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Monday, September 21, 2026

Review: The Spy Keeper of Marseille by Roseanna M. White


About the book:



In occupied France, a woman becomes a spy for the Resistance and rises to lead the largest intelligence operation in the country in this propulsive new World War II historical novel by bestselling author Roseanna M. White.

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.
Tyndale.com
My rating:
5 stars
(View my rating system)
My thoughts:

The Spy Keeper of Marseille was a wonderful read. I read it while in a reading slump and yet this book had me wanting to keep reading. I loved the characters and storyline. I felt for the main character and how she had to make difficult choices.

The book had some intense moments and memorable scenes. I thought it was written very well and think readers who enjoy WWI/WWII novels will enjoy this one. 

The romance was really sweet and I enjoyed seeing it grow. I loved how he was so selfless at times - especially with a certain thing he did towards the end.

All in all, The Spy Keeper of Marseille was another great read from a favorite author. I recommend it!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

This post may contain “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link with my affiliate code and purchase an item(s), I will receive an affiliate commission. You won't be charged extra, I'll just receive a small percentage of the purchase price. See my disclosure page here.

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Review: The Lumber Baron's Wife by Lynn Austin

Find on Goodreads


About the book:

When the young wife of a powerful lumber baron vanishes into the wilds of frontier Michigan, her friend is left to unravel the truth in this captivating dual-timeline novel from bestselling author Lynn Austin.

1873. After a devastating loss, Hannah Wagner never imagined she'd leave her comfortable home for the harsh, unfamiliar wilderness near Lake Michigan. But when Henry Abernathy—a friend of her husband, John—offers them a fresh start in a booming lumber town, where John's skills as a doctor are sorely needed, Hannah reluctantly agrees. There, she meets Kate, Henry's spirited, much younger wife. Kate's sharp tongue and outsider status have made her unwelcome among the town's elite, and when she begins confiding in Hannah, it's clear her marriage is not what it seems . . . and that a secret from her past could destroy everything.

Present day. Ashley Gilbert never planned to settle in Michigan, but when her husband lands his dream job as a conservationist, she agrees to follow. While restoring their historic home—built in the 19th century for a doctor and his wife—Ashley becomes captivated by its past and its connection to the nearby Abernathy mansion, now being transformed into a museum. While volunteering with the restoration, she stumbles upon the unsolved mystery of Kate Abernathy's disappearance. What begins as curiosity soon becomes a quest for the truth—one that will connect her to two women whose stories and struggles echo and inspire her own.

Standalone historical fiction about marriage, grief, and the power of female friendships from the author of All My Secrets and Long Way Home
A richly layered Christian women's fiction novel with elements of mystery, perfect for fans of Martha Hall Kelly, Kristy Cambron, and Susan Meissner
Includes discussion questions for book clubs
My rating:
3.5 stars
(View my rating system)
My thoughts:

The Lumber Baron's Wife was a good read that held my attention. I enjoyed the dual storylines and found it an interesting read. I wasn't expecting what had actually happened to the baron's wife and it was a surprising twist.

The characters were nice and unique...I think I preferred the ones in the past, though. I didn't love how certain characters handled some things, but nothing was too big of an issue for me.

All in all, The Lumber Baron's Wife was another good read from Lynn Austin. I think fans of historical romance will enjoy it. I look forward to more books from this author.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

This post may contain “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link with my affiliate code and purchase an item(s), I will receive an affiliate commission. You won't be charged extra, I'll just receive a small percentage of the purchase price. See my disclosure page here.

Friday, January 2, 2026

2025 Mini-Recap & 26 Books I Want To Finish In 2026

Hello 2026! I'm planning on gettting more consistent with posts this year and hopefully getting over this persistent reading slump I've been in. I thought I would share a little recap of 2025, plus some reading "goals" and a tbr list of 26 books I'm wanting to finish in 2026.

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According to Goodreads challenge, I read 43 books. That was way lower than my goal of 130 books, but as I said I've been in a slump with reading and so I'm glad that I at least finished some books. ;)


Some highlights from the books I read:




26 Books I Want To Finish In 2026:

Most of these books are ones that have been sitting on my TBR shelf way too long and I want to push myself to finally read them. Going to try my best to get them read this year.



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Goals: 
Ideally I will read at least 1 nonfiction book a month and 3+ fiction books a month. With my current reading slump, it would be really nice to read at least that. :) I hope to also post here at least once a week.

What are some reading goals you have for 2026? Any books you especially want to read this year? Please share in the comments below. Thank you for stopping by. 

Some of the links in my blog posts, tweets, social media posts, etc. contain “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link with my affiliate code and purchase an item(s), I will receive an affiliate commission. You won't be charged extra, I'll just receive a small percentage of the purchase price. See my disclosure page here.
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