Mini Book Reviews: Historical Fiction

You all know I love a good historical tale and today I'm sharing my thoughts on two novels that were recently published that will surely immerse readers in a different time period in American history.

The Jackal's Mistress by Chris Bohjalian

Pages: 336

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: March 11, 2025

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "Virginia, 1864—Libby Steadman’s husband has been away for so long that she can barely conjure his voice in her dreams. While she longs for him in the night, fearing him dead in a Union prison camp, her days are spent running a gristmill with her teenage niece, a hired hand, and his wife, all the grain they can produce requisitioned by the Confederate Army. It’s an uneasy life in the Shenandoah Valley, the territory frequently changing hands, control swinging back and forth like a pendulum between North and South, and Libby awakens every morning expecting to see her land a battlefield. 
    And then she finds a gravely injured Union officer left for dead in a neighbor’s house, the bones of his hand and leg shattered. Captain Jonathan Weybridge of the Vermont Brigade is her enemy – but he’s also a human being, and Libby must make a terrible Does she leave him to die alone? Or does she risk treason and try to nurse him back to health? And if she succeeds, does she try to secretly bring him across Union lines, where she might negotiate a trade for news of her own husband? 
    A vivid and sweeping story of two people navigating the boundaries of love and humanity in a landscape of brutal violence, The Jackal’s Mistress is a heart-stopping new novel, based on a largely unknown piece of American history, from one of our greatest storytellers.

Libby Steadman lives in the Shenandoah Valley and helps to operate her husband's mill. Her husband, Peter, is a Confederate soldier. He is being held captive by the Union army in a prison and his fate is uncertain. Libby lives and operates the mill with Joseph, who was formally enslaved by her husband's family. Joseph has helped her in so many close calls as the fighting is coming closer to their land. Joseph's wife encounters an injured Union soldier and Libby decides to help him despite the dangers. He has been left for dead, with his leg partially amputated and he is in dire straits. The parallel storyline is from this soldier's point of view, Captain Jonathan Weybridge. He is a Union soldier and professor from Vermont. While fighting nearby, he got hit by a canon and he has been left behind. Both Libby and Jonathan long for their spouses and have much more in common despite being on conflicting sides of the war. As time progresses, a fast friendship ensues, but rumors are going around that a Union officer is on the loose and this puts Libby in a dangerous situation if she is caught harboring Jonathan. To make matters worse, Jonathan needs medicine in order to survive and the only place that has what they need is at Harpers Ferry, twenty miles away. Chris Bohjalian's The Jackal's Mistress is an adventurous romp that will transport readers to the Civil War and highlight a challenging time in our nation's history.

Bohjalian writes a compelling Civil War tale that is actually based on real-life people; however, it is to be noted that he took some historical liberties in The Jackal's Mistress. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this story that felt more adventurous than romantic despite the title. Bohjalian builds suspense throughout the novel and it kept me flipping the pages. In addition to this, Civil War fans will especially relish all the historical details and the author paints a vivid picture of the time.

 

 

The Girl from Greenwich Street by Lauren Willig

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: March 4, 2025

Publisher: Harper Collins
Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Band of Sisters, The English Wife,

The Ashford Affair, The Other Daughter, and

The Passion of the Purple Plumeria

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "At the start of a new century, a shocking murder transfixes Manhattan, forcing bitter rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr to work together to save a man from the gallows. 

Just before Christmas 1799, Elma Sands slips out of her Quaker cousin’s boarding house—and doesn’t come home. Has she eloped? Run away? No one knows—until her body appears in the Manhattan Well.

Her family insists they know who killed her. Handbills circulate around the city accusing a carpenter named Levi Weeks of seducing and murdering Elma. But privately, quietly, Levi’s wealthy brother calls in a special favor….

Aaron Burr’s legal practice can’t finance both his expensive tastes and his ambition to win the 1800 New York elections. To defend Levi Weeks is a double a hefty fee plus a chance to grab headlines.

Alexander Hamilton has his own political aspirations; he isn’t going to let Burr monopolize the public’s attention. If Burr is defending Levi Weeks, then Hamilton will too. As the trial and the election draw near, Burr and Hamilton race against time to save a man’s life—and destroy each other.

Part murder mystery, part thriller, part true crime, The Girl From Greenwich Street revisits a dark corner of history—with a surprising twist ending that reveals the true story of the woman at the center of the tale."

Elma Sands is living at her cousin's boardinghouse in New York City. One night in December, she leaves and doesn't return. Her cousins know she had a relationship with a fellow boarder, Levi Weeks, and they thought they had plans to be married. However, Levi doesn't know where Elma is and once her body shows up in the Manhattan well weeks later, all fingers point to Levi. Levi's brother, Ezra, is wealthy and hires an excellent attorney to defend his brother. Enter stage left: Aaron Burr. Due to politics and the sensation around this case (perhaps some jealousy, too?) Alexander Hamilton insists he helps with the defense of Levi as well. This trial became a sensation in New York City with a lot of attention as this was the first US murder trial. Fans of true crime, historical mysteries, and Alexander Hamilton will savor The Girl from Greenwich Street by Lauren Willig.

What makes The Girl from Greenwich Street so compelling is the fact that this book is based on the first US murder trial that has a transcript of the court case. Willig's story is based heavily on this and truly brings these real people to life. I really enjoy true crime stories and the fact that this one included such famous names as Burr and Hamilton only added to my enjoyment. Willig, a lawyer herself, was able to capture the courtroom expertly. Lastly, I was really captivated by the whole case and thoroughly enjoyed Willig's author's note at the end of the novel. The note demonstrates how much research she put into this and fills in any gaps. So, if you are a fan of historical mysteries, look no further!

 

 

Have you read The Jackal's Mistress or The Girl from Greenwich Street? Are either book on your spring TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Book Review: Quicksilver by Callie Hart

Pages: 624

Genre: Adult Fantasy/Romance

 Pub. Date: December 3, 2024

Publisher: Grand Central

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Do not touch the sword. Do not turn the key. Do not open the gate. In the land of the unforgiving desert, there isn't much a girl wouldn't do for a glass of water.

Twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange powers she possesses, or the fact that she has been picking pockets and stealing from the Undying Queen's reservoirs for as long as she can remember.

But a secret is like a knot. Sooner or later, it is bound to come undone.

When Saeris comes face-to-face with Death himself, she inadvertently re-opens a gateway between realms and is transported to a land of ice and snow. The Fae have always been the stuff of myth, of legend, of nightmares... but it turns out they're real, and Saeris has landed herself in the middle of a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed.

The first of her kind to tread the frozen mountains of Yvelia in over a thousand years, Saeris mistakenly binds herself to Kingfisher, a handsome Fae warrior, who has secrets and nefarious agendas of his own. He will use her Alchemist's magic to protect his people, no matter what it costs him . . . or her.

Death has a name. It is Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate. His past is murky. His attitude stinks. And he's the only way Saeris is going to make it home."

Saeris Fane is living in the desert wasteland of Zilvaren. It's all she and her brother have known and since her mother's death, they do what they have to do to survive. She has become an excellent pickpocket, but unfortunately, she gets caught by the Queen's guards and while trying to escape, she inadvertently opens a portal. Saeris has always had mysterious powers, powers that she has hidden, but at this time, her powers have enabled her to open this portal. She comes face to face with this person she thinks is "Death" and she enters the land of Fae. It's the polar opposite of Zilvaren; it's cold, snowy, and magic-filled. Once she gets acclimated, she realizes that Death is actually a Fae warrior named Kingfisher. Kingfisher is a troubled Fae who will do anything to help his people and when he notices that Saeris holds powers that will help him with alchemist magic, he knows that he has to use her to achieve his goals. In exchange for her help, he will let her go back home once she completes her task. Meanwhile, Saeris and Kingfisher, while they initially hate one another, slowly build a relationship all while Saeris is discovering her powers and this new world she has entered. Callie Hart's "romantasy" sensation, Quicksilver, did not disappoint despite my initial hesitation. There's a lot of heavy romance, but there's also an action-packed story filled with a lot of magical creatures, a great fantasy world, and an enemies-to-lovers trope that sucked me in. 

