Secret spies during world war 2 make for amazing books all these years later! Elena was definitely one of these characters. I read this book, but also have listened to the audiobook. Both were great! The relationship that developed between Elena and Santiago was such a lovely one to witness. All the action in this book was great as well.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

This is a unique take on a tried and true formula. I do recommend it!

Heroine asked to step up and go outside of her comfort zone in a war?
Finds underrated skills she didn’t"t know she possessed?
Is put in morally difficult positions?
Finds a way to win through despite the odds?

Yes, a female spy/espionage story set during WWII is going to have those elements. Foe me, what was different was having it set in Madrid knowing Spain was not officially a part of the war. I liked this backdrop and thinking through what being allied with Nazi Germans would have meant in this context. I think the author does this part of the story really well.

I agree with others that the start is slower and I honestly thought Elena was too naive and clueless in the beginning but it did pick up and had some satisfying moments.

I teach WWII History so am probably a little harsher than most on this but I did find it engaging.

3.5 stars and I received an advance copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love this author’s unique approach to historical fiction. In this case, who couldn’t get behind an unassuming person being picked from obscurity to be a spy? It’s intriguing and engaging. The author also wisely yet tactfully uses Elena’s heritage as a major point, which I also appreciated. The letters from Elena’s grandmother in occupied Paris were also well done. I remain a big fan of Siobhan Curham and look forward to her next book. For more details, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from Bookouture.

Recruited to be a spy, the story follows Elena Garcia as she travels to “neutral” Spain. This is a love story, a spy thriller, and a question of trust. A beautifully written book that draws the reader in, and leaves you wondering who do you trust.

I didn’t know who to trust in this network of agents and felt like one of the characters whilst reading. This was a truly immersive experience and by far one of my favorite novels by the author!

The Secret Keeper is definitely a different take on the typical WW2 novel due to the espionage themes.

Elena has been recruited as a spy due to her fluency in other languages and after training finds herself working underground for the Allies in Spain. It's a dangerous job, especially for a woman, and even more in countries with German soldiers everywhere. Without knowing who the spy is, Elena has to consider everyone a suspect, but when she meets Santiago, a Spanish dancer, the idea of not falling in love while working is put to the test.

This book will definitely have you on the edge of your seat as Elena continues her missions in the hopes of saving lives and defeating the Nazis. Is Santiago the man of her dreams? Can he even be trusted? And what will become of them if the Nazis discover her true role?

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The Secret Keeper is the story of Elena who is a budding actress in LA during the early days of WWII. After she goes to an audition for a movie, she is selected to train to become a part of a team of spies who will be deployed throughout Europe. Elena ends up in Madrid portraying a Mexican actress who is there to perform in a play. Her job is to get close to certain individuals and find out who is working with the Nazis. Along the way she finds herself falling in love, and wondering who she can trust.

This book was action packed from the beginning. There is never a dull moment in Elena’s life in Spain. Throughout the book are letters to Elena from her Grandmother, Rose, who is living under Nazi rule in France. Rose writes these letters to help her get through the terrible times.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction, especially Susan Elia MacNeal’s Maggie Hope series. While I was reading this, I was hoping it would be part of a series.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Oh this is so very beautiful. Thought provoking. Heart rending. Poignant. So beautifully written. Another masterpiece from this incredible author.

