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Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Montana Men Arrested With $4.25 Million Worth of Marijuana Go Free; Abstract: Two Montana men arrested for possession of 900 pounds of marijuana had their charges dismissed when a judge ruled the seizure was illegal.; Category: news
Title: Officer escapes serious injury after truck spins out of control; Abstract: A truck lost control and struck the officer's vehicle as an officer responded to a crash in heavy rain on Utah's I-15.; Category: video
Title: California is first state to ban the sale of fur clothing, beginning in 2023; Abstract: SACRAMENTO People in the market for mink coats or chinchilla vests will soon need to shop elsewhere, now that California will become the first state in the nation to ban new fur clothing.; Category: news
Title: Renowned DJ Zedd "Permanently Banned" From China for Liking a 'South Park' Tweet; Abstract: The Comedy Central cartoon has been banned by the Chinese government for its recent criticisms.; Category: music
Title: Mexico military police halt migrant caravan on its way to U.S.; Abstract: Mexico military police halt migrant caravan on its way to U.S.; Category: news
Title: Hunter Biden Steps Down From Chinese Board as Trump Attacks; Abstract: Hunter Biden is stepping down from the board of a Chinese-backed private equity company and promising to forgo all foreign work if his father, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, is elected president in 2020.; Category: news
Title: Mexico military police halt migrant caravan on its way to U.S.; Abstract: Mexico military police halt migrant caravan on its way to U.S.; Category: news
Title: Why Do Americans Drive Automatic But Most of Europe Drives Manual?; Abstract: Fewer Americans are learning to drive stick shifts, but Europeans prefer them. These are the reasons why. The post Why Do Americans Drive Automatic But Most of Europe Drives Manual? appeared first on Reader's Digest.; Category: autos
Title: FW Officer Did Not Identify Himself Before Fatal Shot: PD; Abstract: The officer who fired the shot that killed a 28-year-old woman in Fort Worth early Saturday morning did not identify himself as a police officer prior to shooting, a Fort Worth Police Department spokesman says. The shooting happened just before 2:30 a.m. Saturday on the 1200 block of E. Allen Avenue in Fort Worth. The woman killed has been identified by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner as Atatiana Jefferson. Fort Worth Officer Shoots, Kills...; Category: news
Title: China already snapping up U.S. farm goods, Trump claims; Abstract: President Donald Trump boasted Sunday without providing evidence that China had "already begun" making large purchases of U.S. agricultural products as part of last week's tariff deal with Beijing.; Category: finance
Title: America's worst and best careers for pay and stress; Abstract: Whether you're contemplating a change of career or wondering how your occupation compares with other professions in terms of pay and stress, we've got you covered. Comparing US Bureau of Labor Statistics' average salary figures with data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), which assigns a 'stress tolerance' score from 0 to 100 for each job (with 100 being the most pressurized), we reveal the 15 worst careers for pay and stress followed by the 15 best.; Category: finance
Title: Trump defends Syria withdrawal amid reports of atrocities and ISIS supporters escaping; Abstract: Turkey's invasion of northeastern Syria began Wednesday after Trump ordered U.S. troops to pull back from the area.; Category: news
Title: China Wants More Talks Before Signing Trade Deal With Trump; Abstract: China wants to hold more talks this month to hammer out the details of the "phase one" trade deal touted by Donald Trump before Xi Jinping agrees to sign it, according to people familiar with the matter.; Category: news
Title: China to Ask U.S. to End Sanctions on Its Biggest Shipping Company; Abstract: China plans to ask the U.S. to lift sanctions on its biggest shipping company at high-level trade negotiations in Washington this week, people familiar with the matter said.; Category: finance
Title: Wedding shooter may have been avenging late stepfather's murder, authorities say; Abstract: Brandon Castiglione, the groom's son, was previously charged with second-degree murder in the death of the suspect's stepfather.; Category: news
Title: Glendale officer fatally shoots 1 after chaos erupts at party; Abstract: A Glendale officer shot and killed a 17-year-old boy, who police say was firing gunshots into a crowd, early Sunday morning.; Category: news
Title: Boy, 8, reels in world record tiger shark; Abstract: An 8-year-old boy reeled in a fish of a lifetime, and it will be a smallfry world record, assuming the IGFA approves it.; Category: sports
Title: 14 Mexican police officers killed in ambush as president vows to combat increasing violence; Abstract: It was the deadliest attack on government security forces in recent years.; Category: news
Title: The most beautiful natural wonder in every state; Abstract: What makes America truly great are its stunning landscapes and natural beauty. Every state has its own special attractions, from the biodiversity of Florida's "River of Grass" to Alaska's massive, shifting Hubbard Glacier, and from the deepest canyons to the highest mountains. Here are 50 of the United States' most mind-blowing natural wonders.; Category: travel
Title: EU countries pledge to suspend arm exports to Turkey over Syria incursion; Abstract: Member countries from the European Union pledged on Monday to suspend weapons exports to Turkey over its widely condemned military operations in Syria.; Category: news
Title: Defense Secretary: U.S. Tried To 'Dissuade' Turkey From Invading Northern Syria; Abstract: Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Sunday claimed Turkey would have invaded northern Syria and attacked U.S.-allied Kurdish forces regardless of whether Americans troops had stayed in the region. During an appearance on CBS's "Face The Nation," Esper said the U.S. tried to persuade Turkey not to move forward with the military incursion against the Kurds. He claimed Trump ordered U.S. forces to withdraw because Turkey refused to stand down. But host...; Category: news
Title: LeBron James addresses 'tough situation' after China backlash; Abstract: LeBron James made headlines with his remarks Monday about China, Hong Kong and a pro-Hong Kong tweet, some would say for all the wrong reasons.; Category: sports
Title: Winners and losers in the battle for Syria's northeast; Abstract: President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of Syria radically realigns the balance of power in the country's northeast and creates a vacuum which Russia, Turkey and Iran are racing to fill.; Category: news
Title: Here's A Cool Cutaway Explaining Engine Knock And Fuel Octane; Abstract: ; Category: autos
Title: Nevada gambling bosses move to bar Wynn from casino industry; Abstract: The complaint filed Monday by the state's Gaming Control Board lists sexual misconduct allegations that have been lodged against the mogul since January 2018. The complaint asks Nevada's Gaming Commission, which acts on the board's recommendations and has final say on licensing, to fine Wynn and revoke his status as being found suitable to be licensed in the industry.; Category: finance
Title: China ties agriculture binge to Trump's reducing US tariffs; Abstract: Beijing wants a rollback in tariffs in its trade war with the U.S. before China can feasibly agree to buy as much as $50 billion of American agriculture products that President Donald Trump claims are part of an initial deal, people familiar with the matter said.; Category: finance
Title: The XMT Takes the Jeep Gladiator Back to its Military Truck Roots; Abstract: ; Category: autos
Title: Turkish-backed forces come 'very close' to US troops in Syria, official says; Abstract: Turkish-backed forces came "very close" to U.S. troops in Syria just west of a coalition base in the northern Syrian town of Ain Issa Tuesday so close that American jets and attack helicopters were called in to disrupt the approaching forces, a U.S official tells Fox News.; Category: news
Title: Woman, suspect dead at 'Tarzan' actor Ron Ely's California residence; Abstract: Ron Ely, who portrayed Tarzan in the TV series in the 60s, was not harmed and is alive and well, a sheriff's office spokesman said.; Category: tv
Title: DC sniper asks Supreme Court to invalidate juvenile life sentences for murders; Abstract: Lee Boyd Malvo, one of the two "D.C. snipers" whose murderous seven-week rampage terrorized the nation's capital region in 2002, wants a chance at getting his life back.; Category: news
Title: Wisconsin jury awards $450,000 in Sandy Hook defamation case; Abstract: A jury in Wisconsin has awarded $450,000 to the father of a boy killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting after he filed a defamation lawsuit against conspiracy theorist writers who claimed the massacre never happened.; Category: news
Title: Boxer Patrick Day dies after suffering traumatic brain injury in super welterweight fight; Abstract: Boxer Patrick Day, 27, died on Wednesday after being knocked out against Charles Conwell on Saturday. He had surgery and had been in a coma.; Category: sports
Title: Dutch police discover family locked away in their farm for years; Abstract: Dutch police discover a family who has been living in their farm for nine years. Allegedly, the father and six adult children were waiting for the 'end of times' until one escaped and ask for help near a bar.; Category: video
Title: Bison Walks Slowly on Highway Halting Traffic; Abstract: This bison walked slowly on a busy highway causing vehicles to pile up in a line behind him. He didn't seem to be in a hurry and caused the traffic to crawl behind him at his pace.; Category: video
Title: Migrant activists sue Trump administration over surveillance, harassment at border; Abstract: The ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of three migrant advocates who claim the U.S. government targeted and harassed them because of their border work.; Category: news
Title: Bison return to area of Badlands National Park for first time since 1870s; Abstract: Badlands National Park visitors may begin seeing bison along the Badlands Loop Road.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Uber passenger run over by police car after fleeing from fight with other rider; Abstract: An Uber passenger who got into a physical altercation with another rider was struck and killed by a California highway patrol car after jumping from the Uber.; Category: news
Title: A tourist was fined for wearing a string bikini on a beach in the Philippines, but travelers get punished for the way they dress more often than you might think; Abstract: A Taiwanese tourist was recently arrested and fined after wearing a bikini that was deemed to be too revealing on the Philippine island of Boracay.; Category: travel
Title: U.S. restores aid to Central America after reaching migration deals; Abstract: U.S. restores aid to Central America after reaching migration deals; Category: news
Title: Hours before passing, Elijah Cummings signed subpoenas directed to two US immigration agencies; Abstract: In one of his last official acts before his death, the late House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings signed two subpoenas for documents related to a temporary end to a policy change that allowed some immigrants with severe health issues to remain in the US.; Category: news
