Why am I passionate about this?

I am the author of sixteen novels—six of them set in the mid-seventeenth century. The English Civil Wars and their aftermath is a period very close to my heartcombining as it does fascinating personalities, incredibly complicated politics, and all the drama and bloodshed of civil conflict. My greatest pleasure has been finding and featuring real men whose names are now largely forgotten.


I wrote

The Black Madonna

By Stella Riley,

Book cover of The Black Madonna

What is my book about?

The Black Madonna is the first in my five book series set against the English Civil Wars. It takes place…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Montrose: The Kings' Champion

Stella Riley Why did I love this book?

I read a lot of biographies but this one stands head and shoulders above the rest. Told with a novelist’s eye, Hastings gives a compelling account of a remarkable man, his achievements, and his tragic, utterly disgraceful end.

Travel with Montrose and his band of ill-equipped Irishmen over the Grampians in the dead of winter—it’s a journey one doesn’t forget.

By Max Hastings,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Montrose as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Shipped from UK, please allow 10 to 21 business days for arrival. Very Good, FIRST EDITION. VICTOR GOLLANCZ LTD. LONDON. 1977 A very good/fine copy in black cloth boards, gold-gilt title on spine, illustrated endpapers, with a very good/fine dust-jacket in a clear protective wrapper.


Book cover of Royal Escape

Stella Riley Why did I love this book?

The famous story of Charles the Second’s escape from England during the six weeks following the Battle of Worcester in 1651. I believe Heyer based her book on the account Charles gave to Samuel Pepys. Interestingly, while in exile, the King never told the whole tale and changed numerous details to protect those who had helped him.

Royal Escape is an enjoyable and entertaining read told by a master storyteller.

By Georgette Heyer,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Royal Escape as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A fascinating look into a tumultuous interlude in British history and the life of Bonnie Prince Charlie.

This brilliantly entertaining novel is a fictionalization of the true story of Charles II (May 29, 1630 ? February 6, 1685), charting his daring flight to France after the Battle of Worcester, where Cromwell and his Protestant forces defeated the Catholic king. For six weeks, Charles' life was in danger as he hid in the English countryside, disguised as a servant, unable to find a way across heavily guarded borders. His loyal courtiers were appalled by the ease and glee with which he…


Book cover of The Stranger Prince: The Story of Rupert of the Rhine

Stella Riley Why did I love this book?

One of several related titles about the Stuarts, The Stranger Prince is about Rupert of the Rhine and, to a degree, the rest of his family, exiled from the Palatinate when Rupert was still in the cradle. It is a favourite of mine, covering Rupert’s early years and his military career in England during the first Civil War.

Based on real characters and events, it has tremendous liveliness and heart.

By Margaret Irwin,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Stranger Prince as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Story of Rupert of the Rhine


Book cover of The Children of the New Forest

Stella Riley Why did I love this book?

First published in 1847, the writing style seems somewhat ponderous these days. I read it when I was about twelve—and this is where I discovered the English Civil War. It begins in 1647 and tells the story of four children who, their home burned by Parliamentary soldiers, flee to hide in the forest during a time of danger, persecution, and war. Its bias is unashamedly Royalist but that isn’t necessarily a flaw.

By Frederick Marryat,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Children of the New Forest as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.


Book cover of The King's General

Stella Riley Why did I love this book?

Set in Cornwall, before and during the Civil War, this is a terrific tale based upon the lives of real people—most notably, perhaps, Sir Richard Grenville the King’s General in the West. It’s the story of the Rashleigh Family and Menabilly—where Daphne du Maurier herself lived.

Well written as one would expect of du Maurier—it’s a beautiful story, beautifully told; absorbing, exciting and hard to put down.

By Daphne du Maurier,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The King's General as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Inspired by a grisly discovery in the nineteenth century, The King's General was the first of du Maurier's novels to be written at Menabilly, the model for Manderley in Rebecca. Set in the seventeenth century, it tells the story of a country and a family riven by civil war, and features one of fiction's most original heroines. Honor Harris is only eighteen when she first meets Richard Grenvile, proud, reckless - and utterly captivating. But following a riding accident, Honor must reconcile herself to a life alone. As Richard rises through the ranks of the army, marries and makes enemies,…


Explore my book 😀

The Black Madonna

By Stella Riley,

Book cover of The Black Madonna

What is my book about?

The Black Madonna is the first in my five book series set against the English Civil Wars. It takes place between 1639 and 1645 and is told largely through the eyes of the Maxwell family; Richard, Member of Parliament, his son, Eden, a soldier in the Parliamentary army, and his daughter, Kate, from their home in Oxfordshire. But it is also told from the perspective of Luciano del Santi, an Italian goldsmith in love with Richard’s daughter whilst pursuing a revenge quest through a war-torn land.

The Black Madonna is a B.R.A.G Medallion Honoree.

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My Year of Casual Acquaintances

By Ruth F. Stevens,

Book cover of My Year of Casual Acquaintances

Ruth F. Stevens Author Of My Year of Casual Acquaintances

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

From the time I was a girl, I’ve loved stories that put a lump in my throat even as I’m laughing. As a fiction writer, that funny-sad tone is the one I go for in my own work. I gravitate toward female protagonists of all ages who break the mold—women who are intelligent and strong but who also have unconventional, quirky personalities. Women who can be hilarious, infuriating, and heartbreaking—sometimes all at once. Because they are complex and unique, these women tend to struggle with life’s challenges more than their contemporaries. That’s what makes their stories so interesting, and why I have chosen the books on this list. 

Ruth's book list on smart, quirky women facing personal struggles

What is my book about?

When Mar’s husband divorces her, she reacts by abandoning everything in her past: her home, her friends, even her name. Though it's not easy starting over, she’s ready for new adventures—as long as she can keep things casual. Each month, Mar goes from one acquaintance to the next: a fellow gym member down on her luck, a flirty hip-hop instructor, a bossy but comical consultant. . . and a handsome novelist who wants more than she can give. Mar learns from each encounter. But can she open herself up to true connection?

Surrounded by quirky, endearing characters, Mar navigates her…

My Year of Casual Acquaintances

By Ruth F. Stevens,

What is this book about?

"A fun, entertaining novel! I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't enjoy this book as much as I did." -Leslie A. Rasmussen, award-winning author

When Mar Meyer's husband divorces her for another woman, she reacts by abandoning everything in her past: her home, her friends, even her name. Though it's not easy to start over, Mar is young-looking, fit, and ready for new adventures-as long as she can keep things casual.

With each passing month, Mar goes from one acquaintance to the next. Among them: a fellow gym member down on her luck, a flirty hip-hop instructor, a bossy but comical…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in the English Civil War, Scotland, and Cornwall?

Scotland 339 books
Cornwall 73 books