Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Review for The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray

 

The Women of Chateau Lafayette by  Stephanie Dray 

Kindle Edition

publication: March 30th 2021

Genre:  Historical Fiction, France, 18th Century, World War II



An epic saga from New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray based on the true story of an extraordinary castle in the heart of France and the remarkable women bound by its legacy.

Most castles are protected by men. This one by women.

A founding mother...

1774. Gently-bred noblewoman Adrienne Lafayette becomes her husband, the Marquis de Lafayette's political partner in the fight for American independence. But when their idealism sparks revolution in France and the guillotine threatens everything she holds dear, Adrienne must renounce the complicated man she loves, or risk her life for a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

A daring visionary...

1914. Glittering New York socialite Beatrice Chanler is a force of nature, daunted by nothing--not her humble beginnings, her crumbling marriage, or the outbreak of war. But after witnessing the devastation in France firsthand, Beatrice takes on the challenge of a lifetime: convincing America to fight for what's right.

A reluctant resistor...

1940. French school-teacher and aspiring artist Marthe Simone has an orphan's self-reliance and wants nothing to do with war. But as the realities of Nazi occupation transform her life in the isolated castle where she came of age, she makes a discovery that calls into question who she is, and more importantly, who she is willing to become.

Intricately woven and powerfully told, The Women of Chateau Lafayette is a sweeping novel about duty and hope, love and courage, and the strength we take from those who came before us. 

 

My Thoughts…Three women all tied together by Chateau Lafayette, all living during wars, and all phenomenal.  I was enthralled from the very first page. 

To pick my favorite character would be impossible.   I initially chose the book to read about Adrienne Lafayette and found that I was just as intrigued by Beatrice Astor Chanler and Marthe Simone. Each woman has a strength and perseverance that is amazing.    The lives they lived were extraordinary.    They had to have a special power to survive during war, to protect the others that were in their lives, and to live the lives so powerfully. 

I loved the three timelines.  I found it extremely easy to follow and enjoyed how the stories were tied together with the location. I was blown away with the attention to the details of the different eras, the different wars, and the situations of the time.   Stephanie Dray, author, took her time to give the reader the detail and knowledge to understand the women and the lives they were living and the lives of the people important to them.  

The Women of Chateau Lafayette is a long book but it is an amazing book.   Take your time, read every word, enjoy the story, and learn some amazing history.  

**Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads


 


Meet Stephanie Dray…
STEPHANIE DRAY is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of historical women’s fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into eight languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. Now she lives in Maryland with her husband, cats, and history books. Newsletter |  Facebook 

 







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