Title: We asked 14 travel experts to share their No. 1 tip for saving money when they're on vacation; Abstract: Being flexible with your travel dates, being open to where you stay, and even simple things like bringing food to the airport can help save you money.; Category: travel
Title: A woman who livestreamed crash that killed sister out of prison and arrested again; Abstract: In 2017, Obdulia Sanchez livestreamed a video as she was driving drunk during a crash that killed her younger sister. She served less than two years in prison and was released last month. She was arrested again Thursday.; Category: news
Title: Syrian teen allegedly attacked on train in possible hate crime; Abstract: A lawyer for the teen says no one intervened to help him when he was allegedly attacked by a man yelling anti-Arab slurs; Category: news
Title: Conservative veterans will fan out in Washington to defend Trump Syria strategy; Abstract: A group of conservative veterans is preparing to visit Washington to laud President Trump's withdrawal of troops from northern Syria and to urge Republicans to back his intention to pull out of Afghanistan and other countries in the Middle East.; Category: news
Title: The 46 people who are as rich as half the world's population; Abstract: The 2018 Global Wealth Report from Credit Suisse revealed that total global wealth has now reached $317 trillion. However, this wealth is far from equally distributed.; Category: finance
Title: The Stunning Escape of El Chapo's Son: It's Like 'a Bad Netflix Show'; Abstract: MEXICO CITY Escape, it seems, is a trait shared in the Guzmán family. So is embarrassing the government of Mexico. Joaquín Guzmán Loera, the drug lord known as El Chapo, eluded the grasp of the government numerous times in tunnels, behind closets, beneath bathtubs and through steep ravines in the remote mountains of Sinaloa. He even managed to escape prison, twice. The latest family member to escape apprehension El Chapo's son, Ovidio...; Category: news
Title: Marine combat veteran who served in Iraq facing deportation to El Salvador; Abstract: "He is a soldier who put his life on the line to defend his country," his mother said. "But when he returned from the war, he came back with problems."; Category: news
Title: In Bracing Terms, Trump Invokes War's Human Toll to Defend His Policies; Abstract: It is the most solemn of rituals for American presidents: comforting the soldiers wounded under his command or the families of those who have died. For generations, presidents have typically discussed those encounters in the most delicate of tones.; Category: news
Title: California governor pardons 3 convicted immigrants to help block deportations; Abstract: California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, on Friday announced he's pardoning three immigrants who committed crimes as part of an effort to protect them from being deported back to their home countries.; Category: news
Title: 84-Year-Old Army Veteran Challenges TSA Agent to Push-Up Contest Before Her Flight; Abstract: This veteran's age isn't stopping her from acing a pushup competition!; Category: health
Title: China's Liu Confirms Phase One of U.S. Trade Deal is in Progress; Abstract: China's top trade negotiator offered positive signals that talks with the U.S. are making progress and both sides are working toward a partial trade deal.; Category: finance
Title: Felicity Huffman is pictured in prison jumpsuit during visit from husband William H. Macy and daughter Sophia as she starts two week sentence over college admissions scandal; Abstract: Felicity Huffman was seen Saturday wearing her green prison jumpsuit and a white hat as she goes out to meet her relatives during family visiting day at California's minimum security FCI Dublin.; Category: tv
Title: Driver swerves to miss vehicle, hits cow instead; Abstract: A driver was uninjured after his SUV struck and killed a cow in a rural Stearns County pasture over the weekend.; Category: news
Title: Steelers linebacker Anthony Chickillo arrested, facing assault charges; Abstract: Chickillo has been charged with simple assault, criminal mischief and harassment. A source told WTAE that the incident involved Chickillo's girlfriend, so it's a domestic violence issue.; Category: sports
Title: Florida man arrested in beating death of peeping Tom; Abstract: Victor Vickery had been in bed with his girlfriend when they heard a man with a history of peeping at their window.; Category: news
Title: Trump's Asylum Ban Could Apply Retroactively to Thousands of Migrants Even Though Officials Promised It Wouldn't; Abstract: ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for ProPublica's Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox as soon as they are published. Thousands of migrants who agreed to wait in Mexico for their asylum hearings in the United States are now finding out they may not be eligible for asylum at all. They're stuck at the Kafkaesque intersection of two Trump policies designed to...; Category: news
Title: 'We paid $2,000': Syrian refugees charged to cross Iraq border; Abstract: Refugees fleeing Turkish forces are being charged hundreds of US dollars each to cross from Syria into Iraq, according to Sky sources.; Category: news
Title: Things aren't looking great for China's economy, and it may only be getting worse; Abstract: Latest IMF projections predict China's GDP growth to slow to 5.8% by 2020.; Category: finance
Title: California gets ready for more wildfires and power outages as the weather refuses to cooperate; Abstract: Just as firefighters got a grip on a blaze that tore through the swanky Pacific Palisades, other Californians are at risk of unpredictable wildfires this week.; Category: news
Title: Ex-principal who made Holocaust comments faces firing next week; Abstract: BOCA RATON, Fla. - Boca Raton residents and observers across the country have anxiously awaited William Latson's reckoning, after the former principal told a parent he couldn't say whether the Holocaust was real. That day will come next week when Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Donald Fennoy recommends Latson's termination to the county school board on Oct. 30. That's 3 months after ...; Category: news
Title: 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel review: The best full-size truck adds efficiency and capability; Abstract: The Ram 1500 is a solid full-size truck, and its new 3.0-liter diesel engine option only broadens its appeal.; Category: autos
Title: Deer fatally attacks hunter who shot him; Abstract: In what officials are calling a bizarre incident, an Arkansas hunter was killed by a deer that he thought he had killed.; Category: news
Title: Mexican avocado growers take up arms against cartel violence; Abstract: Some Mexican avocado growers armed with AR-15 rifles are guarding against thieves and drug cartel extortionists in Michoacan, a state know for its production of the fruit locals call "green gold." The region's avocado boom, fueled by soaring U.S. demand, has raised parts of western Mexico out of poverty in just 10 years. Now, gangs and violent cartels are threatening the newfound prosperity.; Category: finance
Title: Jeff Bezos is set to lose his crown as world's richest person; Abstract: Jeff Bezos is about to relinquish the title of world's richest person to Bill Gates, as Amazon.com Inc. stock tumbled in late trading Thursday.; Category: finance
Title: Solomons vetoes Chinese 'lease' on Pacific island; Abstract: A Chinese company's attempt to lease an entire island in the Pacific archipelago was unlawful and will not be allowed to go ahead, the Solomon Islands said Friday. Tulagi, an island about two square kilometres (0.8 square miles) with a population of 1,200, is the site of a former Japanese naval base and was the scene of fierce fighting in World War II.; Category: news
Title: First construction of brand-new border wall in Texas begins; Abstract: Construction on the Trump administration's first totally new border wall where none existed previously has started in Texas, just southeast of the town of McAllen along the Rio Grande river, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has confirmed.; Category: news
Title: How to Get a Second Passport Based on Your Family's Roots; Abstract: Your family ancestry could open the door to new places around the globe.; Category: travel
Title: Police Arrest Motorcyclist Who Led High-Speed Chase And Went Home Thinking He Escaped; Abstract: A motorcyclist was arrested after leading California Highway Patrol units on a high-speed chase in Placerville on Saturday.; Category: news
Title: Politicians and Pundits React on Twitter After Donald Trump Confirms ISIS Leader Al-Baghdadi's Death; Abstract: "Al Baghdadi spread 'fire and brimstone' on earth; now he feels it for himself in hell," GOP Senator Mitt Romney tweeted.; Category: news
Title: Space satellite crashes in front yard of Michigan home; Abstract: The debris fell to the ground on a farm in Merrill, Michigan, Saturday.; Category: news
Title: Trump Moves Closer to Ending Another Post-Cold War Treaty; Abstract: The Trump administration has taken steps toward leaving a nearly three-decade-old agreement designed to reduce the risk of war between Russia and the West by allowing both sides to conduct reconnaissance flights over one another's territories, U.S. officials said.; Category: news
Title: Police: Off-Duty Dallas Officer Mistakenly Shoots, Injures Adult Son Thinking He Was An Intruder; Abstract: An off-duty Dallas officer accidentally shot and injured his adult son in DeSoto Saturday evening, police say.; Category: news
Title: U.S. using pilot program to fast-track deportations of asylum seekers; Abstract: Immigration lawyers who've found out about the secretive program say it denies migrants due process, restricts access to counsel and effectively ensures their prompt deportation; Category: news
Title: U.K. Truck Driver Charged With Manslaughter in Deaths of 39; Abstract: A 25-year-old man was charged on Saturday with manslaughter and a trafficking conspiracy in connection with the deaths of 39 people whose bodies were found in a refrigerated truck in southeastern England, the Essex Police said.; Category: news
Title: 17 photos that show the ugly truth of living in a tiny house; Abstract: From cramped lofts that are hard to access to small appliances, this is what it's really like to live in a tiny house.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Turkey will attack Kurdish fighters who remain near border; Abstract: ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkey's foreign minister said Monday that his country's military will attack any Syrian Kurdish fighter that remains along the border area in northeast Syria after a deadline for them to leave expires. Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters that Russian and Syrian officials provided information that some Kurdish fighters had pulled out of the border area, but others still had not. The Kurdish withdrawal is in line with a...; Category: news
Title: Lockheed to get $34 billion for F-35 as Pentagon announces award; Abstract: The Pentagon announced a final agreement with Lockheed Martin Corp. on the biggest contract yet for the next-generation F-35 jet.; Category: finance
Title: Arnold Schwarzenegger, others forced to evacuate amid wildfire; Abstract: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lebron James, Maria Shriver and others had to leave their homes.; Category: entertainment
Title: Apple warns iPhone 5 users to update iOS or risk not having a working phone; Abstract: Still rocking an iPhone 5 ? Then you should open up Settings and make sure you're running iOS 10.3.4 this week.; Category: news
