The Boleyn Secret by Alison Weir

July 30, 2026

The Boleyn Secret by Alison Weir

Twelve year old Katherine Carey is a companion and playmate to her toddler cousin Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII and his second queen Anne Boleyn. To Kate's horror, she is summoned to the Tower of London to attend her aunt Anne at her trial and execution. Kate is convinced that her aunt was innocent and that Henry committed an atrocity. Later, Kate is called to court to serve as a maid-of-honor to Henry's fourth queen, Anne of Cleves. Throughout her life, Kate maintains her relationship with Elizabeth through Henry's reign, the turmoil following his death, and Elizabeth's eventual ascension to the throne.

Another well-researched book in the author's series on the women of the Tudor court, this one focusing on Katherine Carey, daughter of Mary Boleyn and niece of Anne Boleyn. Many contemporaries as well as historians believed that Katherine was the daughter of Henry VIII, as Mary was carrying on an affair with Henry in the years before Katherine's birth - some note a resemblance to both Elizabeth I and Henry VIII but many of the portraits from the 16th century have a similarity. Based on the known portrait of her, Katherine was actually better looking than either of them. While Katherine is the main character, Elizabeth I is also a main player, as much of the story is about her relationship with her cousin Katherine. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys fiction about the Tudor court.

Portrait of Katherine Carey

The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta M0lnar

July 23, 2026

The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar

During his lifetime, Vincent Van Gogh struggled to earn a living as a painter while also battling mental illness. His brother Theo and sister-in-law Johanna supported him financially and emotionally, but eventually Vincent slipped deeper into mental illness and took his own life. Shortly after his death, his brother Theo was hospitalized for consumption and insanity, and died a short time later. Theo's widow was left with the task of selling Vincent's paintings and keeping his name alive, while also supporting herself and her young son.

I like historical fiction where I learn about unknown people or events. I knew Vincent Van Gogh's brother was married and had a child, and that Theo died not long after Vincent. Johanna Bonger, Theo's widow, believed in Vincent's genius and worked hard to promote his work, while also running a boarding house and raising her child. There is a dual timeline here and I enjoyed Johanna's story far more than Emsley's narrative. The dual timeline structure has been used a lot in fiction, especially the trope of an heir cleaning out an old house and finding a secret diary or letters as well as a priceless antique. I found myself skimming over Emsley's story which was predictable and not all that interesting, and I didn't care about any of the characters in those sections. On the other hand, Johanna was an amazing woman who worked to promote Vincent's work at a time where it was unheard of for women to act as an artistic representative.

Van Gogh's Sunflowers

Queenswood by Kathleen Schwab

July 16, 2026

Queenswood by Kathleen Schwab

Angus is the High Prince of the Faerie world, destined to become king. He is dismayed when a seer tells him he must find a bride among the mortals, since the fae bloodlines are so weak they are no longer able to produce heirs. Angus finds an acceptable bride in Rhiannon, a girl from a noble family destined to become a nun before he abducts her. But many of his courtiers and the fae are not accepting of his human queen and displeased with his choice, and they plot to take his throne.

This story isn't sure what it wants to be: is it historical fiction, a romantasy, a mythological epic? Adventure, fairy tale, coming of age story? There are also overtones of the Snow White story. I think the author tried to incorporate too many ideas into one book, when maybe she should have written one book about Angus and Rhiannon, and then a follow up book about Angus' struggles to hold onto his kingdom. The moral of the story is that the fae world is a dangerous place for both the fae and humans. Not terrible, but it certainly wandered around. Beautiful cover art. Will appeal to readers who are into atmospheric reads with heavy world building.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline

June 18, 2026

The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline

After touring Europe and the large cities of North America, celebrated conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker decided to settle down in a small town in North Carolina. They soon bought land, built a fine house, and opened a general store. Wealthy and educated, the only things missing from their lives were wives and children. They met Adelaide and Sarah Yates, a pair of sisters from a local family with a questionable history. Addie was fascinated by the brothers and immediately decided to marry Chang. She convinced her sister that marrying Eng was the only way to redeem past mistakes and the only way that Addie would be able to marry Chang.

