New from the internationally bestselling author, Glynis Peters, comes a BRAND NEW story of courage and bravery in WWII, and love found in the darkest times❤️️ One girl’s courage. One deadly secret. One mission that changes everything 🪖💥
At sixteen, newly orphaned Lucy LeVine feels lost in war-torn Britain. Living under her stern grandmother’s roof, she longs for escape – and a chance to strike back at the enemy who killed her parents in France. So when a mysterious man offers to smuggle her into occupied territory in exchange for her help, Lucy grasps the dangerous opportunity.
Once behind enemy lines, Lucy is placed with French-Canadian resistance fighter Guy Napolin and his determined band of operatives. But nothing in occupied France is simple. Trust is fragile, betrayal is rife, and whispers about her parents’ past follow her at every turn.
As Lucy steps deeper into the shadows of resistance work, she must uncover who she truly is – and the secrets her parents died to protect. And soon she and Guy realise her mission is far more perilous, and far more personal, than either imagined.
A gripping and emotionally uplifting story from bestselling author Glynis Peters. Perfect for fans of Jenna Ness, Ellie Curzon and AnneMarie Brear
I write historical novels set in WWII Britain, and live by the sea in Essex.
One More Chapter / HarperCollins
USA TODAY BESTSELLER 2019/2020/2021 GLOBE AND MAIL BESTSELLER 2019/2020/2021 TORONTO STAR BESTSELLER 2019/2020 NEW YORK BEST SELLERS AWARD (Gold) 2019 AMAZON UK AND USA BESTSELLER 2019 / 2020/2021
A Bit Bookish Co. Review The Orphan’s Mission by Glynis Peters 3.75⭐️ 🦖2026 Book 22/100📚 YA Historical Fiction ARC READ
IF YOU LOVE: ⚔️ WWII Historical Fiction 🕵️♀️ Spy/Resistance Novels ♥️ Romance in Wartime Stories ✨ Hope for Better Times 🤫 Deadly Secrets & Missions International Mystery 🧑🧑🧒🧒 Found Family
Lucy DeVine is a 17 year old orphan living in London during WWII, with her grandmother who hates the war, and being forced to raise her granddaughter. Lucy quickly realizes that she hates the life she was forced into and runs away to the little coastal English town she once called home while her parents were alive. Her French Father and English Mother both died when Lucy was young, in service to Britain. While she is hunting down ghosts of memories past, she is given a very real opportunity to fight the same monsters that took her parents from her, in France. She accepts the mission and her world is turned upside down when she finds herself thrown into the middle of the war, without any real knowledge or training; not to mention that the man who got her into the French Resistance may not be what he seems.
What this book does well: - Historical Plot Lines- the author did a great job of making the story plausibly float around several very real large events that occurred during the Nazi Occupation time in France. - The International Intrigue - you get a very genuine perspective from Lucy, as a wartime orphan of a dual nationality home, struggling to understand who she is and how to grow into her own, while being forced into a world of distrust, uncertainty and fear. - Found Family- the author leans into the beauty of relationships that grow from community. Lucy not only finds out what actually happened to her parents during their service to Britain, but that there were a ton of people who loved them along the way. Lucy finds a home in the most unexpected of places.
The only real negative for me was what I would say are “broken plot line thoughts”. The story line would be carrying along and either jump ahead drastically, with no warning, or skip over an issue that was a major event in a previous chapter. It happened consistently throughout the book, so I believe it was a writing stylization, but unfortunately, I personally didn’t care for it. One other minor thing was the plot development for André. I don’t feel there was enough explanation at all to take him seriously, in any capacity. His character really read contrived and not well developed. Despite those factors, I did enjoy the book overall. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for being chosen as an ARC reader for this novel.
Lucy LeVine was orphaned when first her French father, then her British mother, were killed in the war. Lucy was living with her grandmother, who didn't want her there, so when she was thrown out of the house, Lucy returned to where she'd lived with her parents. But it wasn't the same. Her friend Betty was there, but without her parents she just felt sad. She was seventeen when she was smuggled across to France, and into the care of Resistance fighters, led by French-Canadian Guy Napolin and it wasn't long before she joined them in their efforts to beat the Germans.
Moving around the countryside, from one abandoned farmhouse to the next, Lucy and her new friends continued their work. There was much danger, but there were small pockets of happiness. When they found a perfect guard dog they named Tempest, he added to their family. Some kittens, some chickens - which meant fresh eggs - kept them sane. Until something else happened and they had to carefully move on again...
The Orphan’s Mission is my first by Glynis Peters and I enjoyed it very much. The beauty of the French countryside; the determination of friends of the Resistance; the horrors of collaborators - and Lucy following in her mother's footsteps with her painting. An excellent historical novel which I can easily recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for my digital ARC to read and review.
