Rebecca Hill
The role of women in history has often been hard to decipher. Since much of what we know of the women comes from the brief snatches of history that we get from their menfolk, fleshing out these powerful women in their own right has never been easy.
Eleanor of Aquitaine is probably one of the best recorded, as she was very active in her role as Countess and Queen. The fact that she queen of France, who then divorced her husband and then married Henry, going on to become the queen of England raised some scandal - and a lot of documentation on her. When she rebelled against her husband with her four sons later on, that alone would have secured her role in history. But she was more than just a trophy - she was active, issuing charters in her own right.
The women portrayed in this book bring a new life to many of these women to have been mere footnotes in history before. This was a great book and one that I really enjoyed reading.
Vikings have often been misportrayed in history. Unfortunately, they were given a bad rap - instead of focusing on who they really were.
This book takes a great look at the real history of the Vikings, and who they were and how they lived. I really enjoyed reading this one. It is full of great facts and information, giving the reader the ins and outs, leaving room for more research in the future.
Check it out!
I was so excited to read this book! I even had an audiobook version to listen to. As I was reading, I got about halfway through the audio version, but could not continue - her voice started grating on me. I flipped over to the book and continued reading there. Initially, I had such high hopes for this book! While I love a good fantasy book, this was more political than fantasy - even though there is a fictitious world woven around it, I just felt extremely let down with the story.
As you work through the book, you will find that it is very wordy - and it's easy to get lost. I walked away from both versions more than once. There was a need to digest what I had read and take some time to figure out what was actually going on. I think I was more disappointed with the overall tone of the book. I was really hoping for an escape from the political garbage that is going around right now, only to be confronted with it continually while reading.
This was an interesting read, as historical romance is not really my preferred reading. While it was much different than what I was expecting, it was still a good read and one that draws you into each page.
It was well written, and for those who love a good romance, this is going to really be one you enjoy!
Gibbeting has been portrayed in movies and books, often with a more “romantic” view of what their original intent was. The true history of what these gibbets represented was much more brutal, a deterrent for those who were thinking about committing crimes.
From the rise of the gibbet to the last man put into one, the History of Gibbeting takes us through the reasons behind why they were used, the crimes committed, and the hope that by hanging in public view, it would stop anyone from wanting to commit similar crimes. For a while, gibbeting was popular, giving the community a sense of justice being served, while punishing the perpetrator with the lack of a decent burial. But as with most sensations, this one eventually burned out,
This book gives a great background of the rise and decline of gibbeting, the many different crimes, perpetrators and the reasons (or lack thereof) for the crime being committed. I loved this book, and it was fascinating to read the many different accounts and try to figure out why the judges would sometimes order the gibbeting of the condemned.
Highly recommended! Fabulous read and engaging!
Francis is back in the second book of this series by Tracy Borman. She must once again navigate the dangerous court and do her best to stay above suspicion. Pregnant, unmarried and alone, she is in a very vulnerable position.
I am going to admit that I had more trouble enjoying this one than I did the first. This one seemed stretched and without the same enthusiasm as the first.
While this was not a terrible book by any means, it lacked the pizazz of the first.
The Rise of Gaia is a book that you have to take your time with. While the storyline flows and keeps you engaged, there is more to the narrative than just a story to entertain you. I am going to share my thoughts, and my take on the book. Kristin Ward delivers another book that is profound and thought-provoking.
Stars: 4/5
Review of The Rise of Gaia:
Terran is a normal teenager, at least, until the day she turns 17. On her birthday, she is hit with visions of a dark and horrid world. She cannot get them out of her head. She does not want to confide in her parents, so she confides in her best friend and her mother. As they work to figure out what might be causing the visions that she is seeing, a medium is suggested. After the first visit, Terran wants nothing more to do with him, but the visions continue, and she must find a way to either come to terms with it or discover what she must do to make it stop. Doing that, however, could put her in danger.
My Thoughts:
I did enjoy the book, but I bogged down a little bit on this one. I have loved what Kristin Ward has written in the past, and while I enjoyed this book, it took me a bit longer to get through this one. I found that the characters were relatable, and the underlying issues that she is alluding to were not overreaching, or out of the realm of possibilities. While this is not my favorite of what she has written, it is still a fabulous book. Everyone reads a book differently, and this one has huge potential.
Happy Reading!
If you enjoy the Tower of London, then you really are going to need to grab a copy of this book. Get the ins and outs of daring escapes, fires, prisoners of renown, and the little known history that lay behind the Tower of London.
While reading through this book, there were several pieces that were presented that I was acquainted with, but there were many that I had never heard of. We know of some of the higher profile nobility that were held within the tower, but this book gives you so much more.
A great and amazing read - I look forward to hearing more from this author in the future! Well written, and full of wonderful information, this book is a winner!
When it comes to the lives of the rich and famous, we can never get enough. When it comes to royal history, the older the better. The Lost Heirs of the Medieval Crown delves into the lives of the medieval heirs were never assured, and this book goes into great detail on many of the rulers that would never be. This book was the best when it comes to lining out what happened to the would-be monarchs who never came to be.
