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ClareR (5885 KP) rated The Fountains of Silence in Books
Oct 4, 2019
The Fountains of Silence is set during Franco’s reign in Spain in 1957. Daniel and his parents are visiting Spain: his oil tycoon father hopes to cut a deal with the government. He wants his son to be more interested in the oil business, but Daniel only wants to take photos and become a photo journalist.
Daniel meets Ana, a maid at the hotel they are staying at, and falls in love. He decides to take photos of the real Spain, encouraged by an American journalist who is also staying at the hotel, and as a way of learning more about Ana’s life.
So we are introduced to real life in Franco’s Spain: the fear, the tragedy and the suffering.
There are actual excerpts from political documents and newspaper reports at the time, and these really helped clarify the background to the story that unfolded in the book. I really liked this touch.
I loved this novel. The descriptions of life in Spain at the time were so vivid: from the heat to the poverty in Ana’s village, to the opulence of Daniels hotel. Ana and her family were lovely people, having to cope in an impossible situation as the children of murdered republicans. And the end was very satisfying (although I’m sure I would have happily read on for longer!). This will definitely be a book that I recommend to anyone interested in Spain’s recent history. It is a beautiful story.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for choosing such a wonderful book to serialise.
Daniel meets Ana, a maid at the hotel they are staying at, and falls in love. He decides to take photos of the real Spain, encouraged by an American journalist who is also staying at the hotel, and as a way of learning more about Ana’s life.
So we are introduced to real life in Franco’s Spain: the fear, the tragedy and the suffering.
There are actual excerpts from political documents and newspaper reports at the time, and these really helped clarify the background to the story that unfolded in the book. I really liked this touch.
I loved this novel. The descriptions of life in Spain at the time were so vivid: from the heat to the poverty in Ana’s village, to the opulence of Daniels hotel. Ana and her family were lovely people, having to cope in an impossible situation as the children of murdered republicans. And the end was very satisfying (although I’m sure I would have happily read on for longer!). This will definitely be a book that I recommend to anyone interested in Spain’s recent history. It is a beautiful story.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for choosing such a wonderful book to serialise.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated The Murder of Twelve in Books
May 28, 2020
Weddings are Murder
With a record setting blizzard on the way to Cabot Cove, Maine, Jessica Fletcher is planning to hunker down in her temporary home – the Hill House hotel. Before she can do that, she joins Sheriff Metzger when he gets a call about a man found in his car on the edge of town. What at first looks like a tragic accident is indeed murder. On arriving at the hotel, Jessica learns she will be joined for the weekend by a wedding party. But with the bride and groom missing, tempers begin to flair. Then a dead body appears. Are they trapped with a killer? Is it connected to the man outside of town?
This is another fast-moving mystery that obviously pays homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. I felt it was a bit more of a thriller (minus the language and violence) than a true cozy, but I’m not complaining since I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next. Much of the book features Jessica and those trapped in the hotel with her, and they are all strong enough characters to carry the story. Unfortunately, the little bit we did see of the recurring characters fell into predictable patterns, although I still enjoyed spending time with them. The writing was so vivid, I felt the cold as I was reading. Any complaints are minor, and I’m happy I picked up this fast-paced book.
This is another fast-moving mystery that obviously pays homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. I felt it was a bit more of a thriller (minus the language and violence) than a true cozy, but I’m not complaining since I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next. Much of the book features Jessica and those trapped in the hotel with her, and they are all strong enough characters to carry the story. Unfortunately, the little bit we did see of the recurring characters fell into predictable patterns, although I still enjoyed spending time with them. The writing was so vivid, I felt the cold as I was reading. Any complaints are minor, and I’m happy I picked up this fast-paced book.
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Keep track of your expenses and stay productive on the go. Large and small businesses can easily...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated One Enchanted Evening ( The Buckingham Hotel book 1) in Books
Jan 16, 2022
10 of 230
Book
One Enchanted Evening ( The Buckingham Hotel book 1)
By Anton DuBeke
London, 1936.
Inside the spectacular Grand Ballroom of the exclusive Buckingham Hotel the rich and powerful, politicians, film stars, even royalty, rub shoulders with Raymond de Guise and his troupe of talented dancers from all around the world, who must enchant them, captivate them, and sweep away their cares. Accustomed to waltzing with the highest of society, Raymond knows a secret from his past could threaten all he holds dear.
