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<!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->{{newreviewFrontpage|author=G K HollowayTananarive Due|title=1066: What Fates ImposeThe Reformatory

|summary=Perhaps England should realise itGracetown, 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 in trouble when King Edward 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 Confessor takes one look at school governor and his naked bride Funhouse, Robert must enlist the help of the school's ghosts – only they have their own motivations...|isbn=1803366532}} {{Frontpage|author=Katherine Howe|title=A True Account|rating=4.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Hannah Masury is living in Boston, having been sent to live with a family who run an inn, and decides being made to remain chastework there from a young age. This signals When she hears there is to be a lack hanging of royal offspring some pirates in the town, she decides to go and watch. Enthralled and horrified in equal measure, Hannah finds herself embroiled in a succession crisis that becomes so important the vultures flock to fight even before heyoung boy's ill, let alone deaddeath at the hands of two vicious pirates. The jockeying for position She hides away, so that they don't find and kill her too, and then to escape them completely she runs away to sea, dressing as next in line to a boy and joining the throne or next in linenotorious Ned Low's favourite has begunpirate ship as a cabin boy. Indeed England She soon finds herself in the thick of things when there is famous for its royal succession wars a mutiny on board, and this is one from there we are caught up in her rip roaring tale of life on the best; ocean waves.|isbn=0861547438}}{{Frontpage|author=Sarah Marsh|title=A Sign of Her Own|rating=3.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=After a story bout of scarlet fever as a child, Ellen Lark loses her hearing. Suddenly plunged into a world of silence, everything about her life changes. Living in a journey that will finish near Hastings time when the use of sign language was seen as something only savages do, Ellen is sent to a deadly stand-off between King Harold Godwinson and Norman Duke William school where she is taught to lip read, but physically restrained from signing. From here, she ends up in that year that every British another school child studying under Alexander Graham Bell who has been teaching the deaf and using a system called Visible Speech. At the same time, Bell is taught: 1066working on other inventions and ideas, and Ellen finds herself unwittingly caught up in a complicated tangle of espionage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1783062207</amazonuk>1035401614

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Natasha PulleyClaire North|title=The Watchmaker House of Filigree StreetOdysseus|rating=4.5|genre=FantasyLiterary Fiction |summary=London 1883: Thaniel Steepleton, a telegraphist in a government office, finds himself living and working in a city at siege during a Clan na Gael bombing campaign. It's around this time that he also realises that his pocket watch seems 'What could matter more than love?'' The follow-up to have some odd, previously unnoticed functions. Grace Carrow, a the excellent ''Ithaca'bluestocking' physics student also owns such picks up a watchfew months after where we left off. The two total strangers may think their watches oddIn the palace of Odysseus, but 'odd' takes on a new meaning when they meet Mr Moriwith delicate care Queen Penelope continues to rule without her husband, who sailed to war at Troy and then by divine intervention never returned home. As ever she remains surrounded by suitors vying for the throne of the Japanese watchmakerWestern Isles. His clockwork pet octopus Having survived – politically and physical – the chaotic storm that Clytemnestra brought to Ithaca's shores, Queen Penelope is only on the brink of a small measure fragile peace. One that shatters however with the return of the oddity aheadOrestes, King of Mycenae, and his sister Elektra, seeking refuge.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408854287</amazonuk>0356516075

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Katharine McMahonB0C7J9D21B|title=The Woman A Captive in the PictureAlgiers (Muhammed Amalfi Mysteries)|author=A J Lewis

|summary=In February 1926 London was tense When we first meet our hero, his name is Ettore and divided between those who supported the principle he lives at The House of a general strike and those who were prepared to break Beautiful Swallows. Idyllic as this might sound, it at whatever cost to themselves. Evelyn Gifford is 's a newly qualified solicitor bordello and whilst sheEttore's sympathetic to the miners she's preoccupied by two cases from opposite ends of the social spectrummother died when he was born. Trudy Wright is a maidservant accused of theft and Evelyn has undertaken this case He''pro bono'': her argument is that the 'theft' was s not been short of a letter asking mothers, though - but for a reference for Trudysomeone of his background in late-eighteenth-century Amalfi, but she was too frightened to hand it 's difficult to her bullying employer, so only she was the loserobtain decent employment. The Wright family worm their way into Evelyn's life: the father is a bullying, drunken, wife beater, the mother is scared and brow beaten, but the son, Robbie, is deeply involved stint working with the unions.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0297866036</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Simon Scarrow|title=Hearts preparation of Stone|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Wars anchovies didn't work out and bastards are often written about and the further back you go the more unreal they feelconsidered bad luck on fishing boats. The description of Ettore was nothing if not resourceful - and determined - and it was not long before he had a successful business as a Roman Soldier being killed seems to have little impact on our lives today, but, what about Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam? How far must one go back before we feel detached from events? World War Two ended 70 years ago, but it still ripples through to todayguide for visitors. There are stories still to be told from this time, but they must be written well and sensitivelyHe was even saving some money.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755380223</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Cynthia Harrod-EaglesEssie Fox|title=Keep the Home Fires Burning: War at Home, 1915The Fascination

|summary= As the calendar page turns to 1915 Jack Hunter The Victorian era is fighting the front. The same goes incredibly over-romanticised as a setting for Charles Wroughtonhistorical fiction (matched only, leaving his new fiancée Diana perhaps, by the Second World War) which has often led to face his aristocratic family (including dreadful Rupert) alonemore than a few writers mishandling it. The countryThere's men are going off such a glut of media set in greater numbers as enlistment fever begins the era that the hallmarks we've come to build and women associate with it are familiar to the point of being brought in to do men's jobscliched, hackneyed even. (Yes, really!) Diana's sister Sadie continues to train horses All this is simply to illustrate that it would be sent an easy thing to the French frontdo poorly. But despite that, making her feel as if she's doing something useful. There are also other benefits to the job, seeing more of local vet John Courcy for instance, although their relationship is purely professional… yes, really! Not everything is focused on France though; thereabout it still grabs me – and something about this book's talk of opening up a new front further east on the Turkish coast at a place called Gallipolidescription did as well.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0751556297</amazonuk>1914585526

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Rachel BillingtonNicole Jarvis|title=GloryA Portrait in Shadow|rating=4.5

|summary=Sylvia Fitzpaine comes ''I want all of Florence to know my name'' Cast out from Rome, Artemisia Gentileschi arrives in Florence seeking an oasis in which her art can find a titled family with all home and where her future can thrive rather than stagnate. But as some as she enters Florentine society she faces great opposition from the powerful Accademia, the advantages self-proclaimed guardians of class the healing magics that through paintings have the aristocracy can offer in 1915. These are grossly troubled times though, with men including her father power to protect the Brigadier General city and its citizens from plagues and her fiancé Arthur away at warcurses. The Brigadier General seems safe at the moment in Cairo but Arthur all-male Accademia has been sent into the thick of hoarded power over art and architecture for centuries and guard itabove all else. He sits in a ship awaiting embarkation just off the coast of a little known Turkish regionTo them, the very name of which will one day summon images of terror Artemisia – an ambitious young woman who promises trouble and change – has no place amongst them and ill-thought-out tactics. Arthur is on his way to Gallipolitheir society.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1409146235</amazonuk>1803362340

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Elizabeth FremantleThomas D Lee|title=Watch the LadyPerilous Times|rating=53|genre=Historical FictionFantasy|summary=Queen Elizabeth I ''Hate is in her autumnal years and becoming increasingly pre-occupied with fear the path of potential plots and coups catching up with her – and perhaps justifiably so. This is how young Penelope Devereux finds Her Majesty (Penelope's godmother) on Penelopeleast resistance's acceptance at court. It's a dangerous time to be a royal maid Set in the near-distant future, especially in young Miss Devereux's case with a banished motherworld on the verge of climate collapse, Britain is in great peril. The British Isles desperately needs a stephero (or several) to save the day and rescue what little remains. What no-father who is one expected was that one of Elizabeth's favourites and the realisation that Knights of the girl has been placed there to spy for Round Table would answer the family. However the Devereux interests will be served even if the game that Penelope plays is a fatal onecall.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>071817710X</amazonuk>0356518523

