The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White: Book Review

 **ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

In this gripping World War II historical about the power of words, two people form an unlikely friendship amid the Nazi occupation in Paris and fight to preserve the truth that enemies of freedom long to destroy.

Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.

For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home.

Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over, and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.

The Author

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

Book Review

I've enjoyed many of Roseanna M. White's books in the past and as a book lover, always appreciate books about books, so when I saw that her latest not only fit that, but also was set during WWII, which happens to be my favorite time in history to read about? Well, I was most certainly intrigued. While this story may have taken place many years ago in a time that feels so far removed from where we are--- there is a lot to be learned within this story and the events it is based on. There is such power in words and having access to books and education--- even those that have ideas that we don't always agree with, and I thought this story expressed that beautifully in a way that is still very relevant today. There were so many fantastic quotes throughout that I absolutely adored. The romance between Christian and Corinne was fantastic too. This one is an absolute must read for fans of Christian historical romance, and really anyone who believes in the power of books. 

You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4lIjUhc