The Spy Keeper of Marseille ~ Review

The Spy Keeper of Marseille

By Roseanna M. White

Narrated by Megan Tusing

There is something about WW2-era books that touches the soul. I think it is the characters' attempts to right the world that has gone so terribly wrong. To do what must be done and sometimes at an incredible cost

In The Spy Keeper of Marseille, we are introduced to Zelie Bellerose, a widow and mother who is attempting to enter the occupied zone of France. She's on a mission, and her crossing is about to become treacherous.

With the opening chapter, we are transported to 1941 France and are brought into the Resistance. But Zelie is not in this to make a name for herself or to earn a place of power. No, she is doing what she does to ensure a better future and world for her children.

When she is forced to take command, she must deal with the mistrust of her authority because she is a woman. Handling paperwork, passing on messages, sure, but deciding what missions to assign and which operatives to send out, that is something else entirely. 

I loved how Zelie connected with Marcel Laurent over their shared appreciation of music. This book drew me in and made me care about the characters. I found Marcel's insights interesting when he looked beyond the uniform and instead saw just a man (or woman) when he played his music and it touched the listener. 

I enjoyed this book also in audio format (via Audible). The narrators did an excellent job of presenting this book and its emotional depth. I felt Zelie's fear after she was betrayed. And Marcel's determination to protect Zelie's children even as he is in the midst of his own tight timeline in his role in the Resistance. And that ending which is several chapters of nail-biting suspense (not that I was biting mine as I broke most of them stacking hay bales) but still I was held in suspense as to who would live and who would die. 

Both formats were good and were excellent ways to experience this book. The audio was great for my commute, and the book was great for sitting in a quiet corner trying to escape the summer heat.  

I was provided a complimentary copy of the text version of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own. 

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.

• A thrilling, propulsive novel based on the real life of a female spy during World War II
• Perfect for fans of WWII historical fiction by Ariel Lawhon, Lynn Austin, Martha Hally Kelly, and Kristy Cambron
• A captivating romance featuring a strong female heroine and a musician hero
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Son of Embers ~ Cover Reveal

Title: Son of Embers
Series: Blood of Kings: Legends, Book 6
Authors: Jill Williamson and Niki Florica
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Pre-order sale price: $4.99 (ebook)
Retail price after release: $7.99 (ebook)
Release date: September 15, 2026
Available in ebook, print, & coming to audiobook

SYNOPSIS

He's the slave a dozen masters threw away.
She's the lady no one in Er'Rets knows what to do with.
Now, they're both wanted by a town full of traitors… and one another's best chance of escape.

Born to serve, slave-turned-squire Mezaedo Chevyah was sent to Har Sha'ar with a
simple plan: investigate a noblewoman's disappearance, and prove to the Kingsguard
that he's worth keeping. Instead, he finds a bounty on his head, the voice of a dead
villain stirring in the back of his mind, and two unlikely allies — one, a traitor, the other a
lady as strange as her poison-toed slippers.

Lady Halona Pitney — anomaly, herbalist, and self-proclaimed harbinger of chaos —
came back to Har Sha'ar to find her missing grandmother and confront her childhood
friend, Erro Coble. But Erro has changed, and the secrets he's keeping are the kind that
get people killed. So, when he asks her to help him smuggle a wounded squire out of the
village — alive — how can she refuse?

Forced into an alliance no one wants, Mezaedo, Halona, and Erro have one chance to
wilderness beyond the walls hides a darkness worse than any of them imagined.
Loyalties will fracture. Secrets will surface. And what's growing between the squire and
the lady may cost more than they know how to pay.

escape Har Sha'ar alive before every bounty hunter in the mountains closes in. But the wilderness beyond the walls hides a darkness worse than any of them imagined.

Loyalties will fracture. Secrets will surface. And what's growing between the squire and

the lady may cost more than they know how to pay.

To survive what waits, Mezaedo and Halona will have to trust each other — and the
God who carried them this far — before the dark swallows everyone they came to save.
Two unlikely hearts. Enemies on every side. A faith that may be the only thing left
standing.

Blood of Kings: Legends

Book 1: Squire of Truth

Book 2: Lord of Winter

Book 3: Lady of Shadows

Book:4: Heir of Light

Book 5: Queen of Reckoning

Book 6: Son of Embers

About the Authors:

Jill Williamson is a multi-passionate creative who loves the arts. She’s written
over two dozen books for readers of all ages and is best known for her Blood of
Kings fantasy series, two of which won Christy Awards and made VOYA
magazine’s Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror list. She produces films
with her husband and teaches about writing at conferences. Visit her at
jillwilliamson.com.

Niki Florica is a full-time story addict and advocate for all things epic. She
believes Latin is immortal, dreams of being in a musical number (or a K-
drama—whichever comes first), and writes to stir the part of our hearts that God
has stamped with eternity. Catch her between writing sessions or overseas
adventures and she’s probably in the clouds; the glassy stare will give her away.
Find Niki on YouTube at Niki Florica. For more information, visit her at
nikiflorica.com.

Read the book if you love:

Slave-turned-squire

The lady no one knows what to do with

Slow-burn romance

Hostage-to-ally

Forced proximity (think snowed-in juniper bush)

A noblewoman with poison in her slippers

A childhood friend turned traitor

A town full of traitors hunting them both

A dead villain's voice in his head

Faith that doesn't flinch

Pre-order now!

Happy Independence Day and Book recommendations

 

The United States of America was an experiment

A government created by, of, and for the people.

It was a throwing off of what was known, 

a rebellion seeking to right what they felt were wrongs:

Unfair taxations

No representation

A ruler and government too distant and out of touch with their needs.

But they did not start with rebellion.

No, they began with talking, seeking to find common ground,

to come to an understanding.

Breaking the bonds to what was 

was not decided upon lightly.

No, it was a last resort

and it was not embraced by all

who lived here.

It tore families apart

and came at great cost.

Today we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of 

The Declaration of Independence,

a document, that if their cause failed

would have been proof against them in treason

against the King of England.

In the spirit of the day

I offer the following book recommendations

Gilbert Morris's House of Winslow series 

(written 1987 - 2007)

which is 40 books that cover a large portion

of the United States history.

And Elswyth Thane's Williamsburg series 

(written 1943 - 1957)

which is a much shorter 6 book series.

Both series follow a family during these years

of change and upheaval

Cover Reveal ~ Where Love Blooms

 I am thrilled to reveal the cover for my upcoming Regency Romance.

That's right I'm releasing a Regency Romance as part of Beyond the Bookery's 

multi-author Blossoms of Love series.

The cover is gorgeous and I hope you love it as much as I do!

And (drum roll) here

is

the

cover

for 

Where Love Blooms

Where Love Blooms is scheduled to release May 24, 2027,

and it is available to preorder from Amazon.

Check out the entire series on Amazon

Cover Reveal ~ The Lost Flower

 I'm thrilled to share with you the cover for my upcoming book The Lost Flower.

This book is scheduled to be released March 2, 2027, and it is available to preorder 

on Amazon for $0.99 (or your national equivalent) 

until July 5, 2026, in celebration of its cover reveal.

But before I share the cover with you,

a little about the book

It is a Forget-me-not/Lost Princess retelling mashup

It is part of a Multi-Author Series (MAS) entitled

The Garden of Lost Things

And here is a little teaser to intrigue you.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Every fairy tale has a villain; 

mine wears my sister's face.' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Are you sufficiently intrigued?

Readdy for the cover?

Are ready for a glimpse at the rest of the series?

All books from The Garden of Lost Things can be preordered from Amazon.

 

Until I Knew You ~ Review

Until I Knew You

By Tanya Eavenson

Jacob Michaels never liked his best friend's wife. He couldn't see why Clay Logan wanted to marry Olivia. But when the unimaginable happens and Jacob is named Olivia's trustee, he begins to see her in a new light.

Until I Knew You takes the reader on a journey of understanding and looking beyond labels. Olivia is autistic, an artist, a widow, and grieving. Jacob is a photographer, an orphan, a former child, and he too is caught up in his grief.

Shared loss forces Jacob and Olivia to spend time together, but this allows Jacob to finally see the woman that his best friend fell in love with. But Olivia is also a reminder of his guilt concerning Clay's death.

