Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin | Review

I stalked my mailbox from the time I knew Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin was on its way. In the end, it was delivered straight to my door. My entire family—and possibly the neighbors—heard my delight when I held the package!

Here’s the back cover, followed by my review.

Back Cover

Paris, 1940

When the Nazis march toward Paris, American ballerina Lucie Girard buys her favorite English-language bookstore to allow the Jewish owners to escape. The Germans make it difficult for her to keep Green Leaf Books afloat. And she must keep the store open if she is to continue aiding the resistance by passing secret messages between the pages of her books.

Widower Paul Aubrey wants nothing more than to return to the States with his little girl, but the US Army convinces him to keep his factory running and obtain military information from his German customers. As the war rages on, Paul offers his own resistance by sabotaging his product and hiding British airmen in his factory. But in order to carry out his mission, he must appear to support the occupation–which does not win him any sympathy when he meets Lucie in the bookstore.

In a world turned upside down, will love or duty prevail?


Praise for When Twilight Breaks

“Sundin’s novels set the gold standard for historical war romance.”–Booklist, starred review

“Sundin’s latest World War II tale positively crackles with tension.”–Library Journal, starred review

Review

Is it stereotypical to say I laughed and cried reading Until Leaves Fall in Paris? Because I did. Even with such a serious theme, Sundin managed to provide genuine comic relief. I couldn’t put this book down, looking for a minute here or there to read just one more page. The phrase ‘all the feels’ comes to mind, including nail biting moments that put me on the edge of my seat. But most of all, I was deeply moved by this story of bravery, of love, and of things not being at all what they seem.

Sundin did a phenomenal job developing her characters, especially the hero, Paul Aubrey, and heroine, Lucie Girard … and I have to mention little Josie as well. Josie’s four-year-old nature was as life like as you’d hope her to be.

When Twilight Breaks (I reviewed it last year) by the same author was one of my favorite reads of 2021 and I think When Leaves Fall in Paris will be one of my favorites of 2022. Sundin has such a gift for providing historical research beautifully & effortlessly into her stories, impacting readers to ponder her fictional stories that bring a new perspective on things that truly did occur in the past. I was so moved by the way Sundin would have Lucie listening to the radio or reading news articles about events such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and Lucie’s response to the horrors she heard.

5 out of 5 (or rather, 6 out of 5) stars for Until Leaves Fall in Paris. I’m sometimes asked who my favorite authors are—Sarah Sundin has moved to my top three (at least) with this novel, as well as When Twilight Breaks. I can’t wait for her next release.

You can get your copy of Until Leaves Fall in Paris on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of When Twilight Breaks and several popular WWII series, including Sunrise at Normandy, Waves of Freedom, Wings of the Nightingale, and Wings of Glory. She is a Christy Award finalist and a Carol Award winner, and her novels have received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly, and have appeared on Booklist‘s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years.” Sarah lives in Northern California. Visit www.sarahsundin.com for more information.