Welcome to Litsy!

Always enjoy this author and #histfic based on true events, Paris, resistance. I see when I first posted this book I was drinking a French Merlot on a plane. Today it's a Mimosa with a bubbly "methode champenoise" from a Michigan winery. Continued appreciation for those who did and do resist in the struggle for justice, equally, and truth. #MittenLitten #FogCover #NewYearNewBooks @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I may be biased because I read this book on vacation in Europe visiting sites where WWII atrocities happened, but I was fully engrossed. I found some of the inner monologues of the husband and wife to be a little repetitive. And the time jumping confusing at times. But overall, an interesting portrait of a place and its people surviving under horrific circumstances.

10-18-20: My 85th finished book of 2020! In this historical fiction novel we follow, Claude and Blanche Auzello. He‘s the director of the Hotel Ritz and she is his loving and very un-French wife. The story takes place during the time the Germans occupied Paris and used The Ritz as one of their headquarters. A love story between two people and a place, The Ritz. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #mistressoftheritz #melaniebenjamin 👍🏼📖#️⃣8️⃣5️⃣

10-16-20: Starting a new one! 📖

Reading by candlelight on this rainy day as we are currently without power. #rainydayreads

Happy Sunday 😊☕️

2020 #23 Loved the narrators raspy voice on this audiobook.

Mellowing the flying jitters with coincidentally French Merlot while totally engaged in this story of secrets between husband and wife as Nazis take over the Ritz and the French Resistance grows. It is an inspiring tale, with flawed characters who nonetheless risk everything to do what is right to fight against their occupiers. Kudos to all who do likewise today to fight corruption and injustice.

A great story about two notorious characters and a famous one. This novel takes you through the lives of Claude and Blanche Auzello, the manager of the Ritz Hotel in Paris and his Jewish wife, during World War II. Though little is known about their inner/emotional lives, Benjamin does a fine job of reimagining them for us. The novel is rich in history and accurate in events. An excellent and moving read!

Couldn‘t put it down!

It seems that more & more previously unknown stories keep coming out revolving around WWII. This is one of those stories. I had no idea when I began reading the book that it was based upon the lives of the real Claude and Blanche Auzello. They bravely participated in the Resistance right under the noses of the Nazi party. Suspenseful, inspiring, and heartbreaking, this is a story that will linger in your memory I absolutely loved this book.

I‘d recommend this if you enjoy historical fiction, strong female characters, espionage, WWII stories & characters who are complicated & true to themselves. I enjoyed this heartfelt story of bravery, betrayal and love set in the lavish Hotel Ritz in Paris. The author‘s note at the end, especially added a final depth to the entire story.

Final Rating: 3.5 Stars

Overall the author did a great job of writing about two people from WW2 that probably would have never been written about. Blanche and Claude Auzello are husband and wife. She was an American and he was a Frenchman. I honestly almost quit the book a time or two but I‘m glad I gave it a chance. It got better in the middle and I wouldn‘t have predicted the ending.

Last day to enter the giveaway.

http://tinyurl.com/yyezpjgc

I love it when authors go find overlooked and almost forgotten members of history and just mess with them. I honestly almost walked away from the book a bit before the midway mark. I know it's set in a different time and place but the institution of marriage and how women were expected to act once married...just sent me on an angry feminist millennial rage. I loved Blanche & Lilly. I slowly began to hate Claude less as the book went on.

I've gotten about halfway in on this arc! I've been so anxious to pick it up all month

Melanie Benjamin‘s newest gem might be yours if you enter the giveaway.

GOOD LUCK!!

ENTER AT THE LINK BELOW.

https://tinyurl.com/yyezpjgc

Book set at The Ritz in Paris during WW2 German occupation. Mostly a story about the relationship between Claude, the general manager of the Ritz and his American flapper wife who loves the Ritz as much he does. A story about the Ritz, it's famous patrons and the Nazi occupiers. I found this to be relationship heavy and less history focused. I skimmed the last half with no regrets. The writing was pretty though 😁

I was granted the opportunity to read this book on netgalley and finally finished it. Overall, I thought the story was rather sprawling, and I kept forgetting what the real focus was. Blanche was the central character, and I liked her a lot. She was brave and opinionated and did what she had to do. I did not like Claude, her husband, much at all. I didn't get a good sense of the hotel, but the time was well portrayed.

I really enjoyed this one! 2 perspectives, a man and wife duo. My full review is on Goodreads @ goodreads.com/pollywaug!
I loved the setting of this book. The Ritz Paris transforming from a getaway for celebrities and royalty to a hub for German soldiers! I think this is one of my favorite reads of the year!

🍭🍭🍭 review is up on my blog. Stop by and say hi! https://reecaspieces.com/2019/05/27/mistress-of-the-ritz-by-melonie-benjamin-rev...

I'm really starting to like this book!
#ARC #betterlatethannever

17%

I gave this 3 stars. I thought the ending was great, but the marital relationship and all it's ups and downs detracted from what could have been a great novel. I seem to be in the minority though, so check it out for yourself!!

See my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2810594131

This is a wonderful historical fiction about Claude & Blanche Azuzello. Claude was the hotel manager for the Ritz Hotel in Paris before, during & after WWII. The story begins with the meeting of Claude & Blanche as their romance was kind of a whirl wind start. The story is told from each of their perspectives & I loved how you would seamlessly flow from each... Full review on Goodreads!

#SassyBookworm😏 #HistoricalFiction #ARC #NetGalley

)Thank you so much Penguin/Delacote Press!! I am so pleased to get this ARC, Melanie Benjamin is such an engaging writer....I'm reading 'Adventures of Mrs. Tom Thumb', loving it, and cant wait to start this.

After marrying, Blanche quickly settled into her role as Mistress of the Ritz, dressing in fashionable clothing, befriending the elite & living in a beautiful suite. But the Nazis have taken over Paris & the Ritz & now her days are spent catering to the invaders, her nights doing jobs for the resistance. Living in close quarters with the enemy Blanche has a false sense of security, & gets more reckless as she gets more restless.
#Netgalley ARC.

I've been trying to win this book on Goodreads for what seems like forever! I got approved for a copy through #netgalley! Yesssss!!! *Insert happy dance here*

My haul from my visit to my local indie today, Bookworks. Happy #IndependentBookstoreDay! The tagged book was a free ARC.

Powerful - especially in the last quarter of book

In happier news, I got this book from #netgalley and am really enjoying it so far.

I was all set for a rejection when I got an email from NetGalley this morning, since I‘m so behind on my reviews, but to my extreme happiness/surprise, I got approved for an advanced reader copy from one of my favorite authors! You know you‘re a hopeless book nerd when things like this make you so happy! 🤗🤓

#NetGalley
#ARC
#historicalfiction