Changes

[[Category:New Reviews|Historical Fiction]]__NOTOC__<!-- Remove --> <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->{{Frontpage|author=Tananarive Due|title=The Reformatory|rating=5|genre=Historical fictionFiction|summary=Gracetown, Florida. June 1950. After a scuffle with a white boy, twelve year-old Robbie Stephens Jr is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, otherwise known as the Reformatory. It's a place with a brutal and dark reputation. But the segregated reformatory is a chamber of horrors, haunted by the boys that have died there. In order to survive the school governor and his Funhouse, Robert must enlist the help of the school's ghosts – only they have their own motivations...|isbn=1803366532__NOTOC__}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Berlie DohertyKatherine Howe|title=TreasonA True Account

|genre=TeensGeneral Fiction|summary=Forced by his power-hungry aunt and uncle Hannah Masury is living in Boston, having been sent to leave the comfort of his modest live with a family homewho run an inn, Will Montague finds himself utterly overwhelmed, as he works as and being made to work there from a page young age. When she hears there is to Prince Edward under the keen eye be a hanging of some pirates in the temperamental King Henrytown, just as prone she decides to unexpected bursts of compassion as he is to brutal crueltygo and watch. Just as he begins to find his feet Enthralled and horrified in this new positionequal measure, Will Hannah finds himself suddenly on herself embroiled in a young boy's death at the runhands of two vicious pirates. She hides away, desperately trying to clear the name of his fatherso that they don't find and kill her too, convicted of treason for failing and then to revert escape them completely she runs away to sea, dressing as a boy and joining the Protestantism led by notorious Ned Low's pirate ship as a cabin boy. She soon finds herself in the Kingthick of things when there is a mutiny on board, and simultaneously gaining more awareness of the world he lives from there we are caught up in and the plights her rip roaring tale of life on the working classocean waves. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849391211</amazonuk>0861547438

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jan JonesSarah Marsh|title=The Kydd InheritanceA Sign of Her Own

|genre=Women's General Fiction|summary=Nell's Kydd's father died in After a bout of scarlet fever as a hunting accident and child, Ellen Lark loses her brotherhearing. Suddenly plunged into a world of silence, Kit was uncontactable, seemingly lost, on his way back from Indiaeverything about her life changes. This left her uncle, Jasper Kydd Living in charge a time when the use of the family estate and he appeared to be doing all in his power sign language was seen as something only savages do, Ellen is sent to wreck Kydd Court and make Nell's life a misery. Her mother coped with it all by retreating into her own world, school where she couldn't be reached eitheris taught to lip read, but physically restrained from signing. When an unwelcome offer of marriage is forced upon herFrom here, Nell knows that she ends up in another school studying under Alexander Graham Bell who has to take action been teaching the deaf and that's when the very unsettling Captain Hugo Derringer arrivesusing a system called Visible Speech. He's an old friend of Kitt'sAt the same time, but what exactly Bell is he doing working on other inventions and ideas, and Ellen finds herself unwittingly caught up in the area and can Nell trust him?a complicated tangle of espionage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0709091710</amazonuk>1035401614

{{newreview|author=Elizabeth Ashworth|title=The de Lacy Inheritance|rating=3follow-up to the excellent ''Ithaca'' picks up a few months after where we left off.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Set in England in 1192, In the novel is full of details palace of life in this periodOdysseus, and resists the temptation with delicate care Queen Penelope continues to get overtly bogged down in excessive political detailrule without her husband, which makes this a very accessible read to those (like myself) who are not too knowledgeable about this particular historical period. Returning from the Crusades, Richard is forced sailed to leave his family war at Troy and atone then by divine intervention never returned home. As ever she remains surrounded by suitors vying for the sins which he believes has lead to him being afflicted with leprosythrone of the Western Isles. Undertaking a quest Having survived – politically and physical – the chaotic storm that Clytemnestra brought to his grandmotherIthaca's nearby cousin (who shores, Queen Penelope is childlesson the brink of a fragile peace. One that shatters however with the return of Orestes, so grandmother wants Richard to present her case for inheriting his lands)King of Mycenae, Richard finds refuge here. This point struck me as odd - almost jarring in it's unlikelihood. Not only does Richard find help/support/refuge here (whilst remaining unknown to all except the cousin and his wife)sister Elektra, but he's virtually welcomed with open arms. Would an itinerant leper be treated in this way? It did add a note of discord to the narrative - as if the quest for inheritance was more important that his trials as a leperseeking refuge.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1905802366</amazonuk>0356516075

