Tag: historical

Book Review: Medici Heist, by Caitlin Schneiderhan

Title: Medici Heist
Author: Caitlin Schneiderhan
Genre: Historical fiction, YA
Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Welcome to Florence, 1517, a world of intrigue, opulence, secrets, and murder. The Medici family rules the city from their seat of wealth, but the people of Florence remember the few decades they spent as a Republic, free from the Medicis and their puppet Pope, Leo X.

Sharp-witted seventeen-year-old con-woman Rosa Cellini has plans for the Pope and the Medicis – and, more specifically, the mountain of indulgence money they’ve been extorting from the people of Tuscany. To pull off the Renaissance’s greatest robbery, she’ll recruit a team of capable Sarra the tinkerer, Khalid the fighter, and Giacomo, the irrepressible master of disguise. To top it all off, and to smooth their entrance into the fortress-like Palazzo Medici, Rosa even enlists the reluctant help of famed artist and local misanthrope, Michelangelo.

Old secrets resurface and tensions in the gang flare as the authorities draw closer and the Medicis’ noose pulls tighter around Tuscany itself. What began as a robbery becomes a bid to save Florence from certain destruction – if Rosa and company don’t destroy each other first.

This was an interesting read! I enjoyed the historical aspect of this a lot, and the complex relationships between the group of them. I thought the action was entertaining and I was invested in if they managed to pull off the heist off or not. I loved that the whole ending was a surprise and I didn’t see it coming at all.

Caitlin Schneiderhan lives in L.A. Medici Heist is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Macmillan Children’s Publishing in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish, by Paula Brackston

Title: The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish
Author: Paula Brackston
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

England, 1881.

Hereford cathedral stands sentinel over the city, keeping its secrets, holding long forgotten souls in its stony embrace. Hecate Cavendish speeds through the cobbled streets on her bicycle, skirts hitched daringly high, heading for her new life as Assistant Librarian. But this is no ordinary collection of books. The cathedral houses an ancient chained library, wisdom guarded for centuries, mysteries and stories locked onto its worn, humble shelves. The most prized artifact, however, is the medieval world map which hangs next to Hecate’s desk. Little does she know how much the curious people and mythical creatures depicted on it will come to mean to her. Nor does she suspect that there are lost souls waiting for her in the haunted cathedral. Some will become her dearest friends. Some will seek her help in finding peace. Others will put her in great peril, and, as she quickly learns, threaten the lives of everyone she loves.

I really enjoyed this read! Hecate is a fascinating character, and I loved getting to know her. This is a very atmospheric novel, and I was fully absorbed into the setting. The characters—including the ghosts—are well-done and believable, and I was eager to see where the story took them. Can’t wait to read more in this series.

Paula Brackston is a bestselling author. The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: Beyond Summerland, by Jenny Lecoat

Image belongs to Harlequin Trade Publishing.

Title: Beyond Summerland
Author: Jenny Lecoat
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

The German occupation is over. The Channel Islands, the only captured territory within the British Isles, are finally liberated. But the people of Jersey are left as scarred as the landscape. No longer a “summerland” holiday paradise, the island now boils with tension as locals seek revenge on anyone suspected of collaborating with the enemy during the war.

Nineteen-year-old Jean Parris, still adjusting to this fractious peace, is shocked to learn that Hazel, a teacher who lives over her dad’s shop, may be responsible for her father’s wartime arrest and subsequent death in custody. Hazel denies all accusations but has reasons to conceal what really happened.

As rumors of Hazel’s guilt swell to a fury, Jean discovers new clues that suggest there were other, more sinister factors at play. When Hazel learns of Jean’s own ruinous secret, the women form an unexpected bond that sets them apart from the rest of Jean’s family and the frenzied demands for retribution. But in the end, Jean’s need to know the truth about her father may consume everything she once believed about her home, her family and herself.

I found this to be a depressing read, honestly. All the neighbors turning on each other were horrible. The way Jean’s family treated her, and what mean, ugly people they were was depressing. The secondary characters that I liked didn’t even make it through the novel. The writing was solid, I just found the story itself depressing.

