Rebecca Hill
The Titanic was a disaster of epic proportions, one that would have lasting effects for many years to come. With the “Unsinkable” ship ready to sail, many flocked to its decks, hoping for better lives, celebrating honeymoons, looking for better employment, or just taking pleasure trips.
When the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on 14 April 1912 - no one could believe it. The iceberg should not have caused the amount of damage, but there were several design flaws, ones that would come back to haunt the massive ocean liner.
Through this book, we get a glimpse inside the ship itself, the people aboard the vessel, and many of their thoughts and impressions on the great liner. What can never be erased is the massive loss of life, due to the fact that there were not enough lifeboats on board for everyone and the lives that were torn apart by the sinking of this ship. This heartbreaking book will keep you captured from page one, giving you a glimpse into the hopes and dreams that were dashed for many that night.
At the end of the book, there is an accounting for several of the passengers and crew, whether they lived or died, and even providing some background on them. These stories bring home the humanness of it all, the real live people who had their lives cut short, dreams lost, and for some, the inability to get over the guilt of having survived the sinking.
I highly recommend this book! It was amazing, and I truly enjoyed it!
I was provided with a copy of this book for a fair and honest review, via NetGalley and Pen and Sword Publishers
Icebound was a truly remarkable story about the expeditions to the polar regions. William Barents was a renowned explorer, and the amazing journey and fight for survival that his crew undertook were astounding, heartbreaking, and captivating.
This is one of those books that draws you in, laying out in detail the dangers of the voyage, the uncertainties of the time, and the amazing feats that were undertaken to explore, chart, and share with the known world at the time the amazing discoveries along the way. I had a hard time setting this one down, and it is one that I hope to read again in the future - it was that good! History-lovers should definitely add this book to their lists, they are in for a treat with this book!
I received a free copy of this book for an honest and unbiased review
We know about one aspect of the slave trade, as we have discussed and dissected it in our classrooms for decades. But there is another hidden aspect of the slave trade, one that has been altogether forgotten and dismissed by many.
Simon Webb goes into detail on this forgotten aspect of the slave trade, giving us the history and details that have been overlooked for so long.
I highly recommend this read. It was eye-opening, and very compelling as well. This is one that should be on everyone's list to read this year!
The murder of Sir William Cantilupe was a fun one to read about. While the circumstances were suspicious, and the body lay undisturbed for a length of time, going through the case - and so much more. This book really dives into the social nuances of the day, giving more information on the relationships between servants and masters, and then dissecting the case of Sir William, down to a degree that will appease any true crime lover. From history to crime - there is so much to love about this book, and it's one that you are going to truly enjoy reading!
Joe Kenda never disappoints! I watched the series that he had out, but this book was amazing and full of great information! I could not put it down! I had to read through this in one sitting!
What pushes someone to murder can be hard to ascertain sometimes, especially if that person is unknown to the victim. But Joe Kenda and his team never gave up, working each case to find a solution, and give answers to the families of the victim, giving them a little closure.
This book sure does not disappoint, and if you are a true crime fan, then you have to get this book. Lt. Kenda walks you through the investigation, and you get the frustrations, the good, the bad, and the outcome. I read through his first book and really enjoyed it, and this one did not disappoint either. The humor and the witty remarks are peppered through the story, making you feel as though you are sharing a drink with a good friend, listening to the case from their perspective, and picking their brain a bit more on the details and people involved.
Get this on your read list now, you won't regret it!
If you love murderers and serial killers, you are going to LOVE this book! It is FULL of information, tid-bits, and great facts!
This was a great read, and I look forward to reading more from this publisher! Grab it now for the true crime lover in your life!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a different read, one that takes you back as though it is happening as you read. Cleopatra was an interesting figure, but I am not sure I loved the take on this book.
Having been an ancient Egyptian enthusiast for years, I was a tad disappointed with this take.
Decent, just not the dynamite I was hoping for!
True Rescue: The Finest Hours is an adventure all on its own. One of the finest and most daring rescues in New England history. When two ships are stricken in winter seas after their ships split into two, there are two teams who head out to rescue them. Only one was called in, the other, the radio was dead, and no distress call could go out.
The crew that headed out to rescue the men trapped were all volunteers, and none of them were sure that they were going to return safely, if at all. But they were not going to leave the men trapped on the ship to the sea.
I absolutely loved this story! It was not one that I had heard before, but it is one that I look forward to sharing with my boys! This book was engaging and one that will resonate with younger readers.
Throughout history, the church has played an integral part in the everyday life of the people. Throughout the different periods, it would have different impacts, but the Middle Ages brings the church into more of a focus. With the crusades, the church was at the forefront, encouraging and supporting those who took up the cross.
But, it was not without conflicts, and many rulers and church leaders would butt heads, leading to some very interesting turnouts, and bringing many figures a lasting legacy in history.
This was a great book, full of information! I enjoyed it fully, and this is an author that I look forward to seeing more from in the future.
This was an interesting and suspenseful read! I really enjoyed reading through this one! It is perfect for the chilly afternoons that we are currently dealing with!
Kimberly's story was interesting, and the journey that she undertakes to find the truth about her past will keep you engaged throughout the entire book! Enjoy the read!
