HISTORICAL HAPPY HOUR
Hosted by Jane Healey, Historical Happy Hour is a live interview and podcast featuring premiere historical fiction authors and their latest novels.
JOIN US LIVE!
New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, The Girl from Greenwich Street. The Girl from Greenwich Street is a gripping historical thriller based on a real 1799 murder case that united bitter political rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in an explosive courtroom drama. When young Elma Sands disappears just before Christmas and is later found dead, public outrage targets a local carpenter—forcing Burr and Hamilton into an uneasy alliance to defend him. As the trial unfolds against the backdrop of a high-stakes election, the novel weaves mystery, ambition, and betrayal into a shocking final revelation about the woman at the heart of it all.
The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester
- Episode: 67
- April 9, 2025
New York Times bestselling author Natasha Lester joins us to talk about her latest novel. The Mademoiselle Alliance tells the remarkable true story of Marie-Madeleine Méric, a glamorous Parisian mother who defied convention to become the leader of the largest spy network in Nazi-occupied France. From daring car rallies…
The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper
- Episode: 66
- March 26, 2025
Elise Hooper joins the podcast again to discuss her latest novel. The Library of Lost Dollhouses is dual-timeline historical fiction about a mysterious collection of dollhouses that reveal the secrets of the women who once owned them. Spanning the course of a century, The Library of Lost Dollhouses is…
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley
- Episode: 65
- March 12, 2025
Emily Critchley joins Historical Happy Hour to talk about her latest novel. The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is a haunting tale of ambition, betrayal, and family secrets set in 1938. When lonely boarding school student Gillian Larking is drawn into the glamorous yet shadowed world of her enigmatic roommate…
The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang
- Episode: 63
- February 26, 2025
Debut author Jane Yang joins us to talk about her exciting new novel, The Lotus Shoes. This novel is based in China in the 1800s and follows the lives of two young girls. It begins when family tragedy causes Little Flower to be sold into slavery to Linjing’s wealthy…
The Librarians of Lisbon by Suzanne Nelson
- Episode: 63
- February 17, 2025
Suzanne Nelson, renown author and foodie joins us to talk about her latest novel, The Librarians of Lisbon. The Librarians of Lisbon is a riveting tale of love, espionage, and friendship set in the glittering yet perilous backdrop of Lisbon during WWII. Best friends Selene and Bea, recruited as…
Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, and Chris Crabtree
- Episode: 62
- February 5, 2025
In our latest episode, we are talking with Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, and Chris Crabtree about their new gripping novel, Hold Strong. Hold Strong is a tale of love, sacrifice, and survival during World War II. Sam Carlson endures unimaginable hardship as a POW aboard the ill-fated Arisan Maru,…
Homeseeking by Karissa Chen
- Episode: 61
- January 29, 2025
Karissa Chen is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, Homeseeking. Homeseeking is an epic and intimate tale of one couple across sixty years as world events pull them together and apart, illuminating the Chinese diaspora and exploring what it means to find home far from your…
The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis
- Episode: 60
- January 6, 2025
New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, The Stolen Queen. She delights readers with a story centered on the Metropolitan Museum of Art and its famed Met Gala, while for the first time, exploring a territory beyond New York…
The Women of Arlington Hall (Preview) by Jane Healey
- Episode: 59
- December 19, 2024
For our last Historical Happy Hour of 2024 Jane takes any and all questions you have about any of her books, the writing life, my pets – anything! We discuss authors our readers like to see in the coming year. Jane also shares a little sneak peek about her…
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamal
- Episode: 58
- December 11, 2024
Marjan Kamali joins us to talk about her latest novel, The Lion Women of Tehran. From the nationally bestselling author of the “powerful, heartbreaking” (Shelf Awareness) The Stationery Shop, a heartfelt, epic new novel of friendship, betrayal, and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran….
Mademoiselle Eiffel by Aimie Runyan
- Episode: 57
- December 4, 2024
International bestselling author Aimie Runyan is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, Mademoiselle Eiffel. Claire Eiffel, the brilliant daughter of architect Gustave Eiffel, becomes her father’s confidante and indispensable assistant, supporting his ambitions until she’s pushed aside by a young protégé, Adolphe Salles, who later becomes…
The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock
- Episode: 56
- November 19, 2024
Kimberly Brock is our latest guest to talk about her latest novel, The Fabled Earth. Southern mythology and personal reckoning collide in this sweeping story inspired by the little-known history of Cumberland Island when a once-in-a-century storm threatens the natural landscape. Faced with a changing world, two timelines and…
Katharine, the Wright Sister by Tracey Enerson Wood
- Episode: 56
- November 14, 2024
Tracey Enerson Wood is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, Katharine, the Wright Sister. It’s a vibrant historical novel about the unsung hero behind the groundbreaking aeronautical achievement of Wilbur and Orville Wright: their sister. Perfect for fans of Marie Benedict and Fiona Davis it reveals…
The Long March Home by Tosca Lee
- Episode: 54
- October 30, 2024
Tosca Lee is our guest to discuss her latest novel. Inspired by true stories, The Long March Home is a gripping coming-of-age tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the power of unrelenting hope. International Book Award Winner in Historical Fiction….
The Trade Off by Samantha Woodruff
- Episode: 53
- October 24, 2024
Samantha Woodruff is our guest to talk about her latest novel, The Trade Off. It’s the tale of a young Jewish woman with a gift for math and numbers who wants to become a broker on Wall Street. But, because she is Jewish and female she can’t. She finds…
When We Chased the Light by Emily Bleeker
- Episode: 52
- October 15, 2024
Emily Bleeker is our guest to talk about her latest novel When We Chased the Light. A Hollywood legend. A legacy of secrets. An epic and emotional novel about forgiveness, fame, family, and truly unconditional love by the bestselling author of When We Were Enemies….
The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Loigman
- Episode: 51
- October 10, 2024
Lynda Cohen Loigman, the bestselling author of The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters is Jane Healey’s guest again on the podcast to talk about her latest novel, The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern. This novel follows Augusta, a retired pharmacist, as she reconnects with her first love and…
Echos of Us by Joy Jordan-Lake
- Episode: 50
- October 3, 2024
Joy Jordan-Lake, bestselling author of Under a Gilded Moon, joins the podcast to talk about her latest novel, Echos of Us. Echoes of Us weaves together the past and present as descendants of three unlikely World War II allies—an American farm boy, a Jewish student, and a German POW—clash…
In the Garden of Monsters by Crystal King
- Episode: 49
- September 17, 2024
Crystal King, bestselling author of The Chef’s Secret and Feast of Sorrow, is our latest guest on Historical Happy Hour to discuss her latest novel, In the Garden of Monsters. A woman with no past… In post-war Italy, a beautiful model with no memory of her past is drawn…
When the World Fell Silent by Donna Jones Alward
- Episode: 48
- September 13, 2024
Donna Jones Alward is our guest to talk about her new novel, When the World Feel Silent. A story of loss, hope and redemption against impossible odds… 1917. When tragedy strikes in Halifax Harbour, nothing for nurse Nora Crowell or war widow Charlotte Campbell will ever be the same…
The Thirteenth Husband by Greer Macallister
- Episode: 47
- September 12, 2024
Greer Macallister is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, The Thirteenth Husband. It’s the story of scandalous heiress Aimee Crocker, who lit up the Gilded Age tabloids with her devil-may-care attitude and worldwide adventures…
Sara Goodman Confino and Jennifer S. Brown
- Episode: 46
- August 22, 2024
Sara Goodman Confino and Jennifer S. Brown are our guests to discuss their upcoming novels! Behind Every Good Man – A wronged wife goes toe to toe with her cheating husband at the polls in this hilarious and heart-lifting novel by the bestselling author of Don’t Forget to Write….
Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams
- Episode: 45
- August 1, 2024
New York Times bestselling author Beatriz Williams is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, Husbands & Lovers. Husbands & Lovers blends a contemporary love story with a fascinating, mysterious past. When single-mom Mallory Dunne receives the phone call no parent ever wants to receive – her…
The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson
- Episode: 44
- July 14, 2024
In this bonus crossover episode of Historical Happy Hour, bestselling British novelist Kate Thompson, bestselling author and host of the popular From the Library with Love podcast, and Jane Healey interview each other….
