Has to be the best historical fiction I've ever read!
343126
You'll want to start with this book and then move to The Rebels of Ireland to get a comprehensive picture of Irish history that is so interesting it is hard to put down. Rutherfurd's characters really pulled me in.  Keeping in mind that this is historical fiction, the book nevertheless does a great job of teaching Irish history, culture, and religions. It portrays the plight of  the Irish, from 430 A.D. to the 1530's. You'll want to start with this book and then move on to The Rebels of Ireland to get a comprehensive picture of Irish history that is so interesting it is hard to put down. It's a must-read for all Irish Americans who may not fully understand Ireland's centuries old struggle for independence.
4542930
I'll start by saying, I'm a fan of historical fiction. I particularly love it when there's a sense of the epic, plenty of battle and bloodshed, beautiful women and a love story... 'A Storm Hits Valparaiso' has all of these. It's well written and fascinating, with a large and varied cast of characters, from daring naval captains to runaway slaves. I thoroughly enjoyed the way this turbulent period of history was re-created and brought to life. The many sorrows and triumphs of the various characters' struggles kept me turning the (electronic) pages late into the night, always wanting to know what was going to happen next to each of them. I urge you to give this a try - and if Historical Fiction isn't your genre, this book could well be the ideal introduction to it. Enjoy!
Tony
719361
Now, I cant say Ive been reading Historical Fiction for long..but I can say The Sound of Diamonds is my favourite Historical novel so far. I can also say that you also need a copy of this book right now.

This book was absolutely amazing. I was instantly hooked and dragged right into the beautiful and amazing story.
What I loved most of all was how well Rachelle wrote Gwyneths struggle and the fight that went on in her mind as the journey went on. We were really shown how Gwyneths feelings towards the situation she finds herself in and towards other characters in the story and it all came out to be realistic and I really felt Gwyneths pain and her struggles. It was perfectly done. The setting was amazing and I loved how within opening the book I was pulled right into the action of the story without fail. It is very rare I get into a story that quickly. Usually it takes me the first chapter to be completely hookedbut not with The Sound of Diamonds. With this book I was hooked within the first page.
1316700
Wonderful historical fiction/romance! I absolutely LOVE this series- my favorite books of all time!!! So much Russian history embedded into a wonderful story- I am ashamed to admit that I didn't know very much about Stalin/Russian history during this period and it was fascinating! Also, an intense palpable love story. Paullina Simons created an amazing trilogy that I am now reading for the 3rd time (in a row) because I can't get enough of it!!
1010791
Ella March Chase combines the best of literary worlds, Historical Fiction, Strong Women, and a hint of Romance.  You cannot go wrong with this book!  I couldn't put it down, it's riveting and addictive!

Ella's research has unearthed a mystery that may have been told before, however, she adds a new twist, making this book a must read!

