Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy is a riveting non-fiction book about four women who conducted espionage (and, in one case, fought undercover as a soldier) in the Civil War. Two women worked for the North and two for the South. The book is interesting and exciting and paints incredible pictures of very different women who, love them or hate them, lived unusual lives of great political and personal passion and daring. Here’s a look at the … Continue reading Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbott →
Hamilton’s Battalion is a wonderful trio of romance novellas set in America during or immediately following the Revolutionary War. I don’t think I’ve ever before found a romance anthology in which all the stories were equally well written. I had high expectations for Courtney Milan and Alyssa Cole, because I’m a fan of their other work, and they did not disappoint. I’ve never read anything by Rose Lerner before, but her novella was also wonderful. … Continue reading Hamilton’s Battalion by Rose Lerner, Courtney Milan, and Alyssa Cole →
Last year for Women’s History Month, we discussed some of our favorite women in history. This year we’d thought we’d bring you some of our favorite biographies and biopics. RHG: Television has given us some lavish biopics of Royal women recently – Victoria (about Queen Victoria) and The Crown, about Elizabeth II. Like all biopics, there’s some fast and loose history at play, but the concept of how these two young women become Queen and … Continue reading Women’s History Month: Our Favorite Biographies →
Welcome back to Kickass Women! This month we are paying tribute to Loreta Janeta Velazquez, a woman who was born in Cuba and ended up serving as a soldier and spy during the Civil War. Much of what we know about Loreta’s life comes from her memoirs, in which fact may or may not have taken a backseat to entertainment value. But even allowing for embellishment, she led a kickass life, albeit one that was … Continue reading Kickass Women in History: Loreta Janet Velazquez →
Welcome to Kickass Women in History, in which we examine the lives of some of the lesser-known amazing women who kicked ass in all sorts of ways. This month we’ll be talking about Mary Bowser, one of the most remarkable spies of the Civil War. Mary Bowser was born a slave of the Van Lew family. The Van Lews were abolitionists in the Confederate town of Richmond, Virginia. When John Van Lew died, his wife … Continue reading Kickass Women in History: Mary Bowser →
Locally Sourced Romance is a new feature that puts the spotlight on fabulous bookstores supporting the romance community! To nominate or suggest a bookstore, please shoot us an email. For a crowd sourced map of bookstores that carry romance, feel free to consult and/or add to our Smart Bitches Buy Romance map! Though be forewarned, it’s undergoing a renovation. Today, we’re featuring the Saratoga Springs, NY location of Northshire Bookstore. We discovered Northshire Bookstore after receiving … Continue reading Locally Sourced Romance: Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs →
Karen Abbott illuminates one of the most fascinating yet little known aspects of the Civil War: the stories of four courageous women—a socialite, a farmgirl, an abolitionist, and a widow—who were spies. After shooting a Union soldier in her front hall with a pocket pistol, Belle Boyd became a courier and spy for the Confederate army, using her charms to seduce men on both sides. Emma Edmonds cut off her hair and assumed the identity … Continue reading Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy →
