Historical Fiction Books

Book SynopsisOne amazing year in a remarkable woman¹s life journey becomes the inspiration for generations when she takes a huge risk, follows her heart, embraces forbidden love, and unwittingly becomes the champion of a winged world that is on the brink of extinction. It’s 1903, the world is poised for drastic change, and Julia Briton is a naive, beautiful Boston socialite who suffers a series of devastating losses and discovers that her beloved husband is involved in the plume trade—the massive slaughter of birds for use in the fashion industry. When Julia is secretly ushered into the early 20th century by a group of brazen female activists, she boldly risks everything and embarks on a perilous journey to the wilds of untamed Florida, a place of great danger where men will stop at nothing to get what they want and where one man, and a faithful friend, force her to make yet more life-changing decisions. Years later, when Julia’s great-granddaughter, Kelly, discovers some hidden tape recordings in her famous great-grandmother¹s dresser and learns the real truth about Julia’s year, a year that changed the course of history, she must decide what to do with her grandmother¹s incredible legacy. Will she keep the real “secret of the year”, or will she be brave enough to follow her own heart? USA Best Book Awards: Fiction: Historical, FinalistTrade Review2016 International Book Awards: Finalist, Historical Fiction 2015 USA Book Awards: Finalist, Historical Fiction “As in her previous best-selling novels (A Grand Day To Get Lost), Radish weaves an engaging story of inspiring women who discover the importance of being true to one’s ideal” —Library Journal "The Year of Necessary Lies is a memorable and beautifully written story about reinvention, standing up for your beliefs, and staying true to yourself, no matter what the cost.” —Kristin Contino, author of The Legacy of Us "Feminism and activism go hand in hand in this romantic novel about women’s empowerment and living life to the fullest. Kris Radish's tenth novel, The Year of Necessary Lies, highlights women's role in the Audubon Society campaign to eradicate feathers from ladies’ hats. Her fictional heroine is a composite portrait of the many courageous women who stood up to plume hunters and the fashion industry alike in the early years of the twentieth century. Radish creates an authentic Southern atmosphere dripping with sweat and packed with rattlesnakes and egrets. Julia’s raucous boat journey, punctuated by an erroneous stop at a Savannah brothel, is a highlight. She is a compelling protagonist, ably supported by an eccentric cast of ex-hunters and coastal hermits. Cameos from historical figures ranging from William Randolph Hearst to Mark Twain help place Julia in a convincing turn-of-the-century context of change and creativity. Recommended to fans of Anita Diamant's The Boston Girl and Sue Monk Kidd’s The Invention of Wings." —Foreword Reviews Praise for Kris Radish “Radish unrolls a rollicking yet reflective read that adds to her robust repertoire of beloved fiction. What’s a reader to do but relish the ride.” —BookPage on Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA “Kris Radish creates characters that seek and then celebrate the discovery of women’s innate power.” —The Denver Post “Radish’s characters know how to have a good time on their way to matriarchal nirvana.” —Kirkus Reviews

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Book Synopsis1777 is a pivotal year in the United States. The Revolutionary War has long since begun, with no end in sight. George Washington and his untrained militia struggle to survive. The thirteen states are torn apart by politics. Amidst all this chaos, Sarah Champion—a beautiful young Patriot and parson’s daughter whose twin brother was killed in the Battle of Long Island—is sent from rural Connecticut to live with a rich Loyalist aunt in Philadelphia. There, she is plunged into a world of intrigue and treachery. She spies on British officers enjoying festivities in winter quarters. She goes to Valley Forge with information about a plot to kill Washington.As the war drags on, Sarah digs deep for the strength, courage, and wits to overcome the numerous deadly threats she faces, driven on by her determination to realize one dream: being part of the efforts to form a new and independent country.Trade Review“West provides excellent ingredients in this well-told historical novel, including scheming, flirting, romance, and villainy. There is also some fine period detail that helps to set the scene. . . . An entertaining blend of intrigue and romance . . .” —Kirkus Reviews “This outstanding historical novel is filled with exciting twists and surprises to the very end. . . . Enthusiastically recommended.” —The Historical Novel Society

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Book SynopsisIn a magical city seen only at twilight, resentful second son Matteo unlocks secrets which could cause his world’s star to set. For fans of Neil Gaiman and Paulo Coelho comes “a haunting lyrical fantasy dealing with love, loss, and political turmoil.” (Publisher’s Weekly) In Panduri, an enchanted city seen only at twilight, everyone's path is mapped, everyone's destiny decided, their lives charted at birth and steered by an unwavering star. Everyone has his place, and Matteo, second son of Panduri's duca, is eager to take up his as Legendary Protector—at the border and out from under his father's domineering thumb. Then Matteo's older brother pulls rank and heads to the border in his stead, leaving Panduri's orbit in a spiral and Matteo's course on a skid. Forced to follow an unexpected path, resentful and raw, Matteo is determined to rise, to pursue the one future Panduri's star can never chart: a life of his own.Trade Review"There’s a lot to like about Tarquini’s Italian-inflected fantasy story, starting with her often lyrical prose." —Kirkus Reviews “Tarquini spins a haunting, lyrical fantasy dealing with love, loss, and political turmoil . . . Patient readers will be rewarded by the mysteries at the heart of these brothers’ struggles, which slowly unfold until the last page.” —Publishers Weekly "Deepest Blue is a paean to the indelible journey of life, from expectation and station to our destinies and hopes. Braiding myth and fairy tale into melodic prose that borders on poetry, Tarquini gives us a story of yesterday, today, and, most importantly, tomorrow. The world of Panduri’s characters are deftly drawn, their discordant desires juxtaposed with a world seemingly in demand of harmonic balance. The author carefully conducts her brilliant third novel with her signature deft humor and wry insight. Through deep grief and even deeper love, Tarquini brings readers a new symphony of our stars: hope, light, life, and dreams." —Camille Griep, author of Letters to Zell and New Charity Blues "Mindy Tarquini, weaver of magical stories and poetic prose, has spun a riveting tale of royal brothers whose lives churn with conflict and rock with the consequences of word and deed. Deepest Blue sets an undaunted gaze upon the mysterious city of Panduri, and into the family dynamics that manage to keep love afloat even when all seems lost." —Jan Von Schleh, author of But Not Forever "This is an engaging story that moves at a blistering pace . . . a powerful tale that takes us to a mythical place where magic and the simple and purest joys in life are prized above all else . . . If you haven't read a book by Tarquini before then I can only encourage you to sit down and strap yourself in for the ride with faith." —Sandra Ruttan, author of The Spying Moon and What Burns Within

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