Historical Fiction
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You love history. You love history ebooks. But, you also love fiction--and you're not afraid to admit it. Why not have the best of both worlds? Authors who promote their Historical Fiction ebooks on our website always do so for free or at a discounted price. Bestsellers, new releases, and authors you'll be glad to have discovered. See the past through the eyes of these creative heroes!
Definition of "Historical Fiction Genre": The most important part of ebooks in this genre are their settings. Yes, characters and plot matter. But, beyond all else, the details associated with the setting must be accurate. This takes a tremendous amount of research and familiarity from the authors who delve into this genre of ebooks. These ebooks can focus on actual historical figures, or they can insert more fictionalized elements into the plot. It is always a balancing act between the history and fiction, and is something the best authors in this genre navigate with aplomb.
Some examples of bestselling ebooks in the Historical Fiction genre are Erik Larson (Devil in the White City), Margaret Mitchell (Gone With the Wind), Patrick O'Brian (Aubrey/Maturin Novels), and Mary Renault (The Persian Boy).
“Dread Tribunal of Last Resort creates a moving story that delves into the hearts and minds of those who are swept up in a war of ideals.” –Midwest Book Review
Decker Brown is a proud young Virginian, Boston-educated, with plans to manufacture fireworks and raise a family.
He loves Paula Crane, the daughter of a Virginia flour mill owner. When the country is divided by Civil War, their loyalty to each other is put to the ultimate test. Decker believes in the Republic's promise of liberty. Paula can't imagine taking up arms against her friends and neighbors.
What happens when the runaway train of history shatters every hope for the future?
Even as postwar Richmond rebuilds, Decker Brown faces his most important challenge— building a new life from the rubble of war.
Best Book of the Year
NPR • The Washington Post • Boston Globe• TIME • USA Today • Entertainment Weekly • Real Simple • Parade • Buzzfeed • Electric Literature • LitHub • BookRiot • PopSugar • Goop • Library Journal • BookBub • KCRW
• Finalist for the National Book Award
• One of the New York Times Notable Books of the Year
• One of the New York Times Best Historical Fiction of the Year
• Instant New York Times Bestseller
A singular and stunning debut novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence.
Isaiah was Samuel's and Samuel was Isaiah's. That was the way it was since the beginning, and the way it was to be until the end. In the barn they tended to the animals, but also to each other, transforming the hollowed-out shed into a place of human refuge, a source of intimacy and hope in a world ruled by vicious masters. But when an older man—a fellow slave—seeks to gain favor by preaching the master's gospel on the plantation, the enslaved begin to turn on their own. Isaiah and Samuel's love, which was once so simple, is seen as sinful and a clear danger to the plantation's harmony.
With a lyricism reminiscent of Toni Morrison, Robert Jones, Jr., fiercely summons the voices of slaver and enslaved alike, from Isaiah and Samuel to the calculating slave master to the long line of women that surround them, women who have carried the soul of the plantation on their shoulders. As tensions build and the weight of centuries—of ancestors and future generations to come—culminates in a climactic reckoning, The Prophets fearlessly reveals the pain and suffering of inheritance, but is also shot through with hope, beauty, and truth, portraying the enormous, heroic power of love.
In a time of war, they discovered peace.
When David Wright finds a label, a silver button and a lump of old leather in a chest in the attic, it opens up a window onto the true of joy of Christmas.
Jayne Sinclair, genealogical investigator, has just a few days to unravel the mystery and discover the truth of what happened on December 25, 1914.
Why did her client’s great grandfather keep these objects hidden for so long? What did they mean to him? And will they help bring the joy of Christmas to a young boy stuck in hospital?
This is the fifth Jayne Sinclair Genealogical Mystery but it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone novel.
"Engaging and mysterious, The Emerald Necklace sheds light on that inevitable time when lovers, family, friends and circumstances change and force you to reinvent yourself whether you want to or not." –Rebecca Rosenberg, award-winning Champagne Widows series
Three months after her husband's death in 1969, Rosalee Linoff is determined to jump back into life.
For her, that means returning to her art. She desperately wants to be accepted as a talented sculptor, but that requires she dig up the courage to submit her work again - and be judged. Her paralyzing insecurity mounts when she meets her new neighbor, best-selling author Fran Barish.
Fran has the recognition Rosalee craves. But Rosalee's joy with her children, especially her granddaughter, Jill, eats at Fran, a constant reminder of her childlessness. A spiral of mutual envy ensues. It constantly bubbles below the surface of their friendship and is intensified by Fran's long held secret - and her inexplicable fascination with Jill's emerald necklace.
As Jill starts college, Rosalee worries about the choices her granddaughter might make. But Jill's passion for women's rights makes Grandma proud. Together with Rosalee's friends, they travel to New York City for the Women's Strike for Equality - which further escalates the tension between Rosalee and Fran.
When Jill's convictions are tested, Rosalee faces a dilemma. Does she dare trust Fran to help? Will their mutual jealousy make that impossible? Or will the story behind Jill's emerald bind them together?
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?
Readers moved by Schindler’s List, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas will be gripped.
Order your copy today.
"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!
From the author of The Hunger—hailed by Stephen King as “deeply, deeply disturbing, hard to put down”—comes a hauntingly atmospheric tale filled with alchemy, lust, and betrayal.
True love can last an eternity…but immortality comes at a price.
On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting another quiet evening of frostbite and the occasional domestic dispute. But the minute Lanore McIlvrae—Lanny—enters his ER, she changes his life forever. A mysterious woman with plenty of dark secrets, Lanny is unlike anyone Luke has ever met. He is inexplicably drawn to her…despite the fact that she is a murder suspect with a police escort. As she begins to tell her story, Luke finds himself utterly captivated.
Her impassioned account begins at the turn of the 19th century in the same small town of St. Andrew, Maine, back when it was a Puritan settlement. Consumed as a child by her love for the founder’s son, Jonathan, Lanny will do anything to be with him. But the price she pays is steep—an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate for all eternity. And now, two centuries later, the key to her healing and her salvation lies with Dr. Luke Findley.
Part historical novel, part supernatural page-turner, The Taker is a “mesmerizing” (Booklist, starred review) story about the power of unrequited love not only to elevate and sustain, but also to blind and ultimately destroy.
In the crucible of the Vietnam War Era, two siblings embark on separate journeys of defiance and growth.
Margie and James are on the cusp of adulthood when James makes a life-altering choice – he drops out of school and leaves home just before graduation. Margie is consumed by concern, both for his uncertain future without a diploma and the ever-present military draft.
James's unwavering conviction takes him down a path of resistance. He adamantly refuses to participate in a war he deems unjust, declaring, "I will not put myself in the position of having to kill another human being just because my country is at war with his country." His steadfastness leads him to jail, while Margie continues her education.
Their story unfolds through a collection of heartfelt letters exchanged between siblings. Margie's letters not only bridge the physical distance between them but also document her quest to be a peacemaker in a world marred by conflict.
The Sense of It invites you to join James and Margie as they grapple with the challenges of the Vietnam War era. Witness their growth in maturity and their deepening mutual respect in a poignant coming-of-age narrative set against the backdrop of an unforgettable period in American history. Explore their enduring bond, unwavering principles, and their pursuit of peace in a time of war.
La Rochelle France, 1661. Fierce Protestant Isabelle is desperate to escape persecution by the Catholic King. Isabelle is tortured and harassed, her people forced to convert to the religion that rules the land. She risks her life by helping her fellow Protestants, which is forbidden by the powers of France. She accepts her fate — until she meets a handsome Catholic soldier who makes her question everything.
She fights off an attack by a nobleman, and the only way to save herself is to flee to the colony of Canada as a Daughter of the King. She can have money, protection and a new life — if she adopts the religion she’s spent a lifetime fighting. She must leave her homeland and the promises of her past. In the wild land of Canada, Isabelle finds that her search for love and faith has just begun.
Based on the incredible true story of the French orphans who settled Canada, Daughter of the King is a sweeping tale of one young woman’s fight for true freedom. Kerry Chaput brings the past to life, expertly weaving a gripping saga with vivid historical details. Jump back in time on a thrilling adventure with an unforgettable heroine.