The Orphan’s Mission by Glynis Peters is a compelling historical novel that consumed me from the start. The action begins in London before moving briefly to the south coast and then over to mainline Europe during World War II. We follow a teenage orphan whose father was French, and mother was British. Now she has nowhere to call home. She answers the personal call to fight the Nazis from inside France. We witness the bravery required to sail to Holland, walk several miles to a rendez vous point, and then be parachuted into France. A small cell of resistance fighters occupies a French farm. They live in plain sight as a family unit – until they realise someone has betrayed them. We see the wits, bravery and cunning needed to survive the most dangerous of times. All the characters were well drawn and believable. Glynis Peters has created an entertaining tale that has the reader on the edge of their seat. A tale of war, of resistance, of double agents, of bravery, of family – but most of all, of love. I thoroughly enjoyed The Orphan’s Mission. It was an engaging read. I received a free copy for a blog tour with Rachel’s Random Resources. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
At sixteen, newly orphaned Lucy LeVine feels lost in war-torn Britain. Living under her stern grandmother's roof, she lings for escape - and a chance to strike back at the enemy who killed her parents in France. So when a mysterious man offers to smuggle her into occupied territory in exchange for help, Lucy grasps the dangerous opportunity, Once behind the enemy lines, Lucy is placed with the French-Canadian Resistance fighter, Guy Napolin and his determined band of operatives. But nothing in occupied France is simple. Trust is fragile, betrayal is rife, and whispers about her parents' past follow her at every turn.
Set during WWII, we travel from London, to the South Coast, then to mainland Europe. We follow Lucy LeVine, an orphan, who was living with her grandmother but wants a chance at evenge on the enemy that killed her parents.
The characters were well-developed. I enjoyed following Lucy's story as she helped the French resistance. This is a story of love and friendship. The pace is steady, the plot is well-written and I quickly read through the pages.
Published 2nd April 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #GlynisPeters for my ARC of #TheOrphansMission in exchange for an honest review.
Phenomenal!!! I was on the edge of my seat at Lucy LeVine travelled to France at the beginning of World War Two. Her parents had died in France and she wanted answers, answers her grandmother would not give her.
Lucy was only seventeen when she was recruited by Andre to assist the French resistance. Fluent in French and English, recently orphaned, and unwanted by her bitter guardian grandmother, she was the perfect candidate. Without training she will soon find herself relying on others to get her to France and the answers she needed.
Lucy was made for the resistance. She had a way of seeing things. Maybe it was natural, just like it had been for her parents. Maybe it was being naive and so young. The group's adventures were thrilling to read. The dangers were nail biting. The unknown was nerve wracking. Not knowing who to trust was gut wrenching. The idea of a traitor had me wanting to scream.
Thrills, chills, and oh my moments made for a very entertaining read. But it was the possiblity of a happilly ever after that had me reading into the night. The love she finds with guy, who happened to have known her parents, was just what I needed to balance out the horrors of war.
In this new historical fiction novel from Glynis Peters, readers follow recently orphaned Lucy Levine as she struggles to cope with the challenges of war-torn Britain and life with her stern grandmother. Hoping for a chance to strike back against the enemy who killed her parents, she accepts an offer to be smuggled into occupied territory in exchange for her help. Placed with a French-Canadian resistance group led by Guy Napolin, she soon learns that trust is rare and betrayal is frequent, and secrets about her parents’ death follow her around. As she becomes more immersed in the resistance, she learns more about herself, the secrets her parents died to protect, and the true dangers of her mission. The historical details really pull readers into the story, and the complexities of Lucy’s mission in France really up the stakes of the novel. The secrets and mysteries in the novel add another level to the narrative, while the characters she works with in France really bring the setting and period to life. Packed with incredible characters and details, historical fiction fans will love this powerful new World War II novel and the risks Lucy takes to get the answers she seeks.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
This book follows Lucy, a war orphan, on a journey to find herself and learn about her family and her past. Lucy was a likable, while maybe a bit gullible, character. I enjoyed following her on her journey and the development of her character as she met others within the French resistance and learned about her parents. I did enjoy how this book focused on the characters and their relationships with one another rather than focusing on the historical details of the time period. I have read a lot of WWII set-historical fiction, and there wasn't anything that I overtly disliked about this book, but while this was a relatively solid historical fiction, it was not overly memorable or unique. If someone is looking for a book that is more about the relationships between characters and less about the historical time period's details and hardships, this is a good, solid read for them. #netgalley #arc
I've just finished listening to the audio version of this book and really enjoyed it. Set during WW2, orphan Lucy LeVine lives with her stern grandmother since her parents' deaths in France. She's miserable at home and desperately wants to discover what happened to her parents and visit where they're buried, so when she is approached by Andre, whom a friend of hers vouches for, she listens to the offer he makes.
Fluent in French and feeling she has nothing to lose, Lucy agrees to carry out a mission for him unaware that her life is about to change in ways she could not have imagined. I loved how Lucy's confidence grew as she faced harsh truths and found ways to fight back against the enemy and help those close to her.
A powerful book with a great story and superb characters.
