Civil War Toy Soldiers

Beginner's Greek by James Collins: Peter, though, is the catalyst for this novel, and his struggle to do the right thing and behave the correct way often gets in the way of his own happiness. When James Collins is moving the novel through Peter's actions and frustrations, the romantic comedy skips along its merry path. For the most part, Beginner's Greek is an enjoyable romp of the heart and mind. It's not completely believable, but that's not necessary. It's about love, true love, and how it can overcome all obstacles. That's what we all want to believe in. Right? Well, at least it's true in Beginner's Greek and we should enjoy it while we can.

The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde: The Big Over Easy is silly, entertaining, and unlike any murder mystery you've read before. Whether you enjoy reading humor or mystery, Jasper Fforde can satisfy both tastes with this novel. If you enjoy them both, especially if they're done over the top, then The Big Over Easy is right up your alley. Just go along for the ride with Jack Spratt and Mary Mary and be prepared for non-stop plot twists and a fairy tale ending. Oh, did I mention the beanstalk?

The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani: The plot in The Blood of Flowers flows smoothly and quickly. While not a novel of taut suspense, the threads of the young narrator's life and her relationships with the different women in her life create a literary fabric that might rival the Persian carpets of the story.

Blood of Victory by Alan Furst: Blood of Victory is not a powerful book that grabs your emotions or one that is filled with war action to keep pages turning quickly. The book is a quick read, though, since it weaves sympathetic characters through realistic depictions of life in Europe during 1940, and their humanity never plays second fiddle to the war story. Ilya Serebin could be a man turned cynical and self-centered by his unlucky lot in life, but in the midst of war, he continues to search for beauty and truth. In the guise of a spy story, Alan Furst has given us a story about a man with the courage to retain his humanity, his love, and his hopes in the face of evil. Without realizing how expertly he has drawn us into Serebin's world, we are enriched by the short time we've stayed with him.

Bangkok 8 by John Burdett: John Burdett has perfectly captured a sense of place that is so ultimately foreign to most of us and made it seem familiar. Even his mixture of different ethnicities, Thai, Khmer, Karen, Lao, Chinese, Russian, Burmese, and Siberian, gives this novel a feeling of the larger world outside the U.S. that we consistently ignore. Sonchai Jitpleecheep is our travel guide, daring us to think differently and inviting us to enjoy his home. Feel free to lose yourself within Bangkok 8 and enjoy your visit abroad. It's time well-spent. Bangkok 8 is one of those novels you finish with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart for a story, and a place, that is well told and satisfying.

Bangkok Haunts by John Burdett: Bangkok Haunts is another fascinating and entertaining excursion through Sonchai's world. The investigation of Damrong's murder allows him to educate us farang about his exotic world and different way of thinking. At the same time, it challenges Sonchai with forces that may be outside his control, in this world and the next. The novel never loses its pace or suspense, and it lets its humor and wit lift us above the dark story it tells. Bangkok Haunts finds John Burdett at the top of his game.

The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster: This is not a "feel good" book and it's not a story that will keep you turning pages to see what happens next. If you want a book to challenge your thoughts and emotions and perspective on life, then I can recommend it highly. Just don't think you'll put it down with a satisfied smile on your face.

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay: Ultimately, this is a novel that has more going for it than against it. Dexter is an enjoyable sociopath and the mystery he must solve is a complex and interesting one. Darkly Dreaming Dexter never loses its pace or suspense and contains enough humor and insights to be an engaging novel. Each reader should decide beforehand whether the reservations I've mentioned above would detract from their enjoyment of Jeff Lindsay's mystery, because he's now working on his second Dexter book.

Annette Lybacki hopes that you found this piece helpful and invites you to read her articles on The 411 on Annuity Loans for some Hints and Tips on Annuity Loans.

Technorati Tags: book reviews, Books, fiction, hobby, mystery, novels, read, reading, reviews, science fiction, story

Tags: book reviews, Books, fiction, hobby, mystery, novels, read, reading, reviews, science fiction, story

Spartan Gold signifies the launch of a fifth book series by perpetual New York Times bestselling author Clive Cussler, this time in partnership with up and coming young author Grant Blackwood.

The books of this new series are called "Fargo Adventures," so named after the book's heroes, married couple Sam and Remi Fargo.

Having fulfilled the American dream early in life to become independently wealthy, the Fargos now devote themselves to archeological treasure hunting; and they let nothing stand in their way of finding what they search for.

While the Fargo Adventures feature a new cast of characters and a slightly different action venue - treasure hunting - the telltale hallmarks of a true Cussler-novel that we have all come to love and expect still remain: Exotic cars, foods and drinks, as well as lots of excitement on, in and around water.

