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The Burning Chambers (The Burning Chambers #1)
The Burning Chambers (The Burning Chambers #1)
Kate Mosse | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance
9
8.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
143 of 250
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.
  
God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen
God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen
Rhys Bowen | 2021 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Royal Intrigue at Christmas
Lady Georgiana and Darcy are looking forward to their first Christmas as husband and wife, but then they are invited to spend the holiday at a house party being given by one of Darcy’s aunts. The implication that the queen herself wants them nearby is the only thing that makes them go. When they arrive, they learn the queen is worried someone is after a member of her family. Can Georgie figure out what is going on in time?

Fans of the series will expect that the book will get off to a slow start as we get updates on the various supporting characters we’ve gotten to know over the series. While we get hits of the plot, celebrating Christmas also slows the pacing down a little. But there is a good mystery in there, and I didn’t have the how or who figured out until Georgie pieced it to together. The end of 1935 was a huge time in British history, and I loved how the real intrigue played into this story, weaving in things we’ve been reading about since book one. This is a Christmas fans will definitely be glad they spent with Georgie.
  
The Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessing
The Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessing
Mike Berenstain | 2013 | Children
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessing is a book for all children. The book is a must-have on your bookshelves if you are a Berenstain Bears fan. This book helps teach children about Thanksgiving and being thankful for the blessing that you have.

This book teaches Mama and Papa as they ride through the woods to their grans and gramps place for Thanksgiving dinner. They teach about how the native Bears and pilgrims shared and started the whole Thanksgiving feast and what it means to be thankful for all the blessings you have.

The blessing is quite a few things we have somewhat forgotten we came to have. Some of the blessings are Family and Friends, Faith, and religion. A few others. The cubs do mention a song that is a favorite of mine. The song is “Over the river and Through the woods.”

What will your child or children learn about the history of holidays and celebrations? This book teaches a bit about it. What is your child or children learning to be Thankful for during the season? Are we teaching that children should be thankful for the blessing that they have? The many blessings we have in life have continued told in this book.
  
This is a compelling story of one family's experiences of being a Hungarian Jew before, during and after World War 2.

No matter how many of these types of books I read, it never ceases to shock me how 'human beings' can develop an insidious culture against others just because they are different be it religion, race or whatever. What I didn't realise was how, even after the Russians liberated the death and labour camps created by the Nazi regime, the persecution of Jews continued for those living behind the 'Iron Curtain'.

This book has opened my eyes to the continued injustice and oppression that was inflicted upon the Jewish people by the Stalin regime despite the horrors they had been subjected to by the Nazis but what it also did was show the resilience, bravery and hope the Seiler family demonstrated despite the tragedies and hardships they encountered and experienced.

This is a must-read for people who are interested in European history and to ensure that the voices of those who went through one of the darkest periods of the twentieth century are not forgotten and I must thank Pen & Sword and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this book.
  
Peach Blossom Spring
Peach Blossom Spring
Melissa Fu | 2022 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Peach Blossom Spring is the beautifully told story of three generations of a Chinese family as they experience love, war, migration and their driving need to belong.

Meilin leaves her home in order to protect her son Henry, and find somewhere safe for him to grow up. But without passports or papers to isn’t easy. She relies on her own abilities to survive along with the help she gets from others.

Henry goes to America to study at university and ends up staying on to work. He marries, gets a good job, and tries his best to be a good American. This is at a time of fear and suspicion of communists and everything either Chinese or Russian. Henry is terrified that he’ll draw the wrong kind of attention, and deprives his daughter of learning his language or traditions.

I felt so sorry for Meilin, left behind in Taiwan, so far from her son and unable to join him in America. I also felt for Henry, limited by his fear. But Henry’s daughter provides the bridge for Henry to return to his homeland.

I loved everything about this book - the settings, the history, the characters. And the fact that this is semi-autobiographical was just the icing on the cake.

A wonderful novel.