Title: Ex-CIA spy flees from Italy to U.S. fearing for her safety: paper; Abstract: A former U.S. spy, pardoned by Italy in connection with the CIA kidnapping of a terrorism suspect in Milan, has fled from Italy to the United States fearing for her safety, Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera on Sunday quoted her as saying.; Category: news
Title: How Often Should You Change Synthetic Oil?; Abstract: There's more than one answer, so let us simplify it for you, starting with outlining the advantages of synthetic oil.; Category: autos
Title: Airport jet bridge smashes into vehicles on tarmac; Abstract: A storm with 53 mph winds caused a jet bridge to swing into several vehicles at Memphis International Airport.; Category: video
Title: Trump to Suspend Thailand's $1.3 Billion Trade Preferences; Abstract: U.S. President Donald Trump is suspending some trade preferences for Thailand over concerns about worker rights, adding to the obstacles facing the export-reliant nation's slowing economy.; Category: finance
Title: Detentions of Child Migrants at the U.S. Border Has Surged to Record Levels; Abstract: The United States has detained more children trying to cross the nation's southwest border on their own over the last year than during any other period on record, surpassing the surge of unaccompanied minors that set off a crisis during the Obama administration, according to new figures released Tuesday.; Category: news
Title: Officials cringe as Trump spills sensitive details of al-Baghdadi raid; Abstract: Some details the president has revealed are inaccurate, others are classified. Officials say they worry what to put in briefings for a man with no filter.; Category: news
Title: The toxic bubble of technical debt threatening America; Abstract: Climate change will soon expose a crippling problem embedded in the nation's infrastructure. In fire-ravaged California, it already has.; Category: finance
Title: Couple's haunting wedding photo captures California wildfire raging nearby; Abstract: A Chicago couple on a destination wedding in California wine country took a surreal wedding photo while wearing masks as a wildfire burned in the distance.; Category: news
Title: Syrian and Turkish armies in deadly border clash; Abstract: The armies of Syria and Turkey traded deadly fire Tuesday for the first time since Ankara launched an anti-Kurdish offensive in early October, as Russia announced Kurdish forces had withdrawn from the key border area. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Kurdish forces had pulled back from the entire Turkish-Syrian border in accordance with a deal struck between Ankara and regime backer Moscow in Sochi earlier this month. "The withdrawal...; Category: news
Title: Drone video shows the devastated compound where al-Baghdadi died; Abstract: Drone video showed there was little left standing of the compound at Barisha, Syria, where ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed.; Category: video
Title: Wayne Newton's house burglar sentenced to 22 years in prison; Abstract: Wayne Newton now sleeps with a gun on his nightstand due to the burglary.; Category: music
Title: Former NBA first-round pick Jim Farmer arrested in sex sting operation; Abstract: Farmer, 55, was booked for trafficking a person for a commercial sex act.; Category: sports
Title: The Average Retirement Age in Every State; Abstract: See how your state stacks up in the retirement race; Category: finance
Title: Apple is laying the groundwork for an iPhone subscription; Abstract: Apple could bundle hardware upgrades with services like iCloud storage or Apple TV+ content and hardware.; Category: finance
Title: Trump rule on health insurance leaves immigrants, companies scrambling for answers; Abstract: Trump rule on health insurance leaves immigrants, companies scrambling for answers; Category: news
Title: ISIS names successor to slain leader al-Baghdadi; Abstract: The militant group named Abu Ibrahim Hashimi al-Quraishi as the new leader in a message posted by its official media wing.; Category: news
Title: 3 dead, 9 hurt in Long Beach shooting; Abstract: The shooting happened at or near a residence shortly before 11 p.m. The fire department said three adult males are deceased.; Category: news
Title: TSA Agents Stop Passenger With Loaded Gun Before Boarding Plane; Abstract: The man was carrying a loaded .22 caliber handgun.; Category: travel
Title: Explosive new wildfire drives thousands from homes near Los Angeles; Abstract: The Maria fire ignited in Ventura County early Thursday night and raced westward, consuming 4,000 acres in just three hours.; Category: weather
Title: Man who advocated caning for adultery gets caned for adultery; Abstract: An Indonesian man has been publicly flogged for adultery, under a draconian law he helped create.; Category: news
Title: Video captures terrifying moment woman slips at Grand Canyon; Abstract: Emily Koford was visiting the national park with her mom when a step backward left her clinging to the rocks.; Category: video
Title: Smugglers are sawing through new sections of Trump's border wall; Abstract: Using popular power tools, cutters are defeating the steel bollards, opening gaps large enough for people and drugs to pass through, agents and officials say.; Category: news
Title: America shockingly owes over $6 trillion to these countries; Abstract: In 2019 America's debt surpassed $22 trillion for the first time ever, as debt has climbed dramatically in the years following 2008's financial crisis. But who owns it? US debt can be bought by anyone through treasury securities (bills, notes or bonds), which represent an IOU from the government to the investor. The US then pays interest every year to service the debts. While much of America's debt is owed domestically, foreign investors hold more than $6 trillion, both through central banks and private funds.; Category: finance
Title: Iranian Official Says U.S. Sanctions Sign of Diplomatic Weakness; Abstract: The "repetitive" U.S. sanctions on Iran are a sign of diplomatic weakness and inefficiency and should be dropped, the Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on messaging app Telegram.; Category: news
Title: Elizabeth Warren's Days Defending Big Corporations; Abstract: Elizabeth Warren had never taken on the federal government before. But in 1995, she found herself up against the Clinton administration, representing the Cleveland-based conglomerate LTV Steel. Even though LTV had sold off its coal mines during the 1980s, a new law required it to contribute to a health fund for retired miners. LTV believed that it should not have to pay. Those claims, the company said, should have been handled as part of its...; Category: finance
Title: Niagara Falls: Boat stuck on rocks 101 years dislodged; Abstract: High winds and heavy rains dislodged the remains of a barge in the rapids above Niagara Falls that had been there 101 years.; Category: weather
Title: Evander Holyfield's son wins pro boxing debut in 16 seconds; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Analysis: California is becoming unlivable; Abstract: The state is plagued by two major issues: wildfires and a lack of affordable housing. Each problem exacerbates the other.; Category: finance
Title: Alaska mine could generate $1 billion a year: Is it worth the risk to salmon?; Abstract: A brown bear loped across rolling green tundra as Charles Weimer set down a light, single-engine helicopter on a remote hilltop.; Category: finance
Title: 2 Murder suspects escape from Monterey County, California, Jail; Abstract: The suspects are considered dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone who sees them should call 911 immediately.; Category: news
Title: SR-71 Blackbird: The Cold War spy plane that's still the world's fastest aircraft; Abstract: During the Cold War, the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane could fly higher and faster than any other -- and 55 years after its first flight, it still does.; Category: news
Title: "I was a passport to this man": Child marriage loopholes persist in U.S.; Abstract: "Our immigration laws shouldn't be used to encourage child marriage," said Senator Tom Cotton; Category: news
Title: Trump Serves Notice to Quit Paris Climate Agreement; Abstract: Want climate news in your inbox? Sign up here for Climate Fwd:, our email newsletter. WASHINGTON The Trump administration formally notified the United Nations on Monday that it would withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change, leaving global climate diplomats to plot a way forward without the cooperation of the world's largest economy.; Category: news
Title: US considers dropping some tariffs on China; Abstract: According to five people briefed on the discussions, the White House is considering whether to roll back levies on $112 billion of Chinese imports including clothing, appliances and flatscreen monitors that were introduced at a 15 percent rate on Sept. 1.; Category: finance
Title: Today in History: November 5; Abstract: ; Category: news
Title: McDonald's CEO Is Out Over Relationship With Employee; Abstract: The fast food giant said in a statement Steve Easterbrook had "separated" from the company.; Category: video
Title: Maryland man, 46, gets probation after he killed a father and his four daughters when his SUV crossed a median and slammed into their minivan; Abstract: Alvin Hubbard III, 46, of Cambridge, Maryland, was sentenced to one year of probation after he killed a father and his four daughters when his SUV slammed into a family's minivan in 2018; Category: news
Title: Harley-Davidson Pan America and Bronx coming in late 2020; Abstract: The Revolution Max 1250 engine will make more than 145 horsepower; Category: autos
Title: These Countries Have Some of the World's Worst Emissions Gains; Abstract: India, the U.S and China saw some of the biggest rises in greenhouse gas emissions last year due to booming energy consumption dominated by fossil fuels, putting global climate goals at risk, according to a new report.; Category: finance
Title: Older people's most common regrets; Abstract: For many, growing older and entering the "golden years" is a time of celebration. Worries about career are often over, their homes are paid off, and they have ample time to enjoy their families or favourite activities. But for many others, the passage of time is just a reminder of all the things they haven't done, or wish they'd done differently. These are the most common regrets older people have.; Category: lifestyle
Title: EarthRoamer Introduces Carbon Fiber-Bodied LTi Expedition Vehicle; Abstract: This thing looks amazing, inside and out.; Category: autos
Title: China Touts Fentanyl Convictions, Tackling Key Trade Talks Issue; Abstract: China sentenced three nationals to maximum punishments for smuggling fentanyl to the U.S., in one of its highest-profile moves yet against the illicit flow of opioids that President Donald Trump has made a bone of contention in broader trade talks between Washington and Beijing.; Category: news
Title: 15 Found Alive in Truck in U.K. as Authorities Identify 39 Migrants Found Dead Weeks Earlier; Abstract: Fifteen people were recovered alive in the back of a truck in the U.K. by police on Wednesday as police said they've identified the 39 people found dead in another truck weeks earlier.; Category: news
Title: Bogus Warren Quote Ignites Immigration Anger; Abstract: Immigration comments by Sen. Elizabeth Warren have been selectively edited in a misleading way and are circulating widely online. The post Bogus Warren Quote Ignites Immigration Anger appeared first on FactCheck.org.; Category: news