Eng and Chang Bunker were the first pair of conjoined twins to find international fame. Born in Siam (now Thailand), they were the source of the now-obsolete expression Siamese Twins. Their lives were well documented, and the two sisters who married them were distant cousins of the author. Not only did Chang and Eng marry, they went on to father 21 children (!) between them. After their deaths, an autopsy determined that they were joined at the liver, and it would have been impossible to separate them during their lifetime. Today this type of surgery would have been possible and most conjoined twins are successfully separated. I highly recommend this fascinating look at two unique families and the times they lived in.

Chang and Eng Bunker

The Autobiography of Henry VIII: with Notes by His Fool, Will Somers by Margaret George

 June 11, 2026

The Autobiography of Henry VIII: with Notes by His Fool, Will Somers by Margaret George

Nearing the end of his life, Henry VIII's fool Will Somers sends a package to Catherine Carey, daughter of Mary Boleyn Carey and very possibly Henry VIII. It is an autobiography that Henry wrote late in life, and Will has added comments to clarify or expand some parts.

This is a huge novel, over 900 pages, written from Henry VIII's POV, which certainly differs from actual historical sources. From Henry's viewpoint, it was always someone else's fault, never his, were someone took advantage of his kindly and trusting nature. Never once does he connect the dots and admit or realize that all of his problems were of his own making. At one point, Henry refers to himself as a "kind and gentle husband to all his wives," which is laughable at best and certainly delusional. He also couldn't figure out why none of the European princesses wanted to marry him after he beheaded Anne Boleyn.

One of my favorite parts was when he advised his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves (my absolute favorite of the six wives), that he is having their marriage annulled and she reacts with delight and grabs a pen and signs the documents immediately. Henry is stunned that she doesn't want to be married to a fine specimen of masculinity like him (25 years older than her, weighing 400 lbs., smelly from an oozing leg ulcer, vindictive if anyone crosses him - yeah, he's a catch all right). The cover art is a painting of a young Henry, which was pretty much how he saw himself his entire life.

I would have like more commentary from Will, since his remarks were frequently witty and demonstrated that while he loved Henry, he had no illusions about Henry's nature. Recommended for readers of historical fiction, especially Tudor fiction, who want a different perspective on Henry VIII.

A realistic portrait of what Henry VIII looked like late in life

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict

April 27, 2026

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict

Lady Evelyn Herbert, daughter of Lord Carnarvon, was as fascinated by ancient Egypt as her father was. She accompanied him on a number of archaeological digs in Egypt, but while her father was searching for treasure, Eve was secretly looking for the tomb of Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh, who was virtually erased from history.

Historical fiction about two almost unknown women, one from the pharaonic dynasty in the 15th century BCE, the other from an aristocratic English family in the 1920s. The two women have a lot in common, trying to carve out a non-traditional place for themselves in their male-dominated worlds. While there is no answer to the mystery of why Hatshepsut was practically erased from history, the author puts forward a unique solution. But the story isn't only about the roles of women. Benedict also delves into colonial politics, describing Egypt's drive for self-government in the 1920s, striving to get out from under the fist of British rule. She also ponders the question of who has the right to artifacts found in excavated tombs, the people who financed the excavations or the people of Egypt. Her archaeologists point out that if it wasn't for the Europeans excavating the tombs, the Egyptian government was content to let the tombs molder away and for tomb robbers to slowly steal all the treasure. Recommended for fans of historical fiction or ancient Egypt.

Hatshepsut's mummy was actually discovered by Howard Carter when he was searching for the tomb of Tutankhamum. When he found the mummy, Carter believed it to be unimportant and left it where it was found. The mummy was identified as Hatshepsut in 2007 by Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass when a tooth that had been stored in a royal treasure box and labeled as belonging to Hatshepsut was proven to match the mummy's skull. Hatshepsut was found with her royal wetnurse and lifelong servant Sitre-In.

Hatshepsut's mortuary temple, one of the largest temples in the Valley of the Kings

The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White

April 22, 2026

The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White

Anneke Van Helsing, daughter of famed vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing, works as a consultant for the Amsterdam police. Using the latest forensic methods, she analyzes complicated crime scenes for clues the police may have missed or ignored. But Anneke's real goal is to find the mysterious woman she found standing over her father's body. As she traces the woman across Europe, she discovers a string of murders that appear linked to her father's murder.

