The Swan’s Road by Garth Pettersen

February 11, 2020 By 15 Comments


The Swan’s Road by Garth Pettersen
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (249 pgs)
Rated: 5 stars
Review by Rose

In the eleventh century, Cnute, the Viking king of England and Scandinavia, sails with his son Harald, and his shield brothers to Rome.

Thrown off course by a storm, they follow the route up the Rhine.

When Harald hangs back to assist Selia, a beautiful Frisian woman, his path turns perilous. New found enemies, retainers of Robert the Devil, Duke of Normandy, pursue them. Harald, Selia, and their companions fail to rendezvous with King Cnute and are forced to travel cross country on horseback. If Duke Robert’s plan to assassinate Cnute succeeds, an invasion of England will follow. Can Harald and Selia reach Rome in time to warn the king?

I really enjoyed this look into a part of history I’m not very familiar with. I think, though, that after reading this story, I’ll be searching for more to read – and I will especially be looking for the rest of the books of this series.

I loved the characters – not only the primaries, but also the secondaries…the men who rode with Harald, and would like to know more about them. I’m hoping they will also be included in the rest of the books.

Harald grew up in a lot of ways on this journey he takes. He goes from a wayward boy whose father is sure needs help just to get back to the ship without getting into trouble, to a man worthy of being a king’s son.

And Selia….I loved her from the first. She’s not perfect, but she is the perfect foil for Harald. She also grows into the woman she needs to be to face the future.

There’s nonstop adventure and some moments I really wasn’t sure things were going to work out…it was certainly page turning! I give this a highly deserved five stars!

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Rocket Girl by George D Morgan

February 6, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Rocket Girl by George D Morgan
The Story of Mary Sherman Morgan, America’s First Female Rocket Scientist
Publisher: Prometheus
Genre: Historical Biographical Fiction
Length: Full Length (336 pgs)
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

LIKE THE FEMALE SCIENTISTS PORTRAYED IN HIDDEN FIGURES, MARY SHERMAN MORGAN WAS ANOTHER UNSUNG HEROINE OF THE SPACE AGE-NOW HER STORY IS FINALLY TOLD.This is the extraordinary true story of America’s first female rocket scientist. Told by her son, it describes Mary Sherman Morgan’s crucial contribution to launching America’s first satellite and the author’s labyrinthine journey to uncover his mother’s lost legacy–one buried deep under a lifetime of secrets political, technological, and personal.In 1938, a young German rocket enthusiast named Wernher von Braun had dreams of building a rocket that could fly him to the moon. In Ray, North Dakota, a young farm girl named Mary Sherman was attending high school. In an age when girls rarely dreamed of a career in science, Mary wanted to be a chemist. A decade later the dreams of these two disparate individuals would coalesce in ways neither could have imagined.World War II and the Cold War space race with the Russians changed the fates of both von Braun and Mary Sherman Morgan. When von Braun and other top engineers could not find a solution to the repeated failures that plagued the nascent US rocket program, North American Aviation, where Sherman Morgan then worked, was given the challenge. Recognizing her talent for chemistry, company management turned the assignment over to young Mary.In the end, America succeeded in launching rockets into space, but only because of the joint efforts of the brilliant farm girl from North Dakota and the famous German scientist. While von Braun went on to become a high-profile figure in NASA’s manned space flight, Mary Sherman Morgan and her contributions fell into obscurity–until now.

This woman deserves mad credit.

I’ve been on a kick to read as much as I can about the space program. I’m not sure why. I’m not going to become a rocket scientist (I can’t balance chemical equations) and I don’t like heights. That said, I do love reading about the women who helped create the space program and got it where it is today.

Mary Sherman Morgan is an interesting case. She did a lot to get herself to the point of working on the chemistry involved in rocketry. I liked Mary, despite the things she’d been through. Odd thing to say, don’t you think? If something bad could happen, it happened to Mary–a child born out of wedlock, having to get a job to pay her way through college, having to keep huge secrets because of her various jobs, then the unkindest cut of all: not getting credit for her work on the chemicals used to take rockets to space. No credit!

