Best Historical Fiction

 Berthe Morisot (1841-1895) was described as one of “the three great ladies” of Impressionism alongside Marie Bracquemond and Mary Cassatt (I Always Loved You by Robin Oliveira). “Paris in the 1860s: a magnificent time of expression, where brilliant young artists rebel against the stodginess of the past to freely explore new styles of creating – and bold new ways of living.” 1868: While studying the Italian painters at Louvre, Berthe Morisot meets Edouard Manet. It gives her so much hope at the age of 27, which is already considered long past marriageable age. Only to be crushed, when she finds out he is married. When asked to pose for him, Berthe’s mother is appalled as she is not a common model. But Berthe finds it hard to resist Manet. When Manet and Degas make arrangements for a show independent of the Salon, she offers her help. Then a war with Prussia forces many artists to pick up guns instead of paintbrushes. Some escape to London. Manet insists on Morisot family ...

 Set during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. This story gives a glimpse into a world of two drastic social classes: one very rich and the other very poor; the aristocrats and the poor Irish immigrants living in the slums of London’s poorest neighborhood. It offers a glimpse into the lives of crippled and orphaned girls, who sell flowers to survive and are afraid to be taken to workhouse, which is like a death sentence. And a quest of one man with a charitable heart to make a difference. He creates a home for those poor girls, and gives them purpose, confidence, and hope. England, 1912: Tilly Harper arrives in London for a position of assistant housemother at Mr. Shaw’s Home for Watercress and Flower Girls. Home for orphaned and crippled girls. Instead of selling flowers on the grimy streets of London and be dependent on seasons, they make artificial flowers year-round. Flowers made out of silk, looking so lifelike that you want to smell the perfume of the petals. Tilly is assi...

 This Bible story brings a story of the only female judge mentioned in the Bible - Deborah. Set in ancient time, when Israelites were oppressed by Canaanites: some unjustly imprisoned or forced into the king’s workforce; some children stolen during the night and used as sport in arena games; some women taken by force to work in the temples as prostitutes; all had taxes increased each year and, upon threat of death, were collected. Deborah is a young Israelite shepherdess who lives in an isolated village of Ramah with her father and brothers. She knows her surroundings well. She knows how to listen to nature. And when danger lurks, she knows how to respond. When Canaanites invade yet again the valley where they live, Deborah offers a solution to tell Canaanites that a plague has reached their village infecting people, animals and water. And with that her legendary leadership skills grow. When family members are lost, a search is set. She sees a smoke that leads her to a hi...