Great historical read. My first book by this author. I really enjoy the storyline. Thanks for the advanced copy to NetGalley and the publisher. Well written

This book is stunning, and I'm not just talking about the cover! Although the cover is all of the heart eyes!

This book is brimming with historical facts and had so many plot twists that I could not put it down...add in a grumpy love interest and this author has a MUST READ type of book on her hands. Not to mention the author notes at the end which CANNOT BE MISSED! I learned so much and it made the story so much richer!

''...you can see why her disguise is perfect."
My gaze toggled between them. "But...I wasn't given a disguise."
Bill shrugged. "Hollywood already gave you the perfect cover."
My mouth parted. "You mean..." Oh, anything but that. "You want me to be the blond bimbo?"'

I loved Amelie's determination to do whatever it took to help the Allies in WWII. There was so much creativity based on fact in this book that has given me such a greater appreciation for everyone who was willing to play their "roles" in the fight against the Nazis.

This book started off quickly paced and before I knew it Amelie had been to The Farm for training and was in an airplane headed to her homeland of Sweden and I was completely invested.

'With a prayer on my heart and a gun strapped to my thigh, I nodded. "I'm ready."'

This book was spectacular at the cat-and-mouse aspect. The clues and Easter eggs hidden throughout were fun to try and discover before the main characters were able to. I constantly second guessed myself and loved the suspense.

Even more than the suspense, I loved the romance. Who doesn't love a brooding hero?

'...with Finn, I knew he had two moods--broody and broodier.'

I challenge you not to happy sigh at least a dozen times throughout this book.

This book is fascinating, well researched, well developed and extremely well written. I love books with a WWII setting but have struggled to find truly intriguing stories within my reading comfort zones. I loved that this allowed me the escape and the inspiration without making any part of it uncomfortable. This is my first read by this author and she has herself a new fan and became an auto-buy author all in one book.

I highly, HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who loves having history come alive, romantic suspense, WWII setting and inspirational stories! This is definitely one of the best books I've read all year!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Content: Grumpy/Sunshine, WWII war setting and descriptions, spying and undercover ops, mild violence, mention of child born out of wedlock, plot twists and turns you do not see coming, and one of the most darling romances I've read!

Wow! Another incredible story penned by the amazing Rachel McDaniel!! The Starlet Spy has convinced me that Ms. McDaniel only knows how to write 5 star books - I’d give it more if I could! If you are looking for a story that will give you a major book hangover with amazing characters, a great storyline, and a perfect romance, this is the book for you!

I loved Amelie so much! She is beautiful inside and out, smart, brave, and likable. Rachel writes the best female characters! Now on to Finn…sigh, I can sum him up with just one word, perfection! I absolutely loved him and I loved them together. I knew they were perfect for each other after a beautiful moment they share, I won’t say which one because of spoilers, but it is so swoon worthy and written to such perfection you can’t help but fall in love with them. The mystery aspect kept me guessing until the very end! I was so shocked by a couple of things that I would’ve never guessed. What a great ending this story has!

The Starlet Spy is a wonderful story that will definitely be in my top reads of 2023! Do yourself a favor and read this story! And if you haven’t read Rachel McDaniel’s other stories, I highly recommend each and every one!

"The Starlet Spy" is a romantic suspense set in 1943, mostly in Sweden. The historical details drove the story and immersed me in the time period and location. The main characters were also engaging and had an interesting adventure.

Amelie's always cast as the dumb damsel-in-distress, but she wistfully wishes that someday she would be allowed to do her own stunts or help take down the bad guy. She's both nervous and excited by the idea that she can help the war effort as a spy but disappointed that she's to play the dumb blonde while doing so. She used her intelligence and intuition to solve the mystery of who had the missing suitcase but also realistically made some minor mistakes due to inexperience.

Finn's initially distressed by her willingness to run into dangerous situations (like a burning building) but soon realized that she had good reasons. She appreciated his support, and he was respectful and caring (in his own way). She slowly came to care for him through spending time with him but didn't fully trust him until she uncovered if he really was a double-spy or not. They were good for each other. The suspense was created by the danger involved in being a spy and her doubts about who could be trusted.

