Tailwinds Past Florence
Book
Their love spans centuries. Will it survive a journey around the world? After getting...
Contemporary Romance
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
6.0
Rate It
Book
This semi-autobiographical and unforgettable story, of a Jewish family fleeing from Germany before...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Burning Chambers (The Burning Chambers #1) in Books
Aug 31, 2021
Book
The Burning Chambers ( Burning Chambers book 1)
By Kate Mosse
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Carcassonne 1562. Nineteen-year-old Minou Joubert receives an anonymous letter at her father’s bookshop. Sealed with a distinctive family crest, it contains just five words: SHE KNOWS THAT YOU LIVE.
But before Minou can decipher the mysterious message, a chance encounter with a young Huguenot convert, Piet Reydon, changes her destiny forever. For Piet has a dangerous mission of his own, and he will need Minou’s help if he is to get out of La Cité alive . . .
I asked my hubby to pick me A book he thinks I would love and he picked this! It was a Mother’s Day gift! He was also so right! I absolutely loved the writing style , the characters and the story! The whole scenery was amazing you felt right there in with it! I will definitely be reading more from Kate Mosse I absolutely love this time in history too it had so many radical change all over Europe. I’m actually going to hit 5 stars! Also fabulous to find a new author to admire.
The Evening and the Morning
Book
From the bestselling author Ken Follett, The Evening and the Morning is a historical epic that ends...
Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird
Book
Nelson Mandela is about to die. Again. Leftist militants and white nationalists prepare for war...
horror urban fantasy thriller bookbuzz gothic
The Blackest Time: A Novel of Florence during the Black Plague
Book
It's Europe in the 1300s, and Gino, a young man living in rural Italy, leaves behind the familiarity...
Historical Fiction Medieval Italian Historical Fiction Plague Black Death
Twist of Time
8.0
Rate It
Book
A fast-paced thriller by Emmy Award-nominated screenwriter, producer, and director Gy Waldron ...
Thriller
Santa Claus Worldwide
6.0
Rate It
Book
This is a comprehensive history of the world's midwinter gift-givers, showcasing the extreme...
Christmas Holiday Santa Claus Christian Nonfiction History
David McK (3857 KP) rated Saving Private Ryan (1998) in Movies
Jan 9, 2022
Oh, I was aware of it all right - I even remember seeing the posters in the cinemas when it first came out - but it just never really appealed to me all that much.
War movies rarely do.
I was also aware of the reputation it held, in particular because of brutality of the opening D-Day Normandy landing scenes (which still pack a punch today).
In case you've been living under a rock? The story follows a group of eight soldiers, led by Tom Hanks Captain Tom Miller (and including an early breakout role for Vin Diesel - who actually has hair!), who have been detailed to find and return home an American Paratrooper (the Private Ryan of the title, played by Matt Damon) who has been dropped somewhere in Europe after that paratrooper's three brothers are all killed during those landings. Cue them traipsing across war-torn lands, with the occasional musing on whether it is worth potentially losing eight men to rescue one, and with the drama largely provided by the fact that you never quite know who is going to survive or get bumped off next!
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated I See London, I See France in Books
Jan 10, 2018
This was a charming and surprisingly enjoyable YA novel. I'm so glad I finally received a copy through Paperbackswap.com. I was worried this book would stress me out too much, as I myself am a totally anxious traveler, but I really warmed to Sydney and her various travels and wasn't even that concerned as her bank account dipped and she and Leela flitted throughout Europe without too much planning. (I'm such a Mom.)
Seriously, I really enjoyed Sydney, even though I wanted her to stand up for herself, as Leela wasn't the best friend for her at all times. Leela, although she might have been supportive about Sydney's family situation, was incredibly irritating! So much blathering about Matt, making Sydney plan the whole trip, and just being generally inconsiderate. Ugh! Still, you'll find yourself just loving Sydney--she's so fun, sweet, and just awesome. I love how she's a great, realistic character: she has real-world problems, but she's also entertaining. It was great to see her spread her wings on the trip.
Big portions of the book just made me smile--it was a great little break. The supporting cast is really amusing and enjoyable. The entire novel is just easy-to-read, and I was very into the characters. It wraps up a little easily/quickly, but I was still happy with the ending. Supposedly the next book (this is a series, Goodreads tells me) features complementary characters from this novel and isn't coming out until 2020--is that right? I hope not!
Anyway, if you're looking for a quick, easy, and pleasant YA read, definitely pick this one up. It's a great story of friendship, with some delightful romance mixed in. Really enjoyed it.