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Winifred HoltbyB0C7J9D21B|title=South RidingA Captive in Algiers (Muhammed Amalfi Mysteries)|author=A J Lewis

|summary=When we first meet our hero, his name is Ettore and he lives at The central character is a single woman in her middle years who relishes the chance to return to her roots in the tight-knit South Riding communityHouse of Beautiful Swallows. SheIdyllic as this might sound, it's ambitious a bordello and well-travelled and has tasted life and work in bustling, cosmopolitan London. So it would appear that her pull back home is very strong indeedEttore's mother died when he was born. But, you have to ask yourself the question, who would choose to give up this stimulating life down south and return up north? One Sarah Burton, schoolteacher with promotion in her mind, thatHe's who. Everything depends on Sarah actually getting this job. And straight awaynot been short of mothers, Holtby gives us the lowthough -down on the collective mentality but for someone of local government. Yes, narrowhis background in late-eighteenth-mindedcentury Amalfi, parochial, dull - it's all difficult to obtain decent employment. The stint working with the preparation of those things anchovies didn't work out and morebastards are considered bad luck on fishing boats. But Ettore was nothing if not resourceful - and determined - and it was not everyone is long before he had a successful business as a political 'sheep'guide for visitors. There's one or two who can see the bigger picture and can look beyond personal gainHe was even saving some money.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849902038</amazonuk>

 {{newreview|author=C J Sansom|title=Dark Fire|rating=5|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=1540 was the hottest summer of the sixteenth century but Matthew Shardlake was doing his best to hold his legal practice together, which was made more difficult by the fact that he believed himself to be out of favour with Thomas Cromwell. He tried to keep a low profile but when he defended the accused in a most unpopular case – that of a girl accused of brutally murdering her cousin – he found that the king's chief minister had a new assignment for him. Unless he could solve Cromwell's problem his client was likely to die a slow and nasty death.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330450786</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Michael David LukasEssie Fox|title=The Oracle of StamboulFascination

|summary=The book is set in the Ottoman Empire and the reader Victorian era is given incredibly over-romanticised as a potted history of those times,. Warssetting for historical fiction (matched only, troopsperhaps, Rome and by the Byzantines all get Second World War) which has often led to more than a passing mention few writers mishandling it... and There's such a baby called Eleonora is born. Sadly, her mother does not make it and itglut of media set in the era that the hallmarks we's left ve come to her father associate with it are familiar to bring her up. He struggles and decides the best thing for himself, but more importantly, for his young daughterpoint of being cliched, hackneyed even. All this is simply to illustrate that it would be an easy thing to enter into a marriage of convenience with a member of his extended familydo poorly. Domestic life rumbles alongBut despite that, but underneath the surface, things are brewing ..something about it still grabs me – and something about this book's description did as well.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755377702</amazonuk>1914585526

{{newreview|author=Molly Carr|title=A Study Cast out from Rome, Artemisia Gentileschi arrives in Florence seeking an oasis in Crimson|rating=3which her art can find a home and where her future can thrive rather than stagnate.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=As soon But as some as I read she enters Florentine society she faces great opposition from the blurb on powerful Accademia, the back cover I thought there's no doubting self-proclaimed guardians of the healing magics that this book is going through paintings have the power to be one of those delightful romps, shall we say. Carr takes protect the famous city and its citizens from plagues and muchcurses. The all-loved male Accademia has hoarded power over art and much-read detective Holmes along with his trustyarchitecture for centuries and guard it above all else. To them, if rather dull Artemisia – an ambitious young woman who promises trouble and plodding side-kick Watson change – has no place amongst them and decides to have a bit of funtheir society. But will it work?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1907685405</amazonuk>1803362340

