The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall

The Secret History of Audrey James will have you enthralled, whether you're reading the novel in your assisted living apartment or one of the common areas at Bethesda Gardens Loveland. Set in Berlin, this page-turner tells the story of German resistance during World War II. 

The story centers on Audrey James, who's about to return to England after studying at a local music school. She's reluctant to leave behind her best friend, Ilse Kaplan, as the Nazis rise to power. Audrey's worst fears come true as Ilse's parents and brother vanish and two members of the Nazi Party take over the Kaplans' home. Determined to protect her friend, Audrey stays on as the officers' housekeeper while Ilse hides in the attic. Audrey is soon drawn into the dangerous resistance movement, working alongside Germans opposing Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime.  

The Lioness of Boston by Emily Franklin

If you're planning a travel adventure, you'll need a good book to read on your journey. Tuck a copy of The Lioness of Boston, a fictionalized account of the life of Isabella Stewart Gardner, into your suitcase. 

This historical novel begins in 1861. Gardner has married into Boston's high society but struggles to fit in. She eventually finds her place in the world of art and ideas, meeting artists such as Cézanne and Renoir. Gardner begins collecting paintings, antiques and other art, opening a museum to share her treasures with the public. The Lioness of Boston is a compelling story of an outsider who leaves a cultural legacy despite the constraints she encounters in society.

Imperium by Robert Harris

There are plenty of activities to keep you busy at our senior living community, but sometimes you might feel like a quiet afternoon. History buffs can reach for Imperium, an exploration of politics in ancient Rome.  This novel follows Roman statesman and lawyer Marcus Tullius Cicero as he takes on a corrupt governor, Gaius Verres.

Told from the point of view of Cicero's secretary, Tiro, Imperium follows Cicero's pursuit of justice and rise to power. If you enjoy this novel, stop by a Loveland bookstore for other titles in the trilogy, Lustrum and Dictator.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Africa is thousands of miles from Colorado, but Homegoing transports you there through its rich prose. Spanning generations and continents, this sweeping novel follows the lives of two sisters and their descendants. Effia and Esi are born in different villages in 18th century Ghana. The half-sisters have vastly different lives — one is married to a wealthy Englishman and resides in the upper floors of Cape Coast Castle. The other is imprisoned in the castle's dungeons and enslaved in America. Yaa Gyasi's richly crafted novel unfolds in various settings, including the Gold Coast of Africa, the cotton plantations of Mississippi and Harlem jazz bars in the 20th century.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner is another title to have on hand if you feel like diving into history. The New York Times best-selling novel begins in 1970s Kabul, with Afghanistan on the cusp of war. Amir is a young boy who befriends Hassan, the son of his father's servant. The two bond over a shared love of kite-flying. When Amir fails to stand up for his friend, he is haunted by his actions long after he and his father flee the political instability of Afghanistan for the United States. Hosseini's powerful novel provides a glimpse into a country and its people while exploring themes of guilt and redemption.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Travel back to Tudor England from the comfort of your assisted living apartment. Wolf Hall explores the maneuverings of Henry VIII from the point of view of Thomas Cromwell. The king's trusted advisor played a key role in the political and religious upheavals of the time as Henry attempted to secure a male successor to the throne.

The events surrounding Henry VIII are well documented in history books, but this novel takes a unique perspective, focusing on how Cromwell's ambition and influence helped reshape England. Winner of The Man Booker Prize, Wolf Hall is the first installment in a trilogy about Cromwell that includes Bring Up the Bodies and The Mirror and the Light.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

If you love to read but don't have space to keep a pile of books, an eReader is a handy tech device. Consider adding The Rose Code to your digital book collection. Kate Quinn's novel centers on three women with vastly different backgrounds who worked as cryptanalysts in Bletchley Park, an isolated country house in England. During World War II, British civilians helped the military effort by deciphering enemy code.

The story centers around Osla, a wealthy debutante, Mab, an ambitious East Ender in London, and Beth, a shy and brilliant mathematician. Although they become fast friends, the impossible circumstances of war and an unexpected betrayal tears them apart. Years later, a secret from the past surfaces. The women are reunited and work together one last time to crack a code.

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