Bernie Gunther returns from the Easter Front to find that 1941 Berlin is not the city he left – and not for the better. Life is unpleasant in Berlin due to blackouts, Czech terrorists, RAF bombings and food rationing.

Werner Goering, a United States B-17 pilot during World War II for the Mighty 8th Air Force, had a hurdle to overcome – his uncle is Reich Marshal Hermann Göring, head of the Luftwaffe and Hitler’s second in command. Unbeknown to him, Goering’s co-pilot, Jack Rencher had a standing order from J. Edgar Hoover to kill Werner in-case they got shot down or if he was trying to commit an act of treason.

Article first published as Book Review: The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon on Blogcritics. About: The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon is a non-fiction book which tells the story of a woman who started a successful dress making business under the Taliban in Afghanistan. Not only did Kamila Sadiqi provide honorable employment to her family and female community, but also a ray of hope in an otherwise bleak existence. The pub­lisher is giv­ing away one copy of this book— use the form at the end of the post to enter. 288 pages Publisher: Harper (March 15, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 0061732370 My rat­ing for The Dressmaker of Khair Khana — 5 Buy this book in from Amazon.com through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account Thoughts: The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon (website | Facebook | Twitter) is a quick read, interesting and heartwarming book. While short, the book packages a strong story of perseverance, fighting against the odds, helping the community and entrepreneurship combined. This is an inspiring story of courageous women who are in a dangerous…

About: The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara is a Pulitzer Prize winning historical fiction masterpiece. The book takes place over three days during the Battle of Gettysburg. 355 pages Publisher: Ballantine Books Language: English ISBN-10: 0345348109 My rating for The Killer Angels – 5 Buy this book in paper or in elec­tronic format. More book by Michael Shaara Thoughts: The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara is a wonderful portrayal of the horrors, honor and thinking which goes into a battle. The novel delves into the minds of General Robert E. Lee, General James Longstreet, General George Pickett, General John Buford, General Winfield Scott Hancock and Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain whom I found to be the most interesting character in the book. The author uses both historical accounts and pure fiction in his storytelling. The internal thoughts are pure fiction even though they are based on written documents. The story centers around the Battle of Gettysburg and specifically the battle of Little Roundtop and Pickett’s Charge. The actions is written in a very coherent and readable fashion, I could sense the excitement, anxiety and fear. Each day of the battle is told through the eyes of the commanders, Robert E. Lee & James Longstreet of the Confederacy while opposing them are the eyes of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and John Buford for the…

About: The One: The Life and Music of James Brown by RJ Smith is a biographyof the Godfather of Soul. The title “The One” refers mainly to the artist’s emphasis on playing the right beat. The pub­lisher is giv­ing away one copy of this book— use the form at the end of the post to enter. 464 pages Publisher: Gotham (March 15, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 1592406572 My rating for The One – 5 Buy this book in paper or electronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account More books by RJ Smith Thoughts: The One: The Life and Music of James Brown by RJ Smith is a true testament that the nickname of “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business” is not an empty gesture. While I don’t think I’d like to have worked with Mr. Brown or even would have liked him personally, I can certainly appreciate and even admire his work ethic. In this new biography, which digresses often but always stays on message, James Brown comes across as a demanding, violent, abusing and demanding man. However, this giant of music grew up in violent times; shaped by a segregated South in a rural community riddled with crime and poverty, which he never…

On 3 October, 1993 soldiers from the United States Delta Force, Army Rangers, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division,UN forces, and Navy SEALs attempted to capture Mohamed Farrah Aidid, a Somali warlord in Mogadishu

On 17 December, 1862 Major-General Ulysses S. Grant issued his infamous General Order No. 11 expelling all Jews from his military district

Dispatcher Ian Hunt wears a uniform but does not consider himself a police man. One day Ian answers a 911 call only to realize he is talking to his daughter who has been abducted from his home seven years before.

Article first published as Graphic Novel Review: Petrograd by Philip Gelatt (art by Tyler Crook) on Blogcritics. About: Petrograd by Philip Gelatt (art by Tyler Crook) is a graphic novel about an assassination. The graphic novels tells about an international conspiracy behind the murder of Gregorii Rasputin. 264 pages Publisher: Oni Press ISBN: 1934964441 My rating for Petrograd – 5 Get a great price on this book through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account More books by Philip Gelatt More books by Tyler Crook Thoughts: The graphic novel Petrograd by Philip Gelatt (art by Tyler Crook) is more of a historical thriller than anything else. The death of Gregorii Rasputin has generated much controversy at the time and many more conspiracy theories which are always fun and supply fodder for authors. The story, while fictional, seems realistic enough to have actually happen (almost). Somehow Mr. Crook took the blighted atmosphere which authors try very hard to create and drew it. While I’m sure that many creative licenses were taken, as they are in every historical novel, I still enjoyed the story immensely. But don’t let the words “graphic novel” fool you. Petrograd takes historical facts (as seen by Americans) and re-tells the story in the format of an…

About: Out of the Classroom Lessons in Success: How to Prosper Without Being at the Top of The Class by Cynthia Kocialski is a non-fiction business book in which the author talks gives some advice and observations about success. This is a short book, written in personal and informal style. The pub­lisher is giv­ing away one copy of this book— enter at the end of the post. 112 pages Publisher: CreateSpace ISBN: 1466404787 My rating for Out of the Classroom Lessons in Success –5 Great price on this book in paper for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account More books by Cynthia Kocialski Thoughts: In Out of the Classroom Lessons in Success: How to Prosper Without Being at the Top of The Class author Cynthia Kocialski (web­site |blog) provides entertaining and useful advice to parents and their children. What I like about Ms. Kocialski’s books (I read two so far) is that she writes from experience, in a very knowledgeable, authoritative yet understandable voice. While one could consider Out of the Classroom Lessons in Success a business book, it is no written as such and the author reflects on her success at the end of each chapter. If the book has a theme…