World War II Historical fiction; 2nd book read by this author. The Librarian Spy starts out with a scene created to make library lovers swoon….Ava works at the Library of Congress, however, she answers the call of duty when an offer comes from the US military to gather intel in Lisbon. Her background, including talents with languages and microfiche, make her especially suited to the position. She quickly finds there is more at stake when confronted with the local police force and Nazis as well as the terrible refugee situation. Another intertwined storyline features Elaine, who is attempting to survive the occupation in France. She joins the Resistance after her husband is taken prisoner and quickly finds herself in situations women have only recently found themselves in. There really is no comparison between the author’s previous WWII book, The Last Bookshop in London (which I loved!) and this novel, as I was completely unprepared for the emotional toll it would take to read the stories formed by these women. This is a book where you will hold your breath, cry real tears, and pray for the characters and their loved ones to survive another day. These dark times need to be revisited to remind us of mistakes made in our past as well as how much we have to be truly grateful for, however, these reads are super difficult for me and I had to really force myself to continue with the story. Chalk that up to excellent story-telling and personal preference. What you really should do is see what you think for yourself! If you are a fan of WWII historical fiction, be sure to add this to your TBR. Thank you to Net Galley and Thoughts From a Page Podcast for this opportunity to review.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

The Librarian Spy is told from two different points of view - an American librarian on assignment in Portugal and that of a French member of the Resistance. Both women are doing what they can to support the Allied Forces; for Ava this includes saving and documenting European publications from non-German sources while for Elaine/Helene, she daily risks her life to support her fellow Resistance members in France as well as other citizens who are in danger. There is a clear juxtaposition in the quality of life between occupied France and neutral Portugal. I particularly found it interesting how "unhindered" a lot of aspects of life were in Portugal given the lack of a ration or shortage of food or other sundries.

For the most part, Madeline Martin weaves the stories of the two women artfully in a way that balances moment of joy and despair as well as gritty, graphic details with an undercurrent of the possibility of hope. To me, this novel was unique in that it illuminates a couple groups of people who are not usually recognized or acknowledged - European and American citizens in Portugal supporting the war effort in varying ways and the refugees who languished there as they lived in a state of limbo trying to leave Europe with the hope of safety somewhere else.

My main criticism of the book is the title. While both women (particularly Elaine/Helen) are in dangerous situations, neither is actively engaged in espionage.

My main criticism of the book is the title. While both women (particularly Elaine/Helen) are in dangerous situations, neither is actively engaged in espionage. Elaine/Helen's activities with the French Resistance provide most of the "action" in the book, but her underground work would not be categorized as spying - and she is not a librarian. Meanwhile in Lisbon, Ava, the librarian, conducts her work among some people who she suspects are German agents, but her work is purely administrative - collecting and photographing publications. Toward the end of the book, Ava discovers that someone she *thought* was a fellow librarian was actually a spy and used her for cover - thereby involving her in his "spying activities." However, I do not feel that this constitutes giving Ava herself the title of "spy."

Overall, this is a beautifully written book that does not hold back in its portrayal of what life was like in two different areas of Europe during WWII. Brilliant book...but a misleading title.

As an avid reader of historical fiction, I am always looking for books where I not only am captivated by the story but also learn something new in the process, and this book certainly fits the bill. The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin is a WW2 story about two women, with Ava’s chapters set in Lisbon and Elaine/Helene’s set in Lyon. The storyline in Portugal was particularly fascinating to me, as she described a city where life was different compared to other parts of Europe in terms of what they ate and the freedom. I enjoyed the stories of both women’s bravery, as well as seeing how those in the Resistance came together in the fight against Hitler even with words. Two quotes from the book summarize this best in my mind - “It is resistance among oppression, words rivaling heavy artillery, seemingly insignificant and yet still efficacious. This is strength in its rawest form. It is beautiful.” “To the men and women who worked so seamlessly together. Not only the author who wrote it, but the typographer who meticulously assembled it, to the person manning the complexities of the printing machines, to the courier who delivered it and the citizen who smuggled it from French soil to end up here in Portugal.”

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-written and well-researched WW2 historical fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thoughts from a Page Podcast for the advanced copy!

The Librarian Spy is a historical fiction novel that focuses on the bravery of two women in WWII and is a good pick for fans of Julia Kelly and Natasha Lester. The story pivots between Ava, a rare book librarian at the Library of Congress and Helene, a French housewife. Both women soon find themselves using their unique skills to aid the Resistance in France and Portugal.

The historical details in this story were a highlight for me - particularly the vivid descriptions of life in France during the Nazi occupation (not for the faint of heart) and the new-to-me perspective of life in Portugal (its food, culture, and setting). I also appreciated getting a view of what life was like in Portugal, a country that I now know was neutral for much of the war.

The title is a bit misleading since the women aren't spies, but I liked that Elaine and Ava were both strong, capable, and resilient women. I felt more connected to Elaine's story and thought there could have been more definition between Ava and Elaine's voices. I was also disappointed that the connection between these two women wasn't made until quite late in the book.

But what Martin excelled at were the emotional aspects - one scene in particular shocked me and had me reaching for a Kleenex. Could I have done without the romance? Yes, it felt contrived and unnecessary, but I'm sure other readers will enjoy the lightness it brings to a book that focuses on how evil humans can be to each other.

I like that this book features strong women who made an impact in history. While not the page turner I expected, The Librarian Spy is a good pick for Historical Fiction fans because it balances action, drama and emotion within a story that shows the dark side of humanity and the power of individuals to make great change.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I always have a special interest in WWII historical fiction, and I do love a story with an international setting. Add a bookish angle, and it's almost a guarantee I want to read a book ASAP. The Librarian Spy has it all, and this was probably why I fully expected to have a fantastic time with this story. The premise sounded fantastic and I liked the idea of having two storylines with the France/Portugal setting. Imagine my surprise when I ended up struggling considerably with this story instead... Oh yes, sadly The Librarian Spy and me most definitely weren't ment to be.

Before I continue and try to explain why this story wasn't a good fit for me, I first have to stress that I still love the premise of this story. The two separate storylines following two women with different backgrounds during WWII did complement each other, and I especially liked the idea of the American librarian being sent to Lisbon to track down newspapers and information to send back to the US. Lisbon has a special place in my heart and I always enjoy visiting the city again in my stories... The descriptions brought back great memories. The other storyline following a member of the French Resistance in Lyon who had something to do with underground newspapers had great potential as well.

I always love stories with a bookish angle, so of course I could really appreciate the idea behind Ava's character and her love for the written word. I liked how this element was incorporated into the story, and even Elaine's character did have a bookish link with the underground newspaper and technology/tricks used to spread the message of the French Resistance. The story paid attention to historical details and and shows that the author spent time researching the facts before writing down this story. This is of course always a bonus when it comes to historical fiction and I like it when a story is able to teach me something new.

Now we have arrived at the part why I explain why this story somehow didn't work for me despite the many elements I usually love. I think a lot of this has to do with the writing style itself, which I simply clashed horribly with. I found the writing style to be overly formal, repetitive and especially Ava's POV sounded aloof. The word choice came over as forced and I almost felt like the story was trying too hard to be literary with formal words and phrases that just didn't work for me. This slowed down the pace considerably and it made it very hard to find the motivation to keep reading... Especially since the story also uses a lot of cliches and repetitions. I felt that there was too much focus on tiny details in the daily lives of the women, and as a result part of the impact of what they were going through was lost.

I also have to say that I wasn't a fan of neither main character. I felt like their personalities lacked fleshing out and they never spoke to me; their behavior makes you wonder how on earth they weren't found out the very first day they started doing what they do. I also think that calling them spies is a bit farfetched, and especially when it comes to Ava. Elaine does work for the resistance at least and faces more danger, but still... She is not exactly a spy and with the way she behaves and her stubbornness it is a miracle she didn't endanger more people.

All in all between the writing style, slow pace and characters I ended up struggling considerably with this story... And despite the topic, international setting and bookish angle The Librarian Spy and me most definitely didn't get along. I seem to be in the minority though, so definitely don't give up on my account. It seems like a big part of the problem was my aversion towards the writing style and tone, which is something I know is highly personal. Still, this doesn't take away the fact that I really struggled with this one.

The Librarian Spy is the story of not only two determined and fearless ladies Ava and Elaine but also the people around them.

The story is told in dual time line which works extremely well.

There is Ava the librarian from the United States and has been recruited to be an undercover spy in Portugal .

There is Elaine who is a member of the Resistance and like Ava they put their lives selfishly on the line for others.

The book will reel you in and the pages turn quickly to the last page.

I cheered for both ladies , I cried with both of them and I so admired their strength, their tenacity and their ability to keep going.

Grab your copy of The Librarian Spy and settle in for a fascinating read based on a true story.

