Welcome to another Weekend Read post. My featured book this week is the World War Two historical novel The Lost Orphans of Lyon by Helen Parusel. Helen is a bestselling historical fiction author with translations of her work in Germany, France & Serbia. She has dropped by today to tell us about the book and her writing life. So grab yourself a cuppa, get cosy and let’s get chatting to Helen.
Blurb
A BRAND NEW heartbreaking WWII novel set in Occupied France from Helen Parusel. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, Mandy Robotham and Gill Thompson!
‘Grabbed me from the first page and barely let me come up for breath until the very last word.’ Deborah Carr
A hidden tunnel. Two frightened children. One woman who must risk everything.
Lyon, Occupied France, 1942
When Yvette Dubois’s husband inherits a remote chateau, she reluctantly leaves Lyon behind – only for Armand to abandon her there to manage the vineyard alone. Isolated among unfamiliar staff, Yvette feels trapped in a life she never wanted.
Everything changes the day she hears a mysterious knocking in the library. Behind a tapestry, she discovers a hidden tunnel – along with two frightened orphans. Yvette learns the chateau once acted as an escape route for Jewish children and others fleeing Nazi persecution.
Yvette vows to continue the important work, wanting to honour the legacy. But Armand insists their safety depends on appeasing the occupiers. And defying him could destroy their future – and their freedom.
As German patrols tighten their grip on the area and whispers of betrayal grow louder, Yvette must risk everything to protect the innocent – even if the day may come when she’ll need to use the tunnel to save herself…
‘The story is poignant and compelling – and what an ending: wow!’ Gill Thompson
‘The hardships of occupied France are brought to life in this brilliant gripping story packed with historical detail.’ Clare Marchant
Buy Link: mybook.to/LostOrphansLyon
Welcome to my blog, Helen. Can you tell us what gave you the inspiration to write this book?
Hello, Karen. Thanks so much for inviting me on your blog today.
I’m excited to introduce readers to my latest book, The Lost Orphans of Lyon. As often happens, the idea for this book came when I was down the rabbit hole of research for another book. As I’m always on the lookout for the lesser known stories of WW2, this nugget caught my attention! From December 1940 to September 1944, the remote Huguenot village, Chambon – Sur- Lignon, in the Haute-Loire, provided refuge from the Nazis for an estimated 5,000 people, including about 3,500 Jews. A large number of these were children. The operation was led by Pastor André Trocmé and his wife, Magda. Other members of the community forged identification and ration papers for the refugees, and in some cases escorted them to neutral Switzerland. Today, a museum and memorial stand monument to the courage and non-violent resistance of the remarkable community.
I imagined a young girl from the village involved in resistance activities and what dangers she would have faced. As I wanted to set my story in France, it had to include a chateau with a secret tunnel. And a vineyard. But what connection did that have to the village? These musings led to the creation of my main character, an abandoned wife, who of course must have a second chance at love. A forbidden love. It was exciting how the story evolved from that point into the final book and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it!
It sounds fascinating Helen, and is definitely on my TBR. Wishing you lots of writing success.
About Helen
I come from London but now live in Hamburg, Germany with my husband, daughter and rescue dog. Over the last twenty years I have taught English to students ranging in age from three to ninety- years-old! Many of the war time stories I heard further inspired my love of Historical Fiction. I’m particularly drawn to the lesser known stories. My debut novel, A Mother’s War, highlights the Lebensborn programme in occupied Norway, and was chosen as a finalist for The Romantic Novelist Association Debut award, 2024.
I have ancestors from Austria and spent my summer holidays there as a child which inspired my second novel, The Austrian Bride. The story is set in 1938 as Europe teeters on the brink of WW2. My third novel, The Last Bookshop in Prague, highlights issues that are still relevant today: book banning, persecution and the importance of not sinking into passivity and indifference.
My most recent book,The Lost Orphans of Lyon, was released May 16th. Based on a true story, the books follows the courage of an isolated, mountain community, who saved thousands of lives, mostly children, from the Nazis. There is also a crumbling château, a secret tunnel and a forbidden love story. So, plenty of adventure! I have always loved reading and writing, and now finally have the time to devote to my writing.
Contact Helen
I’m on Facebook and Instagram under my name Helen Parusel
More of Helen’s Books
Karen King 