"Flawlessly researched with characters that come alive on the page, debut author Janis Robinson Daly writes with a fresh voice that brings her readers instantly into a story that, in many ways, is shockingly similar to today's world." –Barbara Conrey, USA Today bestselling author of Nowhere Near Goodbye
"An often riveting fictional testament of a doctor's life at the turn of the 20th century." –Kirkus Reviews
The Unlocked Path presents and embraces a "New Woman" of the early 20th century: educated, career-minded, independent. In 1897 Philadelphia, after witnessing her aunt's suicide, Eliza Edwards vows to find ways to help and heal. Rejecting her mother's wishes for her society debut, Eliza enters medical college at a time when only five percent of doctors are female. With the support of a circle of women and driven by a determination to conquer curriculum demands, battle sexism, and overcome doubts, Eliza charts a new life course. Combining science and sympathy, can she triumph to heal others and herself?
By the #1 New York Times bestselling author and unparalleled master of historical fiction, James Clavell’s Shogun is soon to be a major FX/Hulu TV series!
Shogun, the classic epic novel of feudal Japan that captured the heart of a culture and the imagination of the world, is now available for the first time in serial format. Part Two contains the second half of the complete novel.
After Englishman John Blackthorne is lost at sea, he awakens in a place few Europeans know of and even fewer have seen—Nippon. Thrust into the closed society that is seventeenth-century Japan, a land where the line between life and death is razor-thin, Blackthorne must negotiate not only a foreign people, with unknown customs and language, but also his own definitions of morality, truth, and freedom. As internal political strife and a clash of cultures lead to seemingly inevitable conflict, Blackthorne’s loyalty and strength of character are tested by both passion and loss, and he is torn between two worlds that will each be forever changed.
Powerful and engrossing, capturing both the rich pageantry and stark realities of life in feudal Japan, Shogun is a critically acclaimed powerhouse of a book. Heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat action melds seamlessly with intricate historical detail and raw human emotion. Endlessly compelling, this sweeping saga captivated the world to become not only one of the best-selling novels of all time but one of the highest-rated television miniseries, as well as inspiring a nationwide surge of interest in the culture of Japan. Shakespearean in both scope and depth, Shogun is, as the New York Times put it, ‘'not only something you read—you live it.’‘
A chance at love blooms when two worlds collide.
860 AD --- A captive sixteen-year-old Ængle-Briton woman on a Viking ship somewhere in the North Sea. She is one of the only survivors of a brutal raid upon her English village and is haunted by the faces of her loved ones. The reason for their deaths is Eirīkr, the commander of the ship.
A Viking warrior of twenty-five years, Eirīkr is strong, reliable, and a fierce fighter. He also possesses a thoughtful and caring nature the young captive could never have imagined.
Determined to survive her new life amongst the enemy, she hopes to return home. She doesn’t expect to develop feelings for Eirīkr, who respects and admires her strong will. Can she ever be with a man who has caused so much pain and death?
Unlike many Viking Age novels that center on warriors and battle thirst, Weapons of Wyn is the story of a woman’s journey during this perilous time. If you enjoy historical fiction and slow-burn romances, you’ll love Weapons of Wyn.
1930’s Chicago, spirits are still talking through Gregory Davenport — only this time their warnings are ominous.
At the Hair of the Dog Club, Letty Carlyle thought she had left her past behind, but when her dangerous ex-boyfriend Mikey O’Shea arrives in the city, she knows trouble isn’t far behind.
It all starts when maid Rose Flanagan discovers Samuel Insull, monopoly owner of the powerful utility company Commonwealth Edison, has been unable to avoid bankruptcy. Worried that the news will cause a run on the banks, setting the city—the state—on fire, a notorious bank owner enlists Mikey O’Shea and elusive One-Arm Nettles to silence Rose and her sister Grace, using whatever means necessary.
But when Mikey gets to Chicago, he has set his sights on revenge instead of protecting Mauro’s bank. Desperate to pay back Letty, who shot and left him for dead years ago, Mikey is on a rampage.
Meanwhile, One-Arm Nettles finds himself torn between his criminal past and the possibility of redemption. Will Nettles change his ways to protect Letty and Grace, or will he succumb to his dark side, allowing Mikey to exploit them in his chaotic killing spree through Chicago?
Seamlessly blending the gripping intensity of political intrigue and gangster drama with a touch of traditional romance, this thrilling sequel to Hair of the Dog sweeps readers into a world of suspense and danger. With its captivating mix of mystery, séances, and atmospheric charm, Return to Hair of the Dog is a compelling read that will transport fans of Sarah Penner and CJ Archer on a heart-pounding journey through the shadowy streets of 1930’s Chicago.
Step into the dark and treacherous world of Salem, where a witch hunt has ignited a sinister series of events.
As hysteria grips the town of Salem, Charity becomes the target of a relentless assailant. Her step-mother, accused of witchcraft, meets a grim fate at the gallows, yet the attacks persist. Seeking refuge, Charity's father, Osborne, sends her to the supposedly haunted Dansford's Farms near Boston—a distant and seemingly secure haven.
Little does he know that the horrors awaiting Charity are far from over.
Dansford's Farms holds secrets of its own. The former tenant, Philip, was executed for a crime he did not commit, leaving the property tainted with rumors of murder and robbery.
When Charity is discovered dead in the library, the mystery deepens. Philip, watching over Charity from the shadows, must navigate the spirit world to unravel the plots that led to both of their untimely deaths.
Will Philip and Charity's spectral alliance be enough to save Osborne's farm and put an end to the dark forces at play?
Fans of historical mysteries and tales of suspense set against the backdrop of real-life horrors will enjoy this spellbinding narrative.
Though Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower is Supreme Commander of Operation Overlord, the invasion of France, he doesn’t have absolute power over the Allied forces. He fights with the Bomber Barons and Prime Minister Winston Churchill for control of the Allied heavy bombers to support the invasion. As D-Day approaches, Mother Nature interferes, and Eisenhower must decide whether to go forward, risking catastrophic defeat in stormy seas. After breaching Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, Eisenhower’s dueling prima donna generals Montgomery and Patton cause him unending headaches. Charles de Gaulle adds to Eisenhower’s stress by repeatedly threatening to have the French army disobey his orders. Eisenhower finds comfort and camaraderie with his beautiful English driver and secretary, Kay Summersby.
Picking up where Ike’s Journey left off, Victory in Europe recounts Eisenhower’s critical involvement in winning the war in Europe. From D-Day through the battle for France, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and the crossing of the Rhine, Eisenhower overcomes every obstacle, leading the Allies to crushing victories over the Nazi armies and ending Hitler’s evil Third Reich.
STARLIGHT IN THE DAWN: The Poetic Priestess Who Chose to Fight
Step into the banks of the ancient Euphrates around 2300 BCE.
A high priestess' epic struggle for power in the men's world of ancient Sumer. At the dawn of civilization, the beautiful daughter of Sargon the Great and the High priestess of the Sumerian city of Ur confronts the intrigue of politics. She leaves the ivory tower of the priesthood and rises to unforeseen challenges. Intimidated when alone, she faces down and disgraces the king not fearing the stakes. The event has its consequence. This is a gripping story of Enheduanna, the first literary person of ancient history. She was of a stellar reputation for centuries. Her story is based on her words.
Editorial Reviews
"Loved it. This is an engaging novel with good characters set in a unique time period. Recommended for anyone who loves ancient history. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a tale of a strong woman in a historical setting new to them." Linda Ulleseit, Reedsy discovery
"A powerful story of social change, with several key characters coming together to change their destinies, relationships, and future...the clash between religious and political forces and the evolution of characters in a story replete with action, psychological transformation, and challenges to belief systems alike... engrossing and filled with different kinds of insights, with romance added to the backdrop.... based on the first literary author on record. Readers will find the story hard to put down." Diane Donovan, Donovan'sLiterary Services/Midwest Review
A thriller and dramatic epic from one of the cradles of civilization, an ambitious and symbolic novel...impressively well researched and realized, and this richly imagined past feels immediate and authentic. Starlight in the Dawn, a stellar work of historical fiction" Self-Publishing Review
"A solid introduction to the ancient world under Sargon, STARLIGHT IN THE DAWN will leave most casual novel-readers and historical-fiction aficionados wanting more." Indie Reader Review
" 'Fate and faith are like friends who fail.'
