Hazel Gaynor is an author and freelance writer in Ireland and the UK.
In addition to writing historical fiction, Hazel writes a popular guest blog, Carry on Writing, for national Irish writing website writing.ie. She also writes feature author interviews for the site and has interviewed Philippa Gregory, Sebastian Faulks, Cheryl Strayed, Daisy Waugh and Mary Beth Keane, among others.
In October 2012, Hazel was awarded the Cecil Day Lewis Award for Emerging Writers. She appeared at Waterford Writers Weekend in 2012 and 2013 and will be speaking at the Romantic Novelists Association conference in 2014.
Originally from North Yorkshire, England, Hazel now lives in Ireland with her husband, two young children and an accident-prone cat.
The Sunflower House (2024) Adriana Allegri "A remarkable debut inspired by unimaginable events during WW2. Heart-wrenching and yet full of tenderness and hope, The Sunflower House is emotionally propulsive from first page to last, transporting the reader to the 1930s and into the heart and mind of a young woman whose bravery and selflessness carries the story to its heart-rending conclusion. Meticulously researched and written with a keen sensitivity to the difficult subject matter, I was captivated by the characters and by a piece of history I knew nothing about. Adriana Allegri is an exciting new talent in historical fiction."
A Beautiful Rival (2023) Gill Paul "A brilliantly entertaining novel about the ugly side of the beauty business. With incredible attention to detail, Gill Paul takes the reader up close and personal with Arden and Rubenstein and their battle for dominance in the emerging beauty industry of the 1900s. Paul blends fact and fiction as smoothly as Arden's Venetian cream, and with pithy dialogue and a wicked sense of humor, brings her leading ladies and their outrageous backstabbing and jealousies roaring to life on the page. An absolute decadent joy from beginning to end, this is the perfect summer read!"
Swan Light (2023) Phoebe Rowe "A wonderfully absorbing story that swept me away to Newfoundland and the mystery of a lost lighthouse and secrets hidden beneath the ocean. With a gentle narrative and rich atmosphere, Rowe creates subtle tension, keeping the reader guessing as the dual timelines and cast of characters tangle and entwine. Swan Light is an accomplished debut by a writer I look forward to reading much more from."
The Moonlight Gardening Club (2023) Rosie Hannigan "Full of warmth and heart, The Moonlight Gardening Club is an absolute delight. Ruby and Frankie are characters to really care for and will definitely inspire you to grab your wellies and get out into the garden! Rosie Hannigan is an exciting new voice in Irish fiction."
The Girl from Donegal (2023) Carmel Harrington "A timeless love story, beautifully told across eighty years and two continents . . . Carmel takes us on an emotional rollercoaster."
The Secrets of Hartwood Hall (2023) Katie Lumsden "Incredibly rich prose in this absorbing, deeply atmospheric story of governess, Margaret Lennox. A brilliant love letter to classic Victorian fiction and a standout debut."
Madwoman (2022) Louisa Treger "An intimate and intriguing portrait of a fascinating and complex woman. In Madwoman, Louisa Treger combines her talents of storytelling and imagination to bring Nellie Bly firmly out of the history books and back into the spotlight where she, and her trailblazing journalism, belong. Fabulous."
The Last Dress from Paris (2022) Jade Beer "An absolute delight! The Last Dress from Paris is as original, elegant, and romantic as the Dior dresses the novel's mystery is woven around. Jade Beer seamlessly stitches together an illuminating story of female friendships, secrets, and a couture treasure hunt that takes the reader from post-war Paris to present-day London. The writing is a breath of fresh air, and in her leading ladies, Lucille and Alice, Beer delivers intriguing complex characters for her readers to really care about. Magnifique!"
Angels of the Pacific (2022) Elise Hooper "In this heart-stopping tale of courage and resilience during WW2, Elise Hooper brings the remarkable true story of army nurses, the Angels of Bataan, into the hands and hearts of her readers. Through compulsive, dramatic and tender prose, rich in details of place and time, Hooper expertly handles the unique complexities of the war in the Pacific and the struggles of those caught up in it. Her characters, Tess and Flor, demand the pages to be turned, and their story to be told. This is historical fiction to devour, to inform, and to press into the hands of your friends."
The Next Ship Home (2022) Heather Webb "Powerful and poignant, The Next Ship Home shines a literary light on Ellis Island's dark history, where the prejudices of the past often sit uncomfortably close to the present. Written with a clear passion for the subject matter, Webb captures the injustices, suffering, hope, and determination of a generation of immigrants. Francesca and Alma roar from the page and leave the reader caring for them deeply. A richly imagined novel and a must-read for fans of historical fiction. Brava!"
Annabel Abbs "A feast for the senses, rich with the flavours of Victorian England, I prepared every dish with Eliza and Ann and devoured every page. A literary - and culinary - triumph!"
The Last Dance of the Debutante (2021) Julia Kelly "Refreshing, intriguing, oozing with elegance, and with three female leads who will keep you thoroughly engrossed, The Last Dance of the Debutante is a charming gem of a novel which will delight fans of Kelly's previous work, and fans of The Crown."
Daughters of War (2021) (Daughters of War, book 1) Dinah Jefferies "A rich tapestry of courage, passion and family secrets beneath the dark shadows of war."
The Rose Garden (2021) Tracy Rees "Beautifully written and vividly imagined, The Rose Garden strikes the perfect balance between period drama to savour and compelling escapism to devour. Tracy Rees has such a talent for writing engaging characters who stay with you. I loved it!"
The Last Debutantes (2021) Georgie Blalock "A fascinating portrayal of Princess Margaret and the many scandals that surround her...Full of glamour, intrigue, and with delicious glimpses of the wider royal family, The Other Windsor Girl is a delight. Perfect for fans of The Crown."
The River Between Us (2021) Liz Fenwick "Full of delicious atmosphere and intrigue, and with a compelling mystery flowing through its pages, The River Between Us is an absolute delight! Liz Fenwick's writing oozes Cornwall, and the setting of Boatman's Cottage and the river Tamar made me long for lazy summer days on the riverbank. Perfect escapism. I loved it!"
Bronte's Mistress (2020) Finola Austin "A beautifully written, highly seductive debut….The chemistry between Branwell and Lydia positively crackles on the page….Masterful storytelling which is sure to delight fans of the Brontës and of historical fiction."
The Girl in White Gloves (2020) Kerri Maher "The Girl in White Gloves offers a tantalizing, behind-the-scenes look at Grace Kelly's life. An absolute treat - I loved it!"
The Vanished Bride (2019) (Bronte Sisters Mystery, book 1) Bella Ellis "What a treat! The Vanished Bride is an absolute delight from start to finish. Dashing across the Yorkshire moors with the Brontë sisters felt like visiting dear old friends, and Bella Ellis does the most wonderful job in imagining Emily, Charlotte and Anne as 'detectors'. Beautifully written, deliciously atmospheric, and enormous fun, this series is certain to become a firm favourite."
When We Left Cuba (2019) (Cuba Saga, book 2) Chanel Cleeton "Oozing with atmosphere and intrigue...Evocative. powerful, and beautifully written."
Girls on the Line (2018) Aimie K Runyan "An intriguing and original novel inspired by the female telephone operators of WWI, Girls on the Line will delight fans of historical fiction. Now is the time for stories about strong, courageous women, and through her heroine, Ruby Wagner, Aimie K. Runyan crafts an absorbing tribute to a group of extraordinary women who played a vital role in the war."
The Lost Queen (2018) (Lost Queen, book 1) Signe Pike "In her extraordinary debut, Signe Pike assuredly transports the reader to an ancient past, bringing it vividly to life through her beautiful writing. Languoreth is a bold and complex heroine readers will be rooting for until the last page. Mystical, epic and captivating, I couldn't put it down, and look forward to the next installment of this intriguing trilogy."
Becoming Belle (2018) Nuala O'Connor "A glorious novel in which Belle Bilton and 19th century London are brought roaring to life with exquisite period detail."
The Masterpiece (2018) Fiona Davis "Bursting with delicious period detail, in The Masterpiece Fiona Davis takes us behind the scenes of New York's Grand Central Terminal to reveal a forgotten world of art and intrigue. Oozing with sophistication and packed with a delicious cast of characters (including the building itself), this is a hugely enjoyable and cleverly crafted historical novel."
The Mermaid (2018) Christina Henry "In her latest novel, The Mermaid, Christina Henry weaves a captivating tale of an intriguing young woman who finds herself in the world of the greatest showman, PT Barnum. Original and magical, this is a novel to dive into and savour."
As Bright as Heaven (2018) Susan Meissner "Beautifully written and vividly imagined, As Bright as Heaven is a mesmerizing portrayal of the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918. This is a novel which will linger long in the memory."
The Lost Season of Love and Snow (2018) Jennifer Laam "A captivating tale in which Natalya Pushkin is vividly imagined. [A] sensitive and skillfully written novel... sure to enchant."
Woman Enters Left (2017) Jessica Brockmole "Tender, touching, original, and rich with delicious period detail of Hollywood's heyday--buckle up, because you'll definitely want to go on a road trip after reading this delightful book!"
The Lake (2015) Sheena Lambert "A fascinating insight into a little-known part of Irish history."
