Bookish Thoughts: The Spy Keeper of Marseille

 

Description:

Few would suspect a young widow and mother of two small children of being a spy. Fewer still would believe she leads the largest intelligence operation in France.

Marseille, France, 1941. Zelie Bellerose never fit the mold of an army officer’s wife. She was too passionate in her convictions, too indifferent to societal expectations. After her husband is killed in the war, Zelie focuses on securing a brighter future for her children, hoping to help free her country from the Nazi regime by joining the Resistance. She is soon one of the most trusted operatives in Alliance, and when their leader is imprisoned, she takes command, hiding her identity from all but a few. With enemies closing in, Zelie must earn the trust of her network and prove herself to those who doubt a woman’s place at the helm of France’s largest spy ring.

Marcel Laurent was a renowned concert pianist before joining the French army and being sent to a POW camp. Freed in a prisoner exchange by a wealthy businessman with ties to the Resistance, Marcel agrees to spy for Alliance by conducting a youth orchestra, gathering intelligence from patrons who are loose-lipped Nazi sympathizers. Marcel’s weekly radio broadcasts introducing the orchestra’s performances give him the perfect cover to send coded messages over the airwaves.

As Zelie and Marcel grow closer through their shared love of music, she begins to rely on him. But betrayal from within Alliance puts everything they’ve fought for at risk. When a double agent infiltrates their ranks and the two are captured, their bond faces its greatest test . . . and any misstep could jeopardize not only Alliance but the very outcome of the war.

Learn more about the book here! (this for Ms. White's website - more links will be at the bottom of this post)

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. Having successfully launched two homeschool grads, she now spends her time writing fiction, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and check out her full book list at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

My Thoughts:

I started this book during what turned out to be a busy couple of weeks for our family and most often found myself only able to read a page or two at a time.  I found myself frustrated more than once, as I so wanted to be able to just keep reading! As I got nearer to the end of the story, I was thankfully able to read for slightly longer snatches of time, so I wasn’t just completely distracted wondering what would become of Zelie and Marcel.  At some moments I was really wondering if the author was going to follow a possibly historically accurate storyline and there wouldn’t be a happy ending.  Whew!  Thankfully, that was NOT the case!

I confess that I struggled to settle into this story. I really want to read it again, when I have time to just sit down and read a few chapters at a time and see if that makes the difference. Though it took me a little longer than usual, I did finally fall in love with Zelie and Marcel! They felt a little hard to connect with, at least in part because of how little I was able to read in a sitting. Zelie is a bit of a different character, as she seems to always be the one making hard decisions, which made her “feel” a little distant from everyone else.  I loved how Marcel saw her for who she really was, beyond the leader fighting for freedom.

I definitely fell in love with Marcel first.  He is so genuine, a funny thing to say for a man lying to the Nazis. But his love for music, for the young men in his orchestra, for Zelie, for France, made him easy to love.  Though it took me a little longer to connect with Zelie, I loved her heart for her children, her desire for France to find freedom again, and her determination to be part of the fight.

As always, Ms. White does a delightful job of bringing her story world to life!  With her beautiful gift of storytelling I could easily imagine walking down the streets with Zelie, stopping by pianos just for the joy of music with Marcel, and fighting alongside them to undermine the Nazis. This story reminded me of the sacrifices of so many who fought for the freedom we enjoy today.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed my time spent in France, with these characters! Their story isn’t an easy one, but still beautiful for the struggle and I really enjoyed that it was based on real life people!  If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, I would highly recommend this one!

This is one of the only books I've read entirely in paper this year! Which was both fun and a little more tricky than I realized, with having 4 little ones now. I've been doing most of my reading during the dark watches of the night, whilst up feeding the baby. I'm so thankful for library apps that get many of the new books I enjoy! What time of day do you most often read? Or most prefer for reading?

As always, links to learn more about this delightful book are below!

Have a lovely day!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Bookish Thoughts: The Collector Of Burned Books

 

"If you're going to rail against injustice, then at least

know what deserves your ire.  Not that a few copies of books

were burned - but that the people danced around the pyre."

Description:

Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.

For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home.

Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over, and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.

You can purchase a copy here!

(at the time I'm posting this, I'm having difficultly getting Ms. White's website to load, so I'm not able to link it like usual, but hopefully whatever the glitch, it'll be working for you!)

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com. 

