We recently visited the Boston area of Massachusetts, and I’ve been thinking of the books I’ve read – contemporary or historical – set in this locale. I bet I’m forgetting some! But these are the first that came to mind.

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A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman
I’ve read A Passion Most Pure twice – something I don’t often do – mainly due to the size of my to-be-read list. This book, my introduction to Julie Lessman’s writing, stuck with me so much I gave it a second go.

Is it a little like a soap opera in spots? Yep. There’s a reason soap operas of the daytime and nighttime variety have endured. I don’t consider those elements a strike against the book.

I love that the importance of chastity is addressed without minimizing temptation, glossing over human frailties, or the purpose of God-given passion in our lives. A great introduction to the Daughters of Boston!

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Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund
I won an audiobook copy of Rebellious Heart from the author. The narration was very well done – only adding to the narrative and not distracting from it. The men’s and women’s voice were both well done and distinctive enough for me to identify them without name attribution.

Rebllious Heart is a suspenseful story of friendship, courage, and love. I enjoyed reading about the colonial era and found the pre-Revolutionary War setting fascinating. The romance was clean but sensual.

The characters are well-developed and the plot includes a bit of suspense and mystery. Although I thought that at times both Susanna and Ben’s reasoning for avoiding a romantic entanglement became repetitive, they each had a satisfying story arc. Susanna underwent the biggest change – from blindly obedient to courageously principled while Ben learned to see beyond self-interest and his inferiority complex to valuing who and what matters most.

Recommended for fans of historical romance.

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The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse
Quite by accident, I listened to this audiobook immediately before a trip to Boston in which we were able to visit Plymoth Rock! Perfect timing.

While the title suggests a romance – and it is, a tender and sweet romance – I was struck more by the trials and deprivation endured by the passengers of the Mayflower- seasickness, scurvy, and other illnesses that ravaged the passengers and crew alike.

With both historical and fiction characters, The Mayflower Bride is an enjoyable listen/read and more entertaining and memorable than a history lesson.

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I’ve also recently read an advance copy of a book yet unreleased: The Father’s Son by Jim Sano. The Boston setting is a big part of this novel. Until it’s released, you can find more about the novel at Full Quiver Publishing’s site.

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What novels set in and around Boston would you recommend?

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