Historical Fiction

Review: Whirlwinds, Waves, and Willow by Flo Dombey

Whirlwinds, Waves and Willow by Flo Dombey

Unexpected romance, deadly betrayals, and the perils of complex families swirl madly together in Whirlwinds, Waves, and Willow by Flo Dombey, the second emotional installment of The Willow Chronicle.

Willow’s life has been turned upside-down by the reappearance of a biological father she thought long dead, making every decision feel unsteady for the headstrong 17-year-old, despite having some of the best sea legs in Port Townsend, WA. The mysterious suicide of her wealthy stepfather adds another devastating blow, further distancing Billie from her mother, whom she blames for the lifetime of secrets that led to this tragic collision of […]

Review: A Summer of War by Lynn Mason

A Summer of War by Lynn Mason

A breathless tale of violence and love, A Summer of War by Lynn Mason is a gripping plunge into the jungles of Vietnam, told through an evocative and refreshing lens.

When a misogynistic military bureaucrat tells reporter Chris McKenna that the Mekong Delta is no place for a woman, she smells a story, so she bounds her way into the fiery battlefield of South Vietnam. In “a war gone awry,” being a female member of the press at a forward operating base is a hard row to hoe, but she has the essential support of Paul, her photo-snapping sidekick who […]

2024-02-01T13:29:25+02:00January 31st, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: , |

The Blythe Girl by Alex Webster

The Blythe Girl by Alex WebsterObsession and desperation lead to scandalous deeds and sinister consequences in The Blythe Girl by Alex Webster, a fantastically dark period drama.

William is a Regency gentleman torn in two – determined to fulfill the duties of husband and father, but also driven to the edge of madness by an infatuation cut tragically short. When William’s long-suffering groundskeeper offers him the chance to bring the headstrong Miss Blythe back to life, he makes that fateful choice, unaware of the ulterior motives behind the supernatural proposition. Miraculous as her revival initially seems, the veil of death is not crossed lightly, and […]

2024-01-24T17:53:30+02:00January 24th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , |

Starmen by Francis Hamit

Starmen by Francis HamitA richly imagined tale of cowboys, aliens, and an ethnographic clash of cultures, Starmen by Francis Hamit is a genre-bending adventure with enough historical touchstones to brilliantly blur the line between fact and fiction.

In this slightly alternate universe, legendary anthropologist George James Frazer travels to El Paso, Texas in 1875 as a young man, acting as the ‘advance man’ for an aeronautical angel from Liverpool with a dirigible at her command. His academic fascination with native cultures, myths, and traditions soon leads him into the secretive world of the local Apaches, as well as the investigative purview of the […]

2024-01-23T15:32:04+02:00January 23rd, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , , |

Review: Mask of Dreams by Leigh Grant

Mask of Dreams by Leigh Grant

Mask of Dreams by Leigh Grant is a huge, sprawling achievement, a marvelous historical novel that brings together elements of the romance and adventure genres with grittier realism and acutely observed period minutiae. With its addictive plotting and believable characters backed up by clearly thorough research of the era, the novel is sure to linger long in the memory as an expertly woven, richly detailed, and thoroughly gripping work of historical fiction.

The title alludes to its period setting – Venice in its golden age around the year 1500, a city that is also an empire, and a world of […]

2024-02-28T15:07:49+02:00January 3rd, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Cheerful Obedience by Patrick McLaughlin

Cheerful Obedience by Patrick McLaughlinAn eager young soldier comes of age through the smoke and strife of Vietnam in Cheerful Obedience by Patrick McLaughlin, a character-focused snapshot of that conflict’s dark legacy, and a powerful work of historical wartime fiction.

Conor McKall is an honorable protagonist – he understands his duty, sticks up for his comrades, and acts courageously in service to his country, but surviving in a war zone takes more than humility, patience, and resilience. As McKall moves up the chain into squad leader, he must navigate the day-to-day trudge of an ever-changing battlefield, including petty challenges to his leadership and explosive […]

2023-12-07T17:33:57+02:00December 7th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , |

Review: Magi Apprentice by Dan E. Hendrickson

Magi Apprentice by Dan E. Hendrickson

A narrative clash of mysticism, science, geopolitics, and biblical lore, Magi Apprentice by Dan E. Hendrickson is a unique piece of historical fiction, exploring the religious sects, governments, and individuals who likely played a part in the star-driven journey to the birthplace of Jesus.

Rassan is a young military officer and friend to Prince Phraates, heir to the Parthian Empire. When a rogue magi embarks on a secret pilgrimage to Jerusalem, through Parthian lands, Rassan is sent to meet him on the road, only to find that his caravan has been attacked by bandits. The magi’s final wish sends Rassan […]

Review: In the Shadow of the Sun by Poli Flores Jr.

A touching tale of brotherly devotion and the life-altering consequences of war, In the Shadow of the Sun by Poli Flores Jr. is an outback California drama that echoes across small-town American life.

In the shifting cultural landscape of the Vietnam era, a young man named Curt leaves for war as a musclebound titan, but returns as a troubled and broken soul, unprepared for the very different battles that still lay ahead. When a respected member of the community is bludgeoned to death shortly after his return, the clues and suspicions all seem to point toward Curt.

With corrupt law […]

2023-09-29T12:18:09+02:00September 29th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |
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