Title: As L.A. ports automate, some workers are cheering on the robots; Abstract: The arrival of robots at the nation's largest marine terminal, a 484-acre facility run by Danish conglomerate A.P. Moller-Maersk, is exposing a stark economic divide between two sets of Southern California workers.; Category: finance
Title: Two versions of Texas collide over gun measures and mass shootings; Abstract: The old Texas expanded availability of guns. The new one is agitating for more restrictions.; Category: news
Title: Snow crab sells for record price in Japan; Abstract: A "five shining star" snow crab was auctioned off in Tottori, Japan for a record-breaking 5 million yen ($46,000). wide.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Iowan convicted of murder claims his life-sentence was served once he died, was revived in medical emergency. The court disagrees.; Abstract: An Iowa convicted of murder was rushed from prison to the hospital where his heart was restarted five times. Now he claims he should be freed; Category: news
Title: Marlboro Man Bob Norris dies at 90, having reportedly never been a smoker; Abstract: Robert "Bob" Norris, who played the iconic Marlboro Man for more than a decade in the '60s, has died at his Colorado ranch at 90. Norris landed the high-profile ad campaign for the Philip Morris cigarette brand by happenstance, as his son, Bobby Norris, told the local CBS affiliate, KKTV.; Category: tv
Title: Creepy fish with 'human-like face' found swimming in lake; Abstract: Tourists in southwestern China spotted a carp fish that had human-like facial features resembling eyes, nose and a mouth.; Category: video
Title: The Changing Demographics of America's Suburbs; Abstract: The changes in the demographic makeup of America's suburbs are so profound that some urbanists are calling for a new sociology of suburbia.; Category: finance
Title: Cartel violence drives surge of Mexican asylum-seekers to border towns; Abstract: TIJUANA, Mexico - Only 40 numbers stood between Miguel and his family's turn to ask for asylum in the United States. Fleeing cartel violence in south Mexico, they have been waiting in Tijuana for five months for their chance to cross. Since Miguel and his family joined the line, thousands more Mexican asylum-seekers have arrived in Tijuana, as violence to the south intensifies. There are now ...; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Second Ship: Book One; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Phillips Page; Review: Well written, exciting plot with great use of foreshadowing that begs you read the next book in the series, this book leaves the reader with an adrenaline rush that is amazing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: CyberStorm; Author: Visit Amazon's Matthew Mather Page; Review: The story is gripping, uncomfortable, and evokes self- scrutiny. Just how far people are from their animal ancestors is grimly told in this tale. When the book is finished, the new awareness of dependence upon technological and support services grows uncomfortably in the reader's mind. Not for pollyannas.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Anvil of the Craftsman (Jon's Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Dale Amidei Page; Review: Although a bit slow at parts, challenging presentation of faith, God, and service - interconnected with blood and adrenaline. Truly causes reflection.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legacy Code (Legacy Code Saga) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Autumn Kalquist Page; Review: Couldn't put it down! Storyline all too true: the ones who rule make decisions for all. Echoes of past disasters brought on by politicians/rulers comparable to the Jewish holocaust are revisited. Is this really the way humanity ends? With a whimper rather than asking for accountability?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Whisper Falls; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Langston Page; Review: This invitation to join time-crossed lovers at the Falls claims your interest and has you cheering and aching for the lovely young folks as they tackle feelings of loneliness, separation from their own families and peer groups, and begin to explore what love is all about. The need to belong, to share, to be appreciated is examined gently, with care - a deft touch from a new author. I loved this breakout book and couldn't get the second nearly soon enough! If you need to take a break from day-to-day life, visiting Whisper Falls will give you a strong urge to cheer on this young couple and hungry to know what the author will paint into the next chapter of their tale.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Revelations: Jane Perry Mysteries Book 3; Author: Laurel Dewey; Review: Great characters, multiple interwoven stories, taut finish. I'll be reading more of this author as the style kept me on my toes and trying to beat the protagonist to the clues.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Suicide Forest (World's Scariest Places); Author: Visit Amazon's Jeremy Bates Page; Review: Frightening tempo, unexpected twists - don't read this if you recently have considered suicide. Suspect dark themes reflect cultural dissonances.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Glitch in the World; Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Drozd Page; Review: Short but engaging - coming of age meets reality of everything. Shudders your spine as it makes you ask am I real?; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with Wikipedia articles as follows:
Title: Mahatma Gandhi; Description: pre-eminent leader of Indian nationalism during the British Raj
Title: serfdom; Description: status of peasants under feudalism
Title: June; Description: sixth month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars
Title: Shanghai University; Description: university
Title: Xinjiang Province, Qing dynasty; Description: province of the Qing dynasty
Title: Nika riots; Description: rebellion in the Byzantine empire
Title: Republic of Turkey Ministry of the Interior; Description: government ministry office of the Republic of Turkey
Title: Constantinople; Description: capital city of the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire, the Latin and the Ottoman Empire
Title: Thessaloniki; Description: city in Greece
Title: Batu Khan; Description: Mongol Khan
Title: Latin Empire; Description: feudal Crusader state (1204–1261) founded by the leaders of the Fourth Crusade on lands captured from the Byzantine Empire
Title: aspirin; Description: medication used to treat pain and decrease the risk of heart disease
Title: 1930; Description: year
Title: Garden of Eden; Description: biblical 'garden of God'""
Title: Abd-ar-Rahman III; Description: politician
Title: Muharram; Description: first month of the Islamic calendar
Title: Project 211; Description: Chinese plan for higher education
Title: Zhang Heng; Description: famous astronomer of ancient China
Title: 2001; Description: year
Title: Sanafir Island; Description: island in Saudi Arabia
Title: 2004; Description: year
Title: International Phonetic Alphabet; Description: alphabetic system of phonetic notation
Title: January 2; Description: date
Title: January 4; Description: date
Title: January 11; Description: date
Title: January 12; Description: date
Title: January 13; Description: date
Title: January 14; Description: date
Title: January 16; Description: date
Title: January 17; Description: date
Title: January 18; Description: date
Title: January 19; Description: date
Title: January 20; Description: date
Title: January 21; Description: date
Title: January 22; Description: date
Title: January 23; Description: date
Title: January 24; Description: date
Title: January 25; Description: date
Title: January 26; Description: date
Title: January 27; Description: date
Title: January 28; Description: date
Title: January 29; Description: date
Title: January 30; Description: date
Title: January 31; Description: date
Title: February 1; Description: date
Title: February 2; Description: date
Title: February 3; Description: date
Title: February 4; Description: date
Title: February 5; Description: date
Title: February 6; Description: date
Title: February 7; Description: date
Title: February 8; Description: date
Title: February 9; Description: date
Title: February 10; Description: date
Title: February 14; Description: Calendar day
Title: February 13; Description: date
Title: February 15; Description: date
Title: February 11; Description: Date
Title: February 12; Description: date
Title: Rowan Atkinson; Description: British actor, comedian, and screenwriter
Title: Ordu-Baliq; Description: archaeological site in Mongolia
Title: April 15; Description: date
Title: April 13; Description: date
Title: April 12; Description: date
Title: April 14; Description: date
Title: April 11; Description: date
Title: April 10; Description: date
Title: April 8; Description: date
Title: April 9; Description: date
Title: April 7; Description: date
Title: April 6; Description: date
Title: April 5; Description: date
Title: April 4; Description: date
Title: April 16; Description: date
Title: April 17; Description: date
Title: April 18; Description: date
Title: April 19; Description: date
Title: April 20; Description: date
Title: April 21; Description: date
Title: April 22; Description: date
Title: April 23; Description: date
Title: April 24; Description: date
Title: 2017; Description: year
Title: April 25; Description: date
Title: April 26; Description: date
Title: April 27; Description: date
Title: April 28; Description: date
Title: April 29; Description: date
Title: April 30; Description: date
Title: TRT Avaz; Description: television station
Title: Rabi' al-thani; Description: fourth month of the Islamic calendar
Title: September 15; Description: date
Title: September 5; Description: date
Title: September 4; Description: date
Title: September 2; Description: date
Title: September 6; Description: date
Title: September 1; Description: date
Title: September 3; Description: date
Title: 840; Description: year
Title: Noyan; Description: Mongolian nobility title
Title: Vasily Radlov; Description: German-born Russian turkologist and ethnographer
Title: Abdul Rashid Dostum; Description: Afghanistani Politician
Title: latitude; Description: the angle between zenith and a plane parallel to the equator
Title: Aegean Sea; Description: part of the Mediterranean Sea, between the Greek mainland, the Turkish mainland, Crete, and Rhodes
Title: Sea of Marmara; Description: inland sea, entirely within the borders of Turkey
Title: Ibn Kathir; Description: Muslim scholar
Title: The Communist Manifesto; Description: 1848 publication written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Title: Suyab; Description: ancient Silk Road city
Title: Pinyin; Description: Chinese romanization scheme for Mandarin
Title: Hoja-Niyaz; Description: Chinese rebel
Title: Turkish Airlines; Description: national flag-carrier airline of Turkey
Title: Taraz; Description: human settlement
Title: Safar; Description: second month of the Islamic calendar
Title: Ganges; Description: River in Asia
Title: Hijama; Description: a type of alternative medical procedure
Title: 1260; Description: year
Title: Tiran Island; Description: island
Title: Mehmet Fuat Köprülü; Description: Turkish politician and historian
Title: communism; Description: socialist political movement and ideology
Title: Regaip; Description: holy night in Islam
Title: Ariq Qaya; Description: Uighur politician
Title: Mahmut Muhiti; Description: Chinese military officer
Title: 19th century; Description: time period between January 1, 1801, and ended on December 31, 1900.
