Lady of the Tower (Lydiard Chronicles Book 1) by Elizabeth St. John

This was a fascinating novel based on the life of the author’s ancestor, Lucy St. John. She and her sisters were orphaned and raised by a loving uncle and an aunt who was less than kind. The novel explores the intrigue and political upheaval of the Court of King James I of Scotland. Lucy, who is wholly interested in apothecary science, has an innocent liaison with the Earl of Sufolk. She is betrayed by her jealous older sister, and others at the court use the untrue rumor to ruin her reputation. However, Lucy St. John was stronger than anyone anticipated. She survived and made a life for herself, her new husband, and her children. His appointment as the jailer of the tower. made Lucy the Lady of the Tower. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to the next novel in the Lydiard Chronicles.

My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie

This is a wonderfully written and well-researched novel of the life of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton. The authors could not tell Eliza’s story without telling the story of Alexander Hamilton, the love of her life, a brilliant but flawed man. He was a military officer, a statesman, and our nation's first treasurer. I thought I knew the history of our founding fathers but besides being a breathtaking page-turner, this novel was a retelling of history with all the ups and downs, losses and victories. It is also the story of the birth of our nation and all those who made the idea of a United States of America come into existence. All the players are there, from Washington to Monroe. If you like historical fiction, this novel will not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.