The River Between Us

I haven't read historical fiction in a while and I really appreciated the brevity of this Civil War novel as well as the story within a story. When a young man goes to visit his grandparents in southern Illinois with his father on the eve of WWI he has no idea what he is about to learn. His family is hiding a wealth of secrets dating all the way back to the Civil War. When his grandmother recounts the summer that her life changed forever - both her grandson and the readers are captivated. Two young women exist a steamboat in a flurry of petticoats and finery and change the little Illinois town forever. No one knows if they are rebel sympathizers or society girls - but one thing is for certain - one of the young woman is black - is she a slave or freed? Because there are no suitable lodgings in town Tilly's mother opens up her house to them and life is never the same again. Interesting story that covers aspects of the war that many are probably unfamiliar with. Two fantastic narrators really make this a story worth listening to!

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

Why did it take me so long to read this book?!? This is a one of a kind young adult book. It's full of swagger, sex, vice, adventure, pirates, romance (gay and straight), and intrigue. And it's historical fiction! It's freaking awesome. Henry, his sister, and his best friend Percy are out on their "tour" of the continent. Henry just completed his schooling and as one last hurrah, he's allowed to go on a year long tour before he has to go back and start helping his father with the family estate, something he is absolutely dreading. Their barely on their way when Henry's antics at Versailles land them in a world of trouble. As if escaping from the party in nothing but his birthday suit wasn't bad enough, they are soon apprehended by highwaymen and it only gets worse from there. If they are going to survive Henry is going to have to cut back on drinking, stop sleeping around, and get his head out of his ass. The three young teenagers will need all their wits. Fun and unique. I'll have to check out the sequel!

Lady of a Thousand Treasures

Inspirational readers will be a big fan of this historical fiction involving, murder, theft, intrigue, romance, and a dash of adventure. Miss Eleanor Sheffield is practically running her late father's antiquities and appraisal shop. Her uncle is in declining health and it's on her and another young man to keep the business afloat. Many of the aristocracy and wealthy have reservations about a young lady's knowledge in treasures, but she was trained by the best, her father. When a large estate of treasures is placed in Eleanor's care to decide whether the collection should say with the deceased man's son or go to a museum, she finds herself torn. The son in question is her former crush, and she fears she still has feelings for him. What's a girl to do? If that wasn't complicated enough, counterfeits keep cropping up, and she discovers that bills have gone unpaid. How will she ever keep her family's business open? A delicate, inspirational romance with lush atmosphere.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Gah! I never wanted this book to end! It was an adorable, cozy read from start to finish and I LOVED the characters and the witty writing style of Juliet. Told through a series of letters, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, tells the story of a small island off the coast of England and how the islanders survived German occupation during World War II by forming a very unconventional literary society. Juliet is an author and Londoner whose wartime editorials have just been published into a popular book. While she is being celebrated around England she starts an odd and charming pen-pal relationship with a Guernsey islander and before long, she's writing to half the island. In no time at all she's found her inspiration for her next novel, in these odd, resilient, totally bonkers islanders. Cute, heartfelt, moving, wonderful, beautiful. I cannot wait to watch the movie adaptation!!

Elizabeth I

I haven't read historical fiction in a minute and I will admit that I was first daunted by the size of this book. However I was quickly captivated and this book was all I could think about. I had to know more! I vaguely remember learning about Queen Elizabeth I in history class, but what did I really know about her, so much was a mystery about her private life.

This 600+ page novel doesn't start during her childhood or even during her early reign. It starts when the Queen is in her mid-fifties and follows her through the end of her rule. It was utterly FASCINATING! The plot is told through the Queen's perspective and through her cousin, Lettice. Together they know an impressive cast of characters; Shakespeare, Francis Bacon, Grace O'Malley and more. I learned so much and was kept utterly charmed. I couldn't believe how wonderfully this was written and how much research the author put in to flesh out the queen's life. I can't wait to read more by this author.

See What I have Done

This fictional retelling of the Lizzie Borden murders was gripping from page one. Sarah Schmidt does a wonderful job recounting the events leading up to the infamous murder of Lizzie Borden's parents by telling the story in multiple voices. Lizzie, her sister Emma, the maid Bridget, and a mysterious man by the name of Benjamin view the events though different eyes and add an air of mystery. Did Lizzie Borden really murder her parents with an ax? Why was the Borden house so messed up? What are they all hiding? It's eerie and compelling and an overall quick read. Dark, morbid, and fascinating - historical fiction at it's best!

