All the Flowers in Paris

July 19, 2019

This dual time line story from best-selling author Jio (Always) starts in the present with Caroline recovering from a violent accident and left with partial amnesia. She tentatively starts to piece together her past. As she reaches out to her quaint Paris neighbors, she finds the handsome chef/owner of the nearby bistro the most helpful. Frustrated as flashbacks to her former life remain elusive, she scours her apartment for clues, discovering a hidden cache of wartime letters. Readers are then transported to 1943 German-occupied Paris. Young widow Céline, with the help of her father, is raising her daughter Cosi. Céline does all she can to shield Cosi from the horrors of war by making their lives as normal as possible. But fear for their safety mounts when the striking Céline catches the eye a high-ranking Nazi officer. As a way to distract herself as her own troubled memories come flooding back, Caroline enlists help to discover the fate of mother and daughter. VERDICT Fans of Beatriz Williams will enjoy the historical aspects of Jio's thoughtful, expressive, and poignant story of love, forgiveness, and strength in the face of tragedy. [See Prepub Alert, 2/18/19.]--Joy Gunn, Paseo Verde Lib., Henderson, NV

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2019
When Caroline Williams wakes up in a Paris hospital, she can't remember anything about her past, except that it was painful. Her spacious apartment on the rue Cler offers few clues?she apparently does not cook, and she used to paint, but her art supplies were stowed away. She finds her way to Bistro Jeanty, a classic French restaurant where everybody is wary of her. Victor Lamont, head chef and owner, is at least pleased to see her, though he won't tell her what their previous association was. Over six decades earlier, Bistro Jeanty is a favorite among Nazi officers occupying Paris, one of whom has become interested in C�line Moreau, a young widowed mother who works in her father's florist shop. Readers may be able to guess some of the connections between the alternating storylines, but Jio (Always, 2016) weaves in enough surprises to keep the pages turning, especially in the heart-stopping conclusion of C�line's story. Fans of emotional, romantic stories set during World War II will enjoy this heartbreaking tale of love and loss.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)