Tag: historical fiction

Book Review: The Listeners, by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Listeners
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

January 1942. The Avallon Hotel & Spa has always offered elegant luxury in the wilds of West Virginia, its mountain sweetwater washing away all of high society’s troubles.

Local girl-turned-general manager June Porter Hudson has guided the Avallon skillfully through the first pangs of war. The Gilfoyles, the hotel’s aristocratic owners, have trained her well. But when the family heir makes a secret deal with the State Department to fill the hotel with captured Axis diplomats, June must persuade her staff—many of whom have sons and husbands heading to the front lines—to offer luxury to Nazis. With a smile.

Meanwhile FBI Agent Tucker Minnick, whose coal tattoo hints at an Appalachian past, presses his ears to the hotel’s walls, listening for the diplomats’ secrets. He has one of his own, which is how he knows that June’s balancing act can have dangerous consequences: the sweetwater beneath the hotel can threaten as well as heal.

June has never met a guest she couldn’t delight, but the diplomats are different. Without firing a single shot, they have brought the war directly to her. As clashing loyalties crack the Avallon’s polished veneer, June must calculate the true cost of luxury.

I love Maggie Stiefvater’s YA books, so I was really looking forward to reading this. The world of the Avallon was fascinating to me! This whole ecosystem contained in this building with the lives of everyone who works there completely contained inside the walls. Fascinating.

The characters were interesting people, and I enjoyed getting to know them. I had no idea what was going on with the sweetwater, but I was invested in finding out! This felt almost leisurely, but it was a compelling read.

Maggie Stiefvater is a bestselling author. The Listeners is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Penguin Group/Viking in exchange for an honest review.)

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

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.)

Book Review: Austen at Sea, by Natalie Jenner

Title: Austen at Sea
Author: Natalie Jenner
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

In Boston, 1865, Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson, daughters of a Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice, have accomplished as much as women are allowed in those days. Chafing against those restrictions and inspired by the works of Jane Austen, they start a secret correspondence with Sir Francis Austen, her last surviving brother, now in his nineties. He sends them an original letter from his sister and invites them to come visit him in England.

In Philadelphia, Nicholas & Haslett Nelson—bachelor brothers, veterans of the recent Civil War, and rare book dealers—are also in correspondence with Sir Francis Austen, who lures them, too, to England, with the promise of a never-before-seen, rare Austen artifact to be evaluated.

The Stevenson sisters sneak away without a chaperone to sail to England. On their ship are the Nelson brothers, writer Louisa May Alcott, Sara-Beth Gleason—wealthy daughter of a Pennsylvania state senator with her eye on the Nelsons—and, a would-be last-minute chaperone to the Stevenson sisters, Justice Thomas Nash.

It’s a voyage and trip that will dramatically change each of their lives in ways that are unforeseen, with the transformative spirit of the love of literature and that of Jane Austen herself.

I felt like this took a little bit to get into, but it ended up being a good read! I like all of Natalie Jenner’s other books, so this was an easy reading choice to make. I liked all the characters, and enjoyed seeing how their lives came together—and how they turned out. The historical aspects were fascinating to read and I was nice to see these men change their minds about women’s rights and life in general.

Natalie Jenner is a bestselling author. Austen at Sea is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: The Traitor of Sherwood Forest, by Amy S. Kaufman

Title: The Traitor of Sherwood Forest
Author: Amy S. Kaufman
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3 out of 5

Jane Crowe is an ordinary peasant girl who never dreamed she would work for the infamous Lord of the Greenwood. But when she’s forced out of her home, she has no choice but to turn to Robin Hood for help—and he makes her an irresistible offer. He needs a pair of eyes in the King’s Houses, and quiet, unassuming Jane—who has spent her whole life going unnoticed—will be the perfect spy.

At first, Jane’s work for Robin seems straightforward. She whispers to him about the nobles at King’s Houses and all their secrets, including the new Sheriff of Nottingham, who would like nothing more than to see Robin Hood’s head on a spike. But the more Jane is drawn into Robin’s world, the more she’s drawn to Robin himself—a man as charismatic as he is cunning, capable of plucking at her heart as easily as he notches an arrow. As Robin’s tricks grow increasingly dangerous, and shockingly violent, Jane starts to suspect that her hero cares more about his own legacy than helping the common people—and that despite his declarations of affection, he sees her as just another object to be stolen.

When Robin’s schemes implicate Jane in a brutal murder, she must decide: is she prize to be won, a pawn to be used and discarded—or is she an equal player in the game between nobles and thieves?

