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

The first half of the story has a slower pace with important setup: names, relationships and historical references.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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wow! More than 5 stars !Roseanna White has quickly become one of my favorite authors! I think this book is her best so far! This book took me on a journey of good vs evil. How sometimes evil overcomes good and other times good overcomes evil. The Library of Burned Books provided more than just books. It held secrets and ideas. These secrets and ideas presented a problem for the Nazis. The setting of Paris during this time is not glittering lights and romance but one of a weary city. It's citizens subdued and withdrawn.

Corinne is amazing! She's brave, quick thinking, compassionate and not afraid to speak her mind. She loves the books and the authors that wrote them. The books also help her to send coded messages. Messages that she hopes will push the Nazis out of her beloved city. Christian is a complicated man. He loves literature. Unfortunately his assignment from the German army is to determine which books are "allowed" to stay in Paris. He has many secrets and often has to pretend that he's following orders even when it contradicts everything within him. He is a merciful man and he offers mercy to many "undeserving" recipients. Soon, he and Corinne find themselves working together to save not only books but human lives.

My heart was touched when the priest prayed over Christian; the blessing, the protection and the covenant. Words of healing and words of hope.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley through Interviews and Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White. This was a great book that kept my interest the entire time. A book full of twists and turns and excitement that kept me guessing where it would end. This book captures friendship between religious Christians and their Jewish neighbors. This book shows that even war cannot change one’s beliefs. How can the French citizens and the Nazi invaders come to an agreement when one cherishes books and one chooses to destroy them? Read the book and find out for yourself.

Roseanna M. White’s latest book, “The Collector of Band Books,” is a rich Christian historical fiction novel. Taking place in Paris during the German occupation of World War II, it gives glimpses into the lives of those who were affected, whether Parisian, Jewish or German, by the written word and the circumstances surrounding the freedom of them.

“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…”

In the above quote, Christian Bauer, one of the main protagonists, challenges a young German soldier to consider the power of words and the right of each individual to choose for themselves which will impact their own actions. Stationed in Paris, he is a German university professor and the officer of the Nazi party assigned to oversee the libraries locating both banned books and banned German authors who have relocated there. He is not all he seems though; he has both secrets and a reason for being in this position.

Corrine Bastien, a native Parisian, is on mission to not only protect banned books, but also use them to pass coded messages for the Allies. As their paths become intertwined, each discovers the other’s secrets and together they forge through the impossible as they trust the God with whom all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)

One reason I love to read Historical Fiction is because it challenges me to dig deeper, to expand my knowledge and my thinking. I’ve read most of Roseanna White’s books, and this one reveals her extensive research as well as her passion for words and an individual’s freedom to decide for themselves which ones they will consume. As history points out, this freedom can be taken if we’re not careful. We may be familiar with the burning of banned books during this period of history, but I was challenged in discovering who did the burning and the reasons these books were deemed “un-German.” There were several points in the storyline I paused to do my own research into various topics mentioned. I felt like I walked away from this reading with more than I began…more knowledge, more thoughts, more understanding.

The Christian aspect of “The Collector of Burned Books” points to a Sovereign God Whose love is faithful. Even though the characters’ faith is tested, it is also deepened as they walk through such trying times. They are challenged again and again to display God’s mercy; what a powerful lesson for all of us as we walk this path called life wherever we are. James 2:13b tells us, “Mercy triumphs over judgement.” This story caused me to pause and picture what it must have been like to walk in the shoes of the souls who actually lived through this period.

All in all, this is a rich read where the story and thoughts will remain long after finishing. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to experience such a well written story with such a powerful message. Thank you, NetGalley and Tyndale House for this ARC for my review; all opinions are my own.

This is a compelling story of the power of words.

"These students had it all wrong-- backward. Books didn't burn. Books ignited. They lit the burning in others. Not with paper and match. With ideas."

The setting is Paris during WWII, but the ideas fit exactly in today's society and thinking on banning books. The parallels were strong, the ideas similar, the strength of stories and words will never change. I think I highlighted 50% of the text, it just hit me like a strong unsuspected wave when in calm ocean water.

A young, smart, and very pretty young professor had secrets and collected them like books on a shelf. She sent secret messages written in code in the margins of old books and shared them with her students. She also had friends and authors that were older and many were leaving Paris for safer places to live. Their books had been banned, 'verboten', and anyone with those books was under suspicion.

"Uncle Georges was wrong. Her best weapon was neither her mind or her looks. Her best weapons were the books-- and she was going to use them well."

A Young German professor wanted nothing to do with the Nazi party but is forced into uniform to protect his family as well as the books he loved but were considered a threat to the Nazi's. He is sent to France to 'deal with the relocation' of the books in their libraries after the occupation, but is determined to do what he can to preserve the books and their ideas. The problem is, people who are wary of the Nazi's can't see past the uniform. Those also wearing the uniform are eager to report on others who are not as committed, and used as spies for their superiors. He is called a 'bucherwurm' (bookworm) as a derogatory label, but he wants to be nothing more.

"Banned. Burned. 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."

When their paths continue to cross and their discussions on books reveal more similar ideas than different- they both try and stay in their respective roles to keep themselves and their secrets safe. She could not imagine that anyone in a Nazi uniform could be someone else beneath it. He wants to explain to her, but recognizes the disdain she has for the clothes he is forced to wear.