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Amanda TaylorThomas D Lee|title=The Chinaman's BastardPerilous Times

|genre=Historical FictionFantasy|summary=I found ''Hate is the title path of the book excellent and I was keen to find out more. The blurb on the back cover does its job - until the last bit, which becomes a bit irritating. It claims the book least resistance'is very captivating'. Well, to be brutally honest, it's either captivating or it's not. The word 'very' is not needed. And sadly, no, I didn't find the book captivating at all.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1843865440</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Christina Courtenay|title=Trade Winds|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=It is 1731 and Killian KinrossSet in the near-distant future, disgraced heir to in a world on the estate is making his way as best he can through the gambling dens verge of Edinburghclimate collapse, trading on his skill, ability Britain is in great peril. The British Isles desperately needs a hero (or several) to hold his drink save the day and rescue what little remains. What no-one expected was that one of the smiling fickle fortunes Knights of lady luck. The Lady is smiling at the moment, although she hasn't always done soRound Table would answer the call.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906931232</amazonuk>0356518523

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Margaret JamesG K Holloway|title=The Silver Locket|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=It is the eve of In the First World War and Rose Courtenay's parents are keen to marry her off to well-bred Michael Easton. But Rose is certain a life Shadows of domesticity in Dorset is not for her and so instead she takes the bold step of running away to London where she volunteers as a nurse for the war effort. Posted to France, Rose meets injured soldier Alex Denham who she has known since childhood, and is the only man who has ever made her blush. Romance soon blossoms between Rose and Alex, despite Rose fighting against her feelings as Alex is already married, and also disapproved of by her parents due to his dubious background. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906931283</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Simon Scarrow|title=The Legion (Roman Legion 9)Castles|rating=34.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Ajax and his crew of fellow renegade gladiators have been stirring things up in Egypt. Attacking small naval bases, merchant ships and villages along the coast, they're successfully stirring some unrest. Because Ajax isn't silly. Not only is he a skilled fighter and capable commander, he's also full of guile. The band pose as Roman soldiers when raiding, so their victims are left with anti-Roman sentiment in addition to their losses. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755353749</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Pamela Evans|title=Harvest Nights|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=It is 1920 and London is struggling to deal with the consequences of the Great War. Unemployment is high and money is scarce. Clara Tripp, a former Land Girl has been forced to return to the city to work as a waitress, leaving behind the countryside which she loves so much. When Charlie Fenner, an acquaintance from Clara's Land Army days, comes in to the teashop where she works, Clara can't help but feel overjoyed. He offers her temporary work on his parents' orchard in Kent and she gladly accepts. Yet a serious accident forces Clara to stay longer than expected and it is then that she makes a shocking discovery which threatens to destroy the Fenner family. Back in London Clara struggles with her confused emotions and the looming prospect of her marriage to local boy Arnold. When devastating news comes from Kent, Clara realises she can no longer keep her discovery a secret. But coming face-to-face with Charlie again means Clara must acknowledge her buried feelings and make a decision between doing the right thing and following her heart.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755345452</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ross Laidlaw|title=Justinian: The Sleepless One|rating=3

|summary=Born Uprauda Ystock, We begin after the momentous battle in 1066 and on the son day of William of a peasant, Justinian (Normandy's coronation as he was to become known) managed to change his life around when his motherKing of England. William's brother, Roderic, an important general in position is not secure and the Roman Army, paid for his educationnew king has many challenges. After Imposing authority through a series of successes, Roderic became Emperor Justin and then passed the mantel on to his nephew, who became known as Justiniancoronation is important. When he came into power, the Roman Empire was under attack from all directions and Justinian was forced to battle for his And William is right to remain Emperorworry. FortunatelyWhile the previous king, he married TheodoraHarold, an ex-courtesanis dead and the likelihood of more pitched battles is over, who helped to mould him into the leader that he needed rebels are stirring and much of the country does not wish to berecognise a new overlord. Was this enough to remain in power, or would it all be snatched away from him?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846971586</amazonuk>1800422466

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Peter Carey3949666079|title=Parrot and Olivier in AmericaNoema|author=Dael Akkerman

|genre=Literary General Fiction|summary=Olivier de Garmont ''This is a young, French aristocrat who is drugged by the enigmatic Marquis de Tilbot, a close friend of Olivier's monarchist mother, and dispatched to the safety of the emerging United States story about some things that happened to avoid the 1830 July Revolution, and the threat of the dreaded guillotine, in his native Franceme about twelve thousand years ago. At least nominally his task while there is to prepare a report on the American penal system on behalf of the French government, a task for which he has little interest or indeed talent. Tilbot also dispatches his servant, an older British man, John Larrit, known to everyone as Parrot, to act as Oliver's secretary, servant, translator and to spy on Olivier for both his mother and Tilbot. They are an ill-matched pair, from opposite sides of the social spectrum but in democratic America, this relationship develops in ways that neither of them would expect. The story is told in alternating voices of these two main characters.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571253296</amazonuk>}}'

