All the Ways We Said Goodbye audiobook

I listened to the audiobook of All the Ways We Said Goodbye: A Novel of the Ritz Paris by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White and enjoyed it immensely. Individually, each of these three authors can be described as extremely talented writers but by combining their talent they were able to write this masterful historical fiction novel, All the Ways We Said Goodbye. The audiobook was brilliantly narrated by Helen Sadler, Nicola Barber and Saskia Maarleveld. The novel alternated between three time periods and focused on three, brave, strong and resilient women, all with a connection to one another and the lush Ritz Hotel in Paris, France. There was Aurelie Coucelles, the heiress and part of a noble family, that lived during World War I (1914) and tried to protect her castle, the French people and her country from the ruthless German army. Aurelie had grown up living with her mother at the Ritz Hotel. Then there was Marguerite (Daisy) Villon, the French Resistance fighter, who worked beside Legrand, the renowned English forger, and acted as a courier during World War II (1942) to deliver important papers. Daisy was brought up by her American grandmother and had lived her entire childhood at the Ritz Hotel. She was married to a Nazi collaborator. Daisy found herself falling totally in love with Legrand. Lastly, there was Barbara (Babs) Langford, who was recently widowed. Babs traveled to Paris, France in 1964 to help Andrew (Drew) Bowdoin solve a mystery centered around the notorious French Resistance fighter known as “La Fleur” and Andrew’s dying father. All three of the women characters were engaging, complex and believable. The connection between these three women was made known by the end of this beautiful saga. The themes of romance, danger, mystery and family were evident throughout the novel. The plot effortlessly flowed between the different time periods. There was a surprising twist in the plot as well. The dialogue was genuine and felt authentic to each character. I highly recommend this book.

3.5 starsI've been wanting to check out a book by this trio of authors for awhile now because I have enjoyed some of the solo efforts of writers Beatriz Williams and Karen White. I'm not sure how they broke down the writing duties for this one but I was really impressed how it felt like a cohesive story and not three different styles of writing. This might not make my list of top historical fiction reads but it certainly was a good story and I definitely recommend giving this one a look if you are a fan of any or all of the authors.This story alternates between different characters and timelines which I always enjoy although I did have trouble keeping track of all the characters near the beginning. Aurelie is an heiress living in France back in 1914 just as the war is breaking out. The German military has taken over her family's estate and despite being on different sides, she forms a friendship with one of the soldiers. Switching over to 1942, Daisy was raised by her grandmother at the Ritz in Paris. Her husband is a Nazi collaborator and Daisy secretly starts helping her grandmother's Resistance efforts. And finally there is Barbara, "Babs" Langford who is a widow after the recent death of her husband Kit. The year is 1964 and Babs has traveled to Paris to meet with an American lawyer who wants her help tracking down the identity of a Resistance fighter and perhaps traitor with the mysterious nickname "La Fleur". How do these 3 storylines connect? This isn't a book in which the main goal is have the reader super shocked at how everything ties together. You do have a fairly good idea of the general direction of the story way before it is all revealed. However, because the female characters are written as strong women, whether they necessarily realized it or not, you feel invested in them and want to see how everything plays out. And there actually did manage to be one or two small surprises along the way which was nice.As for my criticism of the novel, I thought Aurelie got lost in the shuffle a bit in the first half of the book. I had the most trouble remembering the things going on with her storyline compared to the other two characters. She became distinct in my mind eventually and was an important part of the story, but I really wish it hadn't taken quite so long to get there. I also wouldn't say this is the most memorable historical fiction book when compared to some of the other books about the war in that genre. A few touching moments here and there but I wasn't moved to tears like I have been with other World War 1 and 2 historical fiction novels. I enjoyed reading this book and liked how the story highlighted some of the Resistnace efforts by women but I wouldn't place this in the must read category. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

All the Ways We Said Goodbye was so good! It was written by not one, but three fantastic authors. This story takes three POVs, by three women in three different timelines, with the Ritz Hotel in Paris at the center of each of their stories.This was such a beautiful story, and it captivated me right away. A beautiful story woven through the timelines of WWI 1914, WWII 1942, and post-war 1960s. I just loved this book so much, and recommend it to historical fiction lovers, and those looking to give HF a try!*Thank you William Morrow for this gifted copy for review. All opinions are my own.