Secrets are revealed, danger ensues, and hearts are involved. Faith is strengthened, written words are protected, and determination to share the love of learning is strong.

"If books had no power, they never would have been banned.".

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy of the story for my review. I highly recommend this story if you enjoy reading, historical fiction, and stories filled with faith and love.

Brilliantly told story of the Nazi invasion of Paris, France during World War II. In the story a woman who receives and smuggles information through coded messages in banned books, work is halted by the Nazi invasion. The library in which she and others in the resistance worked has been commandeered by the Nazis. She still has her job as a literature professor at the University, but for how long no one knows. The man tasked with disposing of the library is a lover of literature and has read many of the books that the Nazis deem inappropriate. He tries to find ways to make the banned books disappear, without actually burning or destroying them. The woman who lives in the apartment building next to the library is both suspicious and intriguing. He knows she is connected to the library somehow. The man and woman both have secrets and both have a job to do. She wants to trust him, but he wears a Nazi uniform. He wants to tell her the truth but that would put too many lives in danger.

A stunning tribute to the resilience of words and the quiet bravery of those who protect them.

The Collector of Burned Books is a beautifully written, emotionally rich novel that explores the fight for truth, memory, and freedom under the shadow of tyranny. Set in Nazi-occupied Paris, this story is a love letter to books and to those who risked everything to preserve knowledge and defy oppression.

Corinne Bastien is a compelling heroine—intelligent, loyal, and courageous in ways that feel deeply human. Her bond with the library of banned books is one of reverence and rebellion, and as the stakes rise, her story becomes both heartbreaking and hopeful. Christian Bauer, a reluctant soldier and fierce protector of culture, adds a complex and empathetic lens to the German side of the war. Their unlikely connection is moving and meaningful without ever feeling forced.

This novel asks hard questions: What would you risk for the truth? How do we safeguard memory when the world wants to erase it?

For fans of The Book Thief, All the Light We Cannot See, and readers who believe books are worth fighting for—The Collector of Burned Books is unforgettable.

Sadly burning books was one of the many things the Nazis did that took some of the freedoms away from the writers to the readers. I don’t like that we are now banning books today.
This book is so moving and brings together two people who had a love for books, but came from a different world. Corinne Bastien loves the library, and it is her sanctuary, but when the German army takes over of this Parisian library it hides so many of her secrets.
Christian Bauer is a German professor but does not agree with the Nazi party and treasures many books that would be a threat to Nazi ideology. Unfortunately he is being tasked to “relocate” several of the libraries in their army.
You can imagine how emotional this book is. Thank you Tyndale Fiction for the advanced e-ARC.

I loved journeying to WWII with this story! Roseanna M White did a wonderful job of writing about some sticky subjects, like the censoring of books that the Nazis did and how it is never a good thing when those in power want to tell us what we can and can't read. I loved the deep talks that the main characters have as they come from two different sides. This is a wonderful book to pick up and enjoy!

Roseanne M White takes the hot topic of free speech and plants it firmly in 1940’s Paris as the Nazis take over. Corinne is a young French woman using books that have been banned to send messages to various contacts in Europe. Christian is a German literature professor who joined the military in hopes to protect loved ones. He has been sent to Paris to catalog the books in the city’s libraries, removing the verboten ones.

This is a beautifully written and hard hitting story about what happens to a society that refuses to listen to other points of view, even if you disagree with them. It is not advocating that certain subject matter should be available to any age, but that every adult should be free to read and believe what they wish without fear of reprisal, a lesson many today would be wise to learn.

This is a powerful book that I enjoyed and would recommend to everyone.

This is Christian fiction so expect prayer and discussions about God and faith.

Family friendly.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndale House. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It was a good read. The heroine was very likeable and I enjoyed the story. It’s a mild WW2 story. Thank you for the ARC.

This was such a great read, and brought to light what was happening in France, and Europe in 1940.
The story comes alive over books, yes, we take a lot for granted, but, at this horrible time in history, people were deciding just what you could read. Easier to control people if you own all their media.
The author does a great job highlighting what was happening to people whom they considered weren't perfect, wrong religion, or were what they didn't like.
This is a sweet romance story, but so much more! There is a delightful child, that yes, should not be alive, and I love some of the solutions to make it so he could enjoy life a bit more.
Danger is everywhere, and whom can you trust? There are a few that are willing to give the ultimate, and some are here in this read.
I did enjoy the epilogue, and in the end wanted to continue on in their lives! This is a must read!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale House and was not required to give a positive review.

The title got me reading, and the characterization, storyline, and well-researched details kept me engaged until the end. Lots of surprises, twists, and turns to keep me guessing - and I love the hope woven through this time - this topic - of despair. Eye-opening, faith-filled story that taught me much, and made me think. Recommended.

German authors’ books were burned in Germany. They fled to Paris, but then the Germans invaded. Christian Bauer was a literature professor in Berlin. He wanted nothing to do with the Nazis, but they sent him to Paris to “purify” France’s libraries. Corinne Bastien is a literature professor at the Sorbonne and lives nextdoor to the Library of Burned Books. With Christian, all she sees is his uniform.
Very lines: “What if the Lord had sent him here to try to mitigate some of the damage being done, to help those he could?” God “promised to be with his people through persecutions—not to prevent them.”
Books have power. That’s why it’s important to read.