Until Leaves Fall in Paris ~ Review

Until Leaves Fall in Paris

By Sarah Sundin

Lucie Girard has spent most of her life dancing, most of which has been in Paris. Lucie has loved her life, but life is about to change with the Germans taking over Paris. To aid her dear friends in their escape, she buys their bookstore. But Lucie is no businesswoman, and keeping the Green Leaf Book store operational is more of a challenge than she thought it would be. And keeping it open is imperative to her customers and the resistance who make use of her location. When Paul Aubrey helps her with the business end of things, she's grateful but torn, accepting help from a collaborator. 

Paul Aubrey wants nothing more than to return to his home and family in the United States with his daughter Josie. But the war effort needs him and could care less about his broken, grieving heart. But letting all his friends think he has become a collaborator, a Nazi sympathizer, is almost more than he can stand, especially when Josie suffers for his sacrifice. Meeting Lucie is a bright point in his now lonely life.  But with other activities it is only a matter of time before someone suspects something.

Until Leaves Fall in Paris takes place between May 1940 to March 1942 and is not to be missed reading. The story has depth and in no way feels as if it was rushed through. I have to say, I found Paul's situation to be of interest, widowed with a young daughter, working in secret to obtain information about German interests, all while dealing with the false assumptions and suspicions of his former friends. Then there is Josie and her Feenee stories; you have to read the book to truly appreciate the truth behind them and their role throughout. I'm not sure who is the greatest risk-taker between Paul and Lucie as they both do what they can to try to set right a world that has lost its way and is tearing apart. 

Sarah Sundin has once again created a story that will tug at your heart and is one that you will want to move to the top of your TBR list. There are moments of happiness, sorrow, fear, and uncertainty that we are all familiar with and can understand and empathize with. If you are a fan of Historical Romance or just WWII Fiction, you won't be disappointed with this one. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations, but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.                                                                                                                                                                          

About the Book:

When the Nazis march toward Paris, American ballerina Lucie Girard buys her favorite English-language bookstore to allow the Jewish owners to escape. The Germans make it difficult for her to keep Green Leaf Books afloat. And she must keep the store open if she is to continue aiding the resistance by passing secret messages between the pages of her books.

Widower Paul Aubrey wants nothing more than to return to the States with his little girl, but the US Army convinces him to keep his factory running and obtain military information from his German customers. Paul offers his own resistance by sabotaging his product and hiding British airmen in his factory as the war rages on. But in order to carry out his mission, he must appear to support the occupation—which does not win him any sympathy when he meets Lucie in the bookstore.

In a world turned upside down, will love or duty prevail?