New York City, 1937. Seventeen-year-old Marigold McGrath is coming undone.

Her mother is dead. Her father is drawn to dangerous politics. The only place she feels joy is behind a camera — where she can frame the world on her own terms.

After a series of her own missteps, she reinvents herself in London: mentored by a celebrated émigré photographer, photographing Kindertransport children, working alongside Edward R. Murrow. She falls in love with Joop, a charming Dutch student, and shrugs off the war gathering around her.

Then the Blitz begins.

Joop vanishes into the Dutch Resistance. And Marigold — who has always preferred to photograph the world as she wishes it were — must finally decide what kind of woman, and what kind of witness, she is willing to become.

A sweeping WWII coming-of-age novel set in wartime London.

For readers of Kristin Hannah, Kate Quinn, and SL Beaumont's The War Photographers


Early readers are praising The Making of Marigold McGrath:

***** "I read a lot of historical novels ... this one was one of my favorites. From the characters to the setting to the actions depicted I thoroughly enjoyed the journey—I really didn’t want it to end!" –Netgalley Review

***** "The Making of Marigold McGrath by Carrie Hayes is the tale of a well to do American seventeen year old sent to Europe just prior to World War II. The book is exquisitely written with a well paced dialogue. The characters are well formed and interesting. Sprinkled throughout the book are bits from news outlets that help set the larger context for the reader - they are well timed and helpful. Great read, well worth it! " –Goodreads Review

***** "The Making of Marigold McGrath explores a rarely examined aspect of WWII: the complex journeys to maturity of young adults in war-torn Europe as they seek human connection and meaning. Marigold finds both, using her skills as a photographer to document the stories of refugee children. With gobs of historical references and vivid imagery, interlaced with intrigue and romance, The Making of Marigold McGrath is a great read!" –Goodreads Review

***** "A naive American girl finds her way to London during the Blitz. Blessed with intelligence, a camera and an eagle eye, she gets an education in life, love, war and the meaning of integrity. I loved the journey we take with Marigold as her understanding of the world expands and her depth of character grows. Kudus to Carrie Hayes on a great book." –Goodreads Review

Some secrets are worth a crown...

Born second in line for the Swedish throne, Prince Harald has always lived in someone else's shadow. At the elite Riddarhuset Military Academy, the bookish prince feels lost among the sons of nobility—until he meets Jakob Eliasberg, a scholarship cadet who sees past his royal title to the man beneath.

Jakob Eliasberg shouldn't be here. A brilliant student with Russian-Jewish roots, fighting for every scrap of respect in a world determined to see him fail. When the awkward prince seeks his help, Jakob discovers Harald's quiet determination and hidden depths. Theirconnection grows duringstolen moments into something far more dangerous—and infinitely more precious.

As the sparks of war burn across Europe and Sweden flights to remain neutral, the Royal Family will do anything to protect the crown—even if it costs the young Prince his happiness. As the Queen’s threats loom over Jakob's family, the young lovers face an impossible choice. Harald must use every ounce of his wits and privilege to shield Jakob from his mother's machinations, while Jakob sacrifices everything to protect Harald from forces that would see them both destroyed. In a world on the brink of war, where love is rebellion, they will risk everything - their families, their positions and their lives - for a chance at a a life together.

"An earnest historical novel...a thoughtful meditation on the inexorability of
change, and what happens when justice results in a redistribution of success." —
Kirkus Reviews

“...a classic. This is a story of triumph and tragedy, of good and evil, and
finally reconciliation. A true morality play.” — Gene Hoots, former tobacco
executive and author of Going Down Tobacco Road

“A sweeping drama that follows three unforgettable families navigating the
changing culture of North Carolina at a pivotal moment in history, readers have
been raving that Talmadge Farm is one they cannot put down. Perfect for fans of
Wiley Cash and Amor Towles.” — Carolina Country

Nearly 8,300 years ago, a sudden climate collapse reshaped the earth. Winters grew longer and colder, harvests failed, coastlines flooded, and the ground itself became unstable. For the Téuta, a settled Neolithic village that had endured for generations, survival became uncertain.

Eini is born with troubling visions of disaster—warnings her people dismiss as superstition. As the climate worsens and violence spreads among desperate neighbors, Eini spends her lifetime trying to protect her family and preserve the fragile traditions that hold her community together. When catastrophe finally strikes, the Téuta must face the unthinkable: abandoning their ancestral home and redefining who they are in a transformed world.

Told across generations, Singing Bones follows the lives of women whose strength, memory, and resilience shape the fate of their people—from prophecy, to survival, to leadership forged in loss. Song, story, and shared history become tools of endurance in a world where nothing can be taken for granted.

Grounded in real archaeological and climate research, Singing Bones is ancient historical fiction set during the Neolithic era. Its spiritual elements arise from a prehistoric worldview in which nature, belief, and survival are inseparable. Sweeping yet intimate, it explores how early civilizations responded to climate catastrophe, displacement, and change.

Perfect for readers of immersive historical fiction, ancient civilizations, prehistoric survival stories, and epic sagas rooted in humanity’s deep past.

Early Reviewers are Transported by this Lyrical and Atmospheric Neolithic Historical Fiction Saga

★★★★★ "This book completely transported me to another time. The slow unraveling of a world through climate collapse feels both ancient and eerily relevant. Eini's journey is powerful, and the generational storytelling adds so much depth. It's emotional, immersive, and unforgettable." — Goodreads Reviewer

★★★★★ "I was held entranced, rooting for the Teuta people, wanting them to surmount their hurdles and survive. Ullman's bravura shines through as he captures their life all those years ago. I saw the Teuta people, felt their confusion, distress and pain. The book was a lucid dream." — NetGalley Reviewer

★★★★★ "This book brought tears to my eyes several times, and I found it very difficult to put down. These characters were well developed, believable, and I became so invested in their lives… a wonderful book." — Goodreads Reviewer

★★★★★ "A poetic and deeply touching story of community, hope, and belief… written in lyrical prose that transports the reader into the distant past. This novel is captivating in a quiet, almost magical way. Its exploration of spirituality, nature, and human connection draws the reader in until stepping away feels impossible. For those interested in early human communities and survival during ecological catastrophe, this is a novel that goes beyond storytelling — it brings the Neolithic era vividly to life." — Goodreads Reviewer

★★★★★ "Rich in atmosphere and thoughtful in its exploration of human experience, Singing Bones is a quietly powerful novel that lingers long after the final page has been turned. S. G. Ullman has crafted a work that speaks to the enduring strength of community, the persistence of memory, and the deeper currents that run beneath human understanding." — Goodreads Reviewer

★★★★★ "This is not just a story about the past — it's about humanity. The exploration of loss, identity, and survival is incredibly powerful. The generational perspective makes it feel rich and meaningful. Highly recommended." — Goodreads Reviewer

1945. World War II is now in its sixth agonizing year. In Europe, the Allies are closing in on Hitler’s horrific Third Reich, but victory remains elusive. In the Pacific, US forces are locked in a grinding island-by-island struggle against Imperial Japan.

Summoned from the battlefields of Europe, veteran tactical analyst Eleanor Shaux finds herself unexpectedly thrust into the greatest secret of the war: the Manhattan Project. Agonizing decisions must be made about the dangerous new weapon that could end the war in both theaters in a single stroke. Eleanor—pulled apart by the moral ambiguities and nuances of war, worn down by the stress of living through years of incessant conflict, and shocked by personal disaster—struggles to survive.

Meanwhile, even as victory beckons, the great alliance between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin is in danger of unraveling, strained to the breaking point by rivalries and ambitions. No one doubts that Germany will lose the war in Europe, but who will win it?

The future of the world hangs in the balance as the war reaches its shattering climax in a time of triumph and tragedy. Which fate awaits Eleanor?

In spring 1874, the American economy is descending into a depression, following the collapse of Jay Cooke’s financial empire. Amid the chain of bank and business failures set off by Cooke’s bankruptcy, Jubilee Walker struggles to keep Warner and Walker Outfitters solvent.

Jubil’s grand plans for developing Yellowstone National Park into a popular tourist destination were dashed when Cooke’s business failed, but he is still determined to help fulfill the park’s potential—not to mention his promise to his friend White Dog to end the corruption affecting the well-being of the people living on the Crow reservation.

When Jubil solicits support from the highest levels of government, he sets off a chain of events that puts not only him but the ones he loves most in grave danger. What is the nature of the secret Jubil’s nemesis is hiding? And how far will he go to protect it?

Book four in the Jubilee Walker series is loosely based on historical events.

Author J. A. Nunn returns with a sequel to his debut novel, The Stuff What Actually Is, chronicling the new adventures of young GI Mervyn Gower as he navigates his World War II posting to the Jim Crow South.

Mervyn Gower, a naive young Army draftee from an all-white immigrant neighborhood in Los Angeles, believes the best way to prove he’s a “real” American is in combat. Assigned to a segregated Army base in the Jim Crow South in 1942, Gower soon finds himself in hot water after a drunken brawl. Instead of being demoted or dishonorably discharged, however, he’s given a post that not enough qualified Black GIs can fill and that few white soldiers want—leader of a squad of Black recruits.

After a false start, Gower impresses his company commander who then nominates Gower’s squad as the only Black troops to participate in field maneuvers in the desolate Louisiana bayou—an almost unheard of opportunity for Black GIs—where they’ll be filmed “in action” as part of a War Department effort to encourage more Black soldiers to volunteer and more white soldiers to accept them. But when one of his men goes AWOL, the search to find the runaway—dead or alive—brings Gower’s understanding of his men into focus and builds toward a shocking and brutal encounter he will never forget.

Inspired by real-life stories and backed by author J. A. Nunn’s thorough research, Mud Men picks up where The Stuff What Actually Is left off, continuing to weave together the threads of race, social inequity, and American identity that shaped a generation.

“In a well-crafted debut, Smith-Blum provides the reader a ringside seat to the birth of the nuclear age…a beautifully written, important story…Tangles packs a punch and hits close to home.” –Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author of The Tracy Crosswhite Series

Oppenheimer was just the beginning.

When a harpooned whale offers proof the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is endangering all life in the Columbia River Basin, Luke Hinson, a brash young scientist, seizes the chance to avenge his father’s death but a thyroid cancer diagnosis derails Luke’s research. Between treatments, he dives back in, making enemies at every turn. On an overnight trek, Luke discovers evidence that Mary, his former neighbor, embarked on the same treacherous trail, and her disappearance, a decade prior, may be tied to Hanford’s harmful practices mired in government-mandated secrecy.

A love story wrapped in a mystery, this stunning Cold War home-front tale reveals the devastating costs of the birth of the nuclear age, and celebrates the quiet courage of wronged women, the fierce determination of fatherless sons, and the limitless power of the individual.

Tangles is a genre-defying must-read for our time.

Their forbidden love bloomed during the war. Will it survive peacetime?

Algona, Iowa. 1944. Phyllis ‘Phee’ Swensson cheerfully does her share. Busy caring for her father and siblings after her mother’s death, the high school senior tries to ignore the POW camp looming over her quiet hometown. But when she reluctantly joins a tour of the ominous facility, the gifted young pianist is stunned to hear an imprisoned musician’s haunting melodies.

Intrigued when the thoughtful man behind the music asks her to become his accompanist for an upcoming concert, Phee embarks on an unforeseen friendship. Yet as her feelings for the kind German deepen, choosing her path forward becomes dauntingly complex.

Will heavy secrets and a grieving country cut their tender connection short?

My Mother’s Friend is a poignant historical fiction novel. If you like slow-burn romance, richly researched home front settings, and relationship-driven stories, then you’ll adore Sally Jameson Bond’s evocative and emotional WWII tale.

Buy My Mother’s Friend for a sweet song of passion and loss today!

"A powerful story of seldom-sung heroines in humanity's darkest days and a vivid reminder of the power of conscience." -- Edgardo David Holzman, author of Malena

Throughout the occupied territories, Catholic Sisters were active members of The Nazi Resistance.

Based on letters and documents written by Catholic Sisters during the Nazi occupation of Belgium, this book tells the remarkable story of these brave and faithful women, and how they served to resist the German forces.

From running contraband to hiding Jews, from spying for the allies to small acts of sabotage, these courageous women risked their lives to help defeat the Reich.

This is a story that needs to be told.

"...an engaging account of World War Two as told through the voice of a fictional Belgian nun... fascinating and valuable." -- Donald Lystra, Author of Season of Water and Ice

"…a generous recounting of the deeds of marvelous nuns living in the midst of mortal danger. It's also a great read!" -- Father James Heft, Professor of Religion at the University of Southern California

From the bestselling author of Veil of Doubt and The Grays of Truth comes a riveting tale of political intrigue, romance, and betrayal set in antebellum Virginia.

John “Jack” Mason McCarty and his second cousin Armistead Mason are proud sons of the Virginia aristocracy—and as different as two men can be. Deeply ambitious and politically minded, Armistead has his sights on Congress and demands a level of respect he may not deserve. Jack, too, longs to make a name for himself, if he can stop gambling and drinking long enough to use his considerable wit to his advantage. Jack has little patience for Armistead’s arrogance, while Armistead views Jack as a debaucherous adolescent unworthy of honor or respect—and neither is afraid to voice his opinion of the other.

A poisonous animosity begins to fester between the two men, fueled by political schemes, illicit affairs, and scandalous reports in the press. Though the women who love them urge restraint, their bitter dispute nevertheless sets into motion a devastating chain of events that risks much more than their honor.

The first book in the Fields of Honor series and based on the true events behind the 1819 Mason–McCarty duel, Masque of Honor is a story of valor, conviction, and the cost of sacrificing one life to forge another.

"Ride with British Naval Captain Joseph Duncan as he sails the Atlantic in search of enemy French ships while battling treacherous waters, mercurial weather, and ever-shifting winds. Set in 1795, this nautical tale is filled with fierce sea conflicts, military intrigue, and even a bit of romance." —Katrina Thomas, reviewer

In war, one decision can win a battle—or end a career.

1795. The French Revolutionary War burns across the Caribbean.

When Captain Blackwell falls just as a French convoy appears on the horizon, command of HMS Fidelity passes to Lieutenant Joseph Duncan—an able but untested officer suddenly responsible for a 24-pounder frigate and the lives of hundreds of men.

Outnumbered and facing a determined French commodore, Duncan must decide whether to disengage or risk everything in a bold attack. One daring maneuver could cripple the enemy. One miscalculation could cost him his ship.

But triumph at sea brings new dangers ashore.

The cargo taken from the French convoy attracts powerful attention in London, drawing Duncan into a world of intelligence work, political rivalry, and competing loyalties. His promotion—and his reputation—hang in the balance as he learns that the intrigues of empire can be as perilous as enemy broadsides.

Sailing Toward the Tempest delivers thunderous naval combat, authentic Age of Sail detail, and high-stakes adventure for readers who love Patrick O’Brian, Dudley Pope, and C.S. Forester.

"Historical fiction lovers will enjoy this real life Game of Thrones, a tale of knightly adventure." -Sublime Book Review

A quiet life of service is all he desires. But when peace becomes tenuous, his commitment to duty leads him to deadly danger…

14th century. Lord Alfred is content with his mundane destiny. Too far removed from the throne to ever ascend and more interested in scholarship, he still willingly accepts his kingly grandfather’s charge to execute a secret mission. But when his bid to protect the heir leaves him captive to a dangerous man, the young lordling fears he’ll see death before his family will pay any ransom.

Tormented by visions of never meeting his unborn child, a weary Alfred is forced to march farther and farther from home as his hope of escape grows desperate. So when he senses time running out, the modest noble girds himself to seize one last chance at freedom.

Can Alfred slip his bonds and survive a harrowing struggle towards all he holds dear?

Second Son is the historically inspired first book in the Second Son Chronicles of Renaissance fiction. If you like bracing adventures, heroes with a love of learning, and intricately detailed settings, then you’ll adore Pamela Taylor’s complex tale.

Buy Second Son to journey toward a mysterious fate today!

Once upon a time in the Téuta, the ground shook.
The cliff fell, and boulders came tumbling down, crushing everything and everyone in their path.

The surviving villagers blamed Welo, the nightmare giant, for the disaster.

When little blind Kaikos notices mysterious spiritual activity on the ground, she must keep it a secret. The villagers will not hesitate to sacrifice Welo's cursed granddaughter if they believe it will stop the earth from shaking.

With the fragile line between love and hate erased by fear, young Kaikos must brave the growing darkness to survive.

In the tradition of Jean M. Auel's "Clan of the Cave Bear" and Michelle Paver's "Wolf Brother,"
The Téuta's Child is a gripping tale of loss and redemption set in neolithic times - perfect for all who love magic, fantasy, and ancient civilizations.


Early Reviewers love Téuta's Child (and you will too!):

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This was wonderful! ... I loved this tale of an ancient village and an amazing blind child finding a way to survive. I loved every single character. I didn't want to put it down" – NetGalley Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This was a beautifully done story about loss and redemption... the characters were what I was hoping for and [I] really enjoyed getting to know them. It worked really well for the time and the story was so well done." – Netgalley Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I absolutely loved this novel.. Kaikos is such a sweet protagonist- you can't help but root for her. The characters were well written... Definitely recommend this one." – Netgalley Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Fantastic, wholesome tale of family and what bonds us together. I loved the thoughtful use of research masterfully woven into this novel of the art of Neolithic paleontology.... The set time of the novel was fascinating and so rarely portrayed in today's literature.- it gave the comforting, ancestral feeling as if reaching for Clan of the Cave Bear again for the first time." – Netgalley Review

When hard-driving Chicago attorney Rachel Winston is pursued by an organized crime family, she never imagines the outcome of awakening in the raucous gold mining town of Idaho City in 1864, where those with sympathies for each side of the Civil War explode into violence. Here and now, she must learn not only to survive but to face the trauma of her past by accepting the boundless love of a big-hearted pioneer clan, as well as Ethan and Rose Stonehill, a wounded Union cavalry officer and his young daughter striving to forge a new life on the American frontier.

“Swope deftly weaves Reading, Berks County and American history around the life of this interesting African-American woman. The author successfully tiptoes between fact and fiction, bringing this memorable tale to life. Definitely a keeper!” –Paul A. Druzda, Berks County historian and author of four books on local history

Based on one woman's incredible real life.

Born an indentured servant and bound by slavery for the first twenty-one years of her life, Dinah Clark ultimately earned her freedom, married, had children, bought a house, and mastered the arduous work of a sawyer. Her profession—unusual for a woman at the time—sustained her following the early death of her husband. Her outgoing nature and skill as a woodcutter made her one of the most famous African American women in Reading, Pennsylvania, in the 19th century.

Along the way, Dinah helped build the Bethel A.M.E. Church, which served not only as her place of worship but also as a way station on the Underground Railroad. Despite living near poverty much of her life, Dinah's courage and conviction helped her break down racial and gender barriers as she staked out a full life for herself and her family.

"Readers who seek strong female protagonists who remain true to themselves throughout a story will fall in love with Grace Herbert. The ending of the first chapter grabs the reader with urgency and features one of the most powerful scenes I've read in a long time." –Janis Daly, author of The Unlocked Path, #1 New Release for US Historical Fiction

A powerful story about love, courage, sacrifice, resilience, and hope, True Grace, set in 1924 during the Harlem Renaissance and Roaring Twenties, chronicles the journey of an immigrant, mixed-raced woman from The Congo, England, and Jamaica, fighting for her family's survival.

Inspired by real people and events, Grace must navigate the misogyny and racism of the courts, banks, child welfare system, and bad actors to hold her family together. Calling on her grit, determination, and grace, she must overcome harrowing circumstances. Readers will find themselves hooked from the first riveting chapter and cheering for Grace each step of the way.

Shortlisted for the Hemingway 20th Century Wartime Novel Award!

Inspired by the true story of the author’s ancestors, this enthralling WWII novel tells of the Kisch family’s heart-wrenching struggle against Nazi oppression.

When the Nazis invade the Netherlands in 1940, the Jews of Amsterdam know nothing of the Final Solution and the Holocaust. As the measures imposed by the cruel SS become ever more repressive, sister and brother, Rachael and Hendrik, join the Dutch Resistance. Meanwhile, their parents, Franck and Elizabeth, strive to keep their younger brother, Hannes, safe, but time is against them all, as every day more and more Jews are being deported to unknown camps in Eastern Europe. Will the family be able to stay together and survive?

“Tentarelli's ability to immerse readers in medieval Florence's sights, sounds, and struggles makes this a novel worth diving into.” –The Literary Titan

It's Europe in the 1300s, and Gino, a young man living in rural Italy, leaves behind the familiarity of his family's farm to seek a new life as an apprentice in an apothecary shop in Florence.

But Gino's dream quickly becomes a nightmare as relentless rain destroys crops in the countryside, leading to famine and despair in the city. He is grief stricken to lose contact with his family when they are forced to flee their farm.

Just as the rains end, the devastating Black Plague sweeps through Florence. Fear and superstition consume the city, targeting priests, immigrants, and women accused of practicing witchcraft.

Even with his own challenges, Gino offers help to the suffering—a woman left alone in the city, a young girl orphaned by the plague, and people who have lost everything. And just as he's providing hope to others, glimmers of happiness come his way as well, even in a world teetering on the edge.

The Blackest Time is a powerful tale of compassion, love, and the human spirit's ability to endure immense adversity.