I have an affinity for Historical Biographical Fiction & this is why:
I have had a keen eye for finding Historical Biographical Fiction stories ever since I first started to become a book blogger. Mostly as, try as I had to get into reading Biographical &/or Autobiographical Non-Fiction – I found myself pulling away from the stories. I just couldn’t connect to the narratives as much as I had hoped I’d might as I knew this was a particular interest of my Mum. I did a bit better with Memoirs but only just. I was craving to find connection to the *story!* and to the *person(s)* involved.
For whichever reason, I found that lightbulb moment for me when I started carving out a new niche of appreciation for Biographical Historical Fiction!! So much so, there were a lot of months in those early years as a book blogger wherein I was reading these kinds of story with a heap of frequency! You can find them in my original archives for book reviews.
I jumped through time and eras – seeking out the stories which interested me the most to read at those moments of discovery. Those readings led me into seeking out select Non-Fiction – including Biographies, Autobiographies & Memoir. As well as select works of Poetry. Still, my favourite stories rooted in the real-life stories of persons who once lived are within the chronicles of Biographical Historical Fiction.
For me personally, I believe what draws my eye into these stories the most is how captivating the authors are in presenting the lives being re-told. You get this lovely interpersonal interpretation of their lives. You get to step into their shoes and into their heart & minds – finding traction with how they could have lived and experienced everything in their lives or at least in the duration of the timeline the author chose to encompass.
This is why when I saw the premise for this particular story – I was keenly intrigued. I knew I wanted to help spotlight it and help get the word out about the release. There is something wicked intriguing about being able to peel back the veils of time & History and peer back into a periscope of insight into how someone lived their life. Especially someone as interesting as Hazel Lavery!
The Many Lives and Loves of Hazel Lavery
by Lois Cahall
Source: Chapter Sampler
In the heart of tumultuous times, amidst the grandeur of Victorian opulence, there existed an American socialite whose influence altered the course of the Anglo-Irish treaty: Lady Hazel Lavery
Boston-born Hazel ascended from her Irish roots to become the quintessential Society Queen of Chicago, and later London, where she lived a delicate dance between two worlds: one with her esteemed husband, Sir John Lavery, a portrait artist to royalty, and the other with Michael Collins, the daring Irish rebel whose fiery spirit ignited her heart. Together, they formed a love triangle that echoed through the corridors of power at 10 Downing Street, London.
Hazel's wit and charm touched on the lives of the who's-who of England, including Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw and Evelyn Waugh. The image of her memorable face graced the Irish note for close to half-a-century.
Places to find the book:
ISBN: 978-1962465632
Published by Historium Press
on 14th January, 2025
Format: Chapter Sampler | Online
Available Formats: Hardcover, Paperback & Ebook
Converse via: #CoffeePotBookClub, #HazelLavery, #HistFic and #HistoricalFiction
About Lois Cahall
Lois Cahall began her writing career as a columnist for Cape Cod newspapers and local periodicals, including Cape Cod Life. She spent a decade writing for national magazines (Conde Nast/Hearst). Her articles have been published in Cosmo Girl, Seventeen, SELF, Marie Claire, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, Reader’s Digest, Men’s Journal, and Bon Appetit. In the UK she wrote for RED, GQ, Psychologies, and for The Times. In addition, Lois wrote profiles for The Palm Beach Post.
Lois’s first novel, Plan C: Just in Case, was a #1 bestseller in the UK, where it remained in the top three fiction for the year before selling into foreign translation markets. In July of 2014, her novel hit #1 on the Nook “Daily Deal” in America. Her second novel, Court of the Myrtles, was hailed as “Tuesdays with Morrie on estrogen” by the Ladies Home Journal. Her newest book, The Many Lives of Hazel Lavery, is a work of Historical Fiction and will be published in 2025.
Lois is the former Creative Director of Development for James Patterson Entertainment. She credits her friend, Jim Patterson, the world’s most successful bestselling author, with teaching her about the importance of children’s reading and literacy. As a result, she founded the Palm Beach Book Festival in 2015, an annual event bringing in NYT bestselling and celebrity authors. The event is for book lovers, nurturing the written word for the children and adults of southern Florida.
