Three Brand-New Historical Reads to Get Lost In...

Ohhh we have a trio of fresh releases and they are bringing the drama in very different ways. Let’s talk about what just hit shelves:

The Woman and Her Stars by Penny Haw... For fans of Her Hidden Genius and The Engineer's Wife comes the awe-inspiring true story of Caroline Herschel, an 18th century astronomer who lived in the shadow of her brother, but learned to pave her own path among the stars.

1772. Caroline Herschel is beholden to her wildly popular musician brother, William, who rescued her from servitude and brought her to live a comfortable life in Bath. Caroline vows that, because William saved her, she must always remain by his side. When William becomes obsessed with the science of astronomy, Caroline follows suit, and soon, the duo are moving to Windsor to be close to court, so they can advise the king about the stars and become members of the Royal Astronomical Society. Overshadowed by her brother, Caroline quietly studies the stars, attributing her success to the men in her life. But when it becomes clear that Caroline is just as much the astronomer as the men in society, she will have to break free from the life she's lived, and find her own place amongst the stars.

Based on the true story of Caroline Lucretia Herschel (1750-1848), The Woman and Her Stars shines a light on a woman who was raised to believe she was worth nothing more than to serve others, but whose genius and resolve made her one of the world’s leading astronomers. An inspiring story set within the societal boundaries of the Regency era, it is a journey of self-belief, friendship, and triumph. 

I love a story that brings to life a woman who was behind the scenes but finally gives her, her due. I'm thinking about Beryl Markham who was the first person to fly solo, non-stop, across the Atlantic from Britain to North America, and brought to life by Paula McLain in Circling the Sun or Mamah Borthwick Cheney, Frank Lloyd Wright's lover in Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. I can't wait to read about Caroline Lucretia Herschel! 

Published by Sourcebooks Landmark, who graciously sent an ebook for me to read and review! Thank you! So look for that review coming soon...

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Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser... 

Twice-widowed, Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley is solely responsible for her two children, a priggish stepdaughter, a razor-taloned peregrine falcon, and a crumbling manor. Fierce and determined, Ethel clings to the respectability her deceased husband’s title affords her, hoping it will secure her daughters’ future through marriage.

When a royal ball offers the chance to change everything, Ethel risks her pride in pursuit of an invitation for all three of her daughters—only to see her hopes fulfilled by the wrong one. As an engagement to the future king unfolds, Ethel discovers a sordid secret hidden in the depths of the royal family, forcing her to choose between the security she craves and the wellbeing of the stepdaughter who has rebuffed her at every turn.

As if Bridgerton met Circe, and exhilarating to its core, Lady Tremaine reimagines the myth of the evil stepmother at the heart of the world’s most famous fairy tale. It is a battle cry for a mother’s love for her daughters, and a celebration of women everywhere who make their own fortunes.

Kirkus Reviews gave it a Starred Review and called it, ""A bold and beautifully written examination of a mother's love told through the eyes of Cinderella's 'wicked' stepmother."

I am so excited for this book! I love a novel that takes a tale we know and reimagines it. Gives us a different side of the story. 

Published by St. Martin's Press

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A Far-Flung Life by M.L. Stedman...  From the author of the acclaimed bestseller The Light Between Oceans comes a breathtaking and epic novel set in the vast outback of Australia—about tragedy, family secrets, and the enduring power of love.

When we do something that can’t be undone or mended, how do we go on living? How do we find our North Star when there is no right answer? These are the questions at the center of M. L. Stedman’s unforgettable and magisterial new novel, A Far-flung Life. From the author of the beloved and bestselling The Light Between Oceans, this is a sweeping and epic story of a family, a tragedy, and the aftermath that reverberates for decades.

Remote Western Australia, 1958: here, for generations, the MacBrides have lived on a vast sheep station, Meredith Downs. It is a million acres, an ocean of arid land. On an ordinary day, on a lonely road, under the unending blue sky, patriarch Phil MacBride swerves to avoid a kangaroo. In seconds the lives of the entire MacBride family are shattered. And then, tragedy revisits when a twist of consequences claims the life of one sibling, and leads another to give up everything for the sake of an innocent child. Matt, the youngest MacBride, is plunged into a moral and emotional journey for which there is no map, no guide. The secrets at the heart of this gutting and beautiful story force him to choose between love and duty, sacrifice and happiness.

A Far-flung Life is a tale about family and belonging, fate and time. It is about people trying to do their best, and each, for private reasons, seeking shelter from the storm of life.

OMG, a new novel rom M.L. Stedman!?!  I can't wait to read more from the author that brought us The Light Between Oceans!!

Published by Scribner, who also sent along an ebook for me to read and review. Thank you! And look for that review coming soon...

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Three very different journeys. 

All deeply immersive.

So tell me — which one’s going straight to the top of your TBR?