Songbird by Stacy Lynn Miller is a gripping and evocative tale that will take readers on an emotional rollercoaster. The novel centers on the life of its protagonist, a young woman grappling with the weight of her past, the complexity of her relationships, and her journey toward self-discovery. Miller weaves a story that hooks you from the first page and keeps you turning until the very last.

One of the most remarkable features of Songbird is Miller's mastery of suspense and unexpected twists. Just when you think you have the plot figured out, the author introduces new developments that leave you questioning everything. These unexpected turns add layers to the story and keep readers on edge, trying to piece together the puzzle until the book's final pages. Every twist feels both natural and shocking, as the author skillfully navigates the fine line between foreshadowing and surprise..

The novel’s pace is carefully orchestrated, building tension without ever feeling rushed. Each chapter ends with just enough of a cliffhanger or mystery to pull you into the next, and by the time you reach the final pages, you’ll be stunned by the revelations that unfold. Miller's ability to craft an engaging narrative while maintaining an element of surprise throughout the entire book is what makes Songbird so captivating.

Ultimately, Songbird is a testament to Stacy Lynn Miller’s storytelling process. The depth of the characters, combined with a storyline full of twists and turns, ensures this novel will linger in your mind long after you’ve finished it. If you love a good story that keeps you guessing until the very last page, Songbird is a must-read. It’s a thrilling journey that shows how far we’ll go to protect those we love—and how sometimes, the truth can be more elusive than we ever expected.

Thank you to NetGallery for the ARC!

This is a story about Hattie James who is an up and coming singer with a new recording contract in NYC during the 1940s. Her father Karl is a diplomat who is accused of being a Nazi spy. Hattie loses her job and records contract and is forced by the FBI to find her father and missing documents. Hattie goes to Brazil and reacquaints herself with her estranged mother.
Hattie finds a job at a small nightclub. The owner Maya, is a gay woman and she had Hattie have an instant friendship and attraction.

As the story progresses it keeps getting better with lots of intrigue and plot twists. The book ends with a cliffhanger and sets up Hattie to go on another adventure.

I have read several of Stacy Lynn Millers books and she is getting better with each story she writes.

Highly recommended if you are looking for an action adventure lesbian romance.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Excited to read The Songbird as it had a great premise. Not quite sure how much research went into utilizing Portuguese and depicting Brazilians, though to be fair, it’s tough getting that right for a historical novel. Look forward to the next story

The FMC was likeable. I love the tension between her and the owner of the club. I also enjoyed the mystery in trying to figure out what was going on with Karl and why so many people wanted to know where he was

I was disappointed with this book. I love historical fiction set during WW2 and thought this book had a great story - a family saga, a father accused of breathing his country and working with the Nazi regime and a daughter determined to get to the truth. However, I found the story very slow to develop and while it focused heavily on the family interactions, it was unclear exactly what crimes the father had been alleged to have done and why and therefore why everyone was after him. If that aspect of the story had been fleshed out in a bit more detail, it would have improved my enjoyment of the book much more. I also found the ending very disappointing and left up in the air. It felt as though the book ended in the way it did so that a second book could continue the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This novel is being billed as a WWII mystery. I'm not sure if it is that since it is set in 1940. I was really enjoying reading it and liked the plot (as it is all plot and not a lot of character development), but at the halfway point it did something so terrible and dark that I cannot continue reading this book. I am a medium sensitivity reader and usually only vivid descriptions of concentration camps bother me (which is not what happened here), but this was so gruesome and disturbing that I wish I'd been warned about it. Nothing I read about this book and nothing in the first half prepared me for the turn it took, and I did not like it and could not force myself to go on. It gave me nightmares and I wish I'd known where this was going so I could either have not read it or been prepared for the strong turn it would take.

I enjoyed reading The Songbird as the plot is good and there's mystery and action that kept me interested in it. However, I wish the author had made a better research regarding aspects of the Brazilian life at the time as well as regarding the Portuguese language. Hopefully some of the errors I noticed (because I'm Brazilian) have been corrected in the final version of the book.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Stacy Lynn Miller's The Songbird is a captivating historical novel set during World War II. The story follows Hattie James, a rising star in 1940s New York, whose life is upended when her father, a respected diplomat, is arrested for espionage, accused of aiding Nazi Germany. To clear his name, Hattie travels undercover to Rio de Janeiro, performing at the Halo Club owned by the enigmatic Maya Reyes. As she delves deeper into the city's high society, Hattie uncovers a web of secrets, espionage, and unexpected connections, all while navigating personal relationships and the dangers of her mission.

The novel is rich in historical detail, vividly portraying the atmosphere of 1940s Rio—the music, the smoky clubs, and the tension of wartime politics. Hattie is a wonderfully complex protagonist; her vulnerability and strength make her journey feel personal and deeply relatable. The romantic tension adds another layer to the story without overshadowing the espionage plot, striking a delicate balance.

While the pacing starts off a bit slow, it picks up once Hattie arrives in Brazil, leading to a gripping narrative that keeps readers engaged. The blend of suspense, history, and emotion makes this novel a memorable read. If you're into historical fiction with strong female leads, layered intrigue, and a touch of romance, The Songbird is for you.

Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Kristin Hannah, The Songbird is available for pre-order and is set to be published on January 7, 2025.