I have to say, though, this is her son’s retelling of her life. There is some creative license taken. He recalls conversations from when she was a child and going through school. He probably knew OF the conversations but I doubt he knew the exact wording as Mary was very hesitant to speak about her life. I guess that’s why I liked her so much. I had a grandfather who refused to talk about certain parts of his life and could be very particular when he did speak. He tended to keep to himself, like Mary and wanted things just so. Honestly, the author’s creative license with some of the incidents was what took away from the story. I wanted to know what Mary created and how she got to that point, but some of the side stories, while they helped know her better, seemed to be just that…side stories.

Still, this is an interesting book and it’s written with love. The author might have been a tad estranged from his mother at times, partially due to her choosing, but he loved her. Grab this book if you’re looking for something for a few afternoons and want to step into someone else’s life.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown

February 6, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown
Publisher: Dutton
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary, Historical
Length: Full length (317 pages)
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

In this captivating dual narrative novel, a modern-day woman finds inspiration in hidden notes left by her home’s previous owner, a quintessential 1950s housewife. As she discovers remarkable parallels between this woman’s life and her own, it causes her to question the foundation of her own relationship with her husband–and what it means to be a wife fighting for her place in a patriarchal society.

When Alice Hale leaves a career in publicity to become a writer and follows her husband to the New York suburbs, she is unaccustomed to filling her days alone in a big, empty house. But when she finds a vintage cookbook buried in a box in the old home’s basement, she becomes captivated by the cookbook’s previous owner–1950s housewife Nellie Murdoch. As Alice cooks her way through the past, she realizes that within the cookbook’s pages Nellie left clues about her life–including a mysterious series of unsent letters penned to her mother.

Soon Alice learns that while baked Alaska and meatloaf five ways may seem harmless, Nellie’s secrets may have been anything but. When Alice uncovers a more sinister–even dangerous–side to Nellie’s marriage, and has become increasingly dissatisfied with the mounting pressures in her own relationship, she begins to take control of her life and protect herself with a few secrets of her own.

Recipe for a Perfect Wife is a dual narrative novel, cleverly written, and connecting the lives of two housewives who lived decades apart. When Alice and her husband move into an old house once occupied by Nellie and her husband, Alice discovers a few surprises when she dusts off old books and letters from the 1950s.

Alice wants to write a novel but has writer’s block. She hopes delving into Nellie’s old letters she can find inspiration for her book. As it turns out, Alice finds more than just inspiration for a juicy story. She is prodded into certain actions.

Both couples have problems, and both keep serious secrets from each other. Nellie is abused, and readers’ hearts will go out to her. How can she escape this life? Can she, or is she trapped? Nellie decides to take drastic action, capable of shocking readers.

Alice and her husband keep things from each other, but Alice’s secrets and lies escalate. She becomes increasingly irritated, perhaps goaded on by the memoir of a desperate 1950s housewife. Alice, like Nellie, makes some poor decisions in reaction to the less-than-stellar treatment of their husbands.

Suspense keeps the pages turning, and unfolding occurrences are not what one is likely to expect. There are surprises in this book. Both wives find their voices and their strength but not in the typical positive way. This is an interesting story that leaves a reader thinking.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Schoolboy Blues by Kiernan Kelly

February 5, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Schoolboy Blues by Kiernan Kelly
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (57 pages)
Other: M/M
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Once best friends, Angelo and Vincent parted after a night of hot passion and conflicting emotions.

Rock star Angelo knows a good thing when he’s got it, and what he has on stage with his band now is as good as it gets. He clings to that knowledge during the times when he longs for the warmth of a lover in his heart and his bed.

Vincent has grown adept at ducking his mother’s probing questions about grandbabies, while dedicating his life to nailing perps to the jailhouse wall in criminal court. His family and his career bring him satisfaction, but he dares not pursue a relationship that would complete his life.

Could the music that led to their parting a decade ago be the bond that brings these two lovers back together again?

Performing and being on stage is the only place Rush wants to be. Rush had left a number of things behind in his home state – and Vincent was one of them. They’d broken up on bad terms and neither had considered reaching out to the other. But when they meet again they realise they’ve both grown up a lot in the intervening years. Can their high school romance survive a second test run?