{{newreview|author=Ross Laidlaw|title=Theoderic|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=This Maya is a historical tale with young girl living in a capital 'H'hunter gatherer village during the Mesolithic era. A GlossaryClimate change is occurring, Historical Note, Prologue plus a map entitled 'The Barbarian Kingdoms the Sea of Grass encroaches further and the Roman Empire' are all for the readerfurther into Maya's maximum interest forest home, and (hopefully) maximum enjoyment food is becoming more and all before settling down more scarce. What to do? Can the first chapter. This very much sets law givers in the tone federation of villages muster peaceful ways to cope? Can the book.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184697111X</amazonuk>Traveller, a spiritual figure who interprets the wisdom of All Life, provide solutions?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Shona Maclean1529125898|title=A Game of SorrowsGodmersham Park|author=Gill Hornby|rating=45

|summary=Two years have passed since [[The Redemption of Alexander Seaton by Shona Maclean|Alexander Seaton]] found his redemption. He is comfortably settled in his life at the University, about to be sent on the academic expedition of a lifetime, and wondering how best to ask ''If it were not for the woman he loves to be his wife. Then a case casual dereliction of mistaken identity, which almost costs him his love and the respect of his friends leads Alexander to discover he has a cousin in town – the son of his late motherodd gentleman's brotherduty, come from Ireland there would no women to seek his helpteach well-bred daughters at all.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849162441</amazonuk>}}''

{{newreview|author=Julian Lees|title=The Fan Tan Players|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=The story opens with Anne Sharpe was thirty-one years old when she arrived at Godmersham Park to take up the position of governess to twelve-year-old Fanny Austen. She had no experience of teaching but this was a vividly described cyclone in 1920s Macaocase of necessity. I found Lees' writing Until the death of her mother, Anne had a comfortable life and was such in loved by both parents although her father was frequently absent from the opening chapter that it felt almost apocalyptichousehold. The loss of lifeWhen her mother died, the damage her father cast her off and would have nothing more to property and ... 'sounds of the surf regurgitating gurgling carcasses of belly-bulging cowsdo with her.' I couldn't help No explanation was offered but think she would receive an annuity of the real-life tragedy unfolding in Pakistan£35 a year. I felt a bit queasy when I Her maid, Agnes, would receive nothing but was reading this, to tell you the truthfortunately taken in by some neighbours.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905207492</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Fiona MountainMelissa Fu |title=Rebel HeiressPeach Blossom Spring |rating=43.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Based on I loved the life of prelude to Peach Blossom Spring, a pioneer in short chapter entitled ''Origins''. Unfortunately it is the world only truly poetic part of butterfly collecting, this novel was an enchanting and enthralling reada book that I expected more from. Born into a rigorously devout Puritan Covering Chinese history from 1938 to 2005 as viewed through one family's perspective. When their home city is set ablaze during the war with Japan, a young Eleanor is an anomaly both in mother (Meilin) and her outlook and attitude four-year- and her butterfly collecting interests set her further apart from the more traditional ladiesold son (Renshu) are among those who flee. The prejudices of the times are well explainedstory follows them on their journey across China, and the level of historical detail is sufficient in Renshu's case eventually to give the reader a good understanding of the tensions of the periodAmerica. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848091656</amazonuk>1472277538

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Seth Hunter1916072038|title=The Price of GloryHouse in the Hollow (The Talbot Saga)|author=Allie Cresswell

|summary=This is We meet part of the final book Talbot family in Seth Hunter's trilogy about the naval adventures and private life of Captain Nathan PeakeYorkshire in November 1811. While the other two books, The Time of Terror Twenty-seven-year-old Jocelyn Talbot and [[The Tide of War by Seth Hunter|The Tide of War]]her mother have travelled in some discomfort from their home at Ecklington, were fairly self-contained stories to the house in themselves, the running thread hollow. The two women are angry with each other and Jocelyn is well aware of Nathanher mother's private life continues over the three books strengths and isn't really resolved until the final few paragraphs in The Price of Glory.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755343115</amazonuk>}}weaknesses:

