U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima


Raymond Henri - 2020
    Marines of this tiny yet strategically important volcanic island. The book is based on each author's own observations while on the island, plus the experiences of dozens of men involved in various aspects of the intense fighting. Presented in chronological order, the battle unfolds from the initial D-Day air force bombings and naval barrage, to the amphibious assault, to the slow gains made each day as the Marines inched forward under heavy fire. Despite its small size, Iwo Jima was considered the most heavily fortified island in the world, supporting thousands of nearly bomb-proof shelters and caves, hundreds of reinforced machine-gun, mortar, tank, and artillery positions, and more than 20,000 fanatical Japanese defenders. Included is a roster of Marines killed or missing in the battle, plus 12 maps and 32 pages of photographs.

Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon - Reviewed


J.T. Salrich - 2014
    Salrich.Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon is finally here! After waiting for 5 years, fans of Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander series" can finally return to the characters they know and love. Written In My Own Heart's Blood picks up where "An Echo In The Bone" left off and gets right into the action. If you’d like to enhance your experience while reading Written In My Own Heart's Blood then this book review and study guide is perfect for you! Yes, in Written In My Own Heart's Blood, Diana Gabaldon once again takes us on an action packed roller coaster ride that you’re sure to enjoy. Follow along with Jamie, Claire, Roger, Buck, Brianna, Jem, Mandy and all the rest as Diana Gabaldon weaves their stories through the past and present and all over the world. When you read Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon - Reviewed you will get a deeper understanding of the characters and plot found in the original book, Written In My Own Heart's Blood as well as the themes and symbolism included in the novel. You also get a detailed chapter by chapter breakdown and analysis of the events as they unfold along with a glossary of the important characters and terms used in the original book. Just in case that’s not enough for you I’ve also included a list of possible study questions (book club discussions topics) and quotes from the book that I found interesting. Wrapping it all up is a discussion of the critical reviews for Written In My Own Heart's Blood as well as my overall opinion of the book. Plus much more! Whether you’re reading this for a book club, school report, or just want to catch up with your favorite characters and find out what happens before diving into the full length book, you can use this book review and study guide to get most out of your experience reading Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon.

Zelda Fitzgerald: The Biography


University Press Biographies - 2017
    The chafing restrictions of a typical upbringing in upper-class, small town Alabama simply did not apply to Zelda, who was described as an unusual child and permitted to roam the streets with little supervision. Zelda refused to blossom into a typical 'Southern belle' on anyone's terms but her own and while still in high school enjoyed the status of a local celebrity for her shocking behavior. Everybody in town knew the name Zelda Sayre. Queen of the Montgomery social scene, Zelda had a different beau ready and willing to show her a good time for every day of the week. Before meeting F. Scott Fitzgerald, Zelda's life was a constant pursuit of pleasure. With little thought for the future and no responsibilities to speak of, Zelda committed herself fully to the mantra that accompanied her photo in her high school graduation book: "Why should all life be work, when we all can borrow. Let's think only of today, and not worry about tomorrow." But for now Zelda was still in rehearsal for her real life to begin, a life she was sure would be absolutely extraordinary. Zelda Sayre married F. Scott Fitzgerald on the 3rd of April 1920 and left sleepy Montgomery behind in order to dive headfirst into the shimmering, glamourous life of a New York socialite. With the publication of Scott's first novel, This Side of Paradise, Zelda found herself thrust into the limelight as the very epitome of the Flapper lifestyle. Concerned chiefly with fashion, wild parties and flouting social expectations, Zelda and Scott became icons of the Jazz Age, the personification of beauty and success. What Zelda and Scott shared was a romantic sense of self-importance that assured them that their life of carefree leisure and excess was the only life really worth living. Deeply in love, the Fitzgeralds were like to sides of the same coin, each reflecting the very best and worst of each other. While the world fell in love with the image of the Fitzgeralds they saw on the cover of magazines, behind the scenes the Fitzgerald's marriage could not withstand the tension of their creative arrangement. Zelda was Scott's muse and he mercilessly mined the events of their life for material for his books. Scott claimed Zelda's memories, things she said, experiences she had and even passages from her diary as his possessions and used them to form the basis of his fictional works. Zelda had a child but the domestic sphere offered no comfort or purpose for her. The Flapper lifestyle was not simply a phase she lived through, it formed the very basis of her character and once the parties grew dull, the Fitzgeralds' drinking became destructive and Zelda's beauty began to fade, the world held little allure for her. Zelda sought reprieve in work and tried to build a career as a ballet dancer. When that didn't work out she turned to writing but was forbidden by Scott from using her own life as material. Convinced that she would never leave her mark on the world as deeply or expressively as Scott had, Zelda retreated into herself and withdrew from the people she knew in happier times. The later years of Zelda's life were marred by her detachment from reality as, diagnosed with schizophrenia, Zelda spent the last eighteen years of her life living in and out of psychiatric hospitals. As Scott's life unraveled due to alcohol abuse, Zelda looked back on the years they had spent together, young and wild and beautiful, as the best of her life. She may have been right but she was wrong about one thing, Zelda did leave her mark on the world and it was a deep and expressive mark that no one could have left but her. Zelda Fitzgerald: The Biography