The Secret Keeper is the second book I've read by Siobhan Curham, having thoroughly enjoyed The Paris Network earlier this year. This one again takes place during the Second World War and also has a strong female protagonist but the setting is more unfamiliar this time, exploring the perhaps less well-known state of affairs in the officially neutral Spain.
At the start of the book, Elena Garcia is a rather naïve young woman who dreams of giving up waitressing to become a proper actress. She may be appearing alongside William Holden and a young Ronald Reagan but it's only a small role in a training video for American operatives who will be going undercover in Europe, and she longs for that elusive break. However, a conversation with a suited man about her family results in her life changing in a way she would never have predicted.
It's obvious to readers what lies ahead for Elena after a mysteriously clandestine meeting where she is asked if she is available to come to Washington for some tests. However, Elena herself clearly has no idea what she is headed for and while I initially found her cluelessness a little grating, I was soon reminded that I have the benefit of hindsight and women at that time wouldn't have expected to be recruited as spies. After her initial shock, she quickly accepts her situation and though only a fairly small part of the novel, I enjoyed the look at the sort of training undertaken at The Farm by the men and women who had the potential to become members of the OSS, as well as the realistic portrayal of the inevitable friendships and clashes that occur when people from all walks of life are thrown together.
Her first posting comes as a surprise to her but makes perfect sense; she is sent to Spain where she is to play the part of a Mexican actress, Carmen De La Fuenta. Elena's father is from Mexico which means she is fluent in Spanish and now she has a role which will test all her acting abilities, as well as the skills she learned at The Farm. I really enjoyed the juxtaposition between the public and private face of Elena; she uses her portrayal of Carmen to give her confidence but for all her capabilities, we still see the scared young woman who desperately hopes that her part in the war effort will help liberate Europe from the grip of the Nazis – particularly her beloved Grand-Mere Rose. Letters from Rose to Elena are interspersed throughout the novel and are a heartbreaking insight into the lives of those living under Occupation. It's especially poignant that Rose writes these letters knowing that she can't actually send them but still needs an outlet for her hopes and fears.
The sense of place is superb throughout and I loved seeing how different life was in a part of Europe not occupied by the Nazis. However, for all the apparent freedoms and glamorous functions, there is a menacing undercurrent of fear and doubt. Elena is warned not to fall in love but grows close to Spanish flamenco dancer, Santiago Lozano. I would describe The Secret Keeper as a romantic suspense story rather than a true espionage thriller with the relationship between the two main characters a real highlight. Siobhan Curham captures the chemistry they share beautifully but so too, the uncertainty as both have their secrets. This isn't a fast-paced novel, instead exploring the emotional responses to such extraordinary situations as well as the more strategic considerations.
Elena's undercover role brings her into close contact with dangerous people and there are some truly nail-biting scenes. She is advised early on to think of what they are doing as a game of chess and she frequently refers to this analogy, most notably during some acutely tense scenes. Although a slow-burner, there are still several moments which set my heart racing, especially later, where the stakes become really high as Elena is forced to accept that she may not be able to trust anybody. I sped through these pages, terrified for her and eager to discover the truth; the scenes set in France were so intense, I could hardly draw breath at times. If I had one small quibble, it would be that I felt the ending was slightly rushed. I do understand why this was necessary, the book would have been ridiculously long otherwise but I would love to read more about Elena's experiences in France.
The Secret Keeper was inspired by the true story of model turned spy, Aline Griffith and Siobhan Curham's research is evident throughout but she never bogs down the narrative with facts, instead intertwining real-life events and people seamlessly into the storyline. The result is an atmospheric, moving novel that kept me gripped from start to finish. I recommend it and look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Great summer read. Many twists and turns. Was rooting for the heroine. Not familiar with Spains part in World World 2. The end did wrap up quickly.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC for review.

After being recruited as a spy, Elena's mission is to gather intelligence against the Germans. Her handler warns her not to fall in love, but a handsome dancer manages to work his way into her heart. Elena must follow her heart and decide who she can trust in this exciting WW2 historical fiction novel.

I really enjoyed this book. It showcased all the facets of the life of a spy, from the danger, the glamour, the heartache, and some definitely un-glamorous moments. The book also showed how easily propaganda and misinformation can sway the opinions and loyalties of even the most staunch supporters.

I do wish the prologue had been fleshed out a little more, so we could glimpse more of Elena's life after the war and learn the fates of some other characters.

The Secret Keeper is my first Siobhan Curham novel and I found it so interesting! I was gripped immediately - the only reason I stopped reading was because I'm on Scout camp and needed to look after the young people!!! Elena is a budding actress who auditions but is recruited for a totally different part - that of a spy. Missing her grandmother who lives in occupied France, she decides that she will do all she can to 'free' her.

Elena Garcia is a 21 year old American woman who longs to be an actress, but works in a diner instead – a job she despises. Her father is Mexican, grandmother French, and Elena speaks both Spanish and French fluently.

A chance encounter with a mysterious man from the War Department results in Elena travelling to Washington D.C., and then to Maryland to join the espionage school training to become a US spy.

Elena becomes friends with Betty who struggles in training and becomes an object of misogynistic jokes by Teddy, who reckons he’s the Alpha male.

Elena’s first post takes her to Madrid, Spain, a country that was neutral during the war. In my mind, I always thought that neutral countries in WWII (like Spain or Portugal) were just left alone, however, that wasn’t the case – apparently they were a hive of undercover agents where vital intelligence was passed. I felt that I have learned something valuable!

