Hello ladies and lords!
After this week’s Top Ten Tuesday post on Books Set Outside the U.S. – in which I purposely left out England too – a couple of my dear reading friends still bemoaned England’s absence. I am nothing if not accommodating, but it really needed its own separate post.
And so… TA-DA!
Books set in England kick off a new series I’m starting on the blog – Around the World in Books. I’m not going to lock myself into a certain schedule on these, but other countries will pop up periodically. (If you have a favorite that you’d like to see featured, let me know!)
Now, I left out the classics like Austen and Bronte and Heyer and Dickens and Lewis. Not because I don’t love them (because I do) but because we all already know their books were set in England. And I left off the Harry Potter series for the same reason.
These are all either Christian fiction or “clean fiction”. And because I love y’all, I even divided them into basic time periods so you can zero in on your sweet spots in history. But heads up – this is going to be a LONG post lol. As such, I’m only including the cover images rather than a description of each book or series. Clicking on them will take you to Amazon.
Reformation Era
Elizabethan Period
Stuart Period
Whew! That was one LONG list! Lol.
I’ve read most of these – or they come highly recommended to me. But I’m sure there are still several that I’ve inadvertently omitted. Another fantastic resource is InspirationalHistoricalFiction.com where you can sort by setting, etc.
What about you? What are some of your favorite books set in England?
Wow, that’s quite a list! So many, many, MANY I must read!
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! You mentioned my medieval books! Now, if Philip and Tom don’t make you swoon, your swooner is broken.
Awww, and Drew is so pleased to see his stories there, too. Consider that he thanks you with his usual suavity.
😀
your medieval books are taunting me from my Kindle in medievally voices saying “Come hither and readeth thou us!” Or something like that. And tell Drew – well, nothing because I swooned. Again. 😉
Hee hee. They don’t quite speak in KJV, but Philip would bow gracefully and say, “My Lady, you would do me great honor if you were to spend some little time in our fair kingdom of Lynaleigh.”
Oh, look! Drew has dropped to one knee beside you and is patting the back of your hand. “Steady on now. Deep breaths. There you are. For a moment there I though I might have another unexplained death to investigate.”
Ah, now he’s giving you that charming, mischievous grin and helping you to your feet.
*fans self* As charming as Drew is, if he’s the one helping me to my feet he might as well not bother. With that grin of his, I’ll be right back down on the ground again 😉
Oh, I see your plan. Drew has had to catch you and support you in his arms so you don’t hit the ground again. You schemer you! 😉
do you think he’ll notice? lol
Actually, he looks as if his concern for your well being has overshadowed his ability to detect pretense.
SWOON.
O! As Bookworm Mama would say, #Bestillmynerdgirlheart!!!! I’m bookmarking this to my refer to page!
lol! yay!
LOVE this post & the idea of featuring books around the world! If you’re taking suggestions, please do Italy! Lisa Bergren’s River of Time Series takes place medieval Italy and it’s one of my favorite series ever 🙂 I can’t wait for A Lady Unrivaled (Edwardian), it comes out this September!
Yes! I’m looking forward to A Lady Unrivaled as well! Italy, huh? Hmmm… I shall have to do my research on that one 🙂
Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson is Regency and awesome! Also Sarah M. Eden has some great Regency era books: Drops of Gold, Courting Miss Lancaster, Seeking Persephone, The Kiss of a Stranger, Glimmer of Hope, For Elise, etc. I’ve loved her books.
I’ve read some of the books you’ve listed, but once again I must expand my TBR list to overflowing! Wait–it was already overflowing, now it’s a deluge! ARGH!
ah! yes!! I forgot Sarah And Blackmoore! Gah! SO MANY BOOKS!! lol
Do you think we could call for a moratorium on writing books until we get caught up? Do you think anyone else would go for that? 😀
i’m not sure but i’ve threatened to petition for one for a while now lol
Julianna Deering is to Die for oops did I really say that! Lol I Crack me up. What a List there. So Many I don’t have or know about. That is why I must follow you! So help me know where to start!
hahaha!! Love it Justina! What time period do you love best?
Okay, Justina, I think you need to write my next ad campaign copy. Hee hee!
😀
Forgot to mention in my earlier post, but The Grand Tour Series (Glamorous Illusions, Grave Consequences, Glittering Promises) is another great Edwardian series! It takes place all over Europe, so it wouldn’t really fit into a post for a specific country, but if I am remembering correctly it starts out in England.
Yes that is another great one. I thought of including it but since it covers so many countries I wasn’t sure lol
What a great list! Thanks for adding my Highland Hall novels. I was going to mention one more Regency that I love, Blackmoore. I see Winnie also mentioned it. I’ve read it a few times and then listened to the audio….which was wonderful! I have a new Edwardian novel coming out Feb 21, 2017, Shine Like the Dawn. I can’t wait to share it with you. : )
I can’t wait to read that new one, Carrie!!! Yes, I should have included Blackmoore! I still need to read it but I know it’s wonderful
Yes, Carrie T. I loved Blackmoore and Edenbrooke. I need to read Blackmoore again. It’s a little deeper than Edenbrooke, I think. I can’t wait for Julianne’s new book, Lost in Scotland, to come out. It’s a contemporary and also releases in February 2017. I’m anxious to hear about your new one, Carrie T.
Excellent list! I’ve read or have most of these! I think I like England!
Me too!!
Regency:
Catherine Palmer
Miss Pickworth Series
The Affectionate Adversary
The Bachelor’s Bargain
The Courteous Cad
English Ivy Series
English Ivy
Wild Heather
Sweet Violet
Shirley Raye Redmond
Prudence Pursued
Lynn Morris
The Baron’s Honorable Daughter
A Sapphire Season
Josi S. Kilpack
A Heart Revealed
Lord Fenton’s Folly
A Lady’s Favor (novella)
Victorian:
Kaye Dacus
Follow the Heart
An Honest Heart
WWII:
(I have one of these checked out right now, but haven’t read it yet. Plus points, though, for the author being English and living in England!)
Mike Hollow
The Blitz Detective Series
Direct Hit
Fifth Column
Oh marvelous! Thank you!!
Just one note. Josi Kilpatrick and Julianne Donaldson are both Mormons, the publiher of thier books is also Mormon. Whilst Mormonism is not promoted or even mentioned in thier books, some people might want to take note of this.
Oh my gosh. I couldn’t identify those separate eras to save my life. I mean, besides having a firm grip on medieval. #notananglophile
That’s ok – someone has to keep the rest of us grounded in reality lol
Carrie, I think your book lists give me heart palpitations! I’m so twitterpated I can’t even think of any books to add <3
I would love love love for you to feature Russia! My husband's 2x great-grandfather was born in Russia and immigrated here. Plus I adore the accent! Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy are the only reason I ever watch Dancing with the Stars clips on YouTube. SWOONY!!!
ohhhhh what a great idea!! i’ll have to research that one as I can only think of one series set there off the top of my head. I LOVE RESEARCH lol
Love this idea. I can’t wait to see what other countries you feature. Sandra Byrd has a Tudor series called Ladies in Waiting. The first one is To Die For. Susan Meissner has one about Jane Grey called Lady in Waiting also.
ooo i didn’t know about that other Sandra Byrd series!! Adding to my TBR list! 🙂
Love this list Carrie! You are so creative and FUN!
Awww <3 Thanks, Stacey!
I’m familiar with most of these authors, although I haven’t yet read all of their books. I did read North & South; Wives & Daughters; and Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell. Also read Poldark by Winston Graham. The movies were good also.
fantastic classics! yes!
I love this post!! I would love to do a similar post (and I should have left out England on my TTT–too many great ones!)
I love how you organized it. It’s fun to see all the covers too 🙂
aren’t they pretty? 🙂 Thanks, Jane!
Heavens to Betty! I just love your line up, and you have all my favorite here (I adore Sandra Byrd, Katherine Reay, and Pepper Basham). I’ve recently added Sarah Ladd to my reading list.
Goodness, I should just make this my book list for the rest of the year.
Thanks for writing this post.
Hahahaha!!! Yay!!
What an incredibly thorough and fantastic list!! With so many beautiful colors!
Aren’t they pretty?!?
I am giddy reading this list! So many incredible books! 🙂
LOL! Yay!
You have such an amazing list here Carrie! I’m happy to say I have read most of the Regency and Victorian ones listed, a few of the others too. I need to get busy on the others. I’ve been playing on Facebook, going to parties and such 😉
I’m also in the middle of a Karen Witemeyer audio book right now.
Ha! And Karen’s books are always an excellent choice
Could I recommend, as additions to your ‘Medieval’ Shelf, ‘The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton by Mel Starr, which is a popular mystery series set in 14th century Oxfordshire, by an American author.
There is also the Northumnbrian Thrones Trilogy, which is set in Northern England in the seventh century, written by Edoardo Albert, who was born in Britain to family of mixed Italian and Sri-Lankan heritage.
Could I aslo politely point out that Deanna Dodson’s Chastelayne Trilogy is not actually set in England, but in a fictional country based on Medieval England. The same is true for Jody Hedlund’s books-although they use place names which can be identified as names of actual towns and villages in England, there was no ‘High King’ in fourteenth century England. Just a regular King, and many of the events and practices do not match up with wha we know about English history.
The series mentioned above consist of the following individual titles
The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton- by American Melvin (Mel) Starr, a teacher who spent a fair amount of time in England. Published by Lion Fiction/Kregel, they feature a young Surgeon and Bailiff named Hugh de Singleton who settles down in a village in late fourteenth century Oxfordshire and uses his skills and contacts to solve various crimes in his local area, sometimes with the advice of his friend Master John Wycliffe. (The early church reformer and forerunner of Martin Luther).
The Unquiet Bones
A Corpse at St Andrew’s Chapel
A Trail of Ink
Unhallowed Ground
The Tainted Coin
Rest Not in Peace
The Abbot’s Agreement
Ashes to Ashes
Lucifer’s Harvest (due September).
The Northumbrian Thrones Trilogy by Edoardo Albert. Also from Lion/Kregel. This series follows the lives and reigns of some of the earliest Christian Kings of the early Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms (this was before England became one country). Because of the time period, this series does feature pagan as well as Christian characters.
Edwin: High King of Britain
Oswald: Return of the King
Oswiu: King of Kings (coming later this year).
Set in the same time period is the following book which is about a female kinswoman of Edwin and Oswald.
Hild: Abbess of Whitby by Jill Dalladay
There are also a couple of Regency titles by British author Philippa Jane Keyworth.
The Widow’s Redeemer (a lose retelling of the Book of Ruth)
The Unexpected Earl
By the same publisher there is also:
To Wed an Heiress- Rosanne E Lortz, which is suppposed to be a Regency retelling of the Norman Conquest
I Serve: A Novel of the Black Prince: This tells the story of a young English Knight in the Hundred Years War.