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]]>5 Pro-British Revolution Novels
1. Oliver Wiswell by Kenneth Roberts
One of the best-known historical novels from the Loyalist perspective. The book follows Oliver Wiswell, a Yale student turned Loyalist, as he witnesses the revolution from the other side. Roberts presents the Loyalists as principled individuals who opposed mob rule and believed in maintaining ties with Britain for stability.
2. The Tory Widow by Christine Blevins
A historical romance set in New York, following a widow with Loyalist leanings who is caught up in revolutionary fervor. The novel portrays the struggle of those who remained loyal to Britain while facing intense pressure from Patriots.
3. Outcasts of Essex by Jane Hulse
Fifteen-year-old Sarah Barrett longs to be a writer like her father, who publishes the weekly Essex Journal. As the American Revolution heats up, his pro-British views turn the town against the family. Sarah finds herself questioning everything: the fight for independence, her father’s judgment, her own failings, and more to the point, why it’s considered unthinkable for a young woman to write for a newspaper.
4. The Turncoat by Donna Thorland
A mix of romance and espionage, this novel follows a young woman torn between her love for a British officer and her Patriot upbringing. It presents the complexities of loyalty and the appeal of British rule to some colonists.
5. Redcoat by Bernard Cornwell
Set in British-occupied Philadelphia, this novel follows a British soldier during the war. Cornwell presents a nuanced view of the British military and explores the tensions between the occupying forces and the colonists.
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]]>10 Spring-Themed Novels
1. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
A classic tale of healing and renewal, this novel follows Mary Lennox as she discovers a hidden garden that changes her life and the lives of those around her.
2. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables in the spring, bringing with her a sense of wonder and adventure. The lush descriptions of Prince Edward Island’s blooming landscape make this a perfect spring read.
3. The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
Four women escape their dreary lives for an Italian villa in April, experiencing personal transformation and the beauty of spring in this charming novel.
4. Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust
The famous opening of In Search of Lost Time reminisces about spring and childhood, filled with sensory details that evoke renewal and nostalgia.
5. Persuasion by Jane Austen
Anne Elliot’s second chance at love blossoms in the spring, making this one of Austen’s most poignant and seasonally fitting novels.
6. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
A nostalgic, lyrical novel capturing the magic of childhood in the spring and summer, filled with warmth and appreciation for life’s fleeting moments.
7. My Ántonia by Willa Cather
This novel’s sweeping descriptions of the American prairie in spring highlight themes of resilience, growth, and the beauty of the natural world.
8. Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Set on the French Riviera, this novel explores romance and heartbreak against a backdrop of blooming landscapes and sunlit days.
9. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Spring’s symbolism of new beginnings mirrors Edna Pontellier’s journey toward self-discovery and independence in this feminist classic.
10. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
A delightful, whimsical story of friendship and adventure, featuring Mole’s first venture into the springtime world—a perfect celebration of the season.
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]]>Chapter One
Something twitches and the sound of teeth grinding in her ear annoys her.
Stop it, Teddy.
CeCe tries to push her brother away, but her arm scrapes against asphalt and the unfamiliarity jolts her awake. Her heart pounds as she opens her eyes to blackness. A tart scent and an overwhelming stench of rot fills her nostrils. She blinks, trying to focus her vision, but her eyelids itch like they’re brushing across sandpaper.
Where am I?
Last thing she remembers she was in downtown Chico at Mason’s Restaurant with her best friend Leyton celebrating her eighteenth birthday.
“L…L…” she calls and her throat stiffens as if encrusted from lungs to larynx. “L…Ley…”
A strained whimper answers.
Her fingers grope the darkness and her breaths come in burning terrified gulps. She drags herself closer to the noise until she presses against someone’s back. She hears whimpering again.
Leyton? Are you okay?
She can’t tell what, or who, it is. Her fingers tingle with numbness as she searches for any signs of her friend. Her palm brushes the short, cropped hair of a man and she lurches backward. Her muscles scream in agony as she knocks into another body, motionless and rancid with death. Then a wail erupts nearby, followed by another and another.
She tries to move, but every way she twists herself, she’s met with flailing arms and legs that crush and squeeze. She tucks into a ball, her sobs joining the cacophony of the crying, and shrieks, and the unseen mass that slithers and moans around her.
