Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

I liked The Laird’s Kidnapped Bride by Mysty McPartland very much. Actually, to be more accurate, I love the heroine of this historic novel, Lark. She is quite a woman. As you can guess by the title of the novel, Lark is kidnapped. As a matter of fact, the story opens right in the middle of the kidnapping, which is a great place to get a look at Lark’s mettle as well as jump into the plot. I don’t want to go into the reasons for the kidnapping as that would be something of a spoiler for the astute reader, but all is not as it first appears to Lark, and soon she will have to make some difficult decisions. Lark is more of an action person than she is a thinker, but she is far from stupid.

The thing I probably like most about The Laird’s Kidnapped Bride, besides the unyielding Lark, is the dialogue. I’m not from Scotland so I don’t really know how accurate this dialogue is, but it felt very fictionally accurate, both in the way it is written and spelled, and in the difference in tenor between most of the lairds and ladies and the common classes. The dialogue was as much fun as any I have read in a long time. If you want a flowing, fun read that ends too quickly, then read The Laird’s Kidnapped Bride. You won’t find a leading lady with more gumption anywhere. Mysty McPartland knows how to write great historical romantic fiction.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

Anna Belfrage’s Days of Sun and Glory is a powerful historical novel set against the backdrop of a turbulent political landscape. It’s England during the reign of King Edward II, in the 14th Century. Roger Mortimer has betrayed the king and hatched a rebellion that has not succeeded; nevertheless, the rebellion has led the king and his royal chancellor, Hugh Despenser, to not trust anyone, especially those who have served under Mortimer. It is in this climate that Adam Guirande finds himself. Can he prove to the king and the unforgiving chancellor that he is still worthy of trust or should he pursue an alternative route to protect himself and those he loves? Adam is not alone, because his wife who serves in the Royal Court is with him, and he has the favor of the Queen, but can they help him against the evil ways of the chancellor?

Days of Sun and Glory by Anna Belfrage is an acclaimed work in the historical genre. It is a work that is created with powerful tools, including memorable characters, a fascinating political and historical setting, and plot-driven conflicts. The author knows how to make history come alive, and readers will root for many of her characters. I loved the intense drama in this work. I loved the language, which I found flawless. I loved the pace, the numerous moments of suspense that could make the reader feel like they’d have a heart attack if sustained for long. Belfrage is an accomplished author who knows how to delight readers with a beautiful tale, without failing to let them know where the tale comes from. I recommend this book for anyone who’s into historical fiction. If you’ve ever loved the history of England, then you’ll be hugely entertained by this story. Great writing. Great plot. Great characters.

Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite

Nearly fifty years before women were granted the right to vote, Victoria Woodhull ran for President of the United States. The ballot in 1872 included the Equal Rights Party; Victoria was the presidential candidate and Frederick Douglass, a former slave, was the vice-presidential candidate. This historical fictional work is certainly riveting. In Madame Presidentess, author Nicole Evelina relates the story of this little-known woman. Victoria was born in a small Ohio town, to an alcoholic, conniving father and an unbalanced, religious-zealot mother. Victoria and her sister Tennie had the gift of talking to spirits, and her father schemed to take advantage of this gift. Thinking she was leaving this abusive home, Victoria married Dr. Canning Woodhull, also a dishonest and abusive man. By following the guidance of her spirit guide Demosthenes, she created an incredible life of wealth and fame. Her second marriage to James Blood, and her beliefs in Free Love and equal rights for women had its great moments, as well as many adversities.

Author Nicole Evelina presents a realistic and fascinating account of a woman who should be recognized in the history books in her novel Madame Presidentess. Ms. Evelina is certainly a skilled storyteller and writer. The book depicts an era of great change, and the author captures the morals and laws of the time affecting all women. How Victoria Woodhull challenged the leaders and moral standards of the day is certainly an important lesson. This excellent book is required reading for anyone trying to understand the roots of the fight for women’s equal rights.

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

A Strange Beginning is the first riveting entry in The Byron Series by Gretta Curran Browne, a story that transports the reader into the early life of one of England’s most respected personalities and a poet who is favored by many across the world — including me. The author takes the reader into the very early part of the protagonist’s life, when he was barely ten, living with his troubled Scottish mother in rented rooms in Aberdeen. When the reader meets him, he is miserable, going under the name of George Gordon, and abused in more than one way. Read on to find out the stunning discovery that his destiny is somewhere else in England, that he belongs to the aristocracy, and that his real identity, his real name, and his life are associated with wealth.

Gretta Curran Browne’s writing — lyrical and inimitable — will seduce the reader right off the bat, with wonderful offerings of beauty captured in the setting, awesome descriptions of the social life at the time of Byron’s early years, and wonderful insights into the protagonist’s psychological bearings. Listen to how she captures the setting and how she connects it with a trait of the protagonist: “The mountainous beauty of the landscape of Aberdeenshire inspired in him his first great love, a love that was to stay with him for all of his life — a love of solitude.” As one reads through A Strange Beginning, one is in no doubt that the book is well-researched, with relevant historical references and themes that will connect the reader to the England of Byron’s time. It is compelling and utterly delectable to read, a great read for fans of Byron, and readers who are into well-crafted historical novels.

Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite

Boy oh boy! The second installment in author Jana Petken's Mercy Carver series, Blood Moon, is definitely a fantastic read, continuing the story of our heroine, Mercy Carver, as she strives to make her way in America. The country is now embattled in the Civil War, and Virginia has been invaded by the Union army. Working as hard as she can to be united with Jacob, who is now an officer in the Confederate Cavalry, Mercy also continues to help runaway slaves make their way to freedom. When Union soldier Isaac Bernstein continues to pursue Mercy, and Jacob seems to be questioning her more and more, and her old madam chasing after both her and Jacob with a seemingly ever-growing sense of anger and revenge, it seems less and less certain that Mercy's life will ever turn out the way that she hopes.

Blood Moon was a great book. I read it from start to finish, hardly taking a break, that's how much I enjoyed it. Author Jana Petken has done an excellent job in continuing the story of Mercy Carver. In the second book in the series, the action doesn't slow down a bit, and again, the historically accurate details in this novel will make the reader feel as if they are truly in the middle of Civil War era Virginia. Any reader who enjoys historical fiction, romance or a suspenseful read will simply love Blood Moon. I will be anxiously waiting for the next edition in the Mercy Carver series, and I hope that Jana Petken will be ready to release it soon!

Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

If Oprah Winfrey reads Struggles of the Womenfolk by T.M. Brown, it will probably be made into a movie one day. I say this because I know Oprah feels strongly about a lot of things, and two of the things she feels most strongly about are the struggles of women and the struggles of black people who grew up in the particular time and era of the South after slavery and before the civil rights movement. I was ten years old in 1968 so I missed the worst of the post-civil war life depicted by T.M. Brown in Struggles of the Womenfolk, but I remember the atmosphere of hate and oppression. Struggles of the Womenfolk opens in 1944 and the author captures the tone of the time and era brilliantly.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and compare Struggles of the Womenfolk to The Color Purple. Struggles of the Womenfolk worked better for me personally because it is less poetic and more realistic in my own humble opinion. T.M. Brown lets the characters tell their story and many of them are not poets, though their lives are the stuff that poetry is carved from. The dialect and dialogue are accurate. The depictions of black life at that time are accurate and direct. Struggles of the Womenfolk may be fated to become an American classic and for me it confirmed something I have always suspected: no matter how bad it is for the men, it is worse for the women. A great American novel.

Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite

Reading S.R. Mallery’s first novel, Unexpected Gifts, is like exploring a large wooden chest, full of valuable treasures. The main character, Sonia, is a college student, majoring in psychology. Sonia is the only child of Sam and Lily; Sam is a Vietnam veteran who lost the use of his legs as a result of a war injury. He has never accepted his fate and spends his days in anger laced with alcohol. Sonia too has difficulties in dealing with relationships and the real world. Lily decides to share the history of her and Sam’s relationship, as well as those of several ancestors, with Sonia. By encouraging Sonia to read the diaries and journals, as well as see meaningful souvenirs from the past, Lily gives Sonia much insight into the family history. Eventually, these new insights lead Sonia into understanding the past. She also gains clarity about her personal relationships and the decisions she is making in her own life.

Unexpected Gifts by S.R. Mallery takes the reader on an intriguing journey; not only does the reader become engaged in one young woman’s adventure, they must also wonder about the life experiences of their own ancestors. Historical events are told from the perspective of the individual, rather than from a societal perspective. Ms. Mallery’s clear and descriptive writing style adds to the substantive quality of this work. This is a book to be savored, as there is much information, as well as a captivating story about one family greatly affected by the events of their times. A thought-provoking read indeed!

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Ludwika: A Polish Woman's Struggle To Survive In Nazi Germany is an historical novel written by Christoph Fischer. The author based this novel on the actual life and experiences of Ludwika Gierz. In the later part of 1939, Ludwika was 22 years old and the unwed mother of a five-year-old daughter, who followed her around constantly. Ludwika's parents had welcomed the child and been supportive of their daughter, but her father had left the town of Przedborow with the armed forces and hadn't been heard of since. While Ludwika still sang for the local children and delighted in their company, as they did in hers, she couldn't help but feel troubled at the increasingly fragile hold her family seemed to have on their farm and life. The wheat was almost past the time for harvesting, and she and her sister worked feverishly to harvest it by hand, but they did need help with moving it. They knew that a neighboring farmer had hidden his agricultural equipment, and Ludwika decided to break into the barn and commandeer a tractor. While she was riding it back to their farm, a German officer on a motorbike overtook her and ordered her off the road. Moments later, a convoy of German vehicles passed by. The two had exchanged names during that brief encounter, and Manfred would later come by the Gierz farm to meet with her, until finally he made a proposal for her to come and stay with him in Germany. It would be safer for her, and he promised to get her documentation attesting to her Germanic background. It was hard leaving her family, but, somehow, Ludwika believed it was her best chance to do something for all of them, and she took it.

Christoph Fischer's historical novel, Ludwika: A Polish Woman's Struggle To Survive In Nazi Germany, offers a little-known look into the impact the occupation of the Germans had on the lives of the Polish people during World War II. While I've read a great deal of historical literature focusing on that time, I still found much I hadn't known about that occupation and the difficulties the survivors faced in the aftermath of the war. I soon found myself wrapped up in Ludwika’s story as she learned to survive in Berlin, where the mandatory letter P on her sleeve meant she’d always be considered an inferior, and her strength and resilience throughout those years of turmoil are inspirational. Fischer's tale is well written, and his characters are unforgettable, especially Ludwika's friend and mentor, Fritz, and Luca, the Italian-Dutch man who captured her heart. Ludwika: A Polish Woman's Struggle To Survive In Nazi Germany is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

I Once Knew Vincent by Michelle Rene is the story of two people whose lives were less than perfect. The novel is about Vincent Van Gogh, the acclaimed painter, and a woman named Marie. The story follows them when they are expecting nothing stellar to happen. Marie is in a tough situation; she is dealing with her prostitute mother who is an alcoholic as well. Poverty is slowly taking over their lives and there is not much they can do to stop it.

Vincent wants a break from the tough world of art and to have a family of his own. When he is brought to Maria's house, he has no idea that he will find a friend in her. The three of them become a family and Maria becomes his critic, a secret critic whose criticism helps him understand his art. But Vincent's friendship teaches her invaluable lessons. These lessons reformed her whole life!

It would not be wrong to say that this novel inspired me. I really love it when writers are able to move me just with the way they write. When I find a novel that is written as beautifully as this one, I know immediately that it will be good and Rene did not disappoint me. This beautifully constructed and carefully crafted novel oozed with her love for writing. You can tell when the writer has enjoyed writing, and that made me enjoy it too. I really loved this novel!

Reviewed by Rebecca McLafferty for Readers' Favorite

Ruth: Woman of Valor, A Virtuous Woman in an Immoral Land by Jim Baumgardner is a captivating Christian historical fiction story. Ruth’s early years are spent living under the strict and predestined authority of her parents. As Ruth’s life changes, she endures one disaster after another. The author skillfully describes both geography and people, whether in the contemptible marketplace or lush vineyard. Ruth unceasingly questions the difference between the Hebrew God, Yahweh, and the numerous Moabite gods, particularly Chemosh and the Baels. As Ruth finds answers to her questions, the reader understands the laws and customs that dictated laws of that day and today.

Jim Baumgardner has brought incredible depth of character to one of the Bible’s most heartwarming stories. Vivid scenes coupled with biblical knowledge will remain in the reader’s heart long after finishing the story. The author’s keen sense of history, coupled with thorough research, literally places the reader amid the Hebrew population at the time and place of the story. The conflicts and dilemmas of Ruth’s life clarify and illuminate the differing cultures and lifestyles, particularly of the Hebrews in contrast to the Moabites.

The characterization within this story lends itself to an intricate plot and real-life characters. As Jim Baumgardner sets forth in his Introduction, the Bible addresses a small portion of most of its characters’ lives. Utilizing considerable research and a highly skilled imagination, Baumgardner brings the characters of this story to full life. Wonderful job!