A Bakery in Paris    by Aimie K. Runyan Order:  USA  Can William Morrow, 2023 (2023) Softcover, CD, e-Book     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Aimie K. Runyan's A Bakery in Paris tells the stories, centered on said Montmartre bakery, of two women in different historical eras - Lisette Vigneau in the 1870's when Paris was besieged by Prussians; and Micheline Chartier just after World War II. Strong-willed Lisette comes from wealth and privilege. Though the eldest child, she isn't well loved, her main value being in marriage. Lisette adores their cook Nanette and has absorbed all that Nanette can teach her. One day, when their kitchen maid, Marie, is injured, Lisette decides to do the marketing. She wears Marie's dress. When she gets in difficulty, young National Guardsman Théodore Fournier comes to her rescue. She soon learns that he's a revolutionary, fighting for Paris of the People. They fall in love, Lisette moves in with Theo and opens a bakery in Montmartre. Life is hard but happy until tragedy strikes. Fast forward to 1946, when nineteen-year-old Micheline Chartier struggles to raise her younger sisters after the wartime loss of their father and disappearance of their mother. She's overwhelmed and desperate. Then, her neighbor pushes her to enroll in a prestigious baking academy. She and fellow student Laurent re-open the Montmartre bakery. A journal passed down through the decades connects these two lives, with some of its entries interspersed through the book. Both women deal with very challenging times and personal tragedy - and both surmount them and find happiness again. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Historical books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews