The Geekish Reader

Title:   Bristol House Author:   Beverly Swerling Genre:   Historical Fiction, Mystery Pages:   416 Published:   April 2013 Publisher:   Viking Adult Source:   NetGalley Synopsis: In the tradition of Kate Mosse, a swiftly-paced mystery that stretches from modern London to Tudor England In modern-day London, architectural historian and recovering alcoholic Annie Kendall hopes to turn her life around and restart her career by locating several long-missing pieces of ancient Judaica. Geoff Harris, an investigative reporter, is soon drawn into her quest, both by romantic interest and suspicions about the head of the Shalom Foundation, the organization sponsoring her work. He’s also a dead ringer for the ghost of a monk Annie believes she has seen at the flat she is subletting in Bristol House. In 1535, Tudor London is a very different city, one in which monks are being executed by Henry VIII and Jews are banished. In this treacherous environment of relig...

Title:   What Happens At Christmas Author:   Victoria Alexander Genre:   Historical Romance Pages:   352 Published:   October 2012 Publisher:   Kensington Source:   NetGalley Buy Link:   Amazon Synopsis: A blazing fire, an English country house … and the ultimate game of charades. In this charming holiday novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander, a beautiful widow finds her plan for a Christmas proposal going perfectly awry … Camille, Lady Lydingham, knows precisely what she wants for Christmas—an official engagement to a handsome, dashing prince. Her very proper suitor expects a proper English family and the perfect Dickensian Christmas, which leaves the lovely widow with a slight problem. The last thing Camille wants is for the prince to meet her unconventional relatives. But with the aid of a troupe of actors, Camille intends to pull off a Christmas deception of massive proportions. At least until Grayson Elliott ...

Title:   The Summer Before the Storm Author:   Gabriele Wills Genre:   Historical Fiction Pages:   551 Published:   2006 Publisher:   MindShadows Source:   via Premier Virtual Authors Book Tours Buy Link:   Amazon Synopsis: Muskoka, 1914. It's the Age of Elegance in the summer playground of the affluent and powerful. Amid the pristine, island-dotted lakes, the granite cliffs, and pine-scented forests of the Canadian wilderness, the young and carefree amuse themselves with glittering balls, lavish picnics, and friendly competitions. But this summer promises to be different when the charming, ambitious, and destitute son of a disowned heir joins his wealthy family at their cottage on Wyndwood Island. Through Jack's introduction into the privileged life of the aristocratic Wyndhams and their social circle - including captains of industry and financial titans - he seeks opportunities and alliances to better himself, including in his schemes, his ...

Title:   The Wild Queen Author:   Carolyn Meyer Genre:   Historical Fiction, YA Pages:   432 Published:   June 2012 Publisher:   Harcourt Source:   via Publisher Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: Mary Stuart was just five years old when she was sent to France to be raised alongside her future husband. But when the frail young king dies, eighteen-year-old Mary is stripped of her title as Queen of France and set adrift in the harsh world, alone. Determined to reign over what is rightfully hers, Mary returns to Scotland. Hoping that a husband will help her secure the coveted English throne, she marries again, but the love and security she longs for elude her. Instead, the fiery young queen finds herself embroiled in a murder scandal that could cost her the crown. And her attempts to bargain with her formidable “sister queen,” Elizabeth I of England, could cost her her very life. A young woman who wants nothing more then love and security in her l...

Title:   Sisters of Glass Author:   Stephanie Hemphill Genre:   YA, Historical Pages:   160 Published:   March 2012 Publisher:   Alfred A. Knopf Source:   NetGalley Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: Maria is the younger daughter of an esteemed family on the island of Murano, the traditional home for Venetian glassmakers. Though she longs to be a glassblower herself, glassblowing is not for daughters—that is her brother's work. Maria has only one duty to perform for her family: before her father died, he insisted that she be married into the nobility, even though her older sister, Giovanna, should rightfully have that role. Not only is Giovanna older, she's prettier, more graceful, and everyone loves her. Maria would like nothing more than to allow her beautiful sister, who is far more able and willing to attract a noble husband, to take over this role for her. But they cannot circumvent their father's wishes. And when a new young glassblower ...

Title:   The Agency – The Traitor in the Tunnel Author:   Y. S. Lee Genre:   YA, Historical Pages:   373 Published:   February 2012 Publisher:   Candlewick Press Source:   NetGalley Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: Get steeped in suspense, romance, and high Victorian intrigue as Mary goes undercover at Buckingham Palace - and learns a startling secret at the Tower of London. Queen Victoria has a little problem: there's a petty thief at work in Buckingham Palace. Charged with discretion, the Agency puts quick-witted Mary Quinn on the case, where she must pose as a domestic while fending off the attentions of a feckless Prince of Wales. But when the prince witnesses the murder of one of his friends in an opium den, the potential for scandal looms large. And Mary faces an even more unsettling possibility: the accused killer, a Chinese sailor imprisoned in the Tower of London, shares a name with her long-lost father. Meanwhile, engineer James Ea...

Title:   The Wicked and the Just Author:   J. Anderson Coats Genre:   Historical Fiction Pages:   352 Published:   April 2012 Publisher:   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Source:   via Publisher Where to buy:   Amazon ~ Book Depository Synopsis: Cecily’s father has ruined her life. He’s moving them to occupied Wales, where the king needs good strong Englishmen to keep down the vicious Welshmen. At least Cecily will finally be the lady of the house. Gwenhwyfar knows all about that house. Once she dreamed of being the lady there herself, until the English destroyed the lives of everyone she knows. Now she must wait hand and foot on this bratty English girl. While Cecily struggles to find her place amongst the snobby English landowners, Gwenhwyfar struggles just to survive. And outside the city walls, tensions are rising ever higher—until finally they must reach the breaking point. Furious with her father, poor, poor Cecily has been for...

Title:   Sonoma Rose Author:   Jennifer Chiaverini Genre:   Historical Fiction Pages:   416 Published:   February 2012 Publisher:   Penguin Source:   via Publisher Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: As the nation grapples with the strictures of Prohibition, Rosa Diaz Barclay lives on a Southern California rye farm with her volatile husband, John, who has lately found another source of income far outside the Federal purview. Mother to eight children, Rosa mourns the loss of four who succumbed to the mysterious wasting disease currently afflicting young Ana and Miguel. Two daughters born of another father are in perfect health. When an act of violence shatters Rosa’s resolve to maintain her increasingly dangerous existence, she flees with the children and her precious heirloom quilts to the mesa where she last saw her beloved mother alive. I was thrilled when I received a copy of this book I did a happy dance.  Jennifer's ...

Title:   The Union Quilters (Elm Creek Quilts Book #17) Author:   Jennifer Chiaverini Genre:   Historical Fiction, Fiction Published:   February 2011 ISBN:   0525952039   Publisher:   Dutton Adult Source:   Purchased Synopsis: With The Union Quilters , Chiaverini delivers a powerful story of a remarkable group of women coping with changing roles and the extraordinary experiences of the Civil War. In 1862 Water's Ford, Pennsylvania, abolitionism is prevalent, even passionate, so the local men rally to answer Mr. Lincoln's call to arms. Thus the women of Elm Creek Valley's quilting bee are propelled into the unknown. Constance Wright, married to Abel, a skilled sharpshooter courageous enough to have ventured south to buy his wife's freedom from a Virginia plantation, knows well her husband's certainty that all people, enslaved and free, North and South, need colored men like him to fight for a greater purpose. Sisters-in-law D...