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Historical Fiction

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121

Pushing boundaries and finding love

Posted by Katie H on May 2, 2022 - 4:50pm
A review of The Siren of Sussex by
Mimi
Matthews

Evelyn Maltravers had hoped she wouldn’t have to brave the ruthless London season and catch a wealthy husband, but that’s exactly where she finds herself in the spring of 1862. Her prospects aren’t ideal: with no dowry to speak of, the reputation of an elder flighty sister to overcome and a depressed London society in mourning for the recent death of the Prince Consort, Evelyn has her work cut out for her.

Malibu Rising

Cover of Malibu Rising
Taylor Jenkins
Reid

Set against the backdrop of the Malibu surf culture of the 1980s, this novel follows four famous siblings as they throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer; over the course of twenty-four hours, the family drama that ensues will change their lives forever.

A deeper understanding

Posted by Jane J on Mar 29, 2022 - 11:00am
A review of Unequal Affections by
Lara
Ormiston

It is a truth universally acknowledged that any retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice has a difficult hurdle to overcome if it is to distinguish itself from all the other retellings, homages, inspireds by, etc. And if I tell you dear reader that Ormiston succeeded in that feat? I would only be relaying the truth.

Wrestling with the past

Posted by on Mar 1, 2022 - 3:59pm
A review of Think of Me by
Frances
Liardet

This historical fiction novel takes place between 1943 and 1974 beginning in Alexandria, Egypt, and ending in a small English village. It is a well written story told in alternating voices by James, a former RAF pilot and prisoner of WWII, and his wife, Yvette.

The Secrets We Kept

Cover of The Secrets We Kept
Lara
Prescott
2019

A thrilling tale of secretaries turned spies, of love and duty, and of sacrifice--inspired by the true story of the CIA plot to infiltrate the hearts and minds of Soviet Russia, not with propaganda, but with the greatest love story of the twentieth century: Doctor Zhivago.

Shoulder Season

Cover of Shoulder Season
Christina
Clancy
2021

The small town of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is an unlikely location for a Playboy Resort, and nineteen-year old Sherri Taylor is an unlikely bunny. But when her parents die in quick succession in 1981, she leaves the only home she's ever known for the chance to be part of a glamorous slice of history. 

Return to form

Posted by Jane J on Jan 6, 2022 - 1:42pm
A review of Kingscastle by
Sophia
Holloway

A couple of things drew me to this book immediately. One, the cover, yep, I'm shallow like that. And two, the description of the hero/heroine. He's a retired naval captain and she's the put-upon companion to a difficult woman. My favorite Jane Austen novel is Persuasion so this description hit me in my Austen sweet spot. Did it live up to my hopes based on those two enticements? Mostly, though, in ways unexpected.

Before We Were Yours

Cover of Before We Were Yours
Lisa
Wingate
2017

Based on one of America's most notorious real-life scandals in which the director of a Memphis adoption organization kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country, Wingate's wrenching and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though our paths can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.

The Seed Keeper

Cover of The Seed Keeper
Diane
Wilson
2021

This haunting novel spanning several generations follows a Dakhóta family's struggle to preserve their way of life, and their sacrifices to protect what matters most, told through the voices of women who have protected their families, their traditions, and a precious cache of seeds through generations of hardship and loss, through war and the insidious trauma of boarding schools.