2014 Historical Fiction Challenge Recap

Challenge:  Historical Fiction Challenge
Host:  Historical Tapestry
2014 Level: Medieval (15 books) - FAIL!
Thoughts:  So close, yet so far.  I love historical fiction, but just missed reading enough this year.  Will go down a level next year.
1. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
2. Once by Morris Gleitzman
3. Along the Way Home by Christi Corbett
4. I Am Abraham by Jerome Charyn
5. After the War by Libby Sternberg
6. A Stormy Knight by Amy Mullen
7. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
8. The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
9. Death Cloud by Andrew Lane
10. The Matchmakers by Ruth J. Hartman
11. The Ghosts of Southwark by O. M. Grey
12. The Unwanted Earl by Ruth J. Hartman
13. A Courtship for Cecilia by Ruth J. Hartman
14.
15.

A Courtship for Cecilia

A Courtship for Cecilia

by Ruth J. Hartman

published by esKape

2014

ISBN n/a

Why read? Review

Challenges: Historical Fiction, 100 Books in a Year

Ruth J. Hartman’s Love Birds series is a lot of fun, and A Courtship for Cecilia is a great addition.  We first met Cecilia in the previous book, An Unwanted Earl, and I was hoping she would get her own story – and she does!

After her father’s accident, Cecilia’s family is moved onto her half-brother’s estate so her father can become the new steward.  Life is pretty good there for Cecilia but becomes even better when her half-brother, Conrad, suggests sponsoring her in a come-out.  Her mother objects, but her father stands behind her heartily, even when he realizes she must take an assumed name to hide her humble background.  The first gentlemen she meets, Barrington Radcliff, is immediately taken with her, and her with him.  Barrington, however, has been lied to in the past, and is having difficulty learning to trust.  What will happen when he learns Cecilia’s secret?

Cecilia is a very accessible protagonist, which makes her a lot of fun to get to know.  Barrington is a nice guy, too, but his uncle Percy is the one who is the most fun.  I really wish Hartman included him even more than she did – eccentric elderly relatives seem to be her forte.  The build-up throughout the story leading to Barrignton discovering Cecilia’s secret was great, but the second to last chapter did not flow as well into the last, and the last chapter seemed rather rushed and too easily wrapped up in a nice neat bow.  However, the rest of the story was a great read with plenty of humor and perfect pacing.

A Courtship for Cecilia is a fun addition to the Love Birds series.  I am not sure if Ruth Hartman is planning this to be more than a trilogy, but whatever she writes next, I will eagerly devour.

Rating 4/5

The Unwanted Earl

The Unwanted Earl

by Ruth J. Hartman

published by esKape

2014

ISBN 9781940695139

Why read? Review

Challenges: Ebook, Historical Fiction, 100 Books in a Year

In this fast and fun sequel to Love Birds of Regent’s Park, Ruth J. Hartman brings us Lord Conrad Lofton’s story in The Unwanted Earl.  With stunning skill, she manages to turn the villain – and comic relief – from the first book into a charming hero, who still manages some hilarious mishaps.

Amelia Talbot is in a bind.  Her father wants her to marry a disgusting octogenarian, which is not what she wants at all.  The problem is, being the type of woman who is not afraid to speak her mind, she has no other suitors.  Her problem is solved one day when she discovers that Lord Conrad Lofton is really a bastard (and not in the way her drawing partner, Lucy Shipley, thinks).  Using this information, she blackmails Conrad into becoming her betrothed.  Conrad, recently having a rotted tooth pulled and partnering with Oliver Shipley on a way to end his financial woes, finds himself in much better spirits, even if Amelia insists on dragging him to one outdoor adventure after another.  In time, the two find themselves truly falling for each other, but a secret about Conrad’s past soon threatens to tear the two apart.

While Conrad is still Conrad, Hartman has managed to turn him from truly despicable into completely loveable, which is an amazing feat in and of itself.  On top of that, Hartman has crafted an enjoyable Regency with plenty of humor and good clean fun.  The Unwanted Earl might be my favorite Ruth J. Hartman book yet, but I do hope this series continues with Cecilia getting a chance at a happy ending.

Rating 5/5

The Matchmakers

The Matchmakers

by Ruth J. Hartman

published by esKape

2014

ISBN 9781940695167

Why read? Review

Challenges: Ebook, Historical Fiction, British Books, 100 Books in a Year

Ruth J. Hartman is an expert at writing Regency romances and cat-lover romances, so it is no surprise that when she combines the two, it is delightful.  The Matchmakers is an adorable novella about an eccentric, scheming elderly aunt who is determined to see her nephew married off and uses cats as a way for him to meet his match.  It is not a terribly deep story, but the characters are fun and rather well-rounded for such a short work.  The Matchmakers is cute and definitely worth an read to liven up a dull afternoon.

Rating 4/5

Death Cloud

Title: Death Cloud
Author: Andrew Lane

Publisher: Macmillan Young Listeners
ISBN: 9781427211224

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Audio Book, Historical Fiction, British Books, Free Reads, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts:  This was a good old-school teen mystery.  Some of the action, though, felt like it came out of nowhere, but the mystery was solid and very thought-provoking (like you would expect from a Holmesian novel), even if the denouement was a little early.

