Tag Archives: historical fiction

Book Review: Behind the Scenes

12 Wednesday Apr 2017

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Behind the Scenes

 

Jen Turano has created her own genre of fiction by writing humorous historical romances. Behind the Scenes is the perfect example of historical fiction meets romantic comedy. I have read many titles by Turano, and this by far is the quirkiest. While I enjoyed it, there were a few times I felt like parts of the story were a bit over the top.

In Behind the Scenes, a wallflower, Permilia Griswold discovers a murder plot while attending the Vanderbilt ball. It involves the handsome Asher Rutherford…one of the few gentlemen who found his way onto her dance card. Permilia knows she must protect Asher and find out who wants him dead, and why. From here, the story takes a number of crazy turns. Near the end, I found myself laughing at the unexpected conclusion. It was almost if Permilia had wondered on to the set of Days of Our Lives.  I should also add that Turano tells her stories through dialogue. There isn’t a tremendous about of scene description or pages of inner thought. Behind the Scenes is eighty percent conversation.

All things considered, Behind the Scenes is a decent read that I enjoyed. It isn’t a book I would consider a favorite, but not every book can be. This book is the start to a news series and I am hopeful I will enjoy the subsequent books even more.  Turano’s After a Fashion, is without a doubt one of her most memorable novels. If you enjoy humor and historical fiction, this book is for you! Jen Turano writes like no other author in the Christian Historical Fiction genre. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Netgalley and Bethanyhouse. I was not required to give a positive review and I have not been compensated in any way.

A New Favorite from Tamera Alexander

25 Wednesday Jan 2017

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a-note-yet-unsung

 

I have had the privilege of reading all three books in Tamera Alexander’s Belmont Mansion series.  This last book, A Note Yet Unsung is without a question my favorite of the three! It was a fantastic ending to a fabulous series!! While this book is third in the series, you could absolutely read it as a stand alone. Tamera Alexander does include characters from the previous books, but in a fun flashback sort of way.

A Note Yet Unsung, is a charming story about a tenacious woman before her time. Rebekah Carrington has arrived home to Nashville from Vienna without money or a safe place to live. She is an extremely talented musician living in a time when women are not invited to participate in symphonies. She soon finds that the city has acquired its own philharmonic with a promising conductor, Nathaniel T. Whitcomb. The war is over and times are changing… perhaps Mr. Whitcomb will offer her an opportunity to live her dream. Her hope for her future rests in hands.

I love the way Tamera Alexander develops this story. There is no love at first sight or unbelievable relationship created. Page by page, Rebekah and Nathaniel get to know one another. I love the amount of page time dedicated to the development of their story. This story is perfection, an easy five stars. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Netgalley. I was not required to give it a positive review. To be perfectly honest, I was patiently waiting for this book’s release so I could request it. I would have purchased a copy for myself because Tamera Alexander is in my top three must read authors!!

09 Monday Jan 2017

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a-moonbow-night

 

Every year I eagerly await a new story from my favorite author Laura Frantz. When I know my copy is in route to my mailbox I can hardly stand the anticipation! Laura Frantz is a historian, wordsmith, and a poet. Frantz’s newest novel, A Moonbow Night, does not disappoint! I hung on every word and turned every page with great anticipation.

In A Moonbow Night, author Laura Frantz has penned a tale of love and hardship in the wilderness. It so reminds me of the stories like Legends of the Fall or a River Runs Through It. The leading lady, Temeperance is lovely but strong and a heroine in her own right. Sion, the man who invades Tempe’s life and heart, in my mind is handsome like Brad Pitt and rough around edges. They meet at the Moonbow Inn on the Shawnee River run by Tempe and her family. Sion comes to find that he needs Tempe’s help as a guide to complete his work as a surveyor. They set out together on a dangerous trek through the wilderness where they will risk their lives and hearts.

I was totally captivated by this story! I am blown away by Frantz’s ability to write a new story with unique characters. This book is wonderful and I stayed up late a few nights so I could read it without interruption! I whole heartedly recommend A Moonbow Night to anyone who enjoys historical fiction done well. I was given a complimentary copy to this book by its publisher. I was not required to give a positive review. In all honesty, I would have bought this book had I not received a review copy.

A New Book from Julie Klassen

21 Wednesday Dec 2016

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the-innkeeper-of-ivy-hill

 

I am a long time fan of author Julie Klassen. I have read every book she has written with the exception of The Silent Governess. My favorites include The Secret of Pembrooke Park, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Painter’s Daughter.  Klassen’s new novel, The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill, is a bit different than her prior novels. I can’t say that it will make my list of favorites, but it could be a start to an interesting series.

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill isn’t so much about a single character but about an entire town with a focus on a number of characters.  If you follow period dramas and novels, I would liken the setting to Lark Rise to Candleford with hints of Jane Austen and even the Mitford Series by Jan Karon. Klassen discloses these as inspiration in her Author’s Notes, but I assumed so as I read…especially because of a character named Sir Timothy (Lark Rise to Candleford).

Of all the characters Klassen writes about in this novel, my least favorite was Thora who gets quite a bit of page time. I am pretty sure she was meant to be more like a Dorkus (Lark Rise again) but I couldn’t shake the image of Harriet Olsen from Little House on the Prairie.  Thora is a tough middle aged woman who lacks any gentility and was difficult to pull for in the story. My favorite character, Jane, didn’t get as much page time as Thora. Well, at least it felt that way.  The book begins with Jane and her current predicament of widowhood, looming debt, and an Inn she never really had much to with that is now hers to run. This novel is not about Jane finding love again, or being rescued by anyone but herself.  I’ll admit that I am a sucker for romantic historical fiction and because all romance in this book belongs to Thora…I struggled.

I will read the next book in this series, with hope that I will see some closure for characters I feel like I have come to know. Klassen is still one of my favorite authors, this just wasn’t my favorite book. It took me longer than usual to get through, but I did finish.  I would encourage you to read The Painter’s Daughter to really get why Klassen is such an amazing writer. She really is top notch.  I was given a complimentary copy of this title by its publisher. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions and thoughts are my own and I have not been compensated.

New from Shelley Shepard Gray

03 Wednesday Aug 2016

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Loyal Heart

I so enjoyed The Loyal Heart by Shelley Shepard Gray! I was a little timid choosing it to read because I have never read anything by Gray and I have the tendency to be a Historical Fiction snob. Historical Fiction, for me, must feel accurate, tell a page turning story, and include a romance. It is a tall order, but Gray does it!

The Loyal Heart  is the first book in Gray’s A Lone Star Hero’s Love Story series. Novels based in Texas are always fun to read because of the culture and dynamic of people who live there. In The Loyal Heart a war widow, Miranda Markham, is struggling to continue life without her husband Phillip. They were married just before he left to fight. Though they had little time together, their match was a true love story. Phillip’s comrades made a pact to care for Miranda in the instance Phillip didn’t make it home. Robert Truax, who served with Phillip, travels to Galveston to see to Miranda and investigate her circumstances. Robert makes it his mission to see Miranda’s life made better and in doing so finds himself falling for her.

Author Shelley Shepard Gray does many things right in this novel. Gray created interesting and believable characters I really enjoyed reading…and spent many late nights doing so. She also did an amazing job telling the back story, the one a reader often doesn’t get. Not only did she tell the back story, but she did so through flashbacks and she managed to do it well. I did not feel lost or confused and I feel like the chapters that look back enrich the story.

As a picky Historical Fiction reader, I give this novel an easy five stars. It has been a long time since I have read something I enjoyed so much. Gray has a new loyal reader in me. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by BookLookBloggers in exchange for an honest review. I have not been compensated and all opinions are my own.

Book Review: No Other Will Do

06 Wednesday Jul 2016

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No Othre will do

Karen Witemeyer has become one of my go to authors to read. She writes fun historical fiction that always satisfies. No Other Will Do is a charming story full of lovely characters, a mystery to be solved, and a long coming romance. If you are a Karen Witemeyer fan you will no doubt enjoy this new novel.

No Other Will Do is about a man, Malachi Shaw, who returns to the women that rescued him as boy to help them in their time of need. One of the woman in particular, Emma Chandler, holds a special place in Malachi’s heart. She is the one who found him, clothed him, fed him, and loved him. Now, the community Emma established to help ladies in need, is in trouble. The story of Emma and Malachi is a fun and sweet drama that ends just as it should.

As I said, I am a fan of Witemeyer and I always enjoy her books. I have my favorites, and while this book is great…it is not my favorite. It is a bit slow in parts and took a few chapters to really get underway. Some of her other books,  Full Steam Ahead, A Tailor-Made Bride, and Head in the Clouds were the books that made me a fan. Having said that, this is still a good read. I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own and I have not been compensated in any way.

Book Review: A Flight of Arrows

08 Wednesday Jun 2016

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A Flight of Arrows

 

I am happy to say I have discovered another intensely talented historical fiction author. Lori Benton is a master at her craft and talented beyond words. She has the ability of including detail and characters with depth without boredom. A Flight of Arrows is a beautiful story about two families who were brought together in a tragic way. Standing in the wake of decisions made, Two Hawks and Anna must overcome many obstacles to find their way to each other.

