Novels
Novellas and Short Stories
Kristin Harmel recommends
Shoot the Moon (2023)Isa Arsén"Utterly original and overflowing with love in its purest form, Shoot the Moon is a one-of-a-kind journey through space, time and history."Nineteen Steps (2023)Millie Bobby Brown"Centered around a real-life historical event that counts as the UK's largest loss of civilian life during the Second World War, Nineteen Steps shines a brilliant light on a dark moment in history. Actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Millie Bobby Brown soars in her debut novel, bringing to life the joy and heartache of wartime England, as well as the visceral terror that came with frequent German bombings over London. Full of heartbreak and hope, and overflowing with vibrant characters you'll root hard for, Nineteen Steps will plunge you into the 1940s East End and will stay in your heart for a long time to come." Bessie (2023)Linda Kass"Linda Kass imagines the early life of the five-foot-ten beauty from the Bronx who became the first - and so far only - Jewish woman to win the crown, a feat made all the more fascinating by the fact that her victory came just six days after the end of World War II, at a time when anti-Semitism was so rampant . . . . Kass gives a detailed look at Myerson's young adulthood, the runup to winning the coveted crown, and the aftermath, when, cutting short her Miss America tour, she decides to instead tour on behalf of the Anti-Defamation League to combat prejudice. Bessie is a tender, sensitive, and well-researched exploration of the inner life of a legendary beauty, who was fighting personal battles the world never saw." The Last Lifeboat (2023)Hazel Gaynor"A searing, emotional, based-on-a-true-story tale of impossible survival and incredible hope aboard a single lifeboat adrift in a greedy, perilous sea. ... Gaynor's story is powerful not just in its closely researched adherence to astonishing historical truth, but also in the way she so richly imagines the emotions of both those aboard the doomed ship and those on land who made the wrenching decision to part with their children. You'll be on the edge of your seat as you root for a mother who's lost nearly everything, a courageous children's guardian finding her inner strength, and a ragtag group of survivors alone in the storm-tossed Atlantic." The Secret Book of Flora Lea (2023)Patti Callahan Henry"Patti Callahan Henry is a master of the elusive fairy tale, and nowhere is her talent on better display than in the pages of The Secret Book of Flora Lea, a bittersweet tale of loss, destiny, and the strings of deep love that bind us together across the years. The terror and heartbreak of the World War II children's evacuation of London collide with the dangling threads of an unsolved mystery that picks up nearly two decades later, at the dawn of the swinging Sixties. This heartrending, captivating tale of family, first love, and fate will sweep you away." Halfway to You (2023)Jennifer Gold"An emotional, twisty story of love, grief, and second chances, Halfway to You asks important questions about forgiveness, fate, and family. If you're anything like me, you'll flip the pages quickly and shed more than a few tears as celebrated author Ann and young podcaster Maggie struggle toward heartbreaking truth." The Audrey Hepburn Estate (2023)Brenda Janowitz"A complex family tale of love and deception. Brenda Janowitz always delivers delightfully complicated stories that leave me with tears in my eyes and hope in my heart!" Once We Were Home (2023)Jennifer Rosner"Lush, transportive, and heartbreaking. The poetic Rosner is a gifted storyteller, and here, she asks us to consider the true meaning of home and family in a world turned upside down. Astonishing in both its detail and its lyricism, and thrilling in its scope, Once We Were Home soars." Loyalty (2023)Lisa Scottoline"A heart-pounding, emotional thrill ride through Sicily....a beautiful, bold, and brilliant masterpiece that, in the spirit of The Godfather, reminds us of the perils of blind allegiance, the consequences of betrayal, and the lengths to which one will go for family. A breathtaking tour de force." Her Lost Words (2023)Stephanie Marie Thornton"A beautifully crafted, spellbinding, heartbreaking tale of a mother and daughter whose paths tragically cross for only a handful of days - but who share the same passion, creativity, and thirst for understanding the depths of the human heart. This novel is a masterpiece I won't forget, an ode to motherhood, to love, and to two brilliant women who changed the world with their words. One of the best historical fiction books of the year, and one that I'll be thinking about for a long time to come." Time's Undoing (2023)Cheryl A Head"Cheryl A. Head weaves a compelling, important tale of institutional racism and long-delayed justice in Time's Undoing. In Head's capable hands, this story of an intrepid reporter with a personal mission becomes both a chronicle of a devastatingly unjust past and a tale of a community working together to find a better way forward. An emotional portrait of the painful legacy of racism in America--and a reminder of how much work we still need to do to build a better future." River Sing Me Home (2023)Eleanor Shearer"A searing debut full of love, loss, and the shadows of the past . . . Heartbreaking, hopeful, and unforgettable. Both a powerful ode to the endless depths of a mother's love and an important meditation on what freedom really means, this is the kind of book that will stay with readers for years to come." Regrets Only (2023)Kieran Scott"Rich-mom politics, social scheming and a delicious murder mystery collide with a bang in Kieran Scott's Regrets Only, a fast-paced, juicy read full of flirtation, danger, and lies... Regrets Only is a perfect dose of twisty, decadent fun." Winterland (2022)Rae Meadows"In the best of cases, books are more than just entertainment. Sometimes, they play a vital role in connecting us during divided times, across generations and cultures, reminding us that as human beings, we all have the common ground of love and want and pain. Winterland is one such book--an intimate look at the Soviet Union in the 1970s, a lost mother, and a daughter's journey to become a star Olympic gymnast, forced to choose between what's right for her and what's asked of her by a state that demands the impossible. Steeped in rich cultural detail and written with the confidence of someone who has spent much time in the trenches of gyms just like the ones Anya inhabits, Winterland will immerse you in rich period detail, the joy and anguish of first love, and the heartache of unimaginable loss and sacrifice. Both a searingly immersive tale and an important book for our times, Winterland is a must-read, for it will remind you that while we may live in a world divided, we are, as individuals, all similarly fragile, hopeful, and ultimately human at our core. Impeccably researched and beautifully written." Where the Wandering Ends (2022)Yvette Manessis Corporon"A sweeping, multigenerational story of love, loss and sacrifice, Where the Wandering Ends is a beautiful journey through time in a war-ravaged, picturesque land of royalty, ruin, and hope." The Ways We Hide (2022)Kristina McMorris"The Queen's Gambit meets The Alice Network in this epic, action-packed novel of family, loss, and one woman's journey to save all she holds dear--including freedom itself." Midnight on the Marne (2022)Sarah Adlakha"Midnight on the Marne is an extraordinary tale of 'what if,' which cleverly explores how both fate and personal choice can change the course of the world. One of the most unique and beautiful pieces of historical fiction I've ever read. An emotional, breathtaking, deftly plotted masterpiece." The German Wife (2022)Kelly Rimmer"The phenomenal Kelly Rimmer does it again! The German Wife is the extraordinary tale of two women on different sides in World War II. By telling us the story through alternating viewpoints and shifting time periods, Rimmer slowly peels back the layers to show us the formation of two women who might appear, at first glance, to simply be a Nazi wife in hiding and a hostile American standing up for her country. But everyone is more than they seem, and the beauty of Rimmer's enthralling novel is in the characters' slowly-earned realization that when we paint an entire people with a broad brush, we are always wrong. The secondary characters - a dear Jewish friend who has to flee for her life; an American soldier permanently scarred by his devastating experiences, an elderly woman who risks her life to undermine Hitler - just add to the heartbreaking beauty of this book. A fascinating, absorbing, and vivid tale of love, loss, and the choices we make to protect our families. Fast-paced, emotional, and utterly riveting, The German Wife is a must-read for all historical fiction lovers." Our Last Days in Barcelona (2022)(Cuba Saga, book 5)Chanel Cleeton"This novel of family, loss, and war is not only an extraordinary journey through some of the 20th century's most pivotal struggles, but also an epic tale of what can happen when we have the courage to face who we really are--perhaps the most revolutionary thought of all. I loved it." On Gin Lane (2022)Brooke Lea Foster"The glitzy late '50s Hamptons sparkles like a coupe of champagne in this tantalizing novel from the talented Brooke Lea Foster... A delightfully complex tale of deceit, social maneuvering, and self-determination that will have you cheering for the gutsy main character as she fights for the right to control her own fate." Lost and Found in Paris (2022)Lian Dolan"Fast-paced and colorful, with hints of The Goldfinch and Malibu Rising, and more than one pitch-perfect love story - Lost And Found In Paris sparkles like the City of Light itself and will have you flipping the pages quickly as you're drawn deeply into its mysterious world of art, intrigue, and redemption." Woman on Fire (2022)Lisa Barr"Addictively propulsive and laced with rapid-fire twists and turns, this sizzling tale of deception, lust, Nazi-looted art, and murder crackles with tension and comes vividly, strikingly alive in Lisa Barr's skilled hands. Part thriller, part World War II epic, part journey through the pain of loss, Woman on Fire is as vibrant as the searing work of art it revolves