A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin

Two women, bound by blood and betrayal, must break silence across centuries—or be silenced forever.

Lilith Legare’s life is unraveling. Since her mother’s death, strange things have been happening - plants turn toward her touch, animals linger in her path, and the birthmark on her arm has started tingling. Worse still is her recurring nightmare of being burned alive at the stake.

Her search for answers brings her from Savannah to England, to the decaying Brackenmere Manor where the past blurs with the present. There, Lilith discovers a legacy she never asked for and along with it, the threat of peril. History must be rewritten, or she too will die.

In 1645 Suffolk, Sybil Brantham stands accused as a witch. An educated, wealthy widow, she is branded a threat by men who fear her independence. As arrests begin and suspicion abounds, Sybil must protect her younger sister, even as betrayal takes root within her household.

Across centuries, Lilith and Sybil are bound by blood and by danger. To save themselves, and each other, they must confront the silence that has stolen women’s power for generations—and dare to claim their voices before it’s too late.

Kindle Edition, 380 pages

Expected publication September 1, 2026 

by Hanover Square Press

3.5/5 stars

Madeline Martin steps away from her usual World War II historical fiction with A Time of Witches,  trading the battlefields of the war for the witch hunts of 1645 in Suffolk, England. It is a big departure and for the most part it works.

The story moves between present day Lilith Legare and Sybil Brantham in the 1600s, two women connected across centuries by legacy neither of them chose. I enjoyed the present day storyline and how the links between Lilith and Sybil slowly came together. 

That said, something felt like it was missing for me, though I cannot quite put my finger on what.  Maybe I wanted more time with Sybil before her arrest. We meet her already caught up in accusation and suspicion, and I would have liked the chance to know her as a person first - an educated widow living her life before everything changes for her. That groundwork felt a little thin.

Still, this was an enjoyable read overall. Martin clearly did her research into the witch hunts and the atmosphere she builds is good throughout. 

My thanks to Hanover Press for a digital ARc in exchange for a honest review.

The Double Life of Eve Sinclair by C.C. Humphreys

The Alice Network meets The Nightingale in this romantic and suspenseful novel about a female spy who must push herself to her very limits to save herself and everything she holds dear.

It’s 1939, and Stockholm is a sea of spies. Yet Eve Sinclair couldn’t care less. Nineteen years old, beautiful, born in Montreal into privilege and educated to do little more than make a good marriage, she appears to have succeeded when she weds handsome diplomat Richard Spence and follows him to Stockholm. But, like so much in this city, Eve will discover that her marriage is not what it seems. Raised to expect only one life, she soon finds herself thrust into another one entirely—dark, corrupt and very, very dangerous.

If Eve is going to survive her newly perilous life in a world at war, she must learn certain skills—and swiftly. Discovering a core of steel buried deep within her, she will forge that steel into a career . . . as a spy. Her talents, and her need to fight evil, will take her from luxurious Sweden to the foulest tenements of Lisbon, onto the highlands of Scotland and finally to a bridge in Norway, a detonator and an inconceivable choice.

The Double Life of Eve Sinclair is much more than a war story; it’s a tale of love, passion, grit and the resilience of the human spirit. And it’s the story of one woman who discovers she has more strength than she ever could have imagined.

Paperback, 400 pages

Published June 2, 2026 

by Doubleday Canada

4/5 stars

I had the privilege of attending an author talk when this book was released,  C.C. Humphreys spoke about his own personal connection to this story. His father was from England and his mother was a spy during the war. Knowing that going in made reading this all the more interesting, there is something different about experiencing a book when you know it is rooted in the author's own family history.

Set in 1939, the story follows Eve Sinclair, a young Montreal socialite who marries a handsome diplomat and moves to Stockholm, only to discover her marriage is not what it appears to be. Raised to expect one kind of life, she is thrust into another entirely, one that pulls her into the dangerous world of espionage during the Second World War. Watching her transformation and all the obstacles she endured gave rise to how much strength she didn't realize she had.  

World War II fiction set in Stockholm is well off the beaten path, and it was refreshing to get a view of the war from that side of things. So much WWII historical fiction covers familiar ground, France, Britain, Germany, so setting the story in neutral Sweden gave a different perspective on how the war touched even those countries trying to stay out of it.

This book was part of  my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge #28

The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown

A dual-timeline murder mystery set in an English country manor, when an ambitious professor discovers the long-lost manuscript of a Reformation-era prophetess.

Historian Alison Sage has made a groundbreaking archival discovery—she found a manuscript containing the prophecies of a 16th century nun, Elizabeth Barton. Barton’s prophecy condemning Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn led to her execution and the destruction of all copies of her prophecies—or so the world believed.

With Alison’s discovery, she is catapulted to academic superstardom and scores an invitation to the exclusive Codex Consortium, a week of research among a select handful of fellow historians at a crumbling manor in England, located next to the ruins of the priory where Elizabeth herself once lived.

What begins as a promising conference turns into a nightmare as the eerie house becomes the site of a murder. Suddenly, everyone is a suspect, and it seems that answers lie at the root of a local legend about centuries-old hidden treasure. Alison’s research makes her best-suited to solve the mystery—but when old feelings resurface for a former colleague, and the stakes of the search skyrocket, everyone's motives become murky.

Alison’s cutthroat world of academia is almost as dangerous as Elizabeth Barton’s sixteenth-century England, where heretics are beheaded, visions can kill, and knowing who to trust is a deadly art. The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is a thrilling novel, crackling with the voices of the past and propelled by a mystery that will leave readers in suspense until the very last page.

Kindle Edition, 307 pages

Published April 14, 2026 

by St. Martin's Press

3/5 stars

This is my first time reading Jennifer N. Brown, the premise drew me in: a dual-timeline mystery connecting a present-day academic who discovers a lost manuscript to its author, Elizabeth Barton, a real sixteenth-century nun who prophesied against Henry VIII.  Dual timelines is a trope I always enjoy, and the way Brown connects the two centuries was interesting.

Present day there is Alison, she is presented as a brilliant academic, but I found myself wishing the page backed that up a little more.  Elizabeth, a woman whose visions and convictions put her directly in the path of danger. I found myself thinking that sometimes, especially in sixteenth-century England, it might have been wiser to keep both your mouth and your visions to yourself.

The story-line itself held my interest, but I found the characters a little flat on both sides of the timeline. The plot kept me reading, though I wouldn't call it unputdownable,  it was the kind of book you're happy to pick up but not desperate to get back to.

The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is a story of conviction, determination and treasure, yes there is a treasure, or is there really? 

A solid debut with an interesting historical thread. 

My thanks to St. Martin's Press (via NetGalley) for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn

Veronica and Stoker are practically dying for a new adventure but when their wish is granted, they find themselves up against a secret society and a darkly seductive duo.

When the corpse of an entitled young man is found entirely drained of blood in a carriage next to Highgate Cemetery, Veronica’s interest is piqued. And then a second victim is found, his death made to look like a suicide, and Veronica and her intrepid beau, Stoker, know the hunt is on. The two men share one link: they were both members of a society so secretive that only a singular mention of it can be found anywhere.

Thirsty for more clues, Veronica and Stoker hear that a young Roma boy may know more about their first victim, but the only way to the boy is through an old acquaintance of Stoker’s, Lady Julia Brisbane. Lady Julia and her dashing husband, Nicholas, occasionally track down murderers and are only too happy to help. But as it becomes clear the secret society is a dangerous sect looking to entice immortality seekers, Veronica and Stoker find themselves ensnared by a decidedly more sinister couple.

The professed leader of the society claims to be a creature of the night; his partner practices witchcraft and they both fancy themselves emissaries of the otherworldly. Just as Veronica and Stoker get closer to learning the true purpose of the society and unraveling this macabre mystery, another body turns up, and they quickly discover they’ve gone from being the hunters to the hunted. . . .

Kindle Edition, 330 pages

Published March 3, 2026 

by Berkley

3.5/5 stars

Deanna Raybourn is back with another installment into the adventures of Veronica Speedwell and Revelstoke Templeton-Vane (aka Stoker), it felt a bit like catching up with old friends. A Ghastly Catastrophe marks the 10th installment in this series, Veronica and Stoker remain one of my all-time favorite fictional couples. 

This time around, Veronica and Stoker are drawn into a particularly strange case that begins with a suspicious death near Highgate Cemetery. As they begin digging for answers, the trail leads them toward a secretive society with some very unusual beliefs. The deeper they look, the clearer it becomes that this mystery is far more complicated and of course dangerous than it first appeared.  

  

It had a unique plot,  a tad slow on the uptake but once the action started it was a captivating read.  The appearance of Lady Julia Brisbane and her husband Nicholas, characters longtime Raybourn readers will recognize, was a great addition. Their involvement added an extra layer of fun to the story and created some entertaining dynamics as the two investigative couples cross paths. Would be great to see them again.

Even ten books into the series, Raybourn still manages to keep Veronica and Stoker’s adventures feeling fresh. The mystery leans toward the macabre and occasionally borders on the theatrical, but Veronica’s sharp narration, Stoker’s steadfast presence and their clever banter continue to keep me entertained...and guessing.

My thanks to Berkley for a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict

Bestselling author Marie Benedict, returns with a sweeping tale of a young woman who unearths the truth about a forgotten Pharoah—rewriting both of their legacies forever.

In the 1920s, archeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle made headlines around the world with the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. But behind it all stood Lady Evelyn Herbert—daughter of Lord Carnarvon—whose daring spirit and relentless curiosity made the momentous find possible.

Nearly 3,000 years earlier, another woman defied the expectations of her Hatshepsut, Egypt’s lost pharaoh. Her reign was bold, visionary—and nearly erased from history.

When Evelyn becomes obsessed with finding Hatshepsut’s secret tomb, she risks everything to uncover the truth about her reign and keep valued artifacts in Egypt, their rightful home. But as danger closes in and political tensions rise, she must make an impossible protect her father’s legacy—or forge her own.

Propelled by high adventure and deadly intrigue, Daughter of Egypt is the story of two ambitious women who lived centuries apart. Both were forced to hide who they were during their lifetimes, yet ultimately changed history forever.

Kindle Edition, 320 pages

Audiobook, 10 hours, 15 minutes

Expected publication March 24, 2026 

by St. Martin's Press/Macmillan Audio

4/5 stars

Daughters of Egypt is a dual-timeline historical novel that highlights women whose influence and intelligence were often pushed to the margins of history. Told through two points of view nearly 3,000 years apart, this story shows how power, ambition and determination echo across time.

One timeline is set in the 1920s and follows Lady Evelyn Carnarvon, who has a passion for archaeology.  Through her friendship with Howard Carter, we get a fascinating look at the excitement, tension, and behind-the-scenes look at history. At the same time seeing how much Evelyn herself longed to be taken seriously in a male-dominated field.

The second timeline takes us back to ancient Egypt and follows Hatshepsut, a woman determined to rule in a world that refuses to accept a female pharaoh. Her journey is compelling and powerful, and the parallels between her struggles and Evelyn’s make the dual narrative especially effective.

Overall, this was an immersive and thoughtful read that did a great job bringing overlooked women to the forefront of history. 

Note: I was luck to get both the digital and audiobook, it was a fun hybrid read.  I will confess that I enjoyed reading the book moreso, one of the povs didn't work for me in audio.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for advanced copies in exchange for a honest review.

The Bookbinder's Secret by A.D. Bell

Every book tells a story. This one tells a secret.

A young bookbinder begins a hunt for the truth when a confession hidden beneath the binding of a burned book reveals a story of forbidden love, lost fortune, and murder.

Lilian ("Lily") Delaney, apprentice to a master bookbinder in Oxford in 1901, chafes at the confines of her life. She is trapped between the oppressiveness of her father’s failing bookshop and still being an apprentice in a man’s profession. But when she’s given a burned book during a visit to a collector, she finds, hidden beneath the binding, a fifty-year-old letter speaking of love, fortune, and murder.

Lily is pulled into the mystery of the young lovers, a story of forbidden love, and discovers there are more books and more hidden pages telling their story. Lilian becomes obsessed with the story but she is not the only one looking for the remaining books and what began as a diverting intrigue quickly becomes a very dangerous pursuit.

Lily's search leads her from the eccentric booksellers of London to the private libraries of unscrupulous collectors and the dusty archives of society papers, deep into the heart of the mystery. But with sinister forces closing in, willing to do anything for the books, Lilian’s world begins to fall apart and she must decide if uncovering the truth is worth the risk to her own life.

Kindle Edition, 391 pages

Expected publication January 13, 2026 

by St. Martin's Press

3.5 stars

The Bookbinder’s Secret was my first time reading A.D. Bell,  I was instantly drawn into the early 1900s setting and the dusty, bookish theme. It releases in a months time.

Following  Lily, a skilled bookbinder who uncovers clues to a mystery dating back over fifty years. As she starts piecing together a past that was mysteriously woven into the binding of an old book her life takes a turn of intrigue, mystery and ultimately danger.  This danger has her traveling far and wide, searching and running. 

Where the novel didn’t land as strongly for me was in the romantic thread. It felt underdeveloped and because of that, I struggled to connect with Lily on a deeper emotional level. The plot held my interest, but the character dynamics didn’t quite resonate.

Still, the atmosphere, unique plot, and compelling old mystery made this a solid, enjoyable read. Honestly though I would have loved more of the past story to even things out a bit.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

Circle of Days by Ken Follett

From Ken Follett comes the deeply human story of one of the world’s greatest the building of Stonehenge.

A FLINT MINER WITH A GIFT
Seft, a talented flint miner, walks the Great Plain in the high summer heat, to witness the rituals that signal the start of a new year. He is there to trade his stone at the Midsummer Fair, and to find Neen, the girl he loves. Her family lives in prosperity and offer Seft an escape from his brutish father and brothers within their herder community.

A PRIESTESS WHO BELIEVES THE IMPOSSIBLE
Joia, Neen’s sister, is a priestess with a vision and an unmatched ability to lead. As a child, she watches the Midsummer ceremony, enthralled, and dreams of a miraculous new monument, raised from the biggest stones in the world. But trouble is brewing among the hills and woodlands of the Great Plain.

A MONUMENT THAT WILL DEFINE A CIVILIZATION
Joia’s vision of a great stone circle, assembled by the divided tribes of the Plain, will inspire Seft and become their life’s work. But as drought ravages the earth, mistrust grows between the herders, farmers and woodlanders—and an act of savage violence leads to open warfare . . .

Truly ambitious in scope, Circle of Days invites you to join master storyteller Ken Follett in exploring one of the greatest mysteries of our Stonehenge.

Kindle Edition, 697 pages

Published September 23, 2025

 by Grand Central Publishing

3.5/5 stars

Circle of Days is Ken Follett’s newest door-stopper, and in classic Follett fashion it’s an ambitious, deeply researched epic. This time he turns his attention to the earliest days of Stonehenge, imagining the people, politics, rivalries, and beliefs that might have driven its creation.

