Churchill on the Riviera by Nancy Smith tells the story of how a villa on the Riviera tied a world leader, a fashion icon, and a world renowned model together with many of the most famous people and events of the twentieth century.

The French couturier Coco Chanel and Texas-born model Wendy Reves had much in common: they were born in poverty and rose to own villa La Pausa and its six acres overlooking the French Riviera.

And both had roses and thorns relationships with Winston Churchill. Chanel met him when she was the mistress of his...