Rating: 4 stars

The Prince and the Pauper

Title: The Prince and the Pauper
Author: Mark Twain

Publisher: Blackstone Audio
ISBN: 9781441795991

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Audio Book, Historical Fiction, Free Reads, Author Alphabet, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts:  I think I just did not like the style, or maybe it is because I knew the concept of the story, but I had a very hard time pay attention to this one even though I liked the narrator's voice and he did an great job narrating.  I tried reading it when I was younger, and could not get into it then, either.

Rating: 2 stars

Grave Mercy

Title: Grave Mercy
Author: Robin LaFevers

Publisher: Recorded Books
ISBN: 9781464023835

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Audio Book, Historical Fiction, British Books, Free Reads, Author Alphabet, YA Mythology, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts:  With a kick-ass heroine and plenty of court intrigue, Grave Mercy is a very fun read.  LaFevers has a very unique concept for this trilogy and I love how she really brought out the medieval feel with the gods of old Brittany.

Rating: 4 stars

A Stormy Knight

Title: A Stormy Knight
Author: Amy Mullen

Publisher: Astraea
ISBN: 978-1-62135-176-4

Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: E-Book, Historical Fiction, Free Reads, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts:  I loved the mystery and the secret passages, but the romance in this fell a little short for me as the characters seemed to flip flop too much. I did also enjoy the historical aspects as I do not read much set in the Middle Ages.

Rating: 3 stars

After the War

Title: After the War
Author: Libby Sternberg

Publisher: Istoria
ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: Early Review
Challenges: E-Book, Historical Fiction, Free Reads, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Bittersweet, this highly character-driven tale portrays a moving picture of the lives of those affected by WWII.  Also, a very interesting look at convent life pre-Vatican II.

Rating: 3 stars

I Am Abraham

I Am Abraham

by Jerome Charyn

published by Liveright

2014

ISBN 978-0-87140-427-5

Why Read?: Review

Challenges:  Historical Fiction, 100 Books in a Year

Jerome Charyn is known for taking historical characters and telling their story.  In I Am Abraham, he turns to the great American president, Abraham Lincoln, also dramatizing a nation at war with itself.

Charyn starts his story with a young Abe Lincoln washing up in New Salem, Illinois.  From there, we follow his military and political career, as well as his love life.  Charyn does not end with Lincoln’s assassination; rather, this known ending is covered in the prologue, which really makes for a unique story devise.

I Am Abraham is the third book by Jerome Charyn I have read.  While I loved his YA novel, Back to Battan, his two adult novels I have read, The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson and now I Am Abraham, have not sat well with me.  There is no denying that Charyn is an expert historical fiction writer, and therein lies the problem.  He brings these famous people to life with such believable rawness, that they become too human, even unlikeable.  He really brings the feel of the times through with excellent descriptions and accurate language, more so than other writers of the genre, and this I do appreciate.

I Am Lincoln is one of those books that is very hard to review.  Jerome Charyn’s writing definitely rates a 5, but the presentation is so off-putting to me, that personally I would rate the book a 1 if asked for my non-reviewer opinion.  I think I will have to split the difference.

Rating: 3/5

Along the Way Home

Title: Along the Way Home
Author:Christi Corbett

Publisher: Astraea
ISBN: 978-1-62135-170-2

Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: E-Book, Historical Fiction, Free Reads, Author Alphabet, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This was a delightful story that will definitely appeal to those kids who grew up playing Oregon Trail.  It is a sweet romance, but Corbett does not hold back showing how difficult life on the trail really was.

Rating: 4 stars

Once

Title: Once
Author:Morris Gleitzman

Publisher: Bolinda
ISBN: 9781740949026

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Audio Book, Historical Fiction, European, Free Reads, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I have read a number of YA books concerning the holocaust, but this is the first to make me laugh and cry simultaneously.  Gleitzman really captured what a 10-year-old sheltered boy must have felt when first encountering Nazis and the horrors in Poland in 1942.

Rating: 5 stars

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Title: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Author: Seth Grahame-Smith

Publisher: Grand Central
ISBN: 978-0-446-56307-9

Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: Historical Fiction, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: The writing style - going back and forth between Lincoln's first person journal entries and the author's narration - takes a little getting used to, but once you do, this is a very entertaining read.  I especially liked the historical aspect and how it seemed to match up with what I know of Lincoln.  Also, the ending was so better than the movie.

Rating: 4 stars

2014 Historical Fiction Challenge

Challenge:  Historical Fiction Challenge
Host:  Historical Tapestry
2013 Level: Renaissance Reader (10 books)-COMPLETED
2014 Level: Medieval (15 books)

1. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
2. Once by Morris Gleitzman
3. Along the Way Home by Christi Corbett
4. I Am Abraham by Jerome Charyn
5. After the War by Libby Sternberg
6. A Stormy Knight by Amy Mullen
7. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
8. The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
9. Death Cloud by Andrew Lane
10. The Matchmakers by Ruth J. Hartman
11. The Ghosts of Southwark by O. M. Grey
12. The Unwanted Earl by Ruth J. Hartman
13. A Courtship for Cecilia by Ruth J. Hartman
14.
15.

