Book picks similar to
Catch the Sun (The Jan Willem Saga) by Ian Roberts
historical-fiction
freebies
rating-4-and-above
setting__19th_mis<br/>c
Bridles Lane
Johanna Craven - 2018
1740.
They say only the brave ride Bridles Lane at night. Vicar Richard Dodge speaks of ghosts and demons, conducting elaborate exorcisms in his churchyard overlooking the lane. And with the villagers sheltering in fear, local smugglers carry their haul up the road to be hidden in the safety of the church. Isaac and Scarlett Bailey have spent their lives hiding contraband in Talland church. Forced into free trade by their father's mistakes, they want nothing more than to escape the smuggling syndicate and build a life above the law. On the other side of Bridles Lane, Flora Kelly has grown up in the shadow of her mother, the village charmer. Sceptical of her mother's craft, Flora reopens her family's tavern, determined that her life will not be one of fortune telling and herbal lore. When a seemingly abandoned ship is wrecked in Talland Bay, it sparks a wave of hysteria among the superstitious villagers. Faith in the vicar wavers and Flora feels herself drawn to the controversial old ways of her mother. Among growing unrest, the mystery of the wrecked ship deepens, unearthing long-forgotten secrets that will tear a village- and a family- apart. Inspired by true events, Bridles Lane is the first book in the West Country Trilogy, from the author of Forgotten Places and The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.
Victory Garden
Meredith Allard - 2012
She’ll fight with her very life to make votes for women a reality.A headstrong young woman who yearns to be herself in a time when women weren’t free, Rose comes of age when world wars are new and automobiles, moving pictures, and airplanes are marvels of technology. She falls in love with Adam Bell, a vaudeville actor who travels the country with his brothers gathering laughs and hard knocks, though she denies her feelings for him, fearing he could prove to be her weakness. While working in Washington, D.C. for votes for women, Rose is arrested for her suffragist activities. After her release she must come to terms with her dreams for the future.Can we trust our government to do what is best for us? What must we sacrifice in times of war? And what must women suffer to be truly equal? Victory Garden is a reminder of how far we’ve come…and how far we still have to go.
The Gift of a Child
Donna K. Weaver - 2018
She and her two young children must now face a holiday season filled with so many reminders of what they've lost. But when a coworker who’s raising his young nephew moves next door, Rae discovers that the support of a good friend, and the gift of a child, can bring back some of the joy of the season.
His Fair Lady
Kathleen Kirkwood - 2001
. .During the murderous assault on the village of Vaux, little “Ana” lost all she knew. Suddenly, out of the burning wreckage, a young man appeared and rescued her from the horrors of the night. He proved to be a squire in a company of knights, on their way to join the Crusades. At a neighboring village, he delivered her into the care of a peasant couple who promised to love her. Before departing, he gifted her with something to remember him by . . . the silver cross from around his neck.A wrong to be righted . . .After a decade of fighting in the east, Sir Royce de Warrene returns to England a celebrated knight. But he soon discovers the terrible mistake he made on that long-ago night. The orphan girl was no peasant child, but an heiress of noble blood — Lady Juliana Mandeville — and he deprived her of her birthright. He is charged with a quest — to find her at once and restore her to her grandfather — by order of the king!Love to be fulfilled, fated long ago . . .Now grown to womanhood, the stunningly beautiful and saucy “Ana” refuses to believe the knight when he disrupts her wedding day, intent on taking her from those she loves and to deliver her to strangers at the English court. She grips the silver cross she wears, wishing her gallant squire could rescue her once more. Although she cannot remember his face clearly and never knew his name, she has not forgotten the night he saved her so long ago.
River God (Ancient Egypt, #1) / Gold Mine (Omnibus)
Wilbur Smith - 2005
But Tanus will have to defy the same gods to attain the reward they have forbidden him, an object more prized than battle's glory: possession of the Lady Lostris, a rare beauty with skin the color of oiled ceder--destined for the adoration of a nation, and the love of one extraordinary man.Gold MineNorth of Johannesburg, five companies share the Kitchenerville fields, furiously blasting and digging deep into the earth. For some men, gold mining is a way of life--and death. For some it's just a business. For one man, it's the most dangerous game of all...Rod Ironsides makes love to his boss's wife and drives his miners faster and harder than anyone has ever dared. A few weeks ago, Ironsides had a passion for golf and one-night stands. Now, he has been handed a prize and a curse: to blast through rock and reap a fortune--or be destroyed.From a split-second, oxygen-sucking explosion to a looming underground wall of water, there are a dozen ways Rod can fail. But his passion and fury won't let him back down from a conspiracy he cannot see: men who want to turn his mine into a death trap--for the bloodiest pay-day of all...
