Top Ten Tuesday - Historical Fiction Set in France - the WWII Edition.

 Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week the theme is Books I HAD to Have Immediately but Still Haven’t Read (this is a throwback topic from 2022). However, given that this is the last Tuesday for me to do a Paris in July related Top Ten Tuesday I am going down that route instead. 

During last year's Paris in July, I shared a TTT post which was Historical Fiction set in France. When I put that list together I specifically excluded WWII fiction, so this week my theme is Historical Fiction Set in France - the WWII Edition. I have started with two books that come to mind instantly and then the rest are more recent books I have read set in France during WWII.

A Farewell to France by Noel Barber - in the 1990s I read a lot of Noel Barber books and I have such fond memories of them. I am not sure they would stand up all that well to read now though. 

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - I am looking forward to seeing the movie of this one whenever it ends up actually getting made

The Resistance Knitting Club by Jenny O'Brien - I am just about to read the follow up to this book and can't wait! (review)

The Girl From Normandy by Rachel Sweasey - I really enjoyed this read (my review)

The Madamoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester - What a fascinating this read was. It is based on a true story which makes it even more amazing! (my review)

The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin - This one is set in both France and Portugal (my review)

The Paris Dancer by Nicola Rayner - I was nearly going to say WWII Paris, but then I remembered that the whole theme for this post is WWII which makes that kind of redundant! (my review)

The Resistance Bakery by Siobhan Curham - I love a book set in a French bakery so this was always going to be a winner for me! (my review)

The Last Train from Paris by Juliet Greenwood - I thought this was a really great read with an interesting story! (my review)

The Lost Sister of Fifth Avenue by Ella Carey - The title might make you think this one is not set in Paris, but the majority of the story is! (my review)

Top Ten Tuesday: Books set during or after WWI

 Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week the theme is Books I Enjoyed that Were Outside My Comfort Zone (or books you’d like to read that are outside your comfort zone!) However, it might not be a surprise to see that I am going rogue. It's not the first time and it won't be the last.

Instead, in honour of the fact that today is Remembrance Day which commemorates the end of World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, I am sharing ten books I have read that are either set either in or just after WWI.

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonsen - This book is set in the immediate aftermath of WWI and deals with the impact on society and for those who returned. I could have chosen The Summer Before the War too. I read both of these books earlier this year. (my review)

The House at the River's Edge by Rachel Burton - This book starts just before the outbreak of WWI. It is a dual timeline so we get to see what the legacy of the events that occurred were through the generations. (my review)

The Desert Nurse by Pamela Hart  - Follows a young Australian woman who becomes a nurse in  Egypt during WWI.

 The Vineyards of Champagne by Juliet Blackwell - Another dual timeline, with the historical section being set in the Champagne area of France during WWI. 

The Girl from Paris by Ella Carey- I used to read a lot of Ella Carey's books which are predominantly set in WWII. This one, however, is a WWI story.  (My review)

When I Come Home Again by Caroline Scott - Set in the aftermath of WWI, this story looks at the impact of trauma on two men who both served.  (my review)

In Falling Snow by Mary-Rose MacColl - I loved this book when I read it a number of years ago.  This is another nurse story with a young Australian woman travelling to France to work in the field hospitals in France

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes - I had forgotten that this was a WWI story. It is set in occupied France and is another dual timeline story. (my review)

Black Diamonds by Kim Kelly - This book tells the story of a young man who goes to war but also of life on the home front with the woman he left behind. (my review)

The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally - Two sisters head off to become nurses in WWI.

Lest we forget.

Top Ten Tuesday: Paris books!

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Throwback Freebie (Pick a TTT topic that has been previously done. Maybe you missed it, weren’t blogging then, or you’d like to update an old list you made. All previous topics are listed below.)




We are part way through Paris in July (hosted by Emma at Words and Peace), so rather than do a throwback, I am going to choose the last ten books I have read with Paris in the title

A Love Letter to Paris by Rebecca Raisin - My review of this one will be up in the next couple of days! It was good though!

The Last Train from Paris by Juliet Greenwood - WWII, dual timeline and a really good read! (my review)

The Paris Agent by Kelly Rimmer - I have enjoyed all the Kelly Rimmer books that I have read so far

Mrs Harris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico - I fell in love with the movie and then read the book. Here's my review of both

Twenty One Nights In Paris by Leonie Mack - This was my first Leonie Mack but I have read everything she has put out since. (my review)

The Girl from Paris by Ella Carey - Ella Carey has a few books set in Paris (my review)

The Black Swan of Paris by Karen Swan - This is a WWII novel but it is more of a thriller than I would normally read.

An American in Paris by Siobhan Curham - Another WWII novel (my review)

Saint-Germain-des-Pres: Paris's Rebel Quarter by John Baxter - I really enjoyed this short non-fiction look at a specific area of Paris

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George - Books and Paris. Yes please.

Have you read any of these, or have any other Paris suggestions for me?

Top Ten Tuesday: Twisted Sisters?

 

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Favorite Character Relationships (These can be platonic or not. Romantic relationships, parent/child, siblings, family bonds, friendships, found families, pet/human, etc.) but I am twisting it to just be about sisters.