All The Ways We Said Goodbye is a story about three strong women and all had a unique connection to the famous French hotel. The three women had lived or stayed at the Ritz, Aurelie Courcelles is a French heriess, Marguerite (Daisy ) Villon is a French resistance fighter and Babs Langford is a English widow.France 1914, Aurelie is staying at the Ritz with her mother, she makes a rash decision to leave Paris and to drive her fiance to the front. The Germans are advancing towards capital, all men are being deployed to the front to stop the Germans taking Paris and she's soon finds herself stuck behind German lines. Aurelie has to make it to safety, she starts the long walk to her fathers ancestral estate and she eventually makes it home. The next morning the Germans arrive, they take over the estate, she's shocked to discover a familiar face and she knows one of the officers. They met before the war, while she was making her debut in Paris, he's the handsome Maximilian Von Sternburg and she has always been very attracted to him.In 1942, France has again been invaded by the Germans, Paris has fallen and the Nazis have total control. Marguerite or Daisy is stuck in a very unhappy marriage, her husband is a collaborator, she was a silly naive girl when she married him and she now has two young children to look after.Daisy is Aurelie’s daughter, she grew up living in the Ritz and she's soon drawn into helping the French resistance by her American grandmother. She agrees to become a courier, she meets a man, his code name is Legrand he forges documents to help Jewish people escape France, soon they begin having a dangerous and very risky affair.In, 1964, Babs is a English widow, a American lawyer called Drew Bowdoin, contacted her, he's trying to find a resistance fighter and he asks her to meet him in Paris. She's of course staying at the Ritz, she's hopeful he might be able to help her solve the mystery of what happened to her husband during WW II and help her to find some closure. Babs loved her husband Kit, she kept a secret letter from him and she feels very guilty. During her husbands final days he kept muttering the name La Fleur, she must be her husbands first love and she's a French spy?The book has multiple timelines, it starts in 1914, it continues in 1942 and it ends in 1964.It spans two world wars and the rather modern times of mini skirts in the 1960's.All three women are of course connected, it's a long and very complicated story. It's a saga really about war, love, tragedy and secrets. I did enjoy reading the book and did it need to be so long?I gave the book four stars, I have shared my review on Goodreads, Edelweiss, Twitter, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Australian Amazon and my blog.https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/

Three women, three different time periods, three different situations, but they all find the Ritz of Paris to be their comfort zone.We meet Aurelie in 1914 who lived at the Ritz with her mother. She needed to get away and had the perfect excuse. She drove her fiancée to the front, and on her way back, her car was shot up. She thankfully was near her father’s estate and walked there to only find she would be stuck there because the Nazis had arrived and had taken over the estate.We meet Daisy in 1942 who was raised by her grandmother at the Ritz and who eventually helped her grandmother with the resistance. Then we meet Babs in 1964 whose husband had been in the war and had befriended La Fleur who was a resistance fighter. Babs wants to find out who La Fleur was since her husband called out her name a number of times before his death. She also meets at the Ritz with an American lawyer who is also looking for La Fleur. There are quite a few characters to keep straight, but the main characters are strong, brave, and very likeable. Babs was my favorite...her story had me laughing at some of the things she did and said. Aurelie’s story was the most interesting because of her situation but was the most upsetting. I admired Daisy for what she was doing for the French Resistance, and enjoyed reading about another way things were secretly done. The 3W's did it again!! ALL THE WAYS WE SAID GOODBYE is another marvelous, well-researched, difficult-to-put-down tale. We readers are again treated to their detailed writing, terrific story line, and smooth transition from one author to the next, but have a notebook handy to keep all the characters straight. Do not miss reading this gem. 5/5 This book was given to me by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

