Erika Robuck self-published her first novel, RECEIVE ME FALLING. NAL/Penguin has published her subsequent novels, HEMINGWAY'S GIRL, CALL ME ZELDA, and FALLEN BEAUTY, and will release her forthcoming THE HOUSE OF HAWTHORNE in May of 2015. Erika is also part of an anthology of ten stories called GRAND CENTRAL (July 2014, Berkley/Penguin) set one month after WWII at Grand Central Terminal in NY.
Erika has an historical fiction book blog, and is a member of the Historical Novel Society, the Hemingway Society, and the Millay Society.
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne (2024) Emily Critchley "The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is gothic fiction at its darkest and finest. 'Beware!' The reader wants to shout the warning to the girl of modest means who becomes enthralled with the wealthy and privileged sisters that will turn her world upside down, who take until there's nothing left, and who inhabit a world where both injustice and justice are brutal and swift. Fans of Shirley Jackson will find this novel mesmerizing."
Mademoiselle Eiffel (2024) Aimie K Runyan "The story of one of the most iconic landmarks in the world is entwined not only with its architects but with the families of those who built it. Its creation is due in large part to the efforts and support of Claire Eiffel, a young woman forced to grow up too soon but who rose to the challenge. MADEMOISELLE EIFFEL shines a glorious light on an unseen woman from history."
Maria (2024) Michelle Moran "In Maria, Michelle Moran has revealed a fresh view of a beloved family's story, the glamorous world of 1950s New York, and a fascinating peek behind the curtain of the writing and production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's masterpiece The Sound of Music. It's pure delight from start to finish."
The British Booksellers (2024) Kristy Cambron "From page one, the dynamic, endearing characters in The British Booksellers stole my heart. Kristy Cambron is an assured storyteller, weaving together dual periods and complex family structures with ease. Fans of Downton Abbey will adore The British Booksellers."
The Woman with a Purple Heart (2023) Diane Hanks "The Woman with a Purple Heart vividly portrays a little known story in a well-known time on a day that will live in infamy. The actions of Army nurse Annie Fox-the first woman to win the Purple Heart, for her incredible courage and leadership following the attack at Pearl Harbor and Hickam Field-reveal the kind of staggering bravery that both captivates and inspires. A stirring read!"
The Brilliance of Stars (2022) (Jack and Ivy, book 1) J'Nell Ciesielski "An epic, Bond-style tale, set during the first World War, The Brilliance of Stars grips the reader from the first page. With its mesmeric settings, nonstop action, and witty dialogue, Ciesielski crafts a thrilling love story of powerful equals working tirelessly to save the world from darkness."
That Summer in Berlin (2022) Lecia Cornwall "That Summer in Berlin is an enthralling and terrifying journey through pre-WWII Germany, where staggering beauty and congeniality are meant to distract Olympic tourists from the machines of war, growing in the shadows. Readers will adore the plucky, courageous heroine who sees beyond the facade and risks everything for the truth. Prepare to lose sleep."
The House in the Orchard (2022) Elizabeth Brooks "At turns lush and tangled, with moments of clarity that burst forth from the darkness like shafts of moonlight penetrating a forest canopy, The House in the Orchard represents the finest in gothic fiction. Brooks is a master, enticing the reader forward, one step at a time, but only revealing the path by the light of a candle. Bewitching."
A Dress of Violet Taffeta (2022) Tessa Arlen "A Dress Of VioletTaffeta is the epic story of a self-made woman, and a fresh and captivating look at the birth of fin de siecle runway fashion. From cramped terraced house sitting rooms to ballrooms, readers will be enthralled by the parade of notable historical figures whose appetite for clothing allows a single mother to not only raise her daughter, but to do so in growing comfort, style, and notoriety. Arlen doesn't shy away from hardships and tragedy, but with a bright, hopeful, industrious protagonist like Lucy Duff Gordon at the forefront, the reader is never burdened. A true pleasure from start to finish."
Shadows of Berlin (2022) David R Gillham "In a poignant novel saturated in the rich hues of time, place, and art comes the unforgettable story of Rachel Perlman-a child of war, grown in body but held captive in soul by a past of abuse, guilt, and unimaginable trauma. Yet even from the ruinous embers of war, Gillham skillfully, tenderly allows Rachel to rise, revealing the life-affirming truth that we may always begin again, no matter where we are. Though timeless, Shadows of Berlin is novel for our time because it provides what we desperately need all the time: Hope."
The Last Grand Duchess (2022) Bryn Turnbull "From glittering palaces to field hospitals, privilege to prison life, Bryn Turnbull portrays the downfall of a royal family with clarity, empathy, and intimacy. THE LAST GRAND DUCHESS reads like a symphony, the last notes of the Romanovs vanishing with a staggering and tragic beauty."
The Last Rose of Shanghai (2021) Weina Dai Randel "In a novel that spans time, space, and culture, The Last Rose of Shanghai is a riveting story of love, heartbreak, and redemption. The smoky night clubs, jazz bars, luxury hotels, family compounds, and refugee settlements of Japanese-occupied Shanghai provide a fascinating background to the lives of those caught in the crossfires of war. Weina Dai Randel is a skilled artist, giving the reader well drawn characters of great depth, complexity, and heart. In the WWII genre, within the genre of historical fiction, The Last Rose of Shanghai stands out for its boldness and originality."
You Belong Here Now (2021) Dianna Rostad "From the moment the reader steps on the train with these orphaned children, You Belong Here Now shows how beauty can emerge from even the darkest places."
Courage, My Love (2021) Kristin Beck "Courage, My Love, is a moving story about how ordinary people can do extraordinary things when working together for good. Beck crafts a tale of both heart-pounding intensity and deep emotional resonance, with characters who will stay with the reader long after the pages are closed. Poignant and beautiful."
And They Called It Camelot (2020) Stephanie Marie Thornton "And They Called It Camelot is a sumptuous, propulsive, scandal-filled peek behind the curtain of American royalty. Thornton gives the reader a fascinating look at the masks worn by those who live in the public life. One might not agree with all of Jackie's choices, but the force of her instinct for survival cannot be denied."
Meet Me in Monaco (2019) Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb "... a spellbinding historical romance...MEET ME IN MONACO is a tale of first, missed, and second chances-of relatable women and men trying to make good lives for themselves in spite of difficult circumstances. It is a fairy tale...with an enchanting, fascinating fairy godmother: Grace Kelly."
Montauk (2019) Nicola Harrison "Glittering galas, lavish living, and the spoils of hedonism crash against the lush, wild, primitive beauty of an Atlantic Coastal fishing village, creating a perfect storm. Caught between the two worlds, one woman must discover who she truly is, even if it means losing everything in the process. Montauk is a stunning debut by a gifted storyteller."
The Rain Watcher (2018) Tatiana De Rosnay "The Rain Watcher is a poignant and moving story of a family in crisis. As flood waters rise in Paris, the men and women of the Malegarde clan struggle not to drown under the weight of their own secrets. Through her tender rendering of her characters, Tatiana de Rosnay demonstrates that--in spite of our burdens and our brokenness--redemption and healing are within our grasp."
Carnegie's Maid (2018) Marie Benedict "Feels like Downton Abbey in the United States... Benedict demonstrates the relevance of history to the present day in this impeccably researched novel of the early immigrant experience. Deeply human, and brimming with complex, vulnerable characters, CARNEGIE'S MAID shows the power of ambition tempered by altruism, and the true realization of the American Dream."
Girl in Disguise (2017) Greer Macallister "Macallister is becoming a leading voice in strong, female-driven historical fiction. Exciting, frightening, and unspeakably moving, Girl in Disguise reveals what one courageous woman endures to enact justice in a nation at war, and change the course of history."
The Accidental Empress (2015) (Sisi, book 1) Allison Pataki "With her meticulous attention to historical detail and powerfully entertaining storytelling skills, Allison Pataki is a force in historical fiction. Set amid the grand landscapes of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the wilds of the human heart, The Accidental Empress is an epic tale of honor, power, and love. Breathtaking!"
Somewhere in France (2013) (Great War , book 1) Jennifer Robson "Utterly engaging and richly satisfying, Somewhere in France depicts the very best in love and war. Fans of Downton Abbey will devour this novel!"
