For those of us who have been huge fans of author A.W. Hartoin’s Mercy Watts series from the beginning, hearing the name “Bled” was a real treat. There have been little bits of info about what happened to Stella Bled scattered throughout the series, and little hints that Mercy may in fact be a Bled. So, wow, now we meet Stella! Is Mercy a Bled, or isn’t she? But Mercy isn’t in this story, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see about that. And that’s okay, because Stella Bled’s journey in The Paris Package will keep you riveted from beginning to end. It’s an exciting story of what starts out to be just the European honeymoon of two wealthy, privileged newlyweds on the Eve of World War II, when tensions are rising, and Hitler and the Nazis are just starting to make their presence, their restrictive, strangling, ugly, deadly presence, known. Stella Bled and Nicky Lawrence have just married. They are what most of us would think of as the pampered rich. Societal expectations constrain them. They had a whirlwind courtship and didn’t know each other very long before marrying, so are still learning about each other. Some of what Nicky learns about Stella shocks him, to say the least. I would love to see more of this marriage as it grows and matures.

In the beginning of the story Stella and Nicky both seem so young, especially Stella. Nicky seems to know a bit about the political climate and has some serious discussions with their Jewish travel guide Abel, but Stella is more interested in shopping and the sights, and when she does question things her new husband assures her there is nothing she needs to worry about. If eighteen-year-old Stella seems young, naïve and inexperienced it’s because she is, but she is also brave, resilient and fiercely loyal. Just before he disappeared, possibly on one of “the trains” that rumors are swirling about, Abel asked her to deliver a package to Paris. Stella is determined to let nothing stop her from keeping the promise she made to do so.

The plot is solid and the characters engaging and believable. Thanks to her Uncle Josiah and unknown to Nicky, Stella reveals herself to be remarkably calm under stress and to have a lot of surprising skills and talents that see her through the danger encountered on the journey to Paris. Some of the situations she finds herself in may strain credulity, but it works within the story. She is so focused and determined you believe she can do whatever she sets out to do.

I couldn’t put this book down and I highly recommend it. It provides an accurate portrayal of the chilling times leading to WWII, as well as the strong, fascinating characters and storylines A. W. Hartoin always provides. It has excitement, danger, humor and love. I received an advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review, and as I always do, I will purchase the book as well. I hope this is a series that will continue, as I can’t wait to read more about the mysterious Stella Bled and to also join in again with Mercy Watt and her next adventure. ( )