100 Pages A Day.... Stephanie's Book Reviews
  • Blog Tours
  • Historical Fiction
  • Sci Fi & Fantasy
  • Thriller & Horror
  • Non-Fiction
  • Middle Grade & Children's
  • Literary Fiction and Other Genres
  • Challenges
  • Promo's
  • Product Reviews

Paris In Ruins

4/14/2021

2 Comments

 
Picture
About the Book:
Paris in Ruins

by M.K. Tod
Publication Date: March 30, 2021
Heath Street Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction

Paris 1870. Raised for a life of parties and servants, Camille and Mariele have much in common, but it takes the horrors of war to bring them together to fight for the city and people they love.

A few weeks after the abdication of Napoleon III, the Prussian army lays siege to Paris. Camille Noisette, the daughter of a wealthy family, volunteers to nurse wounded soldiers and agrees to spy on a group of radicals plotting to overthrow the French government. Her future sister-in-law, Mariele de Crécy, is appalled by the gaps between rich and poor. She volunteers to look after destitute children whose families can barely afford to eat.

Somehow, Camille and Mariele must find the courage and strength to endure months of devastating siege, bloody civil war, and great personal risk. Through it all, an unexpected friendship grows between the two women, as they face the destruction of Paris and discover that in war women have as much to fight for as men.
War has a way of teaching lessons—if only Camille and Mariele can survive long enough to learn them.
Buy the Book:
Amazon | B&N | Google Play | Kobo

Praise for Paris in Ruins
“The story of two women whose families were caught up in the defense of Paris is deeply moving and suspenseful.” -Margaret George, author of Splendor Before the Dark: A Novel of the Emperor Nero

“Tod is not only a good historian, but also an accomplished writer … a gripping, well-limned picture of a time and a place that provide universal lessons.” -Kirkus Reviews.

“M.K. Tod’s elegant style and uncanny eye for time and place again shine through in her riveting new tale, Paris in Ruins.” -Jeffrey K. Walker author of No Hero’s Welcome

Review:
The Noisette and de Crécy families are among Paris' wealthy and elite at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. Camille Noisette and Mariele de Crécy are future sister in laws who want to fight for what is right and protect their family and city during the time.  Camille finds her place as a nurse in the Odeon theatre alongside Sarah Bernhardt, quickly Camille becomes accustomed to blood and amputations as she realizes that more and more of Paris' men are dying around her.  To help even more, Camille agrees to go to radical meetings with family friend Andre Laborde and report back on anything dangerous that the women's factions are planning.  Camille then recruits Mariele to help her brother Victor at the local church taking care of children whose parents are fighting and being forced to work longer hours for meager pay.  Mariele finds that she loves spending time with the children and that caring for them comes naturally to her.  She also finds a heightened sense of compassion and courage to keep the children safe.


Paris in Ruins is the engaging story of two women who dared to care for the people in their city in a time of war when they had the means to escape.  Camille and Mariele are both women of means who have been protected their whole lives.  After seeing the effects of the war on the people of Paris and the stark contrast between their families and the poor of the city, they are both compelled to open their hearts and homes to help. I was very interested in the Paris Commune group that was able to overtake Paris after the war.  I would love to know more about the war from the Commune's point of view other than just Camille's time within the group.  It was wonderful to see Camille and Mariele change their attitudes and behaviors due to their involvement in the war and I wish I could have seen how they continued to change their behavior to help the divide in Paris.  I was very interested in The Franco-Prussian War is not a time period that I know a lot about, I was glad that the writing was rich in historical detail.  I loved learning more about the eccentric actress Sarah Bernhardt and her amazing work to turn the Odeon theatre into a hospital.  Overall, a compelling story of two courageous women during the Franco-Prussian War.

This book was received for free for an honest review.


Picture
About the Author

Paris In Ruins
is M.K. Tod’s fourth novel. Mary began writing in 2005 while living as an expat in Hong Kong. What started as an interest in her grandparents’ lives turned into a full-time occupation writing historical fiction. Her other novels are Time and Regret, Lies Told in Silence, and Unravelled. Beyond writing novels, Mary’s award-winning blog, www.awriterofhistory.com features the reading and writing of historical fiction. When she’s not writing, or thinking about writing, you can find her hiking, golfing, traveling, or hanging out with friends and family. Mary is married and has two adult children and two delightful grandchildren.
For more information visit M.K. Tod’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.


Picture

Giveaway

We have one paperback copy of Paris in Ruins up for grabs!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on April 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Paris in Ruins


2 Comments
Amy Bruno link
4/14/2021 01:48:37 pm

Thank you so much for this great review, Stephanie!

Amy
HF Virtual Book Tours

Reply
M.K. (Mary) Tod link
4/15/2021 10:46:06 am

So delighted that you enjoyed the story, Stephanie! Many thanks for the great review and for the chance to be on your blog ... all best wishes, Mary (M.K.) Tod

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Follow at Bloglovin!

    Author

    Hi there! I'm Stephanie and I obviously love reading.  As, the title suggests, I read at least one hundred pages a day.  I enjoy most book genres; however, my favorites are historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, thriller, horror and YA.  I also read a lot of non-fiction science and gardening books for my occupation.  I enjoy reviewing books and as always, any book that I receive for free is read in return for my honest review.  

    ​https://share.simonandschuster.com/stephanierhildreth

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

    Picture
    Challenge Participant
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Reading Addiction Blog Tours
    Xpresso Book Tours
    b00k r3vi3w Tours
    - See more at: http://b00kr3vi3wtours.blogspot.com/p/collect-badges.html#sthash.R4DGlIHF.dpuf

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    Pump Up Your Book

    This website uses marketing and tracking technologies. Opting out of this will opt you out of all cookies, except for those needed to run the website. Note that some products may not work as well without tracking cookies.

    Opt Out of Cookies
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.