The Socialite: A Novel of World War II

J'nell Ciesielski

Apr 2020 · Sold by Thomas Nelson

About this eBook

When her younger sister runs away to Paris to live with a German officer high up in Hitler’s favor, English socialite Kat embarks on a dangerous journey to save her sister from the Nazis. Glamour, romance, and espionage collide in this exciting, high-stakes adventure.

As the daughter of Sir Alfred Whitford, Kat has certain responsibilities. Chasing her wayward younger sister, Ellie, to Nazi-occupied Paris was never supposed to be one of them. Unfortunately, Ellie has grown accustomed to the luxurious lifestyle her Nazi lover provides and has no intention of going back to the shackled life their parents dictate—but Kat will stop at nothing to bring her sister home.

Barrett Anderson was arrested for defending himself against a drunken bully of high birth. Given the option of jail or training Resistance fighters in Paris, Barrett chooses the latter. He poses as a bar owner, entertaining Nazis at night while his men train right below their jackboots during the day. An assignment to watch over two English debutantes is the last thing he needs, but a payout from their father is too tempting to resist.

From the moment Kat and Barrett meet, tempers flare and sparks fly. Despite their differences, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other in order to survive this deadly mission. In the end, their hearts may prove more traitorous than the dangers waiting around the corner.

Both a daring journey into Nazi-occupied Paris and a captivating love story, The Socialite will enchant readers with its beautiful prose and unforgettable characters.

Praise for The Socialite:

“Smart, savvy, and seductive, J’nell Ciesielski’s The Socialite takes the reader on a high-stakes thrill ride through the darkness of WWII–occupied Paris.”—Kristy Cambron, bestselling and award-winning author

“In the tradition of Ariel Lawhon and Kate Quinn, The Socialite immerses readers in the glamor and destruction of Nazi-occupied Paris. A picture-perfect portrait of early 1940s Paris, this impeccably researched love story stands out in a sea of WWII-era fiction with its distinctive crystalline voice and unforgettable hero and heroine.”—Rachel McMillan, author of The London Restoration

• Exciting World War II historical romance
• Full-length, stand-alone novel
• Book length: 110,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Ratings and reviews

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK In The Socialite, Kat Whitford chases her sister to Nazi-occupied Paris to bring her home. Which didn’t go as well as she expected. But Kat was determined to carry out her plan. There is a lot of good WWII history in this book, which is very interesting, and something WWII buffs will enjoy. And I thoroughly enjoyed it as well. It is interesting reading different authors stories set in this time era, and the different ways they explain the area. And this author did an amazing job with her research and her writing. The main characters were well created and developed well throughout the story. I had a problem with Ellie, I just never seem to connect with her for some reason. And her immature behavior did get on my nerves. But then this is what gives flavor to the story! I did like Kat, and enjoyed her personality. Though she had her father’s best interest at heart, I was glad to see her pull out of that and start living for Kat! She is a very brave young lady, and I admire her for that and for what she takes on to do for her father. I was excited for her meeting Barrett, but you will need to read the story for this new twist in the story. As we follow Kat’s journey and that of her sisters, there is so much happening, a lot of action and romance and sometimes dangerous situations fall into their paths as well. This is a well written story, written in a difficult time on the world. I think you would love this one if you enjoy reading anything about WWII. My only problem with this story is that it is labeled as Christian, and I didn’t see a lot to put it in that category. But since I like the authors writing, I will be checking out other books by her, I would like to see what else she has to write. A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine 1alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I was rather excited to read The Socialite as I had previously noticed J’nell Ciesielski‘s other World War II novels. I did not know her books are considered Christian novels until I saw it’s Christian romance category on book sites and that the publisher is Thomas Nelson. I began to wonder if this classification was correct after reading it because of the lack of discussions about faith, slightly more steamy romance, and a few British swear words. A quick scan of her earlier book Among the Poppies showed more references to God and prayer over all. Despite the illicit relationship The Socialite is a cleanish romance. Kat is sent by her father to retrieve the prodigal daughter from a clandestine relationship with a Nazi officer in France. She arrives unaware her father has employed Barrett Anderson to return both Kat and Ellie safely to England. Ellie is infatuated with her German boyfriend Eric von Schlegel. Or rather, she is in love with his money and the pampered lifestyle he gives her. She rationalizes his controlling behavior until he has cut her off from all her friends except his carefully chosen German friends. Although she rebelled against her father’s controlling schemes, she doesn’t recognize her boyfriend is acting the same way. Ellie recognizes the dangerous situation she has placed herself in after Eric suggests unusual relationship terms. Unfortunately she has not told her sister the true nature of her affair with Eric. Both Kat and Barrett begin to see how impossible reaching England safely will be when they discover Eric is already married. I enjoyed reading Kat’s journey through personal growth. Her reaction to people trying to control her was not so different from mine. Kat tried to please her father even when she resented his interference. It’s liberating to set personal boundaries. “I’ve lived my whole life trying to do what was right, what was expected, but I see now it was out of fear of disappointing that I agreed in the first place. I should have said no to a great many people along the way.” “You should’ve told them to take a flying leap.” Her lips quirked. “In hindsight many of them probably deserved that. But in all those people you were never one I tried to please out of wanting to curry favor. I can be myself without fear of reprisal.” Kat and Barrett’s first meeting is humorous. I also loved when Kat showed unexpected courage. Barrett’s occasional use of Scottish brogue is delightful. Religious freedom is an essential right. Reading WWII books helps me realize the importance of tolerating everyone’s beliefs and in having faith that mine will be respected as well. I was moved to tears by the kindness of one historical French community toward the Jews in another WWII novel I thoroughly enjoyed, Children of the Stars by Mario Escobar. Kathleen (Kat) Whitford hates the Nazis’ inhumane treatment of the Jews. It’s hard for her to hide her disgust. She is appalled when she learns about deportation camps. She, and I, wonder how people allowed this to happen. Barrett’s cautionary explanation makes a lot of sense. I had not realized there was an ‘official narrative’ or restriction of the media in that time period. I enjoyed the historical details and amusing scenes in this novel. I did not like the contrived technique of withholding a minor detail until the second to last chapter. The last chapter or brothel in another chapter weren’t quite to my taste either. Otherwise, the book is well written. Reading this story can influence us to consider how we treat other people; it has inspired me to reflect on some of my biases. The need to wisely choose dating standards and recognize desirable attributes in a spouse is another important theme. If you like historical romances with strong female characters, I think you will enjoy The Socialite. I received a free advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are completely my own.

