Loved the extended preview. A fantastic taste of the full book. Can't wait to learn more about the characters.

I’m almost sorry I read this extended preview because now I am like a panting dog anxiously awaiting the book’s release in September. I'm hooked on the story of Jessica May, whose character is based on American model and WWII photojournalist Lee Miller.

I can't wait for the full novel! This excerpt has done a brilliant job of revving up fanhood for Lester's fully transporting novels, rich with the details an sensory elements of place so that we can be fully present for the narrative. Lester has a fabulous set of skills for world-building and fleshing out realistic and deep characters. This is what you want an engaging historical novel to be. As I read, I hated seeing the end of this excerpt coming closer and closer -- didn't want it to end. But I'll happily sit tight and wait for the rest of the story, enjoying the 'task' of having to read it again from the beginning to absorb these beautiful details and voices.

*Partial Review*

I read the first five chapters of this book as part of an extended preview. Because of this, the partial review only covers the first five chapters.

So far, it is hard to like the main character of Jess May, model/photojournalist for Vogue. She has a 'don't hate me because I'm beautiful' vibe. Major Dan Hallworth and Victorine are characters I would enjoy reading more about.

A 3.5 star read so far.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this preview.

I have never read any books before by Natasha Lester. Now she's got me hooked. I can't wait to read the rest of this amazing book in September!

Thank you, Netgalley, Natasha Lester and Publisher for the extended preview ARC!

I just cannot wait until i am able to read the whole book in September! I have never read any books before by Natasha Lester, but i am sure that is going to change. Loved the cover!

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my preview copy.

Oh my goodness, this preview was fantastic and makes me so excited for the book to be published so I can read the whole thing! The writing was beautiful, the characters were vibrant, the plot was intriguing. Wonderful!

I can't wait to finish reading this book.Natasha Lester is a fantastic author and her books are always wonderful.

It is unfortunate that I decided NOT to read the preview. Why bother when I have to wait until September to read the rest of the story....by that time I'll only have to re-read the content from the beginning anyway. I must say this is an interesting strategy on the publisher's part, but it didn't work for me. I loved "The Paris Seamstress" and know that Ms. Lester is an accomplished author....let me extend my apologies to her, so sorry!

As usual, Natasha Lester does not disappoint! I am left dying to know what happens with Dan and Jess and sweet Victorine!

I love the focus on a strong female protagonist, and Jess May is just that. Major Dan Hallworth is just about the best type of guy you can hope for and root for as a potential love interest for model/photojournalist Jess and I need to know where there story leads!! 5 chapters isn’t enough!

Excellent so far!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this preview.

If this excerpt is any indication, the author’s latest novel — featuring protagonist Jessica May, inspired by real life Vogue model and WWII correspondent Lee Miller — is a winner! The writing is lush, the narrative compelling, the characters intriguing, the time period my fave in history. I reviewed Lester’s The Paris Seamstress last year and absolutely loved it. What I’ve read so far of THE PARIS ORPHAN outshines even that. Can’t wait for the full novel! 5/5

PS While the cover is lovely, I adore the Australian version even more. In fact, Lester’s covers for the Down Under market are the most beautiful in the industry.

Pub Date 03 Sep 2019.

Thanks to Natasha Lester, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#TheParisOrphan #NetGalley

I have never read anything written by Natasha Lester, but I am such a fan now. She writes so beautifully, and her descriptions are so vivid and real. I felt as though I was right next to Jess, pursuing her dream to become a photojournalist. After reading only the first few chapters, I am counting down the days until it is released. Thank you for this extended preview!

Thanks for the extended preview ARC. So now you got me. Can't wait to read the rest of this book! I loved the character of Jess and look forward to going on her journey with Dan and Victorine.

I love. Natasha Lester's work, and I knew I would love The Paris Orphan, but now I am SO antsy to read the rest of it after this teaser!!!

The Paris Orphanr is the fifth novel by best-selling Australian author, Natasha Lester. Art handler and aspiring documentary maker, D’Arcy Hallworth has travelled to France in June 2004 to pack a collection of photographs for exhibition in Australia. D’Arcy has long admired The (anonymous) Photographer’s work, and D’Arcy is sure work of such compassion could only have been done by a woman. At the chateau, Lieu de Réves, D’Arcy encounters The Photographer’s agent, Josh Vaughn, an attractive but very reserved American lawyer.

After some days of writing condition reports and crating, D’Arcy is invited to the attic to examine some boxes of unframed work with Josh, and discovers a photograph dated 1944, with her mother’s name on the back: a man with a young girl. Victorine Hallworth was born and schooled in France before giving birth to D’Arcy in Australia, and has never been very forthcoming about her youth. D’Arcy is understandably intrigued: is this child really her mother? And is Dan Hallworth, Editor in Chief of World Media Group, not just her mother’s boss, but something more?

Jessica May is famous as a model for Vogue, but her ambitions lie with photojournalism. In 1942 Vogue agrees to send her to Europe as their war correspondent, and she is thrilled. She jumps through multiple hoops to finally be approved and is sent to Italy, a field hospital, where she will record the experiences of the war nurses. But she accidentally ends up at the front, in a trench, her report drawing the ire of her London Public Relations Officer. Captain Dan Hallworth sees her to safety and later backs her up, but from then on PRO Warren Stone seems to have Jess in his sights.

Along with the other female correspondents, she’s frustrated by bureaucrats intent on thwarting their attempts to get a story under the guise of “protecting the weaker sex”. They are forbidden to go to the front, they are denied their own transport, they are excluded from Press camps and the work of male correspondents always takes precedence over theirs at the censor. On top of this, Jess is burdened with Warren Stone’s dirty tricks campaign. But at the field hospital she meets little Victorine, Dan Hallworth’s “niece”, and soon there’s a bond of friendship between the three.

The narrative alternates between two time periods and is carried by two main narrators (Jess and D’Arcy) with two minor narrators filling the necessary facts towards the end. Two romantic love stories are told, the first against the background of World War Two, the second involving an intriguing mystery, while a third gets a passing mention.

Lester gives the reader many characters who are appealing and easy to care about, to shed tears for, but also some truly selfish characters who are coldly and calculating and behave shockingly, taking advantage of the goodness and integrity of others. Guilt and shame, but also the wish to save others from heartbreak, mean that secrets are kept and potential happy-ever-afters not realised. And unknowing children are lovingly raised by parents not actually their own.

In her Author Notes, Lester states that this novel was inspired by the true story of American war correspondent for Vogue, Lee Miller. She details her extensive research, noting the many actual events that occur in the narrative, and the story highlights the misogyny and sexual harassment prevalent during the war, as well as the atrocities committed against women, by men on all sides of the conflict. Interesting and moving, this is heart-warming historical fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing

Would love to read the rest! This is a tortuous teaser, allowing the first few chapters to get readers eager for this book and then no offer the rest.