Category Archives: Historical Fiction

When We Left Cuba, by Chanel Cleeton

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I did not read the first book, Next Year In Havana. But you do not need to. The first few chapters go into the background of the first book. I was not lost at all.


Since this was categorized as historical fiction, I had a different expectation for this novel and was disappointed. Mostly it’s about how Beatriz doesn’t want to be in America, and how she wants to go back to Cuba. Although she continues to constantly remember Fidel ruining her family situation and his regime killing her revolutionary brother, she just wants to go home to Cuba. That’s the most history you get about Cuba during this time period, nothing that peaks into detail just that Fidel revolutionized the country and killed her brother amongst others. It lacks the culture, language, and framework for their politics. Everything is surface level. Nothing historically interesting or new.
The dialogue is bland and impersonal, nothing very conceivable.

This is a ROMANCE:
Around pg. 100 the story seems like it’s going to start, but quickly goes back to beautiful Beatriz and her attraction to the Senator. This is the bulk of the book- the relationship between her and the handsome Senator.
It seems like the romance was just thrown into the setting of the early 1960’s in Florida. And then, all of a sudden Beatriz is part of the CIA. Most of the story-line did not seem planned or seriously thought out. Little excitement even after halfway through. Everything always went back to her love affair. 85% romance 15% random things happening to Beatriz.

Overall disappointed, 2.5 stars out of 5. This was a missed opportunity for what could have been a good novel.

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The Forgiving Kind, by Donna Everhart

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The voice of the narrator is completely spot on. The narrator (12 yr old girl) keeps that young innocence and inexperience in her voice throughout the novel, even when describing an adult topic she has witnessed for the first time. My favorite thing about her use of language was the ability to hear the accents and see their expressions while reading. The characters are authentic and genuine, especially for this setting (North Carolina, 1950s).
The author creates the epitome of all antagonists in this story, and his emergence into the life of the main character and her family is deviously unfortunate. For those who love the spoken truth, characters who are not without fault, and humble beginnings with unspoken pasts, you will enjoy this book.


It was very hard not to like anything, but I can’t say I was 100 percent satisfied with the ending. Not enough to take a star off or go into details about though. Definitely worth the read.

Notable topics not for the weary-hearted: rape, physical abuse, emotional abuse, murder, Klu Klux Klan, racism, sex

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The Huntress, by Kate Quinn

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Is it ethical to kill a killer? Does survival trump morals? Is there a difference between justice and consequence?

My interest was compelled during the beginning. The first hundred pages or so are great. The mystery is built up colorfully, but then begins to drift about halfway in. The style became routine and tiresome. I did not find myself aching to finish this story since the plot had hit a stalemate. But, I did…after taking breaks. However, overall I was left disappointed in this read.

The chapters alternate between Nina, Jordan, and Ian. Nina’s chapters are lengthy and require a lot of patience. Jordan and Ian’s chapters are more enjoyable.

The story revolves around finding a Nazi murderess. Over 95% of this novel is about after the war. It does not focus on the events in German, it’s occupied regions, or the crimes that were committed against the Jews and other sub-populations during the war; rather, it centers around the crimes of one female Nazi and the relationships of those who are looking for her. Because of this, the story lost it’s spice and the ending becomes predictable early on.

Please be aware–There is a lot of of sex and adult language in this book.

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The Orphan Sisters, by Shirley Dickson

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I kept reading and hoping for that big moment that grabs the reader…to be absorbed in every detail and action, becoming monopolized by the story itself, drowning in each word written…but it never came.


The development of the characters themselves are remote and bland. There is little to no depth or complexity to the characters or the overall plot. The constant reminder that the sisters came from an orphanage is repetitive, monotonous, and unnecessary. While this is considered historical fiction, the history included is very minimal. There is too much romance, and the romance itself was so banal that it did not magnetize my interest in any way.

I did enjoy the unique dialect of the Geordies during dialogue. What the author lacks in metaphorical and allegorical practice, she makes up for in conversational dialect. The reader can actually hear the characters accents when they talk.

I was disappointed and would not recommend this as a good historical fiction to those who enjoy the genre. A weak plot with mundane characters.

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In Another Time, by Jillian Cantor

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Rather than concentrating on the period of WWII that relishes in combat and fighting, this story focuses on the before (1931-36) and after (1946-59).
The setting for this novel centers on Hitler’s rise to power in Germany and the affect of his reign after the war in London, Vienna, and Paris–the concentration being on the sociology therein. The romantic storyline of the main characters (Hanna and Max) revolves around Hitlers rise to Chancellor, followed by Germany leaving the League of Nations, the greater imposition of new anti-Semitic laws, then Hitler becoming fuhrer, and so-on etc…while showing the effects of this on their relationship since Hanna is a Jew and Max is not. Likewise when she wakes up ten years later, the plot continues to reveal the effects on the economy, social anthropology, and the new negative connotation of being a German in different parts of Europe.

Lots of romance. The mystery starts at very beginning of prologue and pulls you in immediately. Do not skip the prologue!
I was caught off guard when a hint of science fiction was embedded within the story. At first I was skeptical of it, but in the end very appreciative. Dont let it stop you from finishing the story.

Perk—The top of the left side of EVERY page remind readers of POV (Hanna or Max) and the year to make it easier for the reader to follow the timeline of events. I included a photo below.

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The Victory Garden, by Rhys Bowen

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This follows the fictional life of the main character Emily during WWI. The story does include her life among the Women’s Land Army, albeit not into much detail. Since the book covers the very end of the war, the land girls and Emily’s life there were only given about one fourth time of this novel. I was disappointed. Next, the story tries to then focus on the main character using natural herbal remedies as the next chapter in her life, but this aspect just seemed tacked on. Emily’s herbal remedy potions had little to do with what she learned being a land girl. It was like the story needed somewhere to go. I kept reading waiting for everything to piece together, but it was weakly done.


Something I found interesting and was hopeful about was the pregnancy of the main character. Refusing to go to a home where she can have the child placed for adoption, she was determined to have the child on her own and make ends meet. She has the child out of wedlock during a time period where this was unacceptable, so this is what kept me reading. Yet, I found her unrelenting ability to always prevail and meet her challenges successfully during the pregnancy far-fetched and romantical rather than historical.

Not as impressive as The Tuscan Child, which I was a huge fan of. I didn’t feel like I was immersed into another society or culture. But a quick, light, and very easy read. I would say 2.5 stars out of 5.

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The Girl They Left Behind, by Roxanne Veletzos

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This book spans from 1941-1960, Bucharest throughout WWII and followed by it’s tight grasp under the Soviets. What sets this novel apart from other WWII historical fictions is that the complexities, solemn intrigues, and tangled mystery continue after the “war” is over. The author really paints a vivid and heart-breaking image of what life was like under the Soviets and the impact of their ideological barrier called the Iron Curtain. The reader is immersed into that time, place, and feels the oppression and consummation of the reigning communistic government.

The story is utterly amazing, and even more so knowing that it’s based on true events; the “real” girl that was left behind is revealed at the end of the novel on pages 343-345 and is followed by black and white photos on pages 346-351. One of the photos can be seen below.
Excellent story, well written, and dusted with historical remnants. Political turmoil, family hardships, and romance all envelope this amazing piece of fiction.

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The Hamilton Affair: A Novel by Elizabeth Cobbs

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Although not what I expected, this was quite an entertaining read. The chapters alternate between the point of view of Eliza and Alexander Hamilton. The novel, although fictitious, does include real events, and the author does a good job of blending the two in order to create a captivating experience for the reader. If you love American history, this novel is for you.

I was hesitant to read this book because the title connotes a focus on a scandal, so I assumed it was more of a romance novel rather than a historical fiction; however, the affair was a small part of “The Hamilton Affair”. The novel actually focuses more on the relationship of Eliza and Hamilton through the American Revolution and after. The author uses their relationship to explain the events around them during this time period.

Based on the title itself, I would have assumed this story was not for young readers at all. Yet, this story was fairly clean and does not go into many sexually explicit details. But, because of the topic at hand, it is for a mature audience—high school and older.

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