A magnificent hotel, an intricately woven plot, three strong women characters written by three eloquent authors. SUMMARY France, 1914. Aurelie is at her family’s ancestral home, when the Germans move in and begin using it as their headquarters, Aurelie discovers she knows one of the German officers, Maximilian Von Sternburg. Despite their conflicting loyalties, Aurelie and Max’s friendship soon deepens into a love, that will shatter them both. France, 1942. Daisy was raised by her indomitable grandmother in the glamorous Hotel Ritz. She continues to live in Paris with her two children and her husband Pierre, who becomes a Nazi collaborator after France falls to Hitler. Daisy agrees to act as a courier for a skilled English forger, who creates identity papers for the resistance and for Jewish refugees. As Daisy is drawn deeper into the underground network, she uncovers secret information, and commit the ultimate betrayal. France, 1964. Babs was haunted by a mysterious woman known by her husband, Kit, as La Fleur. After Kit’s death, American lawyer Andrew “Drew” Bowdoin appears at Bab’s door. He was hired to find the Resistance fighter turned traitor known as “La Fleur,” Curious to know more about La Fleur, Babs joins Drew in his search, a journey of discovery that that takes them to Paris and the Ritz—and to unexpected places of the heart….REVIEWThree strong women characters, three eloquent women authors, an intricately woven story and a magnificent hotel. What could be better? The writing was superb and the story was mesmerizing. I enjoyed following the alternating chapters of Aurelie, Daisy and Babs and discerning their role in the story and their connections to one another. One of my favorite parts of this beguiling story was the transitions between chapters which take place decades apart. While perhaps just a little thing, I very much looked forward to these skillfully-crafted transitions which referenced to an item, for example, a scarf, at the conclusion of one chapter and then picks up on a scarf reference in the opening scene of the next chapter. This simple connection between the chapters captivated me. The attention to details such as this, makes this a treasure of a book,. If you like historical fiction, strong women characters, and a little romance thrown in this is the book for you. I also appreciated the reference to the Scarlet Pimpernel and to the French Revolution. Thanks to authors Karen White, Beatriz Williams, and Lauren Willig for a delightful experience. I listened to the audible version of the book and felt the narrators also helped bring the story to life. Publisher William MorrowPublished January 14, 2020Narrated Helen Sadler, Nicola Barber, Saskatchewan MaarleveldReview www.bluestockingreviews.com

Three women’s lives are intertwined by love, war, betrayals, and death. Their fragility, strengths, and courage are effectively portrayed. In 1914, Aurélie de Courcelies in a rash decision leaves her mother at the Hotel Ritz in Paris to join her father at his château in Picardy shortly before the Germans appear. In 1942, Daisy Villon, who was raised by her grandmother at the Hotel Ritz, becomes a courier and spy for the French resistance when her husband becomes a Nazi collaborator. In 1964, Barbara “Babs” Langford, travels to the Hotel Ritz to meet American attorney Drew Bowdoin, who is digging into his grandfather’s and her deceased husband’s pasts. The three authors effectively collaborate well together as the chapters and stories flow seamlessly. The conversations are realistic and impel the book forward. This is the third book I have enjoyed reading that they have collectively written. Despite the proliferation of World War II novels, I still love reading of this historical era.

It's 1914 in Paris and Aurelie leaves her plush surroundings at the Ritz to head to her father's estate. Once she gets to her father's very old, yet still impressive castle, it doesn't take long for the Germans to come and declare this location as their newest headquarters. This is obviously a tough pill to swallow, but she recognizes one of the German soldiers as Max Von Sternburg. Aurelie knows Max from a very different time in Paris where she was a debutante and their worries were few and far between. Can they still maintain their friendship (and possibly something more?) amidst the face of war, especially since the German soldiers are downright horrible to not only Aurelie's family, but the entire village? Then there's Daisy Villon who lives in Paris in 1942. Her world is changing rapidly as France falls to Hitler, but her Nazi sympathizing husband says they have nothing to worry about. Daisy's grandmother says otherwise and convinces Daisy to help her work for the Resistance. Before Daisy knows it, she is in too deep, but how can she not help these desperate people? While working for the Resistance, Daisy meets a man who will change her life forever. Lastly, there's Barbara Langford, otherwise known as Babs, and she is newly widowed. When her husband, Kit, returned from the war, he was never the same and often mentioned a mysterious woman known as La Fleur. Meanwhile, an American, Drew Bowdoin, has contacted her after he husband's death about La Fleur. He is trying to track her down and the path led straight to Babs. Who is La Fleur? How does this mysterious Resistance member involve Kit? Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White expertly weave all three women's stories together in All the Ways We Said Goodbye; historical fiction fans will love this tale filled with heartache, family secrets, war, hope, and new beginnings.Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...

Three authors, three women, three time frames. All are linked by the Ritz in some way. There is also the talisman, a relic of Joan of Arc, that links them together too.Babs - 1964 - English Countryside: a recent widow. Knew that during WWII, her late husband, Kit, worked with and loved La Fleur, a fellow resistance worker. A lawyer approaches her to help him find La Fleur. They meet at the Ritz in Paris.Aurelie- 1918 - Picardy France: the daughter of an American heiress and a French Comtesse. The family manor - the Chauteau de Corcelles - is commandeered by German soldiers. Her mother lives at the Ritz.Daisy - 1942 - Paris: her grandmother lives at the Ritz. She is married with two children. Her husband works for the Nazis and is disgusting. Daisy becomes a part of the resistance. Maguerite is Daisy's given name. It means daisy in French.The stories flow seamlessly from Babs to Aurelie to Daisy and back again. Nine times. The book ends with Babs. The authors cleverly linked the ending of one women's memories with the next woman's memories with a single word or concept.Following is an example from Chapters 19, 20 and 21.Ch 19/Babs: the last sentence mentions ghosts.Ch 20/Aurelie: the first sentence "There were no ghosts in the back corridors of the castle, only dust."The last sentence mentions darkness.Ch 21/Daisy: the first sentence "The apartment was quiet and dark, husband and children far away, and Daisy felt like the only person in the world."One other note: there were three authors, but the style of all is remarkably similar. I strongly recommend this book as excellent historical fiction. Linking the three time periods is what made this book interesting.5 stars

This book was very good. Not a thriller or a memorable book but, it was a lovely read. It was set in three time lines, 1914, 1942 and 1964. So, it covered two world wars and at times I had to remember what era I was in!!!!! Apart from that it was a good read, I do love Beatrix Williams but unfortunately her books are not only expensive but not easy to buy in the UK. This one I managed to get on ebook from my library, so, I didn’t have to pay.If you want something a little different then this one is for you.

4.5 stars Team W is an auto buy group of authors for me! I have read all of Lauren Willig’s books and many by Beatriz Williams and Karen White and I have read all of the Team W books so far, each one is so wonderful.These three authors are tried and true writers and I have been anxiously awaiting the release of this latest Team W read. I decided to download it on Audible rather than read the physical copy as I have had great luck with the narrators of the Team W books and I was pleased with my choice to listen instead of physically reading.I couldn’t wait to get through my last audiobook so that I could start this one and I found myself driving around aimlessly sometimes just so I could listen to one more chapter.One of the things I noticed right away was some reoccurring characters from The Forgotten Room as well as The Glass Ocean. This book isn’t part of a series or anything like that but fans of the Team W books will see familiar characters and hear some familiar names in this book which I thought was just so fun and a lovely little Easter egg for fans.As with the other Team W books, there are three different story lines going on that eventually all connect together as the larger narrative comes to an end. The authors won’t reveal who writes which sections/characters, which is fine by me, it’s kind of fun trying to guess. But there always seems to be one standout character that I like over all the others and that’s still the case in this book. I personally loved Babs story the most. I love reading about the inception of a romance, where things are new and different and unknown so Babs story was the one that tugged at my heart the most, although Aurelie’s story came in a close second.Babs at times could be wishy-washy and kind of down on herself but I enjoyed seeing how she evolved throughout the story into a formidable woman. It was a great story of learning to move through grief and of letting go of the past while being able to forgive. Comparatively, Aurelie was feisty and sometimes too fierce for her own good. But I couldn’t help admire her fire and spirit even if at times it wasn’t prudent. I loved watching the love story between Max and Aurelie unfold and the way it was left was just so tragic and sad but oddly fitting.For me personally I didn’t care for Daisy. It had nothing to do with the fact that she was married and having an affair, I actually was relieved she finally became involved with Kit but something about their relationship felt forced to me. I never seemed to connect with Kit at all in the book. I didn’t feel like he was all that charming or dashing or romantic. Where as Max was charming and sweet and Drew was awkward but funny and just plain adorable. Kit never seemed to have any spark for me and as a result I found myself wondering why Daisy was even wasting her time with him. Daisy herself just didn’t really form a connection for me either and I don’t really know why but neither Daisy or Kit really held my attention the way Aurelie and Babs did.In the end though this was an excellent read and as I said, I found myself making up excuses to go for a drive so I could listen to it more! I adore Team W and will gladly read anything they write, but I am secretly hoping the next Team W book will be about Precious.See my full review here

I am totally impressed that three different authors can come together to produce a completely cohesive narrative.1914 / 1942 / 1964 Three timelines, two different wars; three different heroines all come together melded into an intriguing story of love and betrayal; heroism in the time of war; loss and redemption.There is a little bit of everything in this novel: Romance, mystery; a family saga spanning the ages and the Hotel Ritz in Paris as center stage.

All The Ways We Said Goodbye is a sweeping family saga of three strong females and their heroic men that’s centrally located in different time settings at The Ritz of Paris Hotel and a beautiful century’s old French Chateau. This book easily transported me back in time to each different era. I didn’t want to put it down. With so many genres rolled up into one entertaining story; romance, humor, mystery & suspense, to secrets and tragedy from wartime France in 1914 & 1942 to the flip hair style and mini skirt era of 1964, this book is not to be missed. I really enjoyed it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.