{{newreview|author=Daisy Goodwin|title=My Last Duchess|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=There's plenty to enjoy in this debut novel by Daisy Goodwin. And first up 'She is the elegant cover. I wanted to read the book as soon as I saw the photograph: a beautiful girl with great presence about her. The thoughtful look on her face and lack of ring on her finger hinted practiced at an intriguing story. It was also a fair bet that this historical fictionsubterfuge, set in the nineteenth centuryat concealing, was about beneath a romancefacade of respectability, suitable or unsuitable. So the cover complemented the story – a quite unusual feat, judging by other offerings I have seen recentlydeplorable truth''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755348060</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=James Forrester|title=Sacred Treason|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=In London, in December 1563, the herald William Harley (known Hester is furious about Jocelyn's refusal to everyone do as Clarenceux) had no intention of becoming involved in one of the many Catholic plots against the young Queen Elizabethshe was asked, but hewhich has precipitated 's unwittingly drawn into one when his friend 'this violent and fellow Catholic, Henry Machyn, gave him a chronicle, telling him that it hid a secret which could cost Machyn his life. Clarenceux was sceptical until he was visited by Francis Walsinghamunexpected removal''s brutal enforcers and within a matter of a few hours he turns from a law-abiding citizen into a man on the run in search of clues which will tell him why the chronicle is so important.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755356012</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Ron Rash|title=Serena|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=The reader is introduced to one Then we are told of the two main characters straight away. George Pemberton. But everyone (even his new wife) calls him simply Pemberton. He's faced with an awkward birth of a child and at the same time delicate situation , soon after, Hester Talbot departs, leaving Jocelyn in shame and deals with it - with violence. No one seems too bothered, not even the local sheriffisolation in Yorkshire.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847674887</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sir Arthur Conan DoyleAnnabel Abbs|title=The Complete Brigadier Gerard StoriesLanguage of Food

|summary=Meet Brigadier Etienne GerardEliza Acton is a poet who has never had the slightest inclination to boil an egg. An officer in Napoleon's armyWhen tasked with writing a cookery book, she recruits Ann Kirby, he is a boastful womaniser local woman with a significantly higher opinion of his own intelligence than anyone around him – notably Napoleon himselftroubled home life. He's also braveTogether, resourcefulthey test, fiercely loyal to his emperor craft, refine and any woman he finds himself in love withreshape the world of domestic cookery, reinventing the recipe book and above all, utterly, totally heroicchanging the face of cookery writing forever.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847679196</amazonuk>1398502227

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ben KaneFreya Marske|title=The Road to Rome (Forgotten Legion Chronicles)A Marvellous Light|rating=54

|summary=After years of wondering if their twin were still aliveRobin Blyth is nudged into a job in the Civil Service, Romulus much to his chagrin. There he meets Edwin Courcey and Fabiola happen to catch sight learns that the streets of each other on the docks at AlexandriaLondon are threaded with magic. Their meeting isn't Desperate to last longremove a curse that threatens to swallow him, as Fabiola is being rushed Robin follows Edwin to safety by her loverthe countryside, Brutus, one of Caesar's most trusted generals where the hedgegrows bristle with incantations and Romulus has just been press-ganged into an army about to go into battlethe people shimmer with power. However, this chance meeting gives them additional strength, which There they are certainly going to need to survive uncover a sinister plot that threatens the lives of all magicians in the struggles aheadBritish Isles.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848090153</amazonuk>1529080886

