Author: Natasha Lester
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Genre: Fiction, Modern & Contemporary, General Fiction, Historical Fiction
Year of release: 2020
Release date: 31st March 2020
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
A wardrobe of Dior gowns, a secret kept for sixty-five years, and the three women bound forever by war… from the New York Times bestselling author of The French Photographer
England, 1939 Talented pilot Skye Penrose joins the British war effort where she encounters her estranged sister, Liberty, and childhood soulmate Nicholas Crawford, now engaged to enigmatic Frenchwoman Margaux Jourdan.
Paris, 1947 Designer Christian Dior unveils his extravagant first collection to a world weary of war and grief. He names his debut fragrance, Miss Dior, in tribute to his sister, Catherine, who worked for the French Resistance.
Present-day Australian fashion conservator Kat Jourdan discovers a secret wardrobe filled with priceless Dior gowns in her grandmother’s vacant cottage. As she delves into the mystery, Kat begins to doubt everything she thought she knew about her beloved grandmother.
An unspeakable betrayal will entwine all of their fates.
The Dior Secret is an unforgettable story about the lengths people go to protect one another and a love that, despite everything, lasts a lifetime.
Review
England 1939 Skye Penrose has hopes of contributing to the British war effort as a pilot, it’s during her first days she encounters her estranged younger sister Liberty and childhood sweetheart Nicholas Crawford. Skye soon learns that Nicholas is engaged to the mysterious Frenchwoman Margaux Jourdan.
Present Day
Australian fashion conservator Kat Jourdan comes across a secret wardrobe, the wardrobe is home to priceless Dior gowns, the wardrobe is kept in a vacant cottage owned by Kat’s grandmother. The wardrobe and it’s gowns spark a series of questions for Kat, questions that invite doubt to Kat’s mind; doubt that only grows the more she uncovers she realises she might not know her beloved grandmother as well as she thought she did.
I have been an avid reader of Natasha Lester for years, so I didn’t need any convincing to make this purchase, the dual timeline only added to this readers eagerness to pick up this book. Just when you think you have a favourite Natasha Lester novel in the bookshelf (Her Mother’s Secret) she goes and pens The Paris Secret. I absolutely loved Skye Penrose’s kind hearted nature and the sheer determination when the time came to contribute to the war effort as a talented pilot for the RAF.
I’ve always felt Natasha has had a writing style that makes the story flow with ease for the reader as well as being descriptive but not longwinded, Once again Natasha has made sure to tie everything together with a neat bow when it comes to the conclusion of the story I really appreciate a story that has closure.
I loved the women created to tell this story and the concept of this book it was glorious to soar amongst the clouds with Skye at the helm and Nicholas never far behind. I was so eager to play detective with Kat to discover the answers to all the questions she had about her beloved grandmother.
I will say that I wasn’t one hundred percent sold on the Kat and Elliott Beaufort romance this felt way to quick and to fast for my liking at times I struggled to sympathise with Kat’s emotions over her grandmother’s secret.
I loved the chapters I spent with Nicholas and Skye, Nicholas does sound like such a dreamboat and like someone who you could rely on in times of need, without taking over for someone as determined as Skye Penrose Skye’s younger sister Liberty makes for the perfect character you love to hate she really does read like a spoilt brat.
The Paris secret offers up a memorable plot twist that will stay with a reader for quite some time if you have read and enjoyed Natasha Lester’s previous offerings then The Paris Secret will be a welcome edition to your bookshelf if you’ve seen her books and are curious all I can do is say take the leap you won’t be disappointed.