My Thoughts:

“When a people stopped entertaining opposing ideas, when they condemned the different as evil, then it was a short step from closed-minded to violently oppressive.” - Christian Bauer

This book was one where I was so happy to have both the paper and the ebook.  I enjoy using ebooks to highlight and make notes that I wouldn’t usually mark in paper books.  And there were so many thoughts, quotes, lines, just like the one above that just begged to be highlighted and remembered!

  I’ve been a huge fan of Ms. White’s books for over a decade now, so when she announced that she was writing a book set during WWII, with a Nazi for one of the main characters, I lined up for a pre-order.  And I’m so glad that I did!  This book was a little different from some of her previous books, a little more directly Catholic (as a Protestant, this personally didn’t bother me), and so very challenging with its both very direct and sometimes subtle messages about truth and fighting for freedom, including the freedom of thought and writing.  Something that was just  the same?  The author’s beautiful writing that drew me in so quickly to a world of war, words, love, and beauty in the brokenness. 

"'I think,' he said slowly, 'that the words we hear,

the words we read, the words we sing along to on the radio

and study in the papers with our morning coffee, become our thoughts.

I think our thoughts become our beliefs. And I think our beliefs become our actions.'"

  I was left with such a book hangover after finishing this one, as I mulled over the ideas the story shared and I had to rethink a few views/opinions I had previously held.  Now I feel challenged to go find a few of those burned books and see what Corinne and Christian were talking about!  Speaking of, I absolutely adored Corinne and Christian!  I never thought I’d consider writing that about a character in a Nazi uniform, but as the story points out, people are always more than the color of their uniform, the heritage of their last name, or the way in which they speak, if you’re willing to look beyond it.  And as both Corinne and I got to know the man inside of the uniform, we couldn’t help but love him.  And his heart-wrenching secrets.  And his noble, honest heart.

  I do have to say, the ending of the book was both so perfectly fitting, but also not quite what I was hoping for or expecting.  But it did show Christian’s honorable heart and motives, in the face of adversity.  So while I maybe would have “liked” a more romantic ending, I do believe this one suited the characters and the story much better. 

  Overall, if you enjoy WWII fiction that is well written, thought-provoking, compelling, and worth a few late night reading sessions, then I would absolutely recommend this book! 

*My thanks to the author and publisher for my advanced copy of this book (I did purchase my own paperback, as well)!  I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

I absolutely could have added more quotes from this book! I have so many highlights and notes in my Kindle app, it quite possibly might be funny! But I wouldn't want to spoil the fun for anyone else who enjoys hunting for the best lines to share.

Also, I have to add - this book has to be the one I've talked the most about with friends and acquaintances in recent months. Truly, I don't know that I could recommend it enough!

Bookish Thoughts: Yesterday's Tides

 

Description:

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same–until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie’s inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling’s injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the man he’s tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own.

Decades earlier, in 1914, Englishman Remington Culbreth arrives at the Ocracoke Inn for the summer, but he doesn’t count on falling in love with Louisa Adair, the innkeeper’s daughter. When war breaks out in Europe, and their relationship is put in jeopardy, will their love survive?

As Evie and Sterling work to track down an elusive German agent, they unravel mysteries that go back a generation. The ripples from the Great War are still rocking their lives, and it seems yesterday’s tides may sweep them all into danger again today.

Bestselling and award-winning author Roseanna M. White whisks you away to two periods fraught with peril in this sweeping and romantic dual-time tale.

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White (www.roseannamwhite.com) is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. She pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of numerous novels, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to Edwardian British series. Roseanna lives with her family in West Virginia. Learn more at www.roseannamwhite.com

My Thoughts:

If we could sit down for tea, I would ramble on about this book.  I would excitedly hold it out for you to see the cover, read the description.  I would happily wait for you to be enticed to start this beautiful story of life, loss, war, peace, love, faith, and family . . . . Since we can’t do that, I suppose I’ll go ahead and ramble and maybe you’ll see if this is a story that could find a space in your heart, like it did mine. 

While this book stands entirely on its own, if you’ve had the pleasure of reading Ms. White’s prior series, you’ll find many familiar names and faces.  I so enjoyed finally getting to learn Rem’s story (from the Codebreakers Series) and I loved all of the cameos - they made me want to start at the beginning (The Culper Ring series) and read them all over again!  That said, if this is your first foray into her books, I don’t believe you’d feel as though you were missing anything by starting here.  And, you would have all of her other fabulous books to look forward to finding! 

