29 Seconds by T. M. Logan

Being a good Samaritan is usually something you are proud of not frightened of, right?

Sarah saved the daughter of a prominent man from being kidnapped, but she was rewarded in a very unusual way and in a way she actually couldn’t accept until she knew she needed to.

The reason Sarah made this decision was because of an ongoing problem with her boss, Alan, who harasses women, steals their ideas, and lies about it all.  Sarah had to do something about him, but will it backfire?

Sarah knew it would backfire and make her look bad and lose her job at the university, but this harassment couldn’t continue.  She knew, though, that she wouldn’t win or could she?
 
If you want to hate a character, Alan would be your man. 

29 SECONDS is a book you literally will not be able to put down.  The tension keeps building and doesn't stop.  The evilness of Alan doesn't stop either.

I have never finished a book this quickly - that is how good this book is.

If you enjoy edge-of-your-seat thrillers, this book needs to be on your reading list...an absolutely terrific read.  5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Spotlight and Giveaway of The Siege of Troy by Theodor Kallifatides

Photo Source

Celebrating 
The Release Of:

THE SIEGE OF TROY
BY 
THEODOR KALLIFATIDES:

With a USA Giveaway!!

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Information in this post is courtesy of Caitlin Hurst of Other Press.

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“Ever since I was in high school,” recalls the prolific Swedish-Greek author Theodor Kallifatides,“The Illiad has touched my imagination and aroused my admiration.  In my eyes it is the strongest antiwar poem ever written.”

Hoping that this famously long and difficult text could move more readers with its timeless message and captivating story, Kallifatides was inspired to write a novel: THE SIEGE OF TROY (Other Press Paperback Original; On Sale: September 10, 2019), a perceptive retelling of The Illiad in which a young Greek teacher draws on the enduring power of myth to help her students cope with the terrors of Nazi occupation. 

From the feminist brilliance of Madeleine Miller’s Circe to the big wins of Hadestown at this year’s Tony awards, reimaginings of Greek mythology continue to speak to our contemporary moment with power and relevance.

In unfolding the antiwar message of The Iliad against a backdrop of WWII Greece, Kallifatides’ THE SIEGE OF TROY joins this inventive and timely tradition of offering ancient stories anew, giving the classic fresh life while illuminating lesser known facets and investigating the psychology of its human characters. 

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ABOUT THE SIEGE OF TROY: 

The year is 1945. Bombs fall over a Nazi-occupied Greek village, and a teacher takes her students to a nearby cave for shelter. There, she begins to tell them the story of another war, recounting, day by day, the long siege of Troy by the Greeks. She tells of the human realities of this ancient battle, of how the heroes of myth suffer from thirst, heat, homesickness, and heartbreak, and how the opponents meet—army against army, man against man. Helmets are cleaved, heads fly, blood flows. All was set in motion when Prince Paris of Troy fell in love with king of Sparta Menelaus's wife, the beautiful Helen, and eloped with her to his homeland. Now Helen stands atop the city walls to witness the horrors set in motion by her flight. When her current and former loves face each other in battle, she knows that, whatever transpires, she is bound to lose.

The most spellbound listener to this tale of Troy is our 15-year-old narrator, a Greek student completely beguiled by his teacher and slowly awakening to new feelings for his oldest friend and playmate, all while under threat from the Allies’ airstrikes above and the summary executions of suspected Greek resistance fighters by the Germans occupiers within his village. Kallifatides brilliantly interweaves the perspective of this young boy living through a war with the nuanced and urgent retelling of The Illiad by a modern female bard.

Kallifatides’ THE SIEGE OF TROY provides unique psychological insight into the story of The Illiad, downplaying the role of the gods and delving into the mindsets of its mortal participants.  Homer's epic comes to life with a renewed urgency that allows us to experience events as though firsthand, and offers vivid lessons about the senselessness of war and what it means to be human.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Photo Credit:  Florence Montmare

Theodor Kallifatides has published more than forty works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that have been translated around the world. Born in Greece in 1938, Kallifatides immigrated in 1964 to Sweden, where he began his literary career. As a translator, he has brought August Strindberg and Ingmar Bergman to Greek readers, and Giannis Ritsos and Mikis Theodorakis to Swedish ones. He has received numerous awards for his work in both Greece and Sweden. He lives in Sweden. 

Marlaine Delargy is best known for her translations of the work of Henning Mankell, John Ajvide Lindqvist, and Kristina Ohlsson. She is also the translator of Therese Bohman's Eventide and Drowned (Other Press). 

She serves on the editorial board of the Swedish Book Review. She lives in Shropshire, England.

THE SIEGE OF TROY

By Theodor Kallifatides

Other Press Paperback Original • 978-159051-971-4

On Sale Date: September 10, 2019 • Price: $14.99

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GIVEAWAY:

I am partnering with Caitlin Hurst of Other Press for this giveaway.

NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR THE GIVEAWAY, BUT PLEASE FOLLOW MY BLOG - IN THE FOLLOWERS' SECTION.

USA ONLY

September 9 - 16

Enter here

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Coming This Week - 9/8 - 9/14

A week filled with book reviews and fun!!

I hope you can visit this week.

Day 4 of The Book Cover Challenge

Day 4 of my book cover challenge.

REVIEW HERE.  

Another beautiful cover and FAB book.

**Day 5 won’t be until next week**

Day THREE of the Book Cover Challenge

Day 3 of my book cover challenge.

How about this stunning cover.

REVIEW HERE.

Favorite Reading Spot

Thanks to these Litsy folks for today’s prompt:

#SelfImprovementSeptember

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

@OriginalCyn620

Today’s Prompt:  FAVORITE READING SPOT

My back porch on this cute table with benches is my favorite reading spot in the summer months.

I wish I could sit out there all year.  :)

What is your favorite reading spot?

The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels

 

Books, books, books, and one bookworm. Well, quite a few bookworms and one from Robin's past.

Hiding since she was fourteen from a scandal that her jailed parents were involved in caused Robin to have no confidence and become a recluse.

We get a glimpse into Robin‘s life as a child before the scandal as well as present day. Because of this scandal Robin had to live with her grandmother in another state where she met Peter who loved books too and shared books with her.  They became good friends until an incident that caused them to never see each again.

Peter had been out of touch for years, but all of a sudden the books they shared as children started showing up in her mailbox at her book store from different states.

Meanwhile Robin’s book store was in jeopardy because she didn't have any customers.

Robin was sweet and will pull you into her life, her situation, and her love of books.

If you also enjoy mysteries, THE WORDS BETWEEN US will appeal to you because added to Robin’s dilemmas in her life was a secret her grandmother supposedly had and that Robin never knew about.

THE WORDS BETWEEN US will resound with book lovers simply because of that gorgeous cover,  the title, and of course the story line.

The reader will again be treated to Ms. Bartel’s wonderful storytelling skills.  4/5

This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.