Historical Fiction | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Harriet: A Jane Austen Variation by Alice McVeigh

Harriet Smith boldly catapults herself into the delicate world of high society in Harriet: A Jane Austen Variation, another masterfully penned homage by Alice McVeigh. Youthful passions, fanciful romance, and shifting social dynamics make this an entertaining drama, a peek into the past, and a subtly modern treat.

Casting herself in the role of Emma Woodhouse’s protege, or live-in pet project, in an effort to move herself into a new sphere of society, Harriet cuts a strong, fearless, and authentic figure. Austen fans will be familiar with Emma’s character, from the novel of the same name, but this variation […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-02-03T05:42:59+02:00February 3rd, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Alice McVeigh, Historical Fiction|

Review: Nelson’s Folly by Oliver Greeves

A character-driven period drama that shines with eloquent prose, historical detail, and gripping suspense, Nelson’s Folly by Oliver Greeves is nothing short of masterful.

Initially, Captain Horatio Nelson is a captain without a ship, disliked by far too many in the British Navy for his career to progress any further. However, as the French Revolutionary Wars rage on, men of Nelson’s undeniable skill and experience are essential, and thus he finds himself freshly helming the Agamemnon, and quickly finding success on the high seas.

Horatio begins the story as a slightly jaded, yet confident husband, a man who commands interest […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-04-11T04:14:20+02:00February 1st, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction|

Review: FitzDuncan’s Alchemy by John Spearman

Another well-crafted adventure by John Spearman, FitzDuncan’s Alchemy is the second installment of this medieval series, where the titular character – a reliable finder of lost things – must use all his wits and wiles to unravel a lucrative cargo scam, in a clever, character-driven caper.

Navigating the pitfalls of new love, and avoiding the manipulative clutches of the royal court, Caz schemes and sneaks and supplicates with charm and grace, making it hard not to root for the book’s roguish hero, even with his roving eye and soft spot for beautiful women. Executing a clever plan that could cost […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-31T09:06:03+02:00December 13th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Action and Adventure, Historical Fiction, John J Spearman|

Review: All That Will Remain by Richard Snodgrass

An epic American drama, All That Will Remain by Richard Snodgrass is a stunning portrait of small-town life suddenly revealed by the lights of the broader world.

This is not the first time the author has proven his ability to gracefully transport readers across time and space – his body of work is an homage to eras long past, linked through themes of industry, resilience, power, and the murky, ever-shifting idea of the American dream. This latest offering is an intimate and revealing peek into a temerarious family of rugged survivors as they navigate the rapidly changing landscape of war […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-18T09:14:58+02:00December 5th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Richard Snodgrass|

Lilly Of The Mountains by D.L. Yoder

Tragedy, greed, desire and freedom collide in Lilly of the Mountains by D.L. Yoder, a 1940s period novel of Colorado homestead life and the sweet satisfaction of self-discovery.

The fearless widow at the heart of this story is unrelenting in her quest for independence and true liberation – from money, from men, and from societal expectations. The forces that conspire to control her, woo her, or continue the patriarchal reign of her recent years, are no match for the cleverness and sheer will that this entrancing protagonist brings to every scene.

From the gossipy nature of small mountain towns to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-14T07:33:56+02:00October 5th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: D.L. Yoder, Historical Fiction|

Review: Opium and the Red Rose by Michael Rogers

Revisiting the war-torn land that scarred his youth, a filmmaker cooperates in international espionage and finds love and atonement, in Opium and the Red Rose, a wide-ranging thriller by Michael Rogers.

It’s 1982. Danny Summers is working with a film crew recreating scenes of combat, when his life suddenly changes in the face of two unrelated incidents: an accidental death during the filming, and a stranger inviting him to meet with a senator on a matter of extreme confidentiality.

The accident takes Danny back to his Vietnam years when he served the military as a member of a cinematic […]

SPR2021-11-11T04:25:38+02:00September 27th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction, Thriller|

The Mills Kept Grinding by Martin Smallridge

The Mills Kept Grinding by Martin Smallridge is a harrowing depiction of World War II that fleshes out characters in stark detail – both the good and the brutal – in which readers can eerily see themselves on every side of the conflict. By the end, it is hard to imagine such a brutal and sadistic Europe, which acts as a grim recollection of the past, and a reminder of what humans are capable of in the present and future.

Written as a creative literary exploration of the time period, Smallridge weaves family history, personal narrative, and fictional events into […]

SPR2021-09-22T03:02:02+02:00September 22nd, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fiction, World War II|

Review: Celtic Mist by C.L. Nightjar

An epic and erotic journey of youthful adventure, Celtic Mist by C.L. Nightjar is an immersive experience that will thrill historical fiction, romance, and fantasy lovers alike. Driven by honor and desperation, this is a deeply moving tale of loss, grief, redemption, and revenge, all set among a stunning depiction of Ireland’s rough-hewn beauty.

Declan is a charmingly naive protagonist, at least at the beginning of the novel, but readers see him mature quickly into a rugged hero. An unexpected promotion to the Captain’s Crusaders gives him the sudden pride of belonging, perhaps for the first time in his life. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-08-22T10:42:27+02:00August 19th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: C.L. Nightjar, Historical Fiction, Romance|