Valley of the Kings

A sweeping historical drama set in 14th century Egypt, this tale of kings, political plotting, romance, betrayal, and war is sure to find a wide variety of readers. Nerfetiti, Tutankhamen, and Ty are just a few of the major players in this fictional rendering of one of the greatest periods in history. Inspired by real life letters from the Hittites and Amarnas, award winning author, Terrance Coffey lends credence and authenticity to his fascinating look at royal lineage. When Prince Amenhotep succeeds the throne as a small child after his father and older brother's untimely deaths he is determined not to be undermined and to stay in control. To do so he outlaws worship of all other gods save one, Aten the sun god, and builds a new, hopefully less corrupt, capital city. Leaving Thebes behind doesn't solve any problems though; he is just an ostrich with its head in the sand and his controversial banning of gods has angered many. Told through multiple perspectives this story spans a few decades and will keep readers intrigued with tales of passion, lies, secrets, and intrigue. Filled with fascinating detail on cultures, clothes, custom, and religion, this is a great book for anyone looking to learn more about ancient Egypt. A wonderful book, honestly the great historical fiction I've ever read on ancient Egypt!

I received this book for free from the author in return for my honest, unbiased review.

At the Edge of the Orchard

Chevalier, Tracy. At the Edge of the Orchard. 7 CDs. unabridged. 9 hrs. Books on Tape. ISBN 9781101924983.
Chevalier (Girl with a Pearl Earring) pulls no punches with this hard hit tale of a pioneer family that can't ever seem to get ahead. In 1838 the Goodenough family settles into the Black Swamp of northern Ohio and try to have a go at planting apple trees aided by the traveling salesman known as Johnny Appleseed. James cares for his apple trees better than he does his ten children (half of which have died), savoring the sweet apples they can make. His wife Sadie however, only likes the trees when the apples produced are bitter, making them ideal for alcohol and giving her an escape from the life she detests. Told from alternating viewpoints and letters, this tale of rough rugged living sucks listeners in with four distinct voice talents, all of whom embody and enliven the tale with their rough accents. Every drawl and whistle, and song bring the Black Swamp to life for listeners. Meticulously researched, heartbreakingly beautiful, deceptively simple, and superbly narrated. Another must read from the queen of historical fiction. - Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin, IN

The North Water

If Cormac McCarthy, The Revenant, and Moby Dick had a love child it would most definitely be this book. Set in the 18th century this book follows Henry Drax, evil as the day as long, and Patrick Sumner, an opiate addicted ex-army surgeon, as they set off on a waling mission from England. Both have secrets to hide and obstacles to overcome, little do they know that this whaling voyage is going to take a dark brutal turn. Filled with bloody graphic descriptions of sodomy, harpooning, seal slaughter, and mutiny, this is not a tale for the queasy or light hearted. Everything that can go wrong does and it's a tale of survival and wits. Meticulously researched this book sucks you into a darker past and doesn't loosen its grip until the end. Impossible to put down this gritty, fast paced, historical drama is a must read for fans of Cormac McCarthy, Moby Dick, and historical survival dramas.

The Revenant

There's something to be said about reading a good wilderness survival book. That something is I wouldn't last two minutes. However, just because I wouldn't survive, doesn't mean I don't thoroughly enjoy reading all about someone else who would. Even from an early age reading Gary Paulsen, I was always captivated by those much stronger than me. To survive in the wilderness you need to be not only physically strong, but mentally strong, something that the main character in The Revenant certainly is.

Loosely based off of historical events; Hugh Glass, a fur trapper travelling up the Missouri river in 1823, finds himself in a perilous situation. Having been brutally mauled by a bear, the captain of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company leaves two fur trappers behind to look over Hugh while he slowly dies and then give him a proper burial. Unwilling to wait for Hugh to succumb to death, the two trappers not only leave him on his own, but take his weapon and tools, ensuring that he will never survive. The betrayal spurs Hugh Glass into action, slowly he heals with only one thought on his mind, revenge. He will hunt down those who abandoned him and deal out his brand of wilderness revenge. Dodging wild animals, Native Americans, and the perilous winter, revenge is what he heals Hugh and keeps him going. An astoundingly fast paced read. Filled with death, despair, and survival, this will make you glad to live in modern times.

