This was my first historical novel and still my favorite. I haven't loved all of Philippa Gregory's novels, but this is the best. The movie was awful but that's neither here nor there...

This was the first book I read about ancient Egypt. I had a teacher in 7th grade who was a hard core Egypt fan - and thus I stayed as far away as I possibly could. But this is amazing! For anyone who liked "The Other Boleyn Girl", this is somewhat the same type of story. Two sisters and their love/hate relationship in the eyes of the royal court. Great story all around!

I can't even begin to describe how amazing this book is. I picked it up at the airport when I ran out of things to read on the plane. It's quite thick, so I figured it would last. At first I plodded through it, but about 50 pages in I'd find myself in the middle of another task and wondering what was going to happen next. I got really involved in the characters and their stories. Wonderful!!

The best Robin Maxwell book, in my opinion. Although parts of it are (so I hear) totally unrealistic, I still love it. This makes Anne Boleyn seem like a normal person, instead of the evil woman she is normally portrayed as.

This is a great book and the only of its period that I've read. If you like the Tudor period but are bored with the same characters, give this one a try. It's wonderfully interesting if only because it's a story we haven't already heard 20 times.

A hilarious novel set in the 1920's (if I remember correctly). The character is witty and smart, and the plot moves quickly. A great read!

I really liked this book, even though it wasn't what I normally read. The characters were interesting, and I liked how they tied in with each other. A bit of a guilty read, but still wonderful!

Another Tash Alexander

These three books top the list of my guilty historical fiction. If you're looking for an easy (and not very accurate) historical fiction, these are for you. Lots of drama, but good story telling.

First in the series

By far my favorite Jane Austen novel. Probably because I read it first when I was about 9, and it was the first classic I managed to get through. I didn't really understand the whole story then - but I was so proud of myself! Since then I've read this book about twice a year and have it on my iPod. Love it!

I read the other day that Jane Austen was very annoyed when her readers liked Emma, because she had written her as a character that people would be annoyed by. But I think we can all relate to Emma on some level. We've all been a bit head-in-the-clouds before!

Who doesn't love a story with pirates, swordfights, romance and history? Great for a rainy day when you're stuck inside.

These are some more Elizabeth I mysteries. But what is different about this series is that Queen Elizabeth is portrayed as a somewhat ruthless woman. The stories revolve around Ursula, a woman who somehow finds herself playing spy for Queen Elizabeth. It's interesting to watch her struggle with her love of providing for her and her daughter - and her desire to live a normal life. Great series!

This is a much darker historical mystery. Julia's husband dies during a party, and everyone assumes it's because he's been sick for awhile. Enter Nicholas Brisbane - a private detective who believes it was a murder, not a natural death. Enter the mystery. Really a great read, but still scared me a bit!

This is the third in the Julia/Brisbane mystery series. It hasn't been released yet, so I don't know if it's good or not. But since I'll be reading it, I've added it to the list.

This is a great book, based on the story of Lady Jane Grey - who was forced by her family to be queen for nine days. Jane has always been portrayed as a weak little nothing, but this book gives her character and real depth. It's nice to hear the other side of the story.

I've had some issues getting through Margaret George's other books because I find some of her characters rather annoying. But I've always liked her writing and this is a great book. Not overly Biblical, this story focus more on the people than the religion. Great read!