Author Kristin Harmel is a powerhouse storyteller and a global sensation! She’s the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 international bestselling author behind The Forest of Vanishing Stars, The Book of Lost Names, The Winemaker’s Wife, and more than a dozen other beloved novels translated into over 30 languages and adored worldwide.
Kristin’s professional writing journey began at age sixteen, kicking off as a sportswriter covering Major League Baseball and NHL hockey in Tampa Bay, Florida during the late ‘90s. From there, she soared to a prolific career in magazine journalism, including years of writing and reporting for PEOPLE magazine, with her work also appearing in Men’s Health, Woman’s Day, American Baby, and more. Kristin even brought her storytelling flair to the screen as a contributor on the national morning show The Daily Buzz.
Her debut novel hit shelves in 2006, launching an impressive fiction career. Born near Boston, she grew up in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Florida before earning a journalism degree (with a Spanish minor) from the University of Florida. She’s lived in vibrant cities like Paris and Los Angeles but now calls Orlando home, where she lives with her husband and young son.
On top of all that, Kristin is the co-founder and co-host of the wildly popular weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction, connecting readers and writers everywhere. She shares hosting responsibilities with other New York Times bestselling novelists Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry, and Mary Kay Andrews.
Author Kristin Harmel writes beautiful historical fiction novels.
Kristin Harmel typically writes in the historical fiction genre, with a focus on rich, emotional stories set against significant historical backdrops, often World War II. Her novels blend elements of mystery, family drama, and personal discovery, with a strong emphasis on the complexities of relationships and the impact of history on individuals’ lives.
Selected books by author Kristin Harmel:
Find my review of her book The Book of Lost Names here. And for The Room on Rue Amélie here. Be sure to check them out!
The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau
Colette Marceau has spent her life following a family code of honor: stealing from the cruel to help those in need. During World War II, she and her mother, Annabel, used their skills to support the French Resistance—until a devastating night in 1942 shattered everything. Annabel was arrested and executed, and Colette’s little sister, Liliane, disappeared, her body later found in the Seine. A priceless diamond bracelet, hidden with Liliane for safekeeping, vanished.
Now, 70 years later, Colette has tried to bury the pain of her past while using her skills to fund good causes. But when the missing bracelet reappears in a Boston museum, long-buried questions resurface. As Colette searches for the truth about the bracelet—and Liliane—she must confront old wounds and face someone from her past who also claims the diamonds. In unraveling the mystery, Colette may find justice, healing, and the courage to open her heart once more.
The Paris Daughter
Elise and Juliette formed an unbreakable bond in 1939 Paris, sharing the joys and hopes of impending motherhood. But as war consumed France, their lives were torn apart. Forced to flee the Nazis, Elise entrusted her beloved daughter to Juliette, whose own little girl was her daughter’s closest companion.
Tragedy struck when a bomb devastated Juliette’s quiet bookshop, La Librairie des Rêves, leaving her world in ruins. After the war, Elise returned, desperate to reclaim her child, only to discover Juliette and a single little girl had survived—but which one?
Elise’s search for truth takes her across the ocean to New York, where she and Juliette face a final, life-altering confrontation. In the wake of heartbreak and loss, their story unfolds as one of love, resilience, and the lengths a mother will go to for her child.
The Forest of Vanishing Stars
Raised in the harsh wilderness of eastern Europe after being stolen from her wealthy German parents, a young woman’s solitary life in 1941 is suddenly disrupted when she encounters a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. As she teaches them survival skills in the forest, they, in turn, help her rediscover the power of opening her heart. Read to see what happens when betrayal forces her into a German-occupied village.
The Winemaker’s Wife
In 1940 Champagne, Inès has just married Michel, the owner of Maison Chauveau, when the Germans invade. As the danger escalates, Michel becomes involved in hiding munitions for the Résistance, leaving Inès to fear for their safety. Meanwhile, Céline, the French-Jewish wife of Chauveau’s cellar master, faces an even greater threat as rumors of the fate awaiting Jews spread. In a desperate bid for happiness, Céline and Inès both make risky decisions that jeopardize their loved ones—and the vineyard that unites them.
Fast forward to New York in 2019: Recently divorced, Liv Kent is at her lowest when her spirited French grandmother unexpectedly arrives, insisting on a trip to France. With a hidden agenda, the grandmother shares a tragic story from the past. As the past and present converge, Liv embarks on a journey of healing that leads her to the caves of Maison Chauveau.
The Room on Rue Amélie
In 1939 Paris, newlywed Ruby Henderson Benoit dreams of a life filled with romance, but as war approaches, her marriage to Marcel begins to unravel. The Nazis invade and shatter eleven-year-old Charlotte Dacher’s world, and the horrors of mass deportations rip her life apart. British pilot Thomas Clarke joins the RAF to defend his country. After his mother is killed in a bombing, however, he questions his purpose. In Paris, under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, he finds new reasons to keep fighting—and a surprising road to healing. As fate brings them together, Ruby, Charlotte, and Thomas must summon the strength to resist the Nazis and open their hearts in the face of unimaginable challenges.
Which book by author Kristin Harmel is calling your name?
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Fondly,
Crysti
Thank you for this post about historical fiction writer Kristin Harmel. I’m excited to look her up to see if she has any books in my local library system. As always, your recommendations and summaries are excellent!
Thanks, Lisa! I hope you find something interesting!
Thanks for introducing us to the author Kristin Harmel and her captivating historical fiction! I love book reviews and I am eager to read some of her books.
Great, Hadassah! I especially love historical fiction.
I am hearing about author Kristin Harmel for the first time. Need to check out her historical fictions.
She was new to me too, Hari! I plan on reading more of her work.