November 2022 Reads: Historical Fiction

Hello friends, how is everyone doing? I hope the year went well for you. I can’t even believe another year has flown by and is almost over.

I love this time of the year. The weather is cold (my favorite), my birthday is around the corner (22nd Dec), and we’re usually enjoying the holidays/winter break. All in all, it puts me in a good mood and that means; more reading!

Right now, I’m sharing my November reads and book recommendations. I will also share my December reads soon. We don’t know what the new year might be bringing, but for now, enjoy!

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Like No Other by Anna Jacobs

This book is so tough to rate because on one side, I found it difficult to put down. On the other side, I didn’t find the story particularly interesting. Does that confuse you? Well, I read the book and even I am confused. (LOL) Let’s discuss this and try to figure it out.

So, overall, the story is very well-written and has some interesting characters. Objectively speaking, I can admire the author for creating such vivid characters and beautiful settings. Also, creating enough intrigue that I kept reading just to find out what would happen next.

But, and this is very important to me, it’s a very depressing story. There isn’t a single happy moment until the very end. From the beginning, bad things keep happening to the heroine and you are left wondering how one person’s life can be full of such unfortunate events one after the other. I thoroughly despised that and yet, read it in just two sittings.

As I said, it’s very hard for me to rate. Because I want to give it a two-stars rating, but I also realize that might not be fair. Anyway, I don’t recommend it as recreational reading. There isn’t a single fun thing about this tense tale of woes and miseries set in an English village, where the heroine will face all kinds of desperate situations.

*Possible Spoilers*

To name a few of the above-mentioned unfortunate events; Elizabeth’s father hates her and mistreats her, and her mother is sick and then dies. No one wants to marry her, and when she does get married her happiness doesn’t last for long. Widowed, she now has a new set of challenges to face. People will try to ruin her reputation and take away her only son from her. To make things worse she will learn that she is a bastard and her father isn’t her real father.

You can imagine what kind of miserable life she is living. Add financial problems into the mix, and it’s one depressing story. It does end on a happy note, which I think is sort of a saving grace. That and the quality of the writing are the reasons I gave it 4 stars.

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A Pirate in Time by Megan Happel

5 Stars Review

It’s a Historical Fantasy, beautifully written and highly entertaining. I read this story on Wattpad. The story flows smoothly and there isn’t a single boring part. So much happens that you are constantly on the edge of your seat, wondering how the author will amuse you next.

Elizabeth is thrown overboard during a party onboard her friend’s ship and suddenly, she finds herself back in time. Not only that but she is on a pirate ship. There she will encounter gods, goddesses, sirens, and a lot more. There will be enemies lurking in the murky depth of waters and also, in the shadows. She will discover her family history and uncover secrets that will change her view of the world. And through it all, a pirate will be by her side, helping her and protecting her. Can she rely on him or must she find her way back home, to her original time, before it’s too late?

If you want to read something fun, full of mystical creatures, and lighthearted, then this book is for you. The best part, you can read it online for free.

I know that finding good stories on Wattpad is a bit of a challenge, but I have uncovered my hidden gems on the platform. It’s a place where many of my stories have found home too. So, do check it out if you’re in the mood. And if you’re already on the platform, share your favorite reads in the comments. Thank you!

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Cinderella and the Duke by Lydia Drake

It’s a well-paced historical romance with two of the most interesting main characters I have come across in fiction. Their sense of humor made it all the more interesting. I found it hard to put down once I started reading and it had me laughing many times. The story is perfect and there is enough drama to keep readers entertained.

Julia is a spinster who doesn’t want to stay one. She wants a life away from her stepmother even if it means she must marry someone she doesn’t like. Love doesn’t even enter the equation. So, when by a lucky chance she is allowed to attend a ball to chaperone her step-sister, she knows this must be it. She might never get another chance at finding herself a husband. Unfortunately, things rarely go as planned.

Gregory never wants to marry. In fact, he hates the very idea and knows that no woman can be happy with him. Never has in his entire life been tempted to consider matrimony until he meets Julia. There is something about her that makes it difficult to get her out of his head. Hounded by the husbands of women who can’t seem to leave him alone, marriage might give him a much-needed reprieve from early morning duels.

What seems like a perfect idea, a marriage of convenience, might soon turn into a battle of wills and a fight against temptation. Neither Julia nor Gregory is ready to back down from this race against fate.

The story has all the ingredients of a great romance and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. So glad I picked it up. Also, want to thank the publisher for the complimentary copy I received via NetGalley.

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This is it, for now, take care and enjoy your holidays.

This Or That: What Kind Of Stories You Love The Most?

We all love to read that much is clear if you’re here. But what do you read? Especially, what is it that you love to read the most? That is an important question. So, let’s get to know each other a little better.

I am a very diverse read and read almost all genres of fiction. Within genres, there are certain aspects of the story that I enjoy more than the others. But isn’t it true for all of us readers? There are things that we will always love more than the others. I thought it might be fun to pick “this or that” between a few things. Of course, “both” is always an option but for simplicity, we assume that we can only pick one from each category.

Time Travel or Space Travel?

I prefer time travel books more than space travel. Mostly, because I am a fan of historical fiction more than science-fiction. And when someone travels back in time, it is always fun to read about. Don’t you agree? It doesn’t have to be historical though. Time travel fantasies are often better and much more interesting reads. Also, time travel is common in science fiction as well. I have read stories that have both time travel as well as space travel, so that is also cool. In any case, my favorite time-travel stories include;

The Branches of Time (The Branches of Time #1) by Luca Rossi: The story begins with a black magic attack that kills the entire population of an island leaving three survivors. A couple and a priestess. There are secrets that the couple has no idea about. They don’t even know who their real enemy is and priestess is also hiding things from them. Stories from a time long forgotten… Then there is a cruel King in some other realm. He is planning to take over the world. But something keeps him caged…

This book has both magic and time travel, a great fantasy story. But I must admit there were some uncomfortable scenes that might be a little much for some readers.

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris: It’s a story about a teenager who ends up in sixteenth-century Italy. Luckily she has ancestors there and they are more than willing to help her. But is this century really for her? Things are different here and as she learns more about the time period she also learns that she may not be able to stay here forever…

It’s a romantic comedy with all the sweetness and the best thing is how the characters grow through the story.

Warrior of the Highlands by Veronica Wolff: It’s a story about a highlander bend upon taking revenge and a modern age woman who ends up in the past. It was a beautiful and very well-written story. I read it many years ago but I remember how hard it was to put down once I started reading.

Dragons or Mermaids?

For me, it’s the dragons. In all honesty, I’ve read only a few books about mermaids, whereas, many about dragons. I don’t know if there are more mermaid books out there and maybe I haven’t found the right ones yet, but I prefer dragons anyway. Dragon shifters are amazing but even if they are not shifters and just good old dragons, that’s okay too. My favorites books with dragons in them are;

Dragon Mates (The Falk Clan Series) by C.D. Gorri: It is a story of four dragon shifter brothers. They spent centuries as prisoners and as they gain their freedom they decided to live among humans. Making their home in this new world, all they want is to live as a family and find their respective mates. It is a four books series and in each book, one of the brothers finds his fated mate. All four novels are amazing, well-written and interesting. I loved not only the four dragon shifters but also their mates. This series has some of my favorite fiction characters.

And let’s not forget some of our most favorite series have dragons in them. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones to name a few. Dragons are my favorite magical creatures of all times.

Werewolves or Vampires?

Werewolves! This one was a little tougher to choose because I absolutely love vampires too. Some of my favorite series have both werewolves and vampire characters. I enjoy reading about both. But still, if I must choose one I’ll choose werewolves.

The Mating by Nicky Charles: This book is a perfect mix of romance, intrigue, and suspense. If I remember correctly I had loved reading it. It’s definitely a good paranormal romance with werewolves.

I have read book two and three of this series as well, they were also good. It was originally a trilogy but there are some other books in the series too. I haven’t yet read those.

Grazi Kelly series by C.D. Gorri: This is an ongoing Young Adult series by one of my favorite authors. The story revolves around a werewolf shifter, Grazi. She is a normal teenager except for the fact that she happens to be a werewolf. The story weaves a magical world where all kinds of paranormal creatures live, hidden from humans. This series focuses on werewolves and witches though. There is a curse, and Grazi is the only one who can lift it. So far I am enjoying this series and hope that it ends well.

Contemporary or Historical?

Historical romances are my favorite genre. Since I started reading them I’ve not stopped. There are many genres I switch between, some I’ve almost given up on, but historical fiction is one genre that has been a constant for me. Any time I pick up a historical novel I end up falling in love with it. Not that I don’t read contemporary books, I do. But when it comes to choosing one I’ll always choose historical romance.

Let Sleeping Dukes Lie by Emily Windsor: This is book two in Rules of the Rogue series and can be read as standalone. It has mystery, romance, and humor. I loved it! The story is intriguing and the characters are interesting. I had enjoyed book one too but this one is my favorite because of both main characters. These two people who can’t seem to stand each other actually fell in love and their unlikely couple is amazing. They have great chemistry and there isn’t a single dull moment when they are together. Definitely, one of the best historical fiction I have ever read.

Twice as Wicked by Elizabeth Bright: The story is about a sister who wants to find her sister’s killer and take revenge. And it’s about twin brothers whose fates are intertwined since birth. It’s mysterious and quite romantic.

Once a Courtesan by Liana LeFey: Another great historical romance, a must read if you like historicals. It is a crime thriller set in 1700s London and explore the darker side of the city. It is a thrilling read with little romance. The story is about a girl’s school headmistress and a constable. But there are secrets that must be revealed before their story comes to an end. It’s well-written and the author has not glossed over the less fortunate people’s plight. Life in 1700s London is most definitely not as easy as one would hope…

Small Town or Big Cities?

Small town settings are the best. Perhaps it’s because I myself am a city girl so I’m always intrigued by the quaint small town stories. Some of the best ones I’ve read include;

The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins: One of my most favorite authors, Higgins rarely disappoints when it comes to contemporary romance. This might not be her best work but this book is quite good, romantic and has some great characters. I loved it and I think if you like small town settings then you will like it too.

Breathe by Kristen Ashley: Oh! I remember the time when I was obsessed with this author. I read so many of her books and loved each and every one of them. Breathe is definitely one of her best works. Aside from all the things that come with a small-town setting, this book is very emotional and would make you cry for sure. But it is also sweet and romantic, in short, a perfect novel.

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P.S. Don’t forget to share your own preferences in the comments. I’d love to know more about the stories you enjoy the most.

Lost In Time: A Short Story

Tagline: Should you risk your present and the future for a different past?

The most important thing in life is to know what isn’t important. It’s better to let go of all the things that are weighing you down, especially, when they don’t even matter.

“Don’t let others tell you how to live your life,” that was the advice my mother gave me when I was twelve, “ask yourself, look into your own heart, you already have all the answers you need.”

I always listened to my mother, because she knew what was best for me. She loved me more than anyone ever could, and instinctively, I knew that she would never ever lead me astray. Even though she is no longer with me I still remember everything she ever said to me.

She had raised me to believe in myself and to be persistent. She always told me that it is very important to be decisive and never regret things that go wrong. She was a scientist like me and we know that life is just an experiment, a trial, and a lot can go wrong.

“Life is uncertain, sweetheart, things can and do go awry now that then and that’s okay,” she often said and like a fool, I believed her.

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“You’re so stubborn. It’s not always a good thing to take such risks even if your plan seems to be perfect,” Sandy warned me, “sometimes instead of going forward it’s okay to take a left or a right turn.”

“I don’t care what you think. I love you, but there are things that you don’t understand,” I replied.

“We’ve been friends for ten years now, I know you well enough,” she sighed, “you are going to do it, aren’t you?”

“I must there is no other way. The day I lost my mother was the worst day of my life. If I can turn back time and save her I am going to do it, at any cost.”

“You’re not thinking clearly.”

“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. I want to do this. This is important to me.”

“Why?”

“First of all, it’s something that my mother started. She invented this time machine and somehow I feel that she wanted me to continue her work. Secondly, I may actually succeed and save her.”

“Really? Have you considered that your mother had a good reason to stop working on this experiment?”

“No, she just wasn’t as stubborn as I am,” I winked at her.

It was the truth though. I remembered how passionate she was about time travel. She used to talk about her theories a lot. That’s why I wanted to continue it and I wasn’t going to get discouraged that easily. Besides I was almost there, everything had been planned to the smallest detail. I know where I was going, I knew what I must do once I’m there, and I knew how to get back to my time once my mission is complete. My mother’s time machine was operative.

“I hope you don’t regret.”

“Do you think I haven’t considered the dangers involved in this venture? All the things that can go wrong? Trust me I have. I won’t regret it even if the worst happened.”

With that thought in mind I pressed the button and suddenly the doors closed. The room I was in went dark. It was a small room, size of an elevator, there were no windows just a door and mirrors on the three sides. I pressed the red button that was going to take me back in time. To the time when my mother was still alive.

