Best Historical Fiction

 Cesare Borgia (1475-1507) as a boy dreams of becoming a soldier and conqueror like the great Roman conqueror, Giulio Cesare. But his father has a different plan for him – to join the Church and follow in his footsteps. This strategic plan of Rodrigo Borgia is for him to reach his goal of becoming pope. Rome, 1492: Maddalena Moretti is a maid serving in the Holy Father’s house. She takes great pride in it. Now, the death of the Pope Innocent brings her a step closer to another historical event of conclave - choosing the next pope. And she is responsible for gathering servants to prepare the Sistine Chapel for this event; still innocent in her thinking that the process is all guided by God. But she is about to learn how the Vatican really works. Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia has been chosen as the next pope – Pope Alexander VI. And his son Cesare is now an archbishop. His daughter Lucrezia is to marry Giovanni Sforza, Lord of Pesaro. King Charles VIII of France invades the peninsula (

 This fictional story, set against the backdrop of NYC’s Gilded Age, brings the glitter on the outside including Cartier’s jewelry store and his rich clientele, and corruption hidden inside, including mysterious diamond, causing much havoc and mistreatment of less privileged and their injustices. Poor immigrants crammed into tenements contrast drastically with millionaires living in mansions on 5th Ave. NYC, 1910: Vera Garland is the daughter of one of the wealthiest merchants in the city. And she is very ambitious. She chooses profession over marriage. As if married, it was expected of a woman to leave her position (if she had any) behind. And that was not what she wanted to do. She takes a pseudonym of Vee Swann and works as an investigative journalist. Those positions are very limited for women. Women journalists are seen as accidents in the industry, only to be tolerated. Still considered second-class citizens, paid less and treated unfairly in regards to assignments and prom

 Clementine Hozier-Churchill (1885-1977) was a woman of great intelligence, who had skillfully influenced her husband’s political career. London, 1908. Clementine Hozier attracts attention of Winston Churchill by her intellect and responsiveness. He is very impressed with her, stating, “…you listen, understand, and engage with the important issues of our day.” After five months of courtship he proposes. She quickly realizes “that if she wants to play a meaningful part in his life, she must become involved in his political world,” which naturally fits her. And Winston encourages her to take a charge no matter how unusual the issue is, specifically if it’s fit for a woman. On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, gets shot in Serbia. The brewing war is now inevitable. The strategic plan of Dardanelles to cut off Turkey from helping Germans fails. Winston Churchill is dismissed from his position of lord admiral. Since he can’t command the war from