by Alaina | Feb 23, 2023 | Book Nook
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict
This is the story of Albert Einstein’s first wife, Mileva Maric. Mileva was a brilliant physicist in her own rights—she was the only woman studying physics at Zurich’s Polytechnic at a time when it was almost unheard of for women to go to college, let alone one as prestigious as the Polytechnic. While studying there Mileva met Albert and their courtship began. What is the real story of this woman who history has all but forgotten? Did she make her own meaningful contributions to science or did she give up her ambitions to be a wife and mother instead? These are the questions that make up the substance of this book. I found it to be a very captivating read!
Code Name Helen by Ariel Lawhorn
This is a truly fascinating read about Nancy Wake who was known by the Gestapo as the White Mouse. She continuously manages to evade the Gestapo. This “White Mouse” was an amazing lady. Not only did she become an influential leader in the French Resistance but she also completed a number of successful missions smuggling people over the border and to safety. She was known to wear bright red lipstick and curse worse than a sailor. Let me announce here there was tons of swearing in the book. I wasn’t a fan of it, however it is true to her character and I don’t believe in editing out the parts of people we don’t like so I decided to forgive the vulgar language in order to learn more about this brave woman who made such a contribution to the allies in World War II. Some parts of this book where the author, Ms Lawhorn, accurately describes the horrors of war are rough, but so is war—reader be warned! I highly recommend this book, it will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki
I didn’t know anything about Empress Elizabeth (SiSi) of Austria. Elizabeth ascended the Austrian throne during a very turbulent time in European history and was known for her outrageous beauty routines and for earning the respect of the people she presided over. There was a lot more to this Empress than just her renowned beauty. We know that the lives of the princesses we dreamt about as children were never as easy as we imagined—such was the case for Elizabeth (Sisi) of Austria. As a child Sisi enjoyed a great deal of freedom growing up as the doted upon daughter of a relatively inconsequential duke. All of that changed for Elizabeth when she accompanied her sister to the Austrian court. Elizabeth’s sister was intended to wed the emperor, Franz Joseph. However, upon arrival it was not her sister, but rather Elizabeth herself, who stole the affection of the Emperor quite without intending to. In less than a year Sisi had to prepare herself for life at court. The story of how she managed, not only to prepare for life at court but also how she managed court life, is told within the pages of this fictionalized account of Elizabeth’s life.
by Alaina | Feb 10, 2023 | Book Nook
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
This is a story of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a snipper for the Soviets in WWII with 309 official kills to her name. Lyudmila, or Mila as we come to know her, was a real person and this story closely follows the events of her life. During a tour to the U.S. to drum up support for the Soviets during WWII, people didn’t know what to make of this woman who was also a killer. Was she a monster? This story gives us background as to how Mila became the woman she did. Cold Blooded killer or patriotic mother fighting for her country? This book is filled with descriptions of chilly nights spent out on the Russian front- if you are looking for a book to read by a fire this would make a good one!
The Arctic Fury by Greer Mcallister
It has been a long time since a book scratched the itch for me of keeping me hooked, having some meat to it, and giving me a glimpse into some less talked about, but no less interesting parts of history! The author pieced together this captivating novel about a fictional group of women who travel to the arctic to find a man who was lost (who actually existed). Our protagonist too is someone who really existed, though we have no evidence to believe that she actually trekked into the arctic, we do know that she was a member of the Donner party.
This story opens and our main character, Virginia Reeves, is on trial for the murder of Caprice, an affluent young woman who ventured with Virginia into the arctic but never returned. The story unfolds of the 13 women who ventured into the arctic in search of another woman’s husband, only 5 of whom made it back to be at Virginia’s trial… Will Virginia be found guilty and hanged, or will she be set free?
This book offers a very interesting look at how an undertaking of this sort was tackled in a time before we yet had all of our modern conveniences!
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie
Agatha Christie goes missing three weeks before Christmas in 1926, only her fur coat is left behind in the car she was driving. Where did Agatha go without her coat in the middle of winter? What is going on in Agatha Christie’s life to make her pull such an outrageous stunt? Did the Mystery author just want to see what it felt like to be in one of her novels, or is there more going on behind the scenes in the Christie household? Based on the real-life disappearing stunt that Agatha Christie pulled off, Ms. Benedict takes an in-depth look at potential circumstances that could have pushed Agatha Christie to do such an outlandish act.
