Rebecca Hill
What a fabulous read! I enjoyed getting more into the life of whales.
James Michael Dorsey takes you on a journey unlike any other. From the whales that they know on a name basis (read the story, it's great), and newer whales that are appearing as well - it was a magical adventure that draws you in. Loved this one!
Highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys marine life, and wants to get some deeper insight into the lives of the whales in San Ignacio.
Often in history, we hear the term, “there is nothing new under the sun.” Many will shrug, and we are completely enthralled with whatever “new” invention or toy has come out. In the case of warfare, there is often not much that is new. While technology will advance, so will weapons, and of course, the tactics that are used against ones enemy. While there are newer ideas, it is often back to the ancient world that we fall, learning from those who came before us, and much of the wisdom that they left behind - if we choose to learn from it.
In “Roman Special Forces and Special Ops” Simon Elliott shares a wealth of information, and you will not be disappointed!
If you are in the UK, this book is now available. It will be available in the US in June 2023.
Before I get into the fun part, a huge THANK YOU to Pen and Sword for asking me to partake in this blog tour!
Rating: 4/5 stars
Book Excerpt:
Much has been written about the Roman army and the mighty legions that conquered their empire and then defended it for centuries against all comers. But little has been written about the men and units employed when something more subtle than the march of legions into pitched battle was required. This is the only book available dedicated to Roman special ops and the role of the Speculatores, Exploratores, Protectores, and Areani.
Simon Elliott reveals the kinds of special operations conducted by the tactical scouting ahead of the legions, covert strategic reconnaissance in neighboring states, espionage, assassination or abduction of dissidents and enemies, counter-insurgency, and close protection of Roman officials and commanders. While such missions were frequently executed by ad-hoc units or individuals detailed for that specific mission, the author goes on to reveal the evidence for the aforementioned specialist units. He concludes with an analysis of the extent to which these various forces corresponded to a modern conception of Special Forces. These men were the eyes and ears of the Empire, the deadly tip of the Roman sword.
My Review:
What an interesting book! I absolutely enjoyed reading through this one. As Rome began expanding their influence, so too did the military expand in its own influence.
As I was reading through the different examples that the author presented, I found myself comparing them to some more modern-day examples. Lt. Col. Hal Moore is one that comes to mind, during the Vietnam War, and how he used intelligence, working to understand how his enemy would fight before setting foot in the country. It was a great comparison to see that the ancient Romans had used some of the same techniques, although theirs was a bit more covert, having to carefully travel through the ancient world, without being caught.
There was quite a bit about the Roman military that I did not know, and this was a fabulous introduction to how the different sections of the Roman military functioned, intelligence-gathering techniques, and how the “first official Roman secret service ‘was staffed by supply sergeants whose original functions had been the purchase for and distribution to the troops of grain.'“
Absolutely a fun book - and definitely one that will give you a different viewpoint on some of the long-held opinions on the Roman military, and their standing in history.
This was a fabulous book. Kitty, who was an orphan, understands the lives that these orphans are leading, and what they need. She jumps at the chance to take care of the orphans and is devastated when the program is shut down, due to space needed for wounded troops. She continues in her Red Cross duties and finds little snippets of time to spend with her fiance, as the war continues raging across Europe.
The story here is profound in so many ways. From the “back at home” care that troops were receiving, to the shores of Normandy, this book takes you on a journey. It was hard to put down once you started, as you are drawn deeper into the war-torn lives of the characters. The struggles, the triumphs, the heartbreaks - each lends itself to the inner feelings of what many were going through, yet are told in such a way as to be relatable.
It made me think back to when my husband was deployed, to my own time in the military, and the different ways that we found to stay in touch. While technology has advanced since World War II, we still wrote letters (snail-mail was a treat), and I still have them to this day.
This World War II novel is one that historical fiction lovers will enjoy, and find themselves wanting more when the book closes. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
During WWII, many men were shot down as they flew missions against Germany and its allies. As they struggled for survival, many found themselves tested in more than one way.
The author follows the journey of his father during World War II, and his struggle not only to keep himself alive, but the men he was serving with.
This was a fabulous book, and I enjoyed reading through the different viewpoints that were given. It was a hard road these men went down, but they never gave up. The courage and determination shared were awe-inspiring.
Meticulous detail, great insight, and a story that should be shared everywhere!
If there is ever a mother that would gain the hate of every person in the world - Lori Vallow is that person. While we have some terrible mothers in history, (I will not name them here), the hideous deceptions that Lori undertook, all under the guise of religion, brings the bile up in the throat of one.
