LAST CHRISTMAS IN PARIS – Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb
A Novel of World War 1 ,
William Morrow
ISBN: 978-0-06-256268-5
October 2017
Historical Fiction

England and France, 1914 to 1918 and 1968

WWI began a century ago; few are alive today who recall those times. Unless we have passed down family history, most of what we know about it we learned from history books. LAST CHRISTMAS IN PARIS gives us a chance to experience the era vicariously through letters based on the research of two talented authors. The letters begin after a short prologue.

The primary writers are four friends since childhood. Two best friends, Thomas Harding and Will Elliott, are about to join the King's army to fight the Germans in France. Will leaves behind his sister Evelyn, called Evie by the boys she played with and was teased by—and whom she teased right back. Evie also has a best friend with whom she will correspond over the next years. Alice Cuthbert will be going to France as a nurse. They will all leave Evie behind who will pine to do something for the cause as well. Although, they and everyone believed it would all be over by Christmas.

Ms. Gaynor and Ms. Webb do an excellent job in bringing their characters to life through their writings, giving them unique personalities. The letters nicely reveal the times and changes going on around them all. There will be happiness and sorrow, but also humor and good cheer . . . and love.

I wasn't sure what to expect from LAST CHRISTMAS IN PARIS, but in the end, this epistolary novel was very enjoyable, and I can highly recommend it.

Jane Bowers