Friday, April 17, 2020

The Socialite by J'nell Ciesielski


As the daughter of Sir Alfred Whitford, Kat has a certain set of responsibilities. But chasing her wayward sister, Ellie, to Nazi-occupied Paris was never supposed to be one of them. Now accustomed to the luxurious lifestyle that her Nazi boyfriend provides, Ellie has no intention of going back to the shackled life their parents dictate for them—but Kat will stop at nothing to bring her sister home.

Arrested for simply trying to defend himself against a drunken bully, Barrett Anderson is given the option of going to jail or serving out his sentence by training Resistance fighters in Paris. A bar owner serves as the perfect disguise to entertain Nazis at night while training fighters right below their jackboots during the day. Being assigned to watch over two English debutantes is the last thing he needs, but a payout from their father is too tempting to resist. Can Barrett and Kat trust each other long enough to survive, or will their hearts prove more traitorous than the dangers waiting around the corner?


This is the first book I've read by this author and I am really excited to be able to add her to my list of historical fiction authors to follow!  I am a fan of historical fiction and this one was so engaging and interesting to me.  The 1940's setting in Paris during WWII was the perfect backdrop for this book.  

All three of the main characters (Kat, Barrett and Ellie) in this book were so interesting.  It was a pleasure getting to know them and understand their fears and dreams and see how those motivated their actions.  They were all layered and human, making mistakes, making sacrifices and showing courage.  Trust didn't come easily for any of them yet they all desired it.  Trust and love.  Which leads me to the growing romance between Kat and Barrett.  Mmmm, yum.  I loved it.  The attraction, the chemistry, the kissing.  Yup, it was nicely done.

Once I got into this book I had a hard time putting it down.  It had an excellent balance of intense situations and emotional moments.  The plot moved forward at a good pace and I was fully invested in it.  I was surprised a few times with the twists the plot took which is always a good thing!  I loved this story!

Content:  violence, peril, kissing, mention of affairs and mistresses (with no details)

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

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