Anna Cavanaugh is twenty five, she’s extremely intelligent and teaches high school French. Five months ago her husband Connor was tragically killed, she’s a young widow and not looking forward to spending the summer with her parents at the Cape. A long-time family friend Major General William Donovan is in charge of the Office of Strategic Services, he’s had Anna flagged for a while and she’s asked to attend an interview.

Anna’s honored to be considered as a candidate for such an important job, Donovan has direct contact with the White House and regularly speaks to President Roosevelt. They work long hours and Anna becomes one of the gang, she makes friends with Maggie, Irene and Julia. Anna discovers more about the secret organization, she desperately wants to go overseas, train to be a spy and will Donovan give her a chance?

Paris during WW II, where a healthy man sticks out like a sore thumb, they have been sent to Germany to work, women are being recruited as spies, they fit in undetected with the population and are versatile. Anna lived in France for a year as a student, she’s fluent in French and German and a perfect candidate. Anna’s travels to Hampshire in England to begin her training as a wireless operator, the course is physically and mentally taxing. In France her job will be extremely important, she will receive and send vital intelligence and it’s also very dangerous. When Anna sees her first German soldier in France her hands shake, once she notices how much Paris has changed under German occupation and she’s very determined to everything she can to help defeat the Germans.

The Secret Stealers is a story about Anna’s adventures as a resourceful and assertive secret agent in France during WW II. Anna the young widow, who was once lost, consumed by grief, guilt, regret, sadness and she discovers what she’s capable of. The book had me hooked from the start, full of intrigue, tension, anticipation, danger, and strong female characters and five stars from me.

Anna Cavanaugh lost her husband early in the war as he was in the Pacific as a doctor and had an accident. Being a widow she decides that she wants to support herself and contribute to the war efforts. Working with a family friend she ends up in the OSS as it is in the beginning stages and gets really invested in their mission with the war.

From the US to France, this book was on the move constantly and for being the length that it is, the story kept moving and I couldn't put it down. Anna was always in the thick of things and I loved how the story didn't take a breath. I really enjoyed reading about how the war affects the decisions you make and you really can't make promises to anyone because you can't promise tomorrow.

I won't spoil it, but there were a few cameos from different people and I loved seeing a few famous faces show up in the book, but I appreciated that this book's perspective was from this unknown as she played her part in the war.

This is my first Jane Healey read and after loving her writing in this book, I want to read the other two books in her backlist very soon.

If you enjoyed this book, I would recommend also trying The Invisible Woman by Erika Robuck - another book that takes the reader behind the scenes of a woman in the resistance trying to operate a wireless to get supplies to those who need it behind enemy lines.

“Life and love were complicated, and war made both monumentally harder.”

The Secret Stealers introduces us to Anna, a young war widow, whose language skills and family connections has landed her a new position at the Office of Strategic Services. Anna’s intellect and calm under pressure lands her in an esteemed overseas position.

After landing undercover in Paris, Anna is now aiding the local resistance. She is reunited with her best friend Josette and her cousin Henri. In the presence of ghosts of her past, Anna’s mission becomes even more complicated. Will she be able to successfully complete her work with her feelings in jeopardy?

I have read so much Historical Fiction throughout the years and I loved this different perspective. The efforts of women in WW2 needs to be highlighted more! Anna is a wonderful leading lady- showing strength, passion, bravery but is still intensely human. The writing style made the story so easy to read which is truly impressive given the subject matter.

Definitely check out The Secret Stealers!

If you know my book love history, you are aware of my undying love for The Beantown Girls!

And my friend Jane Healey has done it once again!⁣

The Secret Stealers is another riveting story of some insanely talented women who played significant roles during WW2. Anna – a courageous and plucky newly appointed American spy stationed in Nazi occupied France – may be a fictitious character, but the history behind her adrenaline filled story, and what these brave women endured – is very real.⁣⁣

Rich in historical facts and details, we also get heavy doses of female friendship, second chance romance, edge-of-your-seat suspense and unparalleled danger.

This tale of female badassery checks all the boxes, and runs the gamut of emotions from start to finish.

⁣⁣It’s an inspiring and captivating read that may break your heart a little bit along the way, but as a tribute to these heroic and gutsy women – you’ll find it is ultimately repaired with joy and overwhelming respect.⁣

Based on actual events in France during WWII, this fictionalized version of women spies will capture readers attention from the beginning to the end. Told in first person, Anna shares her story of bravery as a radio operator helping the French resistance. This well researched novel includes many people that helped take down the Hitler regime through spying. The author's note is a bonus. Highly recommended!