I wondered how my mother would feel when she found out that her time machine actually worked. She would be so happy. It was unfortunate that her life’s work went to waste simply because she wasn’t brave enough to continue with her experiments. I was though. I was a risk taker and I had just betted my whole existence on something no one had ever done before.

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“Some things are just not important Anna,” someone was speaking in hushed tones, I vaguely recognized the voice, “it was never about courage sweetheart. I knew when to stop, I didn’t give up. You think my life’s work was wasted? Dear girl, I invented that machine in the hopes of finding a way to travel in time. I knew it would work but testing it was never important. My present was so perfect. I didn’t want to go back in time to change my life. My life with you was perfect.”

My head felt weird. I couldn’t feel my limbs. I was hyperventilating. Something was terribly wrong. Where was I? Who was this person whispering in my ear and what kind of gibberish were they spouting? Nothing was making any sense.

“Honey, I love you, know this. The only thing you can do now is let go of the past, let go of me, and live your life for yourself.”

That’s the last thing I remembered before I blacked out again.

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I woke up in a hospital. I had no idea how I got there. Those words someone had spoken to me so softly still reverberated in my mind, but they meant nothing to me. It must have been a dream.

“Anna, you’re up,” the lady from the church said, “they say you can go back to the orphanage in a few days. Thankfully, nothing was broken.”

That’s when I remembered. I had fallen from the tree behind the church and hit my head on the pavement. Ah! So, that’s why it hurt so much. I tried to smile at her but I’m sure it was more of a wince.

“Don’t worry, you’d be good as new in no time.”

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“What do you think happened?” Sandy asked.

“She went back in time and lost everything,” Mrs. Stevenson replied.

“What do you mean?”

“How much did you girls actually know about Dana’s project?”

“We have been working on it for more than six years now. Anna wanted to continue her mother’s experiments. We’ve read all of her notes and instructions. I think we know enough.”

“Clearly, you didn’t know the most important part or you wouldn’t have let Anna use that machine.”

“What do you mean?”

“What year did she choose to go back to?”

“2023.”

“Ah! That explains it then.”

“What?”

“She was never born.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s true that Dana’s invention works, but there was a glitch in the system. You cannot go forth in time, only back, and even that has serious consequences. She went to 2023 you say, she was seven-year-old back then. So now she is a seven-year-old girl in 2023. However, not as our Anna. Our Anna is gone. She would be starting over as an entirely different person. Dana realized it during the last stages of her project and just gave up on it. To go back in time when you were alive meant that you would lose your existence and start over as someone else. Time travel is a tricky business. Too many unknowns are involved. No one can predict what kind of life they would end up having the second time around.”

“You mean Anna Brown ceased to exist?”

“Yes.”

“But if she never existed then how come we still have memories of her?”

“We always will. We knew her in this timeline. Everyone who knew her here will remember her. Unfortunately, she won’t remember any of us. She won’t have any memories of her past or present. She would have very different memories. I just hope that she found a better life.”

“I don’t think that’s possible because what can be better than perfect?” Sandy said sadly.

Some things are not important and must be left alone. Just because you can, doesn’t mean that you should. Anna wanted to see her mother again, even save her from death. She wanted to prove that her mother’s work was worth something and, in the process, she lost everything. She lost the woman she loved the most. Most importantly, she lost herself somewhere in time, forgotten forever.

© 2018, Fizza Younis. All Rights Reserved

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Originally published at Wattpad

P.S. What are your thoughts about the message in this story? Does it make sense to you? Did you like it? Thank you for reading it.

Traveling In Time With Books We Love

If you could travel in time where would you want to go? To the past or to the future?

I don’t know about you, but I have often fantasized about time travel. Perhaps the reason is that past is always romanticized and it’s not always easy to accept your reality as it is. When it comes to fiction, the concept of time travel is nothing new. Many authors have written about traveling in time in so many different ways. Some have explored time travel through devices called time machines. Others have used magic to transport their protagonists back or forth in time. Then, there are those who have kept it vague. At times the endings unfold all the mysteries for readers, while sometimes, they are left to our imagination.

It is true that science fiction is a genre usually associated with time travel. Perhaps, it’s because H. G. Wells, father of science fiction himself, is the perpetrator of popularizing it in fiction. However, there is no shortage of fantasy, paranormal, historical, and even contemporary novels that have utilized this theme, in order to concoct most intriguing stories of mystery and mayhem.

Some authors don’t ‘interfere’ with history when they write time travel fiction. They try to remain true to the actual historical events, posing that any change in history will lead to a butterfly effect through time that could very well lead to apocalyptic situation in the present. Although, not all authors confine themselves to such rules. There are many who don’t care about such restrictions. It is fiction after all, so who cares if their protagonist ends up changing history for the rest of the world.

“Yeah, but what if you went back and killed your own grandfather?”
― Stephen King, 11/22/63

In any case, it’s an intriguing sub-genre of fiction that I am personally a fan of. I should probably mention that most of the books I’ve read deal with going back in time rather than going forth.

Let’s talk about romance. Who doesn’t love it, right? And if you have to go, a few decades, back in time to find your one true love, all the better. This is what happens to Jo-Jo in a chick-lit romcom Step Back in Time by Ali McNamara. She is so focused on her carrier that only traveling back in time can make her realize what she is missing for her to be truly happy.

This story is all about people you’re supposed to love, but somehow you forget it, taking them for granted. That’s when you need a rude awakening… or perhaps a magical journey through decades?

Jo-Jo actually travels through multiple decades; 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and the present. Every time she finds herself utterly lost, with a completely different life. Moreover, each time she must solve a metaphorical puzzle to move on to the next step in her mysterious adventure. Because there is something she needs to learn before she can go back to her original time. But what will she find once she returns? Are things going to be the same or is her life about to be changed forever?

Mode of transportation:

Jo-jo is hit by a speeding car, on a specific zebra crossing, and wakes up in a different decade. What an unusual and interesting way to travel back in time!

Young Adult novels are always very imaginative. Every time I pick up one, I find myself in a different world, a different time zone, and sometimes on a different planet. And, in my opinion, mix genres are always the best.

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris is a YA time travel, historical, contemporary, and romance trilogy. A teenager girl, Cat, just wants to get away from her parents and somehow ends up in Renaissance period. So, okay, that’s a little farther than she wanted to go, but her adventure would be far more interesting now than it would’ve been in present day Italy. Also, the good thing her ancestors are there to help her survive.

It has all the ingredients of a great YA series and time travel is just an added spice. In book two of the series, Cat’s cousin (her actual ancestor) from the past travels to twenty first century. So here we have both, going back in time and coming to the future examples. Book three is a contemporary conclusion to this time travel adventure. Still, the whole trilogy was great; flirty, funny, and heartwarming kind of series.

Mode of transportation:

Some gypsy magic and teenagers’ will to escape reality. Because when you’re traveling in time what can possibly go wrong?

Once again, how can we forget Harry Potter series?

In book three, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, Harry and Hermione go back in time to save Sirius Black and Buckbeak from eminent death. Of course, Harry Potter is a fantasy series that involves witchcraft so it’s no surprise that time travel is possible in Harry’s world. However, it had very limited usage. The author emphasized dangers of changing the past and ramifications that may befall time travelers if they took it lightly. So, in other words, where time travel is all well and good, authors have to consider their story’s plot as well. In a wizardry world if time travel was no hardship then, well, I am not entirely sure what turn the story would’ve taken…

Mode of transportation:

 In this case, they used time-turner, a magical device. Despite (or maybe because) of the magical involvement, you can safely go only few hours back in time (according to J.K. Rowling no more than five hours).

So, now that we’ve talked about romance, YA, and fantsay novels, let’s talk about science fiction. Time travel in sci-fic is far more interesting than in any other genre. At least, that’s what I think. Do let me know if you disagree.

I absolutely love Doctor Who novelizations. These books are about the adventures of a time lord, who can travel through time and space. It involves aliens, going back and forth in time, visiting different planets, and all the things in between that we can imagine. There are quite a number of books, but I’ve only read handful of them. I do love the TV series as well. If you are a time travel fan then it’s definitely worth checking out.

TARDIS: The ultimate time travel machine/space ship

I love time travel in historical fiction too and On Highland Time by Lexi Post is one of my most recent favorites. Story is set in 1306 Scotland and Diana is a woman on a mission. It’s her job, as a Time Weaver, to stop history from changing. As far as jobs go, it’s a pretty unique one. Usually, it’s not as complicated as it’s about to get. She is falling in love with the man whose death she is supposed to insure. Rules are there for a reason, however, for the first time in her time travels, she is hoping to find a way around them.

Mode of transportation:

You need a special gene that will help you to travel in time and then back to the present.

Don’t forget to comment with your favorite time travel books. Do you enjoy them or do you think time travel is boring?

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