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You Say You Want a Revolution?: Records and Rebels 1966-1970: 2016
Barry Miles, Jon Savage, Howard Kramer and Fred Turner
Book
The late 1960s were a period of great turbulence and rapid social and political change. You Say You...
Doctor Who - Series 9 (New Season 9)
8.0
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TV Season Watch
The ninth series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who premiered on 19...
In the Hurricane’s Eye: The Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown
8.5
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Book
The thrilling story of the year that won the Revolutionary War from the New York Times bestselling...
Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution
Book
In September 1776, the vulnerable Continental Army under an unsure George Washington (who had never...
Renia's Diary: A Holocaust Journal
Renia Spiegel and Elizabeth Bellak
Book
Renia's Diary: A Holocaust Journal by Renia Spiegel, with her sister Elizabeth Bellak This is the...
Jewish Holocaust Diary Poland Polish Nazi
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2589 KP) rated Vengeance in Venice in Books
Apr 1, 2026 (Updated Apr 1, 2026)
Honeymoon with Canals…and Murder
While Jane and Redvers got married several months ago, they are now taking the time for a proper honeymoon in September of 1927. They are looking forward to relaxing days exploring the city and eating the delicious cuisine. Which is when Aunt Millie and her new husband crash the trip. Millie has gotten the two couples an invitation to a party hosted by her friend Clara Morton, who turns out to be quite the eccentric. Jane and Redvers are hoping to slip away early, but their plans are scrapped when a dead body is found in the garden. When a friend that Jane has just reunited with becomes the prime suspect, honeymoon plans get put on hold to solve this latest murder. Can Jane free her friend?
Someday, I want to visit Venice, but traveling with Jane was the next best thing. I felt like I was there with her and the fun group of suspects. There were plenty of secrets and twists along the way to a satisfying climax, although a couple of things didn’t wrap up quite as well as I would have liked. Aunt Millie is a hoot as always. And Jane and Redvers get plenty of time to shine. I love their relationship, and I had to laugh with them several times as I read reading. Anyone looking for a light historical mystery will be glad they picked this one up.
Someday, I want to visit Venice, but traveling with Jane was the next best thing. I felt like I was there with her and the fun group of suspects. There were plenty of secrets and twists along the way to a satisfying climax, although a couple of things didn’t wrap up quite as well as I would have liked. Aunt Millie is a hoot as always. And Jane and Redvers get plenty of time to shine. I love their relationship, and I had to laugh with them several times as I read reading. Anyone looking for a light historical mystery will be glad they picked this one up.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2589 KP) rated The Lies We Live in Books
Apr 9, 2025
Betty Must Uncover the Truth for Her New Client
Business is booming for PI Betty Ahern, and September 1943 finds her opening her own office. She’s also taken on a new case. Her client is worried that her younger brother, a teenager, is up to something shady if not illegal. And when a dead body turns up, Betty realizes the stakes have been raised. Meanwhile, the stakes are also raised in her personal life when her fiancé, Tom, returns from the front in Africa. He’s been injured, and his return to civilian life is anything but easy. Can Betty solve the case and figure out how to navigate Tom being back?
As a fan of the series, I’ve been waiting to meet Tom, and I was happy to see that happen here. His return really forced Betty to mature, and I enjoyed seeing that character growth. Meanwhile, the mystery was also compelling. Between the two, I was engrossed in the book. The story does touch on race relations of the era, but without taking over the book. I also enjoyed that aspect of things. As usual, Betty narrates with some slang from the time, but I enjoyed it. There’s a smattering of foul language, but as long as you know that going in, you’ll be fine. To best appreciate this book, you’ll want to back up to the start of the series. Fans will be very satisfied with what we get here.
As a fan of the series, I’ve been waiting to meet Tom, and I was happy to see that happen here. His return really forced Betty to mature, and I enjoyed seeing that character growth. Meanwhile, the mystery was also compelling. Between the two, I was engrossed in the book. The story does touch on race relations of the era, but without taking over the book. I also enjoyed that aspect of things. As usual, Betty narrates with some slang from the time, but I enjoyed it. There’s a smattering of foul language, but as long as you know that going in, you’ll be fine. To best appreciate this book, you’ll want to back up to the start of the series. Fans will be very satisfied with what we get here.
Merissa (14046 KP) rated My Familiar Stranger (Knights of Black Swan, #1) in Books
Mar 31, 2023 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)
"The plural of vampire is vampire."
Right then, onto the Paranormal bit first - there is vampire involved but this in no way is the only part of the story. In fact, they are not mentioned much at the beginning and I was a bit confused why I was reading about them when the story didn't seem to involve them. There is a vampire who has regained his human consciousness (think Angel from Buffy) and now is working with the secret Order of the Black Swan to help neutralise the vampire threat.