In Spain, Elena’s task is to find Himmler’s undercover agent, and as the reader soon finds out, Elena isn’t short of suspects – anyone could be working for the Nazis. Her handler, Mitchell, offers her one piece of advice ‘Don’t fall in love’, however, this proves hard for Elena, as she meets kind and charming flamenco dancer, Santiago. Will he be her salvation or damnation? Will Elena discover the true identity of Himmler’s spy?

I loved this book right from the beginning all the way to the end. I found it was very well researched – the part about Leslie Howard’s death, the British actor, mostly known for his role in Gone With the Wind, was quite fascinating and I did research the potential theories of why his plane was shot down by the Luftwaffe.

I really liked Elena as a character, she was brave, patriotic, and would do anything for her country.

There were some despicable characters depicted in this book, such as Teddy and Horst, who thought that they were God’s gifts sent to women who should worship them.

My favourite part in the book were the letters written by Grand-mère Rose to Elena, in which she described the horrific occupation of France by the Nazis. I felt those short notes really brought the reality of war and what it was like for the French people.

Overall, it is a fantastic book, part espionage and thriller, part romance, but full of historical details.

I definitely recommend it.

Thanks to Bookouture for accepting my NetGalley request.

Elena Garcia, a bit part actress in California who has just finished starring in a training film for American undercover agents destined for Europe, is excited when offered a role in Washington DC. Intrigued by the secrecy surrounding this offer and thinking this could be her big break, she is surprised and a little dismayed to learn that the role offered, although she has to act a part, is not one for stage or screen but for the OSS, the Office of Strategic Services, the American intelligence agency. Singled out for her Mexican and French heritage, her linguistic skills and her acting ability, she is the ideal operative for an upcoming mission.

After her training, as Carmen De La Fuente, a Mexican actress, code name Flamingo, Elena is sent to Madrid, Spain. The city is a hotbed of intrigue where spies and counter spies, German and Allied, make use of Spain's neutrality and the fact that the dictator, Franco, is pro-Nazis and welcomes regular visits from the head of the Abwher, the German Intelligence Service and Himmler, the head of the dreaded SS and Hitler's second in command.

Elena's brief is to confirm whether a Spanish actress is Himmler's agent in Madrid and also to seek out locals, especially women, who might be interested in working with the Allies. Her method is to infiltrate the social scene and accept as many invitations as possible. Through one of these invitations, she meets Santiago Lozano and despite being warned to trust no-one and avoid romantic entanglements, Elena is drawn to him.

We follow Elena as she fulfils her dangerous mission, fearful that her cover may be blown at any time. She faces tricky situations where on the spur of the moment decisions have to be made to protect her identity and safeguard her mission. Adding to her unease, is a fortune teller's prediction that has Elena reassessing her connections and questioning the motives of those she has grown close to and come to trust. Meanwhile, she is coming to the notice of powerful German officers and businessmen. She is reunited with people from her past, but is totally unprepared for an act of betrayal.

Elena is a wonderful character, although I didn't believe she would so readily leave her home and family on the promise of an acting role across the other side of the country. However, this was just a minor niggle, with her recruitment and training dealt with quickly.

The action ramps up considerably once she is in Madrid and any qualms I had about her recruitment faded away completely so credible was she in her new role: courageous and sensible. Despite her growing feelings for Santiago, her mission always came first regardless of the personal heartache.

I loved her inner dialogue where she is the insecure Elena who talks herself into becoming the confident Carmen, often using a nine word mantra, supplied by her grandmother, to calm her mind.

This novel is full of suspense and some truly heart stopping moments. It's also a fascinating look at what was happening in Spain during World War II.

I've enjoyed a number of Siobhan Curham's novels now and believe this is her best one yet!

The Secret Keeper by Siobhan Curham is a slow burner but my god when it does ignite it does so in spectacular fashion and I was completely hooked. Set during World War Two this is a thrilling story packed full of tension, danger, unease, espionage and romance that moves between America, Madrid and Paris. Trust and loyalty along with doing one’s best to win the fight in the battle of good versus evil are the main themes which were explored so well throughout the book.

We follow American Elena whose heritage is Mexican and French. She is a waitress but trying to make it as an actress. Whilst filming a commercial she impresses those in the war department and soon finds herself being trained as an OSS agent. This takes her completely out of her comfort zone but the powers that be have spotted the qualities need to be a spy undercover in Europe. Elena doubts her abilities time and time again but throughout everything that she endures she remembers the words her grandmother said ‘Love your fear, seek the wonder, embrace the mystery’.

