Historical Fiction Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Remembering by Charles Paul Collins

A richly imagined family legacy set against the backdrop of a perpetually changing world, The Remembering: Of Leather and Stone by Charles Paul Collins blends fact and fiction into a compelling American saga.

Remarkable in scope, emotion, and timeliness, this fact-based novel depicts the shifting tides of American society as it moved through the horrors of the Civil War, the violent battles for labor rights across the country, disruptive technological revolutions, and the growing pains of a nation still wrestling with its racial and cultural identities, all through the lens of the author’s own family. Told through fabricated journal entries […]

Review: The Book Binder by C.A. Cordova

A captivating piece of ancient historical fiction, The Book Binder by C.A. Cordova is an unpredictable plunge into deception, decadence, and the dangerous power of knowledge.

In a world where women are forbidden from higher education or the wealth of literature, young Aria is a rebellious exception – a polyglot and a sponge for knowledge, thanks to her father, the bookbinder. When she saves the son of the pharaoh’s life with her hidden talents, she is quickly adopted into his cadre as an aegis – a highly respected mistress, as well as a secret spy. However, hunting down the heart […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-24T18:17:38+02:00September 25th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

A Piece of My Heart by Katherine P. Stillerman

The fifth book in the precisely crafted and well-researched Barton Family Series, A Piece of My Heart by Katherine P. Stillerman is a heartfelt tribute to the resilience of women during World War II.

When Will breaks off his promise to marry her, Hattie is absolutely shattered. However, little does she knows that after several decades – during which Will moved to Shanghai with another woman as his wife, and Hattie built a family with a man she grew to love – their paths will cross again. Middle-aged, mature, and both recently widowed, Hattie and Will’s love resurfaces stronger […]

Marina Dora Martino2024-09-24T10:50:51+02:00September 24th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, World War II Book Reviews|

Review: Pride and Perjury by Alice McVeigh

Exploring and expanding the already rich world of Jane Austen and her unforgettable cast of characters, Pride and Perjury: Twelve Short Stories inspired by Pride and Prejudice by Alice McVeigh is a freshly imagined collection of blushing stories from the lives of the Bingleys, Darcys, Bennets and more. From sisterly scheming and lovestruck lads come courting to golden-tongued gossip and eminently polite betrayals, these narrative offerings are classic examples of Regency romance.

“One Good Sonnet” is a particularly charming tale, detailing the obsessive devotion of one Paul Perkins Esq. – a suitor for Miss Jane Bennet. Brimming with sharp banter […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-24T11:37:14+02:00September 16th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Her Own War by Debra Borchert

The divisive tragedy of war pulls a fearless fighter from the vineyard to the front lines in Her Own War by Debra Borchert, a gripping and lyrical work of historical fiction.

A French pastoral romance and a wartime thriller, this novel begins with slow world-building and character development, giving readers a probing look into Genevieve’s community and the indomitable strength of her spirit. As the Republicans of Napoleonic France concentrate their power and turn their eyes to wider conquest, Genevieve’s tight-knit wine-growing community in the Loire Valley grows frustrated with endless wars and the burden of unfair taxation.

When a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-13T11:35:34+02:00April 19th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Whirlwinds, Waves, and Willow by Flo Dombey

Unexpected romance, deadly betrayals, and the perils of complex families swirl madly together in Whirlwinds, Waves, and Willow by Flo Dombey, the second emotional installment of The Willow Chronicle.

Willow’s life has been turned upside-down by the reappearance of a biological father she thought long dead, making every decision feel unsteady for the headstrong 17-year-old, despite having some of the best sea legs in Port Townsend, WA. The mysterious suicide of her wealthy stepfather adds another devastating blow, further distancing Billie from her mother, whom she blames for the lifetime of secrets that led to this tragic collision of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-29T20:19:17+02:00March 13th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: A Summer of War by Lynn Mason

A breathless tale of violence and love, A Summer of War by Lynn Mason is a gripping plunge into the jungles of Vietnam, told through an evocative and refreshing lens.

When a misogynistic military bureaucrat tells reporter Chris McKenna that the Mekong Delta is no place for a woman, she smells a story, so she bounds her way into the fiery battlefield of South Vietnam. In “a war gone awry,” being a female member of the press at a forward operating base is a hard row to hoe, but she has the essential support of Paul, her photo-snapping sidekick who […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-03-22T12:15:40+02:00January 31st, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, War Book Reviews|

The Blythe Girl by Alex Webster

Obsession and desperation lead to scandalous deeds and sinister consequences in The Blythe Girl by Alex Webster, a fantastically dark period drama.

William is a Regency gentleman torn in two – determined to fulfill the duties of husband and father, but also driven to the edge of madness by an infatuation cut tragically short. When William’s long-suffering groundskeeper offers him the chance to bring the headstrong Miss Blythe back to life, he makes that fateful choice, unaware of the ulterior motives behind the supernatural proposition. Miraculous as her revival initially seems, the veil of death is not crossed lightly, and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-01-24T17:53:30+02:00January 24th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fantasy Book Reviews, Historical Fiction Book Reviews|