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Margaret MuirB09F4CTKJR|title=Floating GoldFlights for Freedom|author= Steven Burgauer

|summary=The novel opens with a description It's the later stages of World War I and the United States has just entered the rotting remains of conflict. Petrol Petronus is a human being battered by young American who has signed up and joined the 17 Aero Squadron. This company was the first US Aero Squadron to be trained in Canada, the waves on first to be attached to the beaches of RAF and the first to be sent into the skies to fight the Isle of WightGermans in active combat. I cannot recall any book I have ever read starting on a more depressing noteBut before that can happen, Petrol has to master flying the notoriously difficult but this is far from a depressing, or disappointing, storymajestic Sopwith Camel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>070909051X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=E V ThompsonChristophe Medler|title=No Less Than The JourneyMadrigal: A Closely Guarded Secret|rating=3.54

|summary= ''No Less Than The Journey'' concerns Set against the backdrop of the English Civil War, a young Cornish miner seeking a new life secret plan (code-named Madrigal) is discovered by Sir Robert Douse in Americathe summer of 1642. He makes many interesting acquaintances As a loyal servant of the King, and Head of the Secret Service, it is Robert's duty to uncover the details of the plan and some rather arduous journeys follow the clues to uncover one of the most guarded secrets in his quest to find a family memberhistory—especially since the plot could affect the King.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0709087551</amazonuk>B095HY8SXQ

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Katie Flynn1471187179|title=Heading Home|rating=4|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Claudia is seven when this book opens, in Liverpool in 1926. She's a careful girl, perhaps a little spoilt, although clearly not wealthy. She enjoys the protection of thirteen-year-old Danny who comes from a poorer family, and evidently has something of a crush on Claudia. Even in this first chapter, she comes across as somewhat self-centred, wanting people to think well of her, but not naturally generous or empathic. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099520265</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewA Beautiful Spy|author=G. De Beauregard and H. De Gorsse|title=The Stamp KingRachel Hore

|summary=Set Minnie is an 'ordinary' girl living an unexciting life in 1896, this a leafy provincial suburb. The book is set in the story of William Keniss 1930s and Minnie is expected to live up to her mother's expectations and Betty Scottfind a nice young man to marry, two young American philatelists each intent on owning produce children and spend the world’s only complete stamp collectionrest of her days looking after her husband and their home. The rarest specimen of Unfortunately, this isn't what she wants to do at all is one issued by the Maharajah and neither does she want to continue working as a secretary. As a result of Brahmapootra but never placed on general salea chance meeting, although one copy did pass through she finds herself drawn into espionage, working for the postal system, secret service and it is one effectively living a double life - attempting to infiltrate the Communist Party of only two in the entire universeGreat Britain. The Maharajah owns this one himself Minnie finds herself torn between what she perceives as her duty and the friends she has made - and our collectors are determined to get their hands on likes - whilst working for the otherCommunist Party.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0852597460</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Julie OrringerAfonso Cruz and Rahul Bery (translator)|title=The Invisible BridgeKokoschka's Doll|rating=2.5|genre=General Literary Fiction|summary=In Well, this looked very much like a story that takes us book I could love from the elegance of Parisget-go, through the streets which is why I picked my review copy up and flipped pages over several times before actually reading any of Budapest and on into the Hungarian countryside and the Ukraine this is an epic tale, masterfully toldit. It is 1937 and Andras LeviI found things to potentially delight me each time – a weird section in the middle on darker stock paper, a young Hungarian Jewish student, is about to leave his brother Tibor to go and study architecture chapter whose number was in Paris. Andras' story unfolds first amongst the beautiful buildings of Paris20, the theatres and the bars000s, letters used as he struggles in his studies narrative form, and falls in love with a beautiful ballerina who has a terrible secret to hideso on. As It intrigued with the tragedy subterranean voice a man hears in wartorn Dresden that what little I knew of World War 2 edges ever closer to Andrasit mentioned, too. But you've seen the book moves back to Hungary, to the little village where Andras and his brothers grew upstar rating that comes with this review, to Budapest where his new family live and then can tell that if love was on into the forced labour camps across Hungarythese pages, it was not actually caused by them. So what happened?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0670914584</amazonuk>1529402697

