An American in Paris : An absolutely heartbreaking and uplifting World War 2 novel

Paris, 1940: Walking through Montmartre that morning, arm in arm, we saw soldiers spreading through the streets like a toxic grey vapour. ‘You must write about this,’ he whispered to me. ‘You must write about the day freedom left Paris.’ As Nazi troops occupy Paris, American journalist Florence is determined to save her adopted home and the man she loves. Florence arrived in the city in 1937 on a beautiful summer’s day, with dreams of adventure, and fell in love with Otto, an artist with the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. Otto left his homeland to escape persecution, but now, as swastikas are draped along the city’s wide boulevards, everything he was running from has caught up with him. Florence and Otto begin work with the Resistance to sabotage the Germans right under their noses. Florence’s society columns now document life with food shortages, curfews and constant fear, and contain hidden coded messages for the Allies. While Otto pins up the anti-Nazi posters he designs by candlelight in their tiny apartment, knowing he would be shot on sight if caught. But with every passing day, Paris becomes more dangerous and the fight for freedom seems more hopeless than ever. When Otto is arrested and imprisoned, Florence feels she might finally be beaten, until she is offered a secret mission to help turn the tide of the war in Europe. If she accepts, she has a chance of saving Otto. But she could also lose her own life in the attempt… A sweeping wartime story of the enduring power of love, the devastating cruelty of war and resilience of the human spirit. This is a novel that will capture your heart and never let it go. Fans of The Alice Network, The Lost Girls of Paris and The Nightingale will be absolutely gripped from the very first page. Readers love An American in Paris: ‘A dazzling and sweeping tale of love… Guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings… Unforgettable.’ Bookish Jottings, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘It WILL be one of those novels that EVERYONE talks about for a long, long time.’ Bibliomiast, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A gripping wartime drama that will have your heart in your mouth.’ French Village Diaries, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I can honestly say it is divine and I simply adored it… The book is truly beautiful…It is a real gem of a book and a fantastic read that I encourage all those who love historical fiction to pick up.’ Whispering Stories Book Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An enthralling story that puts readers in the middle of the chaos surrounding World War Two… Grabs readers from the beginning and won’t let them go until they finish the last page… I loved absolutely everything about this novel and won’t hesitate to claim it as my favourite historical fiction read of 2020… Walking through Montmartre that morning was like the eerie calm right before a storm. The roads were deserted. We carried on, arm in arm, and then finally, we saw them. Columns and columns of soldiers, spreading through the streets like a toxic grey vapour. ‘You must write about this,’ he whispered to me. ‘You must write about the day freedom left Paris.’ 1937: Florence has dreamed her whole life of coming to Paris. She arrives on a sweltering summer day and, lost on the steep streets of Montmartre, asks for directions from Otto, a young artist with paint-spattered clothes and the most beautiful smile she has ever seen. Otto becomes her guide to Paris, taking her to visit paintings in the Louvre and bookshops by the Seine. And when Otto returns home to finish his studies, they vow to reunite on the same spot they met, one year to the day. Still dreaming of their parting kiss, Florence starts writing for an American newspaper and throws herself into becoming truly Parisian. All too soon, heady days of parties and champagne are replaced by rumours of war. When Otto finally returns to her, it is as an exile, fleeing Nazi persecution. Soon, not even Paris is safe. Florence’s articles now document life under occupation and hide coded messages from the Resistance. But with the man she loves in terrible danger, her words feel hollow and powerless. If Florence risks everything by accepting a dangerous mission, can she rescue their dreams from that sunny day before the war? A sweeping wartime story that will capture..M.F Shortlisted For The 2021 Carnegie Medal Written With Passion And Compassion, Anderson's Talent As A Weaver Of Magic And Creator Of Evocative Landscapes Is Growing With Every Book. - The Daily Mail Enchanting Story. - The Daily Telegraph They Call Me Yanka The Bear. Not Because Of Where I Was Found - Only A Few People Know About That. They Call Me Yanka The Bear Because I Am So Big And Strong. Found Abandoned In A Bear Cave As A Baby, Yanka Has Always Wondered About Where She Is From. She Tries To Ignore The Strange Whispers And Looks From The Villagers, Wishing She Was As Strong On The Inside As She Is On The Outside. But, When She Has To Flee Her House, Looking For Answers About Who She Really Is, A Journey Far Beyond One That She Ever Imagined Begins: From Icy Rivers To Smouldering Mountains Meeting An Ever-growing Herd Of Extraordinary Friends Along The Way. Interwoven With Traditional Stories Of Bears, Princesses And Dragons, Yanka's Journey Is A Gorgeously Lyrical Adventure From The Best-selling Author Of The House With Chicken Legs. The story of Yanka's journey is interwoven with the stories of bears, princesses and dragons across traditions. From the author of }The House With Chicken Legs{. Found abandoned in a bear cave as a baby, Yanka has always wondered about where she is from. She tries to ignore the strange whispers and looks from the villagers, wishing she was as strong on the inside as she is on the outside. 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