The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White is a powerful WWII historical novel that places readers in Paris, France during the Nazi invasion of WWII.

Christian Bauer is a German professor forced to wear the Nazi uniform when Goebbels selects him to oversee the “relocation” of France’s libraries. He is to sort through and books and ban them if they do not exemplify the ideals of the Nazi party. He is also charged with hunting down German writers who were exiled from Germany for their opinions or their heritage. However, he doesn’t hold the same values as the Nazis and wants to save as many books and people (most of them friends he knows) as he can.

Christian meets Corinne Bastien, whose library he has taken over. She scrambles to save her beloved books. Books that have secret messages in them she was passing on to the Allies.

Their relationship is interesting because they are enemies, yet they have the same goals and ideals. And when they let their guard down, they discover they have much more in common than just books.

I loved absolutely everything about this novel. I loved the faith element and the emphasis on how important books are in broadening one’s understanding of the world and how words can change a mind. It was powerful, emotional, riveting and incredibly relevant to the times we are living in. I could not miss the parallels of Nazi Germany with the current situation in the States.

If you enjoy WWII fiction, then you will love The Collector of Burned Books.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Another stunning novel by Roseanna M. White! Taking place in occupied Paris during the early days of WWII, this story follows Christian Bauer, a German literature professor who is tasked by the Nazis of removing the banned books from Paris; and Corinne Bastien, a Parisian literature professor whose home is near the "library of burned books". Corinne is a feisty heroine who is ready to do battle over the books that the German "professor" has come to remove. Though not thrilled to be wearing the Nazi uniform, Christian is thrilled to be surrounded by books and able to engage in literary discussions with Corinne. The story within these pages is about the power of the written word and the importance of learning other viewpoints. A poignant story for our divided times where many seek out writings, news media and advertising that agrees with their viewpoints, this story reminds us that narrowing our focus can only lead to trouble.

In addition to a poignant message, this book had an intriguing story line. I'm always fascinated that no matter how many books I read about WWII, I've never read the same story twice. I also marvel at how many people rebelled against the Germans behind the scenes. Several characters in this story did just that - doing what they could for the Allied cause. I thoroughly enjoyed the character development in this story. Christian and Corinne were both likable, relatable characters, and there were a whole host of side characters who added depth to the story as well. Though I had heard some about the books that were banned in Germany, this story went into much greater depth. And in the same vein as the need to see other viewpoints, most of the Nazis that we get to see in this book are more morally gray characters, which is likely an accurate depiction. There is one who is particularly despicable, who represents what we think of the Nazi party in modern days, but I enjoyed that bit of perspective shift as well. The faith thread in this one was solid, but definitely had a strong Catholic leaning in it. Though I'm aware that the author is Catholic, her prior novels have been more "generically" Christian. In this story, the main characters all share the Catholic faith and follow the sacraments of it. Since Paris is (or at least was in 1940) a predominantly Catholic city, it lends itself well to the story itself, but it had a different feel than other books in the Christian fiction genre to me. This story had several twists and turns as well, and still came to a satisfactory end. All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable story and one that is particularly poignant for our current times. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

4.25/5 stars!

The Collector of Burned Books was White's first WWII novel--and I certainly hope it won't be her last! While I love her WWI novels, her WWII storyline is just as wonderful. Her research and knowledge of the history of that time period is impeccable.

While it did take me a little bit to get invested in the story (I am a mood reader, haha), I did absolutely get invested. The plot was gripping, and the characters and their arcs were wonderfully crafted, and I especially loved the representation of physical deformities in the book. This isn't something I find too often, especially in characters who are children, but I think it's so important to not only represent disabilities (both physical/mental), but deformities too. That aspect alone made this a stand-out novel to me!

I would highly recommend this book to those who love WWII stories, books and libraries, a heartwarming and believable romance, and timely themes, both then and applicable in today's world.


Thank you so much to the Netgalley and the author for a complimentary copy. A positive review was not required, only my honest thoughts.

