September has always meant back to school and the hint of cooler days. This year, though, it brings the release of my seventh novel! Innocents at Home is heritage fiction, based on two ancestors of mine who were on the cruise that inspired Mark Twain’s novel Innocents Abroad. 

Nina Larrowe anticipates resuming her place in New York society, but Twain’s careless remarks about her behavior ostracize her and force her to reevaluate everything she thought she knew. Nina becomes an actress and embarks on a life she never could have imagined. After a series of disappointments, Nina must rise from the ashes once again to craft a life she can take pride in.

The daughter of a newspaper magnate, Emma Beach falls head-long in love with the flirtatious Sam on her trip to the Holy Land. Her dreams are proven to be fantasies when Sam marries another. She is content to spend her days painting and taking care of others…until she realizes there could be more to the life she’s been living and reaches for a chance at her own happiness.

 

BEST COVER

Innocents of Marbella by R.C. Mogo (September 19)

“R.C. Mogo’s debut is masterfully-crafted, drawing readers into medieval Europe through intricate details, fascinating characters, and a powerful plot.” –Anna Daugherty, bestselling author of Outside of Grace

The colors in the titles this month make me gasp in delight. The pinks and blues win it every time for me. Innocents of Marbella gets the pick, though, because of the subtlety of shadow around the woman’s face. The description says, “Gifted linguist Zahra flees to France following a traumatic incident, leaving her baby sister to fend for herself in Marbella. Years later, when a young girl arrives on her doorstep, so begins a divine adventure toward redemption.” This is a winner.

The Paris Daughter by Soraya Lane (Paris 1939, September 16)

Wofford’s Blood by Donna Coffey Little (Georgia 1815, September 3)

Katherine, Wright Sister by Tracy Enerson Wood (North Carolina 1903, September 10)

Where the Stars Cross by Dottie Sines (Great Depression, September 11)

Death by Misadventure  by Tasha Alexander (Bavarian Alps 1906, September 24)

 

BEST TITLE

In the Garden of Monsters by Crystal King (September 24)

“A sinister romance and hypnotic Gothic fairytale—surreal and luscious with a fascinating twist on the story of Hades and Persephone.” —Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne

Couple of pirates this month, and monsters, sorrow, and murder. The best title, though, is In the Garden of Monsters. There is very little on the cover to hint at what it’s about, but the title grabbed me. It’s about a model in Rome, in 1948, who has lost her memory. She intends to find clues about her identity using an invitation from Salvador Dali to the Garden of Monsters.

A Courtesan’s Pirate by Nina Wachsman (Jamaica 1614, September 3)

The Pirate’s Physician by Amy Maroney (Renaissance Mediterranean, September 5)

A Cure for Sorrow by Jen Wheeler (Gilded Age Manhattan, September 24)

The Wartime Nursery by Lizzie Page (Norfolk 1940, September 27)

Murder at King’s Crossing by Andrea Penrose (Regency England, September 24)

MOST INTRIGUING

Mademoiselle Eiffel by Aimee K. Runyan (September 10)

“For anyone who has ever admired the Eiffel Tower, this fascinating tale of a woman ahead of her time will leave a mark on your heart, in much the same way that Claire Eiffel left her mark on the world.”  — Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Daughter

I want to read all of these! From favorite authors to favorite topics, these books have it all. I cannot ever resist, however, the tale of a woman in a famous man’s orbit that holds it all together. This one sounds very promising!

Terra Incognita by Simon Turney (Roman Empire 61 A.D., Septembre 12)

The Royal Rebel by Elizabeth Chadwick (England 1338, September 5)

The Path Beneath Her Feet by Janis Robinson Daly (America 1936, September 5)

The Paris Understudy by Aurelie Thiele (Paris 1938, September 10)

The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin (WWII Nottingham, September 10)

 

Need more books on your TBR? See more new release titles at Historical Novel Society.

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