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Elizabeth LoupasG K Holloway|title=The Red Lily CrownIn the Shadows of Castles

|summary=Florence 1574: Chiara Nerini only approaches Francesco de' Medici to sell him her late father's alchemical equipment. She and her family are starving and a sale would mean survival. However We begin after the soon to be Emperor has other ideas momentous battle in 1066 and abducts Chiara to become his assistant in on the quest to find the Philosopherday of William of Normandy's Stonecoronation as King of England. If he finds it she will go free. If not... Best not think about that option!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099571536</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Rosemary Goring|title=DacreWilliam's War|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=1523, ten years after the Battle of Flodden position is not secure and the death if James IV of Scotlandnew king has many challenges. Henry VIII has decided on Imposing authority through a scorched earth policy and sends agents over the borders to burn Scottish towns and plunder their churches and monasteries coronation is important. And William is right to fund his coffersworry. One such agent is ThomasWhile the previous king, Baron DacreHarold, Keeper is dead and the likelihood of Carlisle more pitched battles is over, the rebels are stirring and, ironically, friend much of the dead Scottish ruler. While working for the English crown Dacre also has his own private war country does not wish to fight. Clan chief Adam Crozier hears that Dacre ordered Adam's father's murder and wants his revengerecognise a new overlord.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846973112</amazonuk>1800422466

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Eve Makis3949666079|title=The Spice Box LettersNoema|author=Dael Akkerman

|summary=Katerina's Armenian grandmother Mariam dies leaving her and her mother 'This is a journal in Armenian and a spice box full of mysterious lettersstory about some things that happened to me about twelve thousand years ago. They're special to them both because they're the legacy of  Maya is a young girl living in a much loved relative but totally indecipherable to hunter gatherer village during the monolingually English pairMesolithic era. However a holiday abroad to get over a recent break up brings a random encounter for Katerina. When Katerina meets Ara she also meets Climate change is occurring, the key to her grandmotherSea of Grass encroaches further and further into Maya's secret pastforest home, and food is becoming more and more scarce.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910124087</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=MRC Kasasian|title=Death Descends On Saturn Villa (The Gower Street Detective Series)|rating=4|genre=Crime (Historical)|summary=While What to do? Can the best personal detective law givers in the known Victorian world (in his opinion anyway) Sidney Grice is away on a case, his ward March is left federation of villages muster peaceful ways to her own devices. As luck would have itcope? Can the Traveller, one of those devices is an invitation to meet a previously unknown relative. March visits Saturn Villa with a sense spiritual figure who interprets the wisdom of curiosity and encounters Uncle Tolly whose afternoon tea is one she will never forget. Let's hope she knows a good detective!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>178185971X</amazonuk>All Life, provide solutions?

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Cesca Major1529125898|title=The Silent HoursGodmersham Park|author=Gill Hornby

|summary=Adeline is an enigma''If it were not for the casual dereliction of the odd gentleman's duty, there would no women to teach well-bred daughters at all.'' 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 has lived in had no experience of teaching but this was a nunnery ever since case of necessity. Until the death of her rescuemother, several years agoAnne had a comfortable life and was loved by both parents although her father was frequently absent from the household. She cannot speak When her mother died, nor can she remember much about her previous life. She tries desperately to piece together the ephemeral fragments that come father cast her off and would have nothing more to do with her in fitful dreams. Something has No explanation was offered but she would receive an annuity of £35 a year. Her maid, Agnes, would receive nothing but was fortunately taken everything awayin by some neighbours. Something so powerful that it has rendered her speechless.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782395687</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Louisa TregerMelissa Fu |title= The LodgerPeach Blossom Spring |rating= 3.5|genre= Historical Fiction|summary= A writer writing about writers writing. What more could a readerI loved the prelude to Peach Blossom Spring, a book reviewer, a tentative writer and lover short chapter entitled ''Origins''. Unfortunately it is the only truly poetic part of words want from a book? Not forgetting that I expected more from. Covering Chinese history from 1938 to 2005 as viewed through one family's perspective. When their home city is set ablaze during the setting – Englandwar with Japan, early 1900s, clear class divisions a young mother (Meilin) and social expectations – and the characters – fascinating, colourfulher four-year-old son (Renshu) are among those who flee. The story follows them on their journey across China, and above all, real. This book has everything I look for in a storyRenshu's case eventually to America. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1250051932</amazonuk>1472277538

