The Bastard by John Jakes (Kent Family Chronicles Book One)

 

Publication Date:

September 1, 1974

Genre: 

Historical Fiction

Length:  

528 pages

Series:

Kent Family Chronicles

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Meet Phillipe Charboneau: the illegitimate son and unrecognized heir of the Duke of Kentland. Upon the Duke's death, Phillipe is denied his birthright and left to build a life of his own. Seeking all that the New World promises, he leaves London for America, shedding his past and preparing for the future by changing his name to Philip Kent. He arrives at the brink of the American Revolution, which tests his allegiances in ways he never imagined. The first volume of John Jakes's wildly successful and highly addictive Kent Family Chronicles, The Bastard is a triumph of historical fiction.

My Thoughts:

I had forgotten how much I love John Jakes. And for most people their favorite series is his trilogy about the Civil War, North and South. I think the Kent Family Chronicles are far better and am wondering why on earth I have not finished them? I still have to read books 7 and 8. So they are definitely on my TBR list for this year. The Bastard I read years ago so this was a re-read for me but I'll admit I didn't read it super thoroughly the second time around. I am going back through them and reviewing them in preparation for the last two books. 

In this story we are introduced to Phillip Kent who has changed his very English name for a more American one. He is the patriarch of the subsequent stories and his family along with others will be followed throughout the series. Jakes does a great job of showing messy character flaws in his protagonists while also making you want to see them succeed. With Kent, we get to see the how and why of the American rebellion unfold and how it wasn't as easily had as we like to think today looking back in hindsight. 

There are multiple side stories, romance, battles....just about everyone will find something they like. It isn't just war focused but also focuses on the politics of how things came about. The emphasis on the family allows for drama as well, meaning you won't be bored if you are like me and don't want just military focused content. 

I loved knowing that it was just the beginning of the story of America, the Kent family, and historical accuracy. With this series I know Jakes wanted to honor American history and teach people about it in an entertaining way. He does a great job and the reading is easy enough for younger people, although there are some racy parts so I'd say older teens are fine but not any younger for a target audience. 

If you want to dive into a family saga with many twists and turns and learn some wonderful history along the way you will love this first book in a long series story. Jakes takes you all the way to the end of the 19th century.

Can’t Wait Wednesday: Vengeance in Venice by Erica Ruth Neubauer (A Jane Wunderly Mystery Book Seven)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Vengeance in Venice, by Erica Ruth Neubauer. This is another cozy mystery series I'm wanting to catch up on and I've read the first four books. I love the locations and the character development. The covers are pretty awesome too! In this one, Jane and Redvers are finally married but of course their honeymoon has to contain drama and murder. 

Hope you have found something you can't wait for! Happy reading y'all!

Historical Mysteries, Cozy Mysteries

March 31, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

At long last, Jane and Redvers have arrived in Venice, the famed city of love, for their honeymoon. But behind a mask at a costume ball on the Grand Canal hides the gaze of a heartless killer.

Venice, 1927: As romantic as it is mysterious, the Floating City is a dream destination for the newlyweds, but they’ll soon discover the twisting canals hide more mystery than they expected. It begins when they are invited to an elaborate party at Clara Morton’s stunning palazzo on the Grand Canal. The affair is as eccentric as the hostess, who is dressed as Medusa, and features everything from snakes to her pet cheetah to tarot card readings.

The fete also features a fresh corpse—Clara’s ex-husband, found dead in the garden with marks around his neck. The hostess accuses the tarot card reader, who happens to be an acquaintance of Jane, claiming the woman foretold the death of someone close to her. Jane and Redvers come to the young woman’s aid as they learn she was far from the only partygoer with a motive. As the couple follows a labyrinthine trail of scandalous affairs, brazen blackmail, and people who are not who they say they are, they hope that Venice will disclose her secrets before they both end up in over their heads.

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish and Personal Goals for 2026

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is "goals for 2026." I really wasn't feeling this post until tonight so I'm of course late posting but....it's been a rough 2024 and 2025 and I'm feeling a bit discouraged about listing goals and expectations. Even typing is tough due to my medical issues so blog posts can be stressful. But I think goals are good no matter where you are in life so here are mine! Maybe this year will pleasantly surprise me. 

What are your goals for this year?

Bookish Goals:

1. Create a TBR list and work hard at it. I have too many books that I keep saying I want to finish. I know, this is one all book lovers share.

2. Join Sample Saturday and post about it. I absolutely love samples but again, way too many that I don't go back and try out. Then, delete them if I know I don't like the book.

3. Continue to read what I like and not what I think I should read. Life is too short. 

4. Find books and authors to promote for Can't Wait Wednesday. I really enjoy this post each week but feel so limited about resources for it. I don't often find what I need on NetGalley so I'm looking for more places to find upcoming releases.

5. Read physical books. I love my Kindle but this is a goal I always set for myself and don't do much with. Some of it is laziness and eyesight and some is that I just honestly forget. I do love holding books though so I'm going to try to go through my bookshelf this year.

Personal Goals:

1. Get my surgery I need and get better so I can return to work. It has been a long, depressing fall and winter in a wheelchair and dealing with my Cushing Disease diagnosis. I'm ready to be healthy and out of the house living a normal life again. 

2. Get my youngest ready for college. My oldest is already a college Freshman and now in August I'll be an empty nester. I have mixed feelings about this as I am very excited for him and for my husband and I to have a new life together but it is definitely bittersweet.

3. Get outside more. I really need to work on this one as I'm not naturally an outdoor person. But when I do go out I'm always glad I did.

4. Go on a family vacation this summer. We have not been able to do this the last two summers and it is time. We are planning a cruise and I could not be more excited!

5. List the things I'd like to improve around the house cosmetically. This is something I've wanted to do for awhile. Go room by room and list everything I'd do if I had unlimited time and money and just start....no matter how big or small.