In 2024 Lois also founded The Cape Cod Book Festival, an annual autumn event that promises to be a new cultural footprint in Massachusetts. It will be for locals and ‘washashores’ alike – a magical place where charitably minded readers can rub elbows with great writers and thinkers.
Lois divides her life between New York and Cape Cod, although her spiritual home is London. But most importantly, Lois can do the Hula Hoop for an hour non-stop and clear a Thanksgiving table in just under ten minutes.
Enjoy this Extract from the novel:
The Many Lives & Loves of Hazel Lavery by Lois Cahall
Finally, I piped in. “Quite the contrary, I’m just a simple Irish girl at heart,” I repeated, like some sort of ongoing mantra. “Simple” sounded silly as I sat there in an ornate sage-colored tea party dress with intricate embroidery and delicate tailoring in tiers of gossamer finery. Of course, we knew I was anything but a simple Irish girl, though I had a dreamy romantic view of what it might be like.
None of them dared to shatter my fantasy.
Our neighbors, Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine, along with the group of politicians were dumbstruck by my Irish beliefs as we gathered in my home for afternoon tea at 5 Cromwell Place.
Nevertheless, when none of them challenged me, I carried on, speaking of the kindness of Ireland, how my Father had raised me to believe in my heritage and how we planned to someday explore Galway to meet the rest of the Martyn clan. Without him I’d have to do that on my own… “Although my beloved John did take me for my first visit to Killarney House, to see Lord and Lady Kenmare,” I said, “They seemed smitten with my love to learn about all things Ireland.” Leaning over, I patted John’s hand. “When was that, my dear?”
“1913,” said John, proud of his timeline skills.
“And we went again just a couple years back to Lord Wimborne, the Lord Lieutenant, who was serving, of course, during the time of the Easter Rising. His home was stunning. Reminiscent of our American President’s White House. I’ve profound sympathy for the Irish and their welfare.” As my lips moved verbal stories of my ancestry, I knew my auburn hair glowed that feisty flare of being Irish. My eyes blinked a delicate green that day, more than hazel brown. Yes, Ireland beckoned my soul, and my Irish eyes were finally smiling. “So,” I exhaled, “If indeed you want the Anglo-Irish war over, dearest Winston, then tell Lloyd George to give the Irish their independence.”
“Are you out of your bloody mind?!” snapped Winston.
Leaning forward, I refreshed his Earl Grey tea from the silver pot that sat between us for pause.
“No,” I said, “I’m bloody serious.” Then setting down the pot, I sat back cool as a cucumber as the men broke into an awkward chuckle. “Laugh if you like, but Winston, if you want something to turn out different then you have to do something different.” They infuriated me but I had to hold my ground, glancing over at Clementine for female support. All she could do was shrug. My eyes egged her on.
“Maybe Hazel has a point?” Clementine added.
“You too?” said Winston. “My own Mrs.?”
“Winston, really?” I said, “Do you want to control something or someone that doesn’t want to be controlled? Have you considered just sitting down and perhaps, well, speaking to them?”
“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,” John piped in.
“Precisely,” said Winston, placing down his Earl Grey cup to grab a ginger biscuit from the tray. “Those Irish boys have committed treason, the entire lot of them! Then they disappear into the night. Like cowards!”
“But…” I interjected.
“But nothing, Hazel,” he scolded. “This is more complicated than feasting over a turkey dinner to sign some documents with the enemy. If they indeed are cut from us, it could mean the end of the British Empire!”
“Oh, dear,” said Clementine.
Winston continued. “Not to mention the large Protestant population in the north – in Belfast, well, they refuse to join the Catholics of the south for their ridiculously sought independence. What am I to do? Just abandon Northern Ireland who have been true to the Crown?” Winston dabbed the napkin to his mouth and rearranged himself in the chair. “Hazel, I cannot, I will not, go down in history as that Secretary of State, who took on the Irish plight.”