Publish Date: Available now
Publisher: Pen and Sword Books
Star Rating: 5/5
Goodreads.com Excerpt:
When William the Conqueror died in 1087 he left the throne of England to William Rufus ... his second son. The result was an immediate war as Rufus's elder brother Robert fought to gain the crown he saw as rightfully his; this conflict marked the start of 400 years of bloody disputes as the English monarchy's line of hereditary succession was bent, twisted and finally broken when the last Plantagenet king, Richard III, fell at Bosworth in 1485.
The Anglo-Norman and Plantagenet dynasties were renowned for their internecine strife, and in Lost Heirs we will unearth the hidden stories of fratricidal brothers, usurping cousins and murderous uncles; the many kings - and the occasional queen - who should have been but never were. History is written by the winners, but every game of thrones has its losers too, and their fascinating stories bring richness and depth to what is a colorful period of history. King John would not have gained the crown had he not murdered his young nephew, who was in line to become England's first King Arthur; Henry V would never have been at Agincourt had his father not seized the throne by usurping and killing his cousin; and as the rival houses of York and Lancaster fought bloodily over the crown during the Wars of the Roses, life suddenly became very dangerous indeed for a young boy named Edmund.
My Review of Lost Heirs of The Medieval Crown
Medival history is full of death and uncertainty. Death did not discriminate from poor or rich when it came to who lived or died. In fact, the path to the crown could often be more deadly than those who did not have such high ambitions. Whether accidental, sickness or downright homicide, death could come in all forms.
Each chapter in this book starts out with a breakdown of the family, who fits where, and what was going on at the time. All of this plays into each of the chapters that will follow. The bloodiest dynasty in medieval history was not coined without cause, and this book breaks that down.
I really enjoyed the read. Each of the characters was familiar to me, through historical studies. However, the breakdown and clarification on a lot of smaller details were quite helpful. The chapters were not super long, which kept me engaged and attentive throughout the entire read. I was impressed with the amount of research, and the depth of the knowledge that the author portrayed in their writing.
If you enjoy history, I definitely recommend this book!
Take a ride back to the wild west! Jump on a stagecoach and gear up for the adventure of a lifetime.
This book was amazing in so many ways. We know about the background of the detectives, the pony express riders, and the men who risked their lives to transfer gold dust, bullion and so much more across the plains. With the gold rush in California, there was a more urgent need for bonded men who could safeguard the money and gold dust being transferred, but that did not keep desperadoes from trying to get rob the stagecoaches.
That is where the detectives would pop in, and track down the men that were responsible for the robberies.
We know the stories, but we don't know the men. Now we do. John Boessenecker does a great job in bringing these legendary figures to life, and bringing their stories to a much broader public.
I absolutely loved the book, and getting to read about several places that were familiar. Mount Shasta, Klamath Falls, and so much more - old stomping grounds for me.
Great history, and well done!
Christmas in America has not always been what we see today. The Night Before Christmas in America takes us back to days gone by to share about the early celebrations.
I enjoyed reading through, although the last few pages of the document were cut off, so I missed the ending. What I got was fabulous though! Great read for kids who enjoy history and Christmas!
The Friday Edition was a really interesting read. At first, you are going to hate the main character, as there is nothing redeeming about her. She is an alcoholic, divorced, forgetting about her child at times, and completely wallowing in self-pity. When her sister is murdered, her perfect sister, she is not sure what to think. Many seem to think it was suicide, but Samantha knows better. Her sister might have been down at times, but this was not the time of year that she would consider killing herself, let alone in the way that it was done.
I think the book was very well written, and it made you want to turn the pages faster to see what was going to happen next, getting more information, and yet, not wanting the book to end. Grab it now!
This book was one that made me sit back and think! I found so much information that I had never considered! We know the side of the royals, they are well documented, but what about the landed gentry? Knights? There are so many different aspects of life that have not been expounded upon as much. This book delved into those shadows. What happens if you had bastard sons, but no legitimate? What about daughters?
These children, although accepted by their parents, were still considered born “on the wrong side of the sheets.” While today, many will turn a blind eye, in medieval times, this was not the case. Illegitimate sons were barred from many types of inheritance, although there were some that found the loopholes.
Helen Matthews brings to light many of these children, their families, and the different aspects of their lives - many of which we may not know about. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learning about a different part of medieval history, one that is not often discussed, except for royal bastards.
This book is definitely worth the read! Grab it now!
If you work freelance, own your own business, or are considering starting your own business - then you have to read this book! It is hands down the best book on the market!
Gabrielle takes each phase of business and breaks it down to an understandable “this is what you need to do to succeed” method. I found myself taking tons of notes, re-reading sections, and going OH! I need to do this!
This book is going to change your mindset, help you get those better paying customers, and move your business from 0-60.
Get the book. It is amazing. Your business (and wallet) will thank you.
Oh my goodness. If you want a scare yourself silly read, then you want to read this one! I absolutely LOVED it!
Slender Man has been an urban legend for years, but this twist takes a little bit different route. You are going to be reading faster just to see what happens next!
Grab a copy now - you will not be sorry!
