Julia A Novel: A Novel Inspired by the Extraordinary Life of Julia Child By Heather B. Moore-Review

 Book Synopsis

Before she stepped into the spotlight as a master of French cooking, Julia Child navigated the shadows as a WWII intelligence officer.

On the sunny shores of California, Julia McWilliams is poised to embrace a life of comfort and financial security, with a marriage proposal from a wealthy man to consider. But as World War II erupts in the US, her patriotic fervor compels her to abandon her secure future. Trading country clubs for covert codes, Julia joins the Office of Strategic Services, where her sharp mind aids the Allied cause in the shadowy realm of espionage.

Amid strategic missions in Ceylon and China, Julia crosses paths with Paul Child, a fellow OSS officer whose delight in art, culture, and cuisine awakens a new hunger within her. Their chance meetings ignite a spark that blossoms into romance, leading to a proposal that Julia eagerly accepts. Together they embark on a new chapter in postwar Paris.

In the City of Light, Julia grapples with a different kind of challenge: She refuses to be confined by the societal expectations of a married woman. Drawn to the tantalizing world of French gastronomy—a pursuit her peers deem superfluous—she enrolls at the famed Le Cordon Bleu, and with Paul’s unwavering support, Julia immerses herself in her new passion.

Facing skepticism and prejudice in the male-dominated kitchens of Paris, Julia’s resolve never falters. Her relentless pursuit of culinary mastery not only transforms her own life but also introduces a revolutionary change in kitchens throughout America. From intelligence officer to beloved chef, this is Julia’s extraordinary journey.

Book Details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shadow Mountain Publishing
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 2, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639934251

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

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My Review

Julia: A Novel draws from Julia Child's amazing life. It pulled me in right away. Every time I pick up a book by Heather B. Moore, I end up chasing details from the pages. That slows me down from racing through the story. What detours did I take this time? Let me share a few.

-When Julia served as an OSS {Office of Strategic Services} officer, I rushed to learn about the OSS and the missions they did during World War II. As a history fan, I had to dig deeper.

-Julia spent years crafting her first cookbook. While she picked recipes and tweaked them, I searched for her cookbooks and flipped through their pages. This actually took several days to find the cookbooks and peruse the pages and recipes that I wanted to try.

-Then, as Julia found her true love, Paul Child, I dove into his story and achievements. He was a remarkable man who cherished her like royalty. I loved looking through old photos of them side by side. They had an endearing marriage that most people only hope for.

-Reading about Julia's long push to create Mastering the Art of French Cooking led me to another path: YouTube clips of her in action. Sure, I wandered off track now and then, but it's deeper than that. Heather B. Moore writes so well that she sparks my urge to explore every subject in her stories. 

Julia: A Novel tells of a woman who achieved great things, even when doubt crept in. I loved this trip through her world and facts about her. Heather B. Moore digs deep in her research, and it shines in her fine books. Make sure to read all of the notes in the back.  This is once again another five-star rating from me.

****Meet Author Heather B. Moore****

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than ninety publications. Heather writes primarily historical and #herstory fiction about the humanity and heroism of the everyday person. Publishing in a breadth of genres, Heather dives into the hearts and souls of her characters, meshing her love of research with her love of storytelling.

Her ancient era historicals and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes historical women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, and . . . speculative fiction under Jane Redd. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. Despite failing her high school AP English exam, Heather persevered and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in something other than English.

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Literary honors: 2020 Goodreads Choice Award Semi-Finalist, Foreword 2020 INDIES Finalist, ALA Best New Books - September 2020, 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 2019 Maggie Award Winner, 6-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner.

Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.

Photo of Julia and Mr. Rodgers

~*~*~*~*Purchase Julia: A Novel ~*~*~*~*

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