historical novels | We Need More Shelves…

Review: News of the World

By Jan

on January 26th, 2017

News of the World Author: Paulette Jiles; Genre: Historical Novel/Western; Format: Ebook; Publisher: William Morrow (2016). Once in a while, a novel comes along that really surprises me. Perhaps I read too many books authored by inexperienced writers, and when a great one crosses my path, I’m shocked by how well it’s done. That happened with this book. Not only…

Review: A Worthy Pursuit

By Jan

on June 14th, 2016

A Worthy Pursuit Author: Karen Witemeyer; Narrator: Barbara McCulloh; Genre: Western/Romance; Format: Audiobook (Recorded Books, 2015); This is a western and a romance with a Christian message, and I enjoyed it very much. I’m not a big romance fan, but this one had very high ratings, and I’m glad I gave it a chance. The prim and proper headmistress of…

Review: Sinful Folk

By Jan

on October 29th, 2014

Sinful Folk (Omnibus 1–4) by Ned Hayes Campanile Books (2014) ASIN: B00F8J6ME6 This is a depressing story based on truth and set in England in 1377. A woman has lost her son in a fire that also killed four other boys. A small group of villagers sets off on a journey in the middle of winter to bring the bodies to…

Review: Pope Joan

By Jan

on September 8th, 2014

Pope Joan: A Novel by Donna Woolfolk Cross Broadway Books (2009) ASIN: B002BH5HO4 This historical novel tells the incredible story of a girl in the Dark Ages who longs to be a scholar. She runs away from a dysfunctional home and eventually is given a place in a school. She falls in love with her guardian—a married man. After a…

Review: The Midwife’s Revolt

By Jan

on September 8th, 2014

The Midwife’s Revolt by Jodi Daynard Published by: Opossom Press (2013) ASIN: B00AHJ5J00 I do love a good historical novel or mystery, and this book includes both. Lizzie Boylston is a young widow in 1775 who lives near John and Abigail Adams in Braintree, Massachusetts. Lizzie is a midwife and healer, and although she grew up in the city of…

Review: The Forgotten Sister: Mary Bennet’s Pride and Prejudice

By Jan

on May 31st, 2014

The Forgotten Sister: Mary Bennet’s Pride and Prejudice by Jennifer Paynter A nice companion to the classic “Pride and Prejudice,” this is the story of the middle Bennet sister, Mary. Her tale is not all peaches and cream. Mary is not as lovely as Jane nor as loved by their father as Elizabeth. However, her mind is sharp as a tack,…

Review: One Great Year

By Jan

on March 10th, 2014

Review: One Great Year by Tamara Veitch and Rene DeFazio This is an epic story of reincarnation, spirituality, and philosophy, revolving around a “great year” cycle of 26,000 years. The denizens of an ancient peace-loving civilization are about to lose their world. They choose “Emissaries” to go forth into the world, guiding people through the dark age of the Great…

Review: Fires of Alexandria

By Jan

on February 12th, 2014

Fires of Alexandria: Book One of the Alexandrian Saga by Thomas K. Carpenter This is historical fiction based on some facts but with an extremely implausible story. I usually enjoy ancient history and gave it a good try. The famous Heron, genius and inventor, lived in Alexandria, Egypt during the first century, A.D. The Roman Empire had taken control of the…