Love, One Regency Summer - A Regency Romance Summer Collection: 9 Delightful Regency Summer Stories (Regency Collections Book 10)


Arietta RichmondGrace Austen - 2018
     The stories in this collection, because they all happen in Upper Nettlefold, have things which happen, that influence the other stories. So the order in which they are presented here aligns with the timeline in which events in the stories happen. Read through this collection in order, and you will find that each story builds on the ones before, weaving the magic of community and interconnection between characters. There is also a map of Upper Nettlefold to help you visualise everything as you read. Although each story can stand alone, we’re sure that you’ll love finding the linkages as you go. This is our first visit to Upper Nettlefold, but it won’t be our last. You may see other collections based here, or you may see individual books from the various authors, but we will keep expanding the stories about the people you’ll first meet in this collection. The Viscount’s Summer Love A new Viscount with old secrets, a baker’s daughter, love thwarted, the threat of murder, a dramatic revelation, a long-held love finally returned. The Duke and the Spinster A Duke who needs to marry, a Lady who expects to never marry, a summer house party, a nefarious plot, gossip designed to harm, a desperate adventure, a love that redeems. Stitched in Love A seamstress who struggles to sew, a blacksmith beset by admirers, an accident with a dress, a runaway horse, a situation saved – barely, an unexpected love. Love Finds the Earl An unmarried Earl, a reserved widow, a clever sister, a social occasion, an accidental meeting, shady business dealings thwarted, a second chance for love. Doubting the Marquess An unrepentant rake, a woman more interested in business than men, a meeting, jealousy, an accident, a revelation that leads to love. The Degenerate Baron A fearless schoolteacher, a Baron lost in grief and despair, a collection of degenerate friends, a near accident that leads to a meeting, a reminder of past pain, a love beyond fear. Escaping the Scurrilous Earl A merchant’s daughter, a lonely physician, a thoroughly unscrupulous Earl, a debt called in, an impossible choice, an escape, a threat, a rescue, and a new love found. Esther, the Earl’s Hellion An orphaned young woman, a gentleman working undercover, a boarding school with a new owner, a despicable scheme, a rescue, a trap set to save, a dramatic conclusion, a fated love found. A Gentle Heart A spinster employed as a companion, a gentleman of means, a social opportunity, an act of kindness, a misunderstanding, a long hoped for love.

Alpha Series Boxed Set: Books 1-5


Midika Crane - 2017
    Althea knows that her and Landon are not naturally destined to be each other’s mate, but can fate be changed in the quest for true love? Alpha Kaden Everyone knows of Alpha Kaden, a man of twisted riddles and cryptic puzzles. His identity is one of them. His touch, another. He is feared throughout all 13 packs for his reputation of stealing young women out of their beds. And tonight he has come to steal Mara to make her a player in his wicked game. Alpha Grayson Lexia has been an unwilling member of the Vengeance Pack since she was kidnapped by Alpha Kaden at the age of thirteen. Previously a member of the Discipline Pack, she now plans an uprising to take down the Alphas and unify the 13 Packs. Alpha Jasper Dark stories of the Devotion pack’s haunting from the terrifying undead Phantom Wolves have circulated for years but Thea had never believed the rumors. That is until she met Jasper; the confident and magical missing Alpha of the pack and newly reincarnated Phantom Wolf. He also happens to be her destined mate. Alpha Malik After being kidnapped and abused by an unruly rogue organization, Aria is forced to enter a competition where the prize is a man who has given up all hopes of finding his mate. Malik is known as the Alpha of Love, and now Aria must compete against girls from every Pack, for his attention. To save her own life, and his too, she must complete a mission that will force her into the Alpha's arms. However, a twist in the game will change everything.

