World War II. A Hollywood actress. Suspected spy activity.

I've often read that famous actress Greta Garbo was a spy in WWII, so I was immediately drawn into this story of Amelie Blake, a young Swedish actress who decides to aid the war effort by becoming a spy. She is beautiful, brave, and dedicated to protecting freedom, but there are so many obstacles thrown into her path.

The Starlet Spy is set in both Hollywood and Sweden during the years 1943-1945, and it alternates between the glamour of making movies and the danger involved in working undercover during WWII. Author Rachel Scott McDaniel kept me guessing with the twists, turns, and questions. Does the one man that Amelie thinks she can trust actually have ulterior motives?

If you're looking for romance, suspense, and heart-pounding adventure, grab a copy of The Starlet Spy. It's a great addition to the Heroines of WWII series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. These are my own thoughts.

Thank you to Net Galley and Barbour Publishing for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
This was a really good story! It takes place in 1943, mostly in Sweden. Movie star Amelie Blake is asked to return to her homeland of Sweden as a spy. She is trying to recover some files that cannot get into the hands of the Nazis. Along the way, she is slowly developing a relationship with Finn Ristaffason. Lots of intrigue and mystery in this story. I liked the way the author included many historical facts, and then let the reader know which parts were fact, as well as which parts were fiction. I also like the way the romance between Amelie and Finn developed over time. The scene where they were dancing was one of my favorites. I really liked this book, and I want to go back and read the other books in this series.

Set in WWII, Amelie Blake is recruited to locate some highly sensitive plans that could turn the tide of the war. Amelia is the perfect candidate since she is an actress and hides behind the persona of a dumb blonde when she is actually highly intelligent and has a photographic memory. With red herrings and plot twists, you are sure to be caught up in this story.

It’s unusual to have a spy story with humor, but Rachel Scott McDaniel did an excellent job in showing what happens when there is misinformation and assumptions. I loved how she was told that Finn Ristaffason was a huge fan, and it would be easy to win his trust. But, what Amelia discovers might be different.

I highly recommend this clean war romance for readers of all ages. It is a part of the Heroines of WWII, but it can be read as a standalone.

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and Net Galley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.

“But I look at you and remember God breathes light into our darkest moments. That’s what you are to me. My brightest light. My greatest joy.”
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I loved this story from Rachel Scott McDaniel so much! She writes stories that come to life in my mind! I loved Amelie and her desire to help serve, the way she saw to the heart of things and her witty remarks! Finn was so intriguing and kept me guessing! I loved the dance on the beach, when they saw the northern lights, and the final scene! The history of the families added heartfelt depth to the story. And I thought it was amazing to read how real history was woven into it!
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I hope this helps to convince you to give this one a try! If you are a fan of historical fiction and love stories I think you will love it!
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I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

What a brilliant storyline where a Hollywood star becomes a spy in order to attain information from others. Amelie is perfect for the mission because well people don’t consider her smart. Awe but that’s what will make her the perfect spy. She will be able to gain trust without suspicion. I loved how the author treats us to a trip to Sweden during the 1940s with historical facts and breathtaking views of the land and culture.

Amelie is taking a big risk but she wants to serve her country. Maybe now others will respect her when she succeeds at the biggest role she has ever had. I’m rooting for her but I except her to run into danger at any minute. The author had me on the edge of my seat anticipating Amelie’s every move.

Finn is a fascinating character. I couldn’t figure out if he should be trusted or if Amelie should keep her guard up. He isn’t an overly affectionate person and at times seems to have this disdain look on his face. As time goes on maybe we will see a softer side to him. Nonetheless Amelie must keep her wits about her. Her focus must remain on her mission. Her life depends on it.

With secrets that change the lives of many this story fills my need for intrigue. It is easy to feel part of the story as the author gives vivid details of each move our heroine makes. I was shocked at one particular fact and wondered why someone would deny knowing a person desperate for answers. The truth is starting to come to the surface and Amelie’s cover may be found out.

This exciting journey does have twists that are so subtle I almost didn’t catch their meaning. I loved how the author cleverly put the pieces together and end the story with a few surprises. I highly recommend readers to not miss the authors notes at the end. It is without a doubt a look at history with a twist of fiction that makes this story so believable and enjoyable to read.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

“Everything around me whispered lies.”