Sridhar's narrative is driven by compelling world-building and character development. The author demonstrates his strong knowledge of history spanning multiple cultures. It is an educating and entertaining read. RECOMMENDED.
Sridhar's Candlelight in a Storm was the 2018 Eric Howard Book Award da Vinci Eye finalist" US Review of Books.
"The astounding amount of research the author did is simply amazing - to be able to recreate a history of a time period that little is known about and to build a world that is believable, entertaining with fully fleshed-out characters, and educational to boot is worth a round of applause...this is an engrossing insightful tale, full of texture on a heightened scale, a spiritual plane, as the reader hovers over the words and finds a connection across time and space. This is a book for true historical aficionados and is not a read-in-one-sitting type of book, as it is necessary to let some of the discussions between characters and the activities soak in for a bit so you can understand the depth of what is going on on the surface and behind the scenes." Historical Fiction Company.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Much more than a Coming-of-Age story"
Award-winning author Donald Lystra brings us a wholly unique American heroine, Audrey Brubaker, a fierce young woman who combines the tenacity of Scarlett O'Hara with the charm of Holly Golightly.
It's fall of 1963 in a city in America's industrial heartland. Audrey Brubaker, rejected by her family and community but determined to build a life for herself, becomes the unlikely mentor to Nate Walker, a math and science prodigy who has turned to art in an effort to cope with the death of a revered older brother.
In a relationship that borders on love but never quite seems to get there, Audrey gives meaning to Nate's artistic aspirations, introduces him to life's hard edges, and helps him find courage. Together they set off on an ill-fated mission: to recover Nate's brother's body from a military cemetery in northern Michigan.
Along the way, secrets are uncovered and boundaries are crossed which will change Nate's life forever. But in a heart-wrenching ending, it is Audrey who will need to tap the well-spring of Nate's empathy for her own redemptive needs.
From the streets of a decaying rust-belt city to the pristine forests of northern Michigan, Lystra weaves a narrative that tugs at your heartstrings and compels you to reflect on life and its complexities. If you loved timeless classics like Ordinary People and To Kill a Mockingbird, this book is a must-read for you!
Readers are LOVING this wonderful book:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"The story and the characters are marvelous. One has to love Audrey with all her eccentricities and flaws. How did (the author) manage to do that?"
- Dennis Turner, author of the bestselling "What Did You Do During the War, Sister?"
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Don't miss this one..... There is a deliberate carefulness, a delicacy even, that characterizes Lystra's writing..... I'm not sure how he does it, but it works...... And in the process, he is doing the writer's job - telling the truth, one true sentence at a time. This is fine writing of the highest caliber. My very highest recommendation." – TIM BAZZETT, author of BOOKLOVER and four other titles
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This is such a beautiful coming-of-age novel about two young people who connect over traumatic events they slowly reveal to one another......Lystra takes a magnifying glass to the moments of possibility...... As the novel progresses, Lystra whittles the truth out of the events the characters experience in a way that feels exactly right as you arrive at the very last page. A wonderful novel." – Amazon Reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Calling this book a coming-of-age story doesn't do it justice… set in1963 America, in the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the Kennedy assassination…. Mr. Lystra has given the reader much to think about which may be equally pertinent in the very troubled America we live in today.” –Goodreads reviewer
Don't wait! Get your copy now and embark on a moving journey that will stay with you long after the last page is turned.
Named a Most Anticipated Book by Barnes and Noble ∙ BuzzFeed ∙ GoodReads ∙ Book Riot ∙ CrimeReads ∙ Ms. Magazine ∙ SheReads ∙ Amazon Editor's Pick ∙ Tor.com ∙ and more!
A young Native girl's hunt for answers about the women mysteriously disappearing from her tribe's reservation leads her to delve into the myths and stories of her people, all while being haunted herself, in this atmospheric and stunningly poignant debut.