Elena’s French grandmother Rose returned to France from America but since then the Germans have invaded and all contact has been lost. Throughout the book Rose continues to write letters to Elena detailing her experiences of occupation. She never gets to send the letters but getting everything down on paper sustains her through the difficult times. The chapters are interspersed with Rose’s letters and I thought this was brilliant as it gave an insight into life in France during the war and it reinforced for the reader the fact that everything Elena goes through will all be worth it if the war can be won and her grandmother survives. They provided a sharp contrast between what was going on in France and what Elena was living through in Madrid. Elena is told that as a spy your head should always rule over your heart and for her this will be tested time and time again as she finds herself assigned to Madrid where danger lurks around every corner and no one is to be trusted.

Elena arrives in Madrid a fresh and raw recruit who has no idea of what she has gotten herself involved in and she doubts she is strong enough to carry out what has been asked of her. But the further the books progresses she goes through a complete transformation from someone who I viewed as meek and really not fit for the job to a person who became strong, ingenious and hard as nails when push came to shove. Elena adopts the alias of Carmen, an actress who is starring in a new play in Madrid. The early scenes in Madrid made it seem that although the war was raging on that it hadn’t quite hit their doorstep in terms of actual fighting yet really there was a whole network of underhanded dealings going on. She is tasked with discovering just who is working for the Germans and passing on information that should never get into their hands. Elena uses her skills as an actress to perfection throughout the book. You almost forget that she was plucked out of obscurity and is puting her life on the line so good of a role does she play. Her senses are always heightened and she is on full alert at all times. For no one is as they seem and the only person she can really trust is her handler.

It wasn’t until the halfway point that for me the book really picked up the pace. I found the scenes set in Madrid became slightly repetitive and not much happened to push the story on and there became quite a number of characters to keep track of. None of which I knew whether they were loyal or not but then came that turning point that I have experienced whilst reading other books by this author. Something just clicked with me and I found myself racing through the pages eager to know what was happening and why and what the ultimate outcome would be. Elena stepped up in my estimation big time and I loved all the twists and turns that were unfolding. I came to appreciate that the slow start was worth it and that every character needs to be kept an eye on no matter how small or inconsequential I had first viewed them. Fear and tension exude from Elena at all times but she hides them well from the Germans that surround her. She does such a god job pulling the wool over their eyes that is able to infiltrate deep and find out things that are very beneficial to the cause. But on the romance side I found she played a risky game going back and forth between certain people.

Flamenco dancer Santiago catches her eye as soon as she lands in Madrid and I found the chemistry between them just off the charts.They dance around each other drawing close and then seeming far apart as Elena through what she witnesses and hears questions his loyalties. Really you couldn’t blame her as there were so many players in the game of chess that was ongoing in Madrid who were all trying to outdo one each other in the power games that it was impossible to know who was on what side. Romance wasn’t always at the forefront of Elena’s mind but it did provide a nice distraction for her when she needed it and I thought overall this aspect of the plot was really well developed and left you guessing.

When Elena is tasked with a dangerous assignment on another level compared to what she had been engaged in up until that point this for me was when the book really took off and it went to a different level. There was real edge of your seat nail-biting stuff and my heart was in my mouth wondering whether Elena had gone a step too far or was she mentally and physically capable of dealing with all the crisis, horror, terror and threats that were being thrown in her direction? I raced through the last quarter or so as it was jam packed with mystery and intrigue and plenty of surprising revelations reveal themselves. I hadn’t guessed as to the outcome and again I was reminded never to under estimate any character. I did find the ending as in the last few pages or so was quite abrupt given how much time and detail had gone into the overall story. Another chapter would have tied things up nicely but that wasn’t to be.

Overall, The Secret Keeper is a fantastic book and one of the better stories I have recently read in the WW2 historical fiction genre. Despite what I felt was an unnecessary and long winded start the book turned its self on its head and you will race to the end with your heart thumping as it becomes a very dramatic story. The author mentions in her end notes how she enjoys weaving lesser known historical facts into her stories and I was interested to read that the character of Elena was inspired by the true story of an American model turned spy. It makes me want to go and find out more. Siobhan Curham is now definitely on my list of go to authors and I look forward to what she has next in store for us.

