Publication Date: August 1, 2023
From the author of The School for German Brides, this captivating historical novel set in nineteenth-century and post–World War II Paris follows two fierce women of the same family, generations apart, who find that their futures lie in the four walls of a simple bakery in a tiny corner of Montmartre.
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, Théodore 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 neighborhood 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 neighbor, 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, may be 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.
Two women, linked by blood generations apart, find refuge using their skills to create delicious baked goods.
Author Aimie K. Runyan introduces two strong female characters in A Bakery in Paris. It’s a heart-warming tale spanning two tumultuous time periods—1870 and 1946.
Lisette lives a life of privilege but wants nothing more than to have a simple life without all the frills. She spends much of her time with the servants learning how to cook and avoiding her mother’s criticism of everything from her hair color to some perceived deficiency.
She finds love in a chance meeting with a poor man, which leads to a momentous decision that changes the course of her life. She turns her baking skills into the foundation for a bakery to help the neighborhood. However, growing unease among the social classes threatens her hopes for the future.
Lisette’s story is told in alternating chapters alongside the story of her great-granddaughter, Micheline, who is caring for her two younger sisters in light of her mother’s sudden disappearance. When the renters of the downstairs bistro leave, she must come up with a source of income. A neighbor offers to pay for her to attend baking school and re-open the family bakery established by Lisette.
Although Micheline has plenty of determination, she struggles to find her place. Finding Lisette’s journal/recipes gives her an added boost while providing a link to the past. Through her efforts, she also finds love.
This is probably one of the best historical fiction books I have read this year. Not only is there a fast-moving dual storyline, but both main characters share a desire to help others.
A Bakery in Paris delivers a satisfying story of love and loss, sprinkled with recipes of tasty bakery delights fresh from Lisette’s kitchen…and later from Micheline.
Aimie K. Runyan is a multipublished and bestselling author of historical fiction. She has been nominated for a Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the Year award and two Colorado Book Awards. She lives in Colorado with her wonderful husband and two (usually) adorable children.