Ms. Chase's descriptions of the royal court and the countryside make the Tudor era come to life.  One can feel dreariness of the Tower when described, the intrigues and elegance of the court, the paralyzing fear of discovery.  Her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth reminds the reader of the nagging frustrations the Queen faced due to being an intelligent, strong woman of this era.  The Queen is not unlikable; in fact she serves as a model for those facing a reality which one does not wish to live. She governed and led a country at a time when intelligence, being strong willed and power hungry was a resounding negative unless you were tied to a man.  Both she and Nell share the thirst for knowledge and the truth as well as rebelling against the roles of the sexes in the time period.  Thus, proving themselves to be more than capable, intelligent, resourceful, judicious heroines in their own right.  They never cease to inspire!
3601449
This is one of the best historical fictions/time travel I've ever read and reread. There's a little bit of everything to keep you hooked. Battle, town management, history, and a little splash of love in there. The characters are great as well; you'll definitely personally relate to a character. If you aren't into historical battle tactics, some parts might drag a bit, but don't give up on it!! Moving on to 1633 now :)
3303529
I loved this book. Sandrick reminds me in many ways of Karen  Kingsolver. Her story is resolutely fact-based and rich in context. Her language is sparse yet engaging; totally satisfying. This book couples historical accuracy  with a compelling narrative. Sandrick offers deep character development and abundant detail about geography and culture. The characters are so real; some who proved in the end to be unselfish and heroic were not at all likeable for most of the book! This is historical fiction at its best, the  kind of story that can make us think twice about how we see world events. It should be on every book club list, and  required reading in every high school and college literature class.
4000510
I thoroughly enjoy historical fiction....and Jodi Picoult. This book has both Picoult's way of pulling you into the story as well as that historical fiction that is so accurate the reader can almost feel what the characters are feeling. When Minka describes her horrible experiences in the concentration camp the reader can nearly feel her fear, hunger, pain, and gut wrenching loss. Sage's struggle to come to terms with what happened to her grandmother are like a journey in themselves. Her character develops quite nicely as the story progresses. Then there's the twist that the reader never sees coming as the story comes to an end.  I have read all of Picoult's books and I have to say that this ranks up there in my top 2...it may even be number one!
2962044
In my opinion this is a blockbuster among historical fiction! Everyone needs to read this account of World War II. It was a real eye opener for me. Kristin Hannah has definitely done hours and hours of research in order to create this extraordinary work of fiction. I love all of Hannah's books, but this has to be one of my favorites. I have been recommending it to everyone! I could easily see this made into a movie. Hoping for another Kristin Hannah book soon!
1839460
Absolutely amazing!! The intertwining of history and fiction was outstanding! It is now one of my favorite books,  and I cannot wait for the second book in the series!
2229739
I preordered this book based on reading Nancy Blanton's other book, Sharavogue, which I loved.  I'm halfway through and cannot stop!  It is a wonderful and compelling historical novel, impeccably researched and written.  In The Prince of Glencurragh, the characters are  compelling and nuanced;  Ms. Blanton had me in the first ten minutes!  And the writing is beautiful, and literate.  This passage describes not only the novel itself, but good historical fiction.  And it is so beautifully crafted:
"How strange it is when something so ordinary comes to stir the memory, the way roasting meat can remind you of your family home or the curve of a flower petal conjures the memory of a kind act. A spoken word, the rustle of a passing skirt, a cold wind, the sweet taste of honey from a little clay jar, bringing up a word or an image suppressed either because it was so long ago, or so painful, or just unimportant at the time and never expected to be."
I am loving this book and the only reason I'm writing the review now, at about halfway through, is so that I can slow down my reading and savor it even more.  Bravo Ms. Blantonship!
3032360
Even with zero free time (young baby!) I couldn't put this book down!  This is fantastic historical fiction and I loved the strong, female heroine. The bloodletter's daughter is a very real character yearning for more freedom as a woman.  The author balances strange sexual tension and desire with the prince's madness and obsession with the heroine.  Excellent book that I literally read in a few days with a newborn baby and no free time, lol. I can't wait to read her next novel and am now a huge fan of amazon's publishing.  Excellent novel!
285155
I truly cannot put this book down. I'm only 35% through (according to my Kindle,) and I am totally into it. Not only does Allie feel like she's right there with our first settlers of The Lost Colony, but I do too. Mike Rhynard does a brilliant job of introducing another aspect to historical fiction: Dreams -- turning a historical linear novel into one with depth and dimension. So far this book over-accomplished the goal of historical fiction: it educated me, and in addition, left me wanting to learn more about this period in our country's early history. Bravo Mr. Rhynard! Cannot wait for your next book. But now, I can't wait to get into the next chapter of this one!
3950251
I was thrilled to get an advanced copy of this book to read during a long journey to Nepal and India. From the start, the story completely sucked me in. I love historical fiction but what makes this book even better is that it's actually based on the author's family history. Scott brings Sarah's character to life beautifully and you can feel her struggles (and share her victories) as a young widow and mother trying to make a new life for her children.

I look forward to reading the rest of the book during my trip. I was given a free copy for my honest opinion, and I am truly enjoying this book. It's an impressive first novel for Scott!
2767540
I read this book in two days!  I just couldn't put it down, it was the best kind of historical fiction because it was so believable.
2158404
This book took me a little while to read (I am in the midst of widening my horizons to enjoy Christian Historical Fiction more), but I really liked it! I could not put it down, that's for sure. The detail is lush, and the storyline is riveting. You care for the characters and feel their pain when they've messed up. They are human and flawed, as we all are. It is a great story on God's love and forgiveness for us. There are so many surprises and twists you don't see coming!
I would most definitely highly recommend this book for anyone and everyone who enjoys a good story! Especially Christian Historical Fiction.
2226780
Witty dialogue, intrigue, and stellar characters combine to make "A Name Unknown" a truly outstanding historical fiction novel! Rosemary and her ragtag family of former misfits trying to creatively eke out an existence in London just before World War I all make for a winning cast of characters, and Rosemary herself stole my heart from the first chapter. Despite her thieving ways, you just can't help but like her, and see the heart of gold that lies behind her actions. And the ever awkward Peter, with his mysterious family history and his empathy-inducing stutter, makes for quite the likeable and admirable guy. The manner in which he leads others towards a faith in God is beautiful to behold, and is something we should all strive towards! I love the natural way that the author weaves Rosemary's own faith journey into the story, providing moments that feel real and natural and are just tender to behold. Not only will readers be entertained by the mysterious elements of the story and the fun and interesting romance that sparks between Rosemary and Peter, but they will also be treated to some wonderful moments of faith as well.

I think my favourite part of this story was coming to the oh-so-satisfying conclusion and realizing that this is only the first book in what promises to be a solid series. I'm not sure how I'd missed the fact that this is book one in the Shadows over England series, but when I began the novel I had no idea I'd get to return for more in future books. Let's just hope the wait isn't too long, because I'm looking forward to what is in store for these intriguing characters.

Fans of historical fiction books should definitely add this book to their "must read" list this summer. They will certainly be glad they did! I award this story a very solid rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.