Historical Fiction Book Reviews

Review: The Book Binder by C.A. Cordova

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 […]

2024-10-24T18:17:38+02:00September 25th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

A Piece of My Heart by Katherine P. Stillerman

A Piece of My Heart by Katherine P. StillermanThe 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 […]

2024-09-24T10:50:51+02:00September 24th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , |

Review: Pride and Perjury by Alice McVeigh

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 […]

2024-10-24T11:37:14+02:00September 16th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Review: Her Own War by Debra Borchert

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 […]

2024-05-13T11:35:34+02:00April 19th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Review: Whirlwinds, Waves, and Willow by Flo Dombey

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 […]

Review: A Summer of War by Lynn Mason

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 […]

The Blythe Girl by Alex Webster

The Blythe Girl by Alex WebsterObsession 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 […]

Starmen by Francis Hamit

Starmen by Francis HamitA richly imagined tale of cowboys, aliens, and an ethnographic clash of cultures, Starmen by Francis Hamit is a genre-bending adventure with enough historical touchstones to brilliantly blur the line between fact and fiction.

In this slightly alternate universe, legendary anthropologist George James Frazer travels to El Paso, Texas in 1875 as a young man, acting as the ‘advance man’ for an aeronautical angel from Liverpool with a dirigible at her command. His academic fascination with native cultures, myths, and traditions soon leads him into the secretive world of the local Apaches, as well as the investigative purview of the […]

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