I liked the voice of this, I just wasn’t a huge fan of the story itself. This is just a ME problem, not a problem with the writing, which was solid and vivid. I wanted to smack Jane for being stupid several times (okay, a lot), although with her background, it wasn’t a surprise she was so sheltered. This isn’t a sunshine and roses retelling of a Disney tale, but much more realistic.

Amy S. Kaufman is a former English professor. The Traitor of Sherwood Forest is her debut novel.

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

Book Review: The Amalfi Curse, by Sarah Penner

Title: The Amalfi Curse
Author: Sarah Penner
Genre: Fiction, historical fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

Powerful witchcraft. A hunt for sunken treasure. Forbidden love on the high seas. Beware the Amalfi Curse…

Haven Ambrose, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, has come to the sun-soaked village of Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But Haven is hoping to find more than old artifacts beneath the azure waters; she is secretly on a quest to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive. Upon Haven’s arrival, strange maelstroms and misfortunes start plaguing the town. Is it nature or something more sinister at work?

As Haven searches for her father’s sunken treasure, she begins to unearth a centuries-old tale of ancient sorcery and one woman’s quest to save her lover and her village by using the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to harness the ocean. Could this magic be behind Positano’s latest calamities? Haven must unravel the Amalfi Curse before the region is destroyed forever…

This was an excellent read! I loved the setting; it sounded so beautiful. Both the main characters, Haven and Mari, are strong women trapped (to some extent) by circumstance beyond their control but determined to do whatever necessary to make things right. The characters are vibrant, and I was invested in what happened to them.

Sarah Penner is a bestselling author. The Amalfi Curse is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Park Row in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Filling Station, by Vanessa Miller

Title: The Filling Station
Author: Vanessa Miller
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

During Jim Crow America, there was only one place Black Americans could safely refuel their vehicles along what would eventually become iconic Route 66. But more than just a place to refuel, it was a place to fill up the soul, build community, and find strength. For two sisters, the Threatt Filling Station became the safe haven they needed after escaping the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

After looking in the face of evil and leaving her whole world behind, Margaret Justice wants nothing more than to feel safe and hold tight to what she has left. Her sister, Evelyn, meanwhile, is a dreamer who longs for adventure and to follow her heart, even though she’s been told repeatedly to not dream too big.

As they both grapple with love, loss, and racism, Margaret and Evelyn realize that they can’t hide out at the filling station when Greenwood and their father’s legacy needs to be rebuilt. Going back will take strength they’re not sure they have. But for the love of Greenwood, they will risk it all and just may be the catalyst to bring Black Wall Street back to its former glory.

This was not a light and fluffy read. I found it horrifying and sad—but the ending was full of hope and uplifting. For some reason, I had trouble keeping the two sisters straight in my mind. I kept getting their names mixed up. The book blurb was a little misleading, as Evelyn did not want to go back to Greenwood after the traumatic events and instead wanted to stay as far away as possible. Margaret was very strong, sometimes to her own detriment, but her strength got her through the hard times.

Vanessa Miller is a best-selling author. The Filling Station is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: The Lost Passenger, by Frances Quinn

Image belongs to Random House/Ballantine.

Title: The Lost Passenger
Author: Frances Quinn
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Sometimes it takes a disaster to change your life.

Marrying above your social class can come with unexpected consequences, as Elinor Coombes discovers when she is swept into a fairy-tale marriage with the son of an aristocratic English family. She soon realizes that it was the appeal of her father’s hard-earned wealth rather than her pretty face that attracted her new husband and his family. Curtailed by rigid social rules that include being allowed to see her nanny-raised infant son for only moments each day, Elinor resigns herself to a lonely future. So a present from her father—tickets for the maiden voyage of a luxurious new ship called the Titanic—offers a welcome escape from the cold, controlling atmosphere of her husband’s ancestral home, and some precious time with her little son, Teddy.

When the ship goes down, Elinor grasps the opportunity to take Teddy and start a new life—but only if they can disappear completely, listed among the dead. Penniless and using another woman’s name, she must learn to survive in New York City, a brash new world that couldn’t be more different from her own, and to keep their secret safe. But alas, it’s not safe—she’s been spotted by another survivor who’s eager to profit from his discovery.

I loved this story! I liked Elinor from the beginning, and I felt her heartbreak when she found out her husband married her for her money (Although I was suspicious of him anyway). I had a feeling who he was cheating on her with, and his mother was truly terrible. The description of the actual sinking of the Titanic was well-done and very sad.

I loved Elinor’s life in New York, as she learned to stand on her own two feet and make her way in the world as a successful businesswoman and a mother. The secondary characters were believable and I read this straight through in one sitting.

Frances Quinn is a journalist. The Lost Passenger is her new novel.

(Galley courtesy of Random House/Ballantine in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Dressmakers of London, by Julia Kelly

Title:   The Dressmakers of London
Author: Julia Kelly
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

In 1940s Great Britain, plain and awkward Izzie finds comfort in retreating into the safety of the backroom of her mother’s dressmaking shop. The predictable world of stitches, patterns, and fabric has been a sanctuary from the cruel, chaotic world that took her father in a tragic accident years ago.

Her beautiful sister Sylvia was old enough to watch her father’s tragic death force her mother to give up their respectable middle-class home and open a shop to support their family. That’s why, when she meets the sophisticated, wealthy Martin Pearsall, Sylvia isn’t surprised at her mother’s encouragement to seize her chance for a better life, even if it means distancing herself from her family at Martin’s insistence.

When their mother unexpectedly dies, the two sisters are surprised to discover that her will stipulates that they both inherit the dress shop, stirring up old resentments and hurt feelings. However, when conscription forces Izzie to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service in another part of the country, she realizes that Sylvia is the only person who can save the shop from closure. As the sisters begin an ongoing correspondence, they must confront old emotions to forge new beginnings.

I really enjoyed this read! I didn’t have a favorite POV character like I usually do. I loved both Izzie and Sylvia’s storylines and voices. It was so much fun to watch how they both changed and grew into themselves in the course of the story, and as always, Julia Kelly’s writing is lovely and evocative, and her storytelling is engrossing.

Julia Kelly is a bestselling author. The Dressmakers of London is her newest novel.

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

Book Review and Blog Tour: Last Twilight in Paris, by Pam Jenoff

Title: Last Twilight in Paris
Author: Pam Jenoff
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

London, 1953. Louise is still adjusting to her postwar role as a housewife when she discovers a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop. The box is marked with the name of a department store in Paris, and she is certain she has seen the necklace before when she worked with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe —and that it holds the key to the mysterious death of her friend Franny during the war.

Following the trail of clues to Paris, Louise seeks help from her former boss Ian, with whom she shares a romantic history. The necklace leads them to discover the dark history of Lévitan—a once-glamorous department store that served as a Nazi prison, and Helaine, a woman who was imprisoned there, torn apart from her husband when the Germans invaded France.

Louise races to find the connection between the necklace, the department store and Franny’s death. But nothing is as it seems, and there are forces determined to keep the truth buried forever. Inspired by the true story of Lévitan, Last Twilight in Paris is both a gripping mystery and an unforgettable story about sacrifice, resistance and the power of love to transcend in even the darkest hours.

I love World War II historical fiction, and I’ve read several of Jenoff’s books and enjoyed them. Add this one to that list. I’d never heard of Lévitan and prisoners being kept there, but the idea was terrible—especially how the neighbors just willingly turned a blind eye like so many did during Hitler’s atrocities. I loved reading Helaine’s story: her sheltered life and the magical way she met and fell for her husband. Louise’s story was just as fascinating, both the past timeline and the current one, and all three stories turned into one fascinating read.

Pam Jenoff is a bestselling author. Last Twilight in Paris is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Park Row in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Stolen Queen, by Fiona Davis

Title: The Stolen Queen
Author: Fiona Davis
Genre: Historical fiction, mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5

Egypt, 1936: When anthropology student Charlotte Cross is offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, she leaps at the opportunity. But after an unbearable tragedy strikes, Charlotte knows her future will never be the same.

New York City, 1978: Eighteen-year-old Annie Jenkins is thrilled when she lands an opportunity to work for iconic former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who’s in the midst of organizing the famous Met Gala, hosted at the museum and known across the city as the “party of the year.” Though Annie soon realizes she’ll have her work cut out for her, scrambling to meet Diana’s capricious demands and exacting standards.

Meanwhile, Charlotte, now leading a quiet life as the associate curator of the Met’s celebrated Department of Egyptian Art, wants little to do with the upcoming gala. She’s consumed with her research on Hathorkare—a rare female pharaoh dismissed by most other Egyptologists as unimportant.

That is, until the night of the gala. When one of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing . . . and there are signs Hathorkare’s legendary curse might be reawakening.

As Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity, a desperate hunch leads the unlikely duo to one place Charlotte swore she’d never return: Egypt. But if they’re to have any hope of finding the artifact, Charlotte will need to confront the demons of her past—which may mean leading them both directly into danger.

This was a fascinating read! I loved both timelines. The 1930s storyline was so interesting to me, showing the history of the field of archaeology and what a struggle it was to be a woman in the field. The 1970s storyline was also intriguing. Still a struggle to be a woman in the field of archeology, but also showing the behind-the-scenes details of the Met. Charlotte was a great character, and I loved seeing her story come full circle.

Fiona Davis is a best-selling author. The Stolen Queen is her newest novel.

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

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: