Tag: historical

Book Review: The Italian Secret, by Tara Moss

Image belongs to Dutton.

Title: The Italian Secret
Author: Tara Moss            
Genre: Fiction, mystery/thriller    
Rating: 3 out of 5

Naples, 1943. Deep within a secret network of underground tunnels, a woman takes shelter from a wartime air raid and prays her husband will return home safe.

Pacific Ocean, 1907. A girl embarks on a lonely journey to begin a new life far from home.

Sydney, 1948. Billie Walker, recently returned from a stint as a wartime investigative journalist, has reopened her father’s private inquiry office. One day, Billie is cleaning out old filing cabinets when she uncovers a dusty box whose contents just might upend everything Billie thought she knew about her late, beloved father.

Soon Billie is on the scent, uncovering the secrets of her family’s past, travelling aboard the first post-war luxury passenger ship from Sydney to Naples in search of answers. And as the trail leads her toward two women whose history may be entwined with her own, she realizes she might be putting all three of them in harm’s way. Billie’s father had an enemy—one who may now be stalking Billie around the world—and the closer Billie gets to the truth, the more danger she finds herself in.

I hadn’t read the first two Billie Walker Mystery books, but that wasn’t a problem—this wasn’t a complex book. It was an okay read, but it felt quite cliched to me. Billie’s mother got on my nerves, and so did Billie herself. Just not a good fit for me.

Tara Moss is a bestselling author. The Italian Secret is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Dutton in exchange for an honest review.)

    

Book Review: The Cathedral of Lost Souls, by Paula Brackston     

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title: The Cathedral of Lost Souls
Author: Paula Brackston            
Genre: Historical fiction/fantasy   
Rating: 4 out of 5

Hereford, England 1881.

The adventure continues! After the fire and the tumultuous events in the cathedral library, Hecate is determined never again to come so close to losing the beloved mappa mundi. She has shown herself to be the greatest threat to the Essedenes and their plans and they will stop at nothing to be rid of her. With the help of her archeologist father, and the support of the redoubtable and loyal Inspector Winter, she must take the fight to her enemies.

But the numbers of Embodied Spirits are growing with terrifying speed, and an atmosphere of violence and danger has taken hold of the ancient city of Hereford. Hecate dare not trust anyone beyond her inner circle, no matter how benevolent they might seem. Nor will she risk the lives of those she loves ever again. The goddess Hekate has called her to action. She must draw upon all her gifts, and the assistance of her family of ghostly allies, if the city is not to be lost to darkness forever.

I’m a huge fan of Paula Brackston’s Found Things series, and I’m enjoying the Hecate Cavendish books, too (although not quite as much). This was a solid read and kept me engaged with everything going on. I would have liked to see more of the map and its inhabitants, but I did enjoy this and am looking forward to reading more.

Paula Brackston is a bestselling author. The Cathedral of Lost Souls is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The White Octopus Hotel, by Alexandra Bell   

Image belongs to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey.

Title: The White Octopus Hotel
Author: Alexandra Bell       
Genre: Fantasy    
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

London, 2015

When reclusive art appraiser Eve Shaw shakes the hand of a silver-haired gentleman in her London office, the warmth of his palm sends a spark through her.

His name is Max Everly – curiously, the same name as Eve’s favourite composer, born one hundred sixteen years prior. And she can’t shake the feeling that she’s held his hand before . . . but where, and when?

The White Octopus Hotel, 1935

Decades earlier, high in the snowy Swiss Alps, Eve and a young Max Everly wander the winding halls of the grand belle epoque White Octopus Hotel, lost in time.

Each of them has been through the trenches – Eve in a family accident and Max on the battlefields of the Great War – but for an impossible moment, love and healing are just a room away . . . if only they have the courage to step through the door.

I really enjoyed this read! I loved the touches of magic and whimsy throughout, like the magical objects from the hotel, Eve’s octopus tattoo, and the glimpses of the past (like the horse in the baths). I was fascinated with the hotel from the beginning. Even a deserted ruin, it was compelling—much less in its heyday. Eve was a complex character, but I liked her, and Max, too. This was truly a compelling, vibrant story.

Alexandra Bell lives in Hampshire. The White Octopus Hotel is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey in exchange for an honest review.)

   

Book Review: A Dark and Deadly Journey, by Julia Kelly  

Image belongs toSt. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books.

Title: A Dark and Deadly Journey
Author: Julia Kelly   
Genre: historical fiction  
Rating: 5 out of 5

After being sidelined for a pesky gunshot wound, typist-turned-field agent Evelyne Redfern is ready for her next assignment with Britain’s secretive Special Investigations Unit. When a British Intelligence informant in Portugal mysteriously disappears just after hinting that he has vital information about German plans that could tip the balance of World War Two, Evelyne and her dashingly irksome partner, David Poole, are sent headed to Lisbon to find him.