Thanking @netgalley and Severn Publishing for the e-ARC

Set in Brazil in the 1940s. Hattie James has a beautiful voice recording for RCA records until her father comes under FBI suspicion for traitorous actions. She unknowingly carries Morse code in her music scores

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Severn River Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC. I loved the way this story was told and the unique plot happening around WWII. I think the FMC was super likable and it had a good dosing of suspense. What I struggled with a little was that it felt long (and it’s not a long book) for what it was AND, I feel like the end left much to be desired. That’s a unique feeling to have at the end of the book.

The daughter in the story travels to Brazil to spy and find out why the Nazi’s have her father. So many twists and turns. It gave me a different view of WWII. I enjoyed the story.

I have never heard of Stacy Lynn Miller until I read this book. What interested me was the storyline. Let me full warn you, that this isn’t a boring “war story” in the slightest. Stacy carefully crafted every detail she wove into this, and oh man I was blown away. What sets this book apart from many other books related to war, she wrote this in a way to also highlight the slower parts of the book. Sometimes stories can get too carried away with the action of it, and miss the mark when creating the ambiance of the slower paced parts. I will say, after reading The Songbird, I will be looking for more from this author. Well done!

Though for me it seemed slow pace, it was still a very interesting story. I enjoyed the take on this story and the mystery that pulls you into the story. This story has a little bit of everything suspense, love, family, friendship, betrayal. It does feel like a roller coaster with everything going on and I liked that about the book. I look forward to more books from this author.

This book had so much promise but overall I felt let down in the end. Like most books, it started off a little slow but I was hooked and intrigued about 30% in. I could tell all the events were leading up to one major confrontation but was not impressed by the story line overall. There was almost too much mystery and we never learned exactly what her father was doing! I would have loved to have his POV in a few chapters. The cliffhanger was unexpected and I may pick up the second one to see if I can get some answers. Overall, I enjoyed the time period and characters but felt it was lacking in plot and was void of any real shock or twist.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn River for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It has been a minute since I’ve read historical fiction, but it’s always been one of my favorite genres. This one was a good one to come back to. It started a little slow for me, but it has a lot of elements I like and I was drawn in once Hattie got to Brazil. There’s romance, WW2 connections, spies, and a mystery. There is also a serial killer I have read about in the past whose M.O. lives rent-free in my head, and the author must also have read about him as his preferred methods are incorporated into the plot as well. I didn’t realize when I started that this would be the beginning of a series, but the plot of this book is wrapped up nicely by the end, while still clearly leaving the option for additional adventures for these characters. If you enjoy WW2 fiction or historical fiction with a bit of a murder mystery too, then you’ll like this book.


**I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, but all opinions are my own**

Thank you Severn River Publishing and The Author for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

The story follows Hattie James, a famous singer from New York in 1940. When Hattie's father -a respected american diplomat- is accused of aiding the Nazi and manages to escape the FBI, her life takes a drastic turn. Her agent drops her, she loses her job as a singer at the Copacabana club and her entire reputation because the case made headlines. After the FBI blackmails her into helping them find her father she travels to Rio with her loyal pianist and friend David.

The first 20% were a little slow but after that I was hooked. There were so many secrets to uncover and the twists and turns kept my attention. Just when I thought I figured everything out a new discovery made my jaw drop!
The complicated family dynamic added an interesting touch to the story. But I think the relationship and friendship aspects were a little too forced and stole the spotlight of the mystery sometimes.

All in all a well written suspense novel with an interesting plot.

First book read by this author. Found the story believable, intriguing, well written, spellbinding. Hattie, the main character is a young, talented, up and coming singer finally reaching notoriety, has a beautiful voice, in 1941. All that comes to a haunt when her father, Karl, is accused of being a German spy for the Nazi’s. The FBI is on his trail and Hattie is basically being blackmailed into helping them find her father. The story moves to Rio, where her estranged mother(, Eva,(divorced from her father)is living. Eva is also a famous singer who now teaches vocal lesson The progression of the storytelling holds the suspense of the plot, murder, kidnapping, doubt of everything you’ve always known and believed to be true, love, and danger. Well worth the read.

In "The Songbird," Stacy Lynn Miller presents a gripping tale of espionage during WWII, featuring a strong female lead navigating danger in Brazil. While the story is compelling and highlights the bravery of women in wartime, some readers might find the darker elements a bit overwhelming. Overall, it's an ambitious and thought-provoking read for those who appreciate a mix of history and suspense.

I've given a star review because it's required but I feel that some readers might enjoy this book even more than I did because they might not mind the violent parts - a trigger warning for others.

Wow! Easily 5 stars! From the very first chapter, The Songbird had me captivated. The historical setting, the glamor, the secrets and intrigue- everything made the story flow well and kept the pages turning.

I loved Hattie, our main character, and seeing what she goes through. I loved the journey, and watching her discover new truths along the way. I loved her friends and her loyalty to her father. I’ll definitely be picking up book 2 when it’s released. Excellent! Thank you Netgalley and Severn River Publishing for this arc copy!

This historical thriller is jaw-droppingly good. I lost myself in the chase, in the atmospheric setting, and in Hattie’s love and loyalty to her father.

When Hattie’s beloved father is arrested for espionage and accused of aiding Nazi Germany, Hattie loses her job as a singer at the Copacabana Club, along with her reputation. The FBI blackmails her to help them track down her own father and she must move to Rio to uncover the truth of his downfall and to save her family. There is no risk she is unwilling to take to right her world.

I hope there’s a second installment of this book because it did leave plenty of low-hanging fruit. If so, I definitely need to get my hands on that. Oh, how I loved this book! Thank you, NetGalley and Severn River Publishing for the advanced reader copy of this 5-star book.