Historical Drama Fiction

Becoming Shakespeare begins with his death in 1616 and relates the fascinating story of his unlikely transformation from provincial playwright to universal Bard. Unlike later literary giants, Shakespeare created no stir when he died. Though he'd once had a string of hit plays, he had been retired in the country for six years, and only his family, friends, and business partners seemed to care that he was gone.

Aida is just six years old when her family escapes the war bearing down on their village in Bosnia. But survival comes at a price. The home they make in Italy is safe, though not their own. Aida watches, helpless, as her parents grapple with a guilt and nostalgia she doesn’t understand. They yearn for a place that no longer exists, a place she barely remembers yet comes to resent for its lingering ghost.

A mystery book set in New York and Philadelphia during the early 20th century, "Sophia the Wild" plunges readers into a spellbinding journey of secrets, suspense, and self-discovery. This exhilarating narrative unfolds in the extravagant Stanford Johnson Mansion close to New York City and in Philadelphia's labyrinthine streets.Delve into the decadent world of the early 20th century, where industries blossom, airships grace the skies, and secrets rest in the parchment of scrolls and the corners of grand mansions. Synopsis The story follows Sophia, the adopted daughter of tycoon Stanford ...

Leonardo watched helplessly as his artistic and engineering achievements were demolished by the invading armies. Exhausted and despondent, the artist abandons his workshop in Milan. But where will he go? Everything was left behind in his escape and he is now without funds. An artist need a patron to survive. An invitation to paint a portrait of Isabella d’Este is welcome but, Leonardo suspects an ulterior motive. If he is right. . . accepting could prove dangerous. Leonardo and Niccolo arrive at a lavish palace in chaos. Spies are everywhere attempting to discover how and why a valuable ...

'Plague and Power' is a masterful historical-fiction novel set in the heart of England, amidst the devastating times of the 1665 plague outbreak. The narrative primarily revolves around two compelling characters - Martha Quinn, a resourceful innkeeper, and Colonel Randal Dempsey, a battered soldier burdened by his troubled past.The dense narrative worms its way through the all-encompassing dread of the time while offering striking portrayals of hope and resilience. Taking place at Martha's Paul’s Head Inn, the novel explores the desperation and fear that numeral England and transposes it ...

Monsters create monsters; Frank kept telling himself. Since his father was killed by a serial killer when he was only fourteen, Frank was on the path of becoming a monster himself. Then, on Easter Sunday of 2019, less than two years after The Schuylkiller wreaked havoc on the City of Philadelphia, a new killer reared his head and began his own reign of terror. When Frank settles into a quiet life with his former partner, Penny, and their infant daughter, he is pulled out of retirement and must go it alone if he’s to save his family and his soul. What Frank discovers next will have him ...

Mandy's brother Ned is in trouble. He has been accused of murdering the woman who had been clearly trying to seduce him. Their guardian, the Duke of Margate, is summoned to help. Mandy had always assumed he was an old man. But, the duke was far from old. He was, in fact, virile, dashing, and oh so good looking. The duke enjoyed being a confirmed bachelor…and then he met Mandy. But, first things first - they had to prove Ned innocent.

The Smith family once lived a modest, stable life in the rural South, but poverty and despair now threaten to tear them apart. Wade, restless and filled with quiet rebellion, looks to escape the suffocating grip of their past. His sister Ruby, ever hopeful, clings to a dream of a better future—though the weight of their hardships is beginning to crush her spirit. When the harsh realities of their small-town life become too much to bear, they take a bold step toward New York City, the glittering 'City of Dreams.' But a city filled with opportunity also holds a dark side. Wade and Ruby must...

Beatific is a sweeping epic that the tells seven fascinating stories of one Celtic family across centuries. Each step of this glorious journey intertwines the family with a particular Catholic saint of the times, visiting such breathtaking regions as Wales, Northumbria and Germania. Over the centuries the family endure the madness of slavery, heartbreaking tragedies and heroic triumphs. This captivating saga begins during the imposing era of 5th century Ireland in the days of a young Saint Patrick. The journey continues in England in the placid, yet tumultuous times of Saints Arilda and ...

The 1989 quake in Santa Cruz, California destroyed the picturesque downtown of the small coastal city. Lives were lost and lives were forever changed. For private investigator, Jeff Burke life would never be the same. Among the never-ending aftershocks, two murders would cause Burke to go on the run as the prime suspect. Amid the complex web of drug dealing, money laundering, and real estate fraud help would come from the most unexpected sources. But how high was the price to get out of this mess? And who was the killer who now had his sights set on Burke? Drawn from the rich and unique ...