Captain Rockford's Reckoning
Susan Lodge - 2018
But she is determined that the days of him interfering with her life are over. Destroying her chances of a happy future on his last visit, had resulted in her being foisted on her Aunt for a third pointless season in London. To alleviate the boredom of society life, Esmie helps run a discreet betting enterprise under the guise of a sewing club. But there are some things you just shouldn't wager on, and Esmie's integrity is soon put to a dangerous test. Richard Rockford had known Esmie almost all her life. As neighbours, her father, Admiral Elstone, had depended on Richard to keep an eye on his daughter when he was away at sea – a responsibility he had always taken on willingly. But her cruel and thoughtless actions, from the day he had left four years earlier, had shaken him. Now, he was back, and he wanted answers. But when Esmie tumbles into a treacherous conspiracy, can he really turn his back on her?
Anointed
Greg S. Baker - 2018
“Let the king know. Your servant kept his father’s sheep. There came a lion and a bear and took a lamb out of the flock. And when the lion arose against me, I caught the lion by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. I also slew the bear, my lord. This uncircumcised Philistine will be as one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD God that delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.”The king’s eyes closed. “I fear to send you, my son. I fear what the giant will do to you. You have yet to witness his great strength.” He hesitated. “But I do believe the LORD is with you. I pray that He is. Our honor, our nation, our lives rest upon you, my servant. Go, and Jehovah be with you.”David left the tent, but only Jonathan followed him. The king’s son walked over to a pole that bore a flag of challenge. It had lain unused on the ground for these past forty days, but now Jonathan hoisted it high and slammed the butt hard into the earth to steady it. The red flag waved defiantly in the small breeze of the late afternoon.A roar of approval rose from the ranks of Hebrew soldiers, and from the valley below, Goliath beheld the challenge flag and beat upon his breastplate in pleased battle lust. He shouted, “Come then! Send me a man that we may fight!”David took a deep breath, eyeing the monstrous giant. Then he bounded down the slope to meet his fate and fulfill the duty of his anointing.
Passion and Pride
Amelia Nolan - 2012
Master and servant, aristocrat and commoner...even as passion unites them, society's rules and the couple's own prideful natures tear them apart.When Marian's life is in danger, will Evan risk everything he has - his money, his title, his life - to save the woman he loves?Set in England and Paris during the years of the French Revolution, PASSION AND PRIDE is about illicit desire, forbidden romance, and a love that conquers all.83,000 words. Warning: contains several very explicit sensual scenes.
My Name Is Rose
Alexa Kingaard - 2019
Life in a hippie commune is her parent's dream come true, not hers. She doesn't share their passion for living off the land, nor does she enjoy the isolation that is thrust upon her. When she convinces them to send her to public school in the nearby town, a new world opens up to her. As she pursues her education, Rose chooses a different path, leaving her parents heartbroken at her insistence they are hiding something from her. She's convinced her father isn't the man her mother married. Although she finds love far away from her roots and upbringing, her wounds only deepen as she keeps her family at arm’s length. What she loses during those years can only be retrieved with her understanding that “a Rose by any other name is still a Rose.”
Mitch Kearns Combat Tracker: Volumes 1-7
J.T. Sawyer - 2019
Crossing paths with Israeli agent Dev Leitner, the two seasoned operators join forces to bring down terrorist cells, rogue assassins, and black-ops mercenaries in these 7 adrenaline-soaked thrillers now available in one boxed set. Volume One, Dead In Their Tracks: Former combat tracker Mitch Kearns is past his glory days and spends his time teaching the feds how to pursue fugitives on the run. Fresh out of a class with the FBI, he runs into his mentor's daughter, who's in possession of plans to obliterate the U.S. Mitch then faces an impossible task: get her to the authorities before hardened mercenaries can kill them. Cornered and desperate, they're left with no choice but to escape into the Arizona desert. Mitch uses every evasive technique in his arsenal, but nothing works, and their pursuers seem unstoppable. Can Mitch beat the clock or will their adversaries annihilate them and end democracy forever? Volume Two, Counter-Strike: Join Mitch and Dev as they head across the globe in pursuit of a deadly pathogen that has fallen into the wrong hands. From the boreal forest of Sweden to the jungles of Indonesia, the two warriors must pool all of their skills to overcome an adversary bent on releasing a virus that can level humanity Volume Three, The Kill List: Mitch Kearns is back in the U.S. visiting a friend at a secluded home in Colorado. Little do they know that there is a killer in their midst who is plotting against them for actions connected with a mantracking case Mitch was involved with a year earlier. With a storm moving in and one of their group dead before nightfall, they must work together to figure out who the traitor is and escape the perilous canyon where they are trapped. Volume Four, Blindsided: Eleven years ago, three Mossad operatives embarked upon a rescue mission in Africa that would have a ripple effect on their lives and the futures of their loved ones. Now, years later, Dev, Mitch, and their Gideon team are framed for a killing by an unknown assailant whose grasp extends beyond international borders. With Gideon being shuttered because of criminal charges on the anniversary of the founder’s death, Dev must battle against overwhelming forces to uncover who is responsible for trying to dismantle her company and alter the elections in the Israeli Parliament. Volume Five, Deadly Harvest: In this fast-paced story, Mitch tests his physical and mental endurance during an extended wilderness survival course with his Special Forces unit which culminates in a thrilling showdown between Mitch and two notorious bear poachers. This exciting novella is set eight years before Dead In Their Tracks Volume Six, Borderlands: When an abduction by cartel members along the Arizona border goes horribly wrong, Mitch Kearns is pulled away from his family ranch near Tucson to help track down the suspects. When it’s discovered that the captive is a high-level U.S. government official who holds the key to unlock codes for the Southwest power grid, Mitch and Dev are in a race against time to prevent a catastrophe from unfolding as they battle rival cartel members who each have their own stake in the game. Volume Seven, Without Mercy: When Mitch, Dev, and the senior Gideon staff head to Thailand for a conference, they think the rest of the week is going to be spent enjoying the sights with one of their colleagues. Instead, they cross paths with human-traffickers who have abducted some foreign tourists. With time slipping away, Mitch and the others must hunt down the criminals and resort to unconventional fighting methods in a culture still bound by the deadly blade arts.
Counterfeit Dreams
Sasha Ravae - 2012
After enduring an abusive relationship for over seven years, she meets the man of her dreams. Her eyes are finally opened to true love for the first time, but will it last? Jewel Sanchez, a self-made d-boy, hustles every day to provide himself with the life he has been accustomed to since birth. As lieutenant of the M.A.C. Boys, Jewel makes sure he keeps his money close and soon his enemies closer. Robyn Johnson, a rich, party girl, is known all over Sacramento, but maybe for the wrong reasons. She often attempts to medicate herself with material objects and different men, but the pain never goes away. She was always proud of her strength, but will that be enough for her to survive? Brandon Edwards’ short-fuse proves to be dangerous for everyone around him. Always use to getting what he wants, Brandon does whatever it takes to hold onto his power and respect even if that means losing a few people along the way.
The Aztec Secret
Joe Topliffe - 2020
Held against his will and forced to aid a desperate professor in deciphering clues from a 500-year-old manuscript written by Hernán Cortés, he quickly finds himself following in the footsteps of the conquistador to track down a legendary Aztec jewel.A bright young archaeology student, a corrupt government official, a trio of ruthless mercenaries and a policewoman seeking redemption are just a few others whose lives become wrapped up in the hunt for the long-lost treasure.Taken deep into the jungles of Mexico and Guatemala, Ted must face his worst fears and find a way out of an impossible situation. Can he uncover the secrets of the past to preserve his future?
Becoming a Highlander
Ann Marie Scott - 2020
When the beloved Laird Malcolm Mackintosh died, no one expected him to leave his fortune and title to a man that does not have a drop of Scottish blood in his veins. Adam Cameron, the nephew of Laird Mackintosh’s late English wife, is an educated and intelligent man but not even he can believe that his Uncle chose him as an heir.Adam travels to the Highlands to see his new property but feels like a sheep among wolves. The only exception is Emilia, a stunningly beautiful lass that appears to be the only one able to speak common English and communicate with him. Never the less, Adam has no interest in becoming a Laird in a place he is unwanted, and is tricked by an enemy Laird called McElwee to sell the land and give up his title. Emilia can not let her people fall into McElwee’s hands, so she decides to seduce the Englishman and make him fall in love with her and the Highlands. Emilia has get Adam on her side quickly as McElwee is secretly arming his men and will not hesitate to destroy anyone that stands in his way! "Becoming a Highlander" is a standalone story by best selling author Ann Marie Scott, packed with emotion, action and romance, set on the beautiful backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.
Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves
Parris Afton Bonds - 2017
Of course, she doesn’t believe in card reading, fortune telling, palmistry and fated events like destined soul mates and such bloody rot. Still . . . . While she easily foils the Angel of Death, she is having monumental trouble with a handsome but slick, silver-tongued attorney and a no-quarter-given Texas saddle tramp. Both she has flim-flammed with her supposed matchmaking skills and more. And both would do whatever it takes to rid themselves of this capricious thorn who has burrowed beneath their skins ~ or, conversely, give their lives to keep her. But, to which will she give her Gypsy’s wild heart?
Daughter of Paris: The Diary of Marie Duplessis, France's Most Celebrated Courtesan
A.G. Mogan - 2019
But in 19th century France, one courtesan created sensation not only through the scandalous deeds that sprung from her lifestyle but also through her death. Yet, what her contemporaries didn’t know was that her fame wasn’t born thanks to her beauty, but from a woman’s utter determination to overcome a childhood of endless torture, abandonment, and mistreatments; from a soul's desperate need to forget her past. The story of Marie Duplessis, the woman behind masterpieces such as Alexandre Dumas Fils' The Lady with the Camellias and Verdi's Traviata, is the story of a peasant girl who surpassed all suppressions her era imposed on its women, to become one of the most famous individuals 19th century Europe had ever known.