Absolutely captivating and had me grasping onto each page. Natasha Lester uses the unpleasant but accurate truth of gender stereotypes of WW2.
Jess is a former model whose career has been ruined after her lazy boyfriend sells her photo to a Kodex commercial. It is quite sad that such a feature could ruin a woman’s modeling career in the 1940’s, for any talk of menstruation was seen as “taboo.”

Jess gets a once in a lifetime opportunity to work as a Vogue photojournalist for the US Army in Europe. What she expected to be able to share the real tales and pictures of war, she is ridiculed by her boss who wants only non-combat articles and photos, limiting and censoring her work. The men in charge don’t think women want to see and read the truth, rather they want sappy stories of hope. Jess is conflicted with her need for honesty and The idea she had had before coming to Italy. She wants to be honest and truly show the women back home in America what the war is really like.

Jess is en route to an Italian hospital when her drive is cut short by enemy fire. The Italian hospital has been destroyed and the area scattered with the grisly remains of soldiers fighting against the Germans. She meets the candid soldier, Dan. He takes her to a Naples military hospital where she can continue the photojournalism work that her boss is demanding. There she meets the ever sweet, “good-luck charm,” Victorine-a French orphan that Dan has adopted. Victorien symbolizes the horrible reality of war. She remains at the hospital, soon realizing the injured in the hospital have just as profound stories she could share, “of the humanity behind the guns. The compassion beyond the bloodshed, and the fact that, as a counterbalance to evil, charity, mercy and love still existed and could therefore triumph.”

For just a small preview, I truly Can’t wait for The Paris Orphan to be released! I am Craving more Dan and Jess, the beautiful and innocent arc of Victorine, and I’m just a sucker for WW2 novels.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Book Group for this extended preview, and thank you Natasha Lester for captivating me in only the first 5 chapters.

I will Be posting this review to my blog on July 26.

The Paris Orphan, by Natasha Lester, is an extended preview, I am hooked, and look forward to publication of the book so that I can start over and read the novel as it should be read -- from beginning to end. For me, reading the preview was much more unsatisfying than I anticipated. Unfortunately, my request to read the entire book was declined. I can only award three stars, based on the truncated version, but I will return and edit this review after I read the whole book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the preview. in exchange for an honest review.

The cover is brilliant, and I'll read anything with "Paris" in the title. I enjoyed this book, the characters and the storyline. Thank you for allowing me to review this.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review the extended preview of, "The Paris Orphan" by Natasha Lester. Even though this preview was only five chapters, I was captivated by the story! Jessica May is a strong and beautiful main character. I look forward to reading the rest of this wonderful book!

This is a must read!! Jess is a model, photographer, war photojournalist and will sweep you away as she tells about the war for the readers of Vogue. Amazingly written and full of emotion, it will definitely hit you in the heart strings

Jessica May, model turned photojournalist, Dan Hallworth, kind and brave army major, Victorine, four year old French orphan who wins the hearts of all who meet her - these are the characters I met in the six chapter excerpt. Descriptions of war-torn Italy with its battlefields and field hospitals along with the real-life figures sprinkled throughout have piqued my interest in reading the rest of the novel.

Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the preview read of The Paris Orphan. After being introduced to Jessica May and her journey into WWII photographer and Journalist, I am eager to learn more about her adventures. And I am curious to see how her path, Victorine and Major Hallworth will continue to intersect.

This book is off to a fascinating start to me and I cannot wait to read the book in its entirety when published. If you a fan of WWII historical fiction, I would add this to your TBR list!

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.