The Lipstick Bureau

De: Michelle Gable

Narrado por: Eleanor Caudill

For fans of All the Light We Cannot See and The Tattooist of Auschwitz!

Inspired by a real-life female spy, a novel about a woman challenging convention and boundaries to help win a war, no matter the cost.

“A gripping, fascinating read.” —Kelly Rimmer, New York Times bestselling author of The Warsaw Orphan

1944, Rome. Newlywed Niki Novotná is recruited by a new American spy agency to establish a secret branch in Italy's capital. One of the OSS's few female operatives abroad and multilingual, she's tasked with crafting fake stories and distributing propaganda to lower the morale of enemy soldiers.

Despite limited resources, Niki and a scrappy team of artists, forgers and others—now nicknamed The Lipstick Bureau—find success, forming a bond amid the cobblestoned streets and storied villas of the newly liberated city. But her work is also a way to escape devastating truths about the family she left behind in Czechoslovakia and a future with her controlling American husband.

As the war drags on and the pressure intensifies, Niki begins to question the rules she's been instructed to follow, and a colleague unexpectedly captures her heart. But one step out of line, one mistake, could mean life or death…

Don't miss Michelle Gable’s stylish new novel, The Beautiful People, set among Palm Beach's dazzling inner circle in the sunny 1960s.

More from Michelle Gable:

• The Bookseller's Secret
• The Beautiful People

Amazing piece of history!

A great listen! The narrator was perfect! The story, while not 100% true, was exceptional and well worth the listen!

Great Story

Loved it could not put the book down Very educational. Loved the author’s work. Bye

Fairly good

It was a decent story. I’m not sure that I would read it again. But I like books in this genre, so I liked it.

The main character

It’s an interesting story, but it was hard for me to follow which characters were which..

New History Lesson

I love a story that is based on actual people and events. Very well written and a good performance.

Women in hx

Narrator has a nice voice even when mimicking the male characters. Good story pulling from historical events. Would recommend.

Binge worthy

So interesting the way this novel was based on a true story. I enjoyed learning about the OSS involvement and the propaganda arm.

Overall… Pretty good, not great

Although this is a compelling story, the writing is not overly sophisticated. I wish I had realized this was published by Harlequin, as that explains a lot. Characterizations are a little on the simplistic side, and the heroine is not particularly admirable. Furthering the mediocrity, the narrator repeats mispronounces several common words including commandant an armistice. It’s too bad really, as overall she’s pretty good. Probably won’t look for more by this author.

Slow

I found this book to be slow and rambling. Read 1/3 of the book and it still hadn’t picked up.

Beautiful, complex story.

The Lipstick Bureau provides short chapters and easy to follow plot that will engage romance readers without sacrificing its ability to teach even hardened history buffs a new thing or two about WW2 and Women’s History.