The Last Twelve Miles by Erika Robuck
- Episode: 43
- July 11, 2024
New York Times bestselling author Erika Robuck is Jane Healey’s guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, The Last Twelve Miles. It’s based on the true story of two brilliant women on two sides of the law: Coast Guard Cryptanalyst Elizebeth Smith Friedman and South Florida Rumrunner Marie Waite. Fans of…
All the Summers In Between by Brooke Lea Foster
- Episode: 42
- July 9, 2024
Bestselling author Brooke Lea Foster joins the podcast to talk about her latest novel, All The Summers In Between. Set in the dual timelines of 1967 and 1977, All the Summers In Between is at once a mesmerizing portrait of a complex friendship, a delicious glimpse into a bygone…
The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson
- Episode: 41
- June 27, 2024
Helen Simonson discusses her new novel, The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club. A timeless comedy of manners—refreshing as a summer breeze and bracing as the British seaside—about a generation of young women facing the seismic changes brought on by war and dreaming of the boundless possibilities of their…
The Goddess of Warsaw by Lisa Barr
- Episode: 40
- June 6, 2024
New York Times bestselling author Lisa Barr is Jane Healey’s guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, The Goddess of Warsaw, a riveting historical saga spanning six decades taking readers from Warsaw to Hollywood, following a legendary screen actress with a dark secret about her life in the Warsaw Ghetto. It’s…
The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
- Episode: 39
- May 7, 2024
New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan Henry joins Jane Healey on the podcast to discuss her new novel, The Secret Book of Flora Lea. When a London woman discovers a rare book with connections to her past, long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood in the English countryside…
The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly
- Episode: 38
- April 28, 2024
Jane Healey welcomes bestselling author Martha Hall Kelly to talk her latest novel, The Golden Doves. Two female spies, bound together by their past, risk everything to hunt down an infamous Nazi doctor in the aftermath of World War II—an extraordinary novel inspired by true events from the New…
The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan
- Episode: 37
- April 11, 2024
Historical Happy Hour welcomes acclaimed author Jennifer Ryan to discuss her latest novel, The Underground Library. When the Blitz imperils the heart of a London neighborhood, three young women must use their fighting spirit to save the community’s beloved library in this heartwarming novel based on true events. …
The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang
- Episode: 36
- April 2, 2024
Bestselling authors Janie Chang and Kate Quinn join us to discuss their new novel, The Phoenix Crown, a thrilling and unforgettable narrative about the intertwined lives of two wronged women, spanning from the chaos of the San Francisco earthquake to the glittering palaces of Versailles. …
The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza
- Episode: 35
- March 28, 2024
The podcast welcomes bestselling author, podcast creator and award-winning journalist, Jo Piazza to discuss her latest book. The Sicilian Inheritance is a multigenerational mystery and adventure about a woman who returns to Sicily to claim her family’s land and is threatened by the same forces that murdered her greta…
Finding Margaret Fuller by Allison Pataki
- Episode: 34
- March 7, 2024
New York Times bestselling author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, Allison Pataki, is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, Finding Margaret Fuller. This is an epic reimagining of the life of Margaret Fuller—America’s forgotten leading lady and the central figure of a movement that…
The Women by Kristin Hannah
- Episode: 33
- February 22, 2024
It’s the 3rd anniversary of Historical Happy Hour. And my guest this month is the amazing, #1 New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah, to discuss her latest novel, THE WOMEN. From master storyteller Kristin Hannah, bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds, comes the story of a turbulent, transformative era…
The Mayor of Maxwell Street by Avery Cunningham
- Episode: 32
- January 23, 2024
The Mayor of Maxwell Street is a work of Adult Historical Fiction where an ambitious Black debutante and aspiring journalist enlists the help of a low-level speakeasy manager to identify the head of an underground crime syndicate in the dangerous world of Prohibition-era Chicago….
Goodnight from Paris by Jane Healey
- Episode: 31
- January 18, 2024
To start 2024, I present an in-depth look at the story of Drue Leyton and her historic contributions to the end of WWII….
A Beautiful Rival by Gill Paul
- Episode: 30
- December 6, 2023
Bestselling author Gill Paul joins us to talk about her new book, A Beautiful Rival. This stunning new novel reveals the unknown history of cosmetic titans Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein and their infamous rivalry that spanned not only decades, but also broken marriages, personal tragedies, and a world that…
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
- Episode: 29
- November 16, 2023
From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history….
The Spectacular by Fiona Davis
- Episode: 28
- October 12, 2023
From the New York Times Bestselling Author of The Magnolia Palace: A thrilling story about love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of dreams, set amidst the glamour and glitz of Radio City Music Hall in its mid-century heyday….
A Bakery in Paris by Aimie K. Runyan
- Episode: 27
- September 25, 2023
From the author of The School for German Brides, this captivating historical novel set in nineteenth-century and post–World War II Paris follows two fierce women of the same family, generations apart, who find that their futures lie in the four walls of a simple bakery in a tiny corner…
California Golden by Melanie Benjamin
- Episode: 26
- August 29, 2023
Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author joins us to discuss her latest novel California Golden, tells the story of two sisters navigating the thrilling, euphoric early days of California surf culture in a dazzling saga of ambition, sacrifice, and the tangled ties between mothers and daughters. Entertainment Weekly calls…
The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin
- Episode: 25
- July 29, 2023
Madeline Martin is a New York Times and International Bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance. Her latest novel The Keeper of Hidden Books is a heartwarming story about the power of books to bring people together based on the real life heroic efforts of Warsaw’s librarians during…
Night Angels by Weina Dai Randel
- Episode: 24
- July 2, 2023
Weina Dai Randel joins Jane Healey to talk about her novel, Night Angels. From the author of The Last Rose of Shanghai comes a profoundly moving novel about a diplomatic couple who risked their lives to help Viennese Jews escape the Nazis, based on the true story of Dr. Ho Fengshan, Righteous Among the…
Daughters of Nantucket by Julie Gerstenblatt
- Episode: 23
- June 2, 2023
Set against Nantucket’s Great Fire of 1846, this sweeping, emotional novel brings together three courageous women battling to save everything they hold dear… Nantucket in 1846 is an island set apart not just by its geography but by its unique circumstances. With their menfolk away at sea, often for…
The Perfumist of Paris by Alka Joshi
- Episode: 22
- May 8, 2023
Alka Joshi joins us to talk about her new novel, The Perfumist of Paris. The final chapter in her New York Times bestselling Jaipur trilogy takes readers to 1970s Paris where Radha’s budding career as a perfumer must compete with the demands of her family and the secrets of her…
The Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris
- Episode: 21
- February 25, 2023
New York Times bestselling author Kristina McMorris is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, The Ways We Hide, a sweeping World War II tale of an illusionist whose recruitment by British intelligence sets her on a perilous, heartrending path….
The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy
- Episode: 20
- January 26, 2023
Paulette Kennedy is my latest guest to discuss her new novel, The Witch of Tin Mountain, a witchy southern gothic set in rural Northern Arkansas during the Great Depression, coming to you February 1st, 2023 from Lake Union Publishing. …
The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Loigman
- Episode: 19
- December 1, 2022
From Lynda Cohen Loigman, the bestselling author of The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters, comes a heartwarming story of two extraordinary women from two different eras who defy expectations to utilize their unique gift of seeing soulmates in the most unexpected places in The Matchmaker’s Gift….
Where the Sky Begins by Rhys Bowen
- Episode: 18
- October 30, 2022
Bestselling author Rhys Bowen discusses her new novel, Where the Sky Begins. A woman’s future is determined by fate and choice in a gripping WWII novel about danger, triumph, and second chances by the New York Times bestselling author of The Venice Sketchbook and The Tuscan Child. London, 1940….
Unnatural Creatures: A Novel of the Frankenstein Women by Kris Waldherry
- Episode: 17
- October 21, 2022
This month’s book pick for Historical Happy Hour is perfect for Halloween! Please join me and the fabulous author Kris Waldherr as we celebrate the launch of her latest novel Unnatural Creatures: A Novel of the Frankenstein Women. Some tales aren’t what you think. For the first time, the untold…
The Thread Collectors by Alyson Richman and Shaunna Edwards
- Episode: 16
- September 15, 2022
1863: In a small Creole cottage in New Orleans, an ingenious young Black woman named Stella embroiders intricate maps on repurposed cloth to help enslaved men flee and join the Union Army. Bound to a man who would kill her if he knew of her clandestine activities, Stella has…
Historical Happy Hour: Power Panel
- Episode: 15
- June 6, 2022
Three fabulous authors, Piper Huguley, Libbie Grant and Aimie K. Runyan, join me for a very special panel, celebrating the launch of Piper Huguley’s novel, By Her Own Design. It’s the incredible untold story of how Ann Lowe, a Black woman and granddaughter of slaves, rose above personal struggles…
The Next Ship Home by Heather Webb
- Episode: 14
- June 2, 2022
This is a novel of the dark secrets of Ellis Island, when entry to “the land of the free” promised a better life but often delivered something drastically different, and when immigrant strength and female friendship found ways to triumph even on the darkest days. Inspired by true events…
Angels of the Pacific by Elise Hooper
- Episode: 13
- April 27, 2022
Inspired by the extraordinary true stories of World War II’s American Army nurses famously known as the Angels of Bataan and the unsung contributions of Filipinas of the resistance, this novel transports us to a remarkable era of hope, bravery, perseverance, and ultimately—victory….
