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If there is on man you can rely on to fully embrace the #secretbookclub, it’s Richard Lewis. His ability to read and provide thought-felt reviews for historical fiction novels put us to shame. After his review of Andrew Hughes’s ‘The Convictions of John Delahunt’, Richard was so intrigued by the story that he sat down with Andrew…

So, it’s the middle of the 19th Century. People all around you are claiming parts of the American West, which is in the process of colonisation…and you want a piece too. But, just how do you go about getting your very own slice of the USA? Well, you need to be ambitious – having your own…

Just because we view Greek statues as shining beacons of marble, it doesn’t mean that’s how they originally looked thousands of years ago. Recent studies using lasers and UV light have revealed the original, and somewhat tacky, paint jobs. Previously believed to have been lost to years of wind, sun, sand and art students, it…

Thumper’s mother always said that if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all. However, as I’ve agreed to write a review for this book, that may be rather difficult and so with that in mind… The Scarlet Kimono centres around seventeen year-old Hannah Marston whose biggest problems in life…

For some reason whenever I am ill I make spontaneous decisions which usually result in some serious damage on my credit card. But oh, not this one! This one was a totally brilliant idea with the return flight (courtesy of easy jet) costing me a meagre £6.50. With flights so cheap I decided to take…

If you are reading this then you either a) love history or b) have found us on StumbleUpon and are questioning how you got this far..? Either way, you would never say you hated history, right? History-Haters just don’t exist. Or do they? WELL, we recently traveled to the depths of Kent, and found one. And here’s…

It sounds like something from a bad romantic fiction. It’s the 1850s, and Henry the 7th Earl of Stamford, handsome, rich and powerful, heir to several estates scattered across the country, meets and pursues the beautiful Kitty Cocks. Kitty is not only a commoner but…wait for it…a bareback rider in a circus. Cast Keira Knightly…

Cheryl Bolen is an American author, who has a particular passion for the English Regency Period. She lives in Texas with her husband, who is a professor. Cheryl has enjoyed great success; her books have been translated into eleven languages, she is a regular contributor to The Regency Plum and The Regency Reader, and she has…

When you stand in the Cellarium of Fountains Abbey, with its vaulted ceiling arching like gigantic fingers above your head and dusty shadows lingering around its massive stone columns, you could be forgiven for feeling a sudden chill… alternatively, you might just start planning a Twilight premiere after-party. Back in the 12th century, however, no…

I wouldn’t have picked this book from a bookshelf had I seen it – it is not my usual genre. But I would have missed out had I not been sent it as part of the Secret Book Club.  I learnt a great deal about the events of World War II, and gained an insight…