The Collector of Burned Books
by Roseanna M. White
Pub Date; July 15, 2025
Thanks to the author, Tyndale House and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
In this gripping World War II historical about the power of words, two people form an unlikely friendship amid the Nazi occupation in Paris and fight to preserve the truth that enemies of freedom long to destroy.
Roseanna M. White delivers again. I read her last book, An Honorable Deception, earlier this fall, and it became one of my favorite books of all time. The Collector of Burned Books was a wonderful story of hope, triumph and bookish delight. I love books, writing, libraries , and a good character driven story.
Readers who like a story set during WWII should enjoy this gripping tale. It takes a personal look at what people may have experienced during the beginning of the war in a once vibrant city to one under increasingly stringent rules, shortages of food, and oppression of freedom.

The Collector of Burned Books

By Roseanna M. White

The story follows Christian Bauer, a professor who is tasked by the Germans to ensure books banned by Germany are removed from libraries in Paris. Christian soon meets Corinne, a Parisienne professor at the Sorbonne who lives nearby and frequents on of the smaller, Jewish run libraries in Paris.

This story had me captivated right from the start and became more and more intense as it developed. At times heartbreaking but always heart-warming, this story is an interesting take on people's lives during this horrific time.

Thank you Roseanna M. White and Netgalley for this ARC read!

The Collector of Burned Books is a beautifully written story set during the Nazi invasion of Paris.

Corinne Bastien is a professor of linguistics and philosophy in 1940s Paris. Despite the risks, Corinne bravely navigates not only academia as a female professor but also the dangerous world of espionage, doing her part to bring Nazi intel to the Resistance. Christian Bauer has been sent by the Nazi party to dismantle the Parisian libraries, including the Library of Burned Books. Christian, in his own way, fights to protect those he loves—both human and literary. Though proud of his German heritage, he opposes Nazi ideology and takes quiet but dangerous risks under the regime’s ever-watchful eye.

From the start, Corinne sees Christian in his gray Nazi uniform as the enemy. But as the story unfolds, a reluctant friendship emerges as they share their love of books and discover a deeper connection.

Roseanna M. White's books never disappoint; her attention to historical detail is unparalleled. From the very first page, I was drawn into 1940s Paris, feeling the tension and uncertainty of the time. Corinne is brave—strong, smart, and willing to risk her life for others. Christian, a bit of a book nerd, is the perfect foil for her. He challenges her preconceived notions of who he is and opens her heart to bigger dreams than she ever dared to dream. I love Christian’s heart—how he befriends everyone, from Parisians to fellow soldiers to scholarly Jews. He shows that true kindness and care can win more people to your side than words ever could.

This book was a stirring read that left me with a deeper appreciation for the struggles of World War II.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Author Roseanna M. White and Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

If you like historical fiction, based in War World II, Paris, books, and faith. Then I have a recommend book for you! The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White releases in July 2025 and will be one to put on your to-be-read pile.

This is a new to me author, and bonus, she is a homeschool mom and has a few other historical books she has published, so I look forward to checking those out.

Now, back to the book, I really enjoyed all the characters in this book and learning what it would be like living during the time frame of the 1940s in Paris. The author shared a wonderful story, along with historical information about overcoming their struggles, the impact of books, working together, seeing that sometimes people are not always what they seem from the uniform, all was really encouraged to read amongst the difficulty. A reminder that having good character matters, to not jump to conclusions, and looking for good in others is important and can make a difference.

Here are a few highlights I made from the book that I think say a lot:

Books didn’t burn. Books ignited. They lit the burning in others. Not with paper and match. With ideas.
Choose your battles, she said on a low exhale. And bide your time. Not for revenge – but for the change to build friends instead of enemies. That’s what he told me that day. That the only way to defeat a bully was to win him over. they only way to truly defend what you believe is to make your enemy believe it too. Make him your friend.
Madness can never be cured from the outside. It can only be healed within.
They would be a force – students always were – but it was yet to be seen what kind of force they would be. Resistance? Or true surrender?
When a people stopped entertaining opposing ideas, when they condemned the different as evil, then it was a short step from closed-minded to violently oppressive.
The people could get so caught up in their own ideology that they forgot that the love of wisdom wasn’t about being right.
But what if it hadn’t just been some strange chance, or even Reinholdt’s conniving, that had led them here? What if it was what God wanted? What if the Lord had sent him here to try to mitigate some of the damage being done, to help those he could?
Without lively debate, the ideas that you most treasure never would have developed. People don’t just need to be handed something to believe in – they must wrestle with it, against it, and for it before they can truly claim it as their own.
But as too many in Germany had already learned, sometimes God didn’t intervene. Sometimes He let the monsters come. Sometimes good people, good Christians, good Jews were dragged of in the night, no matter the prayers they cried. He’d promised to be with His people through persecutions – not to prevent them.