At the heart of the story are Seft, a skilled flint-miner whose life takes an unexpected turn when he leaves all he knows to join a new community. And there is Joia, a young priestess with passion and determination to set the monumental project in motion.  There are many layers as rival clans clash, power shifts and the dream of a great stone circle begins to take form.  Told from a couple different angles gave a vivid glimpse into the history of the times and the struggles that felt authentic.  The research shines through here.

Like many of his novels this one takes its time.  A fair sized cast of characters was a little hard to follow at times.  I was invested in this story, in awe of what could have happened. It’s a fascinating and imaginative take on Stonehenge’s origins, richly detailed and sweeping in scope, even if it didn’t fully hold me in every chapter. 

My thanks to Grand Central Pblishing for a digital arc (via Netgalley) in exchange for a honest review.

The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay

Set in the art world of 1970s London, The English Masterpiece is a fast-paced read to the end, full of glamour and secrets, tensions and lies, as one young woman races against the clock to uncover the truth about a Picasso masterpiece. Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Ariel Lawhon.

As the recently promoted assistant to the Tate's Modern Collections keeper Diana Gilden, Lily helps plan a world-class Picasso exhibit to honor the passing of the great artist--and she's waited her whole life for this moment. The opening is beyond anyone's expectations--the lighting, the champagne, the glittering crowd, and the international acclaim--until Lily does the unthinkable. She stops in front of a masterpiece and hears her own voice say, "It's a forgery." The gallery falls silent.

Lily's boss, Diana, is polished perfection, schooled in art, and descends from European high society. She's worked hard to become the trusted voice in London's modern art scene and respected across the Continent. The Tate's Picasso Commemorative is to be her crowning achievement, featuring not only the artist's most iconic and intimate works, but a newly discovered painting--one she advised an investor to purchase. But when Lily makes her outrageous declaration, suspicion and scandal threaten everything Diana has achieved, as museums and collectors across Europe, already doubting most post-war acquisitions, fall into chaos and rumors of a world-wide forgery run wild.

All Lily has ever wanted is to follow in Diana's footsteps and take the art world by storm in her own right. Yet one comment puts not only her own career at risk but also her mentor's. Unless . . . Was she right? With the clock ticking and the clues starting to pile up against her, Lily must uncover the truth behind the Picasso before she loses not only the career she's always wanted, but her freedom.

Block off your calendar and lose yourself in The English Masterpiece, a thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end from the author who brought you The London House and The Berlin Letters.

Paperback, 304 pages

Expected publication June 10, 2025

 by Harper Muse

4/5 stars

Katherine Reay has turned into one of my auto read authors, I am still going through her back list and jumped when offered a print arc of her newest read which releases tomorrow (June 10).

I love that the setting takes place in 1970s London, England. A world void of social media and electronic devices, however it was a time when women were not always accepted in the workplace. In The English Masterpiece Pablo Picasso has just passed away. His art is in demand, and when Lily, assistant to a highly respected Art curator, utters three words her life changes in an instant. Those three words, 'it's a forgery'. Not only is Picasso's painting on display but up for sale as well.

Told from the point of view of both Lily and her boss Diana, we enter into the world of modern art with its inner workings and suspicious activity. I really enjoyed this read. I found it interesting and appreciate the research to the author undertook to bring this story to light. It was well written with authentic characters and certainly reflected the time period.

While The Berlin Letters is still my favorite Reay book, The English Masterpiece follows close behind.  I am looking forward to continuing with my dive into her backlist. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

My thanks to Harper Muse for a print arc in exchange for a honest review.

Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner

Two pairs of siblings, devotees of Jane Austen, find their lives transformed by a visit to England and Sir Francis Austen, her last surviving brother and keeper of a long-suppressed, secret legacy.

In Boston, 1865, Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson, daughters of a Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice, have accomplished as much as women are allowed in those days. Chafing against those restrictions and inspired by the works of Jane Austen, they start a secret correspondence with Sir Francis Austen, her last surviving brother, now in his nineties. He sends them an original letter from his sister and invites them to come visit him in England.

In Philadelphia, Nicholas & Haslett Nelson—bachelor brothers, veterans of the recent Civil War, and rare book dealers—are also in correspondence with Sir Francis Austen, who lures them, too, to England, with the promise of a never-before-seen, rare Austen artifact to be evaluated.

The Stevenson sisters sneak away without a chaperone to sail to England. On their ship are the Nelson brothers, writer Louisa May Alcott, Sara-Beth Gleason—wealthy daughter of a Pennsylvania state senator with her eye on the Nelsons—and, a would-be last-minute chaperone to the Stevenson sisters, Justice Thomas Nash.

It's a voyage and trip that will dramatically change each of their lives in ways that are unforeseen, with the transformative spirit of the love of literature and that of Jane Austen herself.

Kindle Edition, 320 pages

Audiobook, 11 hours, 12 minutes

Expected publication May 6, 2025

 by St. Martin's Press and Macmillian Audio

3.5/5 stars

This is my first time reading a Natalie Jenner book, even though I do have her previous ones in my TBR.  Austen at Sea releases next month and I was given both the Kindle edition and the audiobook for review.