The Starfish Sisters by Barbara O'Neal - I haven't read this yet, but I really want to!

The Alphabet Sisters by Monica McInerney - I remember reading this book in one afternoon many years ago.

The Lost Sister of Fifth Avenue by Ella Carey - What would you do if your sister disappeared in WWII France?

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley - I could have chosen any one of the Seven Sister

Outback Sisters by Rachael Johns - The fourth book in the Bunyip Bay series

The Goldminer's Sister by Alison Stuart - There's lots of books about various occupations sisters

Sisters of Mercy by Caroline Overington - I have read this, although I am not sure I remember much about it

The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen - I love this cover!

Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett - Never miss an opportunity to post a book about Pratchett

My Sisters Keeper by Jodie Picoult - Can't tell you how much I disliked the ending of this book.

Can you think of any other sisters books?

Top Ten Tuesday - Last 10 Books I Have Read Which Were Set in France

 

 

 

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week is the theme is 

Ten Most Recent Books I Did Not Finish with the additional proviso of feel free to tell us why if you want, but if you do please be nice to the authors and don’t tag them when you mention your post on social media!). However, I have decided to do my own thing this week. As I am participating in Paris in July (hosted by Emma at Words and Peace), my topic is going to be the last ten books I have read set either partially or fully in France.



To be fair, I did start this post over the weekend, and I have just finished another book which was set in France!

Dreaming in French by Vanessa McCausland - loved this book! - (Review)

Chasing the Stars by Virginie Grimaldi - Planning to review this book later this week. It starts in France but then the characters head north!

A Month in Provence by Gillian Harvey - Have read a couple of books by this author (Review)

The French Chateau Dream by Julie Caplin - Read this a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it (Review)

One French Summer by Gillian Harvey - Another book by this author (review)

Mrs Harris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico - one of those rare occurrences where the movie is better than the book. I did enjoy the book but I loved the movie (review)

Twenty One Nights in Paris by Leonie Mack - Paris at Christmas. Yes please! (review)

 
A Year at the French Farmhouse by Gillian Harvey  - This is the last of the Gillian Harvey books...for now! (review)

Escape to the French Farmhouse by Jo Thomas - I started reading this one by accident but really loved it!

The Lost Sister of Fifth Avenue by Ella Carey - Somewhat surprised to see this is the last historical fiction book I read set in France. My more recent ones have all been set in Italy or elsewhere. (review)

I am super impressed that I have written a post about most of these! How unusual!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Autumn TBR

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week the theme is Books on My Spring 2023 To-Read List. It is autumn here now though so it is Books on My Autumn 2023 To-Read List

I think we should just take a moment to appreciate the fact that I am actually doing the topic this week!

The Summer Party by Rebecca Heath - I am going to an author retreat last in May and this book and the next one are the two book club books that are going to be discussed!

The War Nurses by Anthea Hodgson - From the first time I heard about this book I was excited to read it. I haven't read this author before but I can't wait to read this book. It is based on the Bangka Island massacre during WWII.

The Nurses War by Victoria Purman - This is one of the authors who will be at the retreat, I am really interested to learn more about this book! 

Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash - The next few books are all for blog tours that are coming up soon. I haven't read this author before but there was great excitement when the tour was announced so FOMO kicked in and I signed up!

The Little Venice Bookshop by Rebecca Raisin - I have read a number of books by Rebecca Raisin over the last few years. I love how she writes about food, books and place! Maybe she will inspire me to visit Venice

An Italian Island Summer by Sue Moorcroft - If you look at the titles of these and other books I have coming up, there is still a bit of a holiday inspiration vibe to a lot of them! I mean, we only just spent some time in Italy recently. I can't already be dreaming of going back already can I?

The Paris Maid by Ella Carey - I usually participate in Ella Carey's blog tours but didn't get an invite to this one...maybe it's still coming! Either way, I will be reading it!

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus - This is the next Cook the Books selection

The Spice Master of Bistro Exotique by Samantha Verant - This is a library book I grabbed on a whim last time I was there.

Lost Luggage by Samantha Tonge - I have read one book by this author and really enjoyed it so when I saw this on the new book shelf at the library I grabbed it straight away

What are you looking forward to reading this season?

Top Ten Tuesday: Lost books

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This 

week the theme is supposed to be Books I Loved So Much I Had to Get a Copy for My Personal Library. Now, I am sure that I have some of those books but I am going rogue today. 

I have had this idea for a TTT post for a while now so today is the day I am going to do "Lost" books.This idea originally came about when I noticed how many girls get lost in various places around the world but I haven't limited this post to the places girls get lost.

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff


The Lost Girls of Devon by Barbara O'Neal

The Lost Sister of Fifth Avenue and The Lost Girl of Berlin by Ella Carey

The Lost Village by Daniele Sacerdoti


The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah

The Lost Love Song by Minnie Darke

The Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

The Book of Lost Threads by Tess Evans


The Lost Art of Mixing by Erica Bauermeister

Maybe next time I should do a list of found books!