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Ah, ah, ah! Where truth meets fiction... Today's genre is historical fiction. You may not know this but until I was about 14, I had only read historical fiction and I started out in writing historical fiction way before I really got into writing, so this is like my comfort genre. I've read so many historical reads, some good and some bad, some boring, some had me on the edge of my seat. But no matter what I have always loved learning about history (#totalhistorynerd here!) So, I'm very excited to be sharing some of my very favorite recent historical fiction books with you.
Dive in!
About The Colonel's Lady
In 1779, when genteel Virginia spinster Roxanna Rowan arrives at the Kentucky fort commanded by Colonel Cassius McLinn, she finds that her officer father has died. Penniless and destitute, Roxanna is forced to take her father's place as scrivener. Before long, it's clear that the colonel himself is attracted to her. But she soon realizes the colonel has grave secrets of his own—some of which have to do with her father's sudden death. Can she ever truly love him?
Review
Laura Frantz has sold me on nearly each of her books. And she's a favorite author but this one? Ah, man, I don't know where to start but it is one of my favorites second only to The Mistress of Tall Acre though I haven't read all of her books so others may beat these two but not yet! I haven't read The Colonel's Lady in a little while so I don't remember all of the content warnings but there aren't any red flags but it is set in a time where there was a lot of violence so that is a warning in itself.
Mrs. Frantz's attention to detail and her in-depth research is a huge reason to try her books by itself but her skill in weaving a tale is another altogether!
About When Twilight Breaks
Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession and to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country—or worse. If she does not report truthfully, she'll betray the oppressed and fail to wake up the folks back home.
Peter Lang is an American graduate student working on his PhD in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party—to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind.
As the world marches relentlessly toward war, Evelyn and Peter are on a collision course with destiny.
Review
Sarah Sundin's skill in weaving a lifelike historical novel is topnotch.
This is different from most of Sundin’s works from what I know, in the fact it is stand alone (I haven't heard of a series as of yet, anyway.) And that the characters don’t have quite the same tasks as her other characters have had.
The way that this story follows a plot that isn’t so common with WWII stories is what is making it a big favorite of mine. This is such a short review because there is SO MUCH I’ll spoil if I’m not careful.
Bottom line, READ THIS BOOK.
Recommended: 16/18+
Content: There is lots of romance and some suggestive comments between a man and his wife.
I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About A Portrait of Loyalty
Zivon Marin was one of Russia's top cryptographers until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee to England after speaking out against Lenin, Zivon is driven by a growing anger and determined to offer his services to the Brits. But never far from his mind is his brother, who Zivon fears died in the train crash that separated them.
Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and re-creating photographs. With her father's connections in propaganda, she's recruited to the intelligence division, even though her mother would disapprove if she ever found out.
After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily that soon takes over their hearts. But both have secrets they're unwilling to share, and neither is entirely sure they can trust the other. When Zivon's loyalties are called into question, proving him honest is about more than one couple's future dreams—it becomes a matter of ending the war.
Review
Do you know the best thing about a favorite author coming out with a new book? That a favorite author has a new book.
Do you know the worst thing about a favorite author coming out with a new book? Reading it in two hours.
Wow, I love how "A Portrait of Loyalty" is not your usual WWI story.
There's romance, there's intrigue, there's hope, there's sadness, there's just so many emotions, thoughts, and feelings spinning through your mind as you read this new masterpiece from Roseanna M. White.
I highly recommend you read this book!
Sixteen up due to kissing, mentions of unsaved characters who sleep together, and a pregnancy outside of romance.
I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher/review company. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About Winning the Gentleman
Aaron Whitworth hasn't had control over most aspects of his life, but he's always taken pride in being an honorable businessman and better-than-average horseman. When both of those claims are threatened, he makes the desperate decision to hire the horse trainer of a traveling circus as a temporary jockey for his racehorses.
Sophia Fitzroy knows that most horsemen don't take her seriously because she's a woman, but she can't pass up the opportunity to get away from the tumultuous world of travel and performing. As she fights for the right to do the work she was hired for, she learns the fight for Aaron's guarded heart might be an even worthier challenge.
As secrets come to light, will Aaron and Sophia's past vulnerabilities be an insurmountable stumbling block, or will they sacrifice their former dreams and forge a new one together?
Review
Aaron is a sweetheart who needs love, I love seeing when a hero is not so sure he's the hero of the story and doesn't think he should have love.
Sophia is surprisingly a VERY FAVORITE! She's not sickly feminist; she knows what she can do.
The fact that there was once a woman who was a jockey much like Sophia made reading this book even more enjoyable,
As much as I loved "Winning the Gentleman" it was inconsistent in the romance I thought... Or maybe Aaron wasn't as I expected from having not seen his point of view before now. I just did not think he would have given into the kisses without being more sure of a relationship. Just a thought and otherwise I loved "Winning the Gentleman" and cannot wait for the third book!
Warnings: 16/18+ due to mentions of the sins of a father.
I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
a novel of the Great War by J'nell Ciesielski
About Beauty Among Ruins
In Ciesielski’s latest sweeping romance, an American heiress finds herself in Scotland amid the fallout of the Great War, and a wounded Scottish laird comes face-to-face with his past and a woman he never could have expected.
American socialite Lily Durham is known for enjoying one moment to the next, with little regard for the consequences of her actions. But just as she is banished overseas to England as a “cure” for her frivolous ways, the Great War breaks out and wreaks havoc. She joins her cousin in nursing the wounded at a convalescent home deep in the wilds of Scotland at a crumbling castle where its laird is less than welcoming.
Alec MacGregor has given his entire life to preserving his home of Kinclavoch Castle, but mounting debts force him to sell off his family history bit by bit. Labeled a coward for not joining his countrymen in the trenches due to an old injury, he opens his home to the Tommies to make recompense while he keeps to the shadows. But his preference for the shadows is shattered when a new American nurse comes streaming into the castle on a burst of light.
Lily and Alec are thrown together when a series of mysterious events threatens to ruin the future of Kinclavoch. Can they put aside their differences to find the culprit before it’s too late, or will their greatest distraction be falling in love?
Review
In a novel staring a character I didn't expect to like I found a new favorite author!
The setting for "Beauty Among Ruins" was ripe for the picking in my opinion. How could it not be with WWI, Scotland, an old castle, a gruff laird who has a sweet sister, and a misunderstood heroine?!
Yet, at the very first I didn't expect to like Lily for I thought she was just going to rebel... How wrong I was! She grew into a charming character that I needed to know what happened to.
Alec is the same kind of gruffly endearing hero that I love in historical novels, almost a beast like in Beauty and the Beast, he hid behind walls that had been built for supposed protection and stayed to the shadows for a long time.
The slight air of mystery was just what I like in a historical wartime romance, it wasn't so much a surprise to find out who was the bad guy and who wasn't but it was still fun to wonder somewhat who the bad guy or ... maybe girl was.
16/18+ for talk of past mistakes that were made by a character's father.
I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
So, did you find a new read? I personally find that WWII fiction is my favorite era to read in the historical fiction genre though I like more of a regency mystery if I pick up a historical suspense.
And, that's all for today except for the reminder to stop by Kate's blog for today's freebie, giveaway entries, and to see the other blogger's posts, so don't miss out!
See ya tomorrow!
Sarah Sundin is a favorite of mine!
World War II fiction can be so beautiful but so hard to read! Great list. ;)
Ooh, The Colonel's Lady looks really cool!
Oh. My. Abigail-->is that first one Revolutionary-War era?! *Cue the distracted-squirrel-mindset*
Ugh, they all sound so good!!