Book Review: J'Adore Paris

By Melissa Amster

My sister recently went on a trip to Paris and I saw a Facebook status update from her that said "J'adore Paris." Seeing it through her eyes (and amazing photos), as well as on the pages of Isabelle Lafleche's latest novel, makes me feel the same way.

After her harried schedule as a lawyer in New York, Catherine Lambert is back in Paris, living with her boyfriend and ready to kick back in high fashion, working for Christian Dior. However, her new job isn't as plush as she was hoping, as one of her first assignments involves staking out and entrapping counterfeiters. Soon Catherine is in over her head and her safety and integrity become compromised by people who don't want her in their "business." Will Catherine and her loyal assistant, Rikash, manage successfully to outsmart even the most dangerous counterfeiting criminals?

It has been a while since I read J'adore New York. I think it was back in 2011 when I was still working off of very little sleep. However, I remember loving that novel and couldn't wait to dive right in to J'adore Paris and catch up with Catherine, Rikash and others from J'ANY. Once I did, I realized how much I forgot from one novel to the next. I wish there had been more background or a refresher given at the beginning so readers like myself, who were coming back into the story after reading billions of books in between that time, could remember what was going on and where we last left off. There were little nuggets of information provided throughout the story, but I really needed more. Having said that, once I was able to enjoy it for its own merit, I really got into the story and had a hard time putting it down. There was a lot of adventure and suspense throughout the novel. I was definitely nervous for Catherine, as she was placed in some risky situations. In the meantime, Isabelle Lafleche never left us wanting for fashion and location descriptions. She painted Paris in a beautiful light, making me want to see it for myself in person. While I was craving some answers, the ending felt a bit rushed as things seemed to fit things too nicely together. However, Isabelle still left some questions unanswered, making me believe that there will be a third part to this series.

Overall, J'adore Paris was entertaining and kept me on my toes. In honor of such a fun story, I want to share some photos of Paris that were taken by my sister, Beth Silverman, on her recent trip. Hopefully they'll set the mood for when you read this novel.

Thanks to HarperCollins Canada for the book in exchange for an honest review. Isabelle is doing a giveaway along with her visit.