A Bakery in Paris⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book Blurb: 1870: The Prussians are at the city gates, intent to starve Paris into submission. Lisette Vigneau--headstrong, willful, and often ignored by her wealthy parents--awaits the outcome of the war from her parents' grand home in the Place Royale in the very heart of the city. When an excursion throws her into the path of a revolutionary National Guardsman, Theodore Fournier, her destiny is forever changed. She gives up her life of luxury to join in the fight for a Paris of the People. She opens a small bakery with the hopes of being a vital boon to the impoverished neighbourhood in its hour of need. When the city falls into famine, and then rebellion, her resolve to give up the comforts of her past life is sorely tested.

1946: Nineteen-year-old Micheline Chartier is coping with the loss of her father and the disappearance of her mother during the war. In their absence, she is charged with the raising of her two younger sisters. At the hand of a well-meaning neighbour, Micheline finds herself enrolled in a prestigious baking academy with her entire life mapped out for her. Feeling trapped and desperately unequal to the task of raising two young girls, she becomes obsessed with finding her mother. Her classmate at the academy, Laurent Tanet, maybe the only one capable of helping Micheline move on from the past and begin creating a future for herself.

Both women must grapple with loss, learn to accept love and face impossible choices armed with little more than their courage and a belief that a bit of flour, yeast, sugar, and love can bring about a revolution of their own.

Review: I love French bread and pastries and the cover of this book was just calling my name.
Bakery in Paris is a dual-time novel. We follow Lisette in 1870 during the War and her great-granddaughter Micheline in the aftermath of WWII.
Lisette chooses to leave her wealthy life and opens a Bakery to help the poor people of Paris. Micheline finds the same love for baking and the bakery as she tries to take care of her sisters.
A lovely book about unconditional love and strong women. It was very easy to relate to both women and I felt their pain and emotions. Their losses and struggles made me love them more. I was drawn into the story straight away I couldn't put it down.
A lovely bonus were the recipes throughout the book and of course and I needed to try at least one of the recipes to see what would come out. I tried the Mille-Feuille à L’Ancienne……OMG….. I love French pastries.
If you love historical fiction, strong women and baking...you'll love this book