The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

 

Title: The Magnolia Palace

Author: Fiona Davis

Genre: Historical Fiction

Other Books I've Read by This Author: The Address, The Lions of Fifth Avenue

Synopsis: Eight months since losing her mother in the Spanish flu outbreak of 1919, twenty-one-year-old Lillian Carter's life has completely fallen apart. For the past six years, under the moniker Angelica, Lillian was one of the most sought-after artists' models in New York City, with statues based on her figure gracing landmarks from the Plaza Hotel to the Brooklyn Bridge. But with her mother gone, a grieving Lillian is rudderless and desperate—the work has dried up and a looming scandal has left her entirely without a safe haven. So when she stumbles upon an employment opportunity at the Frick mansion—a building that, ironically, bears her own visage—Lillian jumps at the chance. But the longer she works as a private secretary to the imperious and demanding Helen Frick, the daughter and heiress of industrialist and art patron Henry Clay Frick, the more deeply her life gets intertwined with that of the family—pulling her into a tangled web of romantic trysts, stolen jewels, and family drama that runs so deep, the stakes just may be life or death.

Nearly fifty years later, mod English model Veronica Weber has her own chance to make her career—and with it, earn the money she needs to support her family back home—within the walls of the former Frick residence, now converted into one of New York City's most impressive museums. But when she—along with a charming intern/budding art curator named Joshua—is dismissed from the Vogue shoot taking place at the Frick Collection, she chances upon a series of hidden messages in the museum: messages that will lead her and Joshua on a hunt that could not only solve Veronica's financial woes, but could finally reveal the truth behind a decades-old murder in the infamous Frick family. - Back Cover

My Thoughts

I loved reading this novel. Cross-generational storytelling is so fun and it was interesting to compare the lives of both Lillian and Veronica as models trying to support their families. Davis always brings an air of mystery to her novels which is engaging and reveals aspects of the characters along the way. The ending is a bit unexpected and I really enjoyed it! Mystery and history, what more could I ask for? A trip to The Frick in NYC may be in my future after reading this novel.

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!


To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

Title: When He Was Wicked

Author: Julia Quinn

Genre: Historical Romance

Other books I've read by this author: The Duke and I, The Viscount Who Loved Me, An Offer From a Gentleman, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, To Sir Philip, With Love

Synopsis: In every life there is a turning point. A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one’s life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London’s most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.

After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca’s surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer—the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.

But that was then . . . Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love . . . until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms, and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets . . . - Back Cover

My Thoughts

As always, Quinn's Bridgerton novels are so fun to read. I loved that this novel gave so much of Michael's perspective and it was more about his happily ever after than Francesca's (though she gets there, of course!). While it still had the general formula of a Bridgerton novel and historical romance, When He Was Wicked is about finding love after loss, so it feels different from others in the series. 

I can't wait to see the TV adaptation of this novel as part of the Netflix series!

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!

To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above

 

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

Title: The Silence of the Girls

Author: Pat Barker

Genre: Historical Fiction

Other books I've read by this author: The Women of Troy

Synopsis: Here is the story of the Iliad as we’ve never heard it before: in the words of Briseis, Trojan queen and captive of Achilles. Given only a few words in Homer’s epic and largely erased by history, she is nonetheless a pivotal figure in the Trojan War. In these pages she comes fully to life: wry, watchful, forging connections among her fellow female prisoners even as she is caught between Greece’s two most powerful warriors. Her story pulls back the veil on the thousands of women who lived behind the scenes of the Greek army camp—concubines, nurses, prostitutes, the women who lay out the dead—as gods and mortals spar, and as a legendary war hurtles toward its inevitable conclusion. - Back Cover

My Thoughts

After reading the sequel to this novel first, while it stood alone just fine, it was so nice to have more context and backstory for the characters. This novel felt even heavier than the first and I'm taking a break from this trilogy for some lighter books. I look forward to reading the final book in the series when I'm ready for something a little intense again.

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!

To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above

The Women of Troy by Pat Barker

 Title: The Women of Troy

Author: Pat Barker

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: "Troy has fallen and the victorious Greeks are eager to return home with the spoils of an endless war—including the women of Troy themselves. They await a fair wind for the Aegean.

It does not come, because the gods are offended. The body of King Priam lies unburied and desecrated, and so the victors remain in suspension, camped in the shadows of the city they destroyed as the coalition that held them together begins to unravel. Old feuds resurface and new suspicions and rivalries begin to fester.

Largely unnoticed by her captors, the one time Trojan queen Briseis, formerly Achilles's slave, now belonging to his companion Alcimus, quietly takes in these developments. She forges alliances when she can, with Priam's aged wife the defiant Hecuba and with the disgraced soothsayer Calchas, all the while shrewdly seeking her path to revenge." - Back Cover

My Thoughts

It turns out that this is the second book in a trilogy, and I didn't realize until I had finished it! So if you want to know if it can stand alone, it certainly does. This is exactly the kind of book I was looking to read right now and it really hit the spot. It opens inside the Trojan Horse and then follows the events of the end of the Trojan War, told from several points of view but highlighting the lives of the Trojan women. I love the idea of a modern take on the Illiad!

There are a few instances where some of the language feels slightly too modern, like the use of the word "supernatural" when the wind rocks a cradle, but overall it feels really well done. I already have the first book in the series on hold at the library and I'm going to pick it up today! I'm looking forward to meeting the characters as the author intended in book one!

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!

To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above

Hang the Moon by Jeannettte Walls

Title: Hang the Moon

Author: Jeannette Walls

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: "Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the biggest man in a small town, the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Born at the turn of the 20th century into a life of comfort and privilege, Sallie remembers little about her mother who died in a violent argument with the Duke. By the time she is just eight years old, the Duke has remarried and had a son, Eddie. While Sallie is her father’s daughter, sharp-witted and resourceful, Eddie is his mother’s son, timid and cerebral. When Sallie tries to teach young Eddie to be more like their father, her daredevil coaching leads to an accident, and Sallie is cast out.

Nine years later, she returns, determined to reclaim her place in the family. That’s a lot more complicated than Sallie expected, and she enters a world of conflict and lawlessness. Sallie confronts the secrets and scandals that hide in the shadows of the Big House, navigates the factions in the family and town, and finally comes into her own as a bold, sometimes reckless bootlegger." - Back Cover

My Thoughts

This is another book that I received as a Christmas gift from a friend. I really enjoyed reading about this time period in a small town. The story explores complicated familial issues and the complexities of a blended family. It also highlights the lawlessness of small town America during prohibition, showing that money is the real power. 

I appreciate that Sallie does what she can to help the people of her town survive and keep her sprawling family together when everything seems to be pulling them apart. This is an interesting read, but not one to pull off the shelf if you're looking for something uplifting.

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!

To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower

 

Title: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion

Author: Beth Brower

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: "The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House." -Back Cover

My Thoughts

This cute little novella was given to me as a gift for Christmas. Emma's journal contains honest and charming descriptions of her life and the people in it. Many plotlines are started in this book, which leaves the reader curious and wanting more! Unfortunately, almost none of them are resolved at the end of volume one, creating a necessity to continue further into the series to find out what happens next. Having a book reach its climax at the very end without resolution is not my favorite style, but I'd like to read the next volume to see if that is the style of the entire series.

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!

To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above

The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar

 Title: The Roaring Days of Zora Lily

Author: Noelle Salazar

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: "2023, The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History: A costume conservator is preparing an exhibition featuring movie costumes from the 1920s to present day. As she gingerly places a gown once worn by Greta Garbo on a mannequin, she discovers another name hidden beneath the designer's label, leaving her to wonder—who is Zora Lily?

1924, Seattle: Poverty-stricken Zora Hough spends her days looking after her younger siblings while sewing up holes and fixing hems for clients to bring in extra money, working her fingers to the bone just to survive. But at night, as she lies in the bed she shares with one of her three sisters, she secretly dreams of becoming a designer like Coco Chanel and Jeanne Lanvin.

When her best friend gets a job dancing in a club downtown, Zora is lured in by her stories of music, glittering dresses and boys. She follows her friend to the underground speakeasies that are at once exciting and frightening—with smoke hanging in the air, alcohol flowing despite Prohibition, couples dancing in a way that makes Zora blush and a handsome businessman named Harley. It’s a world she has only ever imagined, and one with connections that could lead her to the life she's always dreamed of. But as Zora's ambition is challenged by tragedy and duty to her family, she'll learn that dreams come with a cost."

 -Back Cover

My Thoughts

Reading this novel, which I received as a Christmas gift, was so fun! It encompassed Zora's life without ever feeling slow or boring. Zora's friendships and familial relationships are relatable and realistic. She follows the societal expectations of the period while still pushing the boundaries of what women of the time could accomplish. While the events of the story may be exciting and dramatic, they're tempered enough to give a natural and believable feel. 

I struggled at first with how the brief introduction in 2023 would fit in with the rest of the story. It doesn't come back into play until the very end, but it provided a beautiful full-circle ending that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!

To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above