time。I highly recommend The Paris Dressmaker to fans of great historical fiction。 。。。more
Maryann Taylor
，
The Paris Dressmaker is two stories intertwined about two French women who fought in the resistance during WWII。 This story has it all--intrigue， romance， family love， loyalty to country， courage， and sacrifice。 There is some heart-stopping drama as Hitler's evil forces invade France， and later， the exhilaration of the people as the American Allies march into Paris。 I loved the way the book portrayed both women staying true to themselves and their country in the most dire of circumstances。 The Paris Dressmaker is two stories intertwined about two French women who fought in the resistance during WWII。 This story has it all--intrigue， romance， family love， loyalty to country， courage， and sacrifice。 There is some heart-stopping drama as Hitler's evil forces invade France， and later， the exhilaration of the people as the American Allies march into Paris。 I loved the way the book portrayed both women staying true to themselves and their country in the most dire of circumstances。 。。。more
Margy
，
Another wonderful story woven in reality about the power of brave women and love land loyalty。
Barbara
，