Recently arrived historical fiction
Against the backdrop of World War II Norway, this blend of family saga, historical fiction, and thriller chroniclaes the powerful but divided Falck family. After the matriarch's death, an unpublished manuscript surfaces, threatening to expose long-buried truths connected to the sinking of the SS Prinsesse Ragnhild. Alternating between present-day intrigue and wartime flashbacks, complex family dynamics and hidden agendas are revealed. A suspenseful search for the manuscript triggers a power struggle, unraveling the Falck family's history and the lingering impact of war.
The Champagne Letters by Kate MacIntosh
"In 19th-century France, as politics swirls and war threatens, the widow Barbe-Nicole Clicquot strives to build her champagne empire. In present-day Paris, Natalie Taylor, reeling from a divorce, discovers Barbe-Nicole's letters and finds inspiration in her resilience. Despite their 200 year divide, Natalie finds much to inspire her in the letters as both women learn to navigate personal and professional challenges. For readers of Fiona McIntosh, Ariel Lawhon and Natasha Lester.
The Tin Cry by Gerard Hindmarsh
The discovery of stream tin ignites New Zealand's only tin rush. Newly arrived from Scotland to Rakiura Steward Island, the sheltered Elizabeth is betrothed to George, a Port Pegasus hotelier. But a chance encounter with a miner awakens her heart, challenging her preordained future. Meanwhile, the tin rush pits Otago University's fervent Professor James Black, the catalyst for the frenzy, against government geologist Alexander Mackay, determined to restore order. As the boom collapses, the consequences are explosive for everyone. The legendary Golden Bay author of Angelina and
The Gallows Bird by Barbara Sumner
London, 1833: Laundry maid Hannah "Birdie" Bird, abandoned daughter of a noblewoman years for freedom. Falling in with the wrong crowd she is betrayed and sentenced to transport to Australia in a shipload of female convicts. Amidst hardship, Birdie finds strength and sisterhood. But Sydney Cove holds new terrors. Can she fight for freedom? This debut novel illuminates the forgotten stories of female convicts. Perfect for readers of Fiona McIntosh and Deborah Challinor.
The Songbirds of Florence by Olivia Spooner
Cairo, 1942: A group of young New Zealand women, the Tuis arrive, the first of their countrywomen to serve abroad. Their mission: to offer comfort and a taste of home to battle-weary soldiers. Among them are Addy, vibrant and outgoing, a natural entertainer with a captivating voice, and Margot, quiet and reserved, mourning her husband lost to the war. Despite their contrasting personalities, Addy and Margot forge a deep friendship. Relocated to Italy, both Addy and Margot are captivated by the rich culture, but the illusion of peace and safety is shattered by devastating news, and the friends find their resilience tested as they face the harsh realities of war.
Mademoiselle Eiffel by Aimie L. Runyan
Claire Eiffel, Gustave Eiffel's gifted daughter, transitions from privileged student to indispensable aide after her mother's death. She becomes her father's confidante and architectural apprentice, but resents his protégé, Adolphe Salles, until their animosity transforms into love and marriage. As Eiffel's career peaks with the iconic tower, Claire hosts the elite. However, when the Panama Canal project leads to her father's imprisonment, Claire must leverage her intelligence and influence to secure his release and safeguard the Eiffel legacy. It's a story of familial duty, ambition, and resilience against societal constraints.
The Curse of Pietro Houdini by Derek B. Miller
1944 Montecassino, art restorer Pietro Houdini rescues 14 year old orphan Massimo amidst the chaos of WWII. Striving to protect hidden artworks from the Nazis, they band together to rescue by theft. The novel blends art heist suspense and historical accuracy, depicting the Battle of Montecassino, with coming of age, humour, and an array of richly depicted and engaging characters - a cafe owner turned murderer, a wounded Germany solider, and a pair of young lovers with their injured mule Ferrari
The Map of Bones by Kate Mosse
In the windswept valley of Olifantshoek, 1688, Suzanne Joubert, a Huguenot refugee, arrived seeking her vanished pirate cousin, Louise Reydon-Joubert. Nearly two centuries later, in 1862 Isabelle Lepard followed a similar path, determined to reclaim her family's forgotten history. What she found was that the past's tragedies still haunted the present, and now she must fight to reveal the truth before it consumes her. Book 4 in the Joubert family chronicles.
