This was a wonderful read, a beautifully written book.

The story of 2 orphaned sisters in the time of the French Revolution. As is often the case, when there are two protagonist's, chapters alternate between the girls/women. Renée and Laurette, take different paths during the unrest of France. Their story, so beautifully written, begins and ends with a message of love and hope and the bonds between family.

I just now noticed one of the MPG's is Christian Fiction. Not a genre I would normally pick-up. Do not let it dissuade you from reading this saga. The book hits all the high points of the Historical Fiction genre. The religious content is only what you would expect from the world of France in the 1790's.

As this is obvious in the books goodreads "blurb", I don't consider this next comment a spoiler: Readers of Dickens The Tale of Two Cities will see and feel the world Dickens created. As with Dickens, you will fall in love with the characters and feel their emotions through the pages.

Highly recommend for those who love a great HF family story. ( )

Allison Pittman has a stunning novel about the French Revolution in "The Seamstress". From the first page, one feels an empathetic connection to the wonderful characters whose lives, loves, and faith are woven throughout the story. It is a haunting tale that stays with the reader long after the last page has been read. It is a tale of loyalty, loss, and lives well-lived. Because the novel is about the Revolution, there is plenty of tragedy, and I must admit tears as well. However, one can still say it ends happily-ever-after. ( )

This was a beautifully written story that takes place during the French Revolution. The story revolves around a very minor character from Charles Dicken's A Tale of Two Cities. However, you don't need to have read that novel.
Renee and her older sister Laurette are two abandoned sisters that are taken in a by a kindly farmer. Renee has a chance meeting with a member of the royal household who recognizes great skill in her sewing abilities. Swept away to be seamstress to the queen of France, Renee's entire world changes. Laurette stays behind and eventually must choose between two men, the militant Marcel or steadfast Gagnon, the farmer who was her guardian.
The book is wonderful, so well written and a pleasure to read. I received a complimentary kindle ebook as part of the Goodreads giveaway program. ( )

Okay, so… A Tale of Two Cities is one of those books I should have read years ago in a high-school English class. But I didn’t. And I still haven’t. And yet, I wholeheartedly enjoyed Allison Pittman’s interpretation of its story in The Seamstress.

The Dickens classic, set within the harsh realities of the French Revolution, comes to life in a fresh light in Pittman’s novel. Renée, the seamstress, and Laurette, her cousin in the country, highlight the contrasting experiences of the era—from countryside desperation and starvation to palatial excess and ignorance. Their stories are exquisitely told, rich in historical detail, as well as faith, hope, and courage, until the bittersweet end.

Readers of historical fiction, read The Seamstress. Even if you haven’t yet read A Tale of Two Cities, like me. It’s an experience worth having. I highly, highly recommend it.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit, I received a complimentary copy of The Seamstress and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. ( )

1788 Paris is dark, gritty, and terrifying; beautiful, lavish and out-of-touch. While the Seamstress by Allison Pittman has much action in the poor countryside, much thought and control are determined in the capricious capital. With its model being The Tale of Two Cities, The Seamstress yet holds forth rays of hope peeking through the backdrop of the dank Bastille on a hot, steamy day. What an incredible, overall effect the completed story has on one's heart. Abandonment, adoption, intrigue, faith, faithlessness, famine, excess, forgiveness, greed, love, lust, loyalty, rebellion in every form; all are here and present in Paris where the food is scarce and the anger is plentiful. Pittman relates her tale through two cousins, Laurette and Renee. Unsatisfied Laurette's part is told in the third person, while innocent Renee's is narrated in first. I half wondered if that encouraged the reader to favor the purer Renee? Silver-tongued Marcel and godly, poor farmer Gagnon are major players in the drama. This is certainly a character-driven novel as we see a nation fighting against itself for survival. I loved the great attention to historical detail and political climate, while God's Word was seamlessly woven into the story in small but efficient sound bites at just the right time. This is a book to leave you reeling!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Celebrate Lit. I was not required to leave a positive review and all opinions are my own. ( )