Passion is best expressed with a good book

Out of Passau, which is a stand alone follow up to Against The Stream, details one woman's painful experience in trying to get a town to accept their responsibility and history during World War II. The author details how she uncovered the truths of her towns' acceptance of being one of "Hitler's favorite watering holes" during WWII. A great book that once more offers vivid evidence of the terrible suffering of anyone that the Nazi's believed were unfit to live in their Third Reich. What is so very painful, and illuminating about this book is that even present day citizens of Passau are not willing to accept the history of their city and what occurred there during WWII. It still amazes me how many people prefer to deny rather than accept what happened and where it happened. I loved this book, it was so enlightening and real. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone that is planning on visiting Passau, or anyone that would like to learn more truths of what happened during WWII.

This is the second book in The Bronze Horseman Trilogy and continues the story of Tatiana and Shura. I don't know how to explain the feelings and emotions this book evokes in you while reading and afterwards also. You will have to move on to the third book in the trilogy Tatiana and Alexander immediately, even though you will not want their story to end.

I do not usually read romances, but I was drawn to this book because it was also about the Siege of Leningrad. This book is 900 plus pages and I read it in less than 3 days the first time. I could not put it down, and I felt like I was in Leningrad when I was reading it. I would look up in surprise that the electricity was still on, or that there was food in the house, that is how deeply you become involved in the story. This was the most epic romance I have ever read or heard of, and Alexander has become  my all time favorite character. There are also two following books, The Summer Garden and Tatiana and Alexander, which I read and are just as wonderful as The Bronze Horseman. I will never forget this story.

I usually love colonial period novels. This novel just did not do a thing for me. I thought it was draggy, and often a little boring. I like some of Kathleen Kent's other books, so I guess this one was just an anomaly for me. I can't really recommend it, as I just did not enjoy reading it at all. I did finish it, and I can't say that I changed my mind about the book once I knew the ending.

Overall this book was just ok for me. It takes you right into the story on the very first page. It is told in chapters by different people reflecting their viewpoint of the world as it is in the future. It is a quick read, and I just didn't find it had the depth that I have come to enjoy in dystopian novels. I would recommend it as a light, fast read for anyone that is in the mood for that.

I thought this was a great short story. The only problem with it, as far as I am concerned, was that it was over too quickly. Great characters, you immediately feel like you know them. I hope the author plans to maybe continue on with another story or two about Madeline and Arty.

This is about a modern day woman that is given letters written by Eliza Goode in the mid 1800's. It is moving, and emotional. Just reading the letters she wrote, draws you into her world and the very difficult life she led. She started out with a difficult life, and was forced to make many choices, some concerning her own morality, and also the ones that she encounters in her life. The author did an excellent job of drawing us into Eliza's world, and wondering what was going to happen next. I particularly liked that she finished the story instead of leaving us hanging, which a lot of books seem to do.  I was given this book to read and review, which in no way influenced me on what to write.

Absolutely loved it. Kept me reading late into the night, and had to finish it the next day. I really liked the the plot and action kept moving forward, and you really couldn't guess exactly what was going to happen. It was a great book, and I have now found another author that I plan on reading more of his work.  This book was given to me to read and review, but it in no way altered my opinion of the great writing.

This is an absolutely great read. I am hanging on the edge of my seat waiting for the next part to come out. He is a great author, and really makes the words flow off the page.