More mystery than fantasy with a slow moving plot. The setting and the forensics were the best part, but the characters were lacking and mostly flat. The main character is supposed to be highly skilled in the latest forensic science but she makes decisions without any kind of planning or thought. Acted more like she was 15 than 25. The cover is beautiful - wish the story had measured up to the cover art. Disappointing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Mountains We Call Home by Kim Michele Richardson

April 21, 2026

The Mountains We Call Home by Kim Michele Richardson

Cussy Mary Lovett, Kentucky pack horse librarian and one of the hereditary Blue People, and her husband Jackson have both been imprisoned for breaking the state's miscegenation laws. True to her nature, Cussy chooses to spread good at the prison and is appointed prison librarian, bringing hope to the hopeless women at the prison. All the while, she longs for her husband Jackson and her daughter Honey.

The third book by the author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. While there are parts that will warm your heart, there are also parts that will crush your soul. Themes include the power of books and literacy, family, home, and the need to belong. Possible triggers include racism, prejudice, incarceration, poverty, questionable and cruel medical practices, injustice against marginalized people mainly based on fear and ignorance, and abuse of women. The Kentucky Blue People are real and you can find pictures of them online. If you haven't read the two previous books, I'm extremely jealous and you should go read them right now. I love this series and I hope there will be more about Cussy and her family. Like the first book, this one makes me extremely proud to be a librarian. Highly recommended for readers of historical or literary fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

One of the Kentucky Blue People with his non-blue partner

Waiting on a Friend by Natalie Adler

March 28, 2026

Waiting on a Friend by Natalie Adler

Renata Bronstein lives in a Manhattan tenement with no particular goals other than finding a steady girlfriend, partying with her friends, and doing her best not to hold down a regular job. She sees ghosts, especially the ghosts of her friends who died of complications from AIDS. The only ghost she wants to see but never does is the ghost of her best friend and roommate Mark, who she didn't get a chance to say goodbye to.

A look at LGBTQ life in 1980s Manhattan, with the grief from losing friends far too young and the fear of AIDS lurking at every corner. The two main tropes are the AIDS crisis and Renata's ability to see ghosts, both of which have been done before and done better (see Lincoln in the Bardo about the dead being unable to rest; Angels in America, Borrowed Time, or And the Band Played On about AIDS in the 1980s). The ghostbusters here are not funny guys with slime guns but might be government contractors tasked with getting old, sick, poor, marginalized people out of their rent-controlled apartments so the areas can be gentrified. Possible triggers include addiction, violence against LGBTQ people, suicide, poverty, shame.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

New York LGBTQ club scene circa 1980

The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry

March 10, 2026

The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry

Tom Rourke is a drifter in the mining town of Butte, Montana, in 1891. He emigrated from Ireland and landed in Butte along with thousands of other Irish immigrants, where a good income could be earned working in the mines. But he is unsuited to the work and soon finds himself working part-time at a second class photography studio and spending the rest of his time drinking, smoking opium, and patronizing the town brothels. At the studio, he meets the new wife of one of the mine owners, who is decidedly lower class than her new husband, and the pair decide to run off together. But the miner wants his wife back and sends a bounty hunter to track them.

I picked up Barry's latest book from the library, and it had a romance sticker on the spine. It is NOT a romance - Barry writes literary fiction, usually about the grittier side of life. Yes, there are two people who may be star-crossed lovers who run away together, but you know right away that there is no happily-ever-after going to happen. I've read Kevin Barry before so I had an idea what to expect. The language is poetic but the lack of punctuation makes the dialogue difficult to follow at times. There is a Bonnie & Clyde vibe here, two doomed lovers who know they are doomed, repeatedly make the wrong choice, and know they are doing it. This is a Western adventure populated by the author's usual Irish characters and their dark humor and outlook on life. Other reviewers have compared this novel to the TV series Deadwood, which I loved. Not for everyone.

Butte, Montana, in the late 19th century

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

December 8, 2025

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

In the small town of Bonhomie, Ohio, a brief affair and a lapse in judgment changes the lives of several of the town's residents forever. 

This was just okay. I was interested enough in the characters to keep reading but didn't love it as much as other readers did. A novel with a lot of secrets and not a lot of joy.

Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory

December 1, 2025

Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory

Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, served at the court of King Henry VIII. Sister-in-law to Queen Anne Boleyn, Jane grew up at court and earned to play the many roles of a courtier: attendant, confidante, wife, spy, entertainer. Serving five of Henry's queens, Jane walked a fine line where a wrong move or remark could cost you your head.

Historians usually describe Jane Boleyn as a mean-spirited jealous self-serving woman, interested only in advancing herself (much in the same way they describe Anne of Cleves as fat, ugly, ill-mannered and disgusting, which is completely false - courtiers kept up the fiction as a way to flatter Henry). Gregory portrays Jane as a real person, well-educated, quick-witted, and attractive, sent to court as a child by her ambitious family and caught up in the machinations of her unloving husband George Boleyn and his devotion to his sister Anne. The author gives a detailed portrait of the life of a courtier as well as the realities of living as the widow of a convicted traitor, with the loss of her husband's properties and income, and dependent on her salary as a lady-in-waiting to survive (even Jane's not unkind father points this out to her). Jane was no dummy, coming to the notice of Thomas Cromwell and surviving to serve five of Henry's queens before being caught up in a final intrigue. Recommended to readers of historical fiction, especially those interested in the politics of the Tudor dynasty. One of the best books I've read recently. Really interesting cover art.

This is believed to be a drawing of Jane Boleyn, nee Parker, as a young woman - portraits from this time period were somewhat stylized and were frequently mislabeled, for example, there is a painting that has been identified as both Anne Boleyn and Jane Boleyn.

The Emerald Affair by Janet Macleod Trotter

October 8, 2025

The Emerald Affair by Janet Macleod Trotter

After serving as a nurse at the front in World War I, Esme McBride visits her best friend Lydia at Lydia's wealthy family's estate in Scotland. Esme misses the challenge of wartime nursing and is seeking a new posting somewhere that she will feel needed. While visiting Lydia, Esme meets an army captain and a doctor, both of whom served in India and are going back to live and work there. Esme immediately falls for the captain, but Lydia has already decided that she is going to marry him, no matter how ill suited they may be. 

Set between the two world wars, this is the story of four people who embark on marriage and life in India for a variety of reasons, all of them destined to be disappointed. Plenty of fascinating details about life in India during the British colonial period: the native people, the British ruling class, colonialism, the towns, the bazaars, the food, the political situation. This is a long book that could have been about 100 pages shorter without doing any harm to the story. The ending is a little too neat - I saw it coming. The first book in a trilogy.

The British in India

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

October 2, 2025

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

Martha Ballard is a midwife who also acts as healer and coroner for the small community of Hallowell, Maine. When a body is pulled from the river, Martha is called to examine the corpse and determine the cause of death. She soon discovers that the man was murdered and then thrown in the river. But the case becomes more complicated when she learns that the dead man along with another of the town's prominent citizens had been accused of rape.

Based on the diary of a midwife in 18th century Maine. Martha's diary was at first discounted as not being of any historical importance since most of her entries record the daily life of an 18th century woman, which were wonderfully adapted by the author. But it also contains glimpses of the world around her, particularly where the law in concerned. She refers to her husband's friend Paul, who turns out to be Paul Revere (yes, that Paul Revere). Revere actually borrowed a horse from Martha's husband Ephraim to make his famous ride. I listened to the audiobook of this historical novel, and I can see that it might be a slog to read since story moves as slowly as a frozen river thawing. Possible triggers include descriptions of rape, misogyny, and injustice. Will appeal to readers who enjoy reading about strong yet little known female characters.

Sawmill circa 18th c.

The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton

September 26, 2025

The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton

Margo is a rare collectibles dealer in London, accustomed to sourcing items for wealthy clients. When a new client hires her to locate a rare book, she assumes it will be just another job. But when a friend who is a rare book dealer is murdered, Margo discovers that there are others searching to the book, and they will stop at nothing to find it first.

One of my selections for Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month. Triple timeline with three female main characters: present day London, and Havana in 1900 and 1966. A rare book ties all three storylines together. I kept reading to find out what was so special about the book that someone would kill for it. Some mystery, some intrigue, some romance. Will appeal to readers who enjoy books about books.

Havana in the 1960s - they are still driving those kinds of cars today

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel

September 12, 2025

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel

In 1942 Paris, Colette Marceau works with her mother Annabel to steal jewels from Nazis and Nazi sympathizers to help fund the efforts of the resistance to help Jews escape from Hitler. But the Germans catch up with them one night, and Colette and her parents are arrested. But her four year old sister is taken by an unknown man, and Colette never forgives herself for the child's disappearance since she promised her parents she would look out for her sister. Colette survives the war and emigrates to the United States, continuing to steal jewels to fund worthwhile causes. But then a bracelet that belonged to her mother's friend reappears after 75 years, and Colette becomes obsessed with finding the bracelet's owner, believing it will lead her to the truth about her missing sister.

This was a fast read, excellent for the end of summer. The combination of family secrets a with suspense and history kept me turning the pages. I loved the 89 year old protagonist. Themes include loss, grief, guilt, redemption, identity, revenge, and finding hope and love late in life. Possible triggers are racism, antisemitism, child abuse, crime, and violence. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction.

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

August 31, 2025

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

On the night of June 14, 1838, the boiler on the steamship Pulaski exploded, sinking the ship and killing 128 passengers and crew. Only 59 people survived. In 2018, the wreckage of the Pulaski was found off the coast of North Carolina. History professor Everly Winthrop is enlisted to curate the museum exhibit of artifacts found on the wreck.

DNF at 60%. I just didn't care about any of the characters, but especially not Everly and her mountains of baggage that the author keeps shoving at the reader. Also, Everly had an attitude of "I'm so much better than you are because I live here." I picked up this novel after seeing a program about the Pulaski on the Discovery Channel, where the author was interviewed about the disaster. The ship is called the Titanic of the South and had many of the same characteristics as the Titanic (loads of wealthy passengers, not enough lifeboats, valuing speed more than safety, etc.). I was far more interested in the lives of the people on the ship than I was in the present day characters. Disappointing since I have read and enjoyed other books by this author.

A model of the SS Pulaski

Dear Miss Lake by AJ Pearce

August 9, 2025

Dear Miss Lake by AJ Pearce

Emmy Lake and the other staff at Woman's Friend are still hard at work. But in the summer of 1944, Britain has been at war for five long years. While victory is coming, especially since the Americans joined the fight, between the nightly bombings raids and the ever tightening rationing, everyone on the home front is exhausted from the war. It's a challenge for the magazine staff to remain upbeat and positive while faced with constant worry about their own loved ones.

Fourth and final book in the Emmy Lake series. Pleasant historical fiction that covers life in Britain during the last year of World War II. I would recommend reading the previous books in the series as there are frequent references to events and characters from earlier books. 

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review. 

A POW camp in Stuttgart, Germany

Dust Child by Nguyen Phan Que Mai

June 11, 2025

Dust Child by Nguyen Phan Que Mai

Forty years after the Viet Nam war ended, the country is still feeling the after-effects of a senseless war. The story follows three characters: Dan, an American veteran suffering from PTSD who fathered a child with a Vietnamese bar girl, and returns to Vietnam about 40 years later with his wife to try to find the woman and their child; two Vietnamese sisters, Trang and Quynh, who became bar girls during the war to support their family; and Phong, a mixed race man who is a “dust child” fathered by a Black GI, who desperately wants to find his father so he can move his family to the United States. 

A look at the aftermath of the Viet Nam war from a different perspective, that of those left behind to deal with the consequences, told from three different POVs. The Viet Nam war is the background here. A dust child is a mixed race child, the illegitimate child of a Vietnamese woman and an American soldier. Thousands of American GIs left behind these dust children, who were often discriminated against and denied basic human rights. Many of these children were abandoned or given away by their mothers, who feared retaliation from the Viet Cong for associating with American soldiers (which thankfully did not happen). While the children of white GIs suffered, children of Black GIs were treated far worse. I found the character of Dan, the American veteran, to be the least appealing. Themes and triggers include PTSD, exploitation of women, sexual abuse, poverty, and racial discrimination. Recommended for readers who want an alternate perspective on a controversial war.

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, in the 21st century

Isola by Allegra Goodman

April 30, 2025

Isola by Allegra Goodman

Marguerite de Rocque was orphaned as a small child. Heir to her family's fortune, her cousin Roberval is appointed her guardian and administrator of her estates. But he squanders her money and sells her manor house to finance one last desperate voyage to the new world, taking Marguerite with him. When she falls in love with his secretary, Roberval abandons them to die on a deserted island near Canada without food or shelter.

I liked this more than I expected that I would, since I frequently hate the books selected by those celebrity and TV book clubs. But I had this on my reading list before Reese Witherspoon picked it, so I decided to read it anyway. Based on the true story of Marguerite de Rocque who lived in 16th century France. Marguerite suffers abandonment in a number of ways, and she lived an interesting life. Brought up to be a pampered lady, she perseveres and survives extreme hardship. Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction that focuses on strong women.

Some of the islands in the St. Lawrence River, which look a lot nicer in the summer than they do in winter