Jenny Lecoat is a bestselling author. Beyond Summerland is her newest novel.

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

Title: Beyond Summerland Author: Jenny Lecoat Genre: Historical fiction Rating: 3.5 out of 5 The German occupation
is over. The Channel Islands, the only captured territory within the British
Isles, are finally liberated. But the people of Jersey are left as scarred as
the landscape. No longer a “summerland” holiday paradise, the island now boils
with tension as locals seek revenge on anyone suspected of collaborating with
the enemy during the war. Nineteen-year-old Jean
Parris, still adjusting to this fractious peace, is shocked to learn that
Hazel, a teacher who lives over her dad’s shop, may be responsible for her
father’s wartime arrest and subsequent death in custody. Hazel denies all
accusations but has reasons to conceal what really happened. As rumors of Hazel’s
guilt swell to a fury, Jean discovers new clues that suggest there were other,
more sinister factors at play. When Hazel learns of Jean’s own ruinous secret,
the women form an unexpected bond that sets them apart from the rest of Jean’s
family and the frenzied demands for retribution. But in the end, Jean’s need to
know the truth about her father may consume everything she once believed about
her home, her family and herself. I found this to be a
depressing read, honestly. All the neighbors turning on each other were
horrible. The way Jean’s family treated her, and what mean, ugly people they
were was depressing. The secondary characters that I liked didn’t even make it through
the novel. The writing was solid, I just found the story itself depressing. Jenny Lecoat is a
bestselling author. Beyond Summerland is her newest novel. (Galley courtesy of Harlequin
Trade Publishing in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Every Time We Say Goodbye, by Natalie Jenner

Title: Every Time We Say Goodbye
Author: Natalie Jenner
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.0 out of 5

In 1955, Vivien Lowry is facing the greatest challenge of her life. Her latest play, the only female-authored play on the London stage that season, has opened in the West End to rapturous applause from the audience. The reviewers, however, are not as impressed as the playgoers and their savage notices not only shut down the play but ruin Lowry’s last chance for a dramatic career. With her future in London not looking bright, at the suggestion of her friend, Peggy Guggenheim, Vivien takes a job in as a script doctor on a major film shooting in Rome’s Cinecitta Studios. There she finds a vibrant movie making scene filled with rising stars, acclaimed directors, and famous actors in a country that is torn between its past and its potentially bright future, between the liberation of the post-war cinema and the restrictions of the Catholic Church that permeates the very soul of Italy.

As Vivien tries to forge a new future for herself, she also must face the long-buried truth of the recent World War and the mystery of what really happened to her deceased fiancé.

I do love these books by Natalie Jenner! This was a unique setting—film industry in the ‘50s, in Italy—and I enjoyed reading something set someplace new to me. There are several different threads in this novel, and the author did a great job of balancing them all out and tying them together. It felt a bit slow at first, but soon enough, I was completely engrossed.

Natalie Jenner is a bestselling author. Every Time We Say Goodbye is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club, by Helen Simonson

Title: The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club
Author: Helen Simonson
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

It is the summer of 1919 and Constance Haverhill is without prospects. Now that all the men have returned from the front, she has been asked to give up her cottage and her job at the estate she helped run during the war. While she looks for a position as a bookkeeper or—horror—a governess, she’s sent as a lady’s companion to an old family friend who is convalescing at a seaside hotel. Despite having only weeks to find a permanent home, Constance is swept up in the social whirl of Hazelbourne-on-Sea after she rescues the local baronet’s daughter, Poppy Wirrall, from a social faux pas.

Poppy wears trousers, operates a taxi and delivery service to employ local women, and runs a ladies’ motorcycle club (to which she plans to add flying lessons). She and her friends enthusiastically welcome Constance into their circle. And then there is Harris, Poppy’s recalcitrant but handsome brother—a fighter pilot recently wounded in battle—who warms in Constance’s presence. But things are more complicated than they seem in this sunny pocket of English high society. As the country prepares to celebrate its hard-won peace, Constance and the women of the club are forced to confront the fact that the freedoms they gained during the war are being revoked.

This was so much fun to read! I immediately liked Constance and couldn’t wait to find out what was in store for her. I was invested in all the secondary characters, too. Poppy was a lot of fun, and poor Harris had me rooting for him to overcome his trauma and grief. This was an excellent historical fiction read, and I was engrossed from the beginning.

Helen Simonson is a bestselling author. The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: The Sicilian Inheritance, by Jo Piazza

Title: The Sicilian Inheritance
Author: Jo Piazza
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Sara Marsala barely knows who she is anymore after the failure of her business and marriage. On top of that, her beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, leaving Sara bereft with grief. But Aunt Rosie’s death also opens an escape from her life and a window into the past by way of a plane ticket to Sicily, a deed to a possibly valuable plot of land, and a bombshell family secret. Rosie believes Sara’s great-grandmother Serafina, the family matriarch who was left behind while her husband worked in America, didn’t die of illness as family lore has it . . . she was murdered.

Thus begins a twist-filled adventure that takes Sara all over the picturesque Italian countryside as she races to solve a mystery and prove her birthright. Flashing back to the past, we meet Serafina, a feisty and headstrong young woman in the early 1900s thrust into motherhood in her teens, who fought for a better life not just for herself but for all the women of her small village. Unsurprisingly it isn’t long before a woman challenging the status quo finds herself in danger.

As Sara discovers more about Serafina she also realizes she is coming head-to-head with the same menacing forces that took down her great-grandmother.

This was a pretty solid read, although Sara was the only character I really liked. I was suspicious of everyone else, including Serafina. I honestly didn’t feel much of a connection to any of the characters, but the writing was solid, and the setting was appealing.

Jo Piazza lives in Philadelphia. The Sicilian Inheritance is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple, by Joanna Davidson Politano

Title: The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple
Author: Joanna Davidson Politano
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Peter Driscoll, an underground investigator to the wealthy, has never met anyone like Lily Temple. The beautiful silent-film actress spins fairy tales and plays frivolous roles in front of the cine-camera, but beneath the costumes and stage makeup is a woman with a quick wit–and a murky past.

Peter has been tasked with locating the legendary Briarwood Teardrop, an exquisite sapphire, which Lily wears beneath her gown. In order to stay close to her and hopefully unravel the mystery of her story–and the sapphire–Peter employs Lily’s help on a case, which leads to a useful partnership. But as they are investigating together, Peter is also investigating Lily. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger they face. And the closer he gets to Lily, the clearer it is that he needs her even more than she needs him.

This started out a bit slow—maybe leisurely is a better word for it. Lily was a fascinating character to me, and I completely forgot, for most of the book, that she was telling a story for the group of officials. Parts of this felt like a fairy tale, or like one of Lily’s short films, all hazy and out-of-focus.

Peter was, basically, my dream guy: honorable, funny, strong, smart, and a believer. I really loved ho Lily’s opinion of him changed as she got to know him, and he was so reliable and trustworthy for her. Really enjoyed this historical fiction read!

Joanna Davidson Politano lives near Lake Michigan. The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: The British Booksellers, by Kristy Cambron

Title: The British Booksellers
Author: Kristy Cambron
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

A tenant farmer’s son had no business daring to dream of a future with an earl’s daughter, but that couldn’t keep Amos Darby from his secret friendship with Charlotte Terrington . . . until the reality of the Great War sobered youthful dreams. Now decades later, he bears the brutal scars of battles fought in the trenches and their futures that were stolen away. His return home doesn’t come with tender reunions, but with the hollow fulfillment of opening a bookshop on his own and retreating as a recluse within its walls.

When the future Earl of Harcourt chose Charlotte to be his wife, she knew she was destined for a loveless match. Though her heart had chosen another long ago, she pledges her future even as her husband goes to war. Twenty-five years later, Charlotte remains a war widow who divides her days between her late husband’s declining estate and operating a quaint Coventry bookshop—Eden Books, lovingly named after her grown daughter. And Amos is nothing more than the rival bookseller across the lane.

As war with Hitler looms, Eden is determined to preserve her father’s legacy. So when an American solicitor arrives threatening a lawsuit that could destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to preserve, mother and daughter prepare to fight back. But with devastation wrought by the Luftwaffe’s local blitz terrorizing the skies, battling bookshops—and lost loves, Amos and Charlotte—must put aside their differences and fight together to help Coventry survive.

