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!
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 r
elate.
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.
My Review:
Loved this book!
I know WWII is a top setting right now and I understand why--the villains are so clear-cut and the heroes brave and courageous. I am not immune to the appeal, but I do have to admit that some of the repetition can be defeating.
This book is refreshing in that the locale is Sweden and the story taught me much I didn't know. The truth is interwoven with fiction--Greta Garbo may have been a spy just like the heroine--there was a lost briefcase with information about atomic bombs and more. The hero was not your typical Brit or Yank so I googled what a handsome Swede might look like.
The characters also shone because of their unusual natures and their intelligence intrigued me as much as the story.
So much to enjoy!
I received a complementary copy from Celebrate Lit tours; my opinions are my own.
Readers, question--what time setting is your favorite (of course, you can pick more than one)?
Thank you for reading and reviewing The Starlet Spy! ~Rachel McDaniel
I feel like I may have stones thrown at me but I like more modern reads. However, I love Rachel! Been following her for a bit now and she is so wise and thoughtful. I will have to read this one!
Thank you for sharing this
Christina, I agree with you that WWII is a hot topic for novelists and that repetition can drag a reader down. Yet, I keep reading them and The Starlet Spy is on my TBR list now. Thanks for the review and recommendation. I may need to investigate your writing now, too.
Such an interesting premise! I look forward to reading this book and will be requesting that my library carry it.