Once they land, Evelyne and David aren’t even able to leave the airport, before she discovers one of their fellow aeroplane passengers murdered and uncovers a diary with a clear link between the victim and their missing informant. With their mission in jeopardy before it can truly begin, Evelyne and David fight to keep their cover intact as they descend deeper into the shadows that surround Lisbon’s glittering collection of wealthy expats and dangerous spies. This case will test Evelyne and David’s training, charm, and wit―and their growing attraction for one another.

I’m still loving this series! Historical fiction is my jam, particularly World War II-era stories, and I do love a good murder mystery, so this makes it a winner in my book. Evelyne and David are great characters and I’ve loved getting to know them more with every book. I’ll admit, I did figure out who the killer was a bit before the reveal, but I was not expecting that ending!

Julia Kelly is a bestselling author. A Dark and Deadly Journey is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Guest in Room 120, by Sara Ackerman  

Image belongs to Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA.

Title: The Guest in Room 120
Author: Sara Ackerman          
Genre: Historical fiction    
Rating: 4 out of 5 

1905. As the mother of a university and a woman with an iron will, Jane Stanford has made her share of enemies. After a scare at her mansion in San Francisco and on the advice of her doctor, she flees to Honolulu and the fashionable new Moana hotel. But as fate would have it, the island is not as safe as it seems.

2005. Zoe Finch is a bestselling author who desperately needs a jump start on her next novel when she makes a split decision to attend a writers conference at the Moana under an assumed name. As a storm brews offshore, she begins having nightmares that feel hauntingly real. Terrified, Zoe enlists the help of mystery writer Dylan Winters, and over the course of the week, races to uncover the shocking truth of what happened in the hotel one hundred years ago almost to the day.

1905. Iliahi Baldwin’s life changes the moment she lands a job at the Moana. Newly hired and reeling from a tragic loss, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with the formidable Jane Stanford upon her arrival, leaving young Ili devastated when the unthinkable happens. Ili knows things, but there are powerful people who need the truth to remain hidden, and to cross them could prove disastrous.

An unforgettable tale of betrayal, secrets, and death that still echoes through the years.

I enjoy reading Ackerman’s Hawaii-set historical fiction. I know very little about the history of Hawaii, and everything I’ve read of hers has been both a well-written, entertaining read and a chance to learn more about something I know almost nothing about. This was no exception.

Jane Stanford…was not a likable person. At all. But, she didn’t deserve what happened to her—nor did she deserve to have her death trivialized and ignored. I liked Ili’s storyline, but I loved Zoe’s the most—and that cat. This was an engrossing read that I read very quickly to find out what happened.

Sara Ackerman is from Hawaii. The Guest in Room 120 is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Sisterhood, by Tasha Alexander

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books.

Title: The Sisterhood   
Author: Tasha Alexander         
Genre: Historical fiction    
Rating: 4 out of 5 

London, 1907: When the Season’s most accomplished and elegant debutante, Victoria Goldsborough, collapses and dies at her engagement ball, the great and good of London Society prepare to mourn the tragic loss of an upstanding young woman. But all is not what it seems, and after a toxic beverage is revealed to be the cause of death, the king himself instructs Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves to unearth the truth.

Who would want to harm one of the most popular women of the year? Is it her fiancé with whom she had an unusually brief courtship; a rival for his affections bitter at being cast aside; her best friend who is almost certainly hiding a secret from Colin and Emily; a disappointed suitor with a hidden gambling habit; or a notorious jewel thief who has taken a priceless tiara from the Goldsborough home? When a second debutante succumbs to poison, the race is on to find a ruthless killer.

Emily and Colin’s investigation leads to a centuries old tomb in the center of London with a mysterious link to another death dating back to Roman times and the violent reign of Boudica, ancient Britain’s fearsome warrior queen. As the stakes rise and the clock ticks down, Emily must find the killer before they strike again.

I haven’t read any of the Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries series, but that wasn’t a problem. I had no problem feeling at home in this world and with these characters. This was a solid historical fiction read and a nice mystery, as well. I did not figure out who the killer was before the reveal, so there’s that, but I enjoyed all the different characters.

Tasha Alexander lives in Wyoming. The Sisterhood is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Secret Book Society, by Madeline Martin

Image belongs to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press.

Title: The Secret Book Society
Author: Madeline Martin     
Genre: Historical fiction    
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

You are cordially invited to the Secret Book Society…

London, 1895: Trapped by oppressive marriages and societal expectations, three women receive a mysterious invitation to an afternoon tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury. Beneath the genteel facade of the gathering lies a secret book club—a sanctuary where they can discover freedom, sisterhood, and the courage to rewrite their stories.

Eleanor Clarke, a devoted mother suffocating under the tyranny of her husband. Rose Wharton, a transplanted American dollar princess struggling to fit the mold of an aristocratic wife. Lavinia Cavendish, an artistic young woman haunted by a dangerous family secret. All are drawn to the enigmatic Lady Duxbury, a thrice-widowed countess whose husbands’ untimely deaths have sparked whispers of murder.

As the women form deep, heartwarming friendships, they uncover secrets about their marriages, their pasts, and the risks they face. Their courage is their only weapon in the oppressive world that has kept them silent, but when secrets are deadly, one misstep could cost them everything.

This was such a good read! I loved the stories of all these women and found them so inspiring! The growing friendship between the three women was well-done and made me feel like I was part of their book club. Their excitement over the books made me want to read (or re-read) some of their selections!

Madeline Martin is a bestselling author. The Secret Book Society is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press in exchange for an honest review.)

The Best Books I Read in July (2025)

In July, I read 17 books, bringing my total for the year to 145books read. I also DNFed four more books.

Most of those reads were just okay/solid reads, but three of them were really good.

Through an Open Window, by Pamela Terry. Pamela Terry’s books are really good, and I loved this one! Southern fiction is my favorite genre to read, and this hit all the right notes: a bit of family drama, quirky townspeople, a mystery, a ghost…it was just such a good read!

The Vanished Days, by Susanna Kearsley. The three books in this series were wonderful! Okay, the first one is my favorite, but I loved each of them. This one is straight historical fiction, without a present-day timeline, like the other two.

The Secret Book Society, by Madeline Martin. Martin writes wonderful historical fictions, and I really enjoyed this tale centered around female friendships and books. Such a lovely read!

Book Review: A Far Better Thing, by H. G. Parry   

Image belongs to Tor.

Title: A Far Better Thing    
Author: H. G. Parry         
Genre: Fantasy  
Rating: 4 out of 5

I feared this was the best of times; I hoped it could not get any worse.

The fairies stole Sydney Carton as a child, and made him a mortal servant of the Faerie Realm. Now, he has a rare opportunity for revenge against the fae and Charles Darnay, the changeling left in his stead.

It will take magic and cunning—cold iron and Realm silver—to hide his intentions from humans and fae and bring his plans to fruition.

Shuttling between London and Paris during the Reign of Terror, generations of violence-begetting-violence lead him to a heartbreaking choice in the shadow of the guillotine.

A fantasy re-telling of A Tale of Two Cities? Yes, please.  This started off a bit slow, and I found Sydney very hard to connect with—he was just so negative and bitter about everything. Gradually, he grew on me a little bit, but I never really liked him. I enjoyed the read, but it wasn’t fast-paced or thrilling (I mean, it’s A Tale of Two Cities. What do you expect?). A solid fantasy read.

H. G. Parry lives in New Zealand. A Far Better Thing is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Tor in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Death at a Highland Wedding, by Kelley Armstrong

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title: Death at a Highland Wedding   
Author: Kelley Armstrong          
Genre: Historical fiction, mystery/thriller, fantasy   
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

After slipping 150 years into the past, modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson has embraced her new life in Victorian Scotland as housemaid Catriona Mitchel. Although it isn’t what she expected, she’s developed real, meaningful relationships with the people around her and has come to love her role as assistant to undertaker Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie.

Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie are on their way to the Scottish Highlands for McCreadie’s younger sister’s wedding. The McCreadies and the groom’s family, the Cranstons, have a complicated history which has made the weekend quite uncomfortable. But the Cranston estate is beautiful so Gray and Mallory decide to escape the stifling company and set off to explore the castle and surrounding wilderness. They discover that the groom, Archie Cranston, a slightly pompous and prickly man, has set up deadly traps in the woods for the endangered Scottish wildcats, and they soon come across a cat who’s been caught and severely injured. Oddly, Mallory notices the cat’s injuries don’t match up with the intricacies of the trap. These strange irregularities, combined with the secretive and erratic behavior of the groom, put Mallory and Duncan on edge. And then when one of the guests is murdered, they must work fast to uncover the murderer before another life is lost.

This was a fun read. I thought I’d read the first book in the series—and not the second two—but maybe not. I still had no problems stepping in mid-series. I enjoyed the characters and the dichotomy between modern Mallory caught 150 years in the past. I found all the characters to be solid and (mostly) likable, and I truly had no idea what was really going on until the reveal at the end. Very solid historical/time travel mystery read with some great characters.

Kelley Armstrong is a bestselling author. Death at a Highland Wedding is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)