This intense novel based in occupied France during WWII was a stunning read. We see a brief sampling of atrocities committed, especially as seen through the eyes of two young women who had been unaware of the true scope of the propaganda and its effects throughout Europe. The characters are very well-defined throughout by their conversations and actions. While not a specifically Christian read, it is a clean read, and a healthy reminder of how our true battle is not against people, but against the unseen forces of evil. Ellie is the younger daughter of Sir Alfred Whitford in England. She is the dreamer, the one who refuses to follow the rules, the one who left about a year earlier to find her happiness. Her older sister, Kat, has always been the responsible rule-follower. Kat and Ellie had been very close, and the betrayal of Ellie leaving without even a goodbye cut deep. Sir Alfred has always been very overprotective of his daughters, laying out strict rules that most could not live up to. When Ellie was located in Paris, he was going to go haul her home. Knowing Ellie would run away as fast as she could when seeing their father, Kat battled with him to go herself. It is 1941, and France is occupied by the Germans. Sir Alfred works together with his friends in England’s Secret Intelligence Service to get her in safely. Getting both of them out could be a different matter. Ellie is living the high life, at least much higher than most in Paris. She is mistress to a German major, Eric. He helped her get a coveted position as Social Secretary of Paris. She spouts the party lines easily when a horrified Kat arrives to see – and hear – what Ellie is up to. She is smart enough to know how to work with Ellie to not drive her further to Eric’s arms. Barrett is a Scottish pub owner in Paris. His pub is a front for an underground French resistance training cell. Unbeknownst to her, Sir Alfred had hired him to make sure Kat and Ellie get out of France safely. He didn’t plan on the growing attraction between them, and fears what will happen when she learns he took the job to make enough money to start over in America. Ellie frequently uses his club to entertain for functions of the Germans. Kat planned to never rely on, or care about, another man, but those plans begin to change. Especially when he lays down his life to save the sisters. I have appreciated earlier books by the author, set in WWI and WWII, and this continues in the same excellence in historical novels. This fabulous novel is intense when describing the depth of the starvation, murder, and hatred. Even so, this is a compelling read. Family secrets abound. Whether they are faced and dealt with while on the run effects the outcome of the mission. The character of Barrett and the sisters grows throughout. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who appreciates WWII novels that include surviving in occupied countries, family drama, and romance. From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Celebrate Lit, and this is my honest review.

About the author

Bestselling author J’nell Ciesielski has a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories while weaving fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. She is a member of the Tall Poppy Writers and lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle. Learn more at www.jnellciesielski.com.