The Christmas Courier: A WWII Historical Novella

By: White, Roseanna M.

In World War II France, the future Madeleine Perrin and Daniel Raymond hope for is in grave peril when the Nazis imprison Daniel, a courier for the Resistance network. But a centuries-old law soon paves the way for a Christmas Eve wedding that becomes both a celebration and a daring rescue in this historical romance.

1943. Lyon, France. After bidding her students farewell for the holidays, Madeleine Perrin is looking forward to a quiet, simple Christmas at home with her mother. With the war raging on and rations tight, she knows it will be up to her to make the day festive and find special ways to remember the papa she lost and honor his love for Christmas. But first, Madeleine must smuggle secret messages hidden in her students' essays to the Resistance network. She never expects the person waiting to receive them is her childhood best friend, the man who broke her heart.

Daniel Raymond has thrown himself into his work as courier for the Resistance, carefully concealing his Jewish ancestry that, if discovered by the Nazis, could put his life at risk. Haunted by regret about the day Madeleine professed her love and he turned her away, Daniel longs to make things right. When he sees her again, he dares to hope for reconciliation―and realizes the love he once denied has only grown deeper.

As Christmas nears and Daniel recovers from a wound sustained in a courier run, forgiveness and romance soon blossom between Daniel and Madeleine and the two begin planning a future together. But when a mission goes wrong and Daniel is captured by the Gestapo, Madeleine must turn to her Resistance allies―and a centuries-old law―to attempt a dangerous rescue before it's too late.

A standalone WWII historical Christmas novella inspired by true eventsA low-spice second-chance holiday romance with a friends-to-lovers tropeCompelling Christian fiction about brave spies and daring escapes for fans of Sarah Sundin, Kristen Harmel, Lynn Austin, and Sara Ackerman

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0H22WYC6Q
• ISBN13: 9798400527838
• Release Date: October 2026
• Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
• Length: 192 Pages

Customer Reviews

Christmas in 1943 Lyon, France

"Perhaps evil can only exist when there isn't good there to combat it." Roseanna M White is one of my go-to historical fiction authors. I loved learning about the French Resistance work in Lyon, France. Even though the backdrop of occupied France in 1943 was dismal and heart-breaking, there was still a ray of hope that everyone clung to. Witnessing Christmas in France with their lovely traditions even in the midst of loss, grief, and lack of essentials was extra special. I loved Daniel and his steadfast commitment to Resistance work. Madeleine's courage, spunk and creativity were perfectly balanced by her tender heart, faithful love for Daniel, and compassion. Her brother Augustin and sister Agnes were truly delightful secondary characters. It was amazing to read from the author's note at the end of the book that this story was inspired by real events and people. If you love historical Christmas novellas, you don't want to miss this one. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.