Nancy Nettleton, new chambermaid at the Buckingham, finds hotel life a struggle after leaving her small hometown. She dreams of joining the dancers on the ballroom floor as she watches, unseen, from behind plush curtains and hidden doorways. She soon discovers everyone at the Buckingham - guests and staff alike - has something to hide . . .
The storm clouds of war are gathering, and beneath the glitz and glamour of the ballroom lurks an irresistible world of scandal and secrets.
Let's dance . . .
Well I was not expecting that! I loved this book the only reason I put it down was to sleep! I never in a million years would have picked this book up as I’m not a huge fan of the author but it came to me through a surprise subscription and I’m so glad I decided to read it! Set in an era I adore with all the glitz and glamour as well as little dark little secrets of the characters that make them human. I really recommend this to anyone who likes 1930s drama settings.
Book
One Enchanted Evening ( The Buckingham Hotel book 1)
By Anton DuBeke
London, 1936.
Inside the spectacular Grand Ballroom of the exclusive Buckingham Hotel the rich and powerful, politicians, film stars, even royalty, rub shoulders with Raymond de Guise and his troupe of talented dancers from all around the world, who must enchant them, captivate them, and sweep away their cares. Accustomed to waltzing with the highest of society, Raymond knows a secret from his past could threaten all he holds dear.
Nancy Nettleton, new chambermaid at the Buckingham, finds hotel life a struggle after leaving her small hometown. She dreams of joining the dancers on the ballroom floor as she watches, unseen, from behind plush curtains and hidden doorways. She soon discovers everyone at the Buckingham - guests and staff alike - has something to hide . . .
The storm clouds of war are gathering, and beneath the glitz and glamour of the ballroom lurks an irresistible world of scandal and secrets.
Let's dance . . .
Well I was not expecting that! I loved this book the only reason I put it down was to sleep! I never in a million years would have picked this book up as I’m not a huge fan of the author but it came to me through a surprise subscription and I’m so glad I decided to read it! Set in an era I adore with all the glitz and glamour as well as little dark little secrets of the characters that make them human. I really recommend this to anyone who likes 1930s drama settings.
Kara Skinner (332 KP) rated Conference Cupid in Books
Jun 12, 2019
Genre: Contemporary
Word Count: 19,780
Average Smashwords Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Get Conference Cupid free on Smashwords.
I’m still trying to catch my breath from reading Conference Cupid by Eden Elgabri. The sex and the romance is a huge whirlwind that left me wanting even more. But I’m still not sure why I liked it so much.
Devin Barnett can’t believe it when he sees his old high school crush walk into his hotel for the romance writers conference. She’s just as beautiful as he remembers, but he doubts she will recognize him. After all, he was just a skinny nerd in high school. He certainly never would have entered her radar. But maybe he can finally have her.
Keary hasn’t been with anyone since her divorce a year ago and she is used to being alone. But she can’t resist the sexy hotel worker who only has eyes for her. Little does she know that he’s known her for a long time and isn’t really a hotel worker, but the owner of the hotel.
Oh man. There is so much to love about this story. Despite his money, success, and looks, Devin immediately becomes an insecure shy guy whenever he is with Keary. All he really wants to do is worship her, and he knows he’ll daydream about her after the conference.
It became critical that he learn where she did her writing. He needed to be able to imagine her in that room. His heart hitched. He needed to be able to imagine her there after she left the conference, when she went home to her real life.
I also like that Keary doesn’t know she’s that great. She’s insecure after her divorce and is a little shy and unsure around Devin in the beginning. Together they have amazing chemistry and really hot sex scenes. Devin continues to worship her and Keary loves having someone who cares so much about her after an empty marriage.
But there were some things about both of them that I didn’t like. Devin does lie to her, after all. When the conference is coming to an end and he knows he’ll never see her again, he tries to impregnate her and trap her that way. What the hell, Devin? You were pretty great until then. Then he practically pressured her into unprotected sex, didn’t pull out like he said he would, and hoped she would get pregnant so she would stay with him. Seriously, WTF?