At 378 pages, this novel is not for the eager reader who craves instant gratification and predicability. This book is full of action and subplots. There are many characters, all well developed, but much to keep up with. While this is a love story of sorts, it is not entirely about one couples love story. A Flight of Arrows is about family, friendship, lost and found relationships, and a coming together of people.

My only wish for this particular book is that I would have like to read the first book in the series. Lori Benton does a nice job of bringing you in to the story, but I always like to know the back story. Other than that, this book is marvelous. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by BloggingforBooks in exchange for an honest review. All options are my own and I have not been compensated.

Book Review: The Magnolia Duchess

16 Monday May 2016

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The Magnolia Duchess

 

The Magnolia Duchess is the third installment in author Beth White’s Gulf Coast Chronicles. I had the privilege of reading book two, The Creole Princess, prior to reading book three. Having read the second book, I still found myself lost in this novel. I am an avid reader of historical fiction and I do enjoy a book filled with historical detail. However, I feel like I may have missed the forest for the trees.

I must acknowledge the skill, planning, and writing talent with which Beth White pen’s her novels. White had definitely done her research and included so many historical details in her story of love and war. This story begins with Fiona Lanier discovering a washed up man on the shore. More interesting is the realization that she recognizes him. From here there seems to be a never-ending cast of characters and plot lines. Point of view in the story changes frequently to the point that I wish a full list was provided for the reader.

I never want to dissuade someone from reading a book based on m own personal feelings. Especially when the author took such pains to write such a detail filled story. If you love historical fiction loaded with characters and places, this might be the book for you. It just wasn’t a book for me. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated in any way

Sigh Worthy Historical Fiction

17 Sunday Apr 2016

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The Reluctant Duchess

I am just over the moon in love with this book! I have picked a few duds lately and The Reluctant Duchess is just what I needed to pull me out of my book slump. If you are a Downton Abbey fan and like me, your morning the end of your favorite show…this book is for you! This book is definitely in the Downton Abbey era, but it also has a bit of mystery to add to the ambiance. For me, author Roseanna M. White hit a home run with Book 2 in her Ladies of the Manor Series. 

I honesty had never heard of White when I selected this title to read. I have not read Book 1, The Lost Heiress. The books are connected in the story they tell, but I did not feel lost. I could see there were details of the first book that might have enhanced this novel, but I still LOVED this book!

The Reluctant Duchess is the story of the weary Lady Rowena Kinnaird. Rowena has been mistreated not only by her father, but also the man she thought was the love of her life. Her life long companion Lilias comes up with a plan to change Rowena’s future. With the help of Rowena’s father, Lord Lochaber, Lilias arranges for Rowena to meet the Duke of Nottingham. Rowena must get past her terrible memories to find love. Brice (the Duke) has the difficult task of solving a mystery and earning the trust of Rowena.

Honestly, so much happens in this book it is difficult to summarize without spoiling the story! My advice to you is to read it! You will not regret it! The Reluctant Duchess is the top of my favorites list of 2016 and I am excited to add White to my MUST READ authors list. I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.

A Historical Fiction Masterpiece!

07 Monday Dec 2015

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The Painters Daugher

The Painter’s Daughter is absolutely marvelous in every way. I loved it from the first page and could not put it down. I have long been a fan of author Julie Klassen. She writes historical fiction full of romance and mystery with all of the drama and loveliness of Jane Eyre. This book was perfection and it has easily found it’s way into my top reads of 2015. If you love historical fiction, you MUST read this novel!

In The Painter’s Daughter, Sophia Dupont finds herself in a most unfortunate situation. The man she loves has left her to find his muse and she is alone and ruined. Sophia carries Wesley Overtree’s child and he doesn’t even know it, for she didn’t have the opportunity to tell him. Wesley’s brother, Captain Stephen Marshall discovers Sophia…and her predicament..on his hunt for his lost absent sibling. Captain Marshall offers to marry Sophia and claim her child as his. She agrees, and her reluctant yes turns into so much more. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this beautifully crafted novel. As soon as I am done writing this review, I will read it again. You will not be disappointed with this book. If I could give it 10 stars I would!  The Painter’s Daughter is long, but not once was I bored. I skimmed ZERO pages….every single word was worth all the sleep I forfeited.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by it’s publisher, Bethany House Fiction. However, I would have bought it had I not scored a review copy. I never miss a new book by Julie Klassen. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated in any way.