The French Kitchen: A Historical Romance Set in WWII France, Post-War Paris, and the World of Julia Child

By Kristy Cambron

"In The French Kitchen, award-winning author Kristy Cambron weaves multiple characters and storylines into a tapestry of secrets, betrayals, and redemption. Full of mouthwatering culinary scenes and peppered with several appearances from famed chef Julia Child, who worked in intelligence during World War II, this story of spies and lovers zips between the coast of northern France during the war and Paris in the early 1950s . . . Delicious " --Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau

As Paris rebuilds in the aftermath of World War II, Kat Fontaine never expected the skills she learned in a French chateau kitchen to be the key that unlocks the secrets swirling in her new post-war life.

Paris, 1952--Still haunted by the years she spent serving in the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII, ex-pat Kat Fontaine, now living in Paris, finds a simple cookery class led by indomitable chef Julia Child unearths the tangle of gut-wrenching memories of war. Determined to find her brother who went missing during the war and is presumed dead, Kat questions everything, especially her high-ranking society husband whose past is as murky as her own. But when the puzzle pieces start to come together--and her carefully crafted Paris world begins to fall apart--Kat must confront her own secrets against the mounting suspicions of the husband she thought she knew . . .

Rue, 1943--Deep in the heart of Nazi-controlled northern France, Manon Altier shifts between working for the enemy by day--as a French chef at the famous Chateau du Broutel, where names like Himmler, Rommel, and Goebbels frequent the guest list--and running with underground networks against the Vichy regime at night. Working undercover to filter critical information to agents within the burgeoning OSS presence in France, Manon digs deep into the glitz and glamour of a Nazi stronghold that has her teetering on the edge of being discovered at any turn. But when an intriguing stranger appears at the chateau claiming to work with the French Resistance, Manon must lean on her instincts to judge whether to run and hide or stand firm--even as a terrifying discovery tests her resolve to continue the fight.

From the heights of culinary cuisine in 1950s Paris society to the underbelly of a WWII spy network embedded deep within Nazi-controlled Vichy France--and the spy backstory of the world's most famous would-be French chef, Julia Child--The French Kitchen turns up the heat on the pasts of women whose worlds collide, and forces each to question what she thought she'd planned for a perfect future.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 140034526X
• ISBN13: 9781400345267
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Fast paced, 5 star book that I loved!!

This book was an absolute page turner for me!  I was hooked from the beginning, as it was like putting together a puzzle that just kept getting better and better as each exciting and unpredictable piece was placed. Man I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I read 2/3rds of it in one sitting because I was so gripped by the story that I just had to keep reading!  The book really came together in the end, and I was shocked by the finale of the story, as I never guessed the ending in a million years! I don't like it when a book ending is predictable, and this one wasn't!!  I really love this historical fiction story, loved that the author included Julia Childs, and am going to research her part in WWII!  The characters blended together so well, and usually I don't care for a dual time story, but this one made the story exciting and flow so well I kept turning the pages! So this gets a 5 star rating, and I highly recommend it!!!

suspenseful intriguing WWII historical fiction

"To look back is not to lament all we've lost, but to see how past experiences have shaped us into who we are." Kristy Cambron is a master at weaving emotionally gripping and unforgettable historical fiction. I enjoyed her previous books set during WWII and this newest offering did not disappoint. The plot in 1943 Northern France worked almost like a flashback to fill in the backstory of the plot in 1952 Paris. Kat and Manon's third person voices in 1943 were brave, fearless, resourceful, and loyal as they worked in occupied France's chateau kitchen while working with the Resistance, OSS, and SOE. The cloud of danger and urgency was palpable in the midst of secrecy, espionage, subversion, double agents and heart-breaking betrayals. Gerard and Kat's third person voices carried the 1952 segment of the story and it was fascinating to see how much they had matured yet still hurt from their losses during the war. Gerard was a stalwart and compassionate hero, fully committed to the cause he had pledged himself. Kat learned to temper her impulsiveness and fiery stubbornness of youth but wasn't afraid to challenge others' decisions to make her own way. Both Gerard and Kat were afraid to love but learned to conquer their fears. The suspense and intrigue were delightful, as were the two romances that bloomed even in the middle of war. The subplot of searching for Kat's brother who was declared missing during the war brought plot twists upon plot twists, which all came together at the end. I also enjoyed meeting fictionalized Julia Child here. I have to admit that I didn't fully follow the plot until about a third way into the book - I got a bit confused between the 1943 and 1952 plots and had trouble connecting the dots between the two timelines. I don't know French so maybe that contributed. I was also confused about some of the characters singled out at the end of the story and how they were tied to what happened at the end of 1943 storyline. Regardless the writing was melodic, the setting unrivaled, characters unforgettable, and life lessons learned timeless. If you enjoy historical fiction, you will love this book. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.