Antoinette’s Sister by Diana Giovinazzo
- Episode: 12
- April 25, 2022
As Marie Antoinette took her last breath as Queen of France in Paris, another formidable monarch—Antoinette’s dearly beloved sister, Charlotte—was hundreds of miles away, in Naples, fighting desperately to secure her release from the revolutionaries who would take her life. Little did Charlotte know, however, that her sister’s execution…
Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor
- Episode: 11
- April 1, 2022
USA Today best-selling author Jillian Cantor reimagines and expands on the literary classic The Great Gatsby in this atmospheric historical novel with echoes of Big Little Lies, told in three women’s alternating voices….
The Last Season by Jenny Judson and Danielle Mahfood
- Episode: 10
- November 18, 2021
The Last Season is a collaboration between Jenny Judson and Danielle Mahfood, who met in high school and shared a mutual love of historical fiction and romance novels. Instead of passing notes in class, Jenny and Danielle would write short excerpts from imaginary novels that featured themselves and their classmates…
Defending Britta Stein by Ron Balson
- Episode: 9
- October 21, 2021
Thrilled to have Ron Balson, bestselling author and winner of the National Jewish Book Award, as my guest for this month’s Historical Happy Hour. We will be discussing his latest novel, Defending Britta Stein, a fascinating story of bravery, betrayal and redemption. …
The Show Girl by Nicola Harrison
- Episode: 8
- September 22, 2021
My guest for this Historical Happy Hour is Nicola Harrison to discuss her new novel, The Show Girl. The Show Girl gives a glimpse of the glamorous world of the Ziegfeld Follies through the eyes of a young midwestern woman who comes to New York City to find her…
The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan
- Episode: 7
- August 14, 2021
My guest for Historical Happy Hour is bestselling author Mark Sullivan. He will be joining me to discuss his latest novel, The Last Green Valley, the epic WWII story of one family’s decision to escape tyranny and run to freedom. …
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland
- Episode: 6
- July 22, 2021
Join us for a special Catskills edition of H3 with Elyssa Friedland, author of Last Summer at the Golden Hotel. We’ll go back in time to discuss the hotter-than hot vacation destination in the 50s, why it was known as the Borscht Belt, and its depiction in Dirty Dancing….
Lady Sunshine by Amy Mason Doan
- Episode: 5
- June 20, 2021
ONE ICONIC FAMILY. ONE SUMMER OF SECRETS. THE DAZZLING SPIRIT OF 1970S CALIFORNIA.“A delicious daydream of a book.” —Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author of 28 Summers … “With lyrical writing and a page-turning plot, this sun-dappled book has it all: heart, smarts, and an irresistible musical beat.” —Karen Dukess, author of The…
The Secrets We Left Behind by Soraya Lane
- Episode: 4
- June 3, 2021
Occupied France, 1940. When the staff at a field hospital draw straws to find out who will join the evacuation from Dunkirk, Nurse Cate is left behind. But when the Nazis arrive to claim prisoners of war, she takes her chance and flees into the night, taking one patient…
The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff
- Episode: 3
- April 15, 2021
New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, The Woman with the Blue Star. Inspired by harrowing true stories, the novel is an emotional testament to the power of friendship and the extraordinary strength of the human will to survive….
Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig
- Episode: 2
- March 21, 2021
A group of young women from Smith College risk their lives in France at the height of World War I in this sweeping novel based on a true story—a skillful blend of Call the Midwife and The Alice Network—from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig….
The Last Tiara by M.J. Rose
- Episode: 1
- February 21, 2021
From New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller M.J. Rose comes a provocative and moving story of a young female architect in post-World War II Manhattan, who stumbles upon a hidden treasure and begins a journey to discovering her mother’s life during the fall of the Romanovs….