I am a WWII person. Always have been. Ever since I read Diary of Anne Frank as a kid, I have been hooked. So when I heard about The Secret Stealers by @healeyjane, I jumped all over the chance to read an advanced copy. It is the story of Anna, a young American widow teaching French in Washington DC when she is recruited into the Office of Strategic Services by a family friend. As part of her assignment, Anna is sent to Paris to act as a spy to uncover intelligence to aid the Allies. First of all, this book is a ode to strong women everywhere. Anna and her cohorts voluntarily put themselves in incredibly dangerous situations and yet they maintained their composure, their wit and their compassion and these women truly helped change the tide of the war. Second, while there are some very sweet romances in the book, I was really drawn to the bond and strength of the female friendships and how the women all supported each other in every possible way. They could not have survived without each other.
It was such an exciting, nail biting story to read and I was so unbelievably invested in Anna and her friends that I could not put this book down. @healeyjane is an incredible writer with such a knack, not only for intense character development but also for such intricate detail woven with historical facts that I really felt like I was living in 1942. And the author’s note at the end blew me away when I learned how much of this story was based on actual people.

If you're reading this, you might be familiar with the "will read literally anything this person writes" feeling and @healey is one of those authors for me. I loved "Saturday Evening Girls Club" so I read "Beantown Girls" shortly after and truly have not shut up about it since. Healey has a way of sucking you in and bringing light to what is really a very dark time in our history and I've been at the edge of my seat waiting for the next drop, so when SHE ASKED ME if I wanted to read "The Secret Stealers" as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy), my brain nearly fell out of my head. Reader, I absolutely wanted to get my hands on this book early! 😭
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I realize that a novel about an American woman spying for the allies in Nazi-occupied France is already kind of MY THING, but I promise The Secret Stealers is fantastic. I refuse to spoil books in reviews so I'm always a bit vague in an abundance of caution, but I have to say that I so deeply appreciate that Healey moves you through these big suspenseful moments that make me shout at my Kindle, but ultimately you get a relatively feel good story and there is not enough of that. I think it really stands out, even in my beloved WWII historical fiction lane. Don't get me wrong, not every story needs a happy ending - especially of this time period when the reality had so few of those, but Healey seems to bring the present to the past in this way that you can really relate those emotions to what's going on in our current timeline and that balance of big suspense without there *always* being a big bad within the bigger bad is just...big great. Real life has enough bad things, fiction doesn't always have to.
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“I’ve come to think bravery is just an instinct. A will to survive. I think you’d be just as brave.”

From my blog: Always With a Book:

This is the second book I've read by Jane Healey and I just loved it. It was completely captivating and even a little heartbreaking at times, but I could not put this book down.

I love how the characters in this book come to life on the pages. Equal parts fact and fiction, Jane Healey shows the important roles women played during WWII partly because they were young and pretty and so they were often underestimated to be useful for anything else. We see just how brave and talented some of these women spies really were and what was not only asked of them but what they volunteered to do, knowing the risks they were taking and the dangers they were putting themselves in.

I recently read a book about another real life female spy, so reading this one really intrigued me and I loved that I could feel that dangers that these women were faced with day in and day out. The tension was so palpable throughout the book and knowing that it was based on the lives of real men and women really made the book that much more interesting. This is why I love reading historical fiction. I always learn something new. For instance, I had no idea that Julia Child was involved in the war effort. Now I'll be going down a rabbit hole researching more about her and what she did during this time. So cool!

I cannot recommend this one enough. It's the perfect combination of suspense, action and even a little romance. It may be long, but it moves quickly and I loved every minute of it. I highly recommend picking this one up when it comes out April 1st!

It’s always interesting to read a historical fiction novel about a subject that I know nothing about. I enjoyed reading about the women of the OSS, a group of intelligent and brave young ladies.

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.

