Pages: 372Published: 6th February 2020Genre: Historical FictionContent warnings: Discrimination/bullying, injury detail When should my story begin? Not when I was born, a butcher's son, in a tiny cottage just like all the other tiny cottages in Oakham. Who'd have thought then that I'd ever have much of a story to tell? Perhaps it starts when people began to nudge … Continue reading Book Review – The Smallest Man by Frances Quinn
Pages: 375Published: 13th May 2021Genre: Historical FictionContent warnings: Discrimination, animal death/cruelty, attempted rape, sexual references 1866. In a coastal village in southern England, Nell lives set apart by her community because of the birthmarks that speckle her skin. But when Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders arrives in the village, Nell is kidnapped. Her father has sold her, promising Jasper Jupiter … Continue reading Book Review – Circus Of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal
Pages: 430Published: 19th September 2019Genre: Historical FictionContent warnings: Miscarriage, suicide, drug and alcohol dependency Consumption has ravaged Louise Pinecroft's family, leaving her and her father alone and heartbroken. But Dr Pinecroft has plans for a revolutionary experiment: convinced that sea air will prove to be the cure his wife and children needed, he arranges to … Continue reading Book Review – Bone China by Laura Purcell
Pages: 401Published: 27th January 2022Genre: Historical Fiction/Magical RealismContent warnings: Domestic violence, sexual references, references to psychological abuse This was a buddy read with my friend Pauliina, and once again while it did not turn out to be the five-star read we are searching for, we still had a wonderful time reading it. She has such great thoughts and perspectives, … Continue reading Book Review – Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman
Pages: 416Published: 9th February 2021Genre: Historical FictionContent warnings: Anti-Semitism, bullying, sexual content Paris, 1939. Odile Souchet is obsessed with books and the Dewey Decimal System, which makes order out of chaos. She soon has it all – a handsome police officer beau, an English best friend, a beloved twin, and a job at the American Library in Paris, a … Continue reading Book Review – The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
Pages: 403Published: 4th April 2019Genre: Historical Mystery/ParanormalContent warnings: Sexual references, allusions to sexual assault, descriptions of gore Bridie Devine—female detective extraordinaire—is confronted with the most baffling puzzle yet: the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick, secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, and a peculiar child whose reputed supernatural powers have captured the unwanted attention of collectors trading curiosities in this … Continue reading Book Review – Things In Jars by Jess Kidd
Pages: 494Published: 16th November 2021Genre: Historical Fiction/FantasyContent warnings: Violence, injury detail It is fair to say that after reading These Violent Delights at the end of 2020, I had found perhaps a new favourite book and so that catapulted this follow-up to the very top of my most anticipated list. Once again, I read it with my wonderful friend Alexia, who … Continue reading Book Review – Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong
Pages: 327Published: 16th February 2021Genre: Historical FictionContent warnings: Strong sexual references, misogyny, allusions to rape London, 1841. The Rajah sails for Australia. On board are 180 women convicted of petty crimes, sentenced to start a new life half way across the world. Daughters, sisters, mothers - they'll never see home or family again. Despised and damned, all they have now … Continue reading Book Review – Dangerous Women by Hope Adams
Pages: 361Published: 4th May 2021Genre: Historical FictionContent warnings: Racism, attempted rape Valora Luck has two things: a ticket for the biggest and most luxurious ocean liner in the world, and a dream of leaving England behind and making a life for herself as a circus performer in New York. Much to her surprise, though, she's turned away at … Continue reading Book Review – Luck Of The Titanic by Stacey Lee
Pages: 304Published: 13th January 2022Genre: Historical FictionContent warnings: Child death, sexual references I received an advanced review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, so my thanks go to the author and publisher for providing that. This was a buddy read with the wonderful Pauliina @ The Bookaholic Dreamer, and we had … Continue reading ARC Review – The Key In The Lock by Beth Underdown
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