About the Book

Book: The Songbird and the Spy

Author: J’Nell Ciesielski

Genre: Clean historical romance

Release Date: Feb 19, 2019

As shells explode over Nazi-occupied France, American music student Claire Baudin is trapped behind enemy lines, struggling to protect her identity. Singing as a barmaid while she plans her escape, a handsome Third Reich captain threatens everything she knows to be true about the enemy.

Nazi Captain Michael Reiner isn’t who he claims to be. A British language expert turned spy, he discovers the truth about Claire, but he knows the importance of a secret. Struggling to resist his attraction to the songbird, he’s determined to complete his assignment, no matter the cost. His cover is threatened when a ruthless female Gestapo officer arrives hunting Resistance fighters. The raid forces Michael’s hand: complete the mission or save Claire.

As the war threatens to tear them apart, they must rely on each other for survival. Is there hope—and a future—for an American songbird and a British spy?

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My Review

With great skill, thorough research, and thoughtful insight, J’nell Ciesielski incorporates elements of history, suspense, danger, faith, and romance into a truly satisfying novel that is entertaining and intriguing. Primarily set in France during WWII, The Songbird and the Spy is a remarkable story of love, courage, and survival. With memorable characters, enduring themes, and an unforgettable plot, this historical fiction novel is as moving as it is compelling.

Against a backdrop of struggle and uncertainty, the fascinating characters abound with authenticity and credibility. Their hopes, their insecurities, their fears, and their needs are believable, heart-wrenching, and inspiring. The opportunities, the choices, and the trials that the characters endure are intricately developed, and from them there unfurls a story that is entirely unique and riveting. The themes of loss, redemption, love, and perseverance imbue this novel with hope, relevance, and meaning.

With its captivating characters, war-time setting, timeless themes, and gripping plot, The Songbird and the Spy is a very tender, emotional-stirring, and thought-provoking novel. It is certainly a book I can recommend to all readers who enjoy inspirational, historical fiction.

*I was given a copy of this novel from Celebrate Lit. A review was not required. The review I have written contains opinions that are entirely my own.

About the Author: J'nell Ciesielski

Believing she was born in the wrong era, J’nell Ciesielski spends her days creating heart-stopping heroes, brave heroines, and adventurous exploits in times gone by. Winner of the Romance Through the Ages contest and Maggie Award, J’nell can often be found dreaming of a second home in Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Born a Florida girl, she now calls Virginia home, along with her very understanding husband, young daughter, and one lazy beagle. Find out more at www.jnellciesielski.com.

More from J'nell

The most popular question an author is asked is where did the inspiration come from. Most of the time, if not always, my inspiration comes from a trifecta of resources: movies, music, or books. A single song lyric, or secondary character, or novel setting can trigger a whole world of possibilities that has to be explored. In the case of Songbird and the Spy, it was a movie. A Quentin Tarantino movie to be exact set during WWII where one of the characters is a British officer posing as a Nazi meets up with other spies in a French bar. Another character was a Jewish woman posing as a theater owning Frenchwoman. My brain immediately tingled with ideas. What if identities were all in question? What if you fell in love with the wrong person? Not just the wrong person, but the enemy? The drama and tension in such a situation would be unbelievable!

And that is how Songbird was born.

Here are a few bits of trivia for you:

Songbird was originally titled Iron Shepherd for Michael’s call sign.

There have been three or four different endings written.

Michael Reiner was based off of Michael (see what I did there?!) Fassbender’s character in Inglorious Basterds. The actor was born in Germany to German and Irish parents, and later grew up in Ireland J Art imitating life.

Music always makes its way into my stories and here it takes center stage.

I’ve always wanted to write a USO story so the ending was my perfect chance to squeeze it in.

Ilsa von Ziegler was based off of Elsa Schneider from Indiana Jones.

There was a scene showing Michael at SOE training in Scotland, but it was later cut.

Nazi headquarters in Paris really was located on Foch Ave. The building is still there.

The molten lead that Michael’s new assistant talks about is a German New Year’s tradition to divine fortune in the coming year. A small bit of lead or tin is melted, and then dropped in water. The form created by the metal predicts the future.

Chanteuse is a female singer. Edith Piaf, the most famous French singer of all, was known as The Little Sparrow. Songbird and chanteuse are both used to reference Claire and pay homage to Piaf.