Book Review - The Spy Keeper of Marseille

Roseanna M. White delivers fulfilling historical intrigue with a romantic vein in her novel, The Spy Keeper of Marseille. As invaders topple all that is good and sane in her beloved France, Zelie Bellerose finds herself leading Alliance, an underground network working with the British to subvert the efforts of the aggressors. Concert pianist and former POW Marcel Laurent fights by spying for Alliance as he conducts a youth orchestra and travels with a level of freedom most are not afforded. Together, Zelie and Marcel work to protect Alliance from subversion and to restore the France they love while learning to love each other through turmoil and keep their eyes on brighter days ahead.

I tend to enjoy WW2 era fiction, especially stories that highlight the individuals who fought back against tyranny. The Spy Keeper of Marseille is an excellent example of this type of storytelling, an immersive experience with all the senses engaged as White builds a world in which one lives while experiencing this story alongside characters who are truly alive in the telling. This is a novel that should be savored in spite of the desire to devour it as you crave everything that comes next.

The Spy Keeper of Marseille by Roseanna M. White is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

Book Review - Last Light Over Galveston

Jennifer L. Wright combines historical fact with eloquent fiction to create a rich and compelling novel in her upcoming release, Last Light Over Galveston. Centering around the life of debutante turned runaway Kathleen McDaniel as she hides for her life in a Galveston orphanage in the fall of 1900, this novel dances about the topics of social responsibility and identity until everything collides in full force. Wright’s characters are spunky and flawed, her setting developed so well that the reader is fully immersed, to the point that I might have checked once or twice to make sure my feet were not wet. Kathleen’s struggles are understandable, her longing for home familiar, and her flaws relatable. The supporting characters are well developed, pulling at the heartstrings just as I am sure the author intended. And when nature proves that Galveston is not actually immune to hurricanes, all comes to a climax that will leave the reader gasping for air and anticipating the next nail in the coffin until the point that the delicious conclusion is revealed.

Last Light Over Galveston by Jennifer L. Wright releases on August 12, 2025 and is currently available for preorder from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House    Christian Book    Amazon     Barnes & Noble    Walmart

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, the publisher, or the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review - The Collector of Burned Books

What is it about the written word that causes people to fear it? And what kind of beliefs must one have that they cannot stand against reading what is written from a different point of view? Roseanna M. White probes these questions in her upcoming release, The Collector of Burned Books, in which two literature professors in very different circumstances find themselves both thrown together and pulled apart.

Set during the occupation of Paris in 1940, Corinne Bastien and Christian Bauer find themselves on opposing sides politically. But despite the glaring differences, they find that free thinking and literature brings them together in a dangerous way. Bauer is assigned the task of library protector, including responsibilities at the rather curious Library of the Burned Books, a place with which Corinne is quite familiar. Though their political responsibilities are as different as darkness and light, their intellect and sensibilities find each other in the city filled with strife. White’s research shines in this novel, allowing the reader to see the contrasts and similarities in humanity through focused shaping of the setting and characters. The debates about literature, censorship, and free thought are well balanced and provocative, inspiring the reader to consider their own stance on the situation. The reader is reminded that there is often a very true person hiding beneath the projected facade. Though Corinne and Christian are the main characters, understanding and openness shine in their small corner of the City of Lights. The Collector of Burned Books is an enthralling read for its fiction, and an inspiring one for the light it shines on literature as a valuable conduit for thoughts and ideas.

The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White releases July 15, 2025 and is currently available for preorder from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House    Christian Book    Amazon     Barnes & Noble    Walmart

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.