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Antonia Hodgson1916072038|title=The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=A few months after we left Tom House in the 1720s we return to find him living in sin and love with Kitty. Or it would be sin if they ever get round to the bed bit. Just as he promised underworld gang leader James Fleet, Tom has taken in James' son Sam to train him in the ways of being a gentleman. All seems to be going well in that department until Tom receives a visit from an old enemy and a brush with the country's ultimate power. Then both collide to create fear and an offer that Tom isn't able to refuse, no matter how hard he tries.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444775456</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Martine Bailey|title= Hollow (The Penny Heart|rating= 5|genre= Historical Fiction|summary=After living a life of crime in order to scrape by, Mary Jebb is spared from the gallows – and banished to Australia. Before leaving for the penal colony of Botany Bay, she sends two engraved penny heart tokens to key players in her world. One of these takes us to Delafosse Hall, where Mary’s story meets that of shy artist Grace Moore – and yet more confidence tricks begin.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444769855</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Amitav Ghosh|title=Flood of Fire (Ibis Trilogy 3)|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=1839 and the repercussions of the sinking of the Ibis and the Chinese clampdown on opium smuggling go on. Now widowed by the marine disaster, Shireen Modhi is given an opportunity to discover her late husband's legacy although it means journeying alone from India to China. Former sailor Zachary Reid finds life landside to be a little complicated when he becomes a 'mystery' (craftsmanTalbot Saga) attached to the Indian home of a British opium trader, despite its fringe benefits. East India Company sepoy officer Kesri Singh is also a little unsettled, especially when he discovers he must prepare for a war that, in some way or other, will affect them all.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0719569001</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Jean Ravencourt|title=A Lover's PinchAllie Cresswell

|summary=Hettie (Henriette to be formal) has grown up in straitened times. Her mother was a former mistress We meet part of Charles IX but now Henri IV is on the throneTalbot family in Yorkshire in November 1811. A different king means different favourites Twenty-seven-year-old Jocelyn Talbot and Hettie’s family her mother have travelled in some discomfort from their home at Ecklington, to live on the memory and favours of othershouse in the hollow. However Hettie has attracted the attention The two women are angry with each other and Jocelyn is well aware of Henri which is enough to give her mother ideas. She’s not the only one though's strengths and weaknesses: King’s mistress Gabrielle d’Estrees also has plans for  ''She is practiced at subterfuge, at concealing, beneath a facade of respectability, the teenage girldeplorable truth''. Hettie  Hester is definitely embarking on an adventure but furious about Jocelyn's refusal to do as she was asked, which has precipitated ''this violent and unexpected removal''. Then we are told of the twists it takes are unforeseen by anyone birth of a child and, soon after, Hester Talbot departs, leaving Jocelyn in shame and dangerous to allisolation in Yorkshire.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>B00UEL4XLW</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Patricia DunckerAnnabel Abbs|title=Sophie and the Sibyl: A Victorian Romance|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=''Sophie and the Sibyl'', consciously modelled on John Fowles's ''The French Lieutenant's Woman'', is a postmodern blending of history, fiction, and metafictional commentary. Brothers Max and Wolfgang Duncker really were George Eliot's German publishers, but the accident of their surname matching the author's makes them her clever stand-in. As the novel opens in 1872, the venerable English author is exploring Homburg and Berlin in the company of her 'husband' while ushering her latest novel, ''Middlemarch'', into German translation. Max, a young cad fond Language of casinos and brothels, has two tasks: ensuring Eliot's loyalty to their publishing house, and securing Countess Sophie von Hahn's hand in marriage.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140886052X</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Laura Beatty|title=DarklingFood|rating=2.5

|summary= Brilliana Harley Eliza Acton is a seventeenth century Puritanpoet who has never had the slightest inclination to boil an egg. When tasked with writing a cookery book, she recruits Ann Kirby, and a Roundhead in local woman with a county of Puritanstroubled home life. Driven to defend both her beliefs and home in the front of total aggressionTogether, Brilliana must take charge and defend her homethey test, all the while consumed with longing for an absent husband. She soon comes under a brutal and unrelenting siegecraft, refine and will struggle to survive. In reshape the present dayworld of domestic cookery, Mia Morgan is researching reinventing the life of Brilliana Harley, hoping to finish a recipe book begun by her late ex-lover. As she struggles to come to term with her grief, and to rebuild a life from what she has left, Mia finds her life becoming irrevocably entwined with that changing the face of the tragic Brillianacookery writing forever. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>009958414X</amazonuk>1398502227