At first, Quicksilver was presenting a lot of the usual tropes that long-time fantasy readers will easily recognize. There's a protagonist who is tough, interesting and has hidden magic. Then enters a dark and brooding warrior who at first is an enemy, but slowly they develop feelings. However, Hart really made it work and feel fresh. While some of the dialogue and nicknames were a bit much at times, overall, I enjoyed all the witty banter and the development of Kingfisher and Saeris's relationship.

The world-building in Quicksilver was fantastic and I really felt like Hart made the fantasy world come to life. It wasn't one of those complex worlds where you really don't understand things; it made sense to me and I enjoyed all the other magical creatures such as witches, alchemists, vampires, and more.

I must say that since Quicksilver was a BookTok sensation, I was a little hesitant to pick it up. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I think fans of "romantasy" novels will enjoy this one and I am excited to see how it will translate to the TV screen on Netflix. I will definitely be picking up book two in the series, which comes out this fall. Have you read Quicksilver? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

 

Book Review: Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

Pages: 320

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: March 4, 2025

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "Beth and her gentle, kind husband Frank are happily married, but their relationship relies on the past staying buried. But when Beth’s brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, Beth doesn’t realize that the gunshot will alter the course of their lives. For the dog belonged to none other than Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager—the man who broke her heart years ago. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son, who died in a tragic accident.

As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel’s life, tensions around the village rise and dangerous secrets and jealousies from the past resurface, this time with deadly consequences. Beth is forced to make a choice between the woman she once was, and the woman she has become.

A sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller, Broken Country is a novel of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far-reaching legacy of first love."

 

 

Beth Johnson lives in a small farming community in England in the 1960s. She had high hopes for herself at one time, but now she exists happily on her family's farm. Her husband, Frank, is a good man who loves her deeply and they have known each other since they were kids. They share a son, Bobby, who is the apple of their eye. However, as the years go by, they lose Bobby to a tragic accident, and Beth has never really recovered. Fast forward a few years and Gabriel, Beth's teenage love, shows up back in town with his son, Leo, in tow. Leo instantly reminds Beth of Bobby and it is heartbreaking. As time passes, she can't keep away from Gabriel and even finds herself taking a job working for Gabriel. The story is interspersed with a 1969 murder trial, leaving readers wondering whose murder it is, as well as flashbacks to Gabriel and Beth's courtship, as well as her life with Bobby. Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that will tug on readers' heartstrings.
 
While I didn't always agree with Beth's motives, I was deeply invested in her story. The flashbacks to her relationship with Gabriel were so well done. Their chemistry and shared love leaped off the page. Her love for her son did too, which made his tragic fate extra heartbreaking. So, when Gabriel reenters Beth's life, it's not hard to see how despite her best efforts, she would be gravitating towards him and what they used to have. Also, flashbacks fleshed out what went wrong with Beth and Gabriel's relationship initially, how Beth ended up giving up her dream to become a poet at Oxford, and how she ended up with Frank.

My favorite aspects of Broken Country were Hall's descriptions of the farming community. I loved this tight-knit town and Beth's family. I enjoyed the descriptions of the farm, its animals, and its customs. She truly brought that aspect of the story to life. Additionally, I enjoyed the chapters focusing on the murder trial, which also kept me flipping the pages. I just had to know whose murder it was and what went tragically wrong. Slowly, Hall fills readers in and there are some definite twists in Broken Country.

While I don't typically like love triangles in my novels, this one was done well. It was so heartbreaking and moving, so much so, Broken Country will end up being one of my favorite novels of the year.  Have you read Broken Country? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

 

 

Book Review: To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance

Pub. Date: February 18, 2025

Publisher: Penguin

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books by Author: A Wedding in Lake Como,

and The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "When she learns she has a big Italian family she never knew about, a lonely woman travels to Sicily for a life-changing summer in the new romance from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.

Aurora York had it all loving parents, a steady relationship, and a promising career. But after she loses both parents unexpectedly, she can’t seem to stay on track any longer. Lonely and lost after a public meltdown that threatens her professional credibility, she’s shocked when DNA test results show a blood relative in Sicily. When her cousin reaches out online and begs her to come to Italy to meet everyone in person, Aurora makes the leap.