around, with characters so richly drawn you'll feel as if you've known them--or, in some cases, been terrified by them--forever. Woman in Gold meets Spotlight meets Basic Instinct in this extraordinary novel, which is certain to be snapped up by Hollywood just as surely as it will be devoured in one sitting by captivated readers who can't turn the pages quickly enough. Woman on Fire is unforgettable." The Wedding Veil (2022)Kristy Woodson Harvey"A legendary wedding veil ties several women together across the generations in Kristy Woodson Harvey's heartfelt latest, which features a runaway bride, her spirited grandmother, and a new love in the present day, interspersed with a historical storyline that follows Edith and Cornelia Vanderbilt, the mistresses of the Biltmore Estate in the early 20th century, as they struggle to keep their famed home afloat. From Asheville, N.C., to the British Virgin Islands, and from Manhattan to Raleigh, four women across the generations--all of them shaped by love and circumstance--find a way to summon their inner strength against the odds. A delightful, glamorous fairy tale--laced with a slice of history, a bit of fashion, and a lot of Harvey's signature wit and warmth--for those of us who know that 'happily ever after' only arrives after we've learned to stand on our own. A sparkling, fast-paced joy of a book that celebrates love, family and the right to shape one's own destiny." The Tobacco Wives (2022)Adele Myers"The Tobacco Wives is a perfect example of the kind of historical fiction I love best: a story firmly grounded in the past that still feels powerfully resonant today. In Adele Myers's capable hands, post-WW2 North Carolina--the tobacco capital of the South--comes alive in technicolor, with all the glamour of Southern society, as well as a hidden underbelly of dangerous secrets and lies. We're along for the satisfying journey as Maddie Sykes--a plucky 16-year-old who has faced more loss than anyone deserves--learns what she's made of and tries to summon the courage to stand up to people who could make or break the rest of her life. A powerful debut and coming-of-age story rich in pitch-perfect dialogue and detail, The Tobacco Wives will transport you to Big Tobacco's golden age just as it begins to unravel--and remind you that we all have the power to stand up and fight for the things that are right." Sisters of Night and Fog (2022)Erika Robuck"A novel of duty, sacrifice, fate, and hope, set in a world steeped in courage and madness. Searing, powerful, and told through the lens of two overlooked historical figures who gave up nearly everything to fight against tyranny in one of the 20th century's darkest hours, Erika Robuck's Sisters of Night and Fog soars. Two women - connected at the outset by fate, chance and little else - hurtle toward a tragic date with destiny in the infamous Ravensbruck Concentration Camp, where prisoners are starved and tortured, and not all will make it out alive. Based very closely on the true stories of two incredible 20th century women in the shadows, who risked their lives to save others, this novel, devastating in its truth and power, will break your heart and stay with you long after you've turned the final page." A Girl During the War (2022)Anita Abriel"This novel of wartime Italy follows a young Roman woman with modern sensibilities who flees to the Tuscan countryside after the murder of her father in 1943. There, she finds a treasure trove of art, friends who become family, and a new calling to stand up against the Germans responsible for her father's death. Dotted with real-life historical figures, this coming-of-age story of love and art set in World War II Italy is a fast-paced and engaging read." The Paris Bookseller (2022)Kerri Maher"Midnight in Paris meets A Moveable Feast in this intimate, in-depth look at the brave and visionary woman who founded one of the world's most iconic bookstores, Shakespeare & Company, on Paris's Left Bank. Studded with appearances from the likes of James Joyce, Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, and Ernest Hemingway, The Paris Bookseller brings alive not only interwar Paris, but also the complicated friendship that led to the publication of Joyce's epic Ulysses and helped pave the way for Paris's enduring English-language literary legacy. If you've ever fallen in love with a bookstore, you'll love this ode to booksellers and to the power and magic of the written word." Beautiful Little Fools (2022)Jillian Cantor"Glittering with intrigue, full of fast-paced tension, and saturated in Jazz Age decadence, this powerful exploration of the women of The Great Gatsby will forever change the way you see the American classic--and perhaps, too, the role of women in all the stories we take for granted." The Pilot's Daughter (2021)Meredith Jaeger"With a delectable mastery of not just one time period, but two, Meredith Jaeger spins a tantalizing tale of two determined women searching for the truth. Jaeger moves effortlessly between the glittering Jazz Age and the final months of World War II in this richly detailed, propulsive, absorbing read that brings early twentieth century New York to life