Amelie had moments were she felt that God was helping to guide her. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical romance.

The Starlet Spy is the second book I’ve read from this author and I enjoyed just as much as the first. And isn’t this cover gorgeous? I love World War II historical fiction. This book dives right into the action as Amelie Blake is quickly immersed in her role as a spy and used to help in the war effort. The Swedish background was an enjoyable setting. Secrets and lies with many plot twists abound and I was turning pages quickly to see what would happen. Finn and Amelie would be thrown together in a lot of circumstances. (One of my favorites was when Amelie told him of their first encounter.) The author’s notes were wonderful. I appreciated the historical facts the author was able to work in to the story. I will happily read another book from this author!

BOOK REVIEW - The Starlet Spy (Heroines of WWII) - Rachel Scott McDaniel - 4/5 Stars

THE STORY
I love Rachel Scott McDaniel's books! Each new book of hers I read gives her a firmer place in my favourites list. I loved the plot, the setting and the characters, especially Finn! I loooooove grumpy/serious characters so much! I must say that I had a bit of a laugh because as clever and intelligent as Amelie is (and she does break the case, catch the baddie, etc) I personally thought she was a terrible spy 🤦‍♀️. I was so proud of myself for guessing who the villain was because it was a hard one to figure out (in the best way!).

THE ROMANCE
This was one of those romances that was just filled with so many sweet moments. Like night-time dances on the beach, no makeup declarations, barely there smiles and of course KISSES!!!

THE TRUTHS
Amelie is thrown into a situation she never would've thought she'd be in and did things she never would have believed she could do. Often we end up in places we'd never would've predicted we'd be in and that can be overwhelming. But we just need to remember that God never gives us more than we can handle. If we're in a difficult situation it's because God believes we have the strength and capability to get through it and God will be with us every step of the way! And later we can look back and be amazed at the things we've overcome that we never would've believed and we can trust in God and believe in ourselves and His strength inside us.

A superb historical novel by Rachel Scott McDaniel! Having read Sarah Sundin's The Sound of Light earlier this year, I was a bit familiar with the Danish refugees who'd come to Sweden late in the war. This book came from the other side of it and added a twist. Though I don't believe either author planned it, these books releasing 6 months apart was well timed! I enjoyed how they inadvertently fed into each other's stories. This book follows Amelie Blake, a Hollywood movie star who is originally from Sweden. When the Allies need someone to go undercover in Sweden to find some missing papers, who better than to send a well-known movie star who already speaks the language and knows the culture?

I thoroughly enjoyed Amalie's story. She was a great character, with a lot of depth and I enjoyed that she shattered some of the expectations of society. In addition, this story had a lot of twists and turns. Major plot points I never saw coming and characters' true colors coming to light. I enjoyed the history that was included in this story (be sure to read the author's note at the end to see what was factual and what was fiction!), the character depth and development, and the twisty story-line that kept me guessing and turning pages. There was a solid faith thread within as well as Amalie made no attempts to hide her Christianity. There was also a sweet romance as well, with a super sweet ending. All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read and one I'd definitely recommend to fans of historical fiction.

Special thanks to Barbour House and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

The Starlet Spy is a WWII romantic suspense set mostly in Sweden. The heroine is a beautiful Swede who is a Hollywood starlet. Amelie changes roles to spy in her native homeland to retrieve documents from Nazi hands. The handsome Finn earns her trust, and the two of them set the course for page turning action. I really enjoyed the historical details the author used and the setting. I've not read a WWII story set in Sweden. This book has mystery, action, and witty banter. The happily ever after is one of the best I've read in a while.
I think fans of Ashley Weaver would enjoy this book. I know I did!
*I was given a copy of this book by Barbour Publishing, and this is my honest opinion.
4.5 stars

Amelie is a wonderful heroine in this latest Heroines of WW2 series! Her brooding leading man, Finn, is also a gentle and serious hero. The novel concerns missing documents concerning atomic secrets. The suspense is “who has those documents?” It’s quite fascinating that the author says Amelia is based on the WW 2 exploits of film star, Greta Garbo. The end kept me guessing, so I feel pretty sure the author was successful in her plotting of this novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Excellent! I LOVED The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel! I completely enjoyed every moment of this page-turning story and the wonderful historical notes at the end.

