Historic Fiction – Page 14

Special Feature/Excerpt: The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz

January 11, 2023January 5, 2023by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment

It’s been a long time since I have read a book set in the 1700s. Most of the historical fiction books I read are usually in the Victorian or late Regency era—not that there is any shortage of 1700s era historical fiction books, but in general I tend to gravitate toward the Victorian or Regency era novels when I pick them up. Seeing that this one was set in the 1700s was actually what grabbed me, it was different than my comfort era go to books!

For me the Jacobite era is very complicated and in the past I have hard a hard time keeping some of the issues straight but this book sounds like it’s going to be filled with historical details but in a user friendly presentation since the focus of the book will be on the Scottish romance and some other intriguing plot lines. I am super excited to check this author out. I haven’t read anything by Laura Frantz before but this book sounds like it have some fun history mixed with a good old fashion, wholesome, romance!

I was sad that I couldn’t fit this one in on my review calendar for January but I am excited to bring this lovely excerpt to you guys today! I know there are others on this tour who were able to review this book so you might want to check out some of the other stops on the tour if you want to read a full review, but if you are looking for a sneak peak, keep reading here and you will see that this book promises all kinds of exciting things in this except!

Continue reading →

Books, Reading

Special Feature/Excerpt: The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy

January 10, 2023January 9, 2023by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment

I always love a good old fashion Gothic ghost story. It’s one of my favorite genres to read, especially if it has a romance and some history to it. I read Paulette Kennedy’s debut novel, Parting the Veil, and it was pretty good which made me excited to check her latest novel out. Unlike traditional Gothic novels, this one isn’t set on the moors of England but the Ozarks which made me excited to check it out since the setting would be so different.

Plus time time period was intriguing to me—-the Depression era instead of the Victorian age. I love when authors take classic troupes and change it up by doing a different time period or setting—-in this case both! The only thing I am sad about is that I couldn’t fit this one into my review schedule for January, but I was thrilled I could offer you guys an excerpt instead! This book is a standalone so you don’t need to read Kennedy’s first book in order to enjoy this one.

Early reviewers have been really enjoying this atmospheric read and I cannot wait to check it out later this year. This excerpt today promises an intriguing book with lots of characters and a truly haunted atmosphere. I am super excited to share this excerpt with you guys, so keep reading to enjoy a tease from the book! This book promises it all—-magic, cults, witchcraft, atmosphere, and of course some creepiness! Be sure to get this one on your TBR list today!

Continue reading →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Special Feature/Excerpt: Under a Veiled Moon (Inspector Corravan #2) by Karen Odden

December 15, 2022December 12, 2022by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment

Karen Odden has written a couple of different historical mystery series most of which are set in the Victorian era. She has also written introductions for some well known classics like Hard Time by Charles Dickens. Clearly she has a love of Victorian literature and history. I have enjoyed her Victorian Mysteries series even if there has only been two books so far.

This latest series featuring Inspector Corravan, is currently on its second book. Odden’s books are recommended for fans of CS Harris and Anne Perry and I would agree, her mysteries are more complex and rich in historical detail. The focus is usually on the mystery itself rather than some of the other secondary plots. I haven’t read this series yet and the reason I choose to do a feature instead of a review was so I could go back and read the first book before moving on to the second.

Having read Odden’s first series, I know she does a great job orientating new readers within the series, however when I can, I prefer to read series books in order. Today though, I have a feature AND excerpt to share! If you are a fan of historical fiction mysteries then you are not going to want to miss this diamond in the rough author! She always crafts a smart mystery with fun characters and wonderful historical details!

Continue reading →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: City of Fortune (Counterfeit Lady #6) by Victoria Thompson

December 14, 2022December 13, 2022by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment

I featured this one last week and ever since then I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it! The cover fully lured me in as well as the horse racing aspect and I just couldn’t get it out of my head! I had planned to read this one a little bit later this spring when my calendar wasn’t so full but sometimes it just happens like this where I can’t get a book out of my head and then boom here we are reading it way before I planned to !

I have read some of Victoria Thompson’s books but have been limited to the Gaslight Mystery series. They are pretty good and that series especially is a long standing series (I think there are around 25 or 26 books!). She has written a couple of other romance books (cowboy romances) but the historical mysteries have been limited to the Gaslight Mystery series. Then in 2017, Thompson released the first book in her new series, Counterfeit Lady series and this series was born.

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series but I have the books on my radar and now that I have read this one, I think I am going to have to go and check out the other books in the series now. You could pick this one up mid series (which is what I did) without having read the other books, but there are clearly some plots that are established from previous books. It wasn’t a deal breaker for me but I did feel like my reading experience was different than someone who might be reading it from the beginning and in order.

Continue reading →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Sisters of Sea View (On Devonshire Shores #1) by Julie Klassen

December 8, 2022December 6, 2022by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment

After reading just one of Julie Klassen’s books, I was absolutely hooked! She reminds me of a contemporary Victoria Holt in many ways. She has t his great story telling style with romance and a little bit of Gothic and mystery added on (to some of her books). Typically when something comes up for review by Klassen, I am fully on board! I was pleasantly surprised to see that this book kicks off a new series for Klassen, most of her books are standalone so this made me extra excited to check it out!

Klassen is a Christian fiction author, which I know isn’t necessarily for everyone. But with that said, I personally feel like her books are really more historical fiction. They do have some elements of Christian fiction but for me the dominant theme is more historical fiction and romance than anything else. In this book in particular I felt like it almost ran more to Women’s fiction with the sister element of this one but in a Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility kind of way if that makes sense.

At any rate, I took a break from my murder mystery thriller series that I have been burning through, to read this one. And now I am dying to read all of Klassen’s books! As soon as I am done with the Tracers Series, I am moving right on to another Klassen book. She always writes such well developed characters and a lovely story so I can honestly say I am never disappointed in anything that she writes.

Continue reading →

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: