Review of The Seamstress by Allison Pittman

About the Book ~

France, 1788
It is the best of times...

On a tranquil farm nestled in the French countryside, two orphaned cousins -- Renee and Laurette -- have been raised under the caring guardianship of young Emile Gagnon, the last of a once-prosperous family. No longer starving girls, Laurette and Renee now spend days tending Gagnon's sheep, and nights in their cozy loft, whispering secrets and dreams in this time of waning innocence and peace.

It is the worst of times...

Paris groans with a restlessness that can no longer be contained within its city streets. Hunger and hatred fuel her people. Violence seeps into the ornate halls of Versailles. Even Gagnon's table in the quiet village of Mouton Blanc bears witness to the rumbles of rebellion, where Marcel Moreau embodies its voice and heart.

It is the story that has never been told.

In one night, the best and worst of fate collide. A chance encounter with a fashionable woman will bring Renee's sewing skills to light and secure a place in the court of Queen Marie Antoinette. An act of reckless passion will throw Laurette into the arms of the increasingly militant Marcel. And Gagnon, steadfast in his faith in God and country, can only watch as those he loves march straight into the heart of the revolution.

My Thoughts ~

The Seamstress by Allison Pittman is a tale of tragedy, love, and faith in the bleakness of the French Revolution.

In The Seamstress, the author not only captures broken, realistically-flawed characters but also the angst of the French Revolution. The amount of research the author must have done shown in the details of the story! Also, I greatly appreciated how the author told the story in a way that showed the revolution from each side, and through Renee, you see that the royal family may not have been the monsters the public believed them to be. This perspective will be especially powerful as it will probe readers to confront how false beliefs like this could be and are thriving in our everyday world!

Laurette's storyline held the most beautiful aspects of the spiritual storyline, showing the unmerited grace, forgiveness, and mercy of God in such a tender way, but Renee's stand of faith will resonate with readers long after the book is closed. However, I should note that if you're sensitive to gory details, then some aspects and tragedies of the story may be difficult for you. However, the author's lyrical writing style was a welcome distraction to the harsh realities of the French Revolution.

Three Stars ~ The Seamstress by Allison Pittman is sure to be an instant classic for fans of beautiful, thought-provoking tragedies. The Seamstress is a standalone inspired by a character (ahem, the seamstress) from Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities and written in such a way that it captures the heart of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

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