Title: Internet; Description: global system of connected computer networks
Title: 1855; Description: year
Title: 1890; Description: year
Title: Jumada al-Thani; Description: sixth month of the Islamic calendar
Title: Alexander II of Russia; Description: Emperor of Russia
Title: Timur; Description: Turco-Mongol ruler
Title: Jumada al-awwal; Description: fifth month of the Islamic calendar
Title: Tokmok; Description: city in Kyrgyzstan
Title: Sahih al-Bukhari; Description: most famous collection of hadith in Sunni Islam
Title: prefecture; Description: People's Republic of China prefecture-level subdivision
Title: Julius Caesar; Description: Roman politician and general
Title: Monday; Description: day of the week
Title: geography; Description: science that studies the terrestrial surface, the societies that inhabit it and the territories, landscapes, places or regions that form it when interacting with each other
Title: January; Description: first month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars
Title: China Islamic Institute; Description: Islamic high school in China
Title: February; Description: second month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars
Title: March; Description: third month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars
Title: Xinjiang Province, Republic of China; Description: former province of the Republic of China
Title: Uyghur New Script; Description: former writing system for Uyghur
Title: Julian calendar; Description: calendar
Title: April; Description: fourth month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars
Title: May; Description: fifth month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars
Title: July; Description: seventh month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars
Title: August; Description: eighth month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars
Title: September; Description: ninth month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars
Title: October; Description: tenth month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars
Title: January 0; Description: fictional date
Title: Karachay-Balkar Wikipedia; Description: edition of the free-content encyclopedia
Title: November; Description: eleventh month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars
Title: December; Description: twelfth month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars
Title: angel in Islam; Description: view on angels in Islamic tradition
Title: calligraphy; Description: visual art related to writing
Title: Tuesday; Description: day of the week
Title: Wednesday; Description: day of the week
Title: Thursday; Description: day of the week
Title: Friday; Description: day of the week
Title: Saturday; Description: day of the week
Title: winter; Description: one of the Earth''s four temperate seasons, occurring between autumn and spring
Title: spring; Description: one of the Earth''s four temperate seasons, occurring between winter and summer
Title: summer; Description: one of the Earth''s four temperate seasons, occurring between spring and autumn
Title: autumn; Description: one of the Earth''s four temperate seasons, occurring between summer and winter
Title: Sunday; Description: day of the week
Title: Elijah; Description: Biblical prophet
Title: Abdul Hamid II; Description: 34th sultan of the Ottoman Empire
Title: Zechariah; Description: figure in the Bible, priest, the husband of Elizabeth who is the cousin of Mary the mother of Jesus
Title: Sheikh-ul-Islam; Description: honorific title in the classical era for outstanding scholars of the Islamic sciences
Title: Caliph of Islam; Description: Wikimedia list article
Title: Nezamiyeh; Description: Wikimedia list article
Title: Arab World; Description: geographic and cultural region
Title: Sirah Rasul Allah; Description: Wikimedia list article
Title: Zaynab bint Khuzayma; Description: wive of Muhammad
Title: Zaynab bint Jahsh; Description: cousin and wife of Muhammad
Title: Joseph; Description: Biblical figure, son of Jacob/Israel and Rachel
Title: La Paz; Description: de facto capital city of Bolivia
Title: Tuvinian Wikipedia; Description: Tuvinian language edition of Wikipedia
Title: French; Description: Romance language
Title: TC Resmi Gazete; Description: official journal of Turkey
Title: Coordinated Universal Time; Description: primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time
Title: list of Turkic dynasties and countries; Description: Wikimedia list article
Title: March of the Volunteers; Description: national anthem of the People's Republic of China
Title: Hibiscus syriacus; Description: species of plant
Title: Por-Bazhyn; Description: ruined fortress in Tuva
Title: Xinjiang Province, People''s Republic of China; Description: former province of the People's Republic of China
Title: Shohrat Zakir; Description: Chinese politicians
Title: Wahhabism; Description: religious movement or branch of Sunni Islam
Title: Eighty Years' War; Description: Dutch revolt against Philip II of the Habsburgs, resulting in Dutch independence
Title: February 31; Description: fictional date
Title: Farewell Sermon; Description: Muhammad's Final Sermon
Title: wahy; Description: revelation in Islam
Title: Qibla; Description: direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays during salat
Title: Hashemite; Description: Arabian clan within the larger Quraysh tribe
Title: deity; Description: natural or supernatural god or goddess, divine being
Title: The Alchemist; Description: novel by Paulo Coelho
Title: fatwa; Description: term for the legal opinion or learned interpretation that a qualified jurist or mufti can give on issues pertaining to the Islamic law
Title: Rashidun Empire; Description: title
Title: Hasan ibn Ali; Description: Muslim leader
Title: Alija Izetbegović; Description: Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Title: are; Description: metric unit of area
Title: Kufa; Description: city in Iraq, about 170 kilometres (110 mi) south of Baghdad, and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) northeast of Najaf.
Title: ayah; Description: verse of the Qur'an
Title: Teachers' Day; Description: day for the appreciation of teachers
Title: God; Description: principal object of faith, divine entity, supreme being, supernatural creator, supervisor of space and/or allness itself
Title: Abū Ḥanīfa; Description: Founder of Hanafi school of thought
Title: Lot in Islam; Description: One of the prophets in Islam
Title: Shima Sakon; Description: samurai
Title: Hud; Description: one of the prophets in Islam
Title: Sawda bint Zamʿa; Description: wife of the Islamic prophet Muhammad
Title: Ahmad ibn Hanbal; Description: Scholar, theologian
Title: Chinese zodiac; Description: scheme that assigns an animal to each year in a repeating twelve-year cycle
Title: leap year; Description: year containing one additional day
Title: Indo-European languages; Description: family of several hundred related languages and dialects
Title: People's Liberation Army; Description: combined military forces of the People's Republic of China
Title: emblem of South Korea; Description: emblem
Title: Elisha; Description: Biblical Prophet who came after Elijah
Title: South Azerbaijani Wikipedia; Description: edition of the free-content encyclopedia
Title: Uzbek Wikipedia; Description: edition of the free-content encyclopedia
Title: Karim Massimov; Description: Kazakhstani politician
Title: January 1; Description: date
Title: January 3; Description: date
Title: Spratly Islands; Description: group of reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands
Title: Banu Qurayza; Description: One of the Jewish tribes lived in the 7th century in Yathrib, which is currently Medina
Title: Al Fātiḥah; Description: 1st chapter of the Qur'an
Title: Al-Baqara; Description: 2nd chapter of the Qur'an
Title: Al-Imran; Description: 3rd chapter of the Qur'an
Title: an-Nisāʼ; Description: 4th chapter of the Qur'an
Title: al-Anʻām; Description: 6th chapter of the Qur'an
Title: Al-Anfal; Description: 8th chapter of the Qur'an
Title: At-Tawba; Description: 9th chapter of the Qur'an
Title: Yunus; Description: 10th chapter of the Qur'an
Title: Hūd; Description: 11th chapter of the Qur'an
Title: Yūsuf; Description: 12th chapter of the Qur'an
Title: Ibrahim; Description: 14th chapter of the Qur'an
Title: Al-Hijr; Description: 15th chapter of the Qur'an
Title: An-Nahl; Description: 16th chapter of the Qur'an
Title: Al-Isra; Description: 17th chapter of the Qur'an
Title: Al-Kahf; Description: 18th chapter of the Qur'an
Title: Maryam; Description: 19th chapter of the Qur'an
Title: Sakha Wikipedia; Description: edition of the free-content encyclopedia
Title: Red Sea; Description: seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean
Title: sura; Description: division of Qu'ran approximatively equivalent to chapter
Title: hadith; Description: collections of sayings and teachings of Muhammad
Title: 680; Description: year
Title: Allah; Description: primary name for the God in Islam
Title: rasul; Description: apostle in Islam
Title: Greater Khorasan; Description: historical region of Persia
Title: Aqidah; Description: Islamic term meaning 'creed'""
Title: Muhammad's wives; Description: The 13 women married to Muhammad and brief outlines of the circumstances of the marriages.
