Claire Harris, escaping a hard and poor childhood of farm life, takes up a new persona by hiding her past and marrying Russell Stone, a well-to-do businessman. From Claire's marriage of convenience, she has become a classy Manhattan social climber for her husband. With her past revealed, she flees to Paris and assumes a new identity, only to find herself caught up in the German Occupation of Paris in the 40's instead of the romantic new life she had envisioned.
Taking mercy on Claire, a Parisian florist tucks her under her wing and teaches her the beauty of her flowers. Soon caught up in the present dangers, she reluctantly joins the resistance in keeping loyal to her love and dreams of Paris. Meeting and falling in love with an Englishman, Thomas Grey, another opposing the German invasion, her life becomes embroiled with protecting two young Jewish girls and endangering her life to serve the resistance. Fearing Grey has been captured and killed, she soon finds the same fate as she is tortured and beaten for information of the resistance. Her life passes before her as she stands in line with others, young and old, awaiting the firing squad.
Lynne Sheene has created an exceptionally realistic account of the war of the German's and their invasion of Paris. She has done a remarkable job of presenting the nostalgic love and beauty of an American woman still able to find beauty and romance during unimaginable times. The strength and determination of Claire's character reaches the soul through her devastating trials. Claire's story is very traumatic as she fights with everything she is. I am not fond of war stories but this will be one that will stick with me for a very, very long time.
May 1940: Fleeing a glamorous Manhattan life built on
lies, Claire Harris arrives in Paris with a romantic
vision of starting anew. But Claire 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 becomes 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. Bravery and intelligence make her a
valuable operative, and slowly Claire's values shift as
she witnesses the courageous spirit of the Parisians.
But deception and betrayal force her to flee once againโ
this time to fight for the man she loves and what she
knows is rightโpraying she has the heart and determination
to survive long enough to one day see Paris again...
EXCERPT
Chapter One: The Socialite
Manhattan, New York. May 8, 1940.
Claire Harris Stone breathed in the faint scent of roses
from the courtyard garden below as her yielding body
swayed to the strains of "In the Mood" drifting out the
open French doors. The sounds of the orchestra inside her
Manhattan brownstone blended with the late-night rumble of
traffic along Fifth Avenue.
Buoyed by the Veuve Clicquot champagne, she felt as though
she drifted above her partner as their gliding shoes
whispered against the balcony floor. He held her tight,
his hands warming her body through her thin silk dress.
Her arms were draped around his shoulders.
He was tall. That was nice. And he knew how to dance; even
better.
"You're dreaming, Claire," von Richter said.
"Of you." Claire opened her eyes.
He was nearing forty, she guessed. Slender, perfect
posture, the polished manner of a European aristocrat.
Dark hair slicked back, he had the tan of a denizen of
ocean liners and Riviera beaches. A light trace of a scar
on his chin, he said from a duel. Not what she expected,
with all that she'd heard of Hitler's rants about the
Aryan race.
"Say something in German," she said.
He spoke against her throat.
"What did you say?"
"I am going to removeโ" His hands slid past her
hips. "What is this, in English?"
"My stockings?"
"Stockings." He tasted the word. "I am going to remove
your stockings with my teeth."
"But what would Russell say if you ripped them?"
"He can afford another pair."
"Mmm." She breathed into his shoulder, wishing for another
drink. "Tell me about Berlin." Anywhere but here, she
thought.
"Berlin has its charms. Merkel longs to return. But Paris,
that is the place. The clubs . . . Josephine Baker
dancing, the Moulin Rouge, Pigalle, the women . . . Well,
I won't say what they do. Only the French take the
pleasure of a woman's body so seriously."
Claire felt his fingers slide closer to her thigh. At
least this one was a charmer. She rarely was so lucky with
Russell's clients. She flirted and tempted, and then her
husband came in for the business kill.
With one sure hand, von Richter guided her across the
floor to the rhythm of the music. The other hand
discreetly explored her, gliding across exposed skin from
her nape of her neck to the leg revealed by the side slit
in her gown.
"When is your husband going to join us?" He gestured
toward the doors with his head. "Poor Merkel grows tired
and impatient inside."
She composed a pout and threaded gloved fingers through
his hair. "You're not having a good time?"
"I would prefer your husband never return, lovely. You are
a sublime hostess, entertaining your guests until he
arrives."
"Yes, I am." She pulled free, leisurely swatted at the
hand reaching for the curve of her behind. She blew him a
kiss. "I am going to check my stockings. Sharpen those
teeth."
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