Barnes & NobleDaughters of Paris by Elisabeth Hobbes

War and friendship in Paris!

Colette Nadon and Fleur Bonnivard, grow up together in 1930’s Paris, they play games, explore their surroundings and get dirty. Despite Colette’s father Louis being a wealthy businessman, orphaned Fleur’s Aunt Agnes is the Nadon’s cook and they come from different backgrounds. The girls promise to be best friends forever and they become secret sisters. Colette’s mother Delphine is a snob, she wants her daughter to marry well and establish her place in Parisian society. As time goes on Delphine introduces her daughter to the right people, Colette turns into a party girl, and she travels and sees less of Fleur. At first Fleur is hurt, but she knows she and Colette come from different circumstances, and she doesn’t want her Aunt to lose her job.. Fleur loves to read and finds work in a bookshop, she hangs out at Café Morlaix and admires the handsome waiter Sebastien. When the Germans easily take Paris, Colette and Fleur are stunned, scared and don’t know what the future holds. Colette’s posh friends own a hotel, German soldiers move in, and Fleur’s shocked Colette would want to mix with collaborators. Fleur is one of the Parisians who fight back, carrying out small acts of defiance, and eventually she becomes involved with the resistance. Colette isn’t as self-cantered as everyone believes, she notices the food shortages, arguments breaking out in the long ration lines, hungry children, and German soldiers harassing young women not interested in their advances. Soon both women form an alliance, Fleur realizes she has judged Colette harshly, slowly they rebuild their friendship and both take risks. With their hearts on the line, they both become involved in the fight to free France, espionage, helping the resistance, keeping secrets, and people hiding from the Germans, and if caught the punishment is torture, and they could be shot! I have read the authors previous book The Secret Agent and her latest novel is outstanding. Told from the points of view of two young women, it’s full of relevant information and facts about the difficult war years in France, it emphasizes how women needed friendship, support and a confidant during the time to deal with the hardship and cope with the uncertainty of the war, losing loved ones, and not knowing when the suffering would end? Five stars from me and I highly recommend reading this book.