Amelie Blake, a Hollywood star from Sweden is approached about a more important role. Her normal roles involve her beauty not her brains. That is a perfect cover for this intelligent woman to help with the war in her home country.

She is sent to recover important scientific papers that would be devastating if they fell into the wrong hands.

Finn Ristaffason is a wealthy Swedish businessman and the United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS) is not sure of his loyalty. He is a wonderful broody hero and Amelie must determine what side he is on without revealing her true purpose there.

A historical mystery, with much intrigue, and a love story with two people completely meant for each other, I was kept guessing right along with the heroine! I loved learning more about Sweden's role in WWII and I never guessed who the Nazi sympathizers were.

Well done Rachel Scott McDaniel!

This author was new to me but I believe she wrote an excellent and believable story!

I don’t think I’ve read any other WWII books set in .Sweden. Movie star Amelie Blake—originally from Sweden but now a popular American actress—goes undercover to Sweden to help aid the Allied war effort. I liked the characters and the plot; both seemed feasible and we learn at the end from the Author’s Note that some incidents in the story were based on real life events! And I loved the slow-simmering romance between Amelie and Finn….well done!

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review. Five stars!

This was such a captivating tale of one whom all considered just a dumb blonde, only capable of being a pretty face, when she was in fact an amazing actress, capable of fooling all. All but one that is, for Amelie was no match for the brooding charms of Finn Ristaffason. I mean that dimple that appeared whilst he was frowning, who could resist?! His words are even prettier than his face 😉

“I won’t take anything from you that you’re not willing to give.”

{He lifted his hand, cupping my face with reverence, as if holding the stars themselves.}
The ultimate swoon worthy scene beneath the aurora borealis 🫠♥️

I was so confident in my ability to guess who the bad guy was, but oh how wrong I was. I was truly shocked with the revelation when everything finally was brought to light. This story definitely keeps you guessing from one chapter to the next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC!

At first, I was skeptical about this book because I have never read anything by this author but let me say I was pleasantly surprised. Rachel McDaniel does a fantastic job of weaving history into a fiction novel. She fills the books with interesting tidbits that make the story come alive. She makes you feel like you are right there with the characters. I can sympathize with Amelie as she takes on this new life as a spy. You can feel her struggles as she tries to glean the information she needs without tipping Finn off. If you like historical fiction with real historical facts and a bit of mystery, this is the book for you. It was such an enjoyable read.

It’s 1943 and while world war is raging in Europe, Amelie Blake is a famous actress in the American cinema. She wishes she could contribute somehow to the war effort, but to the world she is just a ditzy blonde starlet. Because of her ties to her native country of Sweden, The US Office of Strategic Services (OSS) recruits her for a secret assignment. They are actually aware of her intelligence, her fluency in 3 languages, and her incredible memory. They know her “ditzy” persona is just an act for the camera and is not who she really is. She is tasked with finding missing atomic research that was last seen in neutral Sweden before the Nazi’s get ahold of it. Her “dumb blonde” persona is a perfect cover as she searches for the lost papers. Amelie jumps at the chance to make a difference and help the Allies win the war against the Nazi’s. She is then smuggled into Sweden and the adventure begins. Her primary person of interest is the enigmatic Finn Ristaffason, a wealthy shipping magnate. They start off with poor impressions of each other. She sees him as an arrogant, unpleasant man who may or may not be colluding with the Nazis. He is put off by her fake persona and seems rather exasperated by her at times. When they end up in close proximity for a few days they discover more to each other than they did at first. When the danger escalates to murder Amelie and Finn decide to work together to find the killer and the missing research while staying ahead of their unknown adversaries. I really enjoyed this story. The action is exciting, the mystery kept me guessing, and the romance is sweet. I like how Finn and Amelie are so different from each other, but their differences mesh to make an awesome couple. Mrs. McDaniel is now an auto-buy author for me because I like her books so much. The paperback version of this story releases August 1, but the Kindle version is available July 15!

The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel, is in the series The Heroines of WW2. Amelie is a Swedish actress who is tired of being type-cast as a dumb blond, so when her contract is finished she wants to be able to pick her own parts. Her producer has another role for her to play. He wants her to go home to Sweden to try to make sure that sensitive documents don't get into the hands of the Nazis. Why ask her? Unbeknownst to many people, Amelie is fluent in three languages, and has a a photographic memory. She is allowed to go under the impression that her mother is ill. This book has a lot emotion. There is mystery, spies and counter spies, double agents so much goes on that she doesn't know who to trust. There is a very handsome agent that seems to be everywhere she goes but she's not sure whether to trust him. Pre-order this book now. I give it 5 stars. I thank the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. I was under no obligation for a positiand NetGalley for this ARC and was under no obligation for a positive review. All opinions are my own.

The Starlet Spy is a great novel about WWll spies and special agents based on truefacts with some imagined scenes and characters. Amelia is from Sweden but is now actress in the United States. She approached to return to Sweden to find a transcript that has been lost in transit and insure it doesn’t fall into Nazi hands. She plays the role of a ditzy blond well and that is to be her cover. She is to get close to Finn Ristaffason and find out what he knows. There is suspicion that he may be working for both sides. Will she be safe working with him? There is a lot of history that is accurate in this novel and that I was not aware of at all. The author notes at the end are very enlightening. There is a lot of tension and mystery as the story unfolds and found it hard to put down. The whole story is so realistic and that makes it difficult at times to remember this was real life for some during the war. I give this book 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book from the Netgalley in exchange for my honest

First book I have ever read from this author but will not be the last! Loved this book.
Amelie Is a Swedish Actress in the early 40's. She lives in the US and is asked to return to assist the war efforts.
I loved the historical fiction. Amelie pretends to be a ditzy actress in order to investigate to find a missing scientists atomic secrets. She meets Finn who is a wealthy businessman. Which kept me guessing is he involved?

The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel was a great read! I loved the idea of having a Hollywood female leading lady play the main character as a spy during WWII. Great idea! The book was fast paced and kept you interested all along the way trying to figure out with them who was the bad guy! Also an attractive leading man that you wondered if he was the villain or a good guy! Loved the setting in Europe with residences that sounded intriguing and made you want to visit them. Definitely a good read!!! Not disappointed in trying out a new author!!!

This book is everything I love all wrapped up in one! I have read many of Rachel's books before, but this one might be my all time favorite so far. She does such a fantastic job of creating this movie star Amelie in a way that we cannot help but love her. Amelie is tasked with returning to her homeland of Sweden, however as a spy she presents herself as what the world already knows, a big movie star. But there is so much more than that.
And Finn is complex you cannot help but want to know more about him. For those who love a bit of a brooding man he is as intriguing as they come.
The banter in this book is top notch! I would read it just for that alone, however the rest of the book is simply amazing so go read it.
If you are looking for an amazing world war II spy novel with swoon worthy moments and banter that will keep you reading, go read this book!! It was a book I kept sneaking a chapter here and there during the day because I simply could not put it down!

In the Starlet Spy Rachel Scott McDaniel weaves a tale of war, espionage, and romance. It's a tale that will engage, entertain, and inspire! Amelie is an actress that has made a persona for herself that's completely false. An empty-headed, shallow women that can barely take care of herself. But when she's recruited to carry out a mission with the OSS she finds it difficult to keep those she's getting closest to in the dark about who she really is. Finn Ristaffason is one of those people. He sees right through her disguise. The relationship between these two was quite enjoyable! They have a playfulness together despite their circumstances that makes for a fun read. And I think the mystery will keep you on your toes just like it did with Amelie and Finn.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.