The Last Fashion House in Paris

By: Renee Ryan

Narrated by: Hope Newhouse, Gilli Messer, Jane Oppenheimer

In the heart of occupied WWII Paris, an elegant fashion house is the unlikely headquarters of a daring resistance network. Behind closed doors, courageous women vie to save loved ones and strangers alike from the Nazis in this powerful story of survival, friendship and second chances.

France, 1942

Once, Paulette Leblanc spent her days flirting, shopping and drawing elegant dresses in her sketch pad. Then German tanks rolled into France, and a reckless romance turned into deep betrayal. Blaming herself for her mother’s arrest by the Gestapo, Paulette is sent away to begin a new life in Paris, working as apprentice to fashion designer Sabine Ballard.

But Maison de Ballard is no ordinary fashion house. While seamstresses create the perfect couture gowns, clandestine deals and secrets take place out of sight. Mademoiselle Ballard is head of a vast network of resistance fighters—including Paulette’s coworker and friend Nicolle Cadieux—who help escort downed military men and Jewish families to safety.

Soon Paulette is recruited as a spy. Working as a seamstress by day, gathering information at glamorous parties by night, Paulette at last has a chance to earn the redemption she craves. But as the SS closes in, and Nicolle goes missing, Paulette must make life-and-death decisions about who to trust, who to love and who to leave behind…

outstanding!

I read it over weekend and is especially happy to see the interweaving of characters from other books, especially Paulette.

Bravery of the characters

This is a nailbiter for sure. Very interesting characters. Great plot a little bit hard to follow at times, but it all comes together great ending.

Colorful and thoughtful

I really enjoyed the characters and historical detail in this book. I love when authors write different books that are not necessarily a series, but involve many of the same characters.

The Answers are in the Future

Forward moving, well put together, well developed characters. Well researched history of the subject & time frame of the events

So good

This audio was so good. Filled with so much and excellent narrators. It was done exceptionally well. I shed many tears listening to this book. I loved it and feel historically we all need to know what happened during this time. We do not want it to ever happen again.

Paulette’s Story

I liked the images that Renee Ryan creates with her different characters. Who is a friend and who is an enemy…

intriguing

It's hard to put this book down. Always keeps one anxious to know what's next.

One of the best I’ve read!

I loved the story the detail, the side stories its amazing. The characters in the book are daring, funny and by the of the book it makes you think of the time and all the things they did.

War fashion at its finest

Find the hope made possible by 1940’s French couture fashion. See the world through the eyes of a woman needing redemption.

The willingness to put thier lives on the line for friends and stangers

The perseverance of will, strength, and hanging on to their humanity. Thank you for the insight!