pstrongemChurchill on the Rivieraem 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. strongbr br 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. br br And both had roses and thorns relationships with Winston Churchill. Chanel met him when she was the mistress of his best friend, the Duke of Westminster. After World War II, Churchill saved her from prosecution for being an alleged Nazi spy. br br From her viewpoint, she collaborated with Nazis for personal goals to rescue her nephew from a prisoner of war camp, to oversee her investments in Rue Cambon buildings by living nearby at Hotel Ritz, and to have part of her financial stake restored in Chanel No. 5. In war-torn Europe, she kep