This book, I feel, has a lot that can be learned from and applied to today’s world and conflicts we are seeing. This is definitely one of those books that will stick with me for a while and will be worth a reread again. I’m marking this as one of my favorites!

I am not sure if 2025 is just going to be a great year for books or if I am just finding all the right books for me. The Collector of Burned Books is another amazing five-star book. I would probably go as far as to say 6-star if that was possible. I want to thank Tyndale Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

I am not a highlighter of books. Well, that's not exactly true. I will highlight and make notes in almost every non-fiction book I read however, for fiction, I am not someone who annotates my books. All that changed within the first few pages of this book. Page after page, there were powerful lines that hit me deeply, and I want to remember them forever.

"I think," he said slowly, "that the words we hear, the words we read, the words we sing along to on the radio and study in the papers with our morning coffee, become our thoughts. I think our thoughts become our beliefs. And I think our beliefs become our actions. That is why Goebbels sent us here, Kraus. Because words form the foundation of society. Ideas create culture. Control them, and you can control . . . everything." - Roseanna M White from The Collector of Burned Books.

I encourage everyone to read this book. Even if Christian fiction is not your typical genre, the lessons highlighted in this book are important for anyone to read, especially this year as more and more books are becoming banned in our country (US). Yes, it does have a religious aspect of the story, but that's because of the time frame the book is talking about. Religion played a huge role during Hitler's reign in Europe. The story is not heavy with religious ideas or persuasion outside the role it plays in the character's lives and experiences.

💌Review: The Collector of Burned Books

☕Rate: 5 Stars ( 10 Million Stars!!)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🍨Praise: The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M White has nestled inside my heart and I don't want it to ever leave! When I first saw the cover of this book I knew I was meant to pick it and read it. The way the woman on the cover, Corinne, stares outside of a Parisian window and looking at a striking man with secrets in a fedora That man being Christian! It's as if Jesus put His hand on my shoulder and told me this book is definitely for me to read!

💄 When I saw this World War II romance was on netgalley I knew it was meant to be! When I got the email that I was selected to read it before it's debut in July my heart soared! I knew once I read the story I would never be the same. Some books just do that. Some books become a part of your life and leave their mark on you. This is definitely that book! I couldn't get enough of Corrine and Christian! Both do not want this war and they are both fighting back in their own small ways.

💖 Christin is a soldier for Germany and is in charge of identifying books the bad guys deem unworthy and marking them. He meets Corrine! Who was working at the Library of Burned Books! The moment he sees her there's this small cosmic spark. A curiosity on both their ends. What start out as enemy vs. enemy becomes a love story that rival the Eiffel Tower in its golden glory at night!

🎙️ They both come to help one another escape people and situations that have made them both stay hidden along with their actions. Rosanna completely enthralled me with every moment these two were together. And every moment that they couldn't be together. My heart ached for the both of them when stolen moments had to be put on pause for bigger secrets! The side characters were all absolutely amazing! They really were helping these two people find their way to both each other and safety.

🍭 The enemy characters, the real enemies, were definitely written very well! I wanted to punch two of them LOL Every time a secret was revealed about either character I knew the patience they would give one another was a sign of their devotion and love for each other.

🕯️ Jesus was 100% evident in this book! It was always mentioned how He would get everyone through something that the world did not see coming. His strength and wisdom radiated through priests and prayer!

☕Characters: All the characters, whether they were good or bad, were casted in my head as if I was on a movie set! A beautiful World War II romantic movie set that I would have definitely have taken a lot of pictures on! I really love how the author described each scene as if she was painting a picture! I could feel every pastel and neon color warmly converging together to create a masterpiece that I would have to look at over and over. The characters were truly painted, in the writing sense, utterly beautifully.

💗More/Tropes: I read this book until 1:00 a.m. at times because the idea of going to bed without knowing what would happen next could not wait! The love between Christian and Corrine was definitely a lifetime story worth reading over and over.

🥞 The beginning, middle, and ending we're actually heart wrenching and heart pounding. Magical and moving. And so elegant and full of grace only Rosanna can write this! The ending was perfect!

🧁 When she told him one kiss was never enough I cried. His quiet masculine strength made me love him more and more. Her feminine grace and richly decorated Faith made me adore her more and more.

📖I will be getting this book in hardback from Baker Book House and I preorded it in paperback!

🎆 I wouldn't be surprised if Roseanna wins an award for this!

🍪 World War 2 Romance
🍪Christian Romance
🍪Adventure
🍪 Secrets
🍪Forbidden Romance
🍪 Beautiful Wording

Bravo Rosanna!! 💖

Wow! I was completely thrown for a loop with this amazing story! Roseanna's writing of this story captivated me from the very beginning. It wasn't a storyline I've ever read before and it was refreshing and so very beautiful. The character arcs of the story's protagonists, Corrine and Christian both show what determination to stand up against wrong means. The sacrifices that both had to endure to find true love will move the reader in such a powerful way. Roseanna does such a great job weaving true historical events with believable characters. Lastly, the story reinvigorated my belief in the redemptive work of True Love.

This one started out really strong for me. A library of banned booked in occupied Paris, a Nazi commander in charge of tracking down these and more banned books, a young professor determined to do her part in rebelling against the censorship. What’s not to love. About 1/2 way through though it started to fall apart for me. Everything became really rushed and in that it lost the “historical” part of the historical fiction. The Nazi occupation seemed just something mentioned so you remembered it was happening. You never really felt the grim situation caused by the occupation. Overall it was fine but it focused way more on the “romance” side of it while pushing the true hardships to the background.

Historical Christian Fiction is one of my favorite subjects to read. To have this historical fiction set in France during WW2 made me excited to start reading it.

The development of the characters, their actions, and their opinions of each other were believable. The author weaved in the history of what happened during this time period in such a way that it felt like you were learning a new aspect of WW2 and wanting to ask “Siri” for more details.

There was a heavy Catholic ideology throughout. I left thinking either the author is strict Catholic or she chose this religion for this story because it was the prevalent religion in France at the time and would make the characters more believable.

Overall a truly enjoyable read that was difficult to put down.

Netgalley provided an ARC in exchange for this review. all opinions are my own.

Thank you @netgalley x @roseannamwhite for the arc copy .
This book will be published on Jul 15 2025.

It's a slow burn romance novel that meticulously explored one of the history's greatest and notorious chapters. The time sets in World War II, Paris, the City of culture and libraries under the siege of German army, two people form an unlikely friendship amid the Nazi occupation in Paris and fight to preserve the truth that enemies of freedom long to destroy.
Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.

Dr. Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. Her mother is a professor flew away to some other country with some books that Germany declared as banned book, these books bore harmful thoughts, it was astonishing that Jules Verne's novel Around the World in Eighty Days, was among them. One day she encountered with Christian Bauer. Christian is German but deep inside he doesn't support the atrocities that Nazis do. He is working in Nazi occupied areas to burn the books but actually he is trying to protect them.

The plot largely evolved around the two characters and only concentrated how the "love" blooming between them, it could have been better if it explored more about Nazi occupied Paris and gave us more insights about the lives.

Another thing is slow development and too much detailed description, it bogged down the story which can make some readers agitated.