Rachel Scott McDaniel hooked me on The Starlet Spy with her very first sentence! We, the readers, find ourselves accompanying Amelie Blake, who provides first-person POV, in Hollywood, then in Sweden as she plays the ditsy blonde to work a reconnaissance mission.

Having taught 6th grade science eons ago, I was thrilled to see physicist Niels Bohr as a major part of the story, though we never see him!

I loved the possible love triangle set-up, with Finn Ristaffason and Axel Eizenburg. Plus, the suspense is palpable as the tension builds over the constant uncertainty who might be a spy or a double-spy. Who is working for the Allies and who is working for the Axis powers? Everyone is suspect!

As always, well-placed humor relieves the great suspense a bit, enough that your heart can continue beating, rather than beating out of your chest, like it’s tempted to.

So many twists, so many surprises!! I loved The Starlet Spy!! If you love clean, Christian WWII fiction, stories of how women helped the Allied cause in WWII, Sweden, or Liz Tolsma, you will love this book.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought a copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“I frowned.The more he spoke, the more all this sounded like a terrible B-movie plot…”

“I’d feel much more primed to save the world after a long nap.”

“‘Mormor once told me never to take the blame for someone else’s wrong actions.’I gave a soft smile. ‘She’d probably say that to you, too.’”

I’d been accustomed to being overlooked and invisible, but that day I’d wanted nothing more than to be seen. If I’d gained approval from a guy like Finn, I’d finally have worth. Now I could see how damaging that reasoning had been. Value was not a trophy to be won from other people’s acceptance.

I look at you and remember God breathes light into our darkest moments. That’s what you are to me. My brightest light. My greatest joy.”

“There’s a war going on.…It’s a battle of information and misinformation.”

“But in a moment like this, it feels like the one true God is close, even more than we realize.” As if the Creator had painted the sky as a reminder of His majesty. If He could ignite the heavens, I could trust him to impart light into my darkness.”

“‘That’s the interesting thing about truth. It can be manipulated. Distorted.’ ‘No, information can be twisted.’I lifted my chin. ‘But truth? Truth will always rise from lies.’”

I love me a well done WWII story, especially when I haven’t read something similar a dozen times. This was fresh, unique, set in Sweden (I had no idea of their involvement in WWII!), and features the whip smart, glamorous Amelie who plays the ditzy actress role she’s known for to hide that she’s helping the OSS. The target? Businessman and consummate playboy Finn Ristaffason. It appears that he’s has had a conversion of heart on the exterior from their previous encounters, but is it genuine? Their romance was super swoon-worthy, and you really could tell that they were equals in so many ways. A mystery surrounding the work of renowned physicist Niels Bohr takes them all over Sweden as the Gestapo is just a step behind, so they really get to know each other and to God as they get closer to solving the mystery. It had a satisfying conclusion and the author’s notes are a must! I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

Amelie Blake, film star, is recruited for a secret mission: Go to Sweden, romance Finn Raffaston, and find Bohr's missing research. But death seems to follow on the heals of the missing research and Amalie will have to use her wits to stay alive.

I really enjoyed this story. I kept trying to figure out who the mastermind was, but never figured it out. (Keep in mind that I'm not usually good at sensing things.) I don't feel like there was a lot of information to figure it out in advance, though. I really enjoyed Amelie, her relationship with her mother, and her relationship with Finn. I'd love to read more.

You can always touch the stars, Mel. Just need to know where to find them.

War has a way of bringing out the best and the worst in people. For Amelie Blake, a Swedish actress, it became an opportunity to do something to help the war effort. Unfortunately, as she did the best she could, she came across a number of folks who were in it for the money - how much could they benefit from working for the other side?

This wonderful, detailed story takes us from the lights of Hollywood to boots on the ground in Sweden. Traveling from one place to another, the reader learns much about the land that Amelie calls home. Searching for a lost manuscript, the dangers are very real and learning who can be trusted is a whole new education.

An early copy of this installment of the Heroines of WWII series was received through Barbour Publishing, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. These impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

Hollywood Star Turns Spy… if you enjoy the dazzling sensation of Hollywood at its golden age and spy stories then you are in for a treat with The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel

The OSS couldn’t have created a better operative cover than famed actress Amelie Blake already possessed. The touted “all beauty no brains” Scandinavian actress was the perfect person to send in to spy on Sweden’s elite without raising suspicion. Fluent in three languages and a special gift for perfect memory she is sent to the “Casablanca of the North”, tasked with finding top-secret atomic research that went missing and must not fall into Nazi hands. As she searches for the crucial files, Finn Ristaffason keeps showing up at her every turn. Is the charming shipping magnate after the missing research? Or does he have other reasons for getting in her way?

