I love historical stories that challenge the status quo. To me, patriarchy shows up when dominant members of a single group (generally white cisgender men) fiercely grab and hold onto power by erecting systemic barriers based on gender, race, and class. It silences or cuts off anyone in these marginalized groups from having agency and treats these groups as “less than.” Historical stories that overturn patriarchy inspire me.
This expertly crafted historical thriller is a masterpiece of suspense, set against the backdrop of the Hanford, Washington, nuclear power plant and its recklessly dangerous expansion during the Cold War. The plant's actions poisoned the environment and led to the illness and deaths of local residents.
The story unfolds as we witness the characters' gradual progression from suspicion to evidence gathering, culminating in their decision to expose the perpetrators. It's a classic confrontation between the faceless, disdainful arrogance of the government—waving a patriotic flag to excuse its flagrant disregard for public safety—and a few determined, unlikely allies. This book is a true page-turner!
“In a well-crafted debut, Smith-Blum provides the reader a ringside seat to the birth of the nuclear age...a beautifully written, important story...Tangles packs a punch and hits close to home.” –Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author of The Tracy Crosswhite Series
Oppenheimer was just the beginning.
When a harpooned whale offers proof the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is endangering all life in the Columbia River Basin, Luke Hinson, a brash young scientist, seizes the chance to avenge his father's death but a thyroid cancer diagnosis derails Luke's research. Between treatments, he dives back in, making enemies at every turn. On…
This woman is a force. Protagonist Isabelle bursts onto the page with a razor-sharp intensity, driven by a rage and pain that simmers relentlessly beneath the surface, ultimately erupting with lightning force. Written in the present tense, this historical fiction drama grips the reader from the very first sentence and never lets up.
Set in 16th-century 'New France' (Quebec) and Paris, this extraordinary drama vividly portrays the horrific slaughter of Protestant Huguenots by the Catholic Church. Isabelle seeks to rectify this injustice and save her people. Buckle up. It's a charged ride.
"In the second installment of her Defying the Crown series, Kerry Chaput transports readers from the wilds of Quebec to Paris and the palace of the Sun King, spinning a tale of daring and danger. Isabelle Beaumont is a fighter and a fierce woman that readers will root for. With meticulous research and passion for her subject matter, Chaput beautifully conjures the haunting fate of the French Huguenots, and the indelible human drive to fight for love and freedom." –Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post
A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.
German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…
It's deeply satisfying to read about our female forebears—women who followed an internal drive to deviate from societal norms and, in doing so, paved the way for an entire future movement. Today, the majority of medical students are female, but a century ago, female doctors were scarce.
Eliza Edwards, the protagonist, immerses us in this turbulent 20th-century period, showcasing its doubts, risks, brave friendships, and the emerging tension between career and marriage/motherhood for women.
"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…
Set in the 1950s and 60s, this story centers on Elizabeth Zott, a gifted research scientist determined to carve her place in the male-dominated, sexist scientific world. For female readers who have built careers in fields where white men establish and enforce the rules, Elizabeth's insights and common sense will resonate deeply. She is direct, impervious to political maneuvering, and unwavering in her identity: a research scientist.
While the compelling plot, driven by conflict, tragedy, and unexpected twists, is a strong foundation, the most impactful aspect of this impressive book, for me, is hearing Elizabeth's words echo my own experiences.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • Meet Elizabeth Zott: a “formidable, unapologetic and inspiring” (PARADE) scientist in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show in this novel that is “irresistible, satisfying and full of fuel. It reminds you that change takes time and always requires heat” (The New York Times Book Review).
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Newsweek, GoodReads
"A unique heroine ... you'll find yourself wishing she wasn’t fictional." —Seattle Times…
Aury and Scott travel to the Finger Lakes in New York’s wine country to get to the bottom of the mysterious happenings at the Songscape Winery. Disturbed furniture and curious noises are one thing, but when a customer winds up dead, it’s time to dig into the details and see…
This unexpected discovery—the story of Meg of St. Michael’s Mead in the 14th century—exemplifies the best of what draws readers to historical fiction. First, there's the heroine, Meg, a young woman coming of age and marked by a facial disfigurement. Immediately, we understand her outsider status, her alienation, and her inevitable struggle against others' scapegoating.
This scapegoating stems not only from typical ignorance but also from the very real fears of the time that she might be a child of the Devil. Meg's life and journey are populated with memorable allies and enemies, but it's her determination to cultivate her talents in women's health—despite the opposition of the male medical elite—that lends her story contemporary relevance.
She struggles against her enemies. But still, they stand in her way.
In 14th century England, Meg of St. Michael's Mead endures a life of abuse and isolation due to her birth deformity. However, her fortunes change when the village wise woman saves her and teaches her the art of healing. After witnessing a shocking birth, Meg discovers her true purpose: to become England's first licensed female physician and provide compassionate care to women.
To achieve her goal, Meg seeks the tutelage of William of Oxford, a gruff surgeon who agrees to mentor her. But there's a catch. She must…
Based on a true story, in 1891, timid Jo van Gogh Bonger lives safely in the background of her art dealer husband Theo’s passionate work to sell unknown artists, especially his ill-fated, dead brother Vincent. When Theo dies unexpectedly, Jo’s brief happiness is shattered. Her inheritance—hundreds of unsold paintings by Vincent—is worthless.
Pressured to move to her parents’ home, Jo defies tradition, opening a boarding house to raise her infant son alone and choosing to promote Vincent’s art herself. But her ingenuity and persistence draw the powerful opposition of a Parisian art dealer who vows to stop her once and for all and so sink Vincent into obscurity.
Selected by Deesha Philyaw as winner of the AWP Grace Paley Prize in Short Fiction, Lake Song is set in the fictional town of Kinder Falls in New York’s Finger Lakes region. This novel in stories spans decades to plumb the complexities, violence, and compassion of small-town life as the…
A witchy paranormal cozy mystery told through the eyes of a fiercely clever (and undeniably fabulous) feline familiar.
I’m Juno. Snow-white fur, sharp-witted, and currently stuck working magical animal control in the enchanted town of Crimson Cove. My witch, Zandra Crypt, and I only came here to find her missing…
