Category Archives: Historical Fiction

January 17, 2014 · 7:05 am

The Gods of Heavenly Punishment

The Gods of Heavenly Punishment PB CoverTitle: The Gods of Heavenly Punishment
Author: Jennifer Cody Epstein
Source: from publisher for Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review Summary: Although the story was a bit sad for my tastes, this beautifully written book captivated me with vivid personalities and intriguing, interconnected stories.

The defining event of The Gods of Heavenly Punishment is the firebombing of Tokyo in WWII. However, what the book is really about is people and the way they affect one another. Fifteen-year-old Yoshi’s experiences leading up to and following the firebombing will be “shaped by those considered the enemy: Cam, a downed bomber pilot taken prisoner by the Imperial Japanese Army; Anton, a gifted architect who helped modernize Tokyo’s prewar skyline but is now charged with destroying it; and Billy, an Occupation soldier who arrives in the blackened city with a dark secret of his own. Directly or indirectly, each will shape Yoshi’s journey as she seeks safety, love, and redemption.” (source)

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Filed under Fiction, Historical Fiction

Tagged as , , , , Tokyo, WWII

January 10, 2014 · 8:32 am

Somewhere In France

Somewhere in FranceTitle: Somewhere in France
Author: Jennifer Robson
Source: from publisher for TLC book tour
Rating: ★★★★★
Review Summary: This was a touching romance perfect for the time period, yet touching on issues relevant to women today.

Lady Elizabeth Neville-Ashford has always thought fondly of her bother’s friend Robert since as a child he encouraged her to pursue her dreams. A surprise meeting years later reveals him to still be equally supportive and their mutual attraction is obvious. However, Elizabeth’s mother disapproves of Robert almost as much as she disapproves of Elizabeth’s career aspirations. The war and encouragement from friends give Elizabeth the courage to break with her parents. As an ambulance driver she is eventually sent to the front, where she is reunited with Robert (a surgeon). Although they are reunited, his fear for her safety is a strain their relationship might not survive. Continue reading →

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Filed under Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance

Tagged as , , , england, france, , , , women, WWI

January 9, 2014 · 6:43 am

Witch Finder

18039069Title: Witch Finder
Author: Ruth Warburton
Source: from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review Summary: This was a fun, light, action-packed adventure but the anticlimactic ending and two-dimensional villain left me wanting something more.

London. 1880. In the slums of Spitalfields apprentice blacksmith Luke is facing initiation into the Malleus Maleficorum, the fearsome brotherhood dedicated to hunting and killing witches. Luke’s final test is to pick a name at random from the Book of Witches, a name he must track down and kill within a month, or face death himself. Luke knows that tonight will change his life forever. But when he picks out sixteen-year-old Rosa Greenwood, Luke has no idea that his task will be harder than he could ever imagine. (Source) Continue reading →

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Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism

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December 31, 2013 · 10:57 pm

Mrs. Lincoln’s Rival

18079837Title: Mrs. Lincoln’s Rival
Author: Jennifer Chiaverini
Source: from publisher for review
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Review Summary: Although the details of the time period were fascinating, the story telling was dry and the plot unengaging.

Kate Chase, known as the Belle of Washington in the civil war era, was as beautiful and charming as she was politically savvy. Her good humor and social graces earned her the friendship of many but Mrs. Lincoln perceived her social success as a threat. This rivalry was only one of the challenges she faced while managing her father’s political career and her many suitors. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under Fiction, Historical Fiction

Tagged as , , , civil war, civil war er,

November 29, 2013 · 8:35 am

The Last Camellia

15848920Title: The Last Camellia
Author: Sarah Jio
Source: from a friend
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review Summary: While the plot was fascinating and the writing well done, this book was missing that special something which makes me fall in love with a book.

An apparently innocuous English estate, home to the last of a much-prized variety of camellia, becomes the site of mystery, murder, and intrigue across the years. Right before the beginning of WWII, Flora is convinced by a ring of thieves to take a job as a nanny in order to locate the camellia. Falling in love complicates her plans substantially and puts her in great danger. Over fifty years later, Addison moves into the manor in an attempt to escape her past. Now both her past and that of the manor are catching up to her and if she doesn’t solve the mystery of what happened to Flora, she might be in grave danger as well.
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Filed under Fiction, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Women's Fiction

Tagged as , , dual narrative, , mystery

November 8, 2013 · 7:05 am

Gracianna

17355195Title: Gracianna
Author: Trini Amador
Source: from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review Summary: Although the beginning was a bit choppy, by the end I was completely engaged in the story and had a hard time putting it down.

Gracianna is a fictionalized account of the life of the author’s great-grandmother. Inspired by his discovery of a loaded German Luger in her house when he was only four years old, Trini learned all he could of her life from his relatives. He filled in the gaps with a gripping tale of a courageous woman recruited into the French resistance during the Nazi occupation of Paris and forced to make some very difficult choices. Continue reading →

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Filed under Fiction, Historical Fiction

Tagged as , , , , ,

October 19, 2013 · 6:42 pm

The Girl You Left Behind

17572903Title: The Girl You Left Behind
Author: Jojo Moyes
Source: from publisher for SheReads book club
Rating: ★★★★★
Review Summary: This book was so well written and so intriguing that I couldn’t put it down, even at the end of Dewey’s 24 hour read-a-thon.

In 1916, French artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his wife Sophie to fight at the Front. When her town falls into German hands, his portrait of Sophie stirs the heart of the local Kommandant and causes her to risk everything – her family, reputation and life – in the hope of seeing her true love one last time. Nearly a century later and Sophie’s portrait is given to Liv by her young husband shortly before his sudden death. Its beauty speaks of their short life together, but when the painting’s dark and passion-torn history is revealed, Liv discovers that the first spark of love she has felt since she lost him is threatened… (from Goodreads) Continue reading →

24 Comments

Filed under Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction

Tagged as art, , , , british authors, dual narrative, , historical setting, jojo moyes, painting,