The Paris Dressmaker

By: Kristy Cambron

Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik

Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

Based on true accounts of how Parisiennes resisted the Nazi occupation in World War II - from fashion houses to the city streets - comes a story of two courageous women who risked everything to fight an evil they couldn’t abide.

Paris, 1939. Maison Chanel has closed, thrusting haute couture dressmaker Lila de Laurent out of the world of high fashion as Nazi soldiers invade the streets and the City of Lights slips into darkness. Lila’s life is now a series of rations, brutal restrictions, and carefully controlled propaganda while Paris is cut off from the rest of the world. Yet in hidden corners of the city, the faithful pledge to resist. Lila is drawn to La Resistance and is soon using her skills as a dressmaker to infiltrate the Nazi elite. She takes their measurements and designs masterpieces, all while collecting secrets in the glamorous Hôtel Ritz - the heart of the Nazis’ Parisian headquarters. But when dashing René Touliard suddenly reenters her world, Lila finds her heart tangled between determination to help save his Jewish family and bolstering the fight for liberation.

Paris, 1943. Sandrine Paquet’s job is to catalog the priceless works of art bound for the Führer’s Berlin, masterpieces stolen from prominent Jewish families. But behind closed doors, she secretly forages for information from the underground resistance. Beneath her compliant façade lies a woman bent on uncovering the fate of her missing husband ... but at what cost? As Hitler’s regime crumbles, Sandrine is drawn in deeper when she uncrates an exquisite blush Chanel gown concealing a cryptic message that may reveal the fate of a dressmaker who vanished from within the fashion elite.

Told across the span of the Nazi occupation, The Paris Dressmaker highlights the brave women who used everything in their power to resist darkness and restore light to their world.

Praise for The Paris Dressmaker:

“Unimaginable heartache, unforgettable romance, and cheering defiance against the oppression the Nazis inflicted on Paris; readers will be swept away into a story where battle-scarred good at last rings victory over evil.” (J’nell Ciesielski, author of The Socialite)

“Stunning. With as much skill and care as the title’s namesake possesses, The Paris Dressmaker weaves together the stories of two heroines who boldly defy the darkness that descends on the City of Light.”(Jocelyn Green, Christy Award-winning author of Shadows of the White City)

• Stand-alone WWII novel
• Full-length, approximately 115,000 words

©2021 Kristy Cambron (P)2021 Thomas Nelson

Critic Reviews

“Kristy Cambron deftly weaves multiple timelines to craft a story as complex and romantic and beautiful as a couture gown. In addition, Lila and Sandrine’s strength and courage in a troubled world inspire us to live likewise. Tres magnifique!” (Sarah Sundin, best-selling and award-winning author of When Twilight Breaks and the Sunrise at Normandy series)

“With real life historical details woven in with her fictional tale, the story popped off the page. Readers will be thinking of this book long after they've read the last word.” (Rachel Hauck, New York Times best-selling author)

“A well-researched and beautifully interwoven treatise on courage and conviction in the midst of oppression.” (Rachel McMillan, author of The London Restoration and The Mozart Code) 

Excellent in all ways

I'm normally pretty critical of the literature I digest and that often takes away from my enjoyment of the story. This book was over in a blink for me - I drank in the heartwrenching details, felt the fear, and felt like I was standing side by side with the characters in the story. Wow, what a ride! This book was so well-written, I couldn't poke holes in the grammar or sentence structure. I just got to enjoy it. I can imagine this as a major motion picture film in the years to come, but I would hate to see any of the delicious details changed for screen. The narration was excellent as well. Well done to both author and narrator. Now I want to read more books from this author. Bravo!!

Mrs combron doesn’t write a bad book

I’ve listened to every book the author has ever written always so interesting written against real world events or real venues like the circus. She keeps the sex out of her books because she doesn’t need fillers like some novelist do. Her stories are great just being told . No profanity either. The characters are engaging and easy to get caught up in them . This is my favorite genre and she never disappoints

2021 - History is being rewritten or ignored

don't get me started on today's mindset - Masks vs Yellow Stars. Very Good Book.
As we are in the hopeful downswing of COVID and brainwashing, I keep thinking back to early 1930's Germany when people weren't questioning what was being told to them by their leaders. Being ostracized when you didn't conform. This book is a shining example of the women who fought for their husbands, children, and lives by aiding and participating in the French Resistance.

Intriguing

Great narrator who had a mastery of so many character voices. I highly recommend this book!!

Written to keep you paying attention.

The author kept me from side tracking by weaving two stories eloquently. I found that I wanted to pay attention. The characters have defined personalities, no fluff, just great writing.

Intriguing and Suspenseful

The story is well told. I listened to the audio, and it helped distinguish the story lines. I would have preferred a less jumbled timeline.
It was an unexpectedly harrowing tale told with class and care. Three cheers for the closed door romance. Great writers include the readers imagination without unwelcome graphic description. I will read other works by her. The emotion is well written. Plus, the appeal of historically based characters added to my enjoyment.

So great!

I was captivated listening to this book. The narration was superb as was the writing! I highly recommend this book!

Time Jumping Was Terrible

I really enjoyed the story but the time jumping around was so clumsy - it was tedious and I had to keep re-listiening to parts. I've read other novels that jump but this was just done so poorly. The narrator did a wonderful job but I finished the book feeling frustrated with the lack of continuity.

Awesome!

This was one of the best Historical novels I've ever heard/read. Being American, I have not heard very much from the viewpoint of France in WWII.
I think we such understand the toll war takes on a people and also appreciate those who find themselves entangled in a battle for their lives, their families, and their nation.

Exceptional!!!

This is easily one of my new favorite books!
It is so well written, so full of emotion, excitement and danger. I was continually on the edge of my seat.
An excellent WWII read, I learned so much from this book.
This is my first read from this author, and I can't wait to read more of her books!

Also, the narrator was very good; I was impressed.

Keep writing, Kristy Cambron! This audiobook made washing dishes a chore I look forward to!

Courageous Bold Women

Courageous bold women. It fizzes with tension, and yet has wonderful moments of lightness. It encapsulates female friendship. Ever so inspiring especially as it's based on actual accounts of what Parisienne did to resist the Nazis.

Her voice is so wonderful! I felt totally transported by Barrie's effortless narration.