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I assume you're here at this website because you like my books. Good. And that also means you might like the books I enjoy reading, and that all of us might enjoy the books that you read, so this is simply a place where we can exchange news of books - any books - not just historical novels. Tell us if you've read something wonderful and entertaining, and we'll post your recommendations and reviews here. And, please, let us know what you think of these recommendations!

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Reading Club Results 81 through 90 Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Archives

Posting Date: 29 Sep, 2008                          (81.)  Posted By: Rusty Rodke  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: THE PIRATE COAST Book Author: Richard Zacks Publisher: Hyperion ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   "The Pirate Coast" by Richard Zacks tells the amazing story of "Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805". William Eaton leads a handful of U.S. Marines, a couple of dozen foreign mercenaries and some always suspicious Arab allies 500 miles across the North African desert and takes Tripoli from the land side. It sounds like something Sharpe might have done!

Posting Date: 21 Sep, 2008                          (82.)  Posted By: Liz Ciaburri  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: EMPIRE OF DRAGONS Book Author: Valerio Massimo Manfredi Publisher: Pan Books ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   This book is about Roman Emperor Publius Licinius Valerianus and his guards are imprisoned by the Persians but escape through to China. It's a fast read and very interesting. I greatly recommend reading it.

Posting Date: 01 Sep, 2008                          (83.)  Posted By: Barbara Parker  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: THE QUEEN'S TALE Book Author: D J Birmingham Publisher: Xlibri ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   The Queen's Tale is a 14th century historical novel of lost loves and powerful adventure. An Irish monk chronicles a tale told to him by an ancient Irish Queen. The story is about real people and actual events that shaped the destiny of Ireland and England. It is the story of the entangled tragic lives of John de Bermingham, an Irish knight, and Edward II, the weak King of England. When the Scottish King, Robert the Bruce, sends his brother with an army to conquer Ireland, only de Bermingham can save the Irish, but first he must pass four tests as foretold by the ancient Druids. The novel is an exciting and unpredictable epic tale that propels the reader into the medieval world. For more information go to www.thequeenstale.com.

Posting Date: 18 Aug, 2008                          (84.)  Posted By: Steve Johnston  Buy This Book:    Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: THE WANDERER (TRILOGY) Book Author: Robert Hyslop Publisher: Cuthan Books ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   This trilogy (Wolf's head, Viking & Varangian)concerns the travels and adventures of Ethelwulf, a young saxon forced to flee England in the late 10th century. He travels far & wide, both gaining and losing comrades alike. From Ireland to Iceland, the Baltic to Byzantium, The Wanderer takes us on a mammoth voyage. Reminds me of a (much longer) version of The Long Ships, but also has a history guide included - so you can learn as well as be entertained! Full of historical detail, this is an epic saga!

Posting Date: 14 Aug, 2008                          (85.)  Posted By: Ron Stewart  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: THE SOURCE Book Author: James A. Michener Publisher: Random House ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   This is probably Michener's best book: a multi-generational saga that is set in Palestine (now Israel) and manages to tell the story of that land and especially of the Jewish people, though it gives Arabs and Muslims a fair shake as well. It uses the brilliant conceit of an archaeological dig as the launching point for its stories. The scope of the novel is stunning, and it clearly set the pattern and model for others who followed, such as the magnificent Edward Rutherfurd. Highly recommended to any fan of historical fiction.

Posting Date: 08 Jul, 2008                          (86.)  Posted By: arthur gee  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: EARTAILIA Book Author: Tanya Parman Publisher: Vantage Press ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   A friend of mine at school introduced me to this book and told me that all of her friends are reading it. And she showed me the inscription on the inner cover of the book where the author apparently donated a bunch of them to support our local PBS station. Everybody in my school is reading this book. The book's about cat people with psychic powers. I don't know when I've had so much fun reading a book. Not just because my girlfriend is reading along with me either. I'm into Science Fiction. I like things like Star Trek, Star Wars and Stargate. Anyway if you're a Science Fiction fan this book is super cool and fun to read.

Posting Date: 24 Jun, 2008                          (87.)  Posted By: Anne McFadgen  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: WHALE ROAD Book Author: Robert Low Publisher: Harper, 2007 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   Compelling 10th century Norse historical thriller. 15 year old Orm takes to the high seas with the Oathsworn, a ruthless band of Viking raiders and mercenaries, as they follow the words of a mad seeress in search of the lost treasure of Attila the Hun. However, they are not the only ones looking for the legendary hoard, and the hunt becomes a deadly race. Full of rousing battles and religious intrigue, this is an epic adventure in true saga tradition. The second book in the "Oathsworn" trilogy is now out as well- "Wolf Sea"

Posting Date: 15 May, 2008                          (88.)  Posted By: Becky Mace  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON Book Author: Naomi Novik Publisher: Del Rey ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   What if dragons were used during the Napoleonic Wars? Naomi Novik submits an answer to that question. This book is the first of a series wherein dragons are used in war. Excellent; couldn't put it down.

Posting Date: 13 May, 2008                          (89.)  Posted By: jon gordon  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: CENTURION Book Author: Simon Scarrow Publisher: Headline Book Publishing ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   I am half way through this latest offering from Simon Scarrow and his roman duo Macro and Cato.They are still in Syria and up against the Parthians,I won't give too much away,but they're in deep trouble trapped in Palmyra. So if you love a good read with plenty of action read these novels.

Posting Date: 04 May, 2008                          (90.)  Posted By: Chris Okusako  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: DAWN OF EMPIRE/EMPIRE RISING Book Author: Sam Barone Publisher: Century ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   Sam Barone takes the best from my three favorite authors: Zane Grey, Bernard Cornwell, and Wilbur Smith. Like Zane Grey the main characters are presented as people that you can really like and respect. They are thoughtful, introspective, grow in stature, and have interesting relationships. The women tend to play a major role and know how to inspire their men and share in their success. Like Bernard Cornwell, Sam Barone writes great historical fiction. Cornwell is a master at writing about battle and how people react to it. Barone is at least equal to Cornwell! His single battle detail may take 50+ pages to read, and the battles are described through the eyes of many characters both the good and the villainous. I was up until 2:30 in the morning last night reading the climactic battle in Empire Rising, just loving it while at the same time wishing for it to end so that I could go to sleep. Like Wilbur Smith, Sam Barone is a wonderful story teller. But unlike Smith, Barone rarely kills off the people that you grow to admire. And when he does, he doesn't make the reader ill by graphically dismembering them the way Smith does. Lastly, unrelated to any of the three authors I previously mentioned, Sam Barone's characters tend to not just see and react to dangerous situations. What I find vastly interesting is that when there is time, the characters contemplate what they see, try to make sense of it, use the lessons that they have learned, and then try to make knowledgeable decisions. It is hard to believe that Sam Barone has only written two books!!! Well, I am one person that will continue to buy his future books.

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