As always, I loved the characters!  They, as I’ve come to expect from this author’s stories, had become dear friends by the time I turned the final page.  I had to whisper to them a quiet farewell and promise to read their book again, soon.  And the setting!  I have vague memories of visiting Ocracoke Island a decade ago and so enjoyed getting to revisit it through Evie and Louisa’s stories.  I thoroughly enjoyed how Ms. White brought the dual time-lines to life, though I did occasionally want to groan with frustration when we left one to go back to the other, because I just wanted to know what was going to happen!  The suspense definitely wasn’t lacking!  All in all, I would say that though the year is just beginning, this book will definitely be one of my favorites for the year! 

I would love to tell you so much more, but I don’t want to spoil anything.  I also know most people won’t read this far, or if you did make it here, you wouldn’t read much further.  So thank you for spending time on my ramblings!

*My thanks to the author and publisher for my copy of this book!  I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own.  

As always, thank you for taking the time to stop by and see what I've been reading! I hope I maybe sparked your interest in this book that I so enjoyed. If so, links are below!

My munchkins are calling, so until next time -

Have a beautiful day!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

Goodreads

The Story Graph

Most Anticipated books for 2023!

 Happy New Year!!  I was looking at the books coming out in 2023 and I am so excited!  I'm also excited because I've decided to do something a little different this year.  I'm hoping to catch up on some of my Kindle books that have been languishing as they await my attention, as well as reading (and rereading) some books I own in paper that keep coming to mind.  So for this list, the new books will in at the top, in release date order and then the books already available will be in some sort of order below.

Critical Threat by Lynette Eason - 1/3/2023

So this one I have mixed emotions about this one. I didn't finish the first book in the series,

but I so enjoyed the second one.  So I'm very curious about this one! 

Hearts of Steel by Elizabeth Camden - 1/17/2023

The Final book in the series!  I'm excited for Liam's story!

Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M. White - 1/23/2023

I'm excited for a new dual-time novel from one of my favorite authors! 

Brooke by Ronie Kendig - 2/6/2023

I've been waiting for Brooke's story and have already pre-ordered it!

A Match in the Making by Jen Turano - 2/21/2023

A new series!!!!! 

The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin - 2/23/2023

I'm always up for Sarah Sundin's books!

Love Makes Way by Hallee Bridgeman - 3/7/2023

I so enjoyed the other books in this series and am looking forward to this one!

A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M. White - 8/22/2023

As previously mentioned, I always love Roseanna's books, so her books 

are always on the list!

The Hidden Prince by Tessa Afshar 

I missed this one in 2022 and I'm hoping to acquire it sometime this year. 

When The Day Comes  by Gabrielle Meyer

I had the pleasure of receiving this book for Christmas and

am excited to have a moment to dive in!  Also, dual-timeline. :)

The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano 

I found this one at my library!  I've so enjoyed all of Joanna's books so far

and am hoping to borrow it whenever it becomes available again.

The Book of Wars Series by Ronie Kendig

I confess, I read the first book when it released and my sweet husband

bought me the second and I haven't ever finished the series.  Hopefully that will 

change in 2023! 

Abiassa's Fire series by Ronie Kendig

This is another of those, I read the first and by the time the second one came out, I forgot

about it.  But we bought this box set, so I can finally know how it ends!

Prophet by R. J. Larson

I read this one shortly after it came out and I remember it was 

so good and it's been on my mind to read the series again. 

So what about you?  What books are on your list? 

Favorite books of 2022!

 It's that time of the year again!  The day, or maybe a week or two, that we spend remembering the past year and considering the future we expect to have (hopefully).  This is also when all the book nerds remember our favorite books that we've read this year and eagerly think about the list we're compiling for next year.  So these are my top 10 books of 2022!  Not all of these were published in 2022, I just happened to read them this year.  Also, one of them isn't actually a favorite (though it was very good!), but it surprised me so much, that it has to be here for an honorable mention.  So I suppose it's actually my top 9 books of the year?  Eh, close enough.  :)   (also, these are just in order by author's last name)

Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar - I originally read this book several years ago, 

shortly after it first came out.  I remembered it fairly recently and something about

 it kept prodding me to read it again.  And I'm so glad that I did!  