I found this to be a really interesting – though slow paced – short story. I really enjoyed both Rush’s character and Vinnie’s. While the first half of the book is quite slow – setting the scene and explaining both Rush and Vinnie’s history together and a lot about the men they’ve grown to become, when they finally meet up again things move really quickly from there and the pace speeds up to a level that I really enjoyed. Initially, I was also a bit confused as to why the story was set in the early 1970s. Right toward the end of the story this aspect becomes crystal clear, but I spent nearly the whole story confused as to why this story needed to be set nearly forty years in the past.

When Rush and Vinnie finally met back up again and finally had an intense and long-overdue talk, their relationship and chemistry started to really drag me into the story. The two men together were smoking hot and I feel despite the fact there’s only one scene of intimacy between them I found it really satisfying and believable. I also really enjoyed how once their past had been squared away Vinnie and Rush’s relationship reverted back to being both best friends as well as lovers. It was clear the two men could count on each other and had the other’s back – and I adored that.

Different and a little slow to start, I found this overall to be an interesting and well written character-based story. I enjoyed it and would certainly try this author again.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Rumrunner’s Boy by E.R. Yatscoff

February 4, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Rumrunner’s Boy by E.R. Yatscoff
Publisher: BWL Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Action/Adventure, Historical
Length: Full Length (190 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Canadians are only too happy to supply liquor to thirsty Americans during U.S. Prohibition. Jarrod Hooker, 17, steps in for his injured father on a rum running crew smuggling liquor across Lake Erie. It’s a lucrative job they cannot afford to lose.

Jarrod’s young age is resented by the rumrunners and they set out to sabotage him and confiscate his father’s boat. Carving out respect for himself among rough men will take a mighty effort. But Ill winds begin to blow across the lake when money from liquor shipments goes missing and the U.S. Coast Guard steps up smuggling patrols. Worse yet, an American gangster, a rogue from the notorious Purple Gang, tries to seize control of the operation.

Whatever happens on the next run will change everything for everyone. Amid sabotage and bullets flying, Jarrod must put his trust in a very dangerous man. Although Canada is only a few miles offshore, it may as well be a world away.

Smuggling is a dangerous job even at the best of times.

The character development was well done. This was true not only for Jarrod but also for many of the other people he spent time with at home and while smuggling alcohol across the border. I had a crystal clear picture in my mind of what everyone looked and sounded like. That’s always something I appreciate in a story, especially when it involves as many different folks as this one did. It made me want to keep reading until I learned what everyone’s fate was!

I would have liked to see a little more attention paid to wrapping up the ending, especially when it came to the health of Jarrod’s dad. Earlier scenes spent so much time exploring this topic and showing how Jarrod’s duties to his family were preventing him from reaching other goals. Many of the other subplots were resolved nicely. I would have given this book a five-star rating if this portion of the storyline was given as much attention.

There were times I felt like I’d actually travelled back in time to the 1920s due to how strong the world building was. The author clearly put a lot of effort into researching how farming families lived in this era. Everything from what people ate to how they kept themselves clean in a world where every warm bath required some prep work were described in exactly the right amount of detail.

Anyone who likes history or adventure should check out The Rumrunner’s Boy.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio by Belle Ami

January 29, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio by Belle Ami
Publisher: Tema Merback
Genre: Historical, Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full length (272 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Art historian Angela Renatus knows she’s different. She can see into the past—into the lives of the greatest artists of all time—but are her visions a gift or a curse?

Angela and her fiancé, Alex Caine—a former Navy Seal turned private detective—recover precious works of art for private collectors, museums, and galleries. Enlisted by the Uffizi Gallery in Florence Angela and Alex investigate what is considered one of the greatest art heists in history—the theft of Caravaggio’s “Nativity”. But the deeper they delve into Caravaggio’s life, the more Angela realizes that her visions about the tortured artist go far beyond the missing masterpiece.

A web of secrets and lies entangles Angela and Alex on a twisted and treacherous journey into Caravaggio’s very own heart of darkness…and the truth could propel the couple to a point of no return.

An upcoming duel in Renaissance Italy starts this tale with a sense of urgency. The characters move about in a world colored with the details an artist would see. A duel goes bad, and someone dies a bloody death.

In modern-day times, Angela, a psychic woman and art historian, has nightmares about this duel. Unfortunately, her fiancé Alex is in her bad dreams, as the killer, the brilliant artist Caravaggio. Alex is aware of her past lives with Alex, and flashes of these are interspersed to add excitement to the plot. Caravaggio’s work is dark and bloody, and his character has been maligned by history, but is this an accurate assessment of him? As Angela relives pieces of his life, she and Alex travel around Italy in quite the adventure. Angela’s visions of the future add more tension to the plot.

Alex discovers there’s a mystery concerning Angela’s family in the perfect subplot. What is her father hiding?

We get treated to mini art history lessons in between moments of intrigue and espionage. The way Angela describes paintings allows readers to visualize them with clarity and understanding. Emotion is vividly painted with words that create stunning imagery.

The process of art retrieval and investigation is enlightening. We also learn a lot about Italian food and culture. It’s really brought to life. Sensuality wraps its way around the story, and the chemistry between Angela and Alex is hot. Sex talk is ubiquitous and serves to show the deep connection between the couple.

The danger picks up constantly. Could the Mafia be trying to stop them?

Angela discovers a bigger mission wrapped around her smaller, more dangerous mission. There are plenty of fascinating situations in this novel and unpredictable episodes. The paranormal is a natural part of the flowing narrative. This is a good story that readers are likely to enjoy.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

A Matter of Manners by Terry Graham

January 28, 2020 By Leave a Comment


A Matter of Manners by Terry Graham
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (241 pages)
Other: M/F, BDSM, Fetish, Spanking
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Paperwhite

Jeremy Wyles believes himself sterile. He’s also a sadist and fears no lady would agree to marry him. When a woman shows up on his doorstep, pregnant and claiming to be his wife, he’ll do whatever is necessary to ensure his dukedom has an heir. A loveless marriage in name only seems the perfect solution, but his disobedient duchess stirs his desire for discipline…and something more.

Irish rebel Kathleen “Katy” Brennan only seeks recompense from the husband whose cousin married her by proxy and left her with child. The bargain he offers is tempting. He’ll claim her baby as his own, and she can become the grand lady she’s always imagined. There’s just one condition she’s not sure she can live with. The delicious-looking duke refuses to touch her…ever.

Can Jeremy put aside the wicked urges that rule his life, or will Katy’s rebellious spirit destroy his tenuous control?

Don’t you just love it when a book surprises you, but you cannot figure out why it does?? This book, right here!

I’m all about the sexier books, and the ones with BDSM in, and you don’t usually get *much* sexy time in historical romances, but BOY does this book deliver on that level!

It delivers on many many levels!

The story itself is well told, with well rounded characters. Each character has a strong voice, fitting to their time and station. Jeremy is well educated and privileged and Katy was bought up in Ireland. She isn’t a Lady, not in the way it means at this time, but she tries, when brought into Jeremy’s household as its head.

Jeremy makes no bones about what he wants from Katy, and Katy will give him that, but there is that undercurrent between them that bubbles along in the book, one that bursts its banks just when you don’t expect it to.

I loved that Jeremy, while he knew what he wanted to do to Katy, makes her wait; makes her understand what she is asking for. I loved that Katy takes things into her own hands, even if it tips Jeremy over into angry.

Some twists and turns I did not see coming too! Loved being kept on my toes! Absolutely loved that certain characters kept nothing from each other, and that Katy was surprised by that fact, given how she came into their lives.

This is, according to some websites, billed as book one in the Shades of Sin series. I wonder who might be next! A whole host of people here could fit under that title, and maybe some that would surprise me to be included. Would love to read it, whoever might be involved!

This is the first I’ve read from this author, and I hope it’s not the last! 5 stars.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

I Shall Love the Earl by Laura A. Barnes

January 27, 2020 By Leave a Comment


I Shall Love the Earl by Laura A. Barnes
Tricking the Scoundrels Book 3
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (164 pages)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

How many times must a gentleman ruin a lady before he offers for her hand….

She waited for the temptation held in his gaze. He refused to give into his desire to court her. Can a ruination of a lady lead toward a love to last a lifetime?

Every ball Dallis MacPherson attended, she saved a spot on her dance card for a certain gentleman. Many balls later and still no offer, prompts her to pursue the earl. When she encounters him on a darkened balcony, he steals a kiss and warns her away. His stolen kiss promises a passion she wants to explore. At every occasion he attends, she tempts him with her own promise. Soon the earl falls for her charms and sends her down a path of ruination with one incident after another. Can Dallis overcome the scandal of the earl’s pursuit?

Roderick Beckwith watched the Scottish beauty from afar. He lost his heart the moment he set eyes upon her. Throughout the season every gentleman offered her a dance, but him. With his financial affairs on the brink of disaster, he couldn’t provide her with the life she deserved. When his mother introduces his sworn enemy to his heart’s desire, he must set aside his pride. However, his courtship is less than ideal. At every opportunity he brings scandal to her name. Can Rory redeem himself and prove to Dallis that he is a gentleman worth loving?

With every glance, Dallis pulls Rory in deeper. His stolen kisses forces him to make her an offer of marriage. As they prepare for their wedding, he acts as the perfect gentleman. However, the proper gentleman was not who Dallis desired. Will her scoundrel show himself before they say I do?

I was really anticipating reading Rory’s love story after the other “Tricking the Scoundrels” books because I really admired him in the previous two stories. I have read all of Laura A. Barnes’ books and consider myself a huge fan.

Often in a series, each book can be read as a standalone read; other times it would be better if all the books were read in sequence because each story builds on the one before. The Tricking the Scoundrel series falls into the second category. I’ve used this analogy once before in a review and it applies to this one as well. I Shall Love the Earl is like the hamburger patty in a Burger King Whopper. Sure, if you had to eat it alone, it would be tasty. But, it’s going to taste a whole lot better with the bun and fixings.

Why do I use that analogy? It’s because I loved Rory in the first two books. If I hadn’t read the two previous books, there’s a good chance that I would not have enjoyed this book. Unfortunately, I found him annoying in this book and I was disappointed in him. Considering he was the leading character in I Shall Love the Earl, this character flaw was a big issue for me. Laura A. Barnes’ writing style has never been repetitious but I got irritated with Rory for being so prideful. It was a bit of a head banger to keep reading over and over how he didn’t feel like he deserved Dallis because he was broke. Rory’s story was a thin hamburger patty at best because there wasn’t much thickness or substance to the plot. It kills me to write these negative comments because I love the series. I just feel there could have been more substance in Rory’ love story. There is a fourth book still to come and the heroine is going to be Rory’s sister, Kathleen. I am definitely going to read it. The hero, Lord Holdenburg, is already intriguing. I’m going to assume their story is going to be the condiments on my Whopper.

The heroine, Dallis also didn’t win any points in my eyes. How many times was she going to let Rory scandalize her? I guess it doesn’t really matter because I’m happy that Rory found his happily ever after. I enjoyed the guest appearances of Sophia, Sidney, Wilde, Sheffield, and Belle – all characters from the previous books in the Tricking the Scoundrel series. I’m curious if Belle is going to have her own love story. She’s a unique and interesting character.

In conclusion, I liked this story but overall, I love the series more and I can’t wait for the next one to be released later this year, 2020. My recommendation is to read this book after you’ve read the first two. It has enough good stuff in it to make it worth a reader’s time.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Duke’s Stolen Bride by Sophie Jordan

January 22, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Duke’s Stolen Bride by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (355 pages)
Heat: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

An urgent dilemma…

To save her impoverished family, Marian Langley will become a mistress. But she will not be just any mistress. Marian intends to become so skilled, so coveted, that she can set her own terms, retaining control over her body and her fate. Only one problem remains: finding a tutor…

A scandalous solution…

Other men deprive themselves of pleasure for propriety’s sake. Nathaniel, Duke of Warrington, would much rather be depraved. He slakes his desires with professionals who ask nothing of him but his coin. Marian’s proposal—that he train her without taking her virtue—is an intriguing diversion, until their lessons in seduction spin out of control.

And a most unlikely duchess…

When Marian is blackmailed into engagement by a man she despises, Nate impulsively steals her away. Though he never intended to take a wife, he can’t tolerate the idea of Marian forfeiting her freedom to another. But can he bear to give her what she demands—a real marriage?

Life can change without much notice. For Marian Langley it changed for the worse with the loss of her father and three younger siblings to care for. She had a steady position, living in beautiful homes, tasting society from the fringes and helping raise other people’s children.

Salvation in the form of the local favorite of the gossip mills, none other than the ‘depraved duke’ himself, seems unlikely but so does the scheme that Marian contrives to rescue her family from certain ruin.

Not necessarily an original story line but I still read the book in two sittings. Marian and Nate were what set it apart. Their chemistry and dialogue was spot on for this die hard romance reader.

Marian is the good side of feisty and fiery without being over the top. She certainly catches the attention of a bored, if not slightly hardened, duke of the realm. They have the unfortunate, yet destiny laden, ways of running to each other. Marian’s impulsiveness has a bit to do with that but it works to her favor. He’s had staid and traditional. She’s anything but. I looked forward to each new run in, it was sure to be lively.

Nate has resigned himself to staying out of society, away from match making mothers and having his cake brought to him rather than him having to visit the brothels in London, works to his advantage. But it’s a lonely life. Until a certain local lass finds her way under his table, needing his protection. Little did he know that ‘protection’ would cost him more than money, it would cost his heart.

Besides Marian and Nate, Ms. Jordan created some interesting side characters in the form of the younger Langley sisters, Nora and Charlotte. There’s also a younger brother, Phillip, but he’s away at school and never actually introduced. I look forward to reading Nora and Charlotte’s stories if Ms. Jordan decides to make this into a series.

The story moves along at a good pace but the end felt a little rushed. Don’t get me wrong, it works okay and the ending closes out their story. I think I was just expecting more details, more set up for future stories maybe. She can still do it, the very basic ground work was laid so I’ll just have to wait and see. This book was good so I’ll certainly be watching for others.

Readers who love a good, spicy historical romance will be glad they picked up The Duke’s Stolen Bride.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Moon Shot by Jay Barbree, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton

January 22, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Moon Shot
The Inside Story of America’s Apollo Moon Landings by Jay Barbree, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton
Publisher: Open Road Media
Genre: Historical, Non-Fiction
Length: Full Length (396 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

A revised edition of the New York Times bestselling classic: the epic story of the golden years of American space exploration, told by the men who rode the rockets

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, and the space race was born. Desperate to beat the Russians into space, NASA put together a crew of the nation’s most daring test pilots: the seven men who were to lead America to the moon. The first into space was Alan Shepard; the last was Deke Slayton, whose irregular heartbeat kept him grounded until 1975. They spent the 1960s at the forefront of NASA’s effort to conquer space, and Moon Shot is their inside account of what many call the twentieth century’s greatest feat—landing humans on another world.

Collaborating with NBC’s veteran space reporter Jay Barbree, Shepard and Slayton narrate in gripping detail the story of America’s space exploration from the time of Shepard’s first flight until he and eleven others had walked on the moon.

The true story of the moon missions from the astronauts who made the trips.

I like reading books about the space missions and astronauts. When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. I have to admit the stories are told from Deke Slayton and Alan Shepard’s point of view. They tell their versions of how things happened in NASA. I liked that I got to understand Alan Shepard better–he was a very complicated person. I also got to understand Deke Slayton better. I wasn’t around when these men went on their space missions, so they were just names to me. Having them talk about their missions and from their point of view was much more interesting. Deke had a heart issue and Alan had problems with being too highly strung (to explain it in simpler terms). I had no idea what they went through in order to get back to space or to get their in the first place.

I particularly enjoyed the way the authors talked about the early days of NASA and the space program. They were there and it shows in their retelling of the accounts.

This book is a bit dated, the ending is a little choppy, and some of the details aren’t totally correct, but the best part of this book is the original voices of Slayton and Shepard. They shine through each chapter.

If you want a new angle on NASA and the space program from the astronaut point of view, then pick up a copy of this book. Recommended.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »