C.L.R. Peterson Blog
Book Reviews & More
From Secret Intelligence to Soufflés: How WWII Shaped a Culinary Icon
How did Julia McWilliams progress from her role as a clerk for the Office of Strategic Services (the CIA’s predecessor) to gathering intelligence in World War II to becoming a celebrity chef and cookbook author? We discuss a surprising novel based on a little-known part of the famous chef’s life.
When Beliefs Collide: Courage Under Fire in Tudor England
Long before bookseller Kate sets her eyes upon Thomas More, she already fears and hates him. In The Heretic’s Wife, author Brenda Rickman Vantrease skillfully weaves Kate’s life-or-death choices into this novel set in Tudor England.
When Privilege Meets Purpose: A Review of Last Light Over Galveston
For a well-bred young lady in 1900, the path to a comfortable life was clear: marry a wealthy gentleman. But what happens when that path clashes with a woman’s own burgeoning sense of justice and morality? This central question lies at the heart of Jennifer L. Wright’s Last Light Over Galveston, my book review choice for this month.
Can a Saint Plot a Killing? Bonhoeffer’s Moral Dilemma
Should a man who participated in plots to kill Adolf Hitler be considered a saint? I review Denise Giardina’s historical novel, Saints and Villains, which gives readers an informed opportunity to make their own judgment about Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s character.
Mystery and Music in Prague
Imagine you’re a young musicologist, who at a friend’s urging meets with an ageing holocaust survivor.
How could this brief encounter possibly change the course of your life? Prague Sonata, a musical mystery and historical novel, spans two continents and more than three centuries.
Between Crown and Chisel: The Princess Who Wouldn’t Yield Her Dream
How could you live out your identity if you were Princess Louise, daughter of the domineering, grief-obsessed Queen Victoria?
Heather B. Moore answers this question in her recent historical novel, In the Shadow of a Queen, based on her research into the life of Princess Louise, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
Get My New Short Story!
Verona, 1571.
When Caterina welcomes her husband’s brilliant student, Alessandro, into their home, she has no idea how he will heighten the danger her family faces as the Inquisition closes in.
Immerse yourself in rich historical detail and high emotional stakes in this dramatic story of danger and conscience!