Another great read by Madeline Martin : The Last Bookshop in London also a must read. ( just started reading it and I am hooked)

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing , Hanover Square Press for a fantastic read.

I wanted so badly to like this, but unfortunately it just didn’t work for me. The writing and the characters both felt very flat and one dimensional.

1.5 stars.

3.5 stars

I enjoy this genre and dual timeline stories, as well as books that pertain to libraries, so this hit a lot of marks for me.

It's a well written story with well-crafted, distinct characters. I love that it's based on a true story. I haven't read a number of WWII-era books that are set in Portugal, so I enjoyed the setting. The refugee angle was interesting and appropriate to today's times. Martin does a nice job of showing the hope amid the horrors of the time.

What a wonderful, fine-tuned story set during WWII, a challenging period in which to write. Brava! Well done.
Ava, an American working at the Library of Congress, is dispatched to Lisbon—a declared neutral country—for the purpose of transferring European newspapers onto microfilm to be shipped back to the states, a task in which she is well-trained. However, it isn’t long before she finds herself steeped in the many mysterious layers of a war that will change her life forever.
Elaine, a fiercely brave member of Lyon’s French Underground has lost everything and everyone that ever mattered to her. With nothing more to lose, she is willing to risk her life to do whatever she can to defeat the Nazis. An expert in running printing presses, she is one of the creators of an underground newspaper intercepted by Ava.
Two lives intersect amidst a terrible war.
The author’s masterful writing created stunning visuals in this reader’s mind, bringing to life not only the various characters, but her in-depth research also had me walking the crooks and crannies of Lisbon and Lyon. I pulled an all-nighter reading this story, just as I had done with The Last Bookshop in London (her first book in the series). Now, I eagerly await book three, whatever and wherever that might be.
I received an advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to read The Librarian Spy and leave an honest review.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Harper Collins Canada through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This dual point of view historical fiction book takes place during World War Two. Ava is a librarian who is recruited by the US military to work at the US embassy in Lisbon to help gather intelligence. Her day-to-day duties include going around and gathering as many newspapers she can get her hands on and copying them to microfilm to send back to the United States. Elaine is part of the Resistance in France and works at a printing press that prints clandestine newspapers. As the chapters go back and forth from each of their perspectives, their lives slowly become intertwined as the War continues on around them.

The two main characters in this book were wonderful. They were both strong, courageous, stubborn, and brilliant and I loved that were both taking on roles traditionally performed by men. They were both incredibly memorable and the kind of character that you wanted to succeed.

I also liked the setting of this book. I spent a lot of time studying World War Two in University. A lot of the courses I took either dealt with or mentioned France and the Resistance there, but they did not talk about Portugal and what happened in that neutral territory. I enjoyed the juxtaposition between the two settings in this book, going from having nothing in Lyons where the ration is in place and the population is suffering and living in fear, to Lisbon where the ration is not in place and people are able to consume whatever they’d like. I also liked reading about the refugees that managed to escape occupied territories and ended up in Lisbon and the struggles they faced and how even though they were safe they weren’t really safe.

This book is full of moment that kept me on the edge of my seat, fearing for the safety of the characters. It also featured a lot of side characters that I really liked and that I was very concerned about throughout the book.

I liked that this book focused on the importance of the written word. Whether it was the importance of the clandestine newspapers in France sending messages to the Resistance or using newspapers to gather intelligence to send back to the United States. I also liked that Ava fought to preserve personal texts that the refugees in Portugal had because of how valuable they are in understanding what happened during World War Two.

This book takes place during World War Two, which means that a lot of atrocities take place. People are tortured, killed, and sent to concentration camps. People kill themselves because it is a better alternative than being apprehended and tortured by the Nazis. World War Two was full of horrific atrocities and this book does detail some of them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The two main characters were brilliant and I loved the dual points of view. I will definitely be reading most historical fiction by Madeline Martin.

This fascinating novel is the story of two young women in World War Two. Ava, a librarian at the Library of Congress is sent to Lisbon by the US military to be a spy who reviews information from documents coming out of occupied Europe. Lisbon at this time does not have the restrictions and rationed she experience in the United States. In contrast, Elaine is in occupied France where she works with resistance members and an illegal printing press, enduring extreme hardship, starvation and danger. The two stories intertwine, involving coded messages and escaping families. This is a fascinating story, based on the actual work of librarians at the time.

