The Last Fashion House in Paris, Renee Ryan
The Last Fashion House in Paris, Renee Ryan
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The Last Fashion House in Paris

Author: Renee Ryan

Narrator: Hope Newhouse, Gilli Messer, Jane Oppenheimer

Unabridged: 12 hr 20 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 12/24/2024


Synopsis

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…

About Renee Ryan

 Renee Ryan grew up in a Florida beach town outside Jacksonville, FL.  Armed with a degree in Economics and Religion from Florida State University, she explored various career opportunities, including stints at a Florida theme park and a modeling agency. She currently lives in Savannah, Georgia with her husband and a large, fluffy cat many have mistaken for a small bear.  Renee can be contacted through her website at www.reneeryan.com


Reviews

Goodreads review by Karren on October 11, 2024

Paulette Leblanc once spent her days shopping with her mother Hélène, drawing elegant dresses in her sketch pad and flirting with boys. When the Germans invade France, and her families Chateau Fouché-Leblanc in Champagne is seized and a naive Paulette makes a bad choice and trusts the wrong person.......more

Goodreads review by Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews on December 20, 2024

How do you know if the person you are talking to is really who they appear to be? You didn’t know for sure in occupied France. We meet Paulette who found out you couldn’t trust a German officer she had fallen in love with, and then her sister forced her out of their home. Luckily Paulette had a place t......more

Goodreads review by Hannah on April 02, 2025

I try hard to provide reviews for books I've gotten for free or as gifts. This one was a freebie. It reads a little immature - I mean, it would be a good book for middle schoolers and young adults who might want to learn about some of the brave men and women who smuggled out Jewish refugees to safet......more

Goodreads review by Literary on December 09, 2024

A compelling story of a young woman, Paulette, who makes a terrible choice, and is sent to Paris to work in the fashion house of her mother's best friend. It is WWII, and Paulette finds more than couture work; she becomes part of the atelier's support for the French Resistance helping Jews and downe......more

Goodreads review by Donna on July 11, 2024

Full disclosure: Renee Ryan is a dear friend. But even if she weren't, I would rave about her books. I adore them. They tick every box for me, and THE LAST FASHION HOUSE IN PARIS is no different. Readers of THE WIDOWS OF CHAMPAGNE will remember Paulette - and perhaps not too fondly. Paulette's immat......more