Last Christmas in Paris

One of my fondest memories as a child growing up was during one summer, a friend and I, picked out anonymous names and became pen pals since seeing each other as often as we wanted was out. It was the best summer I can remember. I have a profound respect for men and women who served during our great wars, WWI and WWII. All of the WWI veterans have passed away and we still have a handful of the veterans from WWII but not for long. The stories they still hold is as relevant to them as my summer of being pen pals. There is just something about sharing memories and stories that needs to be treasured.

In Hazel Gaynor's latest novel, Last Christmas in Paris, readers are given a behind the scenes look at how a trio of siblings and friends found a way to survive the war. For Evie Elliot, she watched as her brother Will and best friend to both Evie and Will, Tom Harding went to war for England. The book parallels to different time periods both in 1968, where our story both concludes and begins, but also the formation of hope, faith and love that is shared as the letters between the three are shared in this novel. It shows the progression of optimism that the war will be over by the first Christmas, it shows the loss that comes when war raises its ugly head, and the love that can be found by never giving up, of dreaming of a better future than the current one.

As a reader, I felt guilty as if I had happened upon these letters by chance and was given an insider's look at the lives of both the authors and recipients. Sometimes the things we want to say but can't can be conveyed in writing better than if we spoke them in person. There isn't a fear of what might be said in response because one must wait to hear the outcome in another letter. I have read most of Hazel Gaynor's novels and have to give her credit for taking the reader right into her novels. There is so much detail in her writing style, you can hear and smell the things as they are being described like the Zepplin's nightly air raids on the small towns and of Evie and Tom's promise that one day they will visit Paris for Christmas when the war is over.

I received Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers. Readers will enjoy a bit of historical fact woven into the story line and for fans of history like myself, will truly enjoy and appreciate this novel. I hope more will pick this novel up and join me in preserving a bit of history by doing so. War is hard enough, but it is the love that outlasts all the evils that will always prevail. For me, this one garners a 5 out of 5 stars in this readers opinion.

For more information about Last Christmas in Paris, Hazel Gaynor, Heather Webb or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

You can find Hazel Gaynor on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

You can find Heather Webb on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Last Christmas in Paris, please visit Harper Collins Publisher's website.