The Last Woman in the Forest was a great read! It was enjoyable and kept your attention throughout the entire book. With her friend and mentor dead, Marian begins to uncover more about him and the possibility that her friend was a killer. She works to uncover the truth, and find answers for herself.
Good weekend read!
This is told from the perspective of Lucifer. He was the Creator's chosen one, a favorite, a confidant. But he wanted something more than he was entitled to, and thus, the fall from grace was started.
I really enjoyed this read. It is full of action, adventure, and just twinge of sarcasm (okay, there is a lot of sarcasm), but I loved it all!
Love a good murder mystery? Then look no further! This is an enthralling story that will captivate you from the beginning - and have you on the case of murder most foul.
Get ready to dive in, and enjoy this fabulous who dun it! I could not put this one down! Loved it! Read through and make your determination on who the killer is!
This is one of the best books that I have read this year! I absolutely loved the breakdown, and the many different facets and facts this author brought out. While women are generally in the background, not all women were relegated to historical footnotes, and this book brings out some of the women who stood out and made a name for themselves.
If you enjoy history, you are going to want to get a copy of this book. It is the perfect addition to any bookcase!
No family is ever perfect, but there are some that seem more dysfunctional than others. Cue, the Story family. Some family secrets are fun, some are deadly. The Story cousins are about to find out what is going in their not-so-perfect family and discover that maybe they should have left the past alone. Each of their parents was disinherited with a single sentence from their mother, and while they are all curious as to why that was, it might have been better to walk away - even with all the money at stake.
My Thoughts:
Wow, this was a book that was hard to put down! It is one that you are not going to want to start at night when you have to be up early the next morning. I am going to admit, I was stuck in the book until it was finished, and paid for it the next day. When you add in a family secret, a little murder, and a lot of what could go wrong, you are left with a book that is going to keep you enthralled until the end!
As I was reading through this book, I had a few places where I felt that maybe teenagers would not react that way (but it has been a while since I was a teenager). I did enjoy the overall tone and storyline (no pun intended), as we worked through the mystery surrounding the Story family. This is one that you need to add to your MUST-READ LIST, and do it soon! This book will have you wishing for just a bit more at the end!
The family that everyone loved to hate...
The Despenser family was one that wielded quite a bit of power during medieval times, but the fortunes wheel does forever turn. What goes up, must come down. The Despenser family learned that with their rise, they could also fall. Hugh the Elder and Hugh the Younger were both in high positions of power, and through their greed came their fall. It was only after their fall that it was realized how much they actually held - and some of that took many years to discover.
The Despenser family did not end with Hugh the Younger - in fact, many did survive - albeit with some initial punishments, and then the family just continued to blend into the fabric of England.
I really enjoyed reading through this book and finding many things that I was not aware of. I knew of the overreach of Hugh the Elder, but I was not aware of the extent, nor was I aware of the different members of the family who managed to rise from the ashes, to bring honor back to the Despenser name. A great read - with lots of information!
Think that dukes are all stuffy and boring? Think again! From suicides to run away lovers, and more - the Dukes of Bolton has had an interesting and colorful history.
Through this book, you are going to watch as the family expands their holdings, survives the English Civil War, and navigates the murky waters that inevitably surrounds the monarchy - you can watch the family evolve and conform to the rules of society at the time. They were unafraid to push their agenda's, and even lie about being ill in order to hedge their bets against the ruling monarch at the time. Intrigue runs deep with this family!
I enjoyed this book, although there were a few times I felt as though I got lost, and had to untangle my way back to the family and figure out the dynamics. I did learn quite a bit, and it was highly informative with lots of great facts thrown in! I highly recommend this!
This is not your normal run of the mill crime story. Knowing the story of the Yorkshire Ripper, Mo Lea fell victim to the killer herself, managing to survive the brutal attack that followed.
I really enjoyed reading this one. It was a different accounting than what you are used to reading, but it was gripping, and you could not turn the pages fast enough to see what happened next!
Great for weekend reads.
Taking a walk back in history, this was a great book! I have always loved reading more on the background of the men and women who were a large part of the American Revolution.
This book did not disappoint! Considered rebels at the time, these American Patriots have become some of the best-known names in American history. Not each person who became influential was from a wealthy background. This was a movement not only for some but for all.
Grab this book - you will not regret it!
Burial practices have changed over time, but sometimes those changes are subtle and can go unnoticed by those who are not looking closely.
With the changes in the layout of graveyards and cemeteries, it is not something that is widely noticeable. This is because most of the changes are buried, meaning that unless you dig up the bones, you are not going to see the many changes that have occurred. Thankfully, we have archaeologists, and they are excavating the many changes that have been undertaken over the last several centuries.
Lorraine Evans does a great job of going through the many different burial practices and laying out why each might have been used. From grave goods to suspected vampires, you get a little of everything in this book. I absolutely LOVED this one! It was very engaging and highly enjoyable.
This book is not for the faint of heart, and that is not just for the book length. The history of the Vietnam war is one that evokes quite a few emotions, and the horrors that were witnessed.
While this book covers more than the US involvement in Vietnam, the history of the country was never one of stable peace. It was full of upheaval, conflict and power struggles.
I truly enjoyed the history that was presented. It was a well-researched and thought out book, giving a full and comprehensive view of the time period involved. Perfect for those who are wanting to learn more about some of the history of Vietnam!