Title: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; Description: limited-recognition state on the Island of Cyprus
Title: Uyghur Arabic alphabet; Description: Perso-Arabic-based alphabet used for writing the Uyghur language
Title: season; Description: weather-based subdivision of the year
Title: December 20; Description: date
Title: Jonah; Description: Biblical and Quranic prophet
Title: 2016; Description: year
Title: Salat al-Janazah; Description: Islamic prayer in congregation during a funeral
Title: list of countries and dependencies by area; Description: Wikimedia list article
Title: December 21; Description: date
Title: Afro-Eurasia; Description: major landmass on Earth consisting of Africa, Asia and Europe
Title: Quba Mosque; Description: mosque in Saudi Arabia
Title: Ilm al-Kalam; Description: practice in Islamic philosophy
Title: Jacob; Description: Patriarch son of Isaac, God renamed him as Israel. Father of the Israelites
Title: October 1; Description: date
Title: October 2; Description: date
Title: Al-Shafi‘i; Description: Founder of Sunni Shafi‘i
Title: October 31; Description: date
Title: October 30; Description: date
Title: October 29; Description: date
Title: October 28; Description: date
Title: October 26; Description: date
Title: October 25; Description: date
Title: October 24; Description: date
Title: October 27; Description: date
Title: October 22; Description: date
Title: October 23; Description: date
Title: October 20; Description: date
Title: October 21; Description: date
Title: October 19; Description: date
Title: October 17; Description: date
Title: October 16; Description: date
Title: October 18; Description: date
Title: Kufic; Description: oldest calligraphic form of the various Arabic scripts.
Title: Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib; Description: Uncle of Muhammad
Title: Nizam al-Mulk; Description: Persian vizier
Title: 661; Description: year
Title: Jesus Christ; Description: Jewish preacher and religious leader, central figure of Christianity
Title: 619; Description: year
Title: Al-Kutub al-Sittah; Description: six most highly regarded collections of hadith in Sunni Islam
Title: Malik ibn Anas; Description: Hadith compiler
Title: Saleh; Description: One of the prophets in Islam
Title: Idris; Description: prophet
Title: Allies; Description: grouping of the victorious countries of World War II
Title: House of Wisdom; Description: library, translation institute and research center in Baghdad, Iraq
Title: Dhul-Kifl; Description: An Islamic prophet
Title: Abu Bakr siddiq; Description: First Muslim Caliph and a companion of Muhammad. Both sides of islam recognize abu Bakr.
Title: tafsir; Description: exegesis of the Qur'an
Title: Qutuz; Description: Sultan of Egypt
Title: decare; Description: unit of area
Title: belief; Description: psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true
Title: Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib; Description: was father of Islamic prophet Muhammad
Title: lists of countries and territories; Description: Wikimedia list article
Title: Medina; Description: Saudi Arabian city
Title: hectare; Description: metric unit of area
Title: World War II; Description: 1939–1945 global war between the Allied and Axis powers
Title: vowel; Description: sound in spoken language, articulated with an open vocal tract
Title: Ottoman Turkish; Description: language that was used in the Ottoman Empire
Title: Solomon; Description: king of Israel and the son of David
Title: Trinity; Description: Christian conception of God as consisting of three persons (hypostases) — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — sharing the same substance (ousia)
Title: February 30; Description: date
Title: pharaoh; Description: ruler of Ancient Egypt
Title: writing; Description: representation of language in a textual medium; tool developed by human society
Title: Alī ibn Abu Ṭālib; Description: cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad
Title: Lot; Description: person mentioned in the biblical Book of Genesis and the Quran
Title: John the Baptist; Description: major religious figure
Title: David; Description: king of Israel and Judah
Title: Shahada; Description: ('There is no god but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God'"); Islamic creed declaring belief in monotheism and Muhammad''s prophethood; Shia versions add '"Ali is the representative of God'""
Title: Khadija bint Khuwaylid; Description: the first wife of Muhammad
Title: Uniform Resource Locator; Description: web address to a particular file or page
Title: Al-Aqsa; Description: Al-Aqsa Mosque
Title: Hanif; Description: Islamic belief
Title: prophet; Description: person claiming to speak for divine beings
Title: Masjid al-Haram; Description: Grand Masjid in Saudi Arabia, Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām
Title: Axis; Description: alliance of countries defeated in World War 2
Title: Gestapo; Description: official secret police of Nazi Germany
Title: Aisha; Description: Muhammad's wife
Title: Muslim; Description: adherent of Islam
Title: Battle of Talas; Description: battle
Title: Marmaray; Description: rail transport project in Istanbul which consists of the construction of an undersea rail tunnel under the Bosphorus strait
Title: Cristóbal de Mondragón; Description: Spanish general
Title: continent; Description: very large landmass
Title: Turkmen Wikipedia; Description: edition of the free-content encyclopedia
Title: Anatolia; Description: Asian part of Turkey
Title: Chinese Academy of Sciences; Description: academy of sciences
Title: Ash'ari; Description: Islamic school of thought
Title: northwest; Description: intercardinal direction
Title: Chen Quanguo; Description: Secretary of Chinese Communist Party of Xinjiang
Title: Mecca; Description: Saudi Arabian city and capital of the Makkah province
Title: Kazakh Wikipedia; Description: Wikipedia in Kazakh language
Title: Bashkir Wikipedia; Description: edition of the free-content encyclopedia
Title: Chuvash Wikipedia; Description: Chuvash language edition of Wikipedia
Title: Sus scrofa; Description: species of mammal
Title: Kitbuqa; Description: Mongol general
Title: Crimean Tatar Wikipedia; Description: Crimean Tatar language edition of Wikipedia
Title: Kyrgyz Wikipedia; Description: edition of the free-content encyclopedia
Title: Tatar Wikipedia; Description: edition of the free-content encyclopedia
Title: Uyghur Wikipedia; Description: edition of the free-content encyclopedia
Title: Template:High-risk; Description: redirect to Wikimedia template 'High-use'" -- should be probably merged with Q6477998 '"High-use'""
Title: country; Description: distinct region in geography; a broad term that can include political divisions or regions associated with distinct political characteristics
Title: southeast; Description: intercardinal direction
Title: northeast; Description: intercardinal direction
Title: north; Description: one of the four cardinal directions
Title: south; Description: one of the four cardinal directions
Title: Isaac; Description: Biblical character
Title: west; Description: one of the four cardinal directions
Title: east; Description: one of the four cardinal directions
Title: Fajr; Description: first prayer of the day in Islam, occurring before sunrise
Title: UTC+06:00; Description: Identifier for a time offset from UTC of +6
Title: Anti-Socialist Laws; Description: Law of german Empire
Title: Khanate of Kokand; Description: former state in Central Asia
Title: UTC+08:00; Description: identifier for a time offset from UTC of +8
Title: Asr; Description: third prayer of the day in Islam, occurring when one''s shadow is same size as one''s height
Title: Isha'; Description: fifth prayer of the day in Islam, occurring late in the darkness of night
Title: Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge; Description: bridge in Istanbul
Title: autonomous region; Description: designation for an administrative territorial entity
Title: Gagauz Wikipedia; Description: edition of the free-content encyclopedia
Title: Karakalpak Wikipedia; Description: edition of the free-content encyclopedia
Title: Year of Sorrow; Description: Wikimedia list article
Title: Gabriel; Description: angel in Abrahamic religions
Title: Latin script; Description: writing system used to write most Western and Central European languages
Title: geographic region; Description: 2D or 3D defined space, mainly in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences
Title: Eve; Description: biblical figure
Title: Dhuhr; Description: second prayer of the day in Islam, occurring when the sun reaches its zenith
Title: Otto von Bismarck; Description: German statesman, Chancellor of Germany
Title: slavery; Description: system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work
Title: Paraclete; Description: Greek for advocate or helper
Title: constellation; Description: one of the 88 divisions of the celestial sphere, defined by the IAU, many of which derive from traditional asterisms
Title: Spratly Islands dispute; Description: territorial dispute
Title: Moses; Description: person, mentioned in the Torah (Pentateuch) and in the Quran, who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to Canaan
Title: Jumu'ah; Description: replacement prayer for Dhuhr on Fridays when performed in a mosque in congregation
Title: Shia Islam; Description: group of denominations of Islam which holds that Muhammad designated Ali as his successor and leader (imam), whose adherents form the majority of the population in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Bahrain
Title: March 0; Description: fictional date
Title: Shuayb; Description: One of the prophets in islam
Title: Dà Qīng Bǎo Chāo; Description: Currency (historical banknote) | wikirec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Richland Unscented Tealight Candles, White, Set of 125; Brand: Richland; Review: These are great candles. I just received my second order. I use these in my scented oil burners. They do last 3 to 4 hours and burn clean.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KitchenMeister,Silicone Pot Holders, Trivet Mat, Non-slip Hot Pads, and Garlic Peeler, Set of; Brand: Kitchen Meister; Review: These do a great job. I managed to cook my Thanksgiving dinner without getting burned. I tossed out all my old fabric pot holders. With the old fabric pot holders if they got wet from a spill and I used them on a hot pot I would get burned. You can't go wrong with these.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orblue Bag Heat Sealer - Food Saver and Creates Airtight Containers - Cabinet Accessory (Orange); Brand: Orblue; Review: I have had this long enough to try it out. With a little practice it does a good job. I like the magnetic so it stays handy on the fridge.