Anna Horn is always looking over her shoulder. For the bullies who torment her, for the entitled visitors at the reservation’s casino…and for the nameless, disembodied entity that stalks her every step—an ancient tribal myth come-to-life, one that’s intent on devouring her whole.
With strange and sinister happenings occurring around the casino, Anna starts to suspect that not all the horrors on the reservation are old. As girls begin to go missing and the tribe scrambles to find answers, Anna struggles with her place on the rez, desperately searching for the key she’s sure lies in the legends of her tribe’s past.
When Anna’s own little sister also disappears, she’ll do anything to bring Grace home. But the demons plaguing the reservation—both ancient and new—are strong, and sometimes, it’s the stories that never get told that are the most important.
Part gripping thriller and part mythological horror, author Nick Medina spins an incisive and timely novel of life as an outcast, the cost of forgetting tradition, and the courage it takes to become who you were always meant to be.
In the shadow of pre-WWII Germany, 17-year-old Ilse finds herself alone, pregnant, and penniless—betrayed by her family and thrust into the arms of Lebensborn, the Nazis' secretive program designed to propagate Aryan purity.
Yet, Ilse harbors a perilous secret within the walls of Lebensborn: her unborn child's father is Jewish. Surrounded by the very architects of the regime's sinister vision, she must rely on her cunning, her knowledge of herbs, and her indomitable spirit to hide the truth and keep her child safe.
As the Reich's scrutiny intensifies, Ilse's place within Lebensborn becomes a gilded cage, with each day edging her closer to exposure. Forced to navigate a labyrinth of lies and make unthinkable choices, her journey turns into more than a fight for survival—it becomes a quest for identity, redemption, and defiance that could alter the course of her life forever.
Early Readers are LOVING To Look Upon The Sun:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “…The novel still lives in my head, long after having finished it. This story of the WWII Lebensborn program in Nazi Germany is told with great care and quiet understatement, creating a narrative tone that is spot on…” –Goodreads review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “…This book is a testament to the power of resilience, the survival of many under horrific odds, and the determination of some to avoid the Reich's coerced indoctrination. I couldn’t put it down…” –Netgalley Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “…The author, Shannon St. Hilaire obviously did her research and crafted a gripping WWII story that is both accurate and nearly impossible to put down…” –Goodreads review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “…An absolutely powerful, thrilling, and haunting story of one woman’s fight… this story rings across time…” –NetGalley review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “…Out of her expert historical research, St Hilaire has created an extremely personal account of the true horrors of Nazism. To Look Upon the Sun is an outstanding piece of historical fiction.” –Goodreads review
Whispers Across a Sea is a sweeping novel that follows three generations of the Anglo-Irish Young family in Victorian Ireland, where Irish desire for independence from Britain is building. How will the family evolve in the ever-changing social and political landscape of the country they call home?
In 1920, Ireland stands on the brink of civil war. Lucie returns to her familial home to settle the estate, where she uncovers an abundance of handwritten letters—a lifetime’s worth of cherished memories and guarded secrets between her mother and aunts—as well as her grandfather’s diary. As she reads through her findings, Lucie begins to wonder just how well she knew her relatives and the circumstances of their lives. Norah, a close childhood friend and the daughter of a former family servant, helps her work through the notes, and their conversations remind Lucie that she and Norah live in very different worlds. Norah is Irish; Lucie is Anglo-Irish. As the two women look into the past, it becomes evident that Norah has always known more about Lucie’s life than Lucie has ever understood of Norah’s. And Lucie realizes that she has been unaware of the disquiet in Ireland’s streets—but then again, the elder members of her family, so completely involved in their own lives, didn’t appear to notice either. . . .
Whispers Across a Sea is a compelling novel that traces three generations of Lucie’s Anglo-Irish family as they navigate the nuances of life in their adopted country of Ireland. Within the home, the family’s Irish servants make sure the lives of the Youngs remain comfortable while silently observing their employers’ detachment from the realities of life in Ireland—a country where a lengthy, violent, and divisive struggle is beginning. How long will the Youngs be able to close their eyes to the shifting world outside their door?