Roseanna M. White has written a historical book that will draw in readers, make them want to stand up for others, and even draw a few tears. The Collector of Burned Books takes readers to Paris on the invasion of Hitler’s army, and draws attention to the many things that the Nazis tried to obliterate from our histories and cultures: art, God, books, and free thinking. The battle of the minds was truly where the Nazis focused their initial efforts, to control the thinking and the narratives so that everyone was forced to think like a Nazi. Corinne, an educated literary professor at the Sorbonne, worked to tirelessly promote true, independent thinking, while also preserving the thoughts and writings of so many who had gone before her. Protecting the books meant protecting freedom and people from the atrocities that Nazi philosophy inherently brought. Christian, a German professor, who is not a Nazi at all, has been assigned to rid the libraries of Paris of their forbidden texts and to interview the dissidents, many of whom were from Germany originally, to be sure they stopped their writings. We see the mental conflicts and spiritual turmoil some may have felt during WWII as we follow Christian, Corinne, their friends, and their family through this story. The author has done a marvelous job developing these characters with deep, rich stories and personalities. They seem like real people we could meet at a library nearby, or in a cafe. Supporting characters in the story are also so well developed that the story would be empty without them. The plot holds just enough intrigue and just enough history to make it the perfect balance between fiction, story conflict, and truth; thereby, making this a delightful, educational, and inspiring read. I highly recommend this book.

During WWII, Christian is a German professor who was given a new position in the Nazi regime, one he doesn't particularly want. He is sent to Paris to be in charge of the library of banned books. There he meets Corinne, who has been using some of these forbidden books as a way to smuggle information about the resistance. He enters Corinne's apartment in search of some of the forbidden books that he assumes her mother had checked out. There, he finds someone who shares his passion for reading and learning. The conflict comes when he begins to have feelings for her but must protect her and their relationship from his superior.

I wanted to love this book, but the first half was so slow without any sort of plot. The conflict wasn't presented until fifty percent through. At that point the story picked up and became more engaging. I did enjoy it after that point. I really liked Christian's character--the way he tried to hold on to his ideals in spite of being forced into the Nazi regime. I liked Corinne's feistiness and how she never held back her beliefs on censorship. The topic of censorship hit home for me as our local library has been under attack the last several years. It was interesting to learn how the Nazis burned books and how there were libraries dedicated to collecting these books that were censored. Overall, I did like the book and would recommend it to those who like WWII fiction.

Loved it! Such a captivating story that I just could not put down. "These students had it all wrong-backward. Books didn't burn. Books ignited. They lit burning in others. Not with paper and match. With ideas." "But it wasn't only the books. It was the generation so quick to denounce them. I can't, Ilse. I can't abandon them."

There is something powerful between freedom of ideas and the books that espouse these ideas. In this unique and compelling story set in WWII Paris, Christian Bauer, a professor who never wanted to be a Nazi, is sent to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries.

I learned something new. I did not realize that many German authors, artists, and intellectuals, "including those of Jewish ancestry and those with anti-Nazi views, fled Germany during the Nazi regime and sought refuge in various places, including Paris." The Collector of Burned Books is set in Paris, and Professor Bauer has the unpleasant task to sort through all these books that are banned in Germany, and interview any of these authors who are still in Paris with these views.

"Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home." Corrinne's feistiness has helped her get where she is. It doesn't bode well with her dealings with Christian.

Secrets, espionage, friendships, book banning, life under Nazi rule, longing for freedom, a sweet boy, faith, and love are found within the pages of "The Collector of Burned Books". I enjoyed the gentle faith arc of the story as the characters grapple with life under such difficult circumstances. I highly recommend this story to lovers of historical fiction.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

“This is the day that you kiss me and tell me you love me.” “I can’t. I can’t love you when you can’t love me back, Corinne—and you can’t love me back, not yet. Not now. Not as I am. Not in this uniform.”

This one pulled at my heartstrings! It’s full of bravery in the face of danger, courage to do what you know is right, intense faith, and an amazing love that grows against the odds. Set in the early days of Paris’ occupation by the Nazis it is well researched and beautifully written. I loved seeing the lengths that people went through to save the “verboten” books.

Corinne is intelligent, strong, and brave. I loved how she stood strong and spoke truth. I enjoyed the classroom discussions she lead and the discussion she had with Christian. I loved her sweet relationship with Felix and her Oncle Georges (if you’ve read other books by Roseanna you may recognize him!!) Christian is courageous, determined, and protective. I loved the steps he took to preserve the books and to help his acquaintances as much as he could and the gentle, truthful way he spoke to Kraus. I adored his relationship with Felix. Corinne and Christian had the best romance. I loved how they pushed each other, learned to trust, and shared their secrets!

