“Mistress of the Ritz” was both an engaging and enjoyable read that I thoroughly recommend! For me, it was not only the amazing story it focused on but the captivating characters that were nuanced and as complicated as the time they lived in. The author was able to convey a tenderness between Claude and Blanche (the Master and Mistress of the Ritz) despite the constant tension that existed in their relationship. This tenderness and tension were woven throughout their tale of resistance and subterfuge that defined the Ritz during the German occupation. While the author notes actual history and biography were limited with regards to Blanche and Claude this does did not take away from the novel but rather only makes clearer what the author has done is create historical fiction at it finest. She has taken a fascinating story, researched it and colored in the details with her imagination and skilled writing. For all these reasons, “Mistress at the Ritz” did not disappoint and kept me reading well into the night! I was honored to receive a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the Publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine in exchange for an honest review.