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3 Exciting Historical Fiction Reads about the Female Spies of the Revolution
Disclosure
Please remember that this post contains affiliate links; that means if you click on the link, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a way to support my blog! I will only ever share an affiliate link if I love the product and think that you just might love it too!
by Alaina | Feb 2, 2023 | Book Nook
There are several books with which we are pretty familiar and there are books that explore different facets of events with which we are already familiar. Several of the books I’ve read recently reminded me of other books and some I read concurrently. In both instances, I felt that my reading experience was enhanced by reading these in pairs and that I received a more well-rounded reading experience. Here are several book pairing suggestions that I would recommend.
Caroline and Little House on the Prairie
You have doubtless heard of Little House on the Prairie, the story of which is told from Laura’s perspective; Caroline is told from Mamma’s point of view. I think this is a great juxtaposition as we hear about the familiar events of the Little House on the Prairie, told from Mamma who was pregnant, by the way, as she started life fresh in the new territory—one that was harsh and unforgiving. For me, I found it fun to see the events from Little House on the Prairie, with which I was familiar as a child, retold through an adult lens!
Anne of Green Gables and Marilla of Green Gables
Again you have probably heard, read, or watched Anne of Green Gables. Marilla of Green Gables tells the story of Marilla Cuthbert’s childhood and young adulthood before Anne comes into her life. We get a glimpse at how events in Marilla’s childhood shaped her into the character we know and ultimately love from the Anne of Green Gables books.
Christy and The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
Christy is the story of a school teacher who goes to teach in the impoverished area of the Appalachian Mountains around the early 1900s. Being immersed in her surroundings is a culture shock for young Christy, who grew up in an affluent home. Contrast that with The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and we see what life is like for those who have always lived in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. Cussy, the main character, is a Blue—a person who due to a genetic trait has a blood disorder causing the skin to appear blue, further ostracizing her in this already impoverished area.
To Kill a Mockingbird and The Giver of Stars
Although these books have two completely different settings, I saw various parallels between To Kill a Mockingbird and the Giver of Stars. Both of these books spotlight people who live a little differently than societal norms would dictate and are, therefore, easily villainized as a result. Prejudice takes many different forms!
Find Your People and The Life We’re Really Looking For
These are both faith-based books about community and the state of relationships in our world today. In Find Your People, Jennie Allen makes a case for why we need deep friendships with those who are near us—as in having friends who live within 15 minutes so that we can actually share in each other’s day-to-day struggles. In The Life We’re Really Looking For, by Andy Crouch, Andy takes an in-depth look at the role technology has played in disconnecting us from each other. This is not just because we spend time on devices instead of with each other, but because technology has enabled us to build more and more of a life where we hardly need each other—which is in direct contrast to the way the Bible wants us to approach life and relationships.
Disclosure
Please remember that this post contains affiliate links; that means if you click on the link, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a way to support my blog! I will only ever share an affiliate link if I love the product and think that you just might love it too!
by Alaina | Jan 20, 2023 | Book Nook
I always like to do a year review of the previous year and of course that includes looking over all the books that I read and determining which ones stand out as really good books. In 2021 (see my post favorite books of 2021 here) there was a section of time when I fell down the rabbit hole of reading revolutionary war spy historical fiction—now that was good reading! This year I didn’t have any fantastic stretches in which I read 5-star books, yet there were some books that I particularly enjoyed. If you are looking for great titles to kick off your 2023 then continue reading to hear 5 of my favorite historical fiction titles that I read last year! These were some of my favorite unputdownable books that I read in 2022!
The Flight Girls by Noelle Salazar
This was a story about the women pilots who helped the war effort in WW II. This book opens on Thanksgiving Day in Hawaii, 1941, right before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It is a story about the women pilots as well as the fictional story of Audrey Coltrane who is focused on saving her money and buying an airfield near her family’s home one day. She cannot allow herself to be distracted from this goal, even as she starts to find herself falling in love with handsome….
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Sometimes you get a good book at the wrong time and sometimes you get the right book and at the perfectly right time—that’s what happened with this book! I love a good mystery and, of course, I love a time-setting from the past. I am a little bit of a wimp… I don’t want anything too scary but, that being said, I still want to get a little scared. This is the perfect scariness for me! Ten people are stranded on a stormy island and one by one they start turning up dead which can only mean one thing—the killer is among them! If you want a goose-bump-raising mystery try this one!
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
I read two books about the packhorse librarians last year and, while I enjoyed both of them, this one was far and away my favorite. The Appalachian Hills in Kentucky were not a forgiving region in the 1930s. Family feuds ran deep, travel was rough, and poverty was rampant. The rampant dangers of the job were hardly a deterrent to these women who took to their horses as part of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s initiative to spread literacy. But prejudices run deep and there are more than just rattlesnakes hiding in those hills to worry about.
The Chilbury Ladies Choir by Jennifer Ryan
This was a delightful little book full of quirky characters that make life come to life against the backdrop of war-worn World War II England and alternates points of view from several of the women who make up the Chilbury Ladies Choir. Kitty is 13, a very grown up 13 she wants to be sure we know, who brings a bright naiveté to the story. There is Mrs. Tilling, a widowed nurse whose son is currently overseas fighting. She is lonely though she doesn’t want anyone to know it. We meet Edwina who is hatching a scheme she is sure is going to make her a wealthy woman—but only if she doesn’t get caught! And there is Venetia who has her eye on a very eligible bachelor who is new to town; however, in getting involved with him she may also be getting in way over her head! Through the eyes of all these women we see how a town banded together during the difficult times of World War II and brought a bright spot into the war-torn gloom.
The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont
I went into this book not really knowing what the storyline was but I found myself immersed in the different characters’ points of view. I enjoy a well-done story told from the point of view of someone who we usually demonize (in this case Mr. Christie’s lover) but yet one that doesn’t set out to pit the characters of the story against each other. What could have been the motivation for this young woman to have her eye set on Mr. Christie? Could it have had less to do with Mr. Christie himself and more to do with the child that was once ripped from her arms? What else could have transpired during Mrs. Christie’s famous disappearance?
There you are—some of my favorites from 2022! What about you? What were some of your favorite books of 2022? I’d love to hear about them!
Disclosure
Please remember that this post contains affiliate links; that means if you click on the link, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a way to support my blog! I will only ever share an affiliate link if I love the product and think that you just might love it too!
Other Posts You May Enjoy:
Favorite Books for 2021
Nonfiction Books I’ve Been Enjoying Lately
3 Exciting Historical Fiction Reads about the Female Spies of the American Revolution
by Alaina | Dec 4, 2022 | Book Nook
Last week’s post shared some of my favorite Christmas historical fiction reads (check that post out Here). However, if you are still looking for several more Christmas books to add to your reading, today I am sharing some historical fiction Christmas mysteries for you to delve into this holiday season.
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
I have recently started reading more by the Queen of mysteries and it is no wonder why they call her that! One hundred years later and her books are still delightful and unsolvable! This mystery centers around a family, the members have been somewhat estranged from each other for years, but at the request of the aging father whose health is failing, they all acquiesce to spending Christmas with him in their childhood home. Unfortunately, things take a devastating turn as their father ends up murdered right before Christmas. Who could have possibly done it—especially when it seems he was the only one in the room and the door and window remained locked….
The Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost
This is the first one in this series. I had very mediocre hopes for this book but was pleasantly surprised! Holly White finds herself back in her hometown for the holidays, having been jilted by her fiancé weeks before their wedding was supposed to take place. Holly is finding that she loved being back in her hometown—that is until one of the town’s residents is found murdered on her family’s Christmas tree farm. In the midst of their busiest time of year, a murder investigation ensues and Holly jumps in to help solve the mystery in order to help her family’s farm to be able to reopen. However, this leads to Holly herself being targeted by the killer. Will the town’s handsome young policeman be able to solve the mystery before Holly becomes the next victim?
It may go without saying that this is no Agatha Christie novel but it was a clean, delightful, holiday read to enjoy this Christmas season.
Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue by Victoria Thompson
A husband is discovered dead, presumably killed by his wife who was found at the crime scene covered in blood. The accused woman’s mother turns up on the doorstep of Malloy’s new detective agency begging for help for her daughter—the only problem is that Mr. and Mrs. Malloy are on their honeymoon. With no one else around to help Maeve, who has always aspired to be a detective anyway, decides to take on the case herself. With the help of Gino, a young officer, they start to put pieces together to solve the mystery.
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
A jaded reporter, Tom Langdon, is traveling by train across the country to see his girlfriend for Christmas. The train, however, is full of different and, shall we say, quirky individuals. Things begin to disappear from different people’s train compartments. The situation gets worse when the train becomes stranded in a snowstorm and food begins to run out. For Tom, things don’t look quite so bleak as he has discovered that an old flame of his is aboard the train. This Christmas book is a funny, heartwarming story with a mystery that keeps you guessing!
I hope this helps to give you some historical mysteries that you can curl up with and enjoy all the magic this Christmas season has to offer!
Disclosure
Please remember that this post contains affiliate links; that means if you click on the link, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a way to support my blog! I will only ever share an affiliate link if I love the product and think that you just might love it too!
Other Posts You May Enjoy:
Christmas Historical Fiction
Christmas Books
Books to Slow Down with This Season
by Alaina | Nov 17, 2022 | Book Nook
All right, I know—Thanksgiving isn’t here yet but I think it’s time to start lining up some Christmassy reads! I have so many good memories of curling up before the fireplace with a good Christmas story. (A wood stove was our only source of heat growing up, so reading in front of the fire really did happen!) To this day it is still one of the main things I look forward to around this time of year. Here are some historical fiction Christmas reads for you to consider reading this holiday season.
Under the Walnut Tree by Charles Todd
We follow Lady Elspeth Douglas as the First World War breaks out in Europe. Elspeth promises herself to the brother of her good friend only to second guess her decision when she meets Captain Peter Gilchrist. Elspeth becomes a nurse and, as such, experiences the horrors of war personally, as does her fiancée who comes back from war a very changed man causing Elspeth to further question her decision to pledge herself to such a man. I enjoyed this book very much but only a small portion of it takes place at Christmas. This is a good book to kick off your holiday reading early on in the Christmas season.
Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan
Talk about a cozy book to curl up with! This heartwarming story takes place in England in the 1950s and is about college age Megs’ quest to find out from Mr. C. S Lewis himself what parts of Narnia are true on behalf of her beloved brother George. George is seven and has a serious heart condition—Megs and her family never know when they might lose George. When George asks Megs to find out what inspired C. S Lewis to write Narnia, Megs is unable to refuse—even though as a math major she simply can’t figure out what fictional story could possibly matter in real life. The process of discovering this answer changes Megs and how she views the world. This book is full of all the warmth and comfort of the Christmas season! An added bonus is that if you are a Narnia fan, you will really enjoy the glimpse behind the curtain to the creation of Narnia that this book offers.
Last Christmas In Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
This book takes place during World War I. It is written in letter form between Evie Elliott, her brother Will, and Will’s best friend, Thomas Harding, tells the story of young people coming of age during the First World War—a war they believed would end by Christmas. While this book does not take place exclusively at Christmastime, key parts of it are centered around the four Christmases that elapse during World War I, and a love that grows over the years.
Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
This story imagines what the backdrop could have been behind the creation of Mr. Dickens’ famous tale: A Christmas Carol. It is a little over a month before Christmas and Dickens thinks he has everything sewn up having just dropped his latest novel off at his publishers and is off to plan his elaborate Christmas party when his world is turned upside down. His publisher has rejected his latest manuscript due to failing sales of his last book. Dickens’ choices are nil: either write a new book before Christmas or face financial ruin. He decides to try for a new story. The question is will he be able to do it in time to save his Christmas?
When Christmas Comes Again by Beth Seidel Levine
This story is geared for middle grade readers but is such a sweet story! I love young Simone (the main character) and enjoy being immersed in her world as she tells first of life as the daughter of the social elite, but also of life as a telegraph operator from overseas on the front line of the fighting. If you have a young reader, this is the perfect book to read with them. Or if you are just looking for something sweet and uplifting this book is great for that too!
A Season of Giving by Richard Peck
Again this book is geared for middle grade and young readers but Richard Peck is an excellent author with a great way of describing characters, showing you what they are like with his descriptions rather than just telling you the facts. This is the story of young Bob, the son of the town’s new preacher, and we follow him through all kinds of misadventures leading up to Christmas as he learns about his new town. Again, lighthearted but not frivolous this is a sweet, funny read for this holiday season!
Disclosure
Please remember that this post contains affiliate links; that means if you click on the link, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a way to support my blog! I will only ever share an affiliate link if I love the product and think that you just might love it too!
