Jane Healey recommends
When the World Goes Quiet (2024)Gian Sardar"Gian Sardar's novel When the World Goes Quiet is a heart-wrenching, evocative tale of one extraordinary artist's life in German-occupied Bruges, Belgium, in the waning days of WWI. Readers will be rooting for the main character, Evelien, from the start, as she navigates the always dangerous and nearly impossible choices that must be made in the midst of war in order to survive. With immersive historical detail, well-crafted characters, and a captivating plot, this story has all the elements of great historical fiction."All You Have to Do Is Call (2023)Kerri Maher"Powerful and timely... Maher weaves an absorbing tale of friendship, sisterhood and courage, and illuminates the incredible things that women can accomplish when they band together for a greater good." The Life She Wanted (2023)Anita Abriel"Anita Abriel's The Life She Wanted is the captivating story of Pandora Carmichael, a young woman growing up among the elite upper class of 1920s New York, though she is merely a spectator to the extraordinary privilege that money provides. But with dreams of both romance and a career of her own as a fashion designer, Pandora blends into New York society and ultimately finds herself on a path in life that is both heartbreaking and illuminating. With meticulous historical detail and a protagonist you root for from the very first page, The Life She Wanted is a charming tale of one woman's quest to shape a future for herself that is authentically her own." Two Wars and a Wedding (2023)Lauren Willig"Brilliant...historical fiction at its absolute finest - with an intricately woven plot, vivid historical details, and complex female characters that you cannot help but root for from the start." December '41 (2022)William Martin"In William Martin's highly suspenseful historical thriller December '41, America is reeling after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and U.S. law enforcement at all levels understand that the Nazi threat is not just overseas. This is a gripping cat and mouse tale that follows a seasoned Nazi tracker as he races across the country, from glamorous, gritty Hollywood to the bustling streets of war time D.C, to try and catch a seasoned Nazi assassin before he can achieve his most critical mission - killing FDR. December '41 is the ultimate page turner, I loved it!" The Prophet's Wife (2022)Libbie Grant"Libbie Grant's The Prophet's Wife is a captivating story about the origins of the Mormon church as told through the eyes of Emma Hale Smith, wife of the church's founder Joseph Smith. With meticulous attention to detail, Emma's fascinating and at times heartbreaking story is both timely and timeless, as it explores themes around marriage, faith and power, as well as the impossible choices women throughout history have been forced to make to survive." Angels of the Pacific (2022)Elise Hooper"Elise Hooper's Angels of the Pacific is a captivating and heart-wrenching portrayal of the US Army and Navy nurses in WWII... This stellar novel is an ode to the power of female friendships and to just how strong, brave and resilient women can be in the very darkest of times. Hooper has brought the true story of the Angels of Bataan to light in a way that both celebrates their unique piece of WWII history and honors their many sacrifices. I loved it!" The Kew Gardens Girls at War (2021)(Kew Garden, book 2)Posy Lovell"The Kew Gardens Girls is a delightful story about women from very different backgrounds who end up working together at London's Kew Gardens during WWI, taking on the jobs of the men who have gone to war. The 'Girls' form fast friendships and something like a surrogate family. With beautifully well-drawn characters that you root for from the beginning, and interesting historical details about both the Suffragette movement and Kew Gardens during WWI, this is a poignant, heartwarming read that I highly recommend!" Circus of Wonders (2021)Elizabeth Macneal"A glittering, begrimed tale of love and self-determination flush with richly detailed prose. Sumptuous, macabre, enthralling; a perfect slice of Victoriana." This Magnificent Dappled Sea (2020)David Biro"David Biro’s novel This Magnificent Dappled Sea is the beautifully rendered tale of Luca Taviano, a boy in a small Italian village who is diagnosed with leukemia, and his devoted nurse Nina Vocelli, who leads a Herculean effort to find a bone marrow donor that could save Luca’s life. This is a captivating, well-crafted story of family secrets, love, loss and forgiveness, and our inherent human connectedness." The Last of the Moon Girls (2020)Barbara Davis"The Last of the Moon Girls is a fantastic blend of mystery and magic, with the perfect dash of romance... a story of family and forgiveness and what it truly means to come home. From the first page to the last, I was riveted by the fascinating, heartbreaking story of the many generations of Moon girls - and, like all the best novels, I was sad when I turned the last page." Red Mistress (2020)Elizabeth Blackwell"Elizabeth Blackwell’s fascinating Red Mistress is the story of Nadia Shulkina, who must reinvent herself in the wake of the Russian Revolution when her family loses everything. With breathtaking historical detail and vividly drawn characters, Red Mistress is a compelling tale, a perfect blend of daring, intrigue, and romance. I loved this story!" We Came Here to Shine (2020)Susie Orman Schnall"Susie Orman Schnall’s WE CAME HERE TO SHINE offers readers a perfect escape. It’s the absolutely delightful story of Vivi and Max, two young women who are chasing their dreams at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City. This novel beautifully illustrates the importance of female friendships and how, at certain times in life, they can help you be strong enough to live the life you’ve always imagined. In many ways, the third fascinating character in this book is the 1939 World’s Fair itself, as Schnall’s lush descriptions of the fair’s pavilions and amusements leap off of the page. I cannot recommend it enough!" Toward the Midnight Sun (2020)Eoin Dempsey"A gorgeously written novel that has all the elements of terrific historical fiction: adventure, romance, danger, and an unforgettable heroine, as well as a unique and beautifully depicted setting—in this case, the breathtaking, untamed terrain of the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. I can’t recommend it enough!" Spitfire (2020)(Livy Nash Mystery, book 1)M L Huie"Meticulously researched with a twisty, compelling plot and a heroine that you root for from the first page, Spitfire combines all the elements of great historical fiction." A Fire Sparkling (2019)Julianne MacLean"Julianne MacLean’s A Fire Sparkling is a beautiful, sweeping tale about love, courage, family secrets, and forgiveness that is impossible to put down." Bittersweet Brooklyn (2018)Thelma Adams"A gorgeously written and gritty American immigrant tale about broken homes and broken hearts, and how the sins within a family can reverberate across generations. Riveting!" A Tangled Mercy (2017)Joy Jordan-Lake"Joy Jordan-Lake’s A Tangled Mercy is an incredibly compelling and meticulously researched historical novel that will have you thinking about it long after you turn the last page. The dual narrative interweaves the story of Harvard grad student Kate Drayton’s journey to Charleston, South Carolina, to find answers about her deceased mother’s troubled past, with the little known but fascinating story of the Charleston slave uprising of 1822. It is a powerful and culturally relevant tale that should be on everyone’s must-read list this year." Visitors also looked at these authors
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