A very fun period spy story. Set during World War II. I knew early on this book had to have been inspired by Greta Garbo and the rumors surrounding her. I loved that! The story was well written and I appreciated all the research the author did for this book. I really loved Amelie's character. What a fun main character. I had a great time reading this. I appreciate getting an arc from NetGalley. If you enjoy a cute historical romantic suspense, you will enjoy this one.

The espionage of the Second World War is the perfect setting for McDaniel's talented pen. Her quit witted heroines, dashing heroes, and snappy, fast paced writing are made for this type of story. The suspense of a war-time spy novel is balanced with a sweeping romance. The characters will capture your heart and you will root for them the entire way through. Add to this McDaniel's talent for writing engaging dialogue and you have a winning story. Christian historical fiction fans will delight in this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was the book I didn’t know I needed! Sometimes you need a change of scenery, and The Starlet Spy was a beautiful place to land! I fell in love with these characters and their story and didn’t want to leave. This was my first book by @rachel_scott_mcdaniel _author and now I want to devour them all!

Hollywood movie star, Amelie Blake, goes undercover to recover top-secret atomic bomb research in her homeland, Sweden. Shipping magnate, Finn Ristaffason, is one of her leads to where the research might be, but she swore to herself she would never speak to him again. But he is a mystery to her. Is he involved somehow or does he have other motives for showing up around every corner? Amelie has to use her smart wit to survive the world of deadly spies and secrets, while also guarding her heart.

Finn was the broodiest of broody men, and I was all in!! He knew what he wanted and he wasn’t scared to go after it. He was quiet, and not one to show much emotion, but on the inside he was a sweet softy, especially when it came to Amelie. I loved Amelie! She was a determined woman, and I loved her courageous, spunky personality. She was very witty and smart, and never backed down from a challenge.

I loved the chemistry between Amelie and Finn! It came on subtly which made it more realistic. Finn was mysterious and intriguing, and when his romantic side appears, look out. Those tender scenes will melt your heart. I adored their witty banter, especially Finn and his humor. They were a match for each other in all the right ways!

Every page was full of suspense, mystery, and adventure, which left left me turning the pages as fast as I could. If you’re looking for a book to get you out of a reading slump, then pick this one up today!

Things I Loved:
🤍The Terrace scene
🤍The Library scene
🤍Smiling practice
🤍Amelie’s memories
🤍The dance on the sand
🤍Suspense
🤍The meet cute flashback
🤍“You look…satisfactory.”
🤍The Northern Lights
🤍The Lattice scene
🤍“You missed a spot.”
🤍The Kiss!!!!!!
🤍Pool hall hustler
🤍Plot twists

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Once I finally started this book, I could not put it down! The setting, characters, prose, and plot kept me intrigued from the very first page to the end. I loved Amelie's desire to be seen as more than a brainless Hollywood Leading Lady, and how she had to find ways to hid her intelligence and wit when she accepted a mission from the OSS. Finn was exactly the kind of grumpy and mysterious hero that I love to root for because he had so many layers.

And the history! I loved the way Rachel Scott McDaniel wove historical happenings through her whole story. Reading the Author's note at the end was like finding the key to a treasure map.

The whole book was so very well done and one I am happy to have on my shelves so I can share it with others!

I enjoyed this! In the beginning, I was afraid the heroine was going to be a brash, feminist kind of woman, but as the book progresses, you see her true character emerge and develop. In reality, she’s clever and determined., using her airhead blonde reputation as a disguise. The male protagonist is strong and big, reluctant to trust her. She doesn’t trust him (or anyone), under the circumstances, but the romance grows slowly and steadily.

It’s such a creative story! The plot is intriguing, and the setting is an unusual one for a historical novel. As a fourth generation American Swede, I was interested in the Swedish role in WWII. I found it all plausible and fascinating!

You’ll enjoy this one if you like your WWII novels to have active, intelligent women and a good espionage plot instead of just romance! The author’s note at the end was interesting, too.

I read this in August and forgot to review it! This is a unique story about a movie star born in Sweden who gets sent back there to work undercover duing the war. It was pretty neat how she got to go back. Even better of couse that she falls for the guy who could care less that she's a movie star.
Rachel's books have all been about acting or the arts, and I love that about her stories. They also center around unique events in history, and this is another one.

I liked the premise of this book but not so much the execution. Amelie is not believable as a spy. And there’s a particular scene where someone is injured that is pretty cringy.

Hollywood Star Amelie Blake is called to act as a spy under her guise of a visit to her poorly mother in Sweden during WWII. Playing the witless actress many assume her to be, she seeks to recover Niels Bohr's missing research that may aid in the development of the atomic bomb before the Nazis do.
The romantic subplot was lovely, and espionage plotline was fun and kept me guessing! At times, it was grating to read Amelie playing up the ditsy blonde, but it was the role she was given to be in a position to help the Allies. It is definitely clear that it does not reflect her true character and intelligence. Overall, a fun WWII espionage romance with real stakes without being very graphic.

When you are used to reading a certain genre or time period from an author, and then they go somewhere else, I must admit there's a little bit of nervousness when you first dive into that book. But then as I'm reading this latest from McDaniel I kind of chuckle and scold myself. She's an amazing author. Every book from her I have simply adored, and so why did I think this would be any different simply because it was in a different decade? Shame on me!

Now that that's out of the way we can continue. ;)

The Starlet Spy is full of history, in true McDaniel fashion. You can see the love and attention to detail she puts in her stories and this one is no different. Honestly, you'll feel like you are living in the 1940's right along with the characters. The descriptions, the tone, the dialogue, everything about it transports you. I don't know if McDaniel had a hard time switching decades or not, but she certainly made it look easy from a reader's point of view.

With romance, mystery, history and more, The Starlet Spy is a must read for historical fiction fans! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After reading The Starlet Spy, the second book I’ve read by Rachel Scott McDaniel, she is now one of my top ten favorite Historical Christian Fiction authors. She is so good at weaving stories with historical facts and romance and suspense…and The Starlet Spy is no exception.

From the first sentence, I was pulled into the novel and did not want to leave it. An actress recruited to be a spy and track down the documents containing sensitive information about Neil Bohr’s atomic bomb? What could be more intriguing than that?

While I absolutely LOVED the plotline of the book, I am giving it 4.5 stars. There are just a few minor things that keep me from being able to give a full 5 out of 5. First and foremost, while Amelie’s character is well-developed, I felt like I couldn’t get to know Finn as well, which, second thing, made the romance fall flat for me. However, I did appreciate the fact that the romance did not take over the main plot of the story.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves WWII fiction. It was incredibly interesting and I did not want to put it down.

I had received a copy of the book as part of the Celebrate Lit Blogging Team and was required to give an honest review.

Well done historical fiction by Rachel Scott McDaniel. I look forward to her next book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

The Starlet Spy was an interesting fictional account of a Hollywood actress being recruited as a spy during World War II and sent to her Swedish homeland to obtain information. Amelie Blake is fluent in several languages and has a photographic memory but the world sees her as a dumb beauty. You will be amazed as Amelie faces danger to prevent the Nazis from gaining more control. If you are interested in how World War II may have really been, you will find The Starlet Spy very interesting. I received a complimentary e-book through Barbour Publishing and Net Galley. This is my honest opinion.

The Starlet Spy was an exciting and pleasant read. The tale of a Hollywood actress sent to Sweden as an undercover spy was well done. Amelie is brilliant and observant. But in spite of both her brains and beauty, she carries a sweetness of character even while stopping crime. She's a female protagonist I can rally behind. Finn appears cold at first, but he turned out to be such a steady presence and support for Amelie in both mission and relationship. The elements of faith throughout were natural and not overbearing, the setting in Sweden was refreshing, and the plot twists were smart enough to keep me guessing for a long time. And the ending... sigh, so romantic.

What makes this novel even more intriguing is that it's inspired by historical facts. This was the first Rachel Scott McDaniel novel I read, and I truly enjoyed this alluring piece of historical Christian fiction!

I received a complimentary copy of the book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Dear Mrs. McDaniel,

This book is stunningly, incredibly beautiful. And I don't just mean the cover, though it certainly is that. I am convinced I will forever be the biggest fan of your storytelling style, but notwithstanding, I thought this book was phenomenal.
I loved Amelie right from the very beginning. Her determination to do anything to help the allies in the war against the Nazis--even assume the dreaded persona of "blonde bimbo" (her words, not mine)--was admirable and made me love her right away.
Finn was the perfect hero. He was broody and imperfect, and his secrets will keep you guessing for a while. But the way he and Amelie start figuring out how to work together, and solving their mysteries, is exciting and riveting.
Every time I thought I had things figured out, another clue would come to light and I would need to start all over with trying to figure out what was going on. And I still didn't have an accurate guess once everything came to light at the end!
As my own family heritage includes Swedish ancestry, I have a soft spot for all things Swedish, so naturally that facet of this story endeared me to the story right away. But that isn't the only thing that kept me engaged. The main characters are incredibly well written and exciting, the side characters provide the exact right touch of cheer and humor (or mystery), the mystery kept me guessing, the suspense is on-the-edge-of-your-seat perfect, and the history was well researched. And the book is so well-written. It's a reread worthy book, and I do look forward to immersing myself in this breathtaking book again in the future.
Thank you for writing wonderful books I can drop into and have become a part of me.
Love, Jessica

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher and author via Netgalley. I also listened to the audiobook via an app I pay for with my own funds. The audiobook is very well done and I recommend that as well.

An interesting perspective on a spy network. Not your typical read but interesting non the less. Greatly enjoyed.

The Starlet Spy is hands down one of the best books I have read this year. I am not typically a reader of historical fiction, but Rachel Scott McDaniel has become a must read author for me. She must be a great author to keep my attention in a genre I don't typically read. She takes readers back in time and intrigues them with the page turning mysteries she writes so well. This was a story set during World War II and kept me guessing until the end. I totally did not see that ending coming. I can't wait until her next one.

Thank you to Barbour and Netgalley for a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The Starlet Spy was an easy read and enjoyable. It doesn’t have a lot of action but plenty of suspense and romance. There was history included which was fascinating as it was regarding Sweden which isn’t normally seen in WWII books. The main characters were very likeable. I think this would be a great read for anyone who is looking for suspense without being overly intense and enjoys a taste of romance. It is part of a series from Barbour Publishers for those who enjoy WWII novels from different authors.
I received a free copy of The Starlet Spy from Net Galley. No review was required . The opinions expressed are completely my own.

The Starlet Spy was the first book I’ve read of Rachel Scott McDaniel’s but I promise it won’t be the last!

Not only was her writing style utterly engaging, but I learned so much from this novel! She presented a WWII novel like no other I’ve read. With stunning characters and an incredibly unconventional plot, McDaniel paints a vivid picture of what it might have felt like as Nazism crept into America. I’ve never read another account quite like it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Amelie Blake has built a successful career as a Hollywood actress, but she is weary of being stereotyped as a dumb blonde. Those are the roles she plays and how most people view her, but she has a brilliant mind and an incredible photographic memory. So when a movie producer approaches her for a role in a spy effort in her homeland of Sweden, she's intrigued. She will need to continue allowing the world to believe she is empty-headed, but her keen mind, knowledge of languages, and remarkable gift for memorizing what she sees are needed in order to recover missing atomic research before the Nazis find it.

Once in Sweden, Amelie meets her contact, code named Wolf, and her assignment begins. She must charm the shipping magnate Finn Ristaffason and find a way to search his property for the top secret files. She has a connection to his family and finds it easy to like his grandmother, but must remain on her guard around Finn - can he be trusted, or is he a double agent? What about Wolf and the way he shows up unexpectedly and warns her of potential danger? Is he truly protecting her, or does he have ulterior motives? Amelie uncovers clues to where the files might be, and as the danger around her increases, she must make some split-second decisions about who to trust and which way to turn, and when her mask slips, will it cost her the mission or even her life?

This fictional story was inspired by some of these stories and rumors of Hollywood actors getting involved behind the scenes durong WWII. Amelie is a likeable character who is grounded and kind despite her fame. There are sparks between her and Wolf, and between her and Finn, and not surprisingly, a romance develops, but given the circumstances it's a real test of trust and patience before the happy ending. Overall, this is a compelling and entertaining story full of action and intrigue that reads a little like an Indiana Jones adventure, stretching credulity at times.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

Spies and stars and secrets, oh my!

Rachel Scott McDaniel's first WWII novel combines fascinating historical events, the charms of Swedish culture, fun references to Hollywood's Golden Age, and a crackling slow-burn romance into a glamorous tale of espionage and intrigue.

If you’re a fan of WWII fiction and 1940’s cinema, "The Starlet Spy" is sure to be your cup of tea!