Tuesday, 12 February 2019

TMST: Romance


Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

February 12th: What are some of your favorite recent romantic reads?

That is hard to say, there are plenty (like a lot!) I have enjoyed recently. But if I were to try to pick the most awesome romantic ones. I have to go back a bit then. Let us start from October

 I could not put it down!!

 They talked, they freaking talked to each other! Nothing is more romantic


The feeeeeels!!!!!!

Those are the 3 that truly stood out lately and that I would recommend to everyone!

ALL audio. Obviously! ;)



Monday, 11 February 2019

Audio: The Lost Girls of Paris - Pam Jenoff


Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden, Henrietta Meire, Candace Thaxton
Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 01-29-19
Language: English
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Thank you Harper for this copy!
Historical fiction

My Thoughts
This one has 3 POVS and takes place in 1944 and 1946.

In 1944 Eleanor Trigg gets permission to starts a women's division for "spies" to be sent to France. Women can blend in more than men can at that time, but even though she wants this she also wants to make sure the women can take care of themselves.

Marie is one of the women that gets sent to France. She is unlikely to make it and we follow her to a dangerous time. Oh Marie, some of the decisions she made. 

In 1946 Clare finds 12 photographs and tries to find out what happened to those women.

It's not the first book I read about female radio operators, messengers and saboteurs in France. And Germany's Nacht und Nebel program. So I knew it would be sad. But there is always hope and I kept that hope until the end.

Considering Clare's pov was only 2 years later that felt weird. Sure things were fresh in everyone's mind, but, oh I do not know. Maybe cos the author wanted to mention other things still going on then. I also felt that Clare should have made another decision at the end, no spoilers ;)

The France bits were obviously exciting. The training they had to have to make it. I still remember this other book were a woman looks the wrong before crossing the street and gets taken by the Germans that way. I could sure not have done it.

Conclusion:
A good book that reminds us that men were not the only ones fighting in the WWII

NarratioN
Elizabeth Knowelden, Henrietta Meire, Candace Thaxton
I liked that there were 3 different narrators. That did make it see the povs clearer. They all did well and had different voices that fitted their characters

Blurb
1946, Manhattan

Grace Healey is rebuilding her life after losing her husband during the war. One morning while passing through Grand Central Terminal on her way to work, she finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a bench. Unable to resist her own curiosity, Grace opens the suitcase, where she discovers a dozen photographs—each of a different woman. In a moment of impulse, Grace takes the photographs and quickly leaves the station.

Grace soon learns that the suitcase belonged to a woman named Eleanor Trigg, leader of a ring of female secret agents who were deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home, their fates a mystery. Setting out to learn the truth behind the women in the photographs, Grace finds herself drawn to a young mother turned agent named Marie, whose daring mission overseas reveals a remarkable story of friendship, valor and betrayal.

Vividly rendered and inspired by true events, New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff shines a light on the incredible heroics of the brave women of the war, and weaves a mesmerizing tale of courage, sisterhood and the great strength of women to survive in the hardest of circumstances 

Sunday, 10 February 2019

Carole's SUnday Review: Breaking the foals


Breaking The Foals
Author: Maximilian Hawker
Title: Breaking The Foals
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: ebook
Published:  March 2018
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)




The Troy of myth was a real city. This is its story…



Hektor’s life of privilege is forever changed when a man, allegedly possessed by the sun god, inspires revolution among the oppressed townspeople of Wilusa – the historical Troy of myth.




For Hektor, son of Bronze Age Wilusa’s despotic ruler, social equality contradicts every principle he has been indoctrinated into believing. But his principles and obsession with duty is alienating him from his young son, Hapi, with whom he has a fractured relationship. 




When the ‘possessed’ man saves Hapi’s life, Hektor is compelled to question the foundations upon which his father has constructed his life as he rebuilds his relationship with his child through the breaking of a foal. Wilusa collapses into political violence as the commoners rise up, and Hektor must decide whether to defend the people, but lose his identity, or remain loyal to an irrational, dangerous father.



I was drawn in the cover and title. When I read the summary, I was extremely intrigued to read this. 




The story follows Hektor who has lived a life of privilege in the city of Troy. His father is an irrational and dangerous man who has made life for the common folk really hard. Things happen and Hektor must decide what side he is on. All the while he is trying to do right by his son Hapi. 




This was a really interesting tale for sure. It was a people story but mixed with the intrigue and violence of the time. I really liked the blend. It was so interesting to see the fabled Hektor in this light. Very different then from the Hektor we all know from the epic poem. I liked him there (ya...I was the one rooting for Troy ;D) and I liked him here too. This version was a more realistic version. 




There were some parts I scratched my head at like some word choices, but they didn't bug me overmuch. It's hard to be 100% accurate for historical books (trust me...I know - been there) especially when it comes to some slang words that are sooooo commonplace now. 




Also, I really wished this had been longer. I felt there was so much more that could've been added! I would've liked to see more in the epilogue. Maybe there be another book? I want to see what happens next!




That ending. Sighs. So sad! Can't say much without spoilers, but oooo the feels. 




I did love the added bits with the son and the horse. It oddly worked so well and I'm sure there is some symbolism there if one is to really think about it. 




Overall, I did like this book. It was interesting and the ending did get me there. I do wish this had been longer. I feel like there is so much more story to tell! Also, a few little hiccups along the way, but all-in-all a good read especially if you're looking for something different. I'll stamp this with 3 stars. 









Saturday, 9 February 2019

Re-Read: Magician - Raymond E Feist



Paperback, 681 pages
Published June 28th 1993 by Harper Collins (first published October 1st 1982)
Series: The Riftwar Saga #1-2, 
Fantasy
Own

My Thoughts
Awww good times. I have no idea why but I felt this urge to re-read so I did. It is my 9th time.

Now, very long after I read it for the first time I do see its faults. The whole quest. Two boys becoming powerful. But the simplicity and wonderful world makes it a book that can be re-read time after time.

I love Pug! His story is the best.

I do like the Ashen Shugar flashbacks, those always intrigued me.

Such a fun book! I even have favorite passages. Like when Pug tells he is a magician and stuff happens.

And then there is this. Oh stuff happens there. Haha

"That you have lived as you have lived for centuries is not license for this cruelty. All here are now judged, and all are found wanting."

A wonderful book that can be re-read time after time.

Cover
This cover never made any sense to be honest

Story
At Crydee, a frontier outpost in the tranquil Kingdom of the Isles, an orphan boy, Pug, is apprenticed to a master magician—and the destinies of two worlds are changed forever.

Suddenly the peace of the Kingdom is destroyed as mysterious alien invaders swarm the land. Pug is swept up into the conflict but for him and his warrior friend, Tomas, an odyssey into the unknown has only just begun.

Tomas will inherit a legacy of savage power from an ancient civilization. Pug’s destiny is to lead him through a rift in the fabric of space and time to the mastery of the unimaginable powers of a strange new magic.

About Me

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I am young Finnish woman lost in a world of books.

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I review from most genres on this blog, and those genres are: fantasy, urban fantasy, YA, historical/+romance, contemporary romance and literary fiction, horror, thrillers. + some other genres read by my guest reviewers.

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