A Thousand Shall Fall

Sassy, independent, Carrie Ann Bell, finds herself in a pickle when she's captured by Union soldiers and arrested for impersonating an officer. It had all started off soo innocently enough, her younger sister had run off and Carrie thought it was her duty to sneak behind enemy lines to go find her. The Yanks have no idea what to do with this smart talking, headstrong woman, but one soldier, Colonel Collier, has his eye on her.

Carrie finds herself caught up in the midst of the war and she doesn't know where to turn or who to trust other than God. All she wants to do is find her sister, but she finds herself compelled to stay and help with the wounded. It doesn't hurt that she also has eyes for the dashing Colonel. Is there time for love in the midst of war? Which side is she loyal to? For fans of inspirational romance and historical fiction.

I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity in return for my honest, unbiased review.

The Daughters of Jim Farrell

I started this story skeptical, but ended as a fan. At first I only liked one of the three sisters (Virginia), but over time I came to understand and appreciate the emotions and actions of all of them. The story follows three sisters and their mother as they deal with the after effects of their father's hanging. Believed by all (but the family) to have killed another man, he was sentenced to death. Angered and wanting vengeance, the eldest sister Kate decides to hire a Pinkerton to investigate the murder and clear her father's name. The more they discover, the deeper they fear the secret lies. Set in the heart of coal country in the late 1800s, this story also sheds light on the plight of poor miners and their families and the absolute authority that the bosses had over their workers. Eye opening and full of historical intrigue, this story is sure to reach a wide variety of audiences. It's historical, full of romance and mystery, and considered to be inspirational or Christian. A surprisingly good read.

I received this book for free from Book Crash in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.

Girl Waits with Gun

Cute, inventive, and hard to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the escapades of the three Kopp sisters, even more so when I discovered that this story is loosely based off true events! When an automobile collides with a horse and buggy and the buggy is ruined, the eldest sister, Constance, decides to take matters into her own hands and get the thug who was driving the car to pay. Little does she realize though that this thug is not to be messed with. Soon come the threatening letters, shots fired at the house, bricks thrown into windows. The girls finds themselves in over their heads. They turn to the sheriff for help before things escalate too quickly. My favorite character is the youngest sister Fleurette, who has a wonderful knack for creativity and seeing the positive side in everything. An enjoyably quick read.

Bianca's Vineyard

A wonderful book that spans generations and continents while showing the bonds of family, tradition, and love. Hard to put down, this family saga will draw readers in and has something to offer everyone. It has history, romance, culture, mental illness, art, family values, espionage, and war. The bulk of the story takes place during World War II in Italy and author, Teresa Neumann, does a wonderful job bringing the war torn and impressive Italian countryside to life. It wasn't til I had finished the book that I realized this story was based on true events, which makes it all the more impressive to me. The story is centered on one vineyard, one broken romance, and the decades long battle to hide and heal the rift between families and friends. Reading it made me want to visit the rolling hills of Italy, stay in a villa, and sample the world's finest wines. IT was truly a fantastic sensory experience reading this. A must read for fans of historical fiction, Italy, and World War II.

I received this book for free from Italy Book Tours in return for my honest, unbiased review.

The Sea House

A tale within a tale, of mermaids, selkies, and the things that haunt us. The tall proud Sea House is home to them all. When Ruth and Michael buy the house to restore it they have no idea what they will uncover. Underneath the living room lies the body of what appears to be a baby mermaid. Their discovery leads Ruth on a quest to find out more about the original inhabitants were and in the process she finds out more about her past. Raised in a children's home after her mother's apparent suicide, the only real family Ruth has ever had was with Michael and their soon to be born child. Ruth's feelings of abandonment rise as she is trying to find out the mermaid baby's family. Depression sets in as she uncovers the history of the house with the aid of the island folk. Together they piece together the house's past, the mermaid baby's past, and Ruth's past.

A toughing tale told through three unique viewpoints and full of folklore, mythology, and culture. For fans of historical fiction and folklore.

I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.

