Besides exposing yet another aspect of German occupation in Europe during the Second World War, this historical novel drives the horror home with excellent descriptions of the frustrations felt by refugees trying to flee, the daily conditions under which French citizens existed, and the constant fear that enveloped everyone’s life. The author balances the French situation with efforts by the Portuguese to remain neutral and aid both the refugees and the resistance. The story was filled with tension, unselfishness, and hope. This is a worthy addition to the volumes of WWII literature.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the ARC to read and review.

Thank you to the publisher, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Librarian Spy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Gist
Truth be told, I have not heard about the activities described in the book during World War II, but it was highly interesting and I did learn something new here.

How much is fiction and how much is based on true events? Did the characters really exist or are they just figures representing the many people who did this, sometimes dangerous work, is not really important for the story.

The Details
We have two female protagonists, again. One is an American sent to Lisbon, the said Librarian Spy. She comes face to face with the often terrifying consequences of the war.

The other one is a French woman, who suffers under the German occupation in France, specifically Lyon. She ends up working for the Resistance.

Now, the story describes the work of both women in detail. Given that we live in today’s technology, it is interesting to be reminded how creative people needed to be in the past.

Sadly, both characters lacked personality. They came across very bland.

I assume that the American young woman was supposed to appear open-minded, patriotic and empathetic.

Often all I could see was naivety, to the point I was surprised that she was not incarcerated or killed after the first chapters of her appearance.

If the French woman was supposed to be feisty and determined to withstand the occupation, then it was not accomplished.

All I could see was an ignorant woman, who at the end came across stubborn and sometimes self-centered.

What was the plot? Who knows.

The writing was crawling like a snake throughout the pages. There was so much repetition, that I had enough time to assume how the story would continue, and I was not wrong. It took any joy and expectation from the reading experience.

What a daunting task.

Unfortunately, the message of the book and the attention those women would have deserved was completely lost.

All I could do was wait for it to be over.

The Verdict
Overall, it was a good subject. But the attempt to make it an interesting read failed.

This might sound harsh, but it is my honest opinion, even though it’s not a popular one.

I can see this becoming one of those cheesy Hollywood movies, with lots of music, beautiful pictures of Lisbon, and little depth.

It’s a big “NO” for me.

Ava works as a librarian at the Library of Congress then an unexpected offer from the US military has brought her to Lisbon with a new mission: posing as a librarian while working undercover as a spy gathering intelligence. Meanwhile, in Lyon in occupied France, Elaine has begun an apprenticeship at a printing press run by members of the Resistance. It’s a job usually reserved for men, but in the war, those rules have been forgotten. As the battle in Europe rages, Ava and Elaine find themselves connecting through coded messages.
A very well researched & written book, which sweeps you to ration free Lisbon where refugees hope they’ve escaped the Nazis to the occupied city of Lyon where the inhabitants are struggling to survive on meagre rations & live in fear of being arrested by the Gestapo. At times heart wrenching but in amongst that heartache is hope & determination to survive & win. I was engrossed from cover to cover & was taken on a gamut of emotions as I felt I was there alongside Ava & Elaine experiencing the war through their eyes. I found it very hard to put down
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

#netgalleyarc I love a good historical fiction book and this title was one of the better ones I’ve read lately. I enjoyed the two points of view telling the story, though it did take a while for it to become clear how the two characters would eventually connect. I’m a bit partial to the Librarian character but both characters terms were likable and enjoyable to read about. It’s not a title I think my HS students would enjoy but it was a great summer read for me.

This book ripped out my heart it was a wonderful look about women in WWII and I just could not put this down. It broke me as I turned each page and I am hooked on this author and I need more.

Martin is successful American author who has written a series of historical romances as well as "The Last Bookshop in London" which was historical fiction. This new release is another historical fiction and is set during the latter years of WWII in Lyon, France and Lisbon, Portugal. It features two main women characters. Elaine is a French woman whose husband has disappeared and she finds herself operating a printing press for the resistance . Ava is an American librarian with language skills who is sent to Lisbon to help gather information. This is a good recommendation for fans of the genre and is the first book about the subject that talked about life in the neutral countries at the time.

I was delighted to have a new Madeline Martin title to tuck into this summer. Instead of being set in London like her previous title, The Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War II, this one has dual storylines in Lisbon, Portugal and Lyon, France. The two women are in very different environments. Ava Harper, an American, is working from Lisbon to preserve information from Europe and save it on microfilm to ship to the US to aid the war effort. Elaine Rousseau is working for the French Resistance in Lyon. Her real name was Hélène Bélanger, but she gave up her papers to a Jewish woman and assumed a new identity. Although Ava and Elaine are fictional characters, the situations they encounter are straight out of the extensive research done by Martin when writing this book. There are letters that put a face on the stories we read in the history books. The Epilogue made me weep. Be sure to have your tissues handy! This new title from Martin is just fabulous and will be on my Best of 2022 list.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade/Hanover Square and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I AM SPEECHLESS!!! The Librarian Spy: A Novel of World War II by Madeline Martin is without doubt the best book I have read this year. This emotional reminder of what happened in France when the Nazi took over was so very heart breaking that we should never forget the lives that were lost and the brave heroes who survived. If I could give this book 10 stars I would. It is just brilliantly written. I was engulfed from page one to the very end and yes I even cried. This time in history should never be forgotten and I thank Madeline of the reminder with this book. I found this book original, easy to read (but sad), the details vivid, wonderful characters, had the real feel of the era and I just could not put this book down. Incredible!!! This story has 2 brave women in different part of the countries trying to survive the horrors of war, so many deaths, torture, starving, helping a young women & son to freedom, spies, being part of the Resistance, a loss of a husband, a brother in the military, secret newspapers, secret codes, people who are not what you think they are, a little romance, helping, rescue and in the end finding one another. I don’t want to give to much away but you must read this book and I am so highly recommending you do. Though this story is fiction it is still reality of what people went through in World War II. Again… Thank you Madeline Martin for the impact to my life in this book you have so well written.

***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.

I wanted to love this book but unfortunately I couldn't get into it. It was a nice story idea, I loved that the main character loved books, and was going to be a spy in a new country. I think what was throwing me off was all the details and different points of view. I also am not very strong in history so I found myself not totally gripped by it. I did read about half of it. I do think its well written and if you like history and reading about strong women you will absolutely love this book!

Madeline Martin knocks it out of the park with this dual-POV historical fiction set in both neutral Portugal and occupied France in WWII. Two women find their lives upended in every way possible, from their loves to their careers, to where they lay their heads, as they're swept into espionage and the Resistance, both seeking to do what they can, what they must, to make an impact on those around them, and the war itself. Full of excellent historical research and rich detail that brings each narrative to life, this novel brings a new perspective on the WWII experience, particularly with the previously less explored Lisbon experience. Highly recommend.

Title: The Librarian Spy
Author: Madeline Martin
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.2 out of 5

Ava thought her job as a librarian at the Library of Congress would mean a quiet, routine existence. But an unexpected offer from the US military has brought her to Lisbon with a new mission: posing as a librarian while working undercover as a spy gathering intelligence.

Meanwhile, in occupied France, Elaine has begun an apprenticeship at a printing press run by members of the Resistance. It’s a job usually reserved for men, but in the war, those rules have been forgotten. Yet she knows that the Nazis are searching for the press and its printer in order to silence them.

As the battle in Europe rages, Ava and Elaine find themselves connecting through coded messages and discovering hope in the face of war.

I enjoyed this read! I do love a good WWII historical fiction, and this was definitely well-worth reading. I enjoyed Ava’s story just a tiny bit more than Elaine’s, but I loved how both stories came together. Elaine must have been terrified most of the time, surrounded by horrors and grief as she was, while risking her life to get the truth out there. Do yourself a favor and pick up this read!