I appreciated how the author portrayed Olivia-her strengths, her weaknesses, her quirks-she was presented as multilayered woman who knew her own mind yet was limited by what others viewed as limitations. I admired Clay for having the foresight to pick someone who would honor his wishes regarding Olivia, someone who would fight for her, allow her to grow, to see past the limitations and labels others placed upon her. This is a book about second chances.

I highly recommend this book that is emotionally moving while celebrating the beauty of God's creation and His love.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 
About the Book
Title: Until I Knew You
Author: Tanya Eavenson
Publisher: All Roads Publishing
Release Date: 4/21/26
Genre: Christian contemporary romance, women’s fiction

Photographer Jacob Michaels has spent his life running, from foster homes, from emotional attachment, from anything that asks more of him than a fleeting moment through his camera lens, except for Clay Logan, his one true friend and the only person who ever saw past the walls.

Olivia Logan lives in a world of color and quiet, expressing through art what words cannot, and Clay understood her without explanation, offering a steady presence in a world that often feels overwhelming.

But when a hiking trip ends in tragedy and Jacob returns alone, everything changes, and Clay’s final request becomes Jacob’s new reality: take care of Olivia, protect her, don’t walk away.

Now her legal trustee, Jacob steps into a life he never intended. Bound by grief and a promise neither asked for, he and Olivia are drawn into a fragile closeness they don’t know how to navigate.

And perhaps God isn’t finished mending what was never meant to be broken.

Available at:

ttps://www.amazon.com/Until-Knew-You-Tanya-Eavenson-ebook/dp/B0DKG9NTBQ

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250723324-until-i-knew-you

Available in Kindle Unlimited

Queen of Reckoning ~ Review

Queen of Reckoning

Blood of Kings: Legends #5

Jill Williamson presents Kelly Fernlake

I love that the Blood of Kings series has this engaging spinoff series to delve into. And the fifth book, Queen of Reckoning, does not disappoint. In this book, we return to Jaelport as Mandzee Hamartano tries to maintain her role as queen, but her treaty with King Gidon is viewed unfavorably by her people. 

Worse, her tenure seems doomed to be short. When Lovell Dunn shows up early in her role as a royal envoy, things become even more volatile as her connections with Armonguard are brought once again into focus.

With her worthiness and abilities called into question, Mandzee feels she must compete in an annual tournament to earn her people's trust as ruler. But the tournament could be the very thing that brings down her rule and shortens her life. With threats surrounding her, Mandzee might have to rely on Lovell Dunn to help her discover who is targeting her and why.

Lovell has the unique ability to thoroughly annoy Mandzee, but all he's trying to do is make sure she is following the terms of the treaty she signed, keep her safe, charm her, and leave Jaelport as soon as possible. Though why he has to charm her, he's not sure. It certainly has nothing to do with saving her life previously or thinking about her a lot.  Nope, it is just part of his personality. Umhum, right. Nothing else.

Queen of Reckoning is so good. I love how Mandzee is working through the best way to rule. Does she follow the examples of the queens who came before, including her mother? Delving into the magic that steals a piece of her soul little by little with each spell? Or does she instead turn to her new knowledge of Armon and learn from Lovell? 

This is, at its heart, a book about heart and trust. Will this be a new beginning to something better in Jaelport? Or will they fall deeper into the darkness that is already consuming them?

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

A queen who rules by magic and the one man she can’t disarm.

Mandzee Hamartano didn’t ask to be queen. She didn’t ask for the peace treaty that’s turned half her city against her, the mage tournament that’s about to put her life on the line, or the envoy from Armonguard who’s moved into her palace and refuses to leave.

She certainly didn’t ask to fall for him.

Lovell Dunn is King Gidon’s royal envoy, tasked with one job: shadow the queen, keep the treaty, and report back. He’s not there to be charmed by a mage with copper eyes and a laugh that could melt stone. He’s especially not there to let her heal the condition that’s been stealing his sight for years.

But Mandzee is in more danger than either of them realizes. A deadly mage tournament is being used as a killing ground. A dark force is gathering inside her walls. And her brother—believed dead—has just walked out of the shadows with a powerful spirit at his command and a blade aimed at her throne.

To save her city, Mandzee will have to trust an Armanite who distrusts magic. And Lovell will have to risk the one future he’s been fighting for—to protect the one woman he can’t get out of his head.