Mark Lichter, a Jewish college student at Hamburg University, faced an uncertain future in Berlin in 1933. His parents, Hans and Abigail, arranged for his departure from the country as they saw alarming signs in Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. Mark was studying law to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. However, his true passion was art. His parents had asked old friends in Paris, General and VieVie La Fontaine, to offer him a place in their home until he could return to Germany. They also encouraged him to study art, as it was obvious he was not happy with a career in law. VieVie La Fontaine, written by Linda Heavner Gerald, details the joys and travails of the La Fontaines and Mark during the German occupation and French Resistance.

Through the main characters in this novel, the author has aptly detailed the harrowing experience of life in the City of Lights during World War II. VieVie is a complex and intriguing woman whose need for adoring male attention is a compelling component of this story. How a young Jewish German man, Mark, dealt with the atrocities of the war is gripping. And, how he lived his later years is thought-provoking. Although there is a great deal of factual information included in the tale, the essence of the story revolves around the personal lives, joys and struggles of Mark and other characters. Author Linda Heavner Gerald has crafted a fascinating historical novel in VieVie La Fontaine. This novel is an unforgettable read, enriching the reader’s understanding of this era in history.

In VieVie La Fontaine by Linda Heavner Gerald, Mark Lichter’s parents send him away to live with friends in Paris in order to escape from the restrictions the up and coming Adolf Hitler is beginning to impose on the Jewish people of Germany. Mark moves in with General La Fontaine and his beautiful wife, VieVie. Mark and VieVie are instantly attracted to one another and become both friends and lovers. As the days and weeks pass, more and more unrest is felt. Mark and VieVie join the French Resistance and work hard and face danger in order to protect the Paris they know and love from the hands of the Germans.

VieVie La Fontaine was an interesting reading experience. It is a great look into history but mixed with a large helping of fictional characters who beautifully tell the story of life in Paris during the period of the post-World War I years and the beginning and ending of World War II. VieVie La Fontaine is not your usual fictional war story; there is a lot of real history, historical dates, famous and/or infamous people that form the main part of the book. Mark, VieVie and the other supporting characters were the minor part of the story. I enjoyed the combination and found it to be a refreshing and different style than I am used to reading. While several parts were mostly history and some parts were strictly fictional characters, Linda Heavner Gerald managed it smoothly and effortlessly, thus making this book well worth reading.