Carol Pratt Bradley

The Making of Margaret Dashwood

Genre: Historical Fiction

Audience: Adult

Tags: Jane Austen Retelling, Regency Fiction

In this charming continuation of Sense and Sensibility, sixteen-year-old Margaret Dashwood steps out from her sisters’ shadows to find her own voice and purpose. On a journey that carries her from Bath’s drawing rooms to London’s glittering society—and into the stark poverty of Cheddar Gorge—Margaret encounters reformers, aristocrats, and unexpected friendships. With wit and heart, Margaret matures from a girl with romantic dreams into a young woman who sees beyond class and convention, questioning what it truly means to make a difference. A rich and thoughtful historical novel told in the style of Jane Austen, this coming-of-age story reimagines the path of Austen’s oft-overlooked younger Dashwood sister.

All That Was Lost: A Historical Fantasy

Genre: Historical Fiction

Audience: Adult

Set against the backdrop of the English Civil War, All That Was Lost blends historical realism with haunting fantasy in a richly woven tale of love, loss, and redemption. When 16-year-old Alice Yonge is mysteriously taken from her quiet village of Castle Combe to the mythical Vale, her life is forever changed. As war descends and bitter secrets unravel, Alice finds herself entangled in the fate of Margery Pendele—a scorned servant with ties to power—and the spectral guardians of Parsonage Wood, including a Roman soldier’s ghost and ancient Saxon warriors. With only a sacred stone and the strength of her heart, Alice must find a way to heal the past and reclaim what has been lost. This lyrical and allegorical novel brings 17th-century England to life through magic, myth, and the timeless power of love.

Daughter of Anne-Hoeck

Genre: Historical Fiction

Audience: Adult

In Daughter of Anne-Hoeck, Carol Pratt Bradley delivers a powerful tale of survival, identity, and resilience. After witnessing the brutal massacre of her mother—Anne Hutchinson—and siblings, young Susanna Hutchinson is taken in by the very tribe that destroyed her home. Years later, when she is forced to leave the Indigenous village and return to Puritan Boston, Susanna must navigate a world that sees her as neither native nor fully their own. Under scrutiny from local leaders who fear she will follow in her mother's rebellious footsteps, Susanna struggles to reclaim her voice, her identity, and her sense of belonging in a society that demands conformity. Inspired by true historical events, this moving novel explores the emotional aftermath of captivity, the complexity of cultural identity, and one young woman’s journey to find her place between two very different worlds.

Light of the Candle

Genre: Historical Fiction

Audience: Adult

Tags: Biblical Fiction

Set during the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon, Light of the Candle is a richly layered tale of faith, resilience, and hope amidst political upheaval. Daniel, a young nobleman with a promising future and a beloved fiancée, finds his life upended when King Nebuchadnezzar demands hostages to secure peace. Taken to Babylon, Daniel must navigate the treacherous world of a foreign court while wrestling with prophetic dreams and the weight of exile. Back in Jerusalem, Sarai, the girl he was to marry, is left behind to endure the unraveling of her homeland. With lyrical prose and vivid historical detail, Carol Pratt Bradley brings to life the ancient world and the timeless struggle to hold onto light in the face of encroaching darkness.

Waiting for the Light

Genre: Historical Fiction

Audience: Adult

Tags: Biblical Fiction

In Waiting for the Light, Carol Pratt Bradley continues the sweeping saga of Daniel and Sarai amid the exile of the Jewish people in Babylon. Now governor of the province, Daniel carries the weight of leadership as he helps resettle thousands of Jewish captives. Reunited with Sarai after years of painful separation, the couple must still navigate political danger and royal favor, as Daniel seeks permission to marry from the increasingly unstable King Nebuchadnezzar. As tensions rise in Jerusalem and Babylon, Daniel’s position—and the fate of his people—hangs in the balance. Rich in historical and emotional depth, this compelling sequel explores faith, love, and the resilience required to survive in the shadows of power.

Fire of the Word

Genre: Historical Fiction

Audience: Adult

Fire of the Word is a powerful historical novel based on the true story of Anne Ayscough, a courageous English noblewoman navigating the dangerous tides of religious reform during the reign of Henry VIII. Raised in a household that secretly embraced the teachings of Protestant reformers, Anne’s intellectual curiosity and spiritual convictions took root early. But her life is thrown into turmoil when she is forced into a politically advantageous marriage after her sister’s untimely death. As England grapples with brutal clashes between Catholicism and the new Protestant ideals, Anne finds herself at the heart of the religious and political storm. Her steadfast beliefs will lead her to make the ultimate choice: renounce her faith or pay the price for holding firm to truth.