 {{newreview|author=Beverley Eikli|title=Lady Farquhar's Butterfly|rating=3|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Olivia - Lady Farquhar - has recently been widowed. This does not upset her in the least; indeed, as becomes clear through the novel, her husband was an unpleasant bully who subjected her to all kinds of abuse. Unfortunately, however, the terms of his will have ensured that her beloved toddler Julian has been taken away to live with his uncle Max until such time as Olivia marries someone considered to be above reproach. For that reason, she is seriously considering marrying Nathaniel, a clergyman who has helped her for many years. The only problem with that is that she finds him increasingly repulsive...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709090579</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Anita Diamant|title=Day After Night|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=First of all, I really liked the unusual pitch for a Second World War novel, set in a detention camp in Palestine in October 1945, soon after the liberation of Europe. The war machine has ground to a halt, leaving millions of bewildered refugees to find their way out of chaos. With huge effort, hundreds of Jewish men and women reach their promised land, albeit as illegal immigrants. Though imprisoned again, Atlit camp is emotionally a halfway house between the past and the future for them. They are at least well-fed and humanely treated by their British captors. With no particular duties and in limbo for an indeterminate period, the women start to come to terms with how life will be for them in the future, safe at last from Nazi persecution, but having lost all their loved ones.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847398618</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jennie RooneyChristina Hammonds Reed|title=The Opposite of Falling|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=It is 1862 and when wealthy Liverpool girl Ursula Bridgewater finds herself single and restless after her fiancée Henry Springton leaves her for another woman, she soon turns to travel as a means of escape and sets off on her first expedition. But she has agreed to stay friends with Henry and cannot quite escape him completely as they continue to write to each other. Ten years later and Ursula has travelled all over the world and is about to embark on a trip around America, but this time she decides to take a companion.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701182687</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Iain Pears|title=Stone's FallBlack Kids

|genre=Historical FictionTeens |summary=I read Iain PearsChristina Hammonds Reed' ''The Portrait'' a year or so ago and loved it so I was really looking forward to reading this s debut novel. The front cover is strikingly handsome and hints of good things to come between its covers. The novel is divided up into sizeable chunks of three. Three different decades and three different locations. Pears then dips in and out set against the backdrop of the main characters' lives1992 Los Angeles riots, telling the reader basically what makes them tick.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099516179</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Nicola Cornick|title=Confessions of a Duchess|rating=3|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Dowager Duchess Laura Cole has come reaction to the village absolution of Fortune’s Folly four police officers for beating a black man, Rodney King, nearly to live a quiet life as a widow with her young daughterdeath. But when Told from the village squire decides to invoke perspective of Ashley Bennett, the Dames’ Tax, a law requiring every unmarried woman to give up half novel follows her wealth to him, the town becomes evolution from a hotbed silent bystander when confronted with matters of men searching for heiresses now desperate to marry. Joining the men is Dexter Anstrutherrace, sent to secure a rich wife woman finding her voice and carry out a murder inquiry on behalf of Lord Liverpool. The last thing Laura and Dexter expect is to see each other again after their steamy encounter four years ago. But their passion for each other is reawakened and looks set to ruin them bothembracing her heritage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0778303802</amazonuk>1471188191

{{newreview|author=Gill Schierhout|title=The Shape of Him|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=The story is told in the first person by Sara Highbury. She's running a small business in an efficient but rather detached fashion. She's all washed up. She starts to recount her earlier, happier life when it meant something to her. And the reader soon discovers that a diamond digger called Herbert was - and still is - the love of her life. And here Schierhout gives us a taster of the hard and dirty work digging for stones (they're never called diamonds by the workers apparently). The danger and precarious nature of the work is laid bare. But Herbert seemed to be a natural. Why?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099535777</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Anne-Marie Vukelic|title=Far Above Rubies|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Shy Catherine Hogarth first meets Charles Dickens at her parents' house when he hilariously comes in through the window to dance a jig before the assembled guests, before leaving and then entering again via the front door. Employed by her father George, the editor of the Evening Chronicle, as a reporter and sketch writer, Charles is at the start of his writing career and soon becomes a regular visitor to the Hogarth household. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709090536</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Elizabeth Chadwick|title=To Defy A King|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=#Set in the traumatic and violent period leading up to the Magna Carta, Chadwick concentrates Move on the fortunes of two extended families. The Marshals, close to the throne for their expertise, political and military might, and the Bigods, who are directly related to King John, through their half brother Longespee, son of the family matriarch, and John’s father. Banished from Court, and forced to leave her son there, Ida marries Roger and founds a strong patriarchal dynasty. However, tension is never far from boiling point, with the two half brothers tolerating each other at best, loathing each other more often than not, due to their opposing natures.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847442366</amazonuk>}}[[Newest History Reviews]]