Madeline Martin is a bestselling author. The Librarian Spy is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Hanover Square Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Review live 7/26.)

WWII historical fiction that was a good read but which did not draw me in as other WWII books have. Perhaps I have read too many of this genre because I found very little unique in this novel. Those new to this genre will like this as it is done well and does tells the story of the horrors and trauma yet resiliency of those who lived through the Nazi terrors. 3.5 stars

Thanks to Harlequin Trade and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

This book ticks all the boxes.
I Love Madeline‘s writing style, it’s so easy to read
Intriguing, entertaining, enjoyable, and exciting, throw in a little tension and you have perfected the recipe for a book that keeps you hooked beginning to end.

The characters had a wonderful relationship that has you enthralled in their world , Ava and Elaine have an unusual connection , working together.
I thought parts were very emotional and Shea d a tear for certain.
I loved this book, more please, soon.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

I loved The Last Bookshop in London and loved this story that kept me hooked and turning pages.
Madeline Martin is a talented storyteller and I loved her well rounded characters, the vivid and well researched historical background, the solid plots.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This story introduces the reader to two amazing women in two different but dangerous situations. Ava is a librarian who finds herself in supposedly neutral Portugal. Her awareness of the refuges desperate journey to get to safety, the constant scrutiny of the Nazis in the supposedly neutral country and the hard work the Resistance is doing in France. While in France, Elaine has been chafing under the German occupation and been desperate to do something for the Resistance despite her husband's insistence that she stays out of it and keeps her head down.

The book alternates POV so we go from Ava to Elaine as the war progresses and the tension increases. Martin does a good job of not glossing over the horrible things that are happening around the two women but at the same time keeps it from being emotionally too much for me. There were tears in my eyes at the end of this book and I was sad to say goodbye to these extraordinary women.

The Librarian Spy is the first novel I have read by author Madeline Martin. There are two strong women characters in this WWII tale and the story is told from their points of view. First, there is Ava, a librarian who works at the Library of Congress and finds herself heading to Lisbon to work for the war effort. In Lisbon, Ava collects and sends copies of any print info she can get her hands on back to DC including forbidden papers from the resistance. Second, you have Elaine who works for the Resistance publishing those forbidden papers. When Ava finds a coded message from Elaine, their lives connect and they must work together to achieve a common goal.

The characters were believable and likable. The story line was very interesting and kept me read to what would happen next. An easy entertaining read you don't want to miss. I would highly recommend this novel to any WWII fans and I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e ARC of this book.
More intense than "the last bookstore". Loved the characters and the roles they played but so much loss, so much pain. Not uplifting but enlightening.

I'm not kidding when I say give me all the WWII Books! This story blew me away. Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they are transported to 1940s Portugal and France with Madeline Martin's vivid and inspiring characters. The Librarian Spy is a brilliant tale of resistance, courage and ultimately hope. I really enjoyed the dual narratives of at first it appears two different women from different worlds, but as one reads on, the reader can see many similarities, and can find that these two brave women have quite a bit in common. I enjoyed how the author created separate backgrounds, character traits, and positions in life for both Ava and Elaine, yet wove both of their narratives together to create one seamless, cohesive, gripping, and addictive story. Even though there are plenty of HF taking place during WWII, the author brings a fresh angle into the genre by adding the backdrop of Lisbon. Also, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the story due to the fact that Ava is a librarian. Both women are courageous and evolve during their trials and tests. I also really enjoyed how the author was able to keep me engaged and wrapped it all up nicely.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC

Ava is a librarian at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. But she is given an opportunity to go to Madrid, Spain and work as an undercover library gathering intelligence. Elaine is working with the resistance in France printing documents that are distributed throughout France. The two women go to work, and live their lives completely independent of one another. Until a Jewish refugee and her son arrive at the printer’s facility in France. Elaine prints a distress call, but in code, that Ava discovers. Between the two of them, they work to get the refugee to safety.