on the page. From the glamour of the Ziegfeld Follies, to the despair of a daughter whose father is missing in action, Jaeger transports us back in time and straight into the hearts of two conflicted women--Ellie, and her aunt Iris--as they untangle the threads of a complicated past--and an uncertain future. You won't want to put The Pilot's Daughter down until you reach the satisfying end." Once Upon a Wardrobe (2021)Patti Callahan"With a touch of fairy-tale magic, Once Upon a Wardrobe will take you behind the legend and deep into the English and Irish countryside, where you'll encounter not only the inspirations for one of the 20th century's most beloved works, but also a tale of heartache, hope, and discovery that will forever change the Narnia you thought you knew." When the Summer Was Ours (2021)Roxanne Veletzos"A fast-paced, illuminating, gorgeously written epic, this compulsively readable tale of loss and love during and after the Second World War is a masterpiece." The War Nurse (2021)Tracey Enerson Wood"Tracey Enerson Wood achieves two particularly difficult things with this novel: a fictionalization of a real person's life, which is always a challenge--and the feat of writing a character from a century past who is accessible to a modern audience but still entirely of her era. In The War Nurse, based on the true story of pioneering WWI nurse Julia Stimson, we are transported to early 20th century France, where a band of medical professionals struggles to meet the ever-changing demands of a war zone. You will smile, shed a few tears, and learn alongside Julia in this impeccably researched, well-drawn, based-on-a-true-story tale, written by a former RN. As our collective interest in WWI is reawakened, The War Nurse shines an important light on a woman whose story was, until now, lost to time." These Tangled Vines (2021)Julianne MacLean"Wouldn’t it be a dream to inherit a wine estate in Europe? That’s what happens—most unexpectedly—to the character at the center of Julianne MacLean’s latest. This introspective escapist story of tangled family secrets and the impact of our choices all set to the backdrop of a sprawling Tuscan winery will make you crave a glass of Chianti Classico and reflect on roads not traveled. Cin cin!" The Newcomer (2021)Mary Kay Andrews"A fast-paced, delightful roller coaster of a ride, The Newcomer takes us from a murder scene in Manhattan to a laid-back beach town on Florida's west coast, as one brave woman tries to save her young niece's life. Filled with colorful characters, rapid-fire plot twists, a simmering romance, and Mary Kay Andrews's signature wit, the latest from the reigning queen of summer will have you flipping pages at breakneck speed as you plunge into a world so well-drawn, you'll feel the sand beneath your toes and hear the murmuring surf just outside." The Kew Gardens Girls at War (2021)(Kew Garden, book 2)Posy Lovell"Utterly charming, The Kew Garden Girls, set in World War I London to the backdrop of the women's suffrage movement, is a tumbling bouquet of detail and dialogue that immediately transports the reader to one of the most famous city gardens in the world, a century in the past. Inspired by real events, Posy Lovell deftly explores issues of friendship, loss, class, equality, and freedom, weaving those serious topics into a beautiful story of women in wartime who find solace and meaning in tending the plants of Kew Gardens, coaxing new life from the soil even as they struggle to hold their own lives together. I'll never look at the sprawling, brilliant Kew Gardens--one of London's top tourist attractions and a World Heritage Site--the same way again." Lost in Paris (2021)Elizabeth Thompson"In Elizabeth Thompson's Lost in Paris, the magical French capital comes alive in two timelines a century apart. You'll find yourself both in modern-day Paris, and in the 1920s Paris of Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Picasso, as a powerful story of secrets across the generations unfolds. If you're a Francophile like I am—or if you're a fan of Midnight in Paris or Hemingway's A Moveable Feast—you'll eat this story up like a fresh baguette straight from a corner boulangerie. A tale of family, heritage, forgiveness, and finding the strength within, Lost in Paris sparkles and shines like the City of Light itself." The Women of Chateau Lafayette (2021)Stephanie Dray"If it's the details that bring historical fiction alive, Stephanie Dray has not only painted the most vivid world imaginable, but she has quite nearly created a veritable time machine to the past. The Women of Chateau Lafayette shines with her incredibly meticulous research, and against that masterfully built backdrop, she has placed three extraordinary women, each fighting her own battle in a different war, whose lives are connected in ways that will make your heart soar. You'll be mesmerized by this sprawling, epic, masterful tale of love, heartbreak, strength, and duty, all set across a century and a half of riveting French and American history. The fascinating Author's Note at the end is the final dusting of sugar on this complex, unforgettable French treat." The Lost Apothecary (2021)Sarah Penner"Filled with fascinating historical detail... With gathering intensity, author Sarah Penner builds toward a heart-pounding, satisfying conclusion. A skilled, captivating debut that celebrates the strength of women across the centuries." When We Were Young (2021)Jaclyn Goldis"This illuminating contemporary novel celebrates love and family with three generations of women tested by secrets from the past." The Lions of Fifth Avenue (2020)Fiona Davis"A captivating ode to the power of books, the bonds of family, and the beauty of finding the strength to be ourselves. Fiona Davis's spectacular setting—the iconic New York Public Library—comes alive across the generations as two women—one in 1913 and one in 1993—struggle with their own identities, a compelling mystery, and a tragedy that impacts both of them. What begins as a search for vanished rare books becomes, for both women, a quest to redefine themselves and open their hearts. This is a novel for all those who believe in the transformative magic of the written word." You and Me and Us (2020)Alison Hammer"Hammer is an expert at both tugging heartstrings and keeping the reader utterly immersed in a world of hope and heartbreak. A great new voice in women’s fiction." Lost Autumn (2020)Mary-Rose MacColl"A deliciously absorbing, endlessly fascinating, and perfectly heartbreaking tale of royalty, obligation, lies, friendship, and redemption... it delves intimately into the hearts, souls, and personal tragedies of those behind the headlines. I sobbed my way through the final hundred pages and will be thinking about this beautiful book for a long time to come. Lost Autumn is truly a masterpiece, and I recommend it wholeheartedly." Light Changes Everything (2020)Nancy E Turner"Nancy E. Turner’s tale of an endearingly plucky young woman in the wild Arizona Territory in the early 1900's is chock full of family feuds, intrigue, heartache, gumption, and adventure. Colorful, thoroughly enjoyable, and as fast-moving as a band of horses galloping across the desert, Light Changes Everything is a delight." Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe (2019)Heather Webber"Family, fate, and magic intertwine in this endearing Southern tale of long-held secrets, homemade pie, and building one's future from the remains of the past. A tantalizing, delicious delight, through and through. Heather Webber writes with so much detail and imagination that I'll be craving some Blackbird Cafe pie--and the comfort that comes with it--for a long time to come." The Daughter's Tale (2019)Armando Lucas Correa"Sweeping and searing, The Daughter’s Tale doesn’t shy away from tragedy, but author Armando Lucas Correa’s memorable latest reminds us that it is in the darkest gardens that the brightest seeds of hope are sown." The Light Over London (2019)Julia Kelly"Sweeping, stirring, and heartrending in all the best ways, this tale of one of WWII's courageous, colorful, and enigmatic Gunner Girls will take your breath away." Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners (2018)Gretchen Anthony"This delightfully clever debut is a masterfully written, Wes Anderson-esque roller coaster ride through a series of self-made disasters in a hilariously dysfunctional family. Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners hits all the right notes; you'll double over with laughter, but you'll also find yourself at times misty-eyed and introspective. I have the feeling this is just the first of many skilled and heartfelt dramedies from the pen of talented newcomer Gretchen Anthony. If you're a fan of modern film classics such as The Royal Tenenbaums and Moonrise Kingdom, get ready to meet your new favorite book." Love and Other Words (2018)Christina Lauren"Love and Other Words is a triumph, the kind of book that makes you feel so deeply for the finely drawn characters that you almost forget they’re fictional. You’ll be swept away by the heartbreak, the joy, the chemistry, and the charisma woven through the fabric of Macy’s and Elliot’s star-crossed relationship. As the story unfolds–expertly interweaving the past with the present—you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll root for Macy and Elliot to find their way back to each other against all odds. A true joy from start to finish." Come from Away (2018)Genevieve Graham"The talented Genevieve Graham once again calls upon a fascinating true story in Canadian history to remind us that beneath the differences of our birth, and despite the obstacles we face, we’re all human underneath. Vividly drawn and heartwarming, Come from Away is a beautiful look at the choices we make in the face of both love and war." The Truth We Bury (2017)Barbara Taylor Sissel"Once again, Barbara Taylor Sissel has kept me up into the wee hours of the night with an unputdownable masterpiece that explores family, love, and the ramifications of the decisions we make. The perfect blend of mystery, danger, and the type of secrets people kill for, The Truth We Bury will keep you reading furiously until you reach the perfectly executed end." Visitors also looked at these authors
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(b.1979)