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ben KaneFreya Marske|title=Eagles at WarA Marvellous Light

|summary=War, what Robin Blyth is it good for? Looking at nudged into a job in the ever buoyant historic fiction genre it would appear Civil Service, much to his chagrin. There he meets Edwin Courcey and learns that war is great for selling books. This is especially the case streets of London are threaded with the Romans; there are more books about Ancient Roman battles than there were mad Caesarsmagic. One of Desperate to remove a curse that threatens to swallow him, Robin follows Edwin to the leading names in countryside, where the historic fiction genre is Ben Kane hedgegrows bristle with incantations and when he releases the first book in people shimmer with power. There they uncover a new series fans sinister plot that threatens the lives of all magicians in the genre take notice, but would they be right to do so?British Isles. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848094043</amazonuk>1529080886

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Diney CosteloeB09F4CTKJR|title=The Throwaway Children|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=They seemed like a perfect little family unit: Mavis and her two young daughters, Rita and Rosie. But widowed Mavis needed a man in her life and violent bully Jimmy was only too happy to enjoy the perks of such a relationship, even if it meant putting up with her troublesome children. When Mavis finds herself pregnant with Jimmy's baby, he agrees to marry her on one condition: the girls have to go. Distraught Mavis chooses her man over her children, setting in motion a tragic chain of events that leads to the girls being sent to an orphanage thousands of miles away in Australia. “The Throwaway Children” follows the lives of Rita and Rosie as they struggle to make sense of this new, unfamiliar world.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1784970018</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewFlights for Freedom|author=Suzannah Dunn|title=The Lady of MisruleSteven Burgauer

|summary=Elizabeth Tilney volunteers to accompany Lady Jane Grey to It's the Tower later stages of LondonWorld War I and the United States has just entered the conflict. Elizabeth would be attendant to the young deposed Protestant queen while Jane's husband Guildford Dudley Petrol Petronus is kept in an adjacent tower. Her feelings for him are less than devotional whereas he still feels a responsibility towards her, mixed with his fear and anger at what young American who has gone before signed up and what may lie aheadjoined the 17 Aero Squadron. However Jane is treated well by This company was the new Queen Mary despite first US Aero Squadron to be trained in Canada, the difference in first to be attached to the new RAF and old queens' faiths. Does Jane have anything the first to fear? Spending her time with Jane and as a messenger be sent into the skies to Guildfordfight the Germans in active combat. But before that can happen, Elizabeth hopes not Petrol has to master flying the notoriously difficult but she hears rumours..majestic Sopwith Camel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408704668</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Dan SimmonsChristophe Medler|title=The Fifth HeartMadrigal: A Closely Guarded Secret

|summary=On Set against the backdrop of the English Civil War, a rainy night secret plan (code-named Madrigal) is discovered by Sir Robert Douse in March 1893 Henry James stands on a Paris bridge, about to end it all. Next to him sidles Sherlock Holmes, about to do the samesummer of 1642. Instead As a loyal servant of jumpingthe King, Holmes drags James off for a drink and decides that they will go to America to solve a 17-year-old murder case. The supposed victim, socialite Clover AdamsHead of the Secret Service, it is believed to have committed suicide but that doesn't deter Sherlock. HeRobert's off, Henry James is going with him duty to uncover the details of the plan and that's that!follow the clues to uncover one of the most guarded secrets in history—especially since the plot could affect the King.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0751560952</amazonuk>B095HY8SXQ

