The Dressmaker's Gift

(Paperback)

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Description

How will history and their families judge them

Paris, 1940.

With the city occupied by the Nazis, three young seamstresses go about their normal lives as best they can. But all three are hiding secrets. War-scarred Mireille is fighting with the Resistance, Claire has been seduced by a German officer, and Vivienne's involvement is something she can't reveal to either of them.

Two generations later, Claire's English granddaughter Harriet arrives in Paris, rootless and adrift, desperate to find a connection with her past. Living and working in the same building on the Rue Cardinale, she learns the truth about her grandmother and and unravels a family history that is darker and more painful than she ever imagined.

In wartime, the three seamstresses face impossible choices when their secret activities put them in grave danger. Brought together by loyalty, threatened by betrayal, can they survive history's darkest era without being torn apart

Reviews

Must Read of the Week Saturday Express A wartime story that captures the era well and is a real page-turner as the different lives and generations come together like a beautifully woven fabric. The Peoples Friend An intriguing and nostalgic read. Woman & Home Youll be immersed in this twisting, colorful tale. Take A Break The historical detail and distinctive characters will draw you in. Womans Weekly Equal parts heartbreaking and life-affirming, The Dressmakers Gift is sure to be welcomed by fans of historical fiction. Culturefly This book broke me and left me utterly speechless, yet I cannot recommend it enoughA beautiful, powerful, and emotive readone of the best books I have ever read. The Writing Garnet The Dressmakers Gift is a commendable dual time story about love and survival against all odds. It shows us, without any shadow of doubt, the power and strength there is to be found in friendship. Jaffa Reads Too The Dressmakers Gift is, in itself, a gift of a book to reada beautifully written book with four interesting and inspiring women at its core. The historical detail is seamless and brings the experiences of the war to life in shocking detail. Bookliterati Book Reviews Movingly written with great heart and immaculately researched, the love of true friends can support and sustain you through life altering trauma. Rachel Read It The Dressmakers Gift portrays the strength within friendships and how women were also pivotal during the war. An emotional read and great story. Jeras Jamboree The Dressmakers Gift is a brilliant and thought provoking read that beautifully explores trauma, friendship, courage, love, and loss. Best Book Forward It is full of suspense, twists, and turns but most importantly it is full of courage and heart. I hope you all have got a chance to check it out and read this incredible book. Sissi Reads

Author Bio

Fiona Valpy spent seven years living in France, having moved there from the UK in 2007. She and her family renovated an old, rambling farmhouse in the Bordeaux winelands, during which time she developed new-found skills in cement-mixing, interior decorating and wine-tasting. All of these inspirations, along with a love for the place, the people and their history, have found their way into the books shes written, which have been translated into French, Dutch, German, Norwegian, Italian, Czech, Turkish, Lithuanian and Slovenian. Fiona now lives in Scotland, but enjoys regular visits to France in search of the sun.