With the Gestapo on her heels, Amelie must rely on her smarts in addition to her acting skills to survive a world of deadly spies and counterspies.

✨ Things I loved about this book ✨:
🎞️ Enemies to Lovers
🎞️ Golden age of Hollywood
🎞️ WWII “Casablanca of the North” setting
🎞️ Aurora Borealis 😉
🎞️ Dancing in the Moonlight
🎞️ Broody Hero
🎞️ Brilliant and Modest Heroine
🎞️ Beautifully Charming
🎞️ Mysterious Spy intrigue that kept me guessing
🎞️ Light Christian thread
🎞️ The Respectful Romance- “I won’t take anything from you that you’re not willing to give” 🥰
🎞️ The Chemistry and that kiss 😘👌🏻

Have I convinced you to give this book a try yet?

Tansi! Bok! This is the first book that I’ve had the pleasure to read from Rachel Scott McDaniel. I was hesitant at first to choose this book because movie stars are over-rated these days. But because of the time period it made it more readable in that aspect and it wasn’t solely about Hollywood. I highly recommend this rich spy novel. It was entertaining indeed to read how Amelie solved her first mission as a spy and I also found it quite humorous as well. In conclusion, I would add a tad of romance to the genre. I look forward to reading more from this author.

“I was so focused on the problems with this mission that I didn’t look up.” “Maybe that’s the best place for our focus. Keeping our eyes on Him.” Quote from book. I received this e-book for free from Celebrate Lit Tour and the opinions I express are honest and my own.

Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. Reminiscent of the classic WWII movies, filled with a brilliant cast of characters. With a heroine that had me rooting for her from the very beginning to a brooding hero, one I hoped would prove himself as one of the good guys at the end of the story.

Amelie Blake, a Swedish movie star, returns to her homeland as a spy. The author skillfully pens a story filled with intrigue, as Amelia's mission takes her on a search for sensitive documents, that follows a trail of murder and mayhem.

I loved the descriptions of Sweden and the rich historical detail included in the story. With a well-paced plot and a delightful slow burn romance, readers will love the ending.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is an entertaining and informative historical novel. It was interesting to read the Author's Notes at the end to find out much of the novel was based on historical fact and rumors that could have been true. We rarely get to read about the actions of the northern countries, like Sweden and Denmark, and this novel draws our attentions to war effort there.

The novel combines the personal life of an actress as spy with her undercover actions, going into Sweden to locate secret documents that could change the future of the war. Amelie is a good heroine, brave and dedicated to succeed at her task. There is a good amount of action and some romance too. McDaniel's writing style is clear and a pleasure to read.

I recommend this novel tor readers who would like to know more about war efforts in the northern countries and possible undercover activities.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Rachel Scott McDaniel has done it again. Every time I think one of her books is my favorite, she writes another one to take its place.

The Starlet Spy is now my current favorite and for good reason.

Amelie Blake is a Hollywood star known for her ditzy personality and beauty she portrays in film, but behind the scenes, she's anything but brainless.

Finn Ristaffason is the man she's sent to spy on.

What could go wrong?

A lot. A lot could go wrong. But definitely not in the author's writing skills. Normally, I have to read books set in WWII slowly and far apart, but this is the first book set in this time period that I would reread immediately. Rachel Scott McDaniel does a wonderful job of setting up the scene. Her descriptions and historical elements are so well researched and written that it feels like you are truly experiencing every aspect. It had me wanting to grab a history book and start diving into the time period. Check out the Author's Notes at the end for even more historical info!

And as is true in other titles by this author, I had no clue who the villain was until the reveal. I had my guesses, but they were completely wrong!

The romance was absolutely stunning. Enemies to lovers, foreign spies, forced proximity, broody main male character with a talented and smart actress, witty banter between all of the characters. I loved the misconception of what everyone assumed Finn thought of Amelie, and how that played out. Plus, the beach! No spoilers here-read this book to find out!

The Starlet Spy is a must read and Rachel Scott McDaniel is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!

**I received an advanced copy of this book for review. All thoughts are my own honest opinion. :)

Disclosure: I received this book free from the author/publisher through Celebrate Lit. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

And intriguing historical romance and a good installment in the Heroines of WWII series!