Overall it's a good historical novel but unnecessarily dragged too much

Rating -3/5⭐

Roseanna White’s first WW2 story is worth savouring.
It’s so refreshing to pick up a WW2 story about a German Nazi officer who wants to be wearing anything else than the uniform he’s been given. Christian Bauer is a university professor from Berlin with a passion for the written word and a backstory he’s keeping secret. Corinne Bastien is paving the way for women professors at the Sorbonne in France – her translation skills unmatched by even native German speakers. Both professors have much to hide, too much at risk to expose, but find common ground in the written word.
This is a story about the German occupation of Paris in 1940 and a library dedicated to the “verboten” books of Germany. The library was the place where German writers and poets met to continue their work and where they kept their forbidden books.
Christian is a quiet man, intelligent, and heartsick over the war that has put the lives of other intellects – and his friends – in danger. Forced to wear a Nazi uniform, Christian accepts a position in Paris overseeing the dismantling of the city libraries while doing his best to preserve thoughts and ideas for generations to come. He has a slew of secrets that keeps him ever alert – adding great conflict to the page.
Corinne is strong-willed, strong-headed and not about to let the Germans destroy everything France means to her. She isn’t afraid to face conflict head-on. There’s much to admire about her as she faces adversity and tries to please her uncle as she works to resist Nazi occupation.
Theirs is a slow-burn romance, a forbidden one. I love the chemistry between these two and admire how hard they work at keeping up a façade.
There are some fantastic twists that make it impossible for either character to survive to the end of the novel, and delightful surprises that will keep the pages turning. The cast of characters give plenty of reasons to love or dislike them while keeping Christian and Corinne on their toes.
And, I love the character connection to Roseanna’s previous WW1 series. I totally didn’t see that one coming.
There is a strong faith element that follows both characters as they are practicing Catholics. It was interesting to learn of some of the rituals and beliefs.
It was a fantastic read!
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a fantastic World War 2 historical fiction novel, it had that element that I was wanting and enjoyed from the first page. I thought the characters worked well overall and was glad they felt like they were supposed to be there. Roseanna M. White has a strong way of telling the story and was wanting to read more.

Summary:
This story is Set in 1940s Paris during World War II. It intertwines the lives of Corinne, a professor at the local university and frequent visitor of The Library of Burned Books, and Christian, a reluctant German professor-turned-soldier.

Corinne, inspired by her mother’s collection of banned books, uses the margins of these works to pass secret messages across Europe. She works as a professor until the university is shut down, passing these secret messages to her students and other members of the resistance. Meanwhile, Christian, tasked with relocating French libraries, struggles under the weight of his forced military role, motivated by the need to protect his son, who has a deformity and would be taken from him if not disguised as someone else’s relative.

The characters’ lives converge through mutual connections, and their shared love for knowledge and defiance of tyranny leads to a bond forged in hardship. When Christian is betrayed by a loyalist subordinate and nearly killed, Corinne’s care helps him recover, and the story concludes with their marriage, symbolizing hope amidst chaos.

Thoughts:
I was really excited about this book so I was disappointed when I wasn’t immediately drawn in. The characters, felt hard to connect with, and it didn’t really give you a good background on them at first. The story didn’t pick up for me until over half way through, and even then, parts were lacking. Ultimately it is 3.5/5 stars for me but there is no half option here. I would say the book was good if someone asked but ultimately would not offer it up as a recommendation.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A terrific story set in 1940 Paris, France during the early days of the German Occupation. Two people from opposite sides of the war find a common ground through books. Their tentative friendship is a dangerous one in a city full of soldiers and spies.

Readers who like a good character driven story set during WWII should enjoy this gripping tale. It takes a personal look at what people may have experienced during the beginning of the war in a once vibrant city to one under increasingly stringent rules, shortages of food, and oppression of freedom.

The tension builds as the main characters' backstories unfold, along with events that up the personal risks, and the plot deepens. I didn't want to put it down in the last half especially. It was hard to know how it would end for them. The ending was a satisfying one though, worth the wait.

The faith elements woven into the story added a lot of depth, with some heartbreaking prayers in times of peril, and amazing examples of grace and forgiveness. It was convicting and made me consider what I would have done if I were in their shoes. A powerful sanctity of life message is tucked into the story also.

A terrific read overall, with history, faith, and a clean romance that will stay with you long after the last page. Recommend! 5 stars

This is another intriguing WWII novel. This one isn't quite as graphic as some other books from this time period. The book starts off a little slow, but the author takes her time to develop the characters. I really love the interaction between the two main characters, as well as some of the supporting characters.

When you start to wonder where the book is going and what is going to happen, the story gets even more interesting, and you're drawn into developing relationships, risky situations, and of course the drama of the opposing side.

All throughout the book you'll see the theme of how much power words hold and the value of respecting opposing ideas. But even more important is the message of love and grace.

I received a free ARC from Netgalley, but was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Collector of Burned books takes place in Paris during the occupation by Germany in WW2. Corinne is a headstrong woman who is fighting secretly against the Nazis that have taken over Paris. Christian on the other hand is a Nazi soldier stationed in Paris with the sole job of ridding Paris of books that would be considered containing ideas contrary to the Nazi party and its leaders. Christian decides to set up his office in the Library of Burned Books that Corinne lives next door to and has grown up in. Words are powerful and suppressing them thus eradicating freedom to think is something that Corinne and Christian are against. Their shared life experience, desires for freedom and for protecting love ones against the tyranny that has flooded Paris drive Christian and Corinne into close relationship that developed into so much more. The Collector of Burned Books is a story of hope and strength in the midst of oppression , it also highlights God’s hand of providence in the lives of the characters in the novel. Lovely reminder that —“the more you tried to ban them (books), the more brightly they burned in the hearts and minds that found them anyway” (White).

4.75 stars

Not wanting to bore you with a summary or synopsis of what this book is about, I will instead relate to you the key takeaways I got after reading it and how I felt about it.

Being an avid book-lover, I was rooting for the characters to keep the “forbidden” books safe and out of reach from the Nazis. It amazes me how scared they were of words printed on paper! It’s only natural, of course. Hitler won over most of the German people with his fiery words, gripping their offended and defeated hearts which led them to believe anything he said.

Words are the foundation of who we are and what we believe, the evidence of what knowledge we have obtained and hold fast to, and the catalyst of what we will fight tooth and nail for and defend to the death. Once stone-cold hearts can be softened. Minds can be enlightened and opened with the key offered by wisdom and understanding. Souls can flower and blossom, rising from the ashes of contempt and indifference, due to a single word of love or encouragement.

Words are life; it’s how the world came to be. But if it is used to create division, kick good people down and elevate bad people on the wings of glory, or stir up bitterness and light the fuse of hatred, the consequences are dire. Words, written or spoken, can change the world. It’s a gift that should not be taken for granted or abused.

Now, here’s what I thought about the book:

The plot was kind of underwhelming. I thought it was going to be much different than it actually was. I was a bit disappointed, but it was still a good story, nonetheless. When it came to the romance, it was sweet and pleasantly predictable. Corinne was funny, witty, and caring. Christian was kind, intelligent, and, just plain (as Corinne called him) “good.” They have their quirks; they wouldn’t feel like realistic characters if they didn’t, but their flaws weren’t annoying or ridiculous. The characters were tolerable and enjoyable.

What I especially liked were the discussions about abusing power to control ideas to control a people and how books play a crucial role in keeping a society free from tyranny and manipulation. It was very interesting for my nerdy self.

The faith elements were great reminders for me to trust in God and that He is always available, so prayer would be a comfort throughout the day to cast my cares on Him, whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light. He’s got everything under control even if the world around us is in chaos. Simply trust in Him and He’ll do the rest.

Overall, I enjoyed this book! Having read Roseanna M. White’s work before, I was very excited to read one in the setting of World War II.

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.

Roseanna M. White’s The Collector of Burned Books is a captivating story set in Paris during WWII. It follows book lovers and explores the world of banned German books during this time period. I read a lot of WWII books and this was somethIng I had not heard much about and found it interesting. Overall a good read.

If there's one thing booklovers love, it's stories about books! And Roseanna White's latest historical novel does not disappoint. The story follows Corinne and Christian in Paris during WWII. Corinne lives next door to the Library of Burned Books, which is full of forbidden books Corinne has been using to collect information on the war effort. When the Nazi's invade and confiscate the library, she loses access to the books and meets Christian. He's a professor-reluctantly-turned-Nazi tasked with tracking down all of the forbidden books, leading him to Corrine's house. Over the next few months, the two bookworms strike up a forbidden friendship and navigate life in occupied Paris.

The characters

Corinne is educated, respected, and well-read. She enjoys a challenge and doesn't take no for an answer. As the Nazis enter town and audit her classes, she worries about her job and position. With no real family left (other than her Oncle Georges), she is mostly left to fend for herself.

Christian is trying to make the best of a bad situation. He's also a professor who loves books and he doesn't want to be a Nazi. But in his position in Paris, he is trying to do good where he can. I especially loved his character arc over the story, and as more of his backstory was revealed, some of Christian's decisions became clearer.

