Historical Fiction with Faith
Thursday, May 30, 2019, 4:22 p.m.Staff PicksShepherd Park/Juanita E. Thornton Library
Historical Fiction with Faith
Christian novels set between the 18th and 19th centuries
Historical fiction has been a long favorite genre of mine. A few years ago, I added historical Christian fiction novels for my reading enjoyment. Below are a few novels that I've enjoyed set between the 18th to 19th centuries. Copies are available to check out and download.
The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green
After the death of a newborn baby, French midwife Julianne Chevalier is branded a criminal and sent to the royal French colony of Louisiana. As Julianne arrives in the settlement of New Orleans, she hopes to find her brother Benjamin who is a soldier there. But he is nowhere to be found, and no one knows what has happened to him. Julianne meets a military officer Marc-Paul Girard who might know something about her brother. The novel is a well-written story about a young woman rebuilding her life with love and grace during the early years of New Orleans. A historical note follows the text.
The Light Before Day by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Siblings Henry and Hitty Macy return home to their Quaker community on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. Their grandmother Lillian has left them a large house and money with specific conditions in her will. If the Macy siblings are unable to meet the terms of the will, their inheritance will go to another relative. The novel is set during the backdrop of historical events on Nantucket Island including the abolition movement, educational opportunities for African Americans and a devastating fire. This novel is the final installment in the Nantucket Legacy trilogy. The author provides historical background following the text.
The Bride of Ivy Green by Julie Klassen
In the fictional English village of Ivy Hill in February 1821, three women face major life decisions. Jane, owner of the coaching inn, has a marriage offer. Mercy has lost her girls' school and is offered a position as a governess. Miss Brockwell is expected to marry a titled gentleman. Two arrivals stir curiosity and wonder in Ivy Hill; a French seamstress with a mysterious past opens a shop, and Jane's father returns from living abroad in India. A delightful and well-written story of life in the English countryside. I've followed the Tales of Ivy Hill trilogy from the beginning and enjoyed reading it.
The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz
Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, 1774. Lady Elizabeth "Liberty" Lawson, daughter of the royal lieutenant governor of Virginia, is set to marry one of the town's leading citizens. Her upcoming wedding is overshadowed by tensions between the American colonies and England. One night, Williamsburg is the scene of violence, and the Lawson home is one of the targets. Elizabeth is abandoned by everyone. The only person who helps her is Noble Rynallt, the cousin of her fiancé. What happens next is Elizabeth's personal journey to finding her place during the fight for freedom and independence. A well-written historical fiction novel with a regional setting.
The Lieutenant's Bargain by Regina Jennings
Hattie Walker is a young woman with dreams of being an artist. When her stagecoach is attacked on the way to Colorado, Hattie is a witness to a crime. She is rescued by a group of friendly Arapahos while a message is sent to nearby Fort Reno. Lieutenant Jack Hennessey of the U.S. Calvary, who has been learning the language and culture of the Arapahos as part of his work at the fort, arrives to take Hattie to the fort. He's stunned to see her, as they had been classmates years ago. Because of a misunderstanding, Jack and Hattie are married according to Arapaho custom. The newlyweds return to Fort Reno but have separate rooms in Jack's house. As time passes, they grow in their relationship and can look forward to the future together. The novel is the second installment in the Fort Reno series.
The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green
After the death of a newborn baby, French midwife Julianne Chevalier is branded a criminal and sent to the royal French colony of Louisiana. As Julianne arrives in the settlement of New Orleans, she hopes to find her brother Benjamin who is a soldier there. But he is nowhere to be found, and no one knows what has happened to him. Julianne meets a military officer Marc-Paul Girard who might know something about her brother. The novel is a well-written story about a young woman rebuilding her life with love and grace during the early years of New Orleans. A historical note follows the text.
The Light Before Day by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Siblings Henry and Hitty Macy return home to their Quaker community on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. Their grandmother Lillian has left them a large house and money with specific conditions in her will. If the Macy siblings are unable to meet the terms of the will, their inheritance will go to another relative. The novel is set during the backdrop of historical events on Nantucket Island including the abolition movement, educational opportunities for African Americans and a devastating fire. This novel is the final installment in the Nantucket Legacy trilogy. The author provides historical background following the text.
The Bride of Ivy Green by Julie Klassen
In the fictional English village of Ivy Hill in February 1821, three women face major life decisions. Jane, owner of the coaching inn, has a marriage offer. Mercy has lost her girls' school and is offered a position as a governess. Miss Brockwell is expected to marry a titled gentleman. Two arrivals stir curiosity and wonder in Ivy Hill; a French seamstress with a mysterious past opens a shop, and Jane's father returns from living abroad in India. A delightful and well-written story of life in the English countryside. I've followed the Tales of Ivy Hill trilogy from the beginning and enjoyed reading it.
The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz
Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, 1774. Lady Elizabeth "Liberty" Lawson, daughter of the royal lieutenant governor of Virginia, is set to marry one of the town's leading citizens. Her upcoming wedding is overshadowed by tensions between the American colonies and England. One night, Williamsburg is the scene of violence, and the Lawson home is one of the targets. Elizabeth is abandoned by everyone. The only person who helps her is Noble Rynallt, the cousin of her fiancé. What happens next is Elizabeth's personal journey to finding her place during the fight for freedom and independence. A well-written historical fiction novel with a regional setting.
The Lieutenant's Bargain by Regina Jennings
Hattie Walker is a young woman with dreams of being an artist. When her stagecoach is attacked on the way to Colorado, Hattie is a witness to a crime. She is rescued by a group of friendly Arapahos while a message is sent to nearby Fort Reno. Lieutenant Jack Hennessey of the U.S. Calvary, who has been learning the language and culture of the Arapahos as part of his work at the fort, arrives to take Hattie to the fort. He's stunned to see her, as they had been classmates years ago. Because of a misunderstanding, Jack and Hattie are married according to Arapaho custom. The newlyweds return to Fort Reno but have separate rooms in Jack's house. As time passes, they grow in their relationship and can look forward to the future together. The novel is the second installment in the Fort Reno series.
