Books like 1635 by Eric Flint

Frank Stone, a 21st‑century historian with a knack for historic pitfalls, finds himself thrust into the chaotic politics of 1635 Rome after a time‑travel mishap brings his wife, the expectant Giovanna, into the midst of a papal coup. A usurper consolidates power, making the couple the target of a perilous rescue mission. Harry Lefferts, commander of the famed Wrecking Crew, assembles a group of mercenaries and scholars to storm the papal stronghold. Their mission is complicated by the concurrent plot to assassinate the true Pope, as rival factions vie for control of the Vatican. The novel swirls through vivid 17th‑century streets, clashes of medieval and modern intellect, and high‑stakes maneuvers of a covert war that spans centuries—all while preserving the fraught urgency of a father‑to-be fighting for his life and that of his unborn child.

First publish date: 2012