“You’re right dear,” said Clementine, dabbing the linen napkin to her lips. “That Michael Collins is behind all of this political division.”
“Oh, pish posh,” I snapped. “It’s how the press has portrayed him, is all.”
“I have to agree with my wife,” said John. “Go on and tell them, Hazel. Tell them how you met the Michael Collins years back…”
Winston stopped nibbling his biscuit. All other teacups came to a standstill. “You’ve met him?” he asked.
“Yes, at the post office, nearby in Kensington. It was quite a while back. He was young but quite charismatic. Very polite.” I swallowed hard. “And if I do dare say, an extremely handsome fellow.”
“So, I’ve heard,” said Clementine, giving me a quick wink.
“They say he’s like a movie star. Constantly surrounded by women. They’ll go to great lengths to do anything for him.”
“Well, that’s rather suggestive,” said Winston, surprised by his wife’s sexual innuendo…
NOTE: Aside from the extract I am sharing on behalf of this lovely blog tour, there was also a sampler of the novel online and these were my thoughts after having read both samplers.
Uniquely, this novel is writ in different POVs and it shifts back and forth as you move through the Chapters according to the list of Chapters on the online sampler I found. I love novels which shift character perspectives because you get to hug closer to the novel and to see everything from a different angle than if the POV was streamlined and singular. By adjusting our perspective to different characters, we have the chance to renew our understanding of what is happening and perhaps become a bit more enlightened about the wider view of the story, too.
I admit, Michael Collins is a well-known figure in History and especially within Ireland but I haven’t oft read Irish History. I’ve dabbled in reading stories about Ireland – in different centuries of interest and in different genres of curiosity. Yet, I haven’t read a lot of Historical Fiction set in Ireland which is unique considering I’m part Irish! Laughs. I tend to read Irish Historical Fiction that is set stateside or in England – focusing on Irish families but never having found traction with Historical Fiction set in and round Ireland as a whole. Of course, I know Lavery was bourne in the States (ie. Boston) and her life took her elsewhere and her life became a bit of notorious legend because of her choices, relationships and adventures, too.
This was also part of the allure for me – to dive into an uncharted and unknown part of the historic past and unearth people who lived quite extraordinary lives but have since gone without my notice until now. This is one reason I am quite at a loss as why in school they didn’t suggest reading Historical Fiction. There is such a deep connection to History and the human experience through Historical Fiction timelines – every century and era has a writer to pen it and through their unique styles and visions, we as readers get to feel a bit closer to History and find ways to connect to the past we otherwise could not have understood.
I had a feeling Hazel’s life was one of rebellious ambition and a dear curiosity for life outside the walls of her home. It felt like she needed to be set free – to explore and to adventure off into the world, seeking what fancied her and hopefully finding a bit of happiness along the way. I have a feeling it will be quite the reel of a read, too! As I suspected Hazel had a bit of an unusual trajectory to live in her life and the fact her path crossed with someone as known as Michael Collins meant there was a story beneath the headlines of gossip, too. I look forward to reading her story one day and hopefully have left you equally intrigued to seek her story out for yourself.
This post is part of my #HistoricalMondays showcases:
Generally speaking, I used to only showcase full reviews on #HistoricalMondays, but I have been known to deviate from that self-prescribed goal of mine and featured stories not yet read. I am looking forward to bringing this feature back to Jorie Loves A Story throughout (2025) and with it, the reviews which originally inspired the showcases to alight on my blog! For now, this post will over a teaser of a glimpse into why I was struck with a heap of curiosity to chase after Hazel!
The Virtual Road Map
for “The Many Lives & Loves of Hazel Lavery” can be found here:
I enjoy hosting for The Coffee Pot Book Club – a touring company who champions Historical Fiction and connects readers to the writers:
See what I am hosting next on my Bookish Events page!
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2025.
I shared this post via #bookstagram.
Thank you so much for featuring Lois Cahall today, with her intriguing new novel, The Many Lives & Loves of Hazel Lavery!
Take care,
Cathie xo
The Coffee Pot Book Club