As I read through this book, all I could think of was my sweet boys upstairs, and try and figure out what would cause any mother to want to kill their child - even if they were supposedly possessed by a demon. Chad Daybell worked his manipulative manner exceedingly well with Lori - and their respective spouses met untimely ends as their romance kindled.
While this is a tough topic to read about - the book itself is very well done. Each aspect of the case is examined, with the hide and seek game that the Daybells undertook to try and keep out of reach of the authorities. Those interested in true crime will like the book, but due to the horrific nature of the crimes, it is hard to just love it.
Thank you to the author for taking such a horrific crime, and working it into a book that we can read, try and understand, and mull over the case on our own time. And yes, I marked this book as “horror” on purpose, along with the other relevant tags.
Can one ever get tired of Shane Ryan? The answer is NO!
In this book, Shane is haunted by some pretty painful memories, and not even whisky is drowning this pain. But when a new problem rears its head, Shane heads off to see what he can do, or die trying, which is not totally against. However, he is going to find that he has some unlikely allies - both dead and alive, that are willing to help him put an end to this human trafficking ring, and save the souls of the young ladies that are trapped in the “school.”
Fabulous, and hard to put down!
Wow! What a story! This one draws you in and refuses to let you go.
Dark forces are at play in the Rookwood Asylum, and the ghost of a young lady is wrecking havoc through the halls. Will anyone survive the old doctor and his scientific experiments, or will the shadows lurking in the dark inhabit more than the abandoned building?
Get ready for a fabulous adventure of spooktacular proportions.
I really enjoyed this read! When a young man is murdered, Jason offers his services as a physician to look at the body. At first, he is considered a suspect, until the constable realizes that he cannot have been responsible. They team up to work on the case, and slowly start unraveling what actually happened.
Great story! It was one that pulled you in and kept you engaged the entire way throughout! I look forward to reading more from this author.
The Rose siblings are trying to stay one step ahead of the law, and the police officer that seems to be following their every move. When the FBI get involved in the latest case, it becomes a bit more difficult.
With the young officer now working with them, they are attempting to stop yet another demon, and not end up in a jail cell.
Great story, and hard to put down.
Cold cases are hard to solve, but sometimes after years of languishing, someone remembers something that busts the case wide open.
In Delphi, two young girls are murdered, and the police are wanting to close the case. While there are not a lot of clues to go on, dogged police work, and a podcast are determined to see it through.
Interesting read, and full of great information. I enjoyed this book.
Absolutely fantastic! I loved this book! It was hard to put down.
Three siblings are trying to undo the “good” their father did over the course of his life. Now dealing with demons of different breeds, they are attempting to stop them from completely ruining the small towns they are inhabiting. But the Rose siblings are about to see just how strong they are without their father.
Ohhhh - Shane Ryan and his “messes.” This time, they are determined to take Shane Ryan out as quickly as possible, As he continues his search, a man approaches him after his cousin goes missing, As Shane tries to help him, they discover the matches might not be finished, and are moving to another location. He knows he needs to shut it down.
Shane is about to come face to face with a ghost from the past - while someone else is trying to rid Shane's house of all his ghosts.
Who will be the victor??
Great book, and hard to put down. I am loving this series!
What a fabulous read! If you enjoy Hollywood history - you have to add this to your MUST-READ list! Full of interesting tid bits, stars you know - and some you may not be familiar with. A great job all around, and one book that will leave you gasping from time to time in surprise!
Merged review:
What a fabulous read! If you enjoy Hollywood history - you have to add this to your MUST-READ list! Full of interesting tid bits, stars you know - and some you may not be familiar with. A great job all around, and one book that will leave you gasping from time to time in surprise!
Ann Harrison was a typical teenager, waiting for the school bus when she quickly disappeared. The police were quickly called in, and a search was on. Before long, a heartbreaking discovery would be made - and one that would spark a different type of search - a search for a killer.
Set in Raytown, Missouri, this story follows the case, and the ins and outs of identifying suspects, the interrogations, and finally, convictions for those who were responsible for the death of Ann.
I found this book really interesting for a few reasons. Having once lived in Raytown, it was interesting to read about places that I had frequently traveled - and having heard the name Ann Harrison multiple times, decades after the crime had occurred. The facts of the case were pretty interesting as well - including a family member who lied to police, leaving the suspect free for a while longer. It was a heartbreaking case, but an interesting read. Great book for those who enjoy true crime!
This book takes you step by step through what a volcano goes through when it gets ready to erupt. It was an interesting way to share this with young readers, and describe how and what volcano experts look for.
At the back, there is a glossary of different types of volcanoes, and also a place where you can learn more about them if you want. I loved it!
Great book!