CELEBRATING WORLD BOOK DAY ... read on ...

Cover Stories for Bookworms.

Nothing like a good read … by the fire, in bed, on the train, in sly or coveted spare moments. Who doesn't love a good yarn, either on screen or on paper! The amount of books out there can be overwhelming. We offer a column on our site, perceptivity.co.uk, under Novels, top nav - for book-lovers of the fictional variety, updated occasionally. Listing what in our opinion are worthy reads. Some by lesser known authors and some best-sellers. We can't read fast enough of course to cover enough, so we show-case the ones that grabbed our full attention.

Meantime here are a handful of titles of various genre but having in common, this time, the fact that they are historical in setting. All of them available on Amazon.?

‘The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley’? by Sean Lusk

Raised amongst the cogs and springs of his father's workshop, Zachary Cloudesley has grown up surrounded by strange and enchanting clockwork automata. He is a happy child, beloved by his father Abel and the workmen who help bring his father's creations to life.He is also the bearer of an extraordinary gift; at the touch of a hand, Zachary can see into the hearts and minds of the people he meets.

‘The Preference’ ? by Petra Croft

About the unfolding of relationships amid complex desires, it follows the lives of two bright girls from privileged backgrounds from their teen years to early womanhood. This vivid portrayal of 19th-century life, combined with rich character dynamics, creates an unforgettable ‘keyhole’ look at sexual and emotional power-play in the mid-1800s. A plethora of well-defined characters move this story along. It’s a book that can be appreciated on different levels, but is a treat for anyone with a penchant for the Victorian era... or a taste for the sensual. An immersive and unique read. Witty, quaint and erotic. A plethora of well-defined characters move this story in a way which resonates with various readers and age groups.

‘The Curse of the House of Foskett’ ? by M.R.C Kasasian

In 1882 Sidney Grice once had a reputation as London's most perspicacious personal detective. But since his last case led an innocent men to the gallows, business has been light.? Listless and depressed, Grice has taken to lying in the bath for hours, emerging in the evenings for a little dry toast and a lot of tea. Usually a voracious reader, he will pick up neither book nor newspaper. He has not even gathered the strength to re-insert his glass eye. His ward, March Middleton, has been left to dine alone Then an eccentric member of a Final Death Society has the temerity to die on his study floor. Quirky and humorous.

‘The Taming of the Queen’ ??by Philippa Gregory? - Amazon Books

Why would a woman marry a serial killer?? Because she cannot refuse... A serious glimpse into historical fact, written with the zest of current dramatic literature. Kateryn Parr, a thirty-year-old widow in a secret affair with a new lover, has no choice when a man old enough to be her father who has buried four wives - King Henry VIII - commands her to marry him. Kateryn has no doubt about the danger she faces: the previous queen lasted sixteen months, the one before barely half a year. But Henry adores his new bride and Kateryn's trust in him grows as she unites the royal family, creates a radical study circle at the heart of the court, and rules the kingdom as Regent. Kateryn Parr - one of the lesser popular figures in the Tudor saga is worthy of second thought for the legacy she gave to the English church.?