Through Spartan Gold we follow Sam and Remi Fargo as they pursue a trail of clues left behind by Napoleon Bonaparte on the back of wine-bottle labels from his lost wine cellar. Not only are the clues written as riddles but they are also in code, which they must first crack.

Of course there are also adversaries to be faced and dealt with. A former Soviet freedom fighter turned mafia billionaire sends his hired hooligans to interfere with the Fargos' investigation, several times imperiling their very lives.

At the end of the trail await two ancient Greek statues of pure gold, which were looted from Greece by Persian conqueror Xerxes the Great. Bondaruk has discovered through genealogy research that he is a direct descendant of Xerxes, and believes the treasure is his rightful inheritance, never mind that is was stolen from Greece.

The riddles on the wine-bottles lead the Fargos and their adversaries from a WWII German submarine in the Great Pocomoke Swamp of Maryland to the Bahamas and through much of Europe including Monaco, Croatia, Italy, Germany, and Ukraine: not necessarily in that sequence.

To sum it up, Spartan Gold is the first in an exciting new series by the master of marine action novels, Clive Cussler, complete with the distinct hallmarks that we have come to love and expect from this beloved author. In other words, Spartan Gold is another guaranteed New York Times bestseller.

Britt Hellman resides in North Carolina with her husband and three sons, operating her own copywriting business from home. Clive Cussler has been long time favorite author. Visit her Cussler book site to order the Spartan Gold novel or read her review of the latest Dirk Pitt novel, Arctic Drift by Clive Cussler.

Technorati Tags: book, Books, Croatia, Entertainment, France, germany, Greece, Italy, Library, literature, Novel, review, story, Ukraine, WWII

Tags: book, Books, Croatia, Entertainment, France, germany, Greece, Italy, Library, literature, Novel, review, story, Ukraine, WWII

Back from the time when it all began, The Light Fantastic is the classic second Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett from 1986. Little did anybody know that it would eventually lead to Pratchett becoming Great Britain's number one best-selling author in the following decade.

Even though Pratchett's novels take place in an alternate universe, on a "planet" known as the Discworld, his books are really parodies on the peculiarities of our own world. The Light Fantastic pokes fun at the myths of Armageddon and the religious zeal it engenders in some people. Consequently, entranced, mindless throngs coalesce into book burning frenzies and fanatical lynch mobs.

Moving through all of this, we follow the (mis-)adventures of a "failed" wizard named Rincewind as he travels around the Discworld, trying to get away from anything that seems threatening, which covers just about everything.

That is to say, everything except what has everybody else running scared: The new Red Star that has recently appeared in the sky, and which keeps growing brighter and hotter by the minute. Rincewind's travel companion Twoflower takes comfort in his friend's lack of panic because knowing Rincewind, "If there was anything at all to be frightened about, he'd be frightened. But he's not. The star is just about the only thing I've ever seen him not frightened of. If he's not worried, then take if it from me, there's nothing to worry about."

And of course, in the end, Twoflower turns out to be right in assessing the fate of the world by taking the pulse on Rincewind, the Discworld's premiere expert on knowing when and when not to panic.

The adventures of Rincewind and Twoflower take them through a forest of talking trees, a visit with predominantly friendly rock trolls, travelling through the universe in a magic gift shop and through the skies on a druid-levitated rock, narrowly escaping Death after visiting the netherworlds, and saving a sacrificial virgin against her most ardent insistence: Things that are possible on the Discworld and nowhere else.

In the end, it's really all about a powerful magic spell that has lodged itself in Rincewind's brain, waiting for the Red Star to appear before reuniting with seven other spells to be read at the appointed time in order to turn the path of Great A'Tuin away from his (or her) collision course with the Red Star.

Great A'Tuin, needless to say, is the enormous sea turtle carrying the Discworld on its back through the Universe. Just in case you were of the mistaken impression that all planets were spherical and revolved around stars.

The Light Fantastic is British humor at its very best. Even those who normally don't like British humor would likely be hard pressed to not laugh out loud while immersed in this novel.

Britt Hellman lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children. A professional copywriter, she writes and publishes book reviews as a hobby. In the late 1980's, her husband turned her onto the books by Terry Pratchett. Visit her website The Light Fantastic for a complete list of Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett, from The Color of Magic (1983) to Unseen Academicals (2009).

Technorati Tags: adventure, book, comedy, Comic, Entertainment, fun, Humor, Library, literature, magic, Novel, review, science fiction, story

Tags: adventure, book, comedy, Comic, Entertainment, fun, Humor, Library, literature, magic, Novel, review, science fiction, story