TMST

 

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If you could live anywhere in the real world, where would you move?

Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have always fascinated me. Because of the nature there, old Norman Castles and *coughs* accents ;)

I live somewhere really really flat. So I would like somewhere with more hills, and more old castles! The only castle here was torn down for reuse, damn peasants!! ;) Now the nearest is far away

And sure it would be fun to live somewhere warmer, but I would probably melt. I am used to the cold. ALso omg there would be spiders and snakes and other things there, ugh no

Carole's Monday. Paris in Ruins by MK Tod

Author: M.K. Tod

Title: Paris in Ruins

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: ebook

Pages: March 30th 2021

Published: March 30th 2021

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Summary: 

Paris 1870. Raised for a life of parties and servants, Camille and Mariele have much in common, but it takes the horrors of war to bring them together to fight for the city and people they love.

A few weeks after the abdication of Napoleon III, the Prussian army lays siege to Paris. Camille Noisette, the daughter of a wealthy family, volunteers to nurse wounded soldiers and agrees to spy on a group of radicals plotting to overthrow the French government. Her future sister-in-law, Mariele de Crécy, is appalled by the gaps between rich and poor. She volunteers to look after destitute children whose families can barely afford to eat.

Somehow, Camille and Mariele must find the courage and strength to endure months of devastating siege, bloody civil war, and great personal risk. Through it all, an unexpected friendship grows between the two women, as they face the destruction of Paris and discover that in war women have as much to fight for as men.

War has a way of teaching lessons—if only Camille and Mariele can survive long enough to learn them.

Review:

I read a book by this author a while back and I had really liked it so I was excited to get my hands on this one!

We follow Camille and Mariele who were raised for a life of parties and servants. They have a lot in common, but it takes the horrors of war to bring them together to fight for the city and the people they love. A few weeks after the abdication of Napoleon III, the Prussian army lays siege to Paris. Camille volunteers to nurse the wounded soldiers and agrees to spy on a group of radicals plotting to overthrow the French government. Mariele is Camille's future sister-in-law and finds that she is appalled by the gaps between the rich and poor. She volunteers to look after destitute children. Together they must find the courage and strength to endure the months of hardships.

This author really knows how to suck a reader into the story. I could not put this down! I finished it in just a couple of sittings. I had to know what was going to happen next! It totally captivated me from page one. Soooooooo good!

I think I liked Mariele's story more. I found myself more interested in what she was up to. Don't get me wrong, I liked Camille too and I worried for her as well, but I feel like I connected with Mariele more so. Mariele starts off so docile, but she really finds her strength and you can even argue finds herself in this world of chaos. You can say the same thing for Camille and you would be right. However, there is something about Mariele that I really leaned into.

What a scary thing to have to go through. I was so worried for our characters. War is bloody and terrible and even though I know the general history....I was still on the edge of my seat and was worried for our girls and the others. Such a scary thing to have to go through. I can't even imagine *shudders* The author really does a wonderful job bringing this world and our characters alive. 

Overall, I was captivated by this story and our heroines. I could not put this down! I highly recommend it for historical fiction lovers. It is really good. I would even say it is a contender for the Best of the year ;) 5 stars from me. 

Best of March

 

Happy April everyone!!!! 

Here are our best of last month!

Best Book of the Month:

My pick..........The Hunger by Alma Katsu

"It was so normal, and then it was not. I liked her writing."

Carole's pick.......China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

"Oooo rich people with nothing to do. Gotta love the drama!"

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole's pick.....Abducted in Plain Sight (2017)

"This was sooo messed up and scary and tragic."

Blodeuedd's pick.....Moxie (2021)

"I am bad at remember what I watched when, I know there was another good one too, but ack. But yes this one was good!"

Best TV show of the Month:

My pick...........Husdrömmar

"I have been binge watching a tv show about people building houses. I am old!"

Carole's pick........Bridgerton (season 1)

"This was so good. I for sure binge-watched this! Couldn't stop!"

Best Cover of the Month:

Carole's pick - This is just so beautiful!!!!

My  pick - So dang cute, but damn it, there was no dog!

Audio: Teach me by Olivia Dade

Narrated by: Kelsey Navarro

Series: There's Something About Marysburg Series, Book 1

Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins

Release date: 04-06-21

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Contemporary romance

For an honest review

 This was a slowburning romance, with some lowkey drama. It was rather nice. But yes there is some drama.

Rose loves her job, and she is great at it. But then in comes a new teacher and her classes are given to him. Whaaat?! So she avoids him and curses the stupid guy who gave away her classes.

But Martin is really sweet, and fancies her, but she gives him the cold shoulder. He has been hurt in love, she has been hurt in love. It does not look good.

They become friends, they become more, but she is afraid of commitment. And then they lived happily ever after, and she learns who her real friends are.

I liked it, it felt real, they are both in their 40s. They have lived already, but yes still have things to learn.

I liked the narration. It felt mature and fitting. She had nice voices for everyone . A nice audio to listen to. It works well.

Their lesson plans didn't include love. But that's about to change...

When Martin Krause arrives at Rose Owens's high school, she's determined to remain chilly with her new colleague. Unfriendly? Maybe. Understandable? Yes, since a loathsome administrator gave Rose's beloved world history classes to Martin, knowing it would hurt her.

But keeping her distance from a man as warm and kind as Martin will prove challenging, even for a stubborn, guarded ice queen. Especially when she begins to see him for what he truly is: a man who's never been taught his own value. Martin could use a good teacher--and luckily, Rose is the best.

Rose has her own lessons--about trust, about vulnerability, about her past--to learn. And over the course of a single school year, the two of them will find out just how hot it can get when an ice queen melts.