Night Stakler Series: Military Romance...

Can you believe this? Military Romance? Who would have thunk? Well apparently M.L. Buchman did. I think I may have finally found a romance I can get into. I always have good intentions and after reading the 1st chapter or two I'm done with the bodice ripping highland lord.

The Night Stalker Series caught my eye this morning while on Jenny Loves to Read (one of my favorite blogs) I noticed her Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell side bar button. I checked it out and found this wonderful interview with M.L. Buchman about his new release to his Night Stalker Series, Wait until Dark.

It's such a fascinating interview that I have checked it out on Amazon and ordered the 1st int he series

The Night is Mine 

(amazon link)

I love the idea it's written by a man. I am anxious to see how he pulls off the romance and heroine.

It sounds refreshing and intriguing. 

It looks good according the amazon reviews.

I will be posting later my own review.

Give yourself a treat and check out Jenny's blog, Mr. Buchman's interview and his website. All links above.

Who Can Resist Gothic Suspense...

I just received this in the mail from Ebay. My first Phillipa Carr Gothic Novel written in 1979. Being a vintage novel I had to go to Ebay to obtain it, but luckily there is good availability of 

Phillipa Carr Daughter of England novels on Ebay.

You may wonder who is Philippa Carr? Have you heard of Jean Plaidy and Victoria Holt? Phillipa Carr is one and the same, another pseudonym for Eleanor Hibbert!!!

I have read many Vicotria Holt novels and Jean Plaidy Historical Novels. They are some of my favorites.
It was Marie at Burton's Review that got me wanting to read Philippa Carr.

I mean how can you resist when the book cover reads:

The miracle is the discovery, on a Christmas Day in the 16th century of a living child in the Christmas crib in St. Bruno's Abbey, a replacement for the wooden figure of the Christ child,. The child is named Bruno and is raised and educated by monks.

Colse by, Damsk Farland is born to a lawyer's family, some nine months later Henry VIII is on the throne of England and his problems in producing an heir are becoming apparent. As Damask grown-and this is her story-times change, ease and comfort give way to religious difficulties, betrayals and terror... Barbara Bannon Publishers Weekly

Does this sound yummy or what? I have never been disappointed by Victoria or Jean so I'm sure Philippa will deliver the goods as well! So far the 1st chapter has been very intriguing.

I will post a review when finished. Hopefully you other blogging friends will be curious as well.

Here is a list of Philippa Carr's Daughters of England Series:

As Philippa Carr

Daughters of England Series

1. Miracle At St. Bruno's (1972)
2. The Lion Triumphant (1973)
3. Witch from the Sea (1975)
4. Saraband for Two Sisters (1976)
5. Lament for a Lost Lover (1977)
6. The Love Child (1950) (first published under the name Eleanor Burford)
7. The Song of the Siren (1980)
8. The Drop of the Dice (1981)
9. The Adulteress (1982)
10. Zipporah's Daughter (1983)
11. Voices in A Haunted Room (1984)
12. The Return of the Gypsy (1985)
13. Midsummer's Eve (1986)
14. The Pool of Saint Branok (1987)
15. The Changeling (1989)
16. The Black Swan (1990)
17. A Time for Silence (1991)
18. The Gossamer Cord (1992)
19. We'll Meet Again (1993)

Eleanor Hibbert

1906 - 1993

In the Garden of Beasts Book Review

This week I'm featuring a book I just finished by Erik Larson: In the Garden of Beasts. Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin.

 I received this book for a Mother's Day gift from my daughter Katie. It's a long standing joke in our home of my love/hate relationship with the Nazi's. I hate them, but I love to read about them. Go figure. It seems I'm not alone in this, there has been countless books written on the subject of WWII Germany, Hitler and Nazi's in general. I think the reason for the fascination is  because it's so hard to believe that a country of 65 million civilized people could descend into such evil. We WWII buffs are always searching for the answer, something clear and reasonable, but there isn't any justification it, was sheer evil it it's greatest form. 

Just when you think you have heard the worse or the more fantastic the Nazi's could be, you are always surprised, there is always new information. In the Garden of Beasts does not disappoint. I have always wondered about Germany in the early 30's when Hitler just became Chancellor, and the Nazi party was getting a foothold. How fascinating this case study is!!! 1933 a turning point in history. Hitler and his goons are manipulating through fear, terror and propaganda the German people and the world looks on in shock sure that this will pass and Germany will settle down. It's only been thirteen years since the Great War and the devastation of France. Europe is in economic disaster and the United States is advocating isolationism, they have their own problems with the Great Depression and Europe always seems to be in trouble. Let's let them figure this out with-out us. 

The world as a whole seems to be out of a job and starving yet the League of Nations ambassadors to various countries are spending lavish amounts of money trying to impress their host countries. It's all one big party for the politicians. American ambassadors were not chosen for their knowledge of current affairs or ability to represent their country's agenda, but for their ability to pay for lavish parties, homes and cars. That is why William H. Dodd being chosen by Roosevelt to go to Berlin as the American Ambassador in 1933 was so extraordinary. 

Dodd was neither rich or flamboyant. He drove an old Buick and taught history at the University of Chicago. He was a shy person and disliked the lime light. He and his wife were home bodies that hardly ever entertained. His greatest pleasure was going to his farm in Virginia and working on his manuscript The Old South. Why then was he chosen to go to the most pivotal European city, Berlin and represent the United States?  Can he make a difference in the United States attitude towards isolationism? Will he be able to convince the Pretty Boys Clubback home that Hitler is a maniac and lier? 

Oh the fun you will have reading this book. Buckle up and be ready for a fast, scary ride through history. There are parts where you will be screaming WHY, WHY, WHY didn't they listen. You will experience first hand what it was like to be a German citizen with an opinion opposite that of the REICH. 

Once you have read this you will want to read all of Best Selling Author Erik Larsen's books. Fanatistic.

Winner of Kiss Me I'm Irish Giveaway....

Congratulations Michelle you are the winner of My Kiss Me I'm Irish Romantic Nora Roberts Giveaway!!! I will be contacting you through email for your address!

Unforgettable Fire...

Who can forget U2 the best rock band to come out of the 80's and Ireland. This particular album, Unforgettable Fire is my favorite of theirs. Such classics as Pride in the Name of Love, Bad, A Sort of a Homecoming, MLK, Heartland (Elvis Presley tribute), etc.

A young Bono and Edge at about the time of the Boy Album

U2 is truly a homegrown Irish commodity with a voice. Out of Dublin comes 4 young men who attended high school together and formed a band in Larry Mullens (drummer) kitchen. They didn't have any political agenda they just wanted to make music. They came from Catholic and Protestant backgrounds. All very talented and committed young men who have become great mentors for future aspiring rock stars. They sky rocketed to fame after their Live Aid performance of Bad and Sunday Bloody Sunday in 1985.

Rattle and Hum days

In celebration of my St. Paddy's Day Party (that no one seems interested in) I absolutely had to include these guys, a living Irish legend.



Pride in the Name of Love, Unforgettable Fire, 1984



Live Aid Concert 1985. Fantastic!!! Performing Bad from Unforgettable Fire

Truly great biography of the Band. I love it, couldn't put it down. Available on Amazon (used) or Ebay. It's worth the investment if you are a fan.
Gives you some great insight into Ireland during in the 70's and 80's.


Don't forget to sign up for my Nora Roberts Irish Trilogy giveaway!!!
Feel free to grab my Kiss Me I'm Irish button for your side bar.

For Your Love for the Irish Viewing Pleasure...

I am recommending today for my St. Paddy's Day month long party The Hanging Gale. A BBC production done in 1995 filmed on location in Ireland.
I really enjoyed this series. Great stars, the men are hot, hot, all very passionate and dramatic. Cinematography is beautiful. Just know that it is about the famine in 1846 so this isn't a warm and fuzzy type of flick, but so worth it. Gives you food for thought.
I found this on Netflix.

The four-part {@BBC1} miniseries {#The Hanging Gale} was set in 1846, the year of the Irish potato famine. As starvation stared them in the face, a group of farming families banded together to survive. Among these hardy souls were the {%Phelan Brothers} (played by the real-life {$McGann} brothers), who struggled to save their family farm despite the persecution of a cruel British land agent. Filmed on-location in Ireland, {#The Hanging Gale} was initially telecast from May 14 to June 4, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Kiss Me I'm Irish ROMANCE GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

O.K. ,like it has been forever since I have done a giveaway. Now it's time once again! I'm having fun with this one. I am giving away the Irish Trilogy by Nora Roberts in celebration of St. Paddy's day. Born of Fire, Born of Ice, Born of Shame
The next couple of weeks I am going to be featuring an Irish theme for your great reading and viewing pleasure.

I love the Irish!!! They are so passionate and have such a tumultuous history.

I thought I would start the month off with this romantic fiction give away by none other than Nora Roberts who does know how to write romance. I for one am not a big romance reader, maybe one book a year. These are the exceptions. I read these straight through in a week while on vacation in Florida!

Many of you probably have already indulged but I know there are some young ones out there who haven't had the pleasure.

There will be other give aways coming up in the next couple of weeks, and because I have started a little late I will be having this St. Paddy's party for the rest of the month so check back often and make sure you don't miss out.

Rules of the game:

• Must be a follower
• Make a comment indicating why you want to read these or let me know you already have.
  
• Leave your email
  

Added Points:

• Post my Kiss Me I'm Irish Giveaway button on your blog! Leave me the link.
  
• Tweet or facebook about it

This contest ends:

• Friday March 18th

USA followers only

Happy Monday
Susie