This WWII novel takes the reader back and forth between 2 characters. Ava, a librarian the Library of Congress who is transferred to Lisbon to work as a spy because of her language skills; and Elaine in Lyon who is helping the French Resistance by distributing the real news of the war.

Ms. Martin weaves a gripping story as she easily moves between chapters about Ava and Elaine. The rich details of the story paint a vivid picture for the reader, for better or for worse. Although at first, I felt as though I had read this book a dozen times - librarian spies seem to be trending these days - the plot elements and events became more unique. The two women's lives converge in a specific way, which I shall not reveal to avoid spoiling it.

Every time I read a novel about WWII, I can't help but think how easy we have it in our lives today by comparison. If not for the brave women and men who fought for freedom, our lives might not be the same. If you enjoy novels about WWII, especially strong female characters, pick up this book! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance e-reader copy of this book.

This novel was inspired by true history of America's library spies during WWII! Who would have ever dreamed of such a thing right? When we hear the word librarian we immediately get a mental picture of a rather stern, plain woman, black framed glasses, hair pulled tightly back in a bun and lips pursed in an unapproving manner as she shush's you for talking right? We certainly do not immediately think of James Bond, or spies, but what do we know?
This is the story of two women, one an American librarian Ava, from the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. who accepts an offer from the U.S. military to travel to Lisbon, posing as a librarian but really working as a spy gathering intelligence for the allies.
The other, Elaine, lives in occupied France and when her husband is arrested by the Nazis and sent to a camp Elaine joins the resistance helping to run an underground printing press making the very papers that Ava gathers to use for her intelligence. Miles and countries apart both women end up bound to each other by circumstance and events as they work toward a common goal.
This story showed me yet again a part of WWII I was unaware of.. I knew nothing of librarian spies and I had never really thought about Portugal in regards to it's role in WWII. To read that it was a center for the displaced people of Europe, those who were waiting desperately to immigrate to other countries and to learn that they were in a kind of limbo there in Lisbon, sometimes waiting months for visas or with visas but waiting months for passage on a ship that their visa expired and they had to begin from the start again! How awful, how discouraging this had to be to these people who were fighting for their lives, to survive the terrors they had to endure only to come so far, through so much and be stuck at a stand still unable to go forward, only torture and certain death if they went back.
I really enjoyed this well researched portrait of what it was like to be a jewish immigrant awaiting passage in Lisbon, this book is very well written and holds the reader's attention to the very end.
I learned a lot about subjects I would never had associated with WWII, it opened my eyes to a whole other little known chapter of this war.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.

The Librarian Spy is a fantastic WWII story of espionage and resistance.

Half of the story follows Ava, a librarian from D.C. who is assigned to Lisbon during the war. I really hadn't read much about Portugal during this time period, so it was fascinating to see the political espionage that took place there, often knowingly by both sides. It was so far removed from the horrible conditions throughout Europe. I loved watching Ava as she found her voice and grew confident in herself!

The other half of the story follows Elaine in France. Hers is also a story of growth and discovery, but her path is heartbreaking and dangerous. I have so much admiration for members of the resistance who were willing to sacrifice their lives to fight evil.

The two stories connect and a touching story unfolds. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves WWII fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Madeline Martin for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own. This book follows two central characters. Ava works at The Library of Congress and is contacted about working for The Resistance during World War II. She accepts and is flown to Lisbon, Portugal. Portugal was the last corner of neutral European territory where refugees could sail off to avoid the Nazi's wrath. They were considered safe because of the neutrality agreement but there was still the secret police and spies. The refugees all awaited visas and tickets to depart on the ships. Ava's job was to collect newspapers from all over the world and save it by photography and a machine where it could be shared. The stories of what the Nazis were doing were so horrific that many people didn't believe it.

Helene's husband is captured and tortured in Lyon, France. She realizes he has been working for The Resistance. Helene feels the need to contribute. She gives her papers to a Jewish spy and contacts her husband's friend for news from him. He also helps her change her name to Elaine. She joins The Resistance, working on a clandestine newspaper. She was the only survivor on the attack of the press. Elaine is an important cog in the information getting to Ava in Portugal and to the world.

This book was slow at times and others it was quite exciting. I've read many World War II books but this was a new perspective. Strong women is always a desirable part of the story. Thankfully the War eventually ended but the horrors and deaths of so many will be remembered forever.

Martin’s latest release is Inspired by the American librarians who were sent to neutral Lisbon during WW2 to gather books and newspapers in order to gain intel on the enemy.

The first thing I noticed was how easily I was transported to 1940s Portugal and France. Ava and Elaine, both inspiring characters, have been so wonderfully crafted with such detail that it’s easy for readers to become part of the narrative. Both courageous women were united in their common goal although they served from different places. Ava is employed at the American Embassy in neutral Portugal (Lisbon) while Elaine is in Lyon working with the French resistance. You’ll need to read to find out when and how the two women cross paths. Hint: it has to do with The Minerva printing press!

It has been marketed as historical fiction filled with action, danger and a love of books. Martin certainly delivers and has made sure to add some romance, albeit slightly contrived and unbelievable at times. This in no way takes away from it being an incredibly well-written and very emotional tale. I just could have done without those sections. While I liked this book, it didn’t have the same impact or pull as The Last Bookshop in London. Regardless, I’m really looking forward to her next release, The Keeper of Hidden Books.

This novel oozed authenticity as a result of the author visiting the resistance museum in Lyon and seeing The Minerva manual printing press, walking through the Rossio Square and seeing Mar Lago and the calcada first hand, winding her way through the traboules of Lyon and pouring over documents in the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Furthermore, Martin does justice for every person whose heroic efforts inspired her characters.

I especially loved the Portuguese setting as it’s one of my favourite places to visit. I could imagine myself sitting in Sintra or Lisbon, sipping a coffee and nibbling pasteis de nata.

“What do you have in here? Bricks?”
“Books,” she answered truthfully. “Only a few.”

Haven’t we all been in the same situation?!

I was gifted this advance copy by Madeline Martin, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Weaving together the stories of two women during World War II, this novel works well, even if it light on the spies and the librarianship. Ava is recruited to help gather information from underground publications through Europe. Elaine finds herself working with the Marquis trying to smuggle Jews out of occupied France. Their stories run in parallel, and you see how their lives are depended on each other without them ever meeting. I will say, the cover made me think I was going to get some queer romance in there, but that is not a part of this story.

The Librarian Spy tells the story of two women, Ava—a librarian who is sent to Lisbon to work for the Allied cause—and Helene, who works for the French Resistance in Lyon. In Lisbon, Ava is drawn into the world of spies, the Portuguese secret police, and her desire to help the refugees who flood the city, trying to make their way to a safe country. In Lyon, Helene—soon to become Elaine—prints and delivers clandestine newspapers as an integral part of the resistance. Their stories soon intertwine through decisions that affect them both.

This book was an utter delight to read. When I started out, I thought the conversation felt a little bit stilted, but I quickly looked beyond that to the stories themselves. I loved both Ava and Elaine for their courage, strength, desire to help others, uncertainty, and capacity for love. Both women were imperfect and for that they were more perfect to me.

I haven’t found other historical fiction novels set in Lisbon, and this was also an interesting read for me because of that. Madeline Martin describes Lisbon, its people, the architecture, and the atmosphere so well that I felt like I could see it myself. It made me want to travel there and learn more about Lisbon’s World War II history.
While I’ve read quite a few books about the resistance in France, I’ve never read a story quite like Elaine’s, and I appreciate that about this story, as well. Her relationships with her husband, her fellow resistance members, and other characters throughout the book made me understand what the women of France gave up when the Nazi occupation began. While I realize both Ava and Elaine were fictional characters based on real experiences, Martin does an incredible job of weaving their stories together with the history of both Lisbon and Lyon.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys World War II historical fiction, strong female characters, the French resistance, or has an innate love of books. One line Martin wrote really resonated with me: “Perhaps that is the draw of books. . . .To show us the way even when we think the path is too dark to see.”

A research librarian from the Library of Congress sent to Lisbon to document newspapers. A woman deep in the Resistance in Lyon, creating newspapers and flyers to spread the truth of the Nazi occupation. Together the two might just be able to save one Jewish family as part of their fight for freedom during World War II.

Thank you to NetGalley and NetGalley and Harlequin for granting me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

The book is a wonderful historical fiction novel set in WWII that portrays two strong women who join the resistance and risk their lives for a family they have never met.

Elaine helps print and publish the underground newspaper Combat. After her husband's death she joins the resistance.

Ava joins the resistance as a spy posing ad a librarian and passes photos of magazine articles, book pages, correspondence, and newspapers.

The two join forces through coded messages in Connect to help reunite a Jewish family in America

The story is about faith, courage, and strength. I loved every page.

Recommend.