Our Time Will Come by Jean Gallant Marcoux 💕 Behind the Scenes, Book Tour & Gift Card Giveaway 💕 (Historical Romance)

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After a year in Paris studying painting at l'´Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Hélene Simard returns home to Quebec City in 1939, with a secret. She has a German fiancé. She can conceal his identity, but not the baby she carries. Hans Werner, her lover, was drafted in the German army, and his dreams of ever reuniting with Hélene are shattered with WWII escalating. In 1942, a bold opportunity arises for him to cross the Atlantic. Hounded by the Canadian police and Nazi assassins, the lovers' hope for a new life together becomes intertwined with a plot to kill Winston Churchill.

"Our Time Will Come is an historical fiction novel that revolves around a romance that began in Paris in 1938. The war impeded the couple’s plans as Hélène returned home to Canada while Hans fulfilled his obligations as a German soldier. Despite the complications of the war, their love motivated them to find a way to be together. The unique perspective that the author shed on this world event kept me intrigued. The exceptional character development and the numerous twists that the narrative took made reading the book pass quickly. Readers of historical fiction would enjoy this author’s innovative angle on World War II. Romance is also a central theme of the book and would satisfy readers of that genre." -Official OnlineBookClub.org review.

Our Time Will Come is a love story that began in Paris in 1938, between Hélène Simard, a French Canadian from Québec City and Hans Werner, from Berlin. They were both art students at l’École Nationale des Beaux-Arts. 

     I wanted to develop these characters in a credible historical fashion. First, I imagined what my mother and aunts, who were Hélène’ contemporaries, and also educated by catholic nuns, would have done in her situation. I described the indecision, confusion, and fear of a twenty-years-old girl, falling in love for the first time. That Hans was Protestant, and German to boot, added to the uneasiness Hélène felt as she was strongly attracted to him.

     Hans, however, was certain of his feelings toward Hélène, and had no concern with their religious and ethnic differences. He had agreed to move to Québec and marry her. His conflict came when he was drafted into the German army. In today’s generation’s point of view, he would have done what Hélène was begging him to do, leave immediately for Québec, and live happily together, forever. 

     However, Hans was German. My understanding about the German population’s sentiment toward a possible conflict with Poland in 1939, was that Germany was treated unfairly in the Treaty of Versailles that ended WWI, and a short war would allow their country to regain from Poland some territory that belonged to them. It also would give Hans the chance to honor the memory of all those who fought for Germany during the Great War and, like his father, died for nothing. Hans truly believed his duty was to report, and he did. 

He soon regretted that decision, but it allowed me to write about his daring attempt to reunite with Hélène. Our protagonists’ lives became intertwined with a Nazi plot to assassinate Churchill. They were chased by the Canadian police AND by Nazi assassins, and needed all their ingenuity and courage to stay alive.

“How was your day?” Milaine asked. “Your grin tells me it was good.”

“I met the most stunning man and he invited me to a picnic,” Hélène said, bouncing from foot to foot, and then deciding to place her painting material on the floor.

“I want to go, but I’m not sure I should. He’s gorgeous, and he has the cutest accent, but I don’t know…”

“Hold on, hold on,” Milaine said. “Who is he? Where is he from? What kind of cute accent?”

“His name is Hans Werner,” Hélène recounted, pacing. “He’s from Berlin—”

“Hélène, never trust a German!” Milaine stopped for a moment for emphasis. “None of us Belgians do, after what they did to us during the Great War.”

“You don’t understand. You should see him; he’s so handsome.”

“Such a good-looking man is probably married,” Milaine said, “or more likely in a liaison.” “He doesn’t wear a ring.”

“Hélène, you’re so naïve. What if he is one of these Nazi maniacs we see in magazines and newsreels in the movie theatres?”

“He’s so nice,” Hélène said, pouring herself a glass of Chablis in one of the two cheap wine glasses that came with the apartment. “I’ll ask him all these questions next Sunday.”

  

Jean Gallant Marcoux was born in Quebec City Canada, where he earned an MD degree from Laval University. As a board-certified allergist, he practiced in Quebec City from 1970 to 1977 after which he continued his career in Houston Texas until his retirement in 2007. 

Passionate for history, he has published articles for historical society magazines in his native Quebec. This is his debut novel. Dr. Marcoux lives in Houston with his family.

  

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