The Last Time I Saw Paris

by Lynn Sheene

Overview

A stunning debut novel of a young American woman who becomes a spy in Paris during World War II. 

May 1940: Fleeing a glamorous Manhattan life built on lies, Claire Harris arrives in Paris with a romantic vision of starting anew. But she didn't anticipate the sight of Nazi soldiers marching under the Arc de Triomphe. Her plans smashed by the German occupation, the once-privileged socialite's only option is to take a job in a flower shop under the tutelage of a sophisticated Parisian florist. 

In exchange for false identity papers, Claire agrees to aid the French Resistance. Despite the ever-present danger, she comes to love the enduring beauty of the City of Light, exploring it in the company of Thomas Grey, a mysterious Englishman working with the Resistance. Claire's bravery and intelligence make her a talented operative, and slowly her values shift as she witnesses the courageous spirit of the Parisians. 

But deception and betrayal force her to flee once more—this time to fight for the man she loves and what she knows is right. Claire just prays she has the heart and determination to survive long enough to one day see Paris again...

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780425240847
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/03/2011
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	317,364
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Lynn Sheene is the author of The Last Time I Saw Paris. She attended University of California, Santa Barbara, and worked as an environmental and science writer before becoming a full-time fiction writer. She resides in Southern California with her family.

Editorial Reviews

A farm girl turned Manhattan socialite lands in Paris just ahead of the Wehrmacht in Sheene's perfunctory debut. When Claire Harris's rich husband finds out she lied to him about her humble roots, she flees to Paris, but her timing is poor. Claire, sans papers, winds up working for the Resistance and falling in love with an English spy whose eventual disappearance leads Claire into harm's way as she tries to save him. Sheene's occupied Paris is the star, much more so than the bland characters and unsurprising plot. It's not dreadful, but there's nothing especially exciting going on, either. (May)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for The Last Time I Saw Paris

“Set against the backdrop of Paris during the Second World War, The Last Time I Saw Paris is a breathtaking tale of love, courage, intrigue and betrayal. Beautifully written and heartfelt, it is a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable read.”—New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff

“American money, Nazi skullduggery, British sangfroid, French passion—in The Last Time I Saw Paris, Lynn Sheene delivers more drama, romance and suspense than we've seen since the Paris Occupation in Casablanca.”—New York Times bestselling author Katherine Neville

“The Last Time I Saw Paris is an absorbing, suspenseful and delightful debut. Lynn Sheene has delivered a fantastic romance thriller, which perfectly balances convincing historical research with page-turning thrills. It is an absolute joy to read.”—Bestselling author David Liss

“The Last Time I Saw Paris glows with the faded but indomitable beauty of the city herself. Sheene's research is impeccable, her writing lyrical, and in Claire Badeau she has created an unflinching heroine who haunted me long after I regretfully devoured the last page. Sheene is a powerful writer, and I cannot wait to read whatever comes next.”—New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Cantrell

“Well-written, well-researched and genuinely suspenseful.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris

“Sheene gives readers a heroine who could give Scarlett O'Hara lessons in determination and a fascinating taste of life in the City of Light during the difficult days of World War II.”—The Chicago Tribune

From the Publisher

"Claire Harris planned on building a new life for herself in Paris with photographer Laurent Olivier. But she hadn't planned on finding that the Germans would be occupying Paris when she arrived in May 1940, and that Laurent would already have a wife. Trapped in Paris without papers or connections, Claire takes a job at La Vie en Fleurs, where the shop's owner, the enigmatic Madame Palain, will teach Claire valuable lessons in not only how to survive the war but how to live a rewarding life. Sheene gives readers a heroine who could give Scarlett O'Hara lessons in determination and a fascinating taste of life in the City of Light during the difficult days of World War II."

Chicago Tribune

"Sheene’s research is impeccable, and her homage to the city is reflected in her nostalgic and finely drawn portrait of a place and people badly bent but resolutely unbroken. Sheene’s detailed descriptions bring alive the architecture, the smells of the flora and the sounds of jackbooted Nazis as they stomp imperially through the Arc de Triomphe." --Leslie Doran,

The Durango Herald