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Monday, September 11, 2023

Guest Post, Review, and Giveaway: The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel

 


About the Book

 


Book: The Starlet Spy

Authors: Rachel Scott McDaniel

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Release Date: August, 2023

Hollywood Star Turns Spy

In 1943, movie producer Henrik Zoltan approaches Amelie Blake under the guise of offering the Hollywood star a leading part in his upcoming film, but he has a more meaningful role in mind. Amelie’s homeland of Sweden declared neutrality in the war, but Stockholm has become the “Casablanca of the North.” When top-secret atomic research goes missing in Sweden, the Allied forces scramble to recover the files before they fall into Nazi hands.

The United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS) needs someone who’s subtle enough to spy on the Swedish elite without triggering suspicion. Who better than the “all beauty, no brains” Scandinavian starlet? Fluent in three languages and possessing a brilliant memory, Amelie loathes being labeled witless but uses the misconception as her disguise. She’s tasked with searching for the crucial files, but Fynn Ristaffason keeps getting in her way. Is the charming shipping magnate after the missing research? Or does he have other reasons for showing up at her every turn?

With the Gestapo on her heels, Amelie must rely on her smarts in addition to her acting skills to survive a world of deadly spies and counterspies.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

My Review:


This author does an incredible job of bringing history to life, and The Starlet Spy was no exception! I am a huge fan of everything Rachel Scott McDaniel writes. She is an auto-buy author for me, and I always eagerly anticipate each new release! 

The Starlet Spy is a brilliantly crafted WWII Christian romance, and I absolutely loved it! 

I loved Amelie! Her sweet heart, and abiding love for Jesus were amazing. And I loved how she used other people’s assumptions about her to mask her intelligence (and her gift!) and therefore she made a fantastic spy! 

I also loved Finn. He was an amazing hero! 

I don’t think I’ve ever before read a book that was set in Sweden. I loved getting to explore this unique setting that the author crafted so wonderfully! I also loved getting to learn about Swedish culture and history, and there were several things about Sweden’s role in WWII that I would never have known if not for reading this book! 

I also have to say that in general I am not the biggest fan of WWII novels, but I loved the way this one still contained the threat of the war while being set apart from the major action of the war. We still knew what was happening, and everything Amelie did was on behalf of the Allies, but I really appreciated that this book captures the essence of WWII fiction without the reader having to experience battle scenes or bombings! 

This book was an absolute delight to read and I loved every minute of it! I most highly recommend The Starlet Spy, and I cannot wait to read Rachel Scott McDaniel’s next book! 

5 Stars!



I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

My review was not influenced in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own


About the Author



Rachel Scott McDaniel is an award-winning author of historical romance. Winner of the ACFW Genesis Award and the RWA Touched By Love award, Rachel infuses faith and heart into each story. Rachel can be found online at www.RachelScottMcDaniel.com and on all social media platforms. Her work is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency. Rachel resides in Ohio with her husband and two children.

 

More from Rachel

Setting The Starlet Spy in Sweden



Hej! If you’ve ever been to Ikea, then you know that’s the Swedish greeting for Hello! Prior to writing The Starlet Spy, my knowledge of the Swedish culture was limited. It seemed I wasn’t alone. Early last year, I held a poll on my social media asking if anyone had ever read a book set in Sweden. A sweeping majority said no.



Since all of my previous books are set in the United States, this is my first novel with an international setting. So I immersed myself into research. I read books about the country, watched videos, followed Swedish Instagrammers to learn more about the language. And let me tell you, I totally fell in love with this Scandinavian world. It is now on my bucket list to visit because it’s just that gorgeous. I wrote The Starlet Spy with a romantic adventure vibe. I wanted to take the reader on a tour of this amazing country, from the classically beautiful Stockholm, to the quaint fishermen city of Malmo, to the ancient streets of Sigtuna—one of Sweden’s oldest villages—to the brilliant Northern Lights in the Lapland region.



Not only did I want to paint the scene of these various places, but I also wanted to introduce the Swedish culture. Tucked within the pages of The Starlet Spy, the reader will find traces of Scandinavian folklore and legends, which was super fun to explore. But to be honest, my favorite inclusion of Swedish culture was incorporating a traditional dance—the Hambo! It’s such an interesting and unique dance, and I may have been trying to coax my husband into trying it with me for an Instagram Reel, but so far, no such luck! Though I have no problem getting him to enjoy Fika with me. Fika, my friends, is a coffee break, or simply coffee. Just as the British favor their tea, the Swedes are adamant about their fika. So I can most definitely relate.

If all this intrigues you, I welcome you to read The Starlet Spy. It’s set in 1943, which was a pivotal time for Sweden during World War II. If you’ve read my previous stories, you know how much I love to weave as much true history into the chapters. This book has by far the most!


Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 29

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 29

lakesidelivingsite, August 29

Lily’s Book Reviews, August 30

Where Faith and Books Meet, August 30

Melissa’s Bookshelf, August 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 31

Back Porch Reads, September 1

annette_reads_daily, September 1

Texas Book-aholic, September 2

Cathe Swanson, September 2

Book Looks by Lisa, September 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 3

Christina’s Corner, September 3

Connie’s History Classroom, September 4

Kristina Hall, September 4

The Book Club Network, September 5

Pause for Tales, September 5

Happily Managing A Household of Boys, September 5

Cover Lover Book Review, September 6

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 6

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, September 7 (Author Interview)

The Book Nook, September 7

Betti Mace, September 8

Labor Not in Vain, September 8

Just Your Average reviews, September 8

Simple Harvest Reads, September 9 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, September 9

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, September 9

Blogging With Carol, September 10

For Him and My Family, September 10

Holly’s Book Corner, September 11

Lights in a Dark World, September 11

Books I’ve Read, September 11


Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon eGift card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/278bf/the-starlet-spy-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Review: Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other: A Love Story by Bethany Turner

 


🏔🎤🌲RELEASE DAY!🌲🎤🏔


Happy Book Birthday to my dear friend, Bethany 


I absolutely adored this enemies-to-lovers romcom! Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other: A Love Story is AVAILABLE NOW! Treat yourself to a copy! You do not wanna miss this one! 

Click HERE to purchase your copy!

Check out my full review below! 


My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Oh my stars, I adored this book so much! This was my most anticipated read of 2023, and it most definitely did not disappoint! 

I’ve read all of Bethany Turner’s romcoms, and I am huge fan of her writing. I LOVE the way this talented author writes stories that go deep and touch my heart, while simultaneously making me laugh! 

Brynn Cornell is a broken character in desperate need of healing, my heart broke for all she had gone through, and as I watched her grow and change I came to love her! Sebastian Sudworth is an amazing hero and I fell head over heels in love with him the first time he appeared on the page! 

And I would be remiss if I did not mention Murrow, this super sweet dog completely stole my heart! 

To be honest enemies-to-lovers is not one of my favorite tropes, but I absolutely loved this one! In my opinion the way the romance developed was utter perfection! BTW, this book contains one of my all time favorite kissing scenes! And without giving spoilers let me just say that there were two other scenes, one involving a tree, and the other featuring PTA night at the local bar and grill that will forever be favorites of mine, but you’re just gonna have to read the book to find out why! 

I had been eagerly anticipating getting to visit Adelaide Springs, and I quickly fell in love with this adorable fictional Colorado small town, and it’s quirky and all around amazing cast of secondary characters! 

Bethany Turner is hilarious and I lost count of how many times this amazing book had me laughing out loud! 

Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other: A Love Story is a delightful feel-good romcom that brilliantly balances humor with some tough topics. This is a deeply thought-provoking book about second chances, forgiveness, and what love truly looks like. This book will deepen your understanding of the incredible power of our words, which is a power to be wielded with great care. And it just might cause you to ask yourself, “Am I being authentic with others?” and “Am I using my words to tear others down or build them up?” 

I loved absolutely everything about this book, it is one of my top 5 favorite reads of 2023, and I most highly recommend it!


I received a complimentary Advanced Reading Copy of this book from the author

My review was not influenced in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.




Review: You Make it Feel Like Christmas by Toni Shiloh!

 


📚🎄RELEASE DAY!🎄📚


You Make it Feel Like Christmas by Toni is AVAILABLE NOW! 

Be sure to grab yourself a copy. You don’t wanna miss this sweet Christmas read!

Click HERE to purchase your copy! 


I loved this delightful story! Check out my full review below! 


My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


This is a fantabulous Christmas story that will give you all the feels! This was a reread for me, as I originally read this one when it was published under the title I’ll Be Home and I really enjoyed that first read, but I loved this brand new expanded edition even more! 

I loved Starr, and I definitely found myself relating to her, especially her love of writing! And Waylon is just a doll, I love him so much! 

I just adore the Lewis family, they are some of my favorites of Toni Shiloh’s characters, they’re just so much fun and they never fail to crack me up! 

You Make it Feel Like Christmas is a beautiful romance filled with the authentic faith readers expect from a Toni Shiloh book! This story will give readers all the cozy vibes and leave them longing for a cuddly blanket, a mug of hot chocolate, and a beautiful Christmas tree to gaze upon! 

I absolutely loved this story and most highly recommend it! 


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

My review was not influenced in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own