Review: The French War Bride by Robin Wells

The French War Bride

by Robin Wells

Publisher: Berkley

Pages: 432

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  “I never knew what he saw in you.” 
 
At her retirement home in Wedding Tree, Louisiana, ninety-one-year-old Amelie O’Connor is in the habit of leaving her door open for friends. One day she receives an unexpected visitor—Kat Morgan, the ex-fiancée of her late husband, Jack.
 
Kat and Jack were high school sweethearts who planned to marry when Jack returned from France after World War II. But in a cruel twist of fate, their plans were irrevocably derailed when a desperate French girl overheard an American GI’s confession in a Parisian church. . .
 
Now, Kat wants to know the truth behind a story that’s haunted her whole life. Finding out how Amelie stole Jack’s heart will—she thinks—finally bring her peace. As Amelie recalls the dark days of the Nazi occupation of Paris, The French War Bride reveals how history shapes the courses of our lives. . .for better or for worse.

Kritters Thoughts:  A historical fiction that ups the ante for me and sets the bar high for how a historical fiction book can be presented and packaged in such a great way.  Told as a story by one elderly woman to another about her love story with a man that was the other's ex fiancee.  Are you confused?  I hope not!  It works just perfectly as these two women almost rap battle their love stories in this perfectly put historical fiction set in World War II.  

Amelie was living in France and trying to avoid World War II when it landed on her doorstep!  She goes farther back in her story than meeting Jack to tell his ex fiancee how she got to be with Jack and how their romance occurred.  I loved that she took her story WAY far back and seeing the war invade Paris through her eyes was just phenomenal.  I have read my fair share of World War II books, but I may be pushing this one to the top.

This is the second in the series, but honestly it felt as a complete stand alone, although the small town of Wedding Tree makes an appearance, this story takes place everywhere but there (minus a few pages).  

I love Robin Wells and her writing is just spot on.  I hope there is another Wedding Tree book in the works!


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Ebook 2016 Challenge: 21 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Berkley NAL.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.