This was such a good read! I love that it was both World War I and World War II fiction. I loved young Charlie’s POV, but her adult self’s POV was just as interesting. Seeing Eden’s adventures with the garden girls—and the handsome American Lawyer—was enthralling, too, but what I enjoyed most were all the literary references. Highly recommend this read!

Kristy Cambron is an award-winning author. The British Booksellers is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: The Underground Library, by Jennifer Ryan

Image belongs to Random House/Ballantine.

Title: The Underground Library
Author: Jennifer Ryan
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

When new deputy librarian, Juliet Lansdown, finds that Bethnal Green Library isn’t the bustling hub she’s expecting, she becomes determined to breathe life back into it. But can she show the men in charge that a woman is up to the task of running it, especially when a confrontation with her past threatens to derail her?

Katie Upwood is thrilled to be working at the library, although she’s only there until she heads off to university in the fall. But after the death of her beau on the front line and amid tumultuous family strife, she finds herself harboring a life-changing secret with no one to turn to for help.

Sofie Baumann, a young Jewish refugee, came to London on a domestic service visa only to find herself working as a maid for a man who treats her abominably. She escapes to the library every chance she can, finding friendship in the literary community and aid in finding her sister, who is still trying to flee occupied Europe.

When a slew of bombs destroy the library, Juliet relocates the stacks to the local Underground station where the city’s residents shelter nightly, determined to lend out stories that will keep spirits up. But tragedy after tragedy threatens to unmoor the women and sever the ties of their community. Will Juliet, Kate, and Sofie be able to overcome their own troubles to save the library? Or will the beating heart of their neighborhood be lost forever?

This was a lovely read! I love World War II historical fiction, strong female characters, and books, so this hit a lot of high notes for me. I loved Juliet and Sofie’s points-of-view, although Juliet was a bit too gullible for me. Sofie was such a strong person, and I loved her journey. Katie’s naïveté was…a lot. I can’t imagine feeling so powerless and helpless, though, and it was lovely to see her grow.

Jennifer Ryan grew up in England. The Underground Library is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: The Berlin Letters, by Katherine Reay

Title: The Berlin Letters
Author: Katherine Reay
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.2 out of 5

From the time she was a young girl, Luisa Voekler has loved solving puzzles and cracking codes. Brilliant and logical, she’s expected to quickly climb the career ladder at the CIA. But while her coworkers have moved on to thrilling Cold War assignments—especially in the exhilarating era of the late 1980s—Luisa’s work remains stuck in the past decoding messages from World War II.

Journalist Haris Voekler grew up a proud East Berliner. But as his eyes open to the realities of postwar East Germany, he realizes that the Soviet promises of a better future are not coming to fruition. After the Berlin Wall goes up, Haris finds himself separated from his young daughter and all alone after his wife dies. There’s only one way to reach his family—by sending coded letters to his father-in-law who lives on the other side of the Iron Curtain.

When Luisa Voekler discovers a secret cache of letters written by the father she has long presumed dead, she learns the truth about her grandfather’s work, her father’s identity, and why she has never progressed in her career. With little more than a rudimentary plan and hope, she journeys to Berlin and risks everything to free her father and get him out of East Berlin alive.

As Luisa and Haris take turns telling their stories, events speed toward one of the twentieth century’s most dramatic moments—the fall of the Berlin Wall and that night’s promise of freedom, truth, and reconciliation for those who lived, for twenty-eight years, behind the bleak shadow of the Iron Curtain’s most iconic symbol.

This is a time period I’m not sure I’ve read anything in, but I enjoyed this! I can’t imagine what it would have been like, watching the Berlin Wall go up overnight and being separated from your family and life. Reay did such a fantastic job of placing the reader in that scene in history, and I really felt the characters’ emotions. This was an emotional but well-written novel set in a bleak time and place, but showing the hope that existed even in that dark time.

Katherine Reay is a bestselling author. The Berlin Letters is her newest novel.

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

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