__________
CeCe wakes to the beeping and purring of devices. She hears other noises too. The creaks of metal, footsteps crisscrossing the floor, and low murmurs. Gauze covers her eyes. She wants to remove it, but can’t lift her hand any more than a hover before giving up. Everything aches like a bruise that keeps getting pressed. She clenches her teeth and moans. A strange hand circles around her numb fingers. Out of instinct, she jerks away.
“It’s me,” her dad says. He’s trying not to cry. She can tell by the way his voice cracks. “I’m here.”
She tries to say, “Dad,” but all she manages is a raspy exhale.
His hand squeezes tighter. “You should sleep,” he says. She hears him get to his feet, the clink of a tray moving, and the flicking of his fingers against metal. He leans next to her. “You might feel a sting.”
When he’s done, she hears the rattle as he sets down the syringe.
Feel what sting? She didn’t feel anything.
She doesn’t want to sleep. She wants to know where she is, what’s happened, and why her body is numb. Was there an accident? Is Leyton okay? She wants to ask, but a fog creeps along the edges of her mind. She tries to hold on to her thoughts, but they slip away as her eyes close.
“N…” Her lips form a word, but her throat burns with the effort.
Over and over again, her father puts her to sleep like a hypnotist’s spell she can’t escape. She has no idea how long she’s been out. The next time she wakes her eyes are unbandaged. She blinks. Everything’s blurry, as if the world is underwater, and she manages to see what looks like a spider’s web of tubes running into her arms.
She turns her head. Her dad is sitting nearby working on a laptop.
“D…D…Dad,” she says in a voice she doesn’t recognize.
He shuts the computer and grips her hand. She’s still numb and uncomfortable, but his face is close, and tears roll down his cheeks.
“W…w…where?” she asks, her throat aching.
“You’re safe,” he says, but she doesn’t understand why he’d say that. Why safe? She looks past him. Where’s Mom? And her brother? Was Leyton hurt too?
“M…m…” The word sticks against her cracked lips, but it won’t come out. “W…where?” she manages again.
“A hospital. Kind of a hospital. We had to make do with the Costco.”
She tries to sit up, but her dad gently pushes her back down. “Not yet, Cees. Your body’s been through a lot. Let it rest.”
“Wha…what…h…h…hap…” Her voice gains strength, but the words she wants to say won’t come out.
“You were Infected.”
Related: Undying Love: 5 Must-Read Zombie Romantasy Books
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]]>Undying Love: 5 Must-Read Zombie Romantasy Books
1. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
A zombie with a heart? This cult-favorite novel follows R, a zombie who falls for a human girl, Julie. As his feelings for her grow, he slowly starts regaining his humanity. It’s a unique blend of horror, humor, and romance.
2. Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
Set in a futuristic, steampunk-inspired world, this novel follows Nora, a proper young lady, and Bram, a charming undead soldier. Their love defies societal norms as they navigate war, secrets, and a world teeming with both living and undead.
3. Love & Other Cures For the Recently Undead by HJ Ramsay
CeCe wakes to a reality she can’t fathom and realizes it’s probably not a good idea to fall for the guy who bit her and made her one of the undead. But in this post-apocalyptic world everything she’s known and understood has changed, including the path to love.
4. Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter
A dark, action-packed retelling of Alice in Wonderland with zombies. Alice Bell joins a secret group of zombie hunters while falling for the bad-boy leader, Cole. Expect romance, undead battles, and a touch of supernatural intrigue.
5. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
A hauntingly beautiful dystopian tale where a young woman, Mary, struggles to escape her fenced-off village surrounded by the Unconsecrated (zombies). Love triangles, sacrifice, and survival make this a gripping read.
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]]>Whispers of Difference
The boy was from two different worlds. From an early age, he felt he never belonged to any one part of society. Ricardo was born in 1967 to an Iranian mother and an American father; his life was destined to be a unique blend of cultures and a crossroads of identities.
David, his father, a naval intelligence officer, was returning from the Vietnam War. His ship had docked in Abadan on the southern coast of Iran in the Persian Gulf.
According to Samira, his mother, it was love at first sight. David was a dashing young American in a pristine white uniform, and she was an Iranian woman with an enigmatic figure, a gentle charisma, and a striking appearance. David described her as the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, with a flirtatious but also rebellious character.
After just a few short months, he asked Samira for her hand in marriage.
“Impossible,” Samira had said. “My family would fight tooth and nail to prevent the union, and anyway, securing a work permit will be impossible; my brother said it will take more than a year.”
“I’ll make it happen,” David had said.
His confident demeanor had surprised Samira, and her family had ridiculed his claim. Sure enough, the work permit came through within a few short months, and they were married soon afterward. Very few of Samira’s family members attended the small ceremony. Nobody was in attendance from David’s side; there was no family or even a single friend.
__________
Ricardo was born twelve months later, and his sister, Hannah, was born two years later.
It was a fairy tale come true. Samira couldn’t have been happier, so they moved to Samira’s mother’s house.
Why not? The house was huge, an ancient Iranian house built in the mid-1800s in one of the more affluent areas of Tehran near the skirts of the Alborz mountains in the north part of the city.
Ricardo’s grandmother had passed away, and his Aunt Sudabeh was always rattling around the house on her own. Sudabeh was the youngest of Samira’s siblings. She was the embodiment of grace and compassion, and whenever Ricardo was in her presence, she brought a sense of calm and solace, like a gentle breeze on a warm day, her voice as soft as a whisper. Sudabeh epitomized gentleness; no soul could recall a moment when she raised her voice. To Ricardo, she was more than an aunt; she was a sanctuary. She filled the house with the aroma of her soothing teas, and the faint hum of a kettle often accompanied their late-night conversations.
It seemed like the ideal solution: the type of house that needed a family to make it a home, the sound of children’s feet, the toys strewn around the floors, chaos, bedlam, meals shared, a place where memories were made and cherished, never to be forgotten.
The house was built over two stories. The stairs to the second floor were accessible via the garden, with the kitchen on the side of the house. It was a grand affair. The house had servants, though Ricardo never looked upon them as such; they were more of an integral part of the family and even shared mealtimes together—one big family.
Nanny Belgase was a kind woman who had been with Samira since Ricardo was born. She was one of the kindest women Ricardo had ever met, from a village north of Tehran. She took care of the children and acted like a second mother. Now and again, she’d bring one of her younger children to the house, and Ricardo and Hannah would play with them for hours.
Belgase’s eldest son was called Ali. He was the family driver, a very well-mannered, educated young man. He worked to help support his mother and father while attending college. The kids loved Ali; he always brought them sweets and played with them in the garden. The garden had a fountain and ponds surrounded by lush greenery. There were colorful pomegranate trees and lemon and orange trees with fragrant blooms. The maple trees were tall and elegant, evergreen the whole year round, and jasmine and lavender bushes gave the garden a heady aroma.
The grounds were tiled with decorative blue tiles, and flower beds bordered the length and breadth of the house. In the middle of the garden was a large marble birdbath that stored water for watering the garden.
The house’s basement had a large, now empty reservoir. It had been worth its weight in gold for generations long past, supplying all the water they needed in the long, hot summer months. The public water system installed in Tehran in the 1920s confined the reservoir to history, a relic of a bygone era. The downstairs of the house had four large rooms with a covered patio where the family spent most of the summer evenings.
High brick walls and a large wrought iron gate separated the house from the busy Tehran streets and led to the garden’s entrance.
It was the dirt part of the garden that Ricardo loved best. He tingled with excitement as he wandered into the roughest, most unkempt part of the property with his father, where the air hung heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay. Here, they transformed the earth into a vast battlefield, the once-vibrant flower bed now a cratered moonscape, meticulously sculpted with determined hands.
Plastic army men, hand-painted green and camouflage; tanks and trucks; and tiny rocket launchers were strategically placed for maximum impact on the make-believe enemy. And that look in his father’s eyes as he was transported into another world, mumbling snippets from the Vietnam War as he rambled on about napalm, a village called My Lai, and the tunnels underground called Cù Chi.
The intensity of the play battle concerned Ricardo, even at such a young age. His father took it too far; he got carried away.
“What are you doing?” Ricardo asked as he watched his father douse some of the plastic soldiers with lighter fuel.