At precisely two minutes to seven every morning, Gabriel Ward KC steps out of his rooms in the Inner Temple, presses his oak front door three times to ensure it is locked, and walks to his office to begin his day. Except for today. Today, the dead body of the Lord Chief Justice of England, immaculately clad in evening dress except for his bare feet, is lying on his doorstep – with one of the silver Temple carving knives sticking out of his chest. As rumour and gossip fly round the chambers and the press set up camp outside the gates, an investigation is ordered by the head of the Temple.

First Place Winner, Fall 2023 Book Fest Award: Family Saga Every wedding seems like the beginning of a fairy tale, but sometimes the prince is actually a frog, or the big bad wolf. When Mary McGinn lost her husband, she was the mother of twelve children, and her oldest sons worked to provide for the family. She was always grateful for the sacrifices her children had made for the sake of their family, but now she needed to go back to work so that they could go on and live their lives. But finding work in depression-stricken Maine would not be easy for anyone in 1935, perhaps even more so for...

Two women, three hundred years apart, must face the devastation of all they hold dear... Suspecting her husband is having an affair, Sarah Rodrigues fights to appear unbroken while attempting to salvage her family. Though distracted by her own troubles, Sarah is summoned to an elderly friend’s deathbed for an unusual request—find a long-lost daughter and relay a centuries-old family story. Determined not to fail her friend, Sarah pieces together the story of her neighbor’s ancestor, Elizabeth Baker, a young colonist forced into an unwanted betrothal but drawn to a man forbidden by ...

Putting the old Soviet world behind him in retirement should have set Mike Lacondeguy at ease, but an addled old hippy and an Uzbek firebrand determined to do things her way make that impossible. In the second book of The New Americans trilogy, CHICKEN TODAY, FEATHERS TOMORROW, an aged Flower Child living on the streets and a young Uzbek agitator draw Mike Lacondeguy into a world where urban legend and common sense collide and where he can no longer run from his past. While tangled in the war in Ukraine, Mike comes across a book of poems with a mystifying couplet: All the world went silent/...

In a town built on gold, she discovered the truest wealth lies in a heart of integrity. In 1885 Florence, Idaho Territory, a female assayer with an eye for true gold partners with a haunted former surveyor to expose a deadly claim-jumping ring, only to discover that the richest strike of all might be the love they find in each other's hearts. Ruby Lancaster knows gold better than any man in Florence, Idaho Territory. Running her late father's assay office and supply store, she's earned a reputation for spotting deception—both in minerals and in men. But when Harrison Randall arrives with ...

The War of Spanish Succession is over, many sailors are out of work, and the thriving American colonies are quickly becoming the place of opportunity. For Sam Bellamy it is the opportunity to become the captain of his own ship.

Ancient China. Sixteen-year-old Chen Han, already an accomplished warrior, is accused of a crime he did not commit. The woman who raised him vows to kill him for disgracing her clan. Twelve-year-old Mu Feng leads a small army outnumbered four to one. Amidst the chaos, he discovers what he is capable of, but questions linger over what it means to obey authority. Eleven-year-old Ah Go is a simple village boy who finds his world shattered by barbarian invaders. Everything he knows is destroyed. Would he grow up enslaved to them? Or is he destined to conquer? Three boys. Worlds apart. One ...

岳飞，是我国宋金时代的汉民族英雄，他从小奋发努力，勤学苦练，在校场比试中一枪成名，却因为朝廷腐败而反遭追杀……岳飛，是我國宋金時代的漢民族英雄，他從小奮發努力，勤學苦練，在校場比試中一槍成名，卻因為朝廷腐敗而反遭追殺……

From USA Today Bestselling Author, Uvi Poznansky, comes a compelling novel about family secrets: Coming back to his childhood home after years of absence, Ben is unprepared for the secret, which is now revealed to him: his mother, Natasha, who used to be a brilliant pianist, is losing herself to mysterious disease, which turns the way her mind works into a riddle. His father’s new wife, Anita, looks remarkably similar to her—only much younger. “In our family, forgiveness is something you pray for, something you yearn to receive—but so seldom do you give it to others.” What emerges...

Teeth by H. Wilhelm Starkweather is a haunting psychological fiction novel set in the vibrant and tumultuous streets of San Francisco during the late 19th century. This gripping tale delves deep into the mind of a troubled dentist, unraveling themes of obsession, identity, and the fine line between sanity and madness.Enter the shadowy world of Dr. Pritchett, a dentist with a dark past and even darker secrets, as he navigates the gritty realities of life on Polk Street. Discover the complex life of Dr. Pritchett, a man haunted by his past and driven by a desire to find his place in the world...