Jane Healey has once again written an extraordinary book the highlights the incredible bravery of female spies set to the backdrop of the World War II.
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Living in Washington DC Anna Cavanaugh is French teacher at an all girls school. When a tragic accident leaves Anna widowed. This twenty two year old teacher, is approached by a well known family friend to join the Office of Strategic Services.
Sent to France where she is able to use her intelligence and her her expertise Anna finds her self front and center with the war effort.
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This fast paced thrilling historical fiction will grab you and give an insightful look at the bold, courageous woman who risk their lives when the become spies. These when were instrumental to the allies as they work behind enemy lines.
I was completely captivated by this suspenseful, exquisitely written storyline that captures these astonishing bold woman, during some of our darkest times in our worlds history. Meticulously researched with an astonishing cast of characters that are easy to root
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The writers voice is fluid and romance was everything I hoped it would be.
An emotionally charged riveting book, for anyone who loves historical fiction.

If you ever want dive into this genre, this one book that you don’t want to miss!

Another excellent book from one of my favorite authors. I adore Jane Healey and she is firmly on auto-buy status for me. I love how she depicts strong, supportive female friendships and you see examples in each of her books of women lifting each other up and helping each other succeed. The minor characters in this book were so researched! Coincidentally, I read Julia Child's memoir last month, and I think this author nailed her character. I could picture Julia saying each thing she said in the book. I also thought the author was so effective at making us emotionally really feel and see what the French suffered in the war and how much they sacrificed for the resistance effort. I am here for whatever this author writes next!

The Secret Stealers by Jane Healey
Available: April 1, 2021

As some of you may have noticed I have been burning through some historical fiction over the last few weeks. In some ways the Secret Stealers felt similar to The Invisible Woman since they are both set in occupied France during WWII, both books feature ordinary women that accomplish extraordinary feats of bravery and honor.

I loved the Secret Stealers for the characters, all women that I was invested in their lives and outcome. Obviously my favorite character is Annie Cavanaugh the young widow and French teacher that was recruited into the Office of Strategic Services by long time family friend Major General William Donovan. Along her journeys and missions Anna befriends other amateur spies like herself. As Anna discovers what she is capable of she also decides that she wants to be stationed abroad in France to steal critical intelligence that could change the entire war. Anna puts her life on the line but she is passionate about the cause and letting go of her past life.

The beauty of this book was obviously great characters that wove their way into my heart and soul but also the way the tension mounts as more and more is on the line. This book was hard to put down, the nail biting suspense and the danger they were faced with was portrayed so beautifully. This was my first book by Jane Healey but it won’t be my last. This is a fantastic book and I hope that you pick it up when it gos on sale in April.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours, Lake Union publishing and Jane Healey for my digital copy of the book to review.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for an Advanced Copy of the Secret Stealers

If you love the WWII Resistance and female spy books then you'll enjoy The Secret Stealers by Jane Healey.

So going to start out with loved the author's note at the end because those are my favorite part of a good historical fiction, it was great to see the real characters and who they were based on. If you've read any WWII Resistance some of the real names are familiar to you but I just found out today that Julia Child (yes, the iconic cook) worked for the OSS during WWII!

We meet Anna, a young widow who has been recruited to work for the OSS in Washington DC during World War II. While she enjoys the work she's doing she dreams of being stationed abroad to do more. She's given the opportunity to be go to France and work with the Resistance movement.

I enjoyed this book and reading about the American women in the OSS and their work during World War II. This was a fast paced book, yet a little long.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
A well written, action packed story, perfect for those looking for a WW2 historical fiction. I liked that it shine a light on a little known aspect of the war effort.
A good read.

What a wonderfully crafted story!
Anna is a young recently widowed, well educated woman wanting to spread her wings and find fulfillment. Even after being recruited into the Office of Strategic Services as a glorified secretary, she knows she wants more. When the opportunity arises for her to become a spy she jumps at the chance. She soon finds herself working with the French Resistance in Nazi occupied France at the height of WWII.
Beautifully Written and filled with all the hopes, dreams, passion and angst of a woman in her position, this novel comes alive. I was right there with her as she works behind enemy lines trying to complete her mission. Emotionally, this one packs a wallop and gave me all the feels. So well researched with some characters based on actual people, this is historical fiction at its finest. I can't recommend this one highly enough to all readers no matter your genre of choice, it's that good!

What is the use of living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who live in it after we are gone?

—-Winston Churchill, former prime minister of the United Kingdom
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Welcome to my 1st #booktour for #fabulousfebruary #netgallet & am I excited?! Yesss!!

The passion, thorough research & zeal of the author @healeyjane comes through to the reader too, clearly, i feel🙂🙂

💜The Secret Stealers is a flawlessly crafted and engrossing story of the unexpected ways in which war changes who we are.
Once again, Healey gifts readers with her trademark characters: everyday women who prove themselves to be extraordinary--women so relatable, so endearing, and so brave that they jump off the page and into our hearts.----

💜A female American spy in Nazi-occupied France finds purpose behind enemy lines in a novel of unparalleled danger, love, and daring.

💜It is based on some of the incredible stories of the women in the OSS, SOE, and French Resistance in World War II.
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About the Author:

💜 @healeyjane is the #Amazoncharts and #WashingtonPost  #bestsellingauthor of The Beantown Girls and The Saturday Evening Girls Club.

When her daughters were young, Jane Healey left a career in high tech to fulfill her dream of writing historical fiction about little-known women in history.
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🙋‍♀️ genre: #historicalfiction
Based on real life characters & events with a dose of fiction.

47 chapters, 444 pages.
Pub.n date: 01.04.2021

💜 #qotd Have you ever felt liberated by helping someone?
Can we free ourself from the shadows of our former life?

Key words: WWII, France, Women Spies.

👏It salutes the spirit of women, their ability at tenacity, courage & being empowered.

Full of escapades, a perfect plot, emotions & well built characters, it is a total rollercoaster.

I applaud the author for bringing forth this experience.
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Another great historical fiction book by @healeyjane! The Beantown Girls was such a beloved book, so I was excited to read her newest!

Plot summary:
Anna Cavanaugh is a restless young widow and brilliant French teacher at a private school in Washington, DC. Everything changes when she’s recruited into the Office of Strategic Services by family friend and legendary WWI hero Major General William Donovan.

Donovan has faith in her—and in all his “glorious amateurs” who are becoming Anna’s fast friends: Maggie, Anna’s down-to-earth mentor; Irene, who’s struggling to find support from her husband for her clandestine life; and Julia, a cheerful OSS liaison. But the more Anna learns about the organization’s secret missions, the more she longs to be stationed abroad. Then comes the opportunity: go undercover as a spy in the French Resistance to help steal critical intelligence that could ultimately turn the tide of the war.

I really loved this story. I love when down on their luck women dig down deep in themselves to find their inner strength they didn’t know they had. Anna has to rely on her own intuition for survival.

The author’s note stated that some of these characters were based on real people. It’s incredible to think of the conditions and mind frame some real people find themselves. The book is very clearly researched and I appreciate the author’s dedication to getting the story just right!

Thank you to @lakeunion, @healeyjane and @suzyapprovedbook reviews for my ARC copy. The Secret Stealers is available on April 1!

This book had me at hello! I couldn’t wait to curl up in the evening and read this book.

This story is about American spies working in worn torn France with French Resistance Fighters during WWII. The main character Anna is a war widow who is looking for her purpose in the war and she finds it as a spy. She works with other women as they “blend in” and spy, sabotage, deliver messages, and do whatever it takes to stay alive and do the job. With women emerging into wartime jobs there were people who believed they could do amazing things and there were those who vastly underestimated them. Women would used the latter to their advantage.
“Due to his huge ego and low opinion of women, I’m sure it had never occurred to him that I would ever have the courage and training to face him as a formidable foe. That was his fatal mistake.” -Secret Stealers
These women were courageous and foes to be feared!! The author based her characters off real women in WWII and her author notes are not to be missed. This is a must read!!

The Secret Stealers
By Jane Healey

✨Book Tour and Review✨

Anna Cavanaugh is recently widowed and not sure what to do with her life when a family friend opens the door to an opportunity she can’t resist. She knew she was made for more in this world. Anna is smart, speaks French and German, and a passionate woman wanting to make a difference in the world. This makes her the perfect recruit for the OSS under General William Donovan. As Anna continues to prove her worth, she finally gets her chance to do even more...to be one of the very few women spies to go undercover in the French resistance to steal world changing intelligence.
✨ I loved Anna’s character-smart, strong, determined. The women surrounding her were fascinating and played a critical role in this time of history. Through love, loss, and sacrifice they carried on and proved what women everywhere are capable of.

Thank you for my copy for my honest opinion in return

I loved Jane Healey's previous novel, Beantown Girls. I loved absolutely everything about it - Jane’s writing style, her portrayal of strong women and female friendships. So when I was offered the privilege of an early copy of The Secret Stealers, I jumped at the chance. Jane’s new heroine, Anna Cavanaugh, is an equally wonderful character, and Jane’s clearly painstaking research makes The Secret Stealers a must read.