The Queen's Handmaid

Breathtaking in scope, this historical piece takes us back to when Cleopatra was still ruling the Nile and Rome was still in all its glory. Told through the eyes of a handmaid, this tale of suspense, finding one's true purpose, and faith is inspiring and intriguing. The political intrigues and backdrop are fascinating enough on their own but author, Tracey L. Higley, goes above and beyond creating the perfect story. Lydia serves first Cleopatra in Alexandra, then Herod's wife in the Holy city. Before she fled Alexandria with Herod, her mentor entrusted her with a sacred set of scrolls to be given to a secret man in Jerusalem. For years she carries this secret burden trying to fulfill this destiny but something always manages to thwart her attempts; war, death, duty, the list is never ending. Lydia must learn to trust herself and her friends if she is ever to complete her mission.

For fans of historical intrigue, romance, and biblical history. I received this book free from LitFuse Publicity in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.

Orphan Train

This is a perfect book club pick. It's intriguing, informative, fast, and easy to read. Honestly, I could even see this book passing off as a young adult novel, as one of the main characters is a seventeen year old girl and it's such a fast read.

The story is told by two characters; Molly, a seventeen year old orphan in 2011 and Niamh, an young orphan shipped out to the west on the orphan train in the 1920's. Their stories are more alike then they realize. When Molly starts on a volunteer project to clean out 91 year old Vivian's attic she has no idea the story she will uncover. Each box in the attic has a story that brings the two closer together.

A wonderfully told story with more historical details about the orphan train included in the back. A perfect pick for book clubs or fans of historical fiction.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation - Volume 1: The Pox Party

This book was eloquent and dark, and amazingly well written but I still wasn't a huge fan of it. It starts off like a gothic fairy tale an African prince and his mother are hidden away in an American mansion and given the best classical education, the finest clothes, the best instruments, all the while the white men study them and discontent grows in America. Octavian doesn't really understand how peculiar his circumstances are until he is older and filled in by the slave, Bono.

Interesting from a historical and literary perspective. For fans of American history and young adult literature.

Whistling Past the Graveyard

This book was adorable!! If you are a fan of "The Help" or "The Secret Life of Bees" then this is the book for you!!! Susan Crandall vividly brings to life the most remarkable, yet relate-able characters I've read in a long while.

Set in 1963 Mississippi, young, naive Starla runs away from her strict grandmother and heads to Nashville to reconnect with her mother whom she hasn't seen since she was young. Daddy's off working on an oil rig so Starla is set on finding and living with her momma, a famous singer by the name of Lulu.

Starla doesn't think through her runaway plan and is soon rescued from the sweltering heat by Eula, a nice black woman who is caring for a white baby. Together the three of them go on a journey that will radically change their lives and make them stronger than they ever thought possible.

The story is beautifully told through Starla's eyes and really helps illustrate the "separate but equal" unjustices that were plaguing the south. Starla comes to understand how unfair and unequal things are by traveling with Eula and her perception of the world is forever altered.

It's a beautiful story! I highly recommend!

For fans of historical fiction and southern literature.

Long Trail Home

Long Trail Home is the third in the Texas Trails series which follows the Morgan family through different generations. I didn't feel that it added much historical and emotional appeal as the other two and it would serve better as a stand alone novel.

This inspirational romance follows Riley Morgan as he journey home from the Civil War. When he finally arrives in his hometown of Waco after years of bloody brutal battles, he discovers that his parents had been murdered by a tribe of Indians and his fiance married someone else. So clearly his life sucks. But this guy is a trooper. He cries for like a day and moves on. He can't bear to stay in his childhood home because there is nothing left for him there so he convinces the lady that runs the School for the Blind to let him room for free if he makes repairs around the place. While there he starts to fall for a young woman who has quite a sinister past as well.

Annie, took shelter at the school of the blind when she was just a young child. Her mother was dead and her father abandoned her in Waco so she faked blindness so she could seek refuge in the only place that would take her. For seven years she's lied to everyone in the community and the only one that knows her secret is Laura, the headmistress. As she starts to develop feelings for Riley she feels as if she needs to tell him of the deception but then they receive the news that the school is to be shut down, the timing is awful. Oh what will they do?!

For fans of breezy inspirational novels and light historical fiction.

I received this book for free from Moody Publishers in return for my honest, unbiased review.