Historical Fiction

The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury

This is an entertaining, twisty mystery/thriller set in 1951 post-WWII and the characters are students at Oxford University. Ginevra Bishop is the daughter of a viscount and is studying to prove she’s more than a debutante. Sidney Braithwaite is a war veteran trying to get past his nightmares and improve his situation so he doesn’t have to return to being a miner in his small hometown. The duo have an unfortunate first meeting and after that, have little contact with each other.

Continue reading →

August 16, 2026 0

Teach the Torches to Burn (Daughter of Montague) by Christina Dodd

I loved this book! The sarcasm, snark, and wit from the main character, Rosalind (daughter of Romeo & Juliet) was off the charts. This book was so entertaining with snarky observations, witty asides, and just full out funny moments. Rosalind knows exactly who she is and what she wants – and it’s NOT to be married to Escalus the younger, prince of Verona. Neither one of them wants to get married, but the alliance between the Montagues and the Capulets rests on the union.

Continue reading →

August 2, 2026 0

The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield (Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney #5) by Claudia Gray

If you’re a Jane Austin fan, you will love this historical fiction cozy mystery series. As the story begins, Jonathan Darcy is recovering from the gunshot wound he received during his duel and Juliet Tilney is suffering from her ruined reputation after an artist’s scandalous fake portrait of her. Jonathan’s parents continue to hover over him and demand he stop his association with Juliet. Juliet’s parents mourn the possibility that Juliet could have married into the Darcy family.

Continue reading →

June 21, 2026 0

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

4.5 stars

Fairytale retellings is not my thing, but I thoroughly enjoyed this Cinderella retelling through the eyes of the “evil” stepmother. If more retellings were like this, I’d read more of them. In this book, Etheldreda, or Lady Tremaine, is a twice-widowed woman left with no money and saddled with a decrepit house, two young daughters, a priggish step-daughter (Cinderella – who can’t be bothered to help the family in anyway whatsoever), and a razor-taloned peregrine falcon that helps her hunt to put food on the table.

Continue reading →

April 5, 2026 0

A Ghastly Catastrophe (Veronica Speedwell #10) by Deanna Raybourn

It’s hard to believe this is already book 10 in this entertaining historical fiction mystery series and it still provides plenty of twists, turns, and creative cases. This time the mystery involves a young man entirely drained of blood in a carriage next to a cemetery. He’s got two small holes in his neck a la Dracula. Another young man dies in an apparent suicide. The two are connected by a mysterious society that’s existence is only mentioned once in society.

Continue reading →

March 31, 2026 0

Season of Death (A Barker & Llewelyn #16) by Will Thomas

I really enjoyed this Victorian era historical fiction mystery series and love how the author continues to keep stories fresh and interesting even after 15 books. The book features two private enquiry agents, Barker and Llewelyn, and is set mostly in the East End of London. It comprises mainly working class and immigrants and has a lot of poverty and crime.

Continue reading →

January 8, 2026 0

Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham

This is a very cute Regency romcom book Austenesque book telling the tale of Emmeline and Simon. Emmeline is a gothic author that prints in secret under a different name. Simon is the one that got away without any explanation. He returns to find a crumbling estate on the verge of bankruptcy and young siblings that need caring for. Simon’s siblings are strong-willed and opinionated and add much depth and humor to the story. His youngest sister Sofia and her pet frog Blast in particular are a hoot.

Continue reading →

January 4, 2026 0

The Marriage Method (The Crinoline Academy #2) by Mimi Matthews

This is book 2 in The Crinoline Academy series featuring the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies, a school that trains orphan girls to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women.

Continue reading →

November 25, 2025 0

Flora: The Cousins of Pemberley by Linda O’Byrne

I love books set in Jane Austen’s world, and if it features a fiery woman that can’t hold her tongue, or her actions, when she encounters cruelty or stupid people, I’m all in.

Flora is Mr. Darcy’s niece and lives in Scotland with her family. When she can’t help but insult the wealthy and powerful man her family wants her to marry, she’s shipped off to England to stay at Pemberley to learn how to be a lady. She’s waylaid at her cousin’s house, Courtney Castle, where she is reacquainted with Daniel Kincaid, who witnessed the outburst in Scotland that precipitated her journey to Pemberley. Flora wants independence and Daniel wants a genteel lady to share his life with, but we all know neither one is getting that, right?

Continue reading →

November 4, 2025 1