Senoia Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6


Susan Harper - 2018
    When her friend is accused of murder, her inquisitive nature is rekindled and she quickly becomes Senoia’s premier super sleuth. She quickly finds herself involved in murder mystery after murder mystery. If she is going to save her friends, and herself, she must solve everything from crimes of passion to mass murders. Can Felicity overcome long odds or will it be too much for the young party planner? This collection of cozy mysteries includes the first six books in the Senoia Cozy Mystery series. If you like cozy mysteries with interesting characters and unexpected turns, the Senoia Cozy Mystery series is for you. Buy the Senoia Cozy Mystery Boxed Set and start solving your next mystery (or six) today! Always FREE on Kindle Unlimited Included Books Each book in the series is a stand-alone story, but your enjoyment of each story will be increased if you read them all. Be sure to check them all out. Dying for a Drive - When Felicity gets her first big break as a party planner, a murder turns the event into one that she will never forget. After the police arrest her friend, who she knows is innocent, she is forced find the killer herself. If she doesn’t find him soon, though, she just might be the next victim. A Fatal Fall – Felicity’s party planning business is booming after solving her first murder. When she lands her biggest job yet, she finally has a chance to enjoy the fruits of her success . . . until a young girl falls to her death. When ex-boyfriend and police officer Jack Hudson comes to her for help, Felicity must work around the police and solve the murder before she and her friends become the next victims. Murder in the Morgue – Felicity Senoia’s premier party planner and has taken on the mission to raise funds for the new NICU at the hospital. When the haunted house theme gets an all too real decoration, Felicity is thrust into the middle of another murder investigation. Can Felicity solve the mystery of the Murder in the Morgue? Horse Drawn Homicide - Felicity’s party planning business is booming. When someone close to her is killed, she literally gets dragged into the middle of another murder mystery. But after a second murder, things get too real. Can Felicity solve the mystery before she becomes the third? Framed by Friends – Felicity has become Senoia’s premier party planner and amateur sleuth. When the past and present collide, Felicity’s friends, old and new, become embroiled in a murder mystery. At a party she organized, no less. Felicity must put aside old friendships and hurt feelings and catch a killer before one of her friends gets away with murder. Victims of His Vengeance – Felicity has become a celebrated amateur sleuth in addition to being Senoia’s premier party planner. When the criminals she has put behind bars start dying, she must again solve a perplexing case. Can she catch another killer or will she be the final victim? Always FREE on Kindle Unlimited

