14 Hard Hitting And Heart Pounding Historical Novels

Historical Novels With Love Stories And Hard Facts

1. The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley
2. Once Upon a Marquess by Courtney Milan
3. The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
4. Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley
5. High Country Bride by Linda Lael Miller
6. The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova
7. A Duke in Shining Armor by Loretta Chase
8. To the Farthest Shores by Elizabeth Camden
9. Night Soldiers by Alan Furst
10. Loving Lieutenant Lancaster by Sarah M. Eden
11. Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
12. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
13. Tremaine's True Love by Grace Burrowes
14. The Love Knot by Karen Witemeyer

How Important Is Historical Accuracy In Fiction?

In Depth

Historical novels typically combine fictional elements with real life settings and time periods. They let readers look back into the past, and sometimes feature well known people or events from the eras they're set in. With that in mind, we've created a list of fourteen hard hitting and heart pounding historical novels. Take note that this list is composed in no particular order.

First up, at #1, is "The Rose Garden." Written by Susanna Kearsley, it focuses on the story of Eva, a woman who travels to Cornwall in order to scatter the ashes of her deceased sister. While staying at her old friends' house, she's suddenly thrown back in time into 18th century England.

She finds herself going back and forth through time, and starts to fall for a man in the past. It's a historical romance novel with a science fiction twist, and it introduces readers to the Jacobite rebellion of the early 1700s.

She finds herself going back and forth through time, and starts to fall for a man in the past.

Second, at #2, is "Once Upon a Marquess" by Courtney Milan. It mainly revolves around the unlikely relationship between Judith Worth and a British nobleman named Christian Trent. Though they were previously a couple, certain circumstances resulted in a falling out between the two. When Judith runs into a serious dilemma, Christian is the only person who can help her. They have to learn to work through their differences and possibly even rekindle the spark they once had.

Next up, at #3, we have "The Last Kingdom." Written by Bernard Cornwell, it's the first entry of his "The Saxon Stories" series. Set in the 9th century, it deals with the early days of England during the time of King Alfred the Great. The book follows the fictional story of Uhtred, a nobleman who, at a young age, was captured and raised by Vikings.

At #4 is "Death Below Stairs" by Jennifer Ashley. Set in the Victorian era, it tells the story of a woman named Kat Holloway. Working as a cook in the mansion of Lord Rankin, she suddenly gets thrust into a world full of intrigue and danger after discovering that her assistant has been murdered. The mystery quickly escalates as the main characters find themselves trying to uncover a plot to assassinate the queen.

Set in the Victorian era, it tells the story of a woman named Kat Holloway.

Next, at #5, is "High Country Bride" by Linda Lael Miller. The first book of the "McKettricks" series, it introduces readers to a group of brothers competing for the inheritance of their father's ranch. This novel focuses on one of the three brothers, Rafe McKettrick, who sends for a mail order bride in an attempt to quickly win the competition to see who can marry and produce children first.

Coming in at #6 is "The Shadow Land" by Elizabeth Kostova. After travelling to Bulgaria, Alexandra Boyd accidentally keeps a bag belonging to an elderly couple that she helped. In it, she finds an urn with the name "Stoyan Lazarov" engraved on it. While looking for the owners of the urn, she starts learning about the tragic story of Stoyan, a musician who suffered during the time of the Communist Party.

At #7, we have "A Duke in Shining Armor" by Loretta Chase. Set to marry the disreputable Duke of Ashmont, Olympia Hightower decides that she'll run away on the day of her wedding. Hugh Ancaster, the Duke of Ripley and one of Ashmont's best friends, is determined to bring her back. However, they start falling for each other and have to face the consequences of their relationship.

Hugh Ancaster, the Duke of Ripley and one of Ashmont's best friends, is determined to bring her back.

Next, at #8, is "To the Farthest Shores" by Elizabeth Camden. During the Spanish-American War, army nurse Jenny Bennett had her heart broken by Lieutenant Ryan Gallagher, who cut ties with her after he embarked on an important mission overseas. A few years later, they're reunited under mysterious circumstances, and despite the lack of trust on her part, Ryan needs Jenny's help.

At #9 is "Night Soldiers." Written by Alan Furst, this novel revolves around a man named Khristo Stoianev, who was recruited by the Russian intelligence agency after his brother was murdered by fascists. One day, he learns that his life is in danger due to Stalin's purges, so he abandons his duties and flees to another country. It's a spy adventure that spans several years, and it provides readers with an interesting look at how life might have been for a European before and during World War II.

Next, at #10, we have "Loving Lieutenant Lancaster" by Sarah M. Eden. This is the fourth entry of Eden's "The Lancaster Family," a series of romance novels set in the Regency era. It focuses on the relationship between Linus and Arabella, two damaged individuals from very different backgrounds.

It focuses on the relationship between Linus and Arabella, two damaged individuals from very different backgrounds.

Next up, at #11, is "Edenbrooke" by Julianne Donaldson. Another love story that takes place during the Regency era, it spotlights a woman named Marianne Daventry. On her way to an estate known as Edenbrooke, her carriage is attacked by a highwayman, injuring the coachman in the process. Seeking help at an inn, she meets a mysterious man named Philip, and that's where things start to take off.

At #12, we have "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Tracy Chevalier. Set in the 17th century, it provides a fictional backstory for Johannes Vermeer's famous painting of the same name. It invents a girl named Griet, who works as a maid for the Vermeer family. Griet's life takes a drastic turn after she starts falling for Johannes, who sparks controversy when he paints a portrait of her wearing his wife's earrings.

At #13 is "Tremaine's True Love" by Grace Burrowes. When Tremaine St. Michael meets with the Earl of Haddonfield, he doesn't expect to fall in love with the nobleman's sister, Nita. It's a story that revolves around a relationship between two very different people, and the various obstacles that threaten to keep them apart.

It's a story that revolves around a relationship between two very different people, and the various obstacles that threaten to keep them apart.

Lastly, at #14, we have "The Love Knot" by Karen Witemeyer. This novella is about a girl named Claire, an Irish immigrant living in the United States. One day, her troubled sister sends her a package, which was delivered by Pieter, a man from her past. In order to get through this and help Claire's sister, they have to learn to forgive each other and possibly even fall in love all over again.