The Room on Rue Amélie

By: Kristin Harmel, Jacques Roy

Narrated by: Madeleine Maby

A moving and entrancing novel set in Paris during World War II about an American woman, a dashing pilot, and a young Jewish girl whose fates unexpectedly entwine—perfect for the fans of Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale and Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls, this is “an emotional, heart-breaking, inspiring tribute to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of love” (Mariah Stewart, New York Times bestselling author).

When Ruby first marries the dashing Frenchman she meets in a coffee shop, she pictures a life strolling arm in arm along French boulevards, awash in the golden afternoon light. But it’s 1938, and war is looming on the horizon.

Unfortunately, her marriage soon grows cold and bitter, her husband Marcel, distant and secretive—all while the Germans flood into Paris, their sinister swastika flags waving in the breeze. When Marcel is killed, Ruby discovers the secret he’d been hiding—he was a member of the French resistance—and now she is determined to take his place.

She becomes involved in hiding Allied soldiers—including a charming RAF pilot—who have landed in enemy territory. But her skills are ultimately put to the test when she begins concealing her twelve-year-old Jewish neighbor, Charlotte, whose family was rounded up by the Gestapo. Ruby and Charlotte become a little family, but as the German net grows tighter around Paris, and the Americans debate entering the combat, the danger increases. No one is safe.

“Set against all the danger and drama of WWII Paris, this heartfelt novel will keep you turning the pages until the very last word” (Mary Alice Monroe, New York Times bestselling author).

Beautiful story, lousy narration

Since most of the story takes place in France, I guess they took a narrator whose French accent can seem pretty real. But so S-L-O-W, with so many gaps between words, she loses the flow of the story line itself. Frustrating to listen to. The written version would probably be much better. This is the first time I've ever felt that about an audible book.

Loved this book so much!

This is a wonderful piece of historical fiction! The naration is spot on and the story made me keep coming back for more. I felt as though these characters were friends and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next.

Very sad

Struggled to finish the book
Too many memories of the terrible times
Well read
Too stark reality

expected me

I think I was expecting more, since it was so often compared to The Nightingale. Most of the story was kind of boring, no true character development. good stories, but they just fell flat with me. The ending was good, but that was literally the last 5 minutes.

Excellent!

Loved everything! Kudos to the author. And very well recited also . I enjoyed the book