Shadow of a Century--Free Historical Fiction

This one has multiple story lines in the past and present. I loved the story about Mary and Rory in the Easter Uprising, but I don't know if I can wholehearted recommend this one, because I didn't love Scarlett, the main contemporary character, although her story did bring up some interesting issues about women today.

Bloody Lessons

This is the 3rd in a mystery suspense series (I love these, and they are all on Kindle Unlimited) about Annie Fuller, a young widow making her own way in Victorian San Francisco. As usual, she is working with Nate, a young lawyer, to solve a mystery, but this time it concerns Nate's own schoolteacher sister, Laura.

Defy

The first one of this trilogy is on Kindle Unlimited, but the rest weren't. I really enjoyed this trilogy about a woman warrior disguising herself as as boy to serve in the Prince's guard and all of her adventures during a time of upheaval under an oppressive king. She finds out that there is more to the prince she serves than meets the eye.

Victoria and the Rogue

This book is a bit of a fluffy little regency romance, a fun way to pass a little time. It isn't free, but I was able to get it from the library (on Overdrive) right away.

Twelve Years a Slave FREE!

This one is free for download on Amazon right now. A memoir about how a free black man was kidnapped and enslaved in 1841--a beautiful, enthralling, true story and an important historical piece that influenced the arguments leading into the Civil War. So neat.

Wild

I love memoirs. There's something about people opening up about their own lives, digging deep into the meaning of life itself that is so beautiful to me. Cheryl Strayed writes about a months-long backpacking trek across California and Oregon on the Pacific Crest Trail, about all of the problems in her life that led her to that decision, all of the things that were broken about her at that time, and how her adventures alone in the wild ultimately healed her. It is intense, serious, brutal, sometimes disturbing, and yet, she writes with such humor, too, about running into bears and rattlesnakes, the people she met on the trail, and her own inner discoveries.

Enola Holmes

Enola Holmes is a young woman, the much younger sister of Sherlock Holmes, whose mother disappears. As she uses all her wits to escape from the confines of her patronizing older brothers power and search for her mother, she discovers a lot about who she is and her amazing talents. Love this series!

Tabitha

Tabitha is a beautiful historical fiction about a woman who is forced into a life of prostitution and her recovery when she finally escapes and tries to find a new purpose for her life serving as a nurse in WWI. Based on a minor character from the Prairie Heritage series (also amazing!), this is a Christian story about redemption.

A Ghost in Time

This is a fun mystery series about a Hawaiian woman living in Destiny Bay California (these are on Kindle Unlimited). The books are really quick reads. She always seems to be finding bodies and getting in the middle of murders (and flirting with a certain police detective), like your typical cozy mystery, but the twist is that she has a little Hawaiian magic and ghostly friends who help her out of tight spots.

Bo Bradley series--first one is free

Bo Bradley is a social worker assigned the case of an abandoned four year old deaf boy. In her investigation into the situation, she comes up against both outside dangers and her own internal struggles with bipolar disorder. Is she crazy, or is she the only one who can see clearly the danger that this little boy is in?
Great characters, great story!

Grave Mercy

This story is about a female assassin in the Middle Ages. Based on historical political intrigues and wars that surrounded the real twelve-year-old Duchess of Brittany and her court, the story also has a fantasy element. Ismae is trained in a special convent devoted to St. Mortrain (the god of death), and as his daughter, has special gifts that aid her in her efforts to defend the duchess from countless plots and threats. Grave Mercy is beautifully written, with a great balance of character development and action, and some romance thrown in.
This one isn't free, but I was able to get it through the library after a few weeks on hold. I already put the next one on hold!

Alexis Parker

The Warhol Incident is free, and the 2nd in a series (I would recomend reading Likely Suspects first) about Alex Parker, a federal agent who gets a job in the private sector. Alex is strong lead, with lots of hangups and demons to overcome, yet always courageous in investigating crimes and getting to the bottom of dangerous, sticky situations. The writing isn't always perfect, but I always enjoy Alex's adventures.

Magnificent Devices

Lady of Devices is (free!) the first in a nine-book steampunk series. With a strong female lead, lots of adventure and action, and a great mix of Victorian with fantasy elements, this is a favorite of mine. At the beginning, there were moments when it felt a little trite, but I was glad that I stuck with it. My only warning is that once you read the first free one, you will want to read the rest of the series, which aren't free.

Tread Softly on my Dreams

Gretta Curran Browne is an incredible historical fiction author--her books are based on real history and real people with tons of research behind them. She makes the characters come alive with so much passion and depth.
This book is about an Irish rebel named Robert Emmet, a privileged and talented young man who gives it all up for the freedom of his country. Fast-moving, with rich characters from all walks of life, full of intrigue, political struggle, and romance. Beautiful and enjoyable, the only downside to this book is that it doesn't have that neatly-packaged happily-ever-after.

Kimberly Rae Jordan, This Time with Love

This is a (free!) Christian Romance about a couple who are reunited after a long separation, a time in which both of them have changed their values. Eric doesn't know that Staci had his child a few years ago. This revelation and some lingering feelings bring them together, but they struggle to move forward because their previous relationship was so unhealthy. Overall, I enjoyed it, although I felt that it was a bit cheesy sometimes.
After some bad experiences with trashy, poorly written romances I have been reading more of the Christian ones--I will keep you posted on the good ones.

What I Want, and the Chop Chop Series

I have been making good use of a subscription to Kindle Unlimited, including this book and several others I've posted here. So far, I think it has been worth it. I used to just read a lot of free Kindle Books, but I got tired of so many of them being poorly written and unoriginal. This way I have access to more quality books for free. I have, however, come across a few great ones from the free list, so I will try to share those as I find them.
I have read several of the Chop, Chop books and overall I have really enjoyed them. These are Christian books, mostly about one man and his struggles to live a Christian life during many trials and adventures. The characters are pretty strong, but sometimes I feel like the melodrama gets to be a bit much. What I Want is about Marco, (the adopted son of Dave, the main character of Chop, Chop), who was born with birth defects, and goes to graduate school in Australia, and his various romantic and spiritual adventures.

Steathy Steps

An original sci-fi about Gemma Keyes, a woman who works for a top-secret military lab and whose life is transformed by a groundbreaking fatherly scientist, strange new technology, lots of secrets, and a dangerous struggle for power. Loved it! My only problem is that the ending wasn't very satisfying--I hope it won't take too long for the rest of the series to come out.

Secrets on the Wind

Secrets on the Wind is a Christian Historical Fiction about several unique characters, each struggling with their own issues, on an army post in Nebraska in the 1800s. Granny Max is the strong, faith-filled older woman who mentors them all to change their lives for the better. The writing is beautiful, the characters interesting and well-developed, the action interesting--I recommend this book!