Tag: Historic Fiction

When I first started book blogging (almost 10 years ago!), I used to read a ton of indie and self published books but now that I have been blogging for so long, I tend to read a lot more books from publishing groups or established authors.

One of the things that I liked most about reading these self published or indie books was so that I could give constructive criticism. I hate when I read a book review and it just says something like ‘your book sucks’. Why not offer some suggestions to help guide them or praise where praise is due?

Most of the self published or indie books that I read were a little on the bland side but ever once in a while I found one that was a diamond in the rough. As I said, now a days I don’t read a ton of self published or indie books, but I do get pitches for them on a regular basis. As I have said before, I read every single pitch that comes across my desk and if it catches my eye, indie or not, of if it’s something I think my readers will be interested in, then I pick it up.  Continue reading “Review: A Class Apart (A Matter of Class #1) by Susie Murphy” →

I have been a fan of C.W. Gortner for quite a few years. He always writes about interesting women in history. Though he writes historical fiction, his novels have just the right amount of fiction and history to make them both readable and realistic.

Not to mention every single one of his book covers are to DIE for. Whoever his cover artist is, has a fantastic eye for color, detail, and mood. When THE ROMANOV EMPRESS came up for review, this was a no brainer—100% yes.

Even from behind the throne, a woman can rule. Continue reading “Review: The Romanov Empress: A Novel of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna by C.W. Gortner” →

About a year ago, I read Meredith Jaeger’s book, THE DRESSMAKERS DOWRY, which was her debut novel. For a debut novel, it was good but needed a little more polish to shine.

When this book came up for review, not only was I in love with the cover, but I was eager to see in what ways her writing had grown.

The other reason I decided to review this novel was the location. As a teenager, I was fascinated by California beach culture. I loved the carefree, unstructured romanticism that made the west coast so appealing. It was like to ultimate endless summer so this book seemed to promise that little bit of magic that I makes me love the California coast.  Continue reading “Review: Boardwalk Summer by Meredith Jaeger” →