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Katherine Clements1471187179|title=The Silvered HeartA Beautiful Spy|author=Rachel Hore|rating=5 4

|summary= Katherine Ferrers Minnie is an 'ordinary' girl living an unexciting life in a young orphan – growing up leafy provincial suburb. The book is set in the turbulent period of the English Civil War, she has little choice but 1930s and Minnie is expected to live up to her mother's expectations and find a nice young man to marry for the sake of her family, produce children and to trust her considerable inheritance into spend the care rest of her days looking after her husbandand their home. As the war comes Unfortunately, this isn't what she wants to an end, do at all and those who supported the losing King are punished severelyneither does she want to continue working as a secretary. As a result of a chance meeting, Katherine she finds herself with no money, few friendsdrawn into espionage, working for the secret service and effectively living a house that has become a prison. Wishing for a life away from her cold, oft absent husband, Katherine meets a man who changes her double life, with Katherine choosing - attempting to join him in a life that provides infiltrate the Communist Party of Great Britain. Minnie finds herself torn between what she perceives as her with duty and the excitement friends she craves – has made - and yet may prove all too dangerous…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1472204247</amazonuk>likes - whilst working for the Communist Party.

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lydia SysonAfonso Cruz and Rahul Bery (translator)|title=LibertyKokoschka's FireDoll|rating=42.5|genre=TeensLiterary Fiction|summary=Paris Well, this looked very much like a book I could love from the get-go, which is why I picked my review copy up and flipped pages over several times before actually reading any of it. I found things to potentially delight me each time – a weird section in the uneasy middle on darker stock paper, a chapter whose number was in the 20,000s, letters used as narrative form, and violent months between March and May 1871 is an inspired setting for this tenseso on. It intrigued with the subterranean voice a man hears in wartorn Dresden that what little I knew of it mentioned, dramatic noveltoo. But you''Liberty's Fire'' is Lydia Syson's third work of fiction ve seen the star rating that comes with this review, and certainly ensures can tell that she will if love was on these pages, it was not be stereotyped into any single historical periodactually caused by them. So what happened?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>147140367X</amazonuk> 1529402697

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Laura MadeleineChristina Hammonds Reed|title=The Confectioner's TaleBlack Kids

|genre=Historical FictionTeens |summary=Petra Christina Hammonds Reed's debut novel is researching set against the life backdrop of late historianthe 1992 Los Angeles riots, author, critic and greatly missed grandfather JG Stevenson when she should really be writing a dissertation for her doctorate. While looking through his belongings she comes across a photo taken in Paris at the turn of the 20th century and an intriguing note in his handwriting. Petra has never consciously realised that Grandpa Jim (as he was reaction to her) had been to France so the revelation spurs her on against all odds, an unscrupulous competitor and academic pressure. Gradually the search reveals a romance and notorious scandal; the sort absolution of scandal would lead four police officers for beating a black man to regret it for the rest of his life. Meanwhile in 1909, Guillaume du Frere moves Rodney King, nearly to France from the provinces in order to escape poverty and changes his life completely, although not in the way he'd expecteddeath.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1784160725</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Sally Wragg|title=The Angel and the Sword|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=We met the people Told from Loxley New Hall in [[Loxley by Sally Wragg|Loxley]] but we've moved on quite a few years as we rejoin them for the story perspective of ''The Angel and the Sword''. HarryAshley Bennett, eleventh Duke of Loxley is dead and the title has been inherited by his daughter - she's a lucky girl as that doesn't happen too often in the world of Debrett's. She's only in novel follows her mid teens, but Katherine, her grandmother is uneasy about her friendship with Bill, evolution from a local boy. She was very sniffy silent bystander when her son married Bronwyn, the daughter of a doctor and only really came around to the idea when Bron made a good fist of running the estate when the Duke went off to the trenches confronted with every able-bodied man on the estate.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0719814308</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Barbara Erskine|title= The Darkest Hour|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary= In the summer of 1940, at the start of the Battle Britain, Evie Lucas has two things on her mind. She paints pictures matters of the war and she has fallen in love with Tonyrace, a young pilot.Seventy years later, Lucy, an art historian, begins a study into Evie’s life. Lucy is recently widowed and hopes to find solace in the engrossing project. Instead, she finds secrets that people have been working hard to protect for over half a century – woman finding her voice and embracing her discoveries have a profound impact on her own lifeheritage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007513151</amazonuk>1471188191