After shedding a few tears at the end of Siobhan Curham’s The Secret Keeper, I know that I will be thinking about Elena Garcia’s story for awhile. I read a lot of WW II historical fiction including books about the OSS and “The Farm” where new agents were trained. Elena was an aspiring actress who supported herself as a waitress. She was recruited to join the OSS. She spoke French and Spanish and could act. Her French grandmother had lived with their family in California but returned to France. I especially enjoyed the section about Elena’s training at The Farm. Her first assignment is going to be in Spain as an actress in a play. We meet lots of characters in this book and there are many twists as to who Elena can trust. I was surprised a few times. Several times throughout the book at the end of a chapter, a letter by Grandmère Rose is written to appears to Elena. Although the letters were never sent, the reader learns what is happening in France to Elena’s grandmother and her community.
This is the first book I have read by Siobhan. It will not be my last. My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

I don’t read a lot of historical fiction but was drawn to this one based on the description. An American posing as an actress in Spain but actually a spy during the war. And then throw in a little romance and I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed the letters from Grand’Mere Rose interspersed in the chapters. And if the story wasn’t enough, the letter at the end of the book from the author explaining how Elena is based upon a real-life model turned spy. I am all the more impressed by what I read. I’m not sure if I even knew whose side Spain was on during the war. I love when I learn from fiction.

The book is fraught with tension and we get to live along with Elena not knowing who to trust and her betrayals.

Paris, 1942: Elena Garcia joins a spy network for the Americans. She knows that her current mission is extremely dangerous and could be her last. She boards a train destined for her drop-off point, and has hidden the coded maps in a pack of playing cards in her purse. While in an meeting in the underground her location is compromised and she must flee the country, and leave everything behind, including Santiago Lozano, the man she loves. Elena is faithful to her country and her mission, so leaving her country while still in the grips of war is not something she is willing to do.

This story is absolutely exceptional on every level possible. I was completely engulfed in this book from the beginning to the end. This rapid page turner will have you on the edge of your seat, while mending your broken heart over and over again. This epic story was one that hit all the emotions and left me awestruck. I can’t imagine such a time, the courageous people that would leave everything they know and never gave a second thought to risking their lives for others. I am a huge fan of books based on true events and this one resonated with me long after I finished the book. I actually rate this book ten stars because it is so much better than a five star read. I am definitely starting a re-read pile with this one. This is one of the best books I have ever read. Do yourself a favor and please do not pass up this phenomenal story. I loved this book, I know you will too and I highly recommend it. This author, Siobhan Curham, has become an auto-buy author for me, if her name is on the cover, the book will be in my hand….immediately!!

Thank you Siobhan Curham for such a phenomenal story. I love how this story is based on true events. True event stories are always so captivating and cause much contemplation and reflection. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I definitely recommend it.

Elena Garcia is a struggling actress and waitress, when she is tagged by the OSS to become a spy for the allies, stationed in Spain. Her cover story is that she is a Mexican actress going by the name of Carmen de la Fuentes playing a role in a play in Madrid. She meets a handsome, flamboyant flamenco dancer by the name of Santiago Lozano who she has chemistry with, but finds out he is a Nazi sympathizer or spy, so she has to put a halt to those feelings. With a German businessman getting interested in her, one of her friends and fellow spies getting captured by the Nazis and her own cover eventually blown, will Elena/Carmen survive the war to return to her family?

I enjoy reading historical fiction, especially when it is about something I am not familiar with. I learned a lot about Spain and their role in WW2. I also didn't know about the OSS, apparently the forerunner to the CIA. This story was told from Elena's/Carmen's POV, but is interchanged with letters from her Grandmère Rose. She is living in a small village in the French countryside and writes letter to Elena, her beloved granddaughter, that she knows she will not mail. She tells her about what is happening in their village, but hides them under the floorboards of her cottage, hoping that Elena will find them some day. This story drew me in right from the start, and the risks taken by Elena/Carmen were tense and kept me on the edge of my seat. Carmen was quite adept at espionage, thinking on her feet, with fighting skills, being an actor can easily fill a role and with a tenacity to help the world rid itself of facism. I definitely recommend you read the author's notes at the end. Siobhan Curham shares what is based on fact in this book and where she added fiction elements. As I said earlier, there was a lot happening in Spain that I was not aware of at all, during WW2. I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction, especially events set during WW2.

This was the first time I've read one of Curham's books and it's definitely not going to be the last!

The Secret Keeper was absolutely fantastic and the plot kept me captivated from beginning to end.

Loosely based on the true story of Aline Griffith, an American model turned spy, the story is fast paced, gripping and full of tension.

Well written, researched and highly entertaining.

Many thanks to Bookouture for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