“Making it a little bit more realistic, my boy.”
A small rocket in his father’s hands. He watched as his arm was at full stretch, and he made a whistling noise as he drew the rocket toward the ground where the soldiers were. “BOOOOOM!” He stretched the sound out, struck a match, and threw it into the mix.
There was a far-off look in his father’s eyes as the plastic soldiers burst into flames, and they both watched as they melted away into nothing.
A slight smile crossed his father’s lips, and then it was gone.
“Dad, was it like this when you were in the war? I mean . . .”
“It was like this, but much more serious. We had choices and decisions to make; taking a wrong turn could mean death. I lost a lot of good friends out there.” David smiled. “Ready to see if your sniper can hold the ridge?”
Ricardo laughed, and the tension eased slightly. “Let’s do it. I bet he’ll last longer than your tank brigade!”
Ricardo loved every precious second he spent with his father in the dirt of their backyard battlefield. His father seemed to enjoy it and was at his most animated and talkative. His mother once said David was a riddle wrapped up in a mystery inside an enigma. She’d stolen the quote from some book, but Ricardo understood.
Related: 5 Autofiction Books You’ve Got To Read This Spring
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]]>5 Autofiction Books You’ve Got To Read This Spring
1. The Copenhagen Trilogy by Tove Ditlevsen
A raw, absorbing memoir-novel hybrid about addiction, ambition, and the inner life of a writer.
2. How Should a Person Be? by Sheila Heti
How Should a Person Be? by Sheila Heti is a hybrid novel that blends memoir, fiction, and philosophical musings as it follows a young woman grappling with identity, friendship, and the complexities of artistic ambition.
3. Shadows of Tehran by Nick Berg
Based on a true story, this is an astonishing tale of resilience, rebellion, and the enduring human spirit—one that will inspire anyone facing their own shadows to keep pushing forward.
4. Greek Lessons by Han Kang
The author of The Vegetarian returns with an intimate, poetic novel about language, loss, and human connection.
5. “My Struggle” Series by Karl Ove Knausgaard
An epic, deeply personal six-volume masterpiece of everyday life, obsession, and memory.
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]]>Describe the book in one sentence.
It’s a coming-of-age novel about a New Hampshire family that sides with the British during the American Revolution and nearly pays for it with their lives.
What led you to write it?
Growing up in New Hampshire, Rev War history was everywhere. My family’s Colonial-era home was across the street from a tavern where the minutemen rallied before going off to war. As a kid, I thought all colonists supported the Revolution. Then my father took me on a hike deep in the woods to a cave where a British sympathizer hid out to escape being hounded by the rebels. I was fascinated. In fact, about 20 percent of the colonists didn’t back the war. This flip side of history stuck with me for years.
How long did it take to write?
It took a couple of years to write because I wanted it to be historically accurate. I could lose a whole day researching buttons to write a scene about my heroine’s dress, only to discover that women’s clothing had ties—not buttons. (Men’s clothing had the fancy buttons). After I finished writing a draft, I set it aside to write another Revolutionary War novel with the same protagonist: Prisoner of Wallabout Bay which came out in 2023. When I went back to Outcasts of Essex, I rewrote it to include the element of smallpox inoculation, which was controversial back then—just as vaccination raises alarms in some quarters today.
Do you prefer writing in one genre over another?
Since both my books take place during the American Revolution, I have to say historical fiction is my first love. Having been a long-time newspaper journalist, I strive for accuracy but also try to hook readers with a well-told yarn.
What book most influenced your life?
The Diary of Anne Frank. I read it as a young teen, and it set me on a reading path. I felt such empathy and admiration for Anne. The book made me realize how chilling real history can be.
Where do you write?
I write on the living room couch with my dog Sammy beside me. Or, for a change of scene, I take my computer to a coffee shop and hunker down for a few hours. Some writers need total silence, but I find that the background buzz can energize me.
Is there any one thing that especially frustrates you about the writing process?
Writing the book was hard enough, but marketing is a whole different skill that I’m just learning about. Public speaking and self-promotion don’t come easily for me. But I’m getting better at it all the time and have great admiration for people who do it well.
Any advice for novice writers?
Rewrite, and rewrite some more. No matter how exhausting it is, the story is always better after another go-around. Also, getting input from readers you trust for an honest opinion is always a good idea.
What’s next?
I’m hoping to write a third novel about my gutsy heroine Sarah Barrett. This one, based in Philadelphia, would have Sarah solving a grisly murder amid a tangle of war secrets.
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]]>For Beginners
1. The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible by Edward C. Smith
Great for raised bed and organic gardening.
2. Rodale’s Basic Organic Gardening by Deborah L. Martin
A beginner-friendly organic gardening guide.
3. Grow Food for Free by Huw Richards
Teaches how to garden with little to no cost.
For Flower & Pollinator Gardens
4. The Well-Tended Perennial Garden by Tracy DiSabato-Aust
A must-read for maintaining stunning flower beds.
5. The Flower Gardener’s Bible by Lewis Hill & Nancy Hill
Covers annuals, perennials, and flower care.
6. Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden by Jessica Walliser
Focuses on pollinators and natural pest control.
For Seasonal & Practical Gardening
7. The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener by Niki Jabbour
Extends your growing season.
8. Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies by Jessica Walliser
Covers strategic planting for better yields.
For Small Space & Container Gardening
9. The Urban Homestead by Kelly Coyne & Erik Knutzen
Great for city gardeners.
10. Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies by Jessica Walliser
Covers strategic planting for better yields.
Related: The Best Book Bricks For Your Garden
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]]>10 Novels About The American Revolution
1. Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
A young apprentice in Boston gets caught up in the revolutionary movement.
2. Drums Along the Mohawk by Walter D. Edmonds
A story of frontier life in New York during the war, focusing on settlers’ struggles against British and Native American forces.
3. Rise to Rebellion by Jeff Shaara
A detailed, character-driven novel covering the events leading up to the war.
4. The Glorious Cause by Jeff Shaara
A sequel to Rise to Rebellion, following the war from 1776 to its conclusion.
5. April Morning by Howard Fast
A coming-of-age novel set during the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
6. Outcasts of Essex by Jane Hulse
Loyalties clash at the outset of the American Revolution.
7. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
A gripping YA novel about an enslaved girl seeking freedom amidst the revolution.
8. The Fort by Bernard Cornwell
A lesser-known Revolutionary War battle at Penobscot Bay, told with Cornwell’s trademark realism.
9. The Tory Widow by Christine Blevins
A romance-adventure novel set in occupied New York City during the war.
10. Washington and Caesar by Christian Cameron
A unique perspective on the war, following an enslaved man who fights for the British in hopes of freedom.
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]]>The Best New Books To Read In March 2025
1. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Suzanne Collins presents a prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy, focusing on the 50th Hunger Games and the backstory of Haymitch Abernathy.
2. Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green
John Green explores the history and ongoing impact of tuberculosis, intertwining historical analysis with contemporary narratives.
3. Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
A powerful exploration of identity, culture, and personal transformation.
4. Free: My Search for Meaning by Amanda Knox
In this book, Knox delves into her experiences during her imprisonment, her journey toward exoneration, and her subsequent advocacy for criminal justice reform. The memoir also explores her personal growth and the challenges of reintegrating into society after her ordeal.
5. The Expert of Subtle Revisions by Kirsten Menger-Anderson
Menger-Anderson, known for her collection of linked short stories, Doctor Olaf van Schuler’s Brain, brings her storytelling prowess to this new work.
6. Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
Clare Leslie Hall crafts a gripping murder mystery, selected by Reese Witherspoon’s book club.
7. Count My Lies by Sophie Stava
The “Good Morning America” Book Club has chosen Count My Lies, featuring a compulsive liar’s thrilling adventures that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
8. I’m That Girl by Jordan Chiles
Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles recounts the challenges faced during her career, particularly the controversy surrounding her bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, offering insights into resilience and determination.
9. Paper Doll by Dylan Mulvaney
In this memoir, actress and activist Dylan Mulvaney shares her personal journey through transition and advocacy, addressing challenges such as the ‘Beergate controversy’ and her experiences in the public eye.
10. Twist by Colum McCann
Colum McCann’s upcoming novel, set for release in March 2025, is anticipated to offer a fresh perspective on classic themes, continuing his tradition of exploring complex narratives.
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