Tag Archives: historic novel

New book: Chick-Hist-Lit

Africa, Books, Destinations, History, Novel, Travel, , , , , , , ,

Cairo mosque

Destination: Cairo, Alexandria, Istanbul in WWII


Book: Jasmine Nights (NEW in U.S. June 2012) by Julia Gregson

Julia Gregson specializes in chick-hist-lit.  I invented that to mean  historical novels featuring adventurous and strong-willed female characters in romantic situations in exotic locations. And she bases their adventures on true stories.  In 2009, I reviewed her best seller, East of the Sun and so I was happy to take a look at her new Jasmine Nights .   (Her website www.juliagregson.net was not loading properly when I drafted this. Perhaps you’ll have better luck.) Continue reading New book: Chick-Hist-Lit →

Historic Novel in the Hudson River Valley

Books, Destinations, New York, Novel, Travel, United States, , , , , , , ,
Hudson River
Hudson River

Destination: Hudson Valley, New York, USA


Book: A Violet Season by Kathy Leonard Czepiel (NEW July 2012)

It took a while–maybe 35 pages–for A Violet Season: A Novel to capture me. But once I was hooked, I could not put it down. Kathy Leonard Czepiel takes her time setting the stage for this historical novel, introducing all of the family members on a violet farm near Rhinebeck, New York in the late 19th century. Continue reading Historic Novel in the Hudson River Valley →

Thinking About Blue

Books, Destinations, Florida, Novel, Travel, United States, , , , , , , , ,
Sanibel Island sunset
Sanibel Island sunset

Destination: Sanibel Island, Florida, 1860s

Book: Blue Asylum (NEW  2012) by Kathy Hepinstall

The story of Blue Asylum follows the life of Iris, a plantation wife who perpetrated such an unthinkable act that her husband quite effortlessly got her declared insane and shipped her off to the most humane mental hospital in the country under the care of the self-assured Dr. Cowell on Sanibel Island. This deceptively simple story set me pondering the hardships of war, the definition of mental illness, feminism, slavery, American history, nature and survival. Continue reading Thinking About Blue →