2013 Historical Fiction Challenge Recap

Challenge:  Historical Fiction Challenge
Host:  Historical Tapestry
2013 Level: Renaissance Reader (10 books)-COMPLETED
Thoughts:  I have been reading more and more historical fiction, and this seemed easier than I thought it would be.
1. The Legend of Mickey Tussler by Frank Nappi
2. Sophomore Campaign by Frank Nappi
3. Echoes from the Infantry by Frank Nappi
4. The Visitor by Robert G. Pielke
5. The Translator by Robert G. Pielke
6. On the Ropes by James Vance & Dan E. Burr
7. Ill Met by Moonlight by Sarah A. Hoyt
8. Olivia's Journey by B. G. Lashbrooks
9. The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
10. The Ruins of Lace by Iris Anthony

The Ruins of Lace

Title: The Ruins of Lace
Author:  Iris Anthony

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Historical Fiction, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I knew nothing about this period of history, so The Ruins of Lace was a real eye-opener. Anthony did a great job weaving so many strong characters together into a story, although the dog was my favorite (but the monstrosities he described did make me sick).

Rating: 4 stars

Olivia's Journey

Title: Olivia's Journey
Author:  B. G. Lashbrooks

Publisher: Astraea
ISBN: 978-1-936852-24-6

Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: Historical Fiction, Free Reads, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I was not really sure what to expect with Olivia's Journey because I am not the biggest fan of Civil War fiction, but I absolutely loved it.  Lashbrooks pulls the reader in immediately and writes an excellent story of love and survival during the war.

Rating: 5 stars

Ill Met by Moonlight

Title: Ill Met by Moonlight
Author:  Sarah A. Hoyt

Publisher: Ace
ISBN: 0-441-00860-7

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Historical Fiction, British Books, Immortal, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This historical fantasy combines two subjects that I absolutely love - Will Shakespeare and Fae.  However, it was so slow that I just couldn't really get into it.  The climax was good, but the rising action was a very gradual slope that did not make for exciting reading.

Rating: 2 stars

The Translator

A New Birth of Freedom: The Translator

by Robert G. Pielke

published by Whiskey Creek

2012

ISBN 978-1-61160-361-3

Why Read?: Review

Challenges:  eBook, Historical Fiction, 100 Books in a Year

The second installment of Robert G. Pielke’s A New Birth of Freedom, The Translator, starts exactly where the first part, The Visitor, left off.  In fact, Pielke picks up so seamlessly and with very little exposition that it feels like one must read the two back to back.

Having captured a number of the Pests, and with the rest of them dead or holed up in their alien crafts, Edwin Blair, President Lincoln, and the Union army continue to try to communicate with the Pests and find out the reason for their attack.  Unfortunately, Blair altered history enough by sending the Pests to Gettysburg that he is starting to lose his memory.  Will they find out what the Pests want before history is changed beyond recognition?  Blair can only hope so or the future he came from may no longer be there.

Pielke still has an interesting concept, especially when he introduces how the Pests “learn”, but The Translator drags a little more than The Visitor.  Being a longer novel, it is lacking some of the fast-paced suspense from the first.  Also, the wonderful illustrations from The Visitor are missed.  However, Pielke still shows great breadth of imagination with an alternate history that is fully researched and very believable…providing giant insect-like aliens could invade Earth in the future.

The Translator must be read in conjunction with The Visitor to be understood, but together (and with the anticipated third novel), The New Birth of Freedom trilogy makes for a great historical sci-fi.  I cannot wait to see how Robert G. Pielke ends this adventure.

Rating: 3/5

Echoes from the Infantry

Echoes from the Infantry

by Frank Nappi

published by author

2012

No ISBN

Why Read?: Review

Challenges:  eBook, Historical Fiction, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

Echoes from the Infantry is Frank Nappi’s first novel, and the one that established him as a writer of historical fiction.  This touching story alternates between the present and World War II, helping to bring the past to life for both the protagonist and the reader.

After their mother died, John and his two younger brothers must clean out their father’s home to sell.  Being the oldest, most of the work falls to John.  Growing up, John was never close to his father, James, although he could never understand why his father was so distant.  In the attic, John discovers his father’s letters home to his mother, and as the story of James’s tour of duty during World War II comes to light, John begins to understand his father a little better.

Nappi does an excellent job of bringing the past to life, and it was these passages of Echoes from the Infantry written in past tense that really stood out.  The modern day story about John seems rather stilted in present tense and definitely points out that it is Nappi’s first novel.  However, whichever tense they were written in, both John and James are very powerful characters who will stay with the readers long after the book is closed.

While the writing in Echoes from the Infantry is not quite up to par with Frank Nappi’s later works, it is a wonderful look at World War II and the relationship between a father and adult son, and for that alone, it is a remarkable read.

Rating: 3/5