The Sullivan Gray Series: Books 1-4


H.P. Bayne - 2019
    One fears the dead. One sees them. Together, they help homicide victims find justice. The Sullivan Gray Series takes mystery and suspense and gives it a ghostly twist. This set contains books 1-4 (Black Candle, Harbinger, The Dule Tree and Crawl). Black Candle A missing girl. The ghost of a murdered woman. And one man racing against time to save them both. The ability to see the ghosts of homicide victims has always been more burden than gift and, for Sullivan Gray, it's never been heavier. As the storm of the century pummels the city, he finds himself sucked into a mystery, struggling to decipher clues from a ghost intent on saving a missing teenage girl. His foster family has had his back since childhood, his older brother Dez acting as both wing man and protector. But as he draws nearer to answers, Sully finds himself pulled further from his family and increasingly on his own. With time running out, he races to fulfill the ghost's desperate quest, a path that will take him into a world of witchcraft, dark secrets and murder. One wrong step will leave him a ghost himself. Harbinger A spirit who sees the future might rob Sully of his. When Sully’s boss is fatally shot, he becomes the main suspect in the homicide. The woman's ghost is guarding a secret, one that will reveal the true killer—if Sully can convince her to show him. But he's got other problems. The terror stricken ghost of a powerful clairvoyant has intentions of his own, and Sully finds himself an unwilling accomplice on the spirit’s violent journey. As Sully struggles to cope with two ghosts and his own internal demons, Dez and the rest of his family fear he’s losing himself to his gift. And he might just lose more than that. Sully's world is about to change forever—if he comes out alive. The Dule Tree How do you find someone who no longer exists? Two years after the supposed death of his brother Sully, Dez wakes up six feet under and six inches from death. With no air remaining, he is pulled back from the brink—by Sully. The reunion is short-lived. Sully is kidnapped by a pair of masked assailants, leaving Dez desperate to find him. In a small cell, Sully finds himself alone, but for a disturbed man and the ghost of a teenager he has always known only as the Purple Girl. As his time runs out, he begins to piece together a past he’d rather have left in the shadows. And Dez, with the help of his estranged wife, a wounded private investigator, a dog and a woman claiming to be Sully’s long-lost mother, races to unearth the clues that will lead to his brother — and keep him from having to bury Sully a second time. Crawl Four years ago, seventeen-year-old spelunker Carter was killed in a cave collapse. The coroner deemed it an accident. Sullivan Gray knows better. A camping weekend with his brother Dez takes an unsettling turn when Sully sees Carter’s shattered spirit, a sighting that reveals the teen’s death was, in fact, murder. The brothers launch an investigation—a job complicated by a marital infidelity case Dez has been handed and the fact Sully remains little more than a ghost himself. Having once escaped his own death inside a collapsed cavern, Sully knows the dangers lying beneath the earth’s surface.

Over the Wire: A POW's Escape Story from the Second World War


Philip H. Newman - 1983
    After several failed attempts he got out over the wire and journeyed for weeks as a fugitive from northern France to Marseilles, then across the Pyrenees to Spain and Gibraltar and freedom. He was guided along the way by French civilians, resistance fighters and the organizers of the famous Pat escape line. His straightforward, honest and vivid memoir of his work as a surgeon at Dunkirk, life in the prison camps and his escape attempts gives a fascinating insight into his wartime experience. It records the ingenuity and courage of the individuals, the ordinary men and women, who risked their lives to help him on his way. It is also one of the best accounts we have of what it was like to be on the run in occupied Europe.

Her Patriotic Duty


Rosie Meddon - 2020
    When Esme learns she is adopted—from a working class family—she cannot allow Richard to marry so far beneath his station. Fleeing the life she knew, Esme finds work as a "decoy woman," testing British undercover operatives who may otherwise reveal secrets. But she still loves Richard—is she brave enough to go back to him and reveal the truth of her birth? A captivating World War II saga for fans of Rosie Archer and Annie Murray.

At Long Last Love


Milly Adams - 2017
    A motley crew of friends has replaced the family she’s not spoken to in years. That is until the evening Kate’s sister Sarah walks back into her life. Sarah has a favour to ask: she needs Kate to return home to Dorset for one month to look after her daughter, Lizzie. Reluctantly Kate agrees, even though it means facing the troubled past she hoped she’d escaped. Kate is confronted once again by the prejudice and scrutiny of the townsfolk, including the new village vicar. As the war continues, Kate must fight her own battles and find not only the courage to forge a future but perhaps, at long last, love.'Milly Adams' readers will find the story and its rich cast of characters very appealing.'Lizzie Lane

Safe With Me: The Complete Series


Shaina Richmond - 2012
    Themes: Graphic sex, intense emotions, flawed characters, jealous hero, illegal drug use, anti-heroine, promiscuous behavior.When Tyler Campbell meets Susie Lombardi in a coffee shop, he doesn't expect to sleep with her that night. He also doesn't expect to fall in love. But Susie doesn't want a boyfriend. She lives alone in a house full of locked doors and combination safes, unwilling to answer Tyler's questions about her past . . .or her future. Susie gives Tyler her usual excuses, intent on crushing his hope of a future together. But she doesn't know that when the right guy finds you, he won't give up. How far is Susie willing to run from love? And how far is Tyler willing to chase her?