Lucy is such an easy character to root for. She starts off a bit stubborn and impulsive, but underneath she’s just a scared girl dealing with so much loss. Watching her grow and find her courage in such a dangerous situation was honestly one of my favourite parts.
I loved the mix of tension and emotion throughout. The resistance setting kept things intense, but it was the mystery around her parents that really pulled me in. I just needed to know the truth.
It definitely gave me all the feels - emotional, a little heartbreaking at times, but also uplifting. And I’m so glad Lucy got the answers she’d been searching for, even if they weren’t easy ones. Glynis Peters does a beautiful job of balancing action with heart, creating a story that feels both intense and deeply personal.
War demands everything—and this story delivers. Fast, gritty, and deeply moving, The Orphan’s Mission is a standout for 2026. Peters captures the terror of the home front and the grit of the resistance with her usual mastery. I couldn't put this down; the "mission" at the heart of the book kept me on edge until the very last page. Read this if you loved: The Orphan’s Gift or The Secret Orphan. It carries that same DNA of resilience and sacrifice.
📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Glynis Peters and Boldwood Books📚 📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚
Lucy Levine is a 16 year old orphan, struggling with her unhappy life with her ornery grandmother in England. She is given a chance to go to France, where she spent some of her childhood. She wants to try to find clues as to the deaths of both of her parents there. It's WWII, and the Germans are making life miserable for the people of France. Lucy meets members of the French Resistance, and sees an opportunity to make a difference. There is mystery, danger, found family and romance in the years ahead. There is also surprise regarding her parents' lives. This was an engaging story.
The Orphan’s Mission written by Glynis Peters with Boldwood Publishing was a great book. A sad 16 year old British orphan of half French heritage named Lucy LeVine leaves England to find answers about her parents deaths. She ends up in war torn France dealing with Nazis, French underground, spies, and collaborators. What can a teen girl do when faced with such a change in life? This book will show you just what a girl can do if given a chance. #historicalfiction #wwii #worldwartwobooks #kindle #readersofinstagram
One girls courage One deadly secret One mission that changes everything. Lucy LeVine a orphan living with her grandmother sets out on a mission to France, meeting up with french-Canadian Guy Napolin, And her mission is far more perilous than both either imagined. A beautiful lighthearted story of friendship and love in tragic circumstances, that leaves you reading page after page. Unique all on its own.
The Orphan's Mission follows Lucy LeVine as she progresses from being a orphan with nowhere to go or to call home to fighting the front lines of the resistance. The characters are well designed and implemented to be believable. They face danger with courage and determination. The story is entertaining and informative keeping the reader guessing while on the edge of the seat. I was engaged and thoughtful whilst reading this tale of war, bravery, the resistance and finding love.
Another awesome book from Glynis Peter’s. Lucy knew her parents had gone to France at the beginning of the war and had both died leaving her orphaned. living with her Grandmother had taken its toll so she ran away until she was recruited to become an agent. Lots of twists and turns, love and betrayal. It felt the epilogue was a bit rushed as more could have been written about characters that I had loved. Thanks to Glynis and Boldwood publishers.
I enjoyed reading about Lucy and Guy as well as all those that came into their lives at the beginning of WWII and their fight for freedom against the Germans. The author had well developed backstories and pasts of the characters and they all played well together throughout the book. I was happy with the ending of the book and how things came to be.
Of British and French heritage, orphaned because of the War in France, Lucy becomes a member of the French Resistance, making the others Resistents her family. There is romance, and treachery, and resilience to carry out what is necessary to save France from the Germans. I would have loved reading more, but it was a satisfying story.
The plot was compelling but the characters were cliche. The premise of so young a girl joining a resistance group and agreeing to parachute without training was ridiculous. The love story was cheesy and the dialogue adolescent. Maybe it was intended to be read by young people.
This story demonstrated the tactics people had to use to stay safe during WW11. There were many risks taken and sometimes things worked out for the best and sometimes not. The story was well written but did not hold my interest as others I have read by this same author.
This book was a struggle to read for me. Nearly had DNF a few times. I couldn’t warm to the character at all. A young girl of 17 years being sent to France undercover with the SOE , I have difficulty with. Desperate times means desperate measures but…
Simple feel-good story. Nice descriptions of rural France. Didn’t express the hardships as realistically seeing as it was based on a true story of occupation,and brutality. It came across more as a little adventure for a teenager.
I loved the story of Lucy and Guy, and this book had me enraptured from the beginning. However, my main issue with it is that the epilogue felt quite deflated and boring, and I don't think it did the story justice.
The Orphan's Mission was a good historical romance. I enjoyed the story but wish there would have been less romantic activity and more emphasis on fighting the Nazis. I overlooked that this novel was historical romance, as opposed to historical fiction.
A WWII novel in France. A newly orphaned teen returns to the French resistance. Many secrets of her parents life come to light. Well researched. Highly recommended.
I enjoyed this book, though honestly, I accidentally read it twice, and I got about a quarter to halfway through it before realizing I'd already read it, but I did enjoy it, and I do recommend it.