This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
Love and Betrayal in the City of Lights by Rachel R. Heil is an intriguing tale set in Nazi-occupied Paris, following the intertwined lives of young intellectuals, artists, and ordinary citizens as they struggle with love, loyalty, and betrayal. In 1941, aspiring poet and philosophy student Jean Janvier wants nothing more than success. His world revolves around deep conversations at the Café de Flore and the bond with his sister Josephine, all under the watchful eyes of their ambitious parents. When the beguilingly beautiful Annette Zabek enters his life, Jean’s carefully crafted universe is altered. As their romance deepens, secrets threaten to tear them apart — Annette is Jewish, which is not just disturbing but dangerous given the Nazi crackdown. What follows is haunting, and in 1992, Josephine has many regrets despite a happy marriage.
Rachel R. Heil’s historical romance gripped me from the start, and there was no way of letting go. The characters are well-developed and feel like people I have met in life. Annette Zabek is a courageous young woman from Nancy who defies the oppressive regime to pursue her education. Minor characters, such as Claude, Bella, Jacques, and others, are well-drawn against a backdrop of academia, and some are entangled in clandestine activities, personal conflicts, and covert romances. The cultural setting in Nazi-occupied Paris is filled with tension and uncertainty, and I loved how the author conveys this in the story. Elements such as vivid imagery—Paris’s haunting streets and evocative cafes— enrich the narrative. The shifting perspectives deepen the emotional impact. Love and Betrayal in the City of Lights is suspenseful and delightful, and I enjoyed the incredible storytelling, the sparkling and often witty dialogues, and the realistic characters.
