Welcome to the Launch Day Celebration
for The Spy Keeper of Marseille!
Squeeee! It’s release day for this beautiful book, my second World War 2 historical romance!
This story is super special…because it’s based on a true story. I took some liberties, of course, fictionalizing the love story and compressing some things for the sake of a coherent novel–and mashing a bunch of historical figures into just a few characters. You’re welcome. 😉
But this is the story of an unsung heroine who changed the tide of the war. The female head of France’s largest intelligence network, Alliance. I mean, did you even know that a WOMAN was in charge of France’s biggest intelligence group? I didn’t, until I began the research for The Collector of Burned Books, and as soon as I learned about the historic Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, I knew I wanted to tell a version of her story.
My heroine is Zelie Bellarose, a widow, mother of two small children, and not convinced that she’s the “man for the job” when the founder of Alliance hands her the reins and then is arrested. But she steps up, because she wants her kids to grow up in a free France. She uses the gifts God has given her–a sharp mind, a commanding personality, and a beautiful face–to do the job. And when people continually underestimate her? Well, she uses that too.
Then there’s my heart-throb hero, Marcel Laurent. A concert pianist, a POW who returns to Paris in a prisoner exchange…and soon realized his release was arranged so that he could join Alliance as their laision to the arts sector. Because you see, Alliance wasn’t filled with trained spies. They were filled with ordinary people going about their daily lives…but with eyes and ears open. Ordinary people who passed along everything they saw or heard that had to do with the German military. And those in the arts were brushing elbows with them constantly. Marcel is also tagged to conduct a Youth Orchestra, which will allow him to travel freely all over the country…and use their weekly radio transmissions to send coded messages to the Allies.
Music has always spoken to Zelie’s soul…but she’s determined that Marcel won’t. Even if he seems to see in her what no one else does.
Marcel knows that loving Zelie is like chasing a shooting star–he could never catch her, and if he did, he’d be burned. But he can’t stop chasing, can’t stop hoping, can’t stop loving her for the flash of light she is in the darkness.
The music of The Spy Keeper of Marseille
With a professional musicial as a hero, OF COURSE we have lots of music mentioned in the book. In fact, music becomes a bit of a love letter from Marcel to Zelie, part of the language they speak with each other. And you can listen along! The Spy Keeper of Marseille’s playlist is available on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music. Click the links below to go straight to the platform of your choice.
Exciting and romantic! With a strong baseline of little-known history, a sweet melody for Marcel and Zelie’s building love, the rich harmony of Zelie’s personal growth, and jarring notes of danger and betrayal, The Sky Keeper of Marseille thrills. Roseanna M. White has written another stellar World War II novel.
Rich with tension and tenderness, The Spy Keeper of Marseille captures the quiet ferocity of a woman and mother who lives out the dangerous beauty of doing what’s right–even when it could cost her everythin. Roseanna M. White delivers a story as brave as its heroine, proving that love and courage can change the course of history.
The Spy Keeper of Marseille
In occupied France, a woman becomes a spy for the Resistance and rises to lead the largest intelligence operation in the country in this propulsive new World War II historical novel by bestselling author Roseanna M. White.
Marseille, France, 1941. Zelie Bellerose never fit the mold of an army officer’s wife. She was too passionate in her convictions, too indifferent to societal expectations. After her husband is killed in the war, Zelie focuses on securing a brighter future for her children, hoping to help free her country from the Nazi regime by joining the Resistance. She is soon one of the most trusted operatives in Alliance, and when their leader is imprisoned, she takes command, hiding her identity from all but a few. With enemies closing in, Zelie must earn the trust of her network and prove herself to those who doubt a woman’s place at the helm of France’s largest spy ring.
Marcel Laurent was a renowned concert pianist before joining the French army and being sent to a POW camp. Freed in a prisoner exchange by a wealthy businessman with ties to the Resistance, Marcel agrees to spy for Alliance by conducting a youth orchestra, gathering intelligence from patrons who are loose-lipped Nazi sympathizers. Marcel’s weekly radio broadcasts introducing the orchestra’s performances give him the perfect cover to send coded messages over the airwaves.
As Zelie and Marcel grow closer through their shared love of music, she begins to rely on him. But betrayal from within Alliance puts everything they’ve fought for at risk. When a double agent infiltrates their ranks and the two are captured, their bond faces its greatest test . . . and any misstep could jeopardize not only Alliance but the very outcome of the war.
Giveaway
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. Having successfully launched two homeschool grads, she now spends her time writing fiction, 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, as well as a fantasy series and contemporary mysteries and romances. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.
I’m so excited to read this one! I enjoyed the little glimpses page by page leading up to the release 🙂
Can’t wait to read this one !
Sounds like an interesting story! I love the real-life background.
Sounds like a good one, also really like the cover design.
Can’t wait to read this!
This book looks really good!
Congratulations on your newest book, the cover’s beautiful & the book blurb really makes me want to read it.
Such an EXCELLENT story, I loved every minute of it!
You write such great books. Can’t wait for this one!
I hope Release Day was great! Another wonderful book to go on my TBR list.
This is so exciting! I love a good “based on true events” story!
So excited to read it!
I’m so excited for your new book, The Spy Keeper of Marseille! It sounds so intriguing! Thank you for this opportunity to win a copy of it!!!
Thank you so much for this opportunity!
My daughter and I are big fans of your books. I’m sure we’ll enjoy The Spy Keeper of Marseille.
Happy release day! So happy for you and happy for all of us readers who are blessed to enjoy another one of your wonderful books!
Looking forward to reading it!
Great job on the release, Roseanna!! It sounds super good! I always like it when historical fiction focuses on less well known characters or settings.
The new book sounds so good!
Congratulations, Roseanna! Can’t wait to read this one!
I grew up hearing WW 2 stories around the dinner table. It’s amazing what that generation went through. Looking forward to reading this novel Roseanna!
Excited to read! Thanks for the chance to win!
I am very excited to read this story! I’m sure I will absolutely love it, as I love all of the stories you write.
I have enjoyed the preview pages. Excited to read the whole thing!
This looks to be an intriguing book set during World War 2, one of my favorite historical eras. Thank you for hosting a giveaway too
So excited to finally get to read this! Have been anticipating it.
I would love to read this book! It sounds very exciting!
This book sounds absolutely wonderful! Thank you so much for the giveaway opportunity! 🙂
That sounds amazing!!! Now I need to go back and read all the sample pages I have gotten in my email that I have not yet had a chance to read! 😊
This book sounds wonderful. Thank you for the giveaway!
Happy release day! So happy for you and happy for all of us readers who are blessed to enjoy another one of your wonderful books!
I have enjoyed all of your books. I like the idea of the playlist for this one; I’m enjoying it right now! My copy of the book is on its way to me – YAY! It will be so fun to read it after reading about it for many months.
Congratulations on your new book! Can’t wait to read it!!
So excited!
I can’t wait to read this book!
I’m intrigued because your newsletter preview was so good! I feel sorry for those who don’t get your newsletter because the sneak peeks are always well worth it. Happy Release Day!
Happy Book Birthday! Celebrate BIG because I just know this is a FIVE STAR book. Can’t wait for the opportunity to read and review it.
Congratulations on this release!🥳
I am so excited for this! It’s hard when you’ve read every one of your favorite author’s books and you have to wait for a new one. It’s like Christmas today (p.s. I was going to wait and ask for this for Christmas…but I can’t wait that long…I’m getting my kindle edition NOW. )
I am intrigued by this one! I recently finished Awakened, which I greatly enjoyed, and can’t wait to read your new release