May brings sunshine, springtime, flowers, and time to read in the sun. I love gardening, and my yard is full of green sprouts and flower buds. In about two weeks, it will be stunning. That’s the best time to take a minute to read and bask in beauty. Luckily, there’s a wide assortment of new historical fiction this month. Here are my picks.

BEST COVER

Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel (May 21)

“A powerful reimagining of the story of Ganga, goddess of the river, and her doomed mortal son, from Vaishnavi Patel, author of the instant New York Times bestseller Kaikeyi.” ~ book description

These covers are all attractive for different reasons. I had to pick this one, though, because of the bold contrasting colors and the image of the Indian goddess. The story has it all—”A mother and a son. A goddess and a prince. A curse and an oath. A river whose course will change the fate of the world.”

OTHER TOP COVERS

The Wolf’s Eye by Luanne G. Smith (fantasy, May 14)

The Sheriff by A. M. Linden (medieval Britain, May 14)

The Puzzle Wood by Rosie Andrews (England, May 9)

Threadbare by Jane Loeb Rubin (Victorian New York, May 21))

The Stolen Daughter by Florence Ọlájídé  (western Africa 1838, May 31)

BEST TITLE

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle Flying Club by Helen Simonson (England 1919, May 7)

“Historical fiction of the highest order . . . an absolute joy of a book, warm and romantic, and with so much to say about the lives of women in the years following World War I.”—Ann Napolitano, bestselling author of Hello Beautiful

Among all the interesting titles, this one stands out because it just screams that it’s about brave, daring women. I mean, motorcycles and flying? It also includes a seaside cottage, a lady’s companion down on her luck, and a baronet’s daughter—all the ingredients for a good read.

OTHER TOP TITLES

Darkness Calls the Tiger by Kate Thompson (Burma, 18941, May 14)

Spitting Gold  by Carmela Lowkis (Paris, 1866, May 14)

The Small Museum by Jody Cooksley (London, 1873, May 16)

Rebel Falls by Tim Wendel (Atlanta, Georgia, 1864, May 15)

Courting the Sun by Peggy Joque Williams (17th century France, May 9)

MOST INTRIGUING

The Nurse Behind the Gates by Shari J. Ryan (May 20)

“Emilie has been told she’s here to nurse evil men. But the first patient she sees in the cold, dark room is hauntingly familiar. Her first love is not wicked. He couldn’t be. What is he doing here?” ~book description

This one is about a nurse at Dachau in 1942. Her husband is the doctor, positive that the camp is full of criminals. Emilie knows if she helps any of the patients she might well lose her life. But she still has feelings for her first love. A lot of tension set up in the description. I can hardly wait for the book.

OTHER MOST INTRIGUING

The Library Thief  by Kuchenga Shenjé (Manchester, 1896, May 7)

The Winter Child by Carly Schabowski (Poland, 1943, May 16)

The Passionate Tudor by Alison Weir (Tudor England, May 28)

A Gamble at Sunset by Vanessa Riley (Victorian England, May 21)

The Secret Daughter of Venice by Juliet Greenwood (England 1941, May 14)

 

 

Need more historical fiction on your TBR?

See Paper Lantern Writers’ weekly round up in the Facebook group SHINE on Historical Fiction with Paper Lantern Writers. See even more new release titles at Historical Novel Society.

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