Aurora arrives in Sicily for a month, and there she meets a colorful, dynamic family steeped in tradition. The younger generation is fascinated by her social media fame in America, and even though her grandparents have more traditional viewpoints, Aurora begins to heal from her grief…and enjoys the attention of a kind and handsome Italian man.

But when the summer ends, a new opportunity calls her back to the States and her old habits threaten to reemerge. Will Aurora leave everything in Sicily she loves behind, or take the chance on a whole new future?"

 

 

Aurora York is a successful life coach who is on the brink of a major breakthrough in her career. She has plans to write a book and launch a podcast, and her handsome boyfriend, a fitness guru with a strong following, adds to her excitement. Aurora’s star is on the rise, inspired by the untimely death of her father several years ago, which pushed her to figure out her life and channel her pain into something meaningful. However, living this kind of life is challenging for Aurora; she has many rules and expectations to meet. Everything changes when her mother passes away unexpectedly. This loss hits Aurora particularly hard because her mother had urged her to live joyfully and suggested that perhaps Aurora wasn't truly happy. She realized she needed to stop planning every second of her day and start doing the things she loves. To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst is the fourth book in the Meet Me in Italy series and offers a delightful escape.

As someone whom others count on to change their lives, Aurora finds herself unable to get out of bed after her mother's death. Her boyfriend starts to pull away, and her success begins to dwindle. Aurora takes a DNA test and discovers she has relatives in Sicily. After connecting with them, she realizes she needs a break from her hectic life and decides to spend a month in Italy. During her time in Sicily, she meets family she never knew existed and wonders why her mother kept them hidden from her. The trip is filled with romance, delicious food, fine wine, family dinners, sightseeing, and, of course, more good food.

My favorite aspect of the Meet Me in Italy series is the escapism. It's the perfect book for some armchair traveling to a sunny spot filled with warm breezes, excellent food, limoncello, and other Italian delights. I can always count on Probst's novels to provide a mental vacation for me and that was the case with To Sicily with Love.

While I did find Aurora to be annoying at times (a life coach...ugh), I did enjoy her transformation in To Sicily with Love. Sicily has always been a destination I'd love to visit and this book definitely made me want to plan a trip. So, in the comments below, let me know if you have read this series and your thoughts. Is To Sicily with Love on your TBR list?

 

Blog Tour and Giveaway - The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

I’m excited to highlight this adorable series again on the blog. This travel-loving pup takes readers to one of my favorite destinations: London! The Tales of Charlie Wags: London is a wonderful book to share with a little one before visiting London or for anyone, like me, who enjoys armchair travel. I love picture books that reinforce my passion for exploration and travel. Don't you?

Learn More About the Book:

The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Written by Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells

Illustrated by Sanna Sjöström

Ages: 3-7 | 40 Pages

Publisher: Kendam Press LLC (2025) | ISBN: 979-8-9900050-2-0

 

 

Publisher’s Book Summary: Charlie Wags is a seemingly ordinary pup. He goes on daily walks, chases squirrels, and scours the kitchen floor for crumbs when no one’s looking.

But Charlie has an extraordinary secret. He loves to travel the world and has a special trick to do so: his wagging tail can whisk him away to far-off places!

This time, he’s off to London, England!

Embark on a panoramic tour of London led by ever-curious pup, Charlie Wags! From the grandeur of Buckingham Palace to an evening ride on the London Eye, Charlie explores the Big Smoke before returning home for bedtime.

Wherever you may be, the world is just a wag away. ™

 

You can purchase your own copy of The Tales of Charlie Wags: London at Amazon. Also, you can learn more about the authors by visiting their website and connecting with them on Facebook and Instagram. 

 

 

The Giveaway:

I've partnered with Sofie Wells and Ali Barclay to host a giveaway to celebrate the publication of The Tales of Charlie Wags: London. Enter our giveaway for a chance to win a signed hardcover copy of The Tales of Charlie Wags: New York City, a collection of adorable Charlie Wags greeting cards, AND a $50 Amazon gift card to fuel your next reading spree! Good luck!