The setting

White does a masterful job of placing the reader in Paris in 1940. We get to walk in Corinne's shoes, as a young woman now without food or freedom. We get to hear about what life was like for them, how no one thought the government would collapse, and how quickly the town was occupied by Nazi soldiers. White's characters mentioned several times that Paris was one of the safest places to be (as opposed to England and America), because they didn't experience any bombings after the occupation. White does a great job of bringing the reader into the setting without the gore and devastation of war. While there are mentions of the prison camps and Nazi rule, the characters seem vaguely familiar with them (likely because the story takes place during the first six months of the Nazi occupation).

Key themes

This book is all about the power of ideas, family, loyalty, faith, and doing what's right. This book is less about the forbidden books themselves and more about the power of forbidden books. It's about a group of people who come together during the war to help one another, protect one another, and stand up for what is right.

The plot

I found the plot to be overall a little underwhelming. The book's synopsis is about Christian's search for the forbidden books and Corinne's access to the library, but both of these are secondary to the development of their friendship. Christian does do a bit of searching for books and is responsible for tracking down exiled Germans living in Paris under the watchful guise of his superior officers. Meanwhile, Corinne continues her work as a professor at the Sorbonne and befriends another Parisian family. Of course, as Corinne and Christian's friendship unfolds, they encounter new challenges, but I found the story to be quite slow at times (especially the first bit). Based on the synopsis, I was definitely expecting more about Corinne's access to the library and the secrets she had hidden away (but this was discussed very briefly and caused little conflict between the characters).

Against the backdrop of Corinne and Christian's fledgling relationship, this book discusses the power of words, ideas, and books. One of my favourite parts of the book is when the Christian and his superiors audit Professor Corinne's class and debate the power of books. They talk about the power books have to influence what people think and the danger of banning certain material:

"But when you tell someone what to read, you're telling them what to think... and it's one thing to try to influence your own friend. It's a different thing when it becomes law." (p 226)

I loved this theme of the book and the way White masterfully weaves it throughout the story. What makes a book forbidden? Who gets to decide? The characters agree that "we can and should censor what they [children] read," (p 226), but argue whether adults are capable of making their own decisions on reading material. While I am no expert in book banning, I appreciated White's discussion on the power of books to develop ideas and the danger of book banning.

Overall

Overall, this book is a great addition to WW2 fiction. While I found the first bit slow, it did pick up and I enjoyed reading about Christian and Corinne's friendship. I would definitely recommend this to readers looking for a great historical fiction novel.

My favourite quote:
"But grant me this much, Kraus. One promise. Read."
"A page? Every day?"
"A page, at least. A chapter A whole book. Read novels, because they will put you in someone else's skin. Read poetry, because it will give wings to your soul. Read science, because it will show you what's possible. Read politics, because it will teach you how strongly people care about how their fellow men are treated, where we they stand in what the best way is... Read things you hate and things you love and things you never thought you'd understand." (p 312)

And now, back to the books.

The Collector of Burned Books
By Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Series: None
Rated: 5
Obtain: Borrow or buy
Back of the Book: “Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.
For the last six years, 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.
Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.”

Impressions: I was distracted when I started this book but was soon pulled into this engaging story of deception and intrigue. Looking through the lens of a German who did not agree with the Nazi propaganda but was proud of his heritage was new and interesting. It was astonishing to see how ignorance and the allowance for it enabled so much destruction. I can’t help but look at the world as it is now and wonder if we’ve not jumped to the opposite extreme. Facts are no longer while freedom of speech has created an unattended culture of misinformation. It feels like the world today is just as confusing as it was then. The story, per the nature of this genre, ends with good feelings however I felt that it was too idealistic for the enemy it was representing. It was still a good story and an enjoyable read. I feel like the ending was just too easy.

Quotes: “’ If we do not help each other, who will?’”

“ ’This is how He gives us the strength to withstand evil- through each other.’” -Who stands with you? Who we surround ourselves with matters.

“When society deliberately cultivated ignorance, they paid the price. Refuse to read anything that might be distasteful, and one soon lacked the ability to understand it.’”

“ ’Because words form the foundation of society. Ideas create culture. Control them, and you can control...everything.’” - Words become thoughts, become beliefs, become our actions.

“Read novels, because they will put you in someone else’s skin. Read poetry, because it will give wings to your to your soul. Read science, because it will show you what’s possible. Read politics, because it will teach you how strongly people care about their fellow men are treated, wherever they stand on what the best way is.’”

“’ You’re strong enough to be offended and then try to understand why. You’re strong enough to grand that someone can be different and still be worthy of dignity.’”

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.