A few more quotes:
“Don’t look so woebegone. I didn’t say I was your best friend. You’re free to keep hating me if you like, but I feel no such obligation.”

“Trouble and I are old friends. When she doesn’t come to call often enough, I go out and seek her. Such an interesting companion, after all.”

This ARC was provided by the author and publisher (also received an e-copy from NetGalley). I was not required to give a positive review, rating and opinions are my own.

A powerful, beautifully written tribute to the resilience of words and the courage of those who preserve them.

The Collector of Burnt Books is a gripping World War II historical novel that explores the quiet acts of defiance that can shape history. Set in Nazi-occupied Paris, it follows two unlikely allies—Corinne, a devoted Parisian reader with a deep connection to a banned book library, and Christian, a reluctant German officer and professor, forced into service yet determined to preserve the truth the regime wants to erase.

The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna White

1940 Paris
Corinne Bastien loves books and is often found in the library, however, what she does there with those books is secret and could be dangerous. Professor Christian Bauer is not happy with the assignment that the German military has given him: go to Paris and “relocate” those books. When Corine and Christian unexpectedly meet at the library, things become challenging for both of them. Are they enemies, or do they share the same goal for the books and the safety of the community?

I had a hard time getting into this story, but after a few chapters it caught my interest. Suspense builds as the story unfolds and the characters try to stay ahead of the enemies in their midst. Their backstories add additional elements to the story. Their faith plays a huge part in all they do. Historical events are woven within the fictional characters and storyline. The best part of the story is the last half of the book. The ending is perfect.

~I received an ARC from the author/publisher via NetGalley (no monetary gain was exchanged), this is my honest review~

The Collector of Burned Books is the third historical novel that I have read by author Roseanna M. White. Ms. White creates wonderful characters and interesting storylines. The title of this book gets it name from the library in Paris known as "The Library of Burned Books" which was established by expatriated German authors - many of them Jewish - whose books had been banned and burned by the Nazis. In German, the official name was Deutsche Freiheitsbibliotek which stood for "German Freedom Library". Under the Nazis there really wasn't much freedom to speak of - not only in Germany but also in the countries they occupied - which included Paris, France as of June 14th, 1940. Our main characters were each involved with this unique library although from very different positions. Corinne Bastien is a Parisian woman who teaches at the Sorbonne but lives next door to the library where she has made close friendships with the German authors who established it. Christian Bauer is a German Nazi officer assigned to find and rid Paris of all forbidden books - despite the fact that as a former University of Berlin professor he loved books and didn't think they should be banned.. Without giving any "spoilers" in this review I will just say that having read dozens of WWII books in the past five years this novel had a plot that I never saw coming. It has twists and turns that keeps you wondering what on earth is going to happen next. I only rated it 4 stars instead of 5 due to feeling as though the ending came a bit too soon - that I was expecting more detailed descriptions of the characters thoughts and actions regarding the dramatic situations they had just experienced.. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys books about life in occupied Paris during WWII. I received an ARC from Tyndale Publishers via NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

Another wonderful book by Roseanna M. White. I loved that her plot included a truth of Nazi Germany that doesn't often appear in books, that the Nazis did not tolerate physical or mental imperfections, even within their own families. I do not want to give away the plot, but Christian's was heart wrenching. Thanks for another meticulously researched, faith filled historical romance. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and I am willingly giving this honest review.

"Is there anything more forlorn than an empty bookshelf?"

"He showed his teeth, but it would have been an insult to the word to call it a smile."

"Read a page, read a chapter. Think about the words--whether you agree with them or not. Think about them and try to understand why someone else would agree. Try to understand their perspective and recognize it as valid, even if it's not right....You're strong enough to grant that someone can be different and still be worthy of dignity. And if you aren't?...Then read more, until you are."

"Those ... fighting against something never won. It was only when you had something to fight for that you stood a chance."

"The people could get so caught up in their own ideology that they forgot that the love of wisdom wasn't about being right."

Roseanna M. White is a fine author. I have yet to read a book of hers that did not follow through on everything a good book needs to have. Have I love all of them? No. But stories are like art--some speak to you and some are meant to speak to someone else. Her stories have still been five star ratings from this editor who works with authors to help define and refine their stories.

Did I agree with everything in this book? I did not. But I read it anyway. The context of the story gave leeway for this author to share her Catholic beliefs far more than in any of her other Christian fictions. I am not Catholic. I do not subscribe to praying to the saints and Mary; I believe something different. But as Roseanna spoke through her characters, "Try to understand their perspective and recognize it as valid, even if it's not right." It's about understanding where others are coming from. Opening up conversations. When you assume, the conversation ends. You are no longer listening.

I love the line: "he hadn't felt clean enough, worthy enough."--Haven't we all felt that way at one time or another? Roseanna's characters are SO well crafted. They come alive on the page and in your mind. These are people you can relate to, not just some figment of an author's imagination created just to fulfill a plot. Roseanna has such a gift for creating compelling characters and solid storylines.

For this reason, I give this book 5 stars.

*These quotes come from an ARC and may change before printing. Thank you Netgalley and Tyndale for the digital copy so that I could give my honest and personal review of this new story. What an honor.

I will not make this long as so many have already given a synopsis of the book.

This story takes place in Paris during WW2 during the early days of the German occupation of France. It It was an inspiring read with one nail biting event after another.

Here are a few of my thoughts on the book.

Both Christian and Corrine were multifaceted and fascinating.

I really admired both for their high morals and courage.

Corrine really had hutspa!

When Felix appeared it opened a whole new dimension to the story.
He was a great character.

It was hard to learn how the French and the German people survived during this time but very enlightening.

I wasn’t quite sure I ever understood how Corrine’s coded notes in books helped the cause.

I love that faith in God played a main part in these characters lives.

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

Incredible storytelling by one of my favorite authors! Nazi’s have invaded Paris and begin enforcing the regime’s policies. German Christian Bauer has the responsibility to catalog the city’s books, destroying those which do not align with the Nazi Party doctrine. He meets Corinne Bastien, a professor who teaches literature at the university. They have some lively conversations on books and ideas. I particularly enjoyed her classroom discussions as she shares her views on the power of words.

The first half of the story has a slower pace with important setup: names, relationships and historical references. In the second half, the momentum really picks up and it becomes a face-paced, riveting drama that is so hard to put down. The romance is tender and even more precious due to the circumstances the characters are in. This is an inspiring, faith-filled story that I highly recommend. It reminded me of freedoms I enjoy and often forget to be grateful for.

I received an early copy of this story to review. A positive review was not required. This is my opinion.

This was my first read from Roseanna M. White. Overall, I did like the story. WW2 stories always tug at my heart. I enjoyed the setting, the academic/library environment of the book and the cast of characters. The story was slow moving/building until about 50% through. It definitely started to pick up at that point.

There were a few parts of the book I wished would have been better developed:
-The FMC did not seem very real to me; not because she was unbelievable, but because she was unrelatable. I just didn't get a good sense of her self. The sections written from her POV mostly felt like I was hearing about her experiences second hand, like her afterthoughts. (The MMC was very endearing, and definitely my favorite. His character was certainly the most well developed in the book.)
-Overall the plot was okay. It definitely had its moments where it gripped my attention. At other times, I was reading characters passing thoughts about events that had already happened, but would have been so much better to experience with them.

I would recommend this book if you love a banned book WW2 story.

I received this book for free from Netgalley. The above thoughts are my own, honest review.

Roseanna M. White writes beautiful historical fiction. The Collector of Burned Books is no exception. This compelling and well-written story takes place in Paris during the early days of German occupation. Corinne, a professor at the university, encounters Christian, sent from Germany to oversee the libraries and ensure the banned books are destroyed.

Despite being on opposite sides, Corinne and Christian each have their own secret agendas. They eventually discover they may be more alike than anyone could ever know. A unique bond develops as they recognize a shared love of books. This bond leads to a dangerous friendship they work hard to conceal.

Christian’s level of faith and integrity become evident as he risks everything to do what is right. Corinne demonstrates a bravery and strength of character that could expose her secret and endanger those she loves. I loved both characters and how their faith carried them through such perilous times. I was also reminded that all Nazis believed Hitler's lies. Overall, this is a wonderfully written story that tackles some very hard subjects and had me wondering if I would have shown the same kind of bravery if faced with similar situations.

I received an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions were my own.

Wow...this is a deeply moving book that really made me see the similarities of mindsets in WWII and current. I almost highlighted whole pages because of how thought provoking they were. The topics of how books make a person and if a book doesn't align with your beliefs, should it be destroyed are heavily discussed in this book.

Corrine is a professor in Paris in 1940 during the German take over but also she worked in a bookshop that has been closed by the new regime because they sold banned books. Corrine is friends with many of the authors of the banned books as well as Jewish sympathizers but she needs to maintain her position to continue to help the cause. What will happen if the Germans find out her secrets?

Christian is the German officer in charge of reviewing the books in the closed bookshop and determining their fate but he has several secrets of his own that may change Corrine's, and the regime he works for, thoughts about him.

This is not a book that you breeze through but a book that you read and think on. It started a little slow and I was worried I wasn't going to get into it but then it took off and it was a crazy ride. This is a beautiful and devistating book when you think about everything that happened in Paris during those 5 years they were invaded. It had major twists throughout and did not end at all how I thought it would but I loved how it did end!

If you love historical fiction with slight romance, I highly recommend it. Even if you don't, I still recommend it just to read it for the topics they discuss.

Roseanna M. White writes about Paris invaded by Nazi Germany and the catastrophic impact of a nation taken against its will.
The reader joins in the journey of the fear of fighting for what one believes in and the sure consequences if discovered,
White does a wonderful job of strategically revealing each characters personality and internal struggle throughout the span of the story.
I enjoyed living this defining moment of time through the eyes of Corinne and Chris and reading about the lives they impacted in their wake.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a romance set in 1940 in Paris. Unfortunately, this story just didn't work for me as it became increasingly unrealistic. Chris started off alright, walking a fine line of not drawing the attention of the Nazis watching him but also trying to preserve books and their authors. He knew what the Nazis were like from personal experience. Yet when a Nazi accused him of being a traitor, Chris seemed to genuinely believe that he wasn't really in danger. He acted like he could just reason with fervent Nazis and they'd see the error of their ways.

Corinne seemed out of touch with reality from the start. She wanted to do something to help with the war effort. She wrote codes in books, sent them to her students who had returned home, and they would return coded books with war-related information to pass on to the Allies. Very little of the story was about this as mainly it's an excuse for why she stayed in Paris. Her spy boss knew that she's very opinionated, outspoken, and impulsive, yet he let her take this role. She intended to use banned books to send the codes through the mail even knowing this would, at the very least, draw German attention to the books. Worse, she coded the books before needing them and stupidly put them back in a library that only held banned books....so of course the Nazis took it over and began sorting through the books.

Being a sloppy spy wasn't enough. Corinne insisted on telling Germans whose job was to censor speech just how wrong censorship was. She's warned that a dangerous, zealous Nazi officer was interested in her, and she still told him publicly how wrong he was--and then didn't believe she was in any danger from him. Her experienced spy boss also didn't seem to think she was in danger. It just didn't make sense.

Chris and Corinne were Catholics and occasionally did Catholic rituals. Their faith was why they valued human life. There were no sex scenes or bad language.

A Nazi with hidden layers, a professor with secrets, an innocent child caught in the crosshairs of evil.

When Nazi officer Christian Bauer is sent to Paris to oversee the collection and destruction of German banned books at the Library of Burned Books, his job is far more complex than meets the eye. Professor Corinne Bastien, an outspoken patron of the library, comes under scrutiny when several of banned books are found in her possession. And so, begins the delicate dance of oppressor and the oppressed, secrets and subterfuge, where nothing is as it seems. Can the two come to a truce and work together for the good their fellow man all the while keeping up pretenses? As this tale delves into the evil that reigned during the Nazi Regime, it also restores faith in how many of the oppressed worked hard to stop the spread of evil. Roseanna White weaves a tale so poignant that my heart ached, I shed tears and couldn't stop flipping pages. It has lit a desire for me to dig further into this fascinating piece of history! This is a definite must-read for 2025 and for all bibliophiles