Welcome to First Line Friday! Today I’m featuring Sarah Sundin’s newest WWII novel, Until Leaves Fall in Paris. Her books are always on my list of favorites every year, and this one did not disappoint!

Paris, France
Wednesday, May 29, 1940

“As long as she kept dancing, Lucille Girard could pretend the world wasn’t falling apart.”

Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin

The Basics

Title: Until Leaves Fall in Paris

Author: Sarah Sundin

Publication Date: February 1, 2022

Genre: WWII Historical Romance

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

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?

My Review

Sarah Sundin sets the standard for WWII fiction in my book, and Until Leaves Fall in Paris is no exception. Every time I read one of her books, I learn something new about the WWII era. It’s apparent Sundin does her research, and the historical details come to life through her characters and settings. This is a captivating story of unexpected love in the face of adversity and unexpected courage in the face of evil. The romance between Paul, a misunderstood man of principle and conviction, and Lucie, a charming heroine who discovers she is stronger than she believed, is an enchanting part of the story. The suspense and intrigue of their work with the resistance make the book almost impossible to put down!

Until Leaves Fall in Paris is Sarah Sundin at her finest – engaging characters and powerful truths woven into a story that will stick with you long after the final page. I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy authors like Michelle Dobson and Amy Lynn Green, and also to readers who love finely crafted, compelling stories in any genre.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!