The Lady Queen: The Notorious Reign of Joanna I, Queen of Naples, Jerusalem, and Sicily by Nancy Goldstone (nonfiction 2009)

Joanna was a unique woman in power at the time, and went through quite a bit to hold on.  This book helps shed light on the political structures of the time.  Reading about how Joanna was successful and not-so at navigating the medieval world's touchy relationship with royalty and women is wonderful.

Feast of Sorrow by Crystal King (historical fiction 2017)

It's a great idea to write about the Roman patrician Apicius, supposedly the writer of the first cookbook.  This book has a lot of wonderful detail about the dinner parties and food from the early empire, and interesting portrayals of some characters we know, such as Tiberius, Sejanus and Livia. The life and love story of the main character, a slave that Apicius buys to help him fulfill his dream of becoming the gastronomic advisor to the emperor, is extensively researched.  He goes through exciting and terrifying ups and downs.

Young and Damned and Fair - The Life of Catherine Howard by Gareth Russell (nonfiction 2017)

I've read a lot about the wives, and if you've read a lot about the wives, you know the narratives are set - until now.  Mr. Russell re-opens the Howard case and it is fun and readable.