But this book is so much more than just that. It is a story of a woman, thrown from all she knows and in dire circumstances, to a world similar to ours but in other ways oh so different. It brings you into the story as she tries to figure out where she fits in this new life. The only family she has are the people who found her and trust me, if you're going to be lost then you want to be found by these guys! They are all Alpha males and brilliant. I have been laughing out loud during this book as well as falling in love with them bit by bit myself.
Absolutely brilliant but if you'll excuse me .... I'm off to read The Witch's Dream (Book 2 of the Order of the Black Swan)
* Verified Purchase - September 2012 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
April 10, 2021
Right then, onto the Paranormal bit first - there is vampire involved but this in no way is the only part of the story. In fact, they are not mentioned much at the beginning and I was a bit confused why I was reading about them when the story didn't seem to involve them. There is a vampire who has regained his human consciousness (think Angel from Buffy) and now is working with the secret Order of the Black Swan to help neutralise the vampire threat.
But this book is so much more than just that. It is a story of a woman, thrown from all she knows and in dire circumstances, to a world similar to ours but in other ways oh so different. It brings you into the story as she tries to figure out where she fits in this new life. The only family she has are the people who found her and trust me, if you're going to be lost then you want to be found by these guys! They are all Alpha males and brilliant. I have been laughing out loud during this book as well as falling in love with them bit by bit myself.
Absolutely brilliant but if you'll excuse me .... I'm off to read The Witch's Dream (Book 2 of the Order of the Black Swan)
* Verified Purchase - September 2012 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
April 10, 2021
Merissa (14046 KP) rated Moonlight (Knights of Black Swan #4) in Books
Apr 3, 2023 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)
The Black Swan series is a set of books that you really should read in the reading order, not out of sequence. By doing this, you will get swept up into a world of strong, protective, drool-worthy males. Their female counterparts are also strong, protective, ok so maybe not drool-worthy to me, they sure are gorgeous! The stories lead into one another and the characters become more in-depth.
The humour in these books has always had me laughing out loud but some in this one have had my husband asking just what is so funny! One of the last scenes that is written in this book, is so beautifully done that I had tears in my eyes and had to go back and re-read. I have loved being with these characters as they have grown and changed; some changes being more noticeable than others (Deliverance and Grey). Others just seem to grow more comfortable with themselves and their role in life (Glen). Other characters have their lives changed in one way or another and you see how they adapt. This book is an excellent read and the series as a whole continues to delight.
So, that's what you get with the Black Swan - and if you haven't read the first one yet (which is free), why not?
* Verified Purchase - September 2013 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
April 10, 2021
The humour in these books has always had me laughing out loud but some in this one have had my husband asking just what is so funny! One of the last scenes that is written in this book, is so beautifully done that I had tears in my eyes and had to go back and re-read. I have loved being with these characters as they have grown and changed; some changes being more noticeable than others (Deliverance and Grey). Others just seem to grow more comfortable with themselves and their role in life (Glen). Other characters have their lives changed in one way or another and you see how they adapt. This book is an excellent read and the series as a whole continues to delight.
So, that's what you get with the Black Swan - and if you haven't read the first one yet (which is free), why not?
* Verified Purchase - September 2013 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
April 10, 2021
Merissa (14046 KP) rated Haunting You (Bewitching Women #2) in Books
Apr 12, 2023
It is bad enough trying to pass exams at the best of times, let alone when it is the Bar exam and you're being distracted by an angry ghost. This is what happens to Rachel all the time. Since someone very close to her died and she helped him to move on, she can't stop seeing ghosts. She pretends like she can't but some are very persistent. Enter Ella, a control freak ghost who needs someone to keep an eye on her irresponsible brother who is looking after her two sons.
This story is fun from the very start, although that is not to say that it is all light and fluffy. There is a dark element to this that I won't go into too much detail about so I don't ruin the book. The sexual tension is between Rachel and August from the start and Nicholas and Zach are there to help things along too.
It is well-written with plenty to keep you interested page after page. The characters develop as the story moves on and one of my favourites was Nicholas. There is suspense, family obligation and pressure, humour, and nosy neighbours - what more could you want?
Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
September 14, 2016
This story is fun from the very start, although that is not to say that it is all light and fluffy. There is a dark element to this that I won't go into too much detail about so I don't ruin the book. The sexual tension is between Rachel and August from the start and Nicholas and Zach are there to help things along too.
It is well-written with plenty to keep you interested page after page. The characters develop as the story moves on and one of my favourites was Nicholas. There is suspense, family obligation and pressure, humour, and nosy neighbours - what more could you want?
Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
September 14, 2016