I really enjoyed learning about Madrid during WWII. It is humbling to really see how vast the impact of WWII was on the entire world. And the juxtaposition between the two women’s lives was very interesting. One was fed, while one starved. One was free to move about, while one worked in shadows. One had very little fear, while the other was in constant distress.

This story was told very beautifully. The only critique was that it took quite a while to meld the two women’s stories so that the reader could see why the two stories were being told. For along time, these seemed like 2 very independent stories. I’ve read a lot of dual storyline world war stories, and usually I’m able to discover fairly early how the storylines relate to each other. That was not so in this book, and it kept me just a little off as I tended to like one storyline more than the other

Overall, though, this was a very good book that resolved very well. I read this as part of the early reads for the Thoughts from a Page podcast. Thank you to Cindy Burnett, #netgalley, and #hanoversquarepress for the advanced e-copy of this book. I really enjoyed chatting about this book with the author, Madeline Martin, and I look forward to reading more books of hers in the future.

Helene Belanger lives in occupied Lyon, France, and longs to join the Resistance, but her husband Joseph, who fought in the Great War is adamantly opposed, which leads to a fight and Joesph storming out. It has been two days and he has not returned, Helene is worried, she cannot go to the police as they are in with the Gestapo, and even Joesph’s best friend Etienne is missing. She is debating her options when there is a knock at her door and a woman looking for a man named Pierre, she is frantic, she is Jewish and needs new ID papers and Helene soon realizes that her husband is the man she is looking for and gives the woman her own papers. She then sets out to find Etienne for answers, but he finds her when she is stopped by the Nazi patrol asking for her papers. Etienne gives the man papers, proclaiming her to be Elaine Rousseau. Etienne takes her back to his flat and Helene learns the awful truth, her husband is part of the Resistance and has been captured. At that moment, Helene is no more and Elaine is born, Elaine who will stop at nothing to save her husband and annihilate the Nazis. She begins to work for the Resistance by delivering and later printing anti-Nazi tracts. It is how she meets a young Jewish woman named Sarah and her son Noah, Sarah’s husband Lewis is in America, she stayed behind to tend to her sick mother, thinking that she would be safe. But now she is being hunted and has no way to get a visa or even a flight to the States. Despite being told to leave it be by her superiors, she can’t ignore Sarah’s plight, with so much loss in her life, she needs to help them and sends a coded message in the Resistance’s publication “Combat”.

Ava Harper is a librarian working in the Rare Book Room at the Library of Congress when she is asked to join the war effort by working for the Office of Strategic Services, gathering publications that may contain covert information on the Nazis. She would have to relocate to Lisbon, Portugal, a trip that she is not keen on making, but when she is reminded that her brother Daniel and many other soldiers fighting in the war need this intel, there is no way she can decline and makes the move to Lisbon. She is trying to settle in but soon learns that spies abound in Lisbon, and feels somewhat adrift. But luckily, an experienced British agent intervenes and takes her in under his wing and soon she is making her own contacts with other agents and the many refugees seeking asylum in neutral Portugal. She falls into a routine of collecting papers and magazines each day from around the world, and it is in the French paper “Combat: that she finds a coded message begging for help in extricating a young Jewish woman and her child from occupied Lyon and reuniting them with her husband in America. And even though her job is to simply collect data, there is no way Ava can ignore this cry for help. And so begins a joint collaboration to save Sarah and Noah from under the noses of the Nazis.

When I first read the blurb for this book, I was sure I wouldn’t like a story with two protagonists' POVs, but couldn’t have been more wrong! The imagery and the attention to historic detail are outstanding and the writing is practically flawless. I was sucked in from the first page and could barely read the words fast enough to satisfy my need to know what would happen next. Be warned and have your tissues at the ready, because war is ugly and cruel, and this book doesn’t shy away from the horrors, nor does it sugarcoat the egregious acts perpetrated by the Nazis. But even with death, destruction, and malice running rampant, there are moments of joy, comradery, and even love, that save this book from becoming a dark, depressing read. I loved this story and can’t recommend this powerful and emotional story highly enough.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*