Love Thy Roommate


H.S. Volfson - 2013
    She's fresh out of a relationship that ended badly, and all she wants to do now is find a new place to live, finish college, and move on with her life.Jake is a surly bar manager and student who lives with his closest friends and doesn't particularly like change. A new female roommate definitely counts as "change." Fink, Damian, and Libby don't have much in common - except for their friends, Miriam and Jake.Set in and around Denton, Texas, Love Thy Roommate is a tale of five unlikely friends coming together to create an unconventional family unit over time. What does the post-graduate future hold for these individuals? Read Love Thy Roommate to find out.

The Falklands War There and Back Again: The Story of Naval Party 8901


Mike Norman - 2018
    But events turned out differently, for the next day the Argentines invaded and he and his forty-three Royal Marines found themselves fighting for their lives.They took up defensive positions around Government House and on the approach to Stanley from Cape Pembroke to protect the Governor Rex Hunt and delay the advance to Stanley. They were prepared to die executing his orders. After a desperate battle in the gardens and even inside the house against superior numbers Rex Hunt ordered them to lay down their arms. As the surrender took place, an Argentine told a marine: ‘The islands are ours now’. The response was simple: ‘We will be back’. They were, and this is their story.The Royal Marines of Naval Party 8901 as well as some members of the previous detachment volunteered to join the Task Force and, some seventy-five days later, the men who witnessed the raising of the Argentine flag over the islands on 2 April saw the triumphant return of the Union Jack.Mike Norman’s dramatic account draws on his own vivid recollections, the log recording the defense of Government House, the testimony of the marines under his command and newly released files from government archives. It is a powerful and moving tribute to the marines who confronted the Argentines when they invaded and then fought to force them out.

Extinction Series (The Complete Collection)


James D. Prescott - 2019
    A few miles off the Yucatán coast, Jack and a team of scientists tow an aging drilling platform over the impact crater with the aim of securing a sample. But buried deep beneath the earth lies a shocking discovery that threatens to shatter everything we think we know about our species.A world away, geneticist Dr. Mia Ward receives a mysterious delivery from her former boss and mentor, Alan Salzburg. In it are clues of a dire warning hidden inside the human genome, one which foretells man's very extinction.His instructions to Mia are simple: keep the information safe and, above all, trust no one--words all the more chilling after Alan turns up dead. But who wrote the message and what does it mean? Only Jack Greer holds the answers, but can she reach him in time to save the human race?Extinction CountdownDr. Jack Greer's startling discovery beneath the Gulf of Mexico proved to the world we were not alone in the universe. But when images from the Voyager One space probe reveal an alien doomsday ship hurtling toward the Earth, the human race seems marked for extinction.As news of the approaching ship spreads panic around the globe, signs of a sinister plot begin to emerge--one that threatens to unravel the already fragile fabric of society and everything Jack and Dr. Mia Ward have fought for.But could a mysterious signal emanating from inside Greenland's ice sheet unlock the secrets hidden within our genome and prevent humanity's destruction?From the frozen fields of Greenland to the bustling Indian subcontinent and the cobbled streets of Rome, the race is on to stop the deadliest countdown to extinction the human race has ever known.Extinction CrisisWith the doomsday ship only days away from impacting the Earth, humanity's demise seems all but assured. In every corner of the world, news of the impending destruction has led to chaos, looting and the collapse of the rule of law.As the foundations of civilization crumble around them, Jack and Mia must race to find answers to perhaps the most important questions of all time. Why have the Ateans repeatedly eradicated life on our planet? And could the key to ending the cycle of extinctions be locked somewhere within the Salzburg Chromosome?Unraveling the mystery will mean journeying deep into the heart of a perilous alien world and facing off against the very beings who created us.

Iceland 101: Over 50 Tips & Things to Know Before Arriving in Iceland


Rúnar Þór Sigurbjörnsson - 2017
    The dos and don'ts of travelling and staying in Iceland. Five chapters with multiple tips in each one explain what is expected of you as a traveller - as well as some bonus tips on what you can do.