Daughter of Rome by Tessa Afshar - I bought this book several months 

before actually reading it.  I love how God uses Ms. Afshar's books to remind me of

truths, something I particularly needed after the miscarriage. 

Range by Ronie Kendig - Honestly, this book was a difficult read.

Ms. Kendig seldom pulls punches in her writing, but this series in particular is 

explosive and abrasive to the conscious, as it attempts to very authentically portray human trafficking.

 

Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin - I always love Ms. Sundin's books and this

 one is no exception!  I also want to note that it's currently on sale on the Kindle for

 $1.59  if you haven't read it yet! 

To Disguise the Truth by Jen Turano - This has to be one of my 

very favorite books by Ms. Turano!  I can't even give a specific reason, just that

it was so good!  If you haven't read it yet, it needs to be on your list for next year!

Turn To Me by Becky Wade - I think Ms. Wade's newest book is always 

on my list.  I'm really hoping that doesn't change. 

Sunburst by Susan May Warren - This is another book that surprised me!

I hadn't read anything from Ms. Warren in at least a couple years and this one just

 drew me right in!  And best of all, I adored the characters!

Sundown by Susan May Warren - See above comments.  Also, I just really

enjoyed how she finished this series.  It was beautifully done.  

Worthy of Legend by Roseanna M. White - Again, I think at least of

Ms. White's books is on my list every year.  And this is not a complaint!  This series

 conclusion was very satisfying. 

The Gifting by K.E. Ganshert - This is the one that surprised me.

I've honestly been looking at this book for several years and I just wasn't picking it

 up. Does anyone else have that one book that just keeps staring at you? (In the

 case of this cover, literally) I finally started it and just got sucked in!  And then

 dumped back out, as I haven't been able to get the other 3, yet.  Maybe next year.

So that's my list for the year!  What's on yours?  Anything I should be adding to my list for the new year?

Books I hope to read in 2022

 This post is only a week later than I was thinking I'd do it - life with a toddler and a newborn is definitely giving me a new list of priorities.  And I'm learning what things aren't at the top of my to-do list when sleep is in short supply.  Though I quite enjoy blogging, it doesn't even make the list sometimes.  I have been pondering possibly doing some different posts this year, maybe some things about parenting or more conversational things . . . we'll see.  

Anyway, so this list is a little different.  Most of the books are ones that release this year, though I think about 4 of them are books that have been on my to-be-read list and I'm really hoping to get into them soon!  I don't know how much reading I'll actually get done with 2 littles, but I can dream.  

As usual, you should be able to click the title and check it out on Amazon, if any catch your fancy.  What books are on your TBR list for this year? Also, I don't have any non-fiction on this list - any recommendations? 

Life Flight by Lynette Eason - January 2022

First book in a new series!  I can't wait!

To Disguise the Truth by Jen Turano - January 2022

Eunice Holbrooke's story!

Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin - February 2022

I've long enjoyed Sarah's novels and one of my favorites is

actually her standalone from last year, so I'm really excited for this one!

Enchanting the Heiress by Kristi Ann Hunter - March 2022

I honestly couldn't remember what this one was about,

just that it was Harriet's story, so I just read the description

and now I can't wait for March! 

Turn to Me by Becky Wade - May 2022

Luke's story!!!!

A Seaside Wonder by Melissa Tagg - ? 2022

This book was supposed to release this month, but

Melissa chose to delay it for personal reasons, so as far

as I know, there's no official new release date.  But isn't the

cover gorgeous? 

Wishtress by Nadine Brandes - September 2022

No cover for this one yet - but I'm super excited for this fantasy novel!

Now for the ones that are already available!

Dearest Josephine by Caroline George

I actually found this book via Instagram and got it

while it was on an ebook sale and have been looking forward

to reading it.  YA isn't my usual fare, but I've been enjoying

the other ones I've picked up recently.

Romanov by Nadine Brandes

I went through a phase as a teen where I was fascinated

by the history of the Romanovs (I read a series set in Russia that 

included their family) and teenage me would have been so stoked for 

this book.  I'm sad that adult me hasn't yet dove into it.  But hopefully 

that'll change soon! 

The Story Peddler by Lindsay A Franklin

This book is the first in a series and I'm probably going to

greatly regret the fact that I'm not currently in possession of books 

2 & 3 whenever I get the chance to read it.  

The Contest by K.E. Ganshert

I've not read any of this author's YA books, but

her other novels are some of my favorites, and I'm very interested to 

start this one.