Amelie was a sympathetic character and a fun narrator. I liked how she took care of her mom. I thought Finn was a bit of a cliche historical romance hero given his broodiness and overly described looks, but I did like that he developed more of a personality toward the end of the book.

The plot contained plenty of suspenseful moments and hints of intrigue to keep me reading right along. I did get rather confused near the end, but that could've been due to the fact that I read this while having a cold. I appreciated that Rachel Scott McDaniel kept both the romance and language clean. This novel seemed very well researched.

Overall, The Starlet Spy was an entertaining read that I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian fiction and historical romance with a thread of suspense.

Famous and beautiful actress from Sweden often plays the roles of an ignorant clueless dame in Hollywood when in reality she is clever and well informed. In the middle of the war against Nazi Germany, Amelie is approached to be a spy in her home country. She is to find a briefcase full of secret documents that isn’t to be delivered to the Nazi.

This gives Amelie to visit with her mother for a bit. She also attends a fundraiser gala where she’s auctioned off for a dance with the highest bidder. Little does she know, that high bidder is someone she embarrassed herself with when she was just thirteen. He, luckily, doesn’t recall.

Amelie learns a lot about Finn Risstafason and his family as well as her own family. She isn’t sure what to believe about him, and isn’t quite sure if he’s trustworthy or not. During this time, it was hard to know who to really trust. Amelie went with her instincts and that seemed to work well for her.

There were times when it seemed like they were going after empty leads, a man was found unresponsive in a photography studio that caught on fire, and Amelie finds herself kidnapped. I suppose there are risks to being a Hollywood actress and a spy!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! 5 out of 5 tiaras for me for sure!! I love how clever Amelie is and to be in the presence of such an influential and handsome fella. Thank you to NetGalley and Center Point Pub for access to this work!

This was the first book I have read by Rachel Scott McDaniel. And it was wonderful. It had spies, intrigue, suspense, and honestly, I didn't figure it out! (Which I typically do!)
I loved the fact that she took an actress and used her as a spy in her home country. It was different from other WW2 books that I have read. (If you avoid this topic bc of the gorey aspect, this is definitely the book for you!)
This was a quick read but lovely. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

This book was an absolute gem!! I loved every bit of it and now have to read McDaniel’s other books. I love that she linked the real life events with the fictional and told us at the end which was which (even though I totally started looking things up while reading LOL).

"Mistakes shouldn't define our futures. We should never allow them that power."

Amelie Blake was a Swedish starlet who played a scatter brained blonde in her movies, but in real life Amelie was quite intelligent and had the gift of memory recall in certain situations. When the OSS asked her to help the out as a spy in her home country of Sweden, she couldn't turn down her urge to help out in World War II. But would a trip to her home country lead to more than just solving a dire situation for the OSS?

This was another wonderful book in the Heroines of World War II. I was hooked from the start as both Amelie and Finn (the male hero) slowly developed a relationship as they both worked to figure out what had happened to the missing briefcase as well as its contents. With numerous misdirections, they worked their way through the ups and downs of trying to solve the problem of the missing briefcase being lead in a multitude of directions which kept me guessing at who had the briefcase. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Sweden and it's various areas and towns. McDaniel's research on both Sweden and the role of World War II there was evident throughout the story. Overall, another great read in this series.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

#BookReview: THE STARLET SPY by Rachel Scott McDaniel


“Value was not a trophy to be won from other people’s acceptance.”

This is the second book I have read from the author and they are both good. I am delighted that the publisher continued this stand alone series as it showcased different authors and their wonderful stories during WWII. I liked Amelie and her secret skill. She’s a Hollywood actress from Sweden. I was intrigued when she returned to her motherland as a spy for the Allies. I anticipated her every move and the secrets she would uncover.

The book is fast-paced for the most part, although there are some slower moments. I wasn't sure about Finn at first, but I'm glad he turned out to be good for Amelie. I enjoyed their witty conversations, and their romance was sweet, although it wasn't the main focus of the story. I liked that they prayed and acknowledged God's plans. I haven't read many World War II books set in Sweden, so this was a refreshing change of pace. The historical facts woven into the story were interesting. Overall, I thought it was a good read.

Thank you Barbour Publishing and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Rating: 4 stars
Series: Heroines of WWII Book 11
Pub date: 01 Aug 2023