I’m annoyed at Keary but her criminal act is being rude to the staff at the hotel. When the receptionist tells her her hotel room has been upgraded to a regency suite and that all of her things have been moved for her, Keary glares at her and says she doesn’t like people touching her stuff. As if the poor girl had personally gone into Keary’s room and tried on her underwear. She stalks off without so much as a thank you, planning on complaining to the management. For a complimentary room upgrade. Just because she didn’t like the idea of some bored hotel staff, who couldn’t care less about going through her personal items, moving her bags from one room to another. Of course all her complaints disappear when she sees all the luxury perks that come with the upgrade.
If Keary and Devin had the ability to behave like responsible adults, their falling out would not have happened. But despite all of the unsettling character flaws in Devin and Keary, I still liked this book and I wish there was more. And that takes a lot of talented writing.
Word Count: 19,780
Average Smashwords Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Get Conference Cupid free on Smashwords.
I’m still trying to catch my breath from reading Conference Cupid by Eden Elgabri. The sex and the romance is a huge whirlwind that left me wanting even more. But I’m still not sure why I liked it so much.
Devin Barnett can’t believe it when he sees his old high school crush walk into his hotel for the romance writers conference. She’s just as beautiful as he remembers, but he doubts she will recognize him. After all, he was just a skinny nerd in high school. He certainly never would have entered her radar. But maybe he can finally have her.
Keary hasn’t been with anyone since her divorce a year ago and she is used to being alone. But she can’t resist the sexy hotel worker who only has eyes for her. Little does she know that he’s known her for a long time and isn’t really a hotel worker, but the owner of the hotel.
Oh man. There is so much to love about this story. Despite his money, success, and looks, Devin immediately becomes an insecure shy guy whenever he is with Keary. All he really wants to do is worship her, and he knows he’ll daydream about her after the conference.
It became critical that he learn where she did her writing. He needed to be able to imagine her in that room. His heart hitched. He needed to be able to imagine her there after she left the conference, when she went home to her real life.
I also like that Keary doesn’t know she’s that great. She’s insecure after her divorce and is a little shy and unsure around Devin in the beginning. Together they have amazing chemistry and really hot sex scenes. Devin continues to worship her and Keary loves having someone who cares so much about her after an empty marriage.
But there were some things about both of them that I didn’t like. Devin does lie to her, after all. When the conference is coming to an end and he knows he’ll never see her again, he tries to impregnate her and trap her that way. What the hell, Devin? You were pretty great until then. Then he practically pressured her into unprotected sex, didn’t pull out like he said he would, and hoped she would get pregnant so she would stay with him. Seriously, WTF?
I’m annoyed at Keary but her criminal act is being rude to the staff at the hotel. When the receptionist tells her her hotel room has been upgraded to a regency suite and that all of her things have been moved for her, Keary glares at her and says she doesn’t like people touching her stuff. As if the poor girl had personally gone into Keary’s room and tried on her underwear. She stalks off without so much as a thank you, planning on complaining to the management. For a complimentary room upgrade. Just because she didn’t like the idea of some bored hotel staff, who couldn’t care less about going through her personal items, moving her bags from one room to another. Of course all her complaints disappear when she sees all the luxury perks that come with the upgrade.
If Keary and Devin had the ability to behave like responsible adults, their falling out would not have happened. But despite all of the unsettling character flaws in Devin and Keary, I still liked this book and I wish there was more. And that takes a lot of talented writing.
Marriott International
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated The Chocolate Snowman Murders (A Chocoholic Mystery, #8) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Lee goes to pick up the judge for this year's Winter Festival, she finds him drunk and a real jerk. Dropping him off in a hotel room seems like the best idea, until he is found murdered with Lee as the prime suspect. This is the seventh in the series and will certainly please fans of light cozies.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-chocolate-snowman-murders.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-chocolate-snowman-murders.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Andy K (10823 KP) created a poll about in Movies are the shiz!
Jun 1, 2018 (Updated Jun 1, 2018)
Ian McCulloch recommended The White Hotel in Books (curated)
The Greenwood Guide to South Africa: Hand-Picked Accommodation
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The Greenwood Guide to South Africa is the only guide to small (1-20 rooms), good-value, intimate,...