Taking place in 1865 from a couple different view points. There are the sisters who are two women ahead of their time. They have a on going correspondence with Sir Frances Austen, who just happens to be the brother of Jane Austen. Another is from the Nelson brothers, bookstore owners who also just happen to have a correspondence with Sir Austen. These four meet on a ship bound for England, along with familiar faces in history.

I will confess that I have not read much Jane Austen, actually Pride and Prejudice is my only one, though I am intrigued after reading this book. Austen at Sea is an interesting read, and I much preferred the e-book versus the audio. I found the voices in the audio just a bit distracting.

Austen at Sea is a story of relationships, women ahead of their time, and well, Jane Austen and her legacy. It was atmospheric as it reflected the time. How women were treated and the tension between England and America. I am intrigued enough to head over to my TBR and boost Natalie Jenner‘s books up closer to the top.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press and Macmillian Audio for advanced copies in exchange for a honest review

The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer

From the exceptionally original mind of CWA Gold Dagger Award winner and Booker longlisted author Belinda Bauer comes this sweeping tale of obsession, greed, ambition, and a crime that has remained unsolved for a hundred years.

How do you find something that doesn’t exist?

1926. On the cliffs of Yorkshire, men are lowered on ropes to steal the eggs of the sea birds who nest there. The most beautiful are sold for large sums. A small girl—penniless and neglected by her family—retrieves one such treasure. Its discovery will forever alter the course of her life.

A century later. In a remote cottage in Wales, Patrick Fort finds his friend, Nick, and his mother tied up and robbed. The only thing missing: a carved case containing an incredible scarlet egg. Doggedly attempting to retrieve it, Patrick and Nick discover the cruel world of egg trafficking, and soon find themselves on the trail of a priceless collection of eggs lost to history. Until now.

A taut, wonderfully imagined novel brimming with skullduggery at every turn.

Kindle Edition, 336 pages

Audiobook, 8 hours, 16 minutes

Expected publication April 8, 2025

by Grove Atlantic & Dreamscape Media

4/5 stars

This is my second book by Belinda Bauer, Blacklands being my first.  This was a hybrid read, meaning I read the book while alternating with the audiobook - the reader did a read job bringing this story to life.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started, a book about eggs. It sounds not that interesting but I was intrigued. What I got was an entertaining and highly educational read about a subject I knew nothing about.

Beginning in 1926 as recently laid eggs are stolen from the nest of migrant birds. I did not realize how sought after these eggs are because of their colour and shell designs. An act that is illegal now and rather barbaric. A tiny hole is made to empty out the shell.

This is a dual time-period story that shows what length people will go to for these treasures.  A captivating story about greed, friendship and deceit.  It was mysterious, suspenseful and like I said educational.  And yes, I did Google it, what a fascinating subject. It gives homage to the learn something new every day saying.

My thanks to Grove Atlantic (for the kindle edition) and Dreamscape Media (for the audiobook) in exchange for a honest review.

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

The New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea returns with a novel spanning three generations of women about a famous lost book, a famous lost mother, and an artist searching for both.

In 1927, in Bluffton, South Carolina, a famous American—former child prodigy author Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham—disappears, abandoning her eight-year-old daughter and husband. She leaves behind a sequel to her children’s fantasy blockbuster about a young girl named Emjie who is caught between worlds. But the sequel is written in the author’s secret and untranslatable created language.

Now in 1952, Bronwyn’s lost words have been discovered in a private library in England by a man called Charlie Jameson. Bronwyn’s daughter, Clara Harrington, a children’s book illustrator and divorced mother of one, goes on a quest to England to retrieve the lost words of her mother, words she believes will translate the sequel and help her discover what happened and why her mother abandoned her. Clara takes along her own eight-year-old daughter, Winnie, who is precocious, funny, and wise, and who has an imaginary friend, also called Emjie, after her lost grandmother’s novel.

But when Clara and Wynnie sail to England, they arrive during one of London’s greatest natural disasters—the Great Smog. Wynnie is a fragile child with asthma and the air is deadly. Charlie Jameson helps them escape London and make their way to his family’s country home in the Lake District, where the tale unfolds in the wild and glorious landscape of Esthwaite Water and the land of Beatrix Potter. It is there that the tangled roots that tie Charlie and Clara together will be revealed, and the fate—not only of Emjie, but of Bronwyn herself—will come to light.

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication March 18, 2025

 by Simon & Schuster 

5/5 

Patti Callahan Henry is an auto-read author for me. This, her latest book, releases in less than a week.

Clara is only eight years old when her mother disappears. No one hears from her again. Not only has she abandoned her child and husband, but the sequel to a novel she wrote is left with no closure, oh and she was 12 years old when she wrote this best seller.  Jump ahead to 1952, Clara has her own eight-year-old daughter when her mother's last words are found in a private library in England. What choice does Clara have but to take her daughter and sail to England for some answers and hopefully closure.

I was completely enraptured with this book. It is atmospheric with its vivid details and though some might find it a bit overwhelming I loved it with it poetic and fairy tale vibes. I fell in love with England, Clara, her daughter Winnie, and the landscape.  As Clara arrives in England so does The Great Smog along with other historical nuances that take place in that time.

The Story She Left Behind is an emotional story of longing and loss with some adventure and mystery.  A mother‘s love for her child along with some great characters had this well written story pulling at my heartstrings. The secret of the lost words are slowly revealed to a great conclusion.

My thanks to Simon and Schuster CA for a print arc in exchange for a honest review.

The Blackened Heart by Alison Weir

The Blackened Heart by foremost and beloved historian Alison Weir is an e-short and companion piece that bridges the first two novels in the Six Tudor Queens series, Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Fans of Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick will delight in this mysterious tale, drawn together from fragments of history - and a good dose of speculation. Or is it...?

Margery Otwell, a self-made gentleman's young daughter, gets her first taste of courtly life when she takes up a position as chamberer to Lady Peche of Lullingstone Castle. Dances, music, feasting - and a seduction - follow, and Margery learns the rules of courtly love the hard way.

Saved from disgrace by the kindly Sir John Peche, Margery finds herself at court waiting on Queen Katherine. Little does Margery know that she is already a pawn in a game of power, irrevocably bound to the fall of the lady she will come to love as her mistress, Queen and friend.

Kindle Edition, 45 pages

Published March 9, 2017 

by Review

3.5/5 stars

As I continue my reading through Alison Weir's Six Tudor Queen Series, I have been reading some of her short stories that are scattered throughout this series.  Available only through Amazon UK, a pity since I would like to read them all.

This is book 1.5, during the time of Katherine of Aragon, wife #1.  Coming in at 45 pages it was a relatively quick read.  As a teen Margery Otwell enters into service for the queen and is a life long companion through all the drama.  A story of mystery, drama and romance.

My copy through kindle - it pays to take kindle while traveling, in addition to reading but also to grab through editions not available in my location.

The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley

1613: King James – sixth of Scotland, first of England, son of Mary, Queen of Scots - has unified both countries under one crown. But the death of his eldest son, Henry, has plunged the nation into mourning, as the rumours rise the prince was poisoned.

Andrew Logan’s heard the rumours, but he’s paid them little heed. As one of the King’s Messengers he has enough secrets to guard, including his own. In these perilous times, when the merest suggestion of witchcraft can see someone tortured and hanged, men like Andrew must hide well the fact they were born with the Sight.

He’ll need all his gifts, though, when the king sends Andrew north to find and arrest Sir David Murray, once Prince Henry’s trusted courtier, and bring him a prisoner to London to stand trial before the dreaded Star Chamber.

A story of treachery, betrayal and love…

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication March 4, 2025

 by Simon & Schuster CA

3.5/5 stars

It has been a while since I ventured into historical fiction from the 1600's. I was glad to be reacquainted with that era by Susanna Kearsley‘s new book The King’s Messenger.

It is evident that the author knows the time period, I knew this from past experience. With an authentic story that takes place during the time of King James 1 of England/James IV of Scotland, who inherited the English throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth. He is the son of Mary Queen of Scots. Here we are a decade later when James‘s son Henry has died under mysterious circumstances.  Andrew Logan, a King‘s Messenger is tasked with travelling to find and arrest David Murray, a person of interest in his death. We get a clear picture of what a Messenger's job entails.

Told through a number of different points of view, first and foremost was Andrew Logan who takes his job very seriously and is very good at it. He also has a second sight and can sometimes see things others can’t, which added a nice twist to the story. There is also a scribe and his daughter, along with a wee lad Hector, who was an endearing fella.

The King’s Messenger is a slow paced story that was atmospheric with attention to historical facts. There was a touch of romance, adventure and some magical realism.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster CA for a print arc in exchange for a honest review

Anna of Kleve: Queen of Secrets by Alison Weir

Bestselling author and acclaimed historian Alison Weir tells the little-known story of Henry VIII’s fourth wife, as a grieving king chooses a bride sight unseen in the fourth novel in the epic and intrigue-filled Six Tudor Queens series.

Newly widowed and the father of an infant son, Henry VIII realizes he must marry again to insure the royal succession. Now forty-six, overweight and unwell, Henry is soundly rejected by some of Europe’s most eligible princesses, but Anna of Kleve—a small German duchy—is twenty-four and eager to wed. Henry requests Anna’s portrait from his court painter, who enhances her looks, painting her straight-on in order not to emphasize her rather long nose. Henry is entranced by the lovely image, only to be bitterly surprised when Anna arrives in England and he sees her in the flesh. She is pleasant looking, just not the lady that Henry had expected.

What follows is a fascinating story of this awkward royal union that had to somehow be terminated tactfully. Alison Weir takes a fresh and surprising look at this remarkable royal marriage by describing it from the point of view of Queen Anna, a young woman with hopes and dreams of her own, alone in a royal court that rejected her from the day she arrived.

Hardcover, 511 pages

Published May 2, 2019 

by Headline Review

4/5 stars

This is Book 4 in the Six Tudor Queen Series, the wives of King Henry VIII. What makes this series unique is that they are told from the point of view of the Queen.

Beginning when Anna is still a teen, we get a glimpse of her earlier life in Kleve, which is a small German Dutchy. I enjoyed reading about how important her marriage to Henry VIII was, for an alliance and the steps that went into making the wedding happen. I already knew abit of what happened in Anna‘s life after she married the King, but it was nice to read the story through her eyes. I also listened to part of the audiobook, which was well done. 

What I really liked about this book was that it almost felt like a standalone given that the previous three Queens had overlapping storylines. Meaning in Catherine of Aragon‘s story towards the end has Anne Boleyn entering the picture, so we see Catherine‘s view of Anne. Then in book 2 we get Anne's view of Catherine through her narrative.  Same with Jane Seymour (Queen 3). With this book Katherine Howard doesn't enter till near the ending, so really Anna of Kleve's story.

All in all I recommend the series for historical fiction lovers and those that are fascinated with the Tudor dynasty and their queens. I have read a number of Alison Weir books and have always enjoyed them. I bought this series from book depository (oh I miss them) when they were first released, thankfully I have a matching set of covers. 

This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge and is book #10.

The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin

A heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of the books that bring them together.

In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job to provide for herself and her beloved daughter, Olivia. But with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one option: persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her.

When the threat of war becomes a reality, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In her daughter’s absence, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbors and coworkers, as well as the recommendations she provides to the library’s quirky regulars. But the job doesn’t come without its difficulties. Books are mysteriously misshelved and disappearing, and her work forces her to confront the memories of her late father and the bookstore they once owned together before a terrible accident.

As the Blitz intensifies in Nottingham and Emma fights to reunite with her daughter, she must learn to depend on her community and the power of literature more than ever to find hope in the darkest of times.

Paperback, 432 pages

Published September 10, 2024

 by Hanover Square Press

3.5/5 stars

I am a little behind in my reviews.  I read The Booklover's Library in the fall just after its release.  Madeline Martin is one of my auto-rad authors.

The Booklover's Library is a story about Emma Taylor, a young widow struggling to make ends meet for herself and her young daughter. As England enters the war her options are limited with no family around for support.

A fiercely independent woman she is reluctant to ask for help in her time of need.  This story is about her progression through the war, realizing that she cannot do it on her own and she must change. Whether it be evacuating her daughter to the countryside, making friendships,  the war changes everyone’s priorities when trying to protect loved ones.

Madeline Miller has again written a vivid look at England during World War II with not just a war story but a story of courage, resilience and friendship. Just because their is no blood family around sometimes friendships develop in unimageable places.

This is part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn

Veronica and Stoker discover that not all fairy tales have happy endings, and some end in murder, in this latest historical mystery from New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

Lord Rosemorran has purchased a wax figure of a beautiful reclining woman and asks Stoker to incorporate a clockwork mechanism to give the Rosemorran Collection its own Sleeping Beauty in the style of Madame Tussaud’s. But when Stoker goes to cut the mannequin open to insert the mechanism, he makes a gruesome discovery: this is no wax figure. The mannequin is the beautifully preserved body of a young woman who was once very much alive. But who would do such a dreadful thing, and why?

Sleuthing out the answer to this question sets Veronica and Stoker on their wildest adventure yet. From the underground laboratories of scientists experimenting with electricity to resurrect the dead in the vein of Frankenstein to the traveling show where Stoker once toured as an attraction, the gaslit atmosphere of London in October is the perfect setting for this investigation into the unknown. Through it all, the intrepid pair is always one step behind the latest villain—a man who has killed once and will stop at nothing to recover the body of the woman he loved. Will they unmask him in time to save his next victim? Or will they become the latest figures to be immortalized in his collection of horrors?

Kindle Edition, 336 pages

Expected publication March 12, 2024

 by Berkley

3.5/stars

One of my highly anticipated books of 2024 is this Deanna Raybourn's 9th installment in her Veronica Speedwell series.

Thrust into another murder mystery Veronica and Stoker search for who their Venus is and what happened 15 years ago. Yes that’s a long time in the past. The plot was unique, if a tad far fetched, but entertaining in true Veronica and Stoker fashion. There was the easy banter that is always fun along with some zany escapades and unsavory characters. Yes there is a monkey that has taken up residence also.

It is great getting back together with these two. However while it wasn't favorite, there just seemed to be something missing, but I can’t quite place my finger on what it was, or maybe my belief was suspended too much. But all in all still one of my favorite series, can’t wait to see what this duo is up to next.

My thanks to Berkley for a digital arc in exchange for honest review.

Spotlight: Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook

An Arctic expedition. A mysterious death. And the lengths to which one woman will go to avenge her sister

When Maude Horton receives a letter from the British Admiralty informing her of her younger sister’s death, her world is shattered. Bold and daring, Constance had run away from her life in Victorian London two years prior, disguising herself as a boy to board the Makepeace, an expedition vessel bound for the Arctic’s unexplored Northwest Passage. The admiralty claims Constance’s death was a tragic accident, but Maude knows when she is being deceived.

Armed with Constance’s diary from her time at sea and a fiery desire for justice, Maude sets her sights on the Makepeace’s former scientist, Edison Stowe, a greedy and manipulative man whom she suspects had a hand in her sister’s death. When she learns he has a new venture, a travel company that escorts spectators across the country to witness popular public hangings, she decides to join the latest tour, determined to extract the truth from Stowe and avenge her sister—no matter the risk to herself.

From the stark beauty of the Arctic to the teeming streets of Victorian London, Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge is a mysterious, transportive tale about the unbreakable bond of sisterhood and the things we are driven to do by both love and greed.

Paperback, 336 pages

Expected publication

January 16, 2024

 by Simon & Schuster

The Weather Woman by Sally Gardner

Neva Friezland is born into a world of trickery and illusion, where fortunes can be won and lost on the turn of a card.

She is also born with an extraordinary gift. She can predict the weather. In Regency England, where the proper goal for a gentlewoman is marriage and only God knows the weather, this is dangerous. It is also potentially very lucrative.

In order to debate with the men of science and move about freely, Neva adopts a sophisticated male disguise. She foretells the weather from inside an automaton created by her brilliant clockmaker father.

But what will happen when the disguised Neva falls in love with a charismatic young man?

It can be very dangerous to be ahead of your time. Especially as a woman.

Hardcover, 459 pages

First published November 10, 2022

by Head of Zeus

4/5 stars

The size of this book might dissuade some readers as it comes in at just over 450 pages. However, this was an interesting story about a woman with the ability to accurately predict the weather.

Beginning in 1789 Neva is orphaned when only three years old. Lucky for her, she was taken into a stable and loving setting. This was a unique storyline that has that fantasy element which is central to this story. Neva is a strong character with a strong mind and opinions. 

The Weather Woman is a story with many  layers and a wide cast of characters.  It was well written, capturing the times authentically as well with characters that I could connect with. 

The first half of the book had a slower paced opening but the author definitely knows the era with its social nuances and gambling dens.  Throw in some deceit, courtship and romance, along with the supernatural pretty much sums up The Weather Woman. This is my first time reading a Sally Garner book, I appreciate how she stayed true to history, even though the weather woman is obviously fictional. I will be checking out her other books.

My thanks to Head of Zeus for a print copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Royal Windsor Secret by Christine Wells

 Cleo Davenport has heard the the murmured conversations that end abruptly the second she walks into a room. Told she was an orphan, she knows the rumor—that her father is none other than the Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne.

 And at her childhood home at Cairo’s Shepheard’s Hotel, where royals, rulers, and the wealthy live, they even called her “The Princess.” 

But her life is turned upside down when she turns seventeen. Sent to London under the chaperonage of her very proper aunt, she’s told it’s time to learn manners and make her debut. But Cleo’s life can’t be confined to a ballroom. She longs for independence and a career as a jewelry designer for Cartier, but she cannot move forward until she finds out about her past. 

Determined to unlock the truth, Cleo travels from London, back to Cairo, and then Paris, where her investigations take a shocking turn into the world of the Parisian demi-monde , and a high-class courtesan whose scandalous affair with the young Prince of Wales threatened to bring down the British monarchy long before anyone had heard of Wallis Simpson.

Paperback, 352 pages

Published September 12, 2023

 by William Morrow Paperbacks

3/5 stars

This is my second book by Christine Wells. My first one was One Woman’s War which was the story of Ian Fleming during WW1. The Royal Windsor Secret begins in the mid-1930s as a young woman, Cleo begins to investigate her parentage. Abandon as a infant, she hears rumours that the Prince of Wales could be her father.

The Royal Windsor Secret was a slow moving story and it wasn’t until the last half that things seemed to pick up. I wasn’t a huge fan of Cleo's as I found her personality flat and I just didn’t feel any empathy for her. This book had her traveling between Egypt, Paris, England, and even up to Scotland. There were a number of subplots that took away from her original goal.  I found myself more invested in Marguerite's story.

I was given a print copy of the ARC from the publisher and was happy to see the author notes were included.  I enjoyed those and reading the parts of the story that were based on history as well as what inspired the author in the writing of this book.

The Royal Windsor Secret is now available for purchase.

My thanks to William Morrow for this print copy in exchange for a honest review.

Weyward by Emilia Hart

I am a Weyward, and wild inside.

2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.

1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha’s mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom.

1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.

Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart's Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.

Hardcover, 329 pages

Published March 7, 2023

 by St. Martin's Press

4/5 stars

I was attracted to this book by its intriguing cover. Once I read it, everything just fit together.

I’m not always a fan of three way timelines. Sorry, could just be my age and attention span that sometimes I find it overwhelming. But here it worked nicely.

There’s a central theme to Weyward, which begins in the year 1619.  A young woman is accused of witchcraft, jumping to 1942 there is a teen being raised by her father. And finally 2019 (thankfully before the pandemic) as Kate flees an abusive marriage to Weyward cottage.

I won’t go into detail of what transpires through these three timelines, but suffice to say that I liked each of these women. Their stories were unique, they were tested in ways that were heartbreaking, sad and pulled each of them out of their comfort zones.

Wayward is a story of family, the past and strength. The timelines connected with a touch of supernatural elements and nature. It was well written and detailed the strength of three young women across five centuries.

This book was my March 2023 book of the month pick and is part of my 2023 reading off my shelf challenge