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bartelli Soft Edge Automatic Electric Can Opener - Red Battery Powered; Brand: Bartelli; Review: I have been able to use this for a month now. I love it. You just put it on top of the can edge and push the button. Once its done just push the button to stop it and lift. For anyone who has pain in their hands this is a must have. Because of the safety edge no more lids dropping back in the can. I store it in a drawer so no counter space needed. Thanks for the great product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Honey-Can-Do 4-Inch Caster Roller Wheels for HCD Shelving Unit, Set of Four; Brand: Honey-Can-Do; Review: Great wheels. I bought these for my trinity bakers rack. They were easy to install and work great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Native Spring Chalkboard Labels, 40 Premium Waterproof Peel and Stick for Jars, Pantries, Craft Rooms Black; Brand: Native Spring; Review: I got thes to use organize my pantry. The labels worked wonderfully. They really look nice on my containers. WILL buy again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Crash: An Evil Dead MC Story (The Evil Dead MC Series) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Nicole James Page; Review: I read Crash first then realized it was a sequel so went back to read Outlaw which is the first one. LOVED this book, it kept me anxious to pick it up again when i had to go to work or do something. Crash was a great character and I ended up giggling in some parts. However Read Outlaw first then read Crash, and then I think theres another one coming after this that I can't wait to read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Driven ((The Driven Trilogy)); Author: Visit Amazon's K. Bromberg Page; Review: When I first started reading I thought it started out a little cheesy but keep reading.... I giggled and I cried... it was a really good book and I couldn't wait to start the second book of this trilogy as soon as I finished this one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crashed (The Driven Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's K. Bromberg Page; Review: This book was the final of the series, ties it all together...I hated to come to the end...this book made me laugh and made me cry, I would definately recommend reading all 3 back to back. You love and hate Colton . I did nothing else but read these books; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fueled (The Driven Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's K. Bromberg Page; Review: 2nd book of the series, loved the story between Rylee and Colton, probably my favorite one of the series. Couldnt' put the book down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hudson (Fixed Series) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurelin Paige Page; Review: It kept me wanting to read more. I liked having all 3 at once. Had some pretty steamy scenes with I LOVE. Hudson was the dominant billionaire that was determined to get what he wanted.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Prison; Author: Visit Amazon's Jenika Snow Page; Review: A good stand alone book. Read it in one day, page turner. A sequel could easily be done..; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Speedo Women's Beach Runner Water Shoe; Brand: ; Review: These water shoes are comfortable and surprisingly cute! Worked beautifully on the beach, and while the sole isn't rugged enough for extended wear on the land, they hold up better than most water shoes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Canvas Low Top Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Quick shipping and the perfect Converse Chuck Taylor fit. I love these shoes because I have flat feet, and the absence of any arch makes these perfect for my feet. The color is so cheerful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Core Ox; Brand: ; Review: Quick shipping and the perfect Converse Chuck Taylor fit. I love these shoes because I have flat feet, and the absence of any arch makes these perfect for my feet. The color is so cheerful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Core Ox; Brand: ; Review: Quick shipping and the perfect Converse Chuck Taylor fit. I love these shoes because I have flat feet, and the absence of any arch makes these perfect for my feet. The color is so cheerful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Converse Unisex Chuck Taylor All-Star High-Top Casual Sneakers in Classic Style and Color and Durable Canvas Uppers; Brand: ; Review: Quick shipping and the perfect Converse Chuck Taylor fit. I love these shoes because I have flat feet, and the absence of any arch makes these perfect for my feet. The color is so cheerful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Low Top (International Version) Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Quick shipping and the perfect Converse Chuck Taylor fit. I love these shoes because I have flat feet, and the absence of any arch makes these perfect for my feet. The color is so cheerful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Canvas Low Top Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Quick shipping and the perfect Converse Chuck Taylor fit. I love these shoes because I have flat feet, and the absence of any arch makes these perfect for my feet. The color is so cheerful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Converse Women's Chuck Taylor All Star Core Hi; Brand: ; Review: Quick shipping and the perfect Converse Chuck Taylor fit. I love these shoes because I have flat feet, and the absence of any arch makes these perfect for my feet. The color is so cheerful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Core Ox; Brand: ; Review: Quick shipping and the perfect Converse Chuck Taylor fit. I love these shoes because I have flat feet, and the absence of any arch makes these perfect for my feet. The color is so cheerful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KEEN Women's Clearwater CNX Sandal; Brand: ; Review: I LOVE, LOVE these shoes. They're bright and cheerful, and they fit like a dream. They're light, and they feel sturdy. This is my first pair of Keens and it won't be my last.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: ArtToFrames 16x20 inch Dark Cherry Stain Wood Picture Frame, WOM0066-81375-YCHY-16x20; Brand: ArtToFrames; Review: I made prints of my oil paintings of USAF aircraft missions in Vietnam. Having them framed makes a better presentation. I purchase several at a time to enjoy the special discount.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rutland 50B Safe Lite Fire Starter Squares, 144 Squares; Brand: Rutland Products; Review: It makes it very easy to safely start the fireplace logs. I enjoyed the warmth and light almost every day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rutland Safe Lite Fire Starter Squares, 144-Square - 2 Pack; Brand: Rutland; Review: It makes it very easy to safely start the fireplace logs. I enjoyed the warmth and light almost every day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HIC Mortar and Pestle Spice Herb Grinder Pill Crusher Set, Fine-Quality Porcelain, Set of 3; Brand: HIC Harold Import Co.; Review: Was hatching quail. Used the mortars to crush the feed for the newly hatched. Worked very well and was easy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CDN DOT2 ProAccurate Oven Thermometer; Brand: CDN; Review: Temperature control better.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Taylor Classic Series Large Dial Oven Thermometer; Brand: Taylor Precision Products; Review: Needed to know actual temperature.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Springfield Dual Sided Outdoor Thermometer and Clock with Wall Bracket; Brand: Taylor Precision Products; Review: Nice touch on the pool deck.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ArtToFrames 13x19 inch Chrome Stainless Steel Picture Frame, WOMFRBW26966-13x19; Brand: ArtToFrames; Review: Part of several purchased.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ArtToFrames 16x20 inch Dark Cherry Stain Wood Picture Frame, WOM0066-81375-YCHY-16x20; Brand: ArtToFrames; Review: Part of several purchased.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eureka Upright AS5210A Type W Belt 12.8X429 Single Belt Only Part # 86389, 67037; Brand: Eureka; Review: Always need one when you need one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: BLACK+DECKER HHVJ320BMF26 Cordless Lithium Hand Vacuum, Chilli Red, 2 Ah; Brand: BLACK+DECKER; Review: Excellent small vacuum for my Sun Room. I have tried other vacuums to keep the Sun Room; But, this is the perfect size. And cordless. .; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Pocoyo: Pocoyo Circus; Brand: Stephen Fry; Review: what can you say its a comic book for kids they love it would recommend it for all small children; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pocoyo- Boo!; Brand: Stephen Fry; Review: great comic for little kids little ones love to look thru it got it for grand kids to look at; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nanny McPhee Returns; Brand: Emma Thompson; Review: good little pass the time movie kids love it does have its moments just as good as the original one; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Batman: The Animated Series - Volume 4; Brand: Kevin Conroy; Review: some of the episode is cool; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pucca - Ninjas Love Noodles; Brand: Tabitha St. Germain; Review: it has some great episode.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pucca: Sooga Super Squad; Brand: Pucca; Review: I love some of these episode; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Pureness Large Drawstring Valu-Pak Cat Pan Liners,; Brand: Van Ness; Review: the product is okay, my cats tore them to shreds. Never used them before, assume you just line the box, then put several inches of cat litter in.....; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Cat Attract Scoopable Cat Litter; Brand: Dr. Elsey's; Review: We have 3 cats. The youngest started to mark areas. I bought this litter, plus the additive herbs. It took about a month, but..knock on wood...haven't had marking since then.....The key is having the same number of boxes as cats and cleaning the boxes EVERY DAY.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: IRIS Open Top Cat Litter Box with Litter Scoop; Brand: IRIS USA, Inc.; Review: It's not very big, so the large male cat just fits. Also, the scoop that comes with it has large openings for screening... so the smaller waste falls through and back into the litter box. Not a perfect cleaning tool.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Zone Multicat Diffuser Kit for Cat Calming; Brand: Comfort Zone; Review: Have always used comfort zone to stop the marking....tried this to stop the fighting....they still fight....; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: New Premium Charcoal Filters for PetSafe Drinkwell Fountains; Brand: PET STANDARD; Review: Value priced but good product. Does what it's supposed to. Fits our drinkwell fountain well and when I clean the unit the filter is gross so it's done it's job. Recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Advanced Technology International ATI Nylon Sling; Brand: Advanced Technology; Review: perfect for what I need on my sks, a very sturdy sling, came on time before i thought it would. thanks!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NcStar AK/SKS Front Sight Ajustment Tool (TAK); Brand: NcStar; Review: perfect for what I need on my sks, its a pretty self explanatory piece of equipment and theres really no good or bad sight adjustment. i recommend using it with the 7.62x39 bore caliber sighting or any bore red dot for that matter. came on time before i thought it would. thanks!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Condor H2O Pouch (Bladder Not Included); Brand: Condor; Review: Very happy with the product. Came on time and in new condition. Attached it to the side of my rock river bag molle style and it has a nice tight fit. Has room for a bladder, drinking hose or it can fit a gatorade bottle. You can't see well in the pictures but there are molle straps on the front and sides for additional attachments. Overall, Great product I am very happy with it, lets see if it lasts! I already had to stich up my rock river bag on the inside and outside and its been 3 months.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Inc Glock Armorers Tool 3/32 Punch; Brand: Ghost; Review: If u don't have it .. Get it. All you need to completely take down your glock. Any model any gen.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Glk Standard 3.5 Di Connector; Brand: ; Review: Not bad, just not the best. Ghost makes better products. This one was tough to get the right angle and the one I got was slightly marked in a crucial area causing friction even after a polish. I have ghost connectors on all my glocks. Must've just not been their best produce. Other then that , it came on time and was reasonably priced.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Glk Standard 3.5 Di Connector; Brand: ; Review: Not bad, just not the best. Ghost makes better products. This one was tough to get the right angle and the one I got was slightly marked in a crucial area causing friction even after a polish. I have ghost connectors on all my glocks. Must've just not been their best produce. Other then that , it came on time and was reasonably priced.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Glk Standard 3.5 Di Connector; Brand: ; Review: Not bad, just not the best. Ghost makes better products. This one was tough to get the right angle and the one I got was slightly marked in a crucial area causing friction even after a polish. I have ghost connectors on all my glocks. Must've just not been their best produce. Other then that , it came on time and was reasonably priced.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Glk Standard 3.5 Di Connector; Brand: ; Review: Not bad, just not the best. Ghost makes better products. This one was tough to get the right angle and the one I got was slightly marked in a crucial area causing friction even after a polish. I have ghost connectors on all my glocks. Must've just not been their best produce. Other then that , it came on time and was reasonably priced.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: FH GROUP FH-PU002-1114 Full Set Classic Exquisite Leather Car Seat Covers, Airbag compatible and Split Bench, Solid Gray; Brand: FH Group; Review: Do NOT buy these. They arrived on 08/10 but I did not get them installed until 09/19. I am the only person in my household and the only person getting in and out of my driver's seat. However, between 09/19 and 10/19, the stitching is coming apart on my driver's seat, but because this happened after 10/11, I cannot return them to Amazon, which makes me very sad. However, I can warn you and save you from making my mistake. In case it matters, I have a 2015 Hyundai Veloster. UPDATE 10/21: Now the stitching is coming loose on the passenger seat that has never had anything but my purse put in it. This is ridiculous. I wish I could leave ZERO STARS for this product and the company because they won't get back with me about this problem.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: 3D MAXpider Complete Set Custom Fit All-Weather Floor Mat for Select Hyundai Veloster Models - Kagu Rubber (Black); Brand: 3D MAXpider; Review: These look awesome in my 2015 Hyundai Veloster. They fit snugly in place and really improve the look of my floors. While they aren't cheap, I find the aesthetic value worth the price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Genuine Hyundai Accessories 2V012-ADU30 Black Trunk Tray for Hyundai Veloster; Brand: HYUNDAI; Review: It fits like a glove and looks good too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SEQUENCE Front Head Lamp Devil's Claw Point Molding 4-pc Set For Hyundai Veloster 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017; Brand: Sequence; Review: They look awesome on my Triathlon Gray car. Everybody loves them too and says they are all me because I'm a crazy cat lady, and now I put claws on my car too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Safe Smoke Wind Rain Window Visor Vent 3-pc Set for 2011 2012 Hyundai Veloster; Brand: Veloster (11 ~ 14); Review: These are great and look fantastic on my 2015 Hyundai Veloster!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Philips D2R CrystalVision ultra Authentic Xenon HID Headlight Bulb, 2 Pack; Brand: Philips; Review: They are not as bright as I had hoped, but they are certainly brighter than the bulbs that came with my car. Thankfully, they are definitely a white light instead of the warm light of the original bulbs.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Philips H11 CrystalVision ultra Upgrade Headlight Bulb (Pack of 2); Brand: Philips Automotive Lighting; Review: They are not as bright as I had hoped, but they are certainly brighter than the bulbs that came with my car. Thankfully, they are definitely a white light instead of the warm light of the original bulbs.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Crocs Women's Berryessa Hiker Boot; Brand: ; Review: These boots are really sharp looking. Made of quality materials, and with Croc's excellent for-comfort shoe structure. I have wide feet--made wider by a big toe bunion. I can't afford to have my toes cramped in any way. I measure as an 8.5/9, but usually buy 9.5 to give me the width I need. I ordered a 10 in these. They're a slight effort to get my foot it, but still quite doable. Once in, they are just roomy enough in the toe bed for my toes not to feel cramped together. In my opinion they are as wide as they should be and most women's shoes are way too narrow and cramping (hence the high percentage of foot problems among women). These boots are shaped like the human foot rather than asking the human foot to take on the arbitrary shape of a shoe. Crocs makes very well constructed shoes with excellent arch support. I love that these have no heel elevation and therefore do not throw my weight onto the ball of my foot where I have pain (bunion and Morton's Neuroma}. If anything, my weight feels redistributed backward a bit which is exactly why these are so comfortable. All that said, however, I did take these to my local cobbler to see if he could give me even more room in the toe bed so I can have real freedom to wiggle my toes and protection against any further foot pains. Because they are constructed of real leather, it is possible to have them stretched a bit. Most of the shoes I have bought recently are not leather or are constructed in a way that couldn't tolerate any cobbler stretching. These can. Update: I had them stretched by my cobbler particularly in the spot where my bunion is. Now they are wonderfully roomy and comfy as all get out. I LOVE these boots. I would buy up several pairs of them except that I know (from past experience) that my feet will continue to spread and my Berryessa "collection" won't work for me anymore. I just have to pray that Crocs continues to put out wonderful boots like these. These boots have terrific arch support--right out of the box. In all my other shoes I need to use Superfeet insoles, but not in these. They are absolutely perfect for me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sherly Uniforms Womens Warm Up Jacket; Brand: Sherly Uniforms; Review: This is one of the most ridiculously "off" in sizing of any product I have ever bought. Maybe it's 3X for lilliputians, but not for regular human beings. I would ordinarily wear a 1X but since I was planning to wear the over some clothes, I ordered WAY up--or at least I thought I did. I can't even get the damn thing snapped up below the first 2 snaps. Ridiculous! Otherwise, I guess it's OK, but is there really any OK if you can't get it to fit in a reasonable way?; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Vanity Fair Women's Lollipop Plus Size Cuff Leg Brief Panties 3 Pack 15867; Brand: ; Review: These are the weirdest fitting panties I've ever worn. I bought cuffed pants because I was trying to minimize my direct contact with elastic (latex allergy). But these end up being very uncomfortable because the cuffs have too much slack in them and stretch and then they ride up. Someone else called these granny pants. I have to agree. They are so long that if you have the leg openings in the right place, the waistband is a good 5-6" above my waist. I think it's made for very matronly shaped women whose busts merge with their bellies.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: TeeHee Viscose from Bamboo Diabetic Crew Socks 3-Pack; Brand: ; Review: These socks feel very good to wear and don't strangle my ankles as so many "normal" socks do. They are a little warm for warmer days, but I will love them once cold weather reappears.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Champion Women's Jersey Pant; Brand: ; Review: Nice pants and would fit perfectly if I were 10' tall. These are sized for some "American long-stemmed beauty" with legs that go on forever. For me, however, at 5'4" they drag along the floor and will require hemming--something I am not interested in doing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Lilyette by Bali Women's Dream Back Smoothing Jacquard Minimizer Bra; Brand: ; Review: This is the 4th bra I've purchased with this design cause I really like the look under clothes and it's really comfortable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Profile by Gottex Women's Basic Swimsuit Bottom; Brand: ; Review: It is very comfortable and fits great (unfortunately); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Travelon 18 Inch Wheeled Underseat Bag, Purple, One Size; Brand: Travelon; Review: Just returned from Spain using this piece of luggage. It was great for the airport, easy to stow, and had plenty of room for our weekend in another city by train. I did not, however use it under the seat ahead of me--not enough leg room to reach it easily. I put it above and it was light enough to get down easily.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Born - Womens - Sorja; Brand: Born; Review: This is my 3rd pair of these exact Born's. I can walk all day in them and practically live in them. Born's are the best for crummy feet, of which I have 2.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kalso Earth Shoes Kharma; Brand: Kalso Earth Shoes; Review: I love these shoes, especially now that I am working on my posture. So comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HUE Women's Cotton Liner No-Show Sock 6-Pack; Brand: ; Review: These are very comfortable and wash well. Great when you don't need thicker socks. Will buy again in black.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kalso Earth Women's Intrigue Too Slip-On,Floral Microfiber,8 M US; Brand: Kalso Earth Shoes; Review: I have serious pain in the balls of my feet when walking for more than 40 minutes, as I do while traveling. These shoes take the weight off the balls of my feet so that I can walk longer with no inflammation/pain. Since they are black MaryJanes, I will wear them in the evenings out to dinner and concerts while in Europe next month. I'm so happy that I finally found a solution to my foot problems.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Simlu Long Sleeve Modal T Shirt Crew Neck, V Neck Tunic Top For Women - USA; Brand: Simlu; Review: Though it fit fine, the color is more pink than what the picture shows. I wore it anyway, and got several compliments on it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Olga Women's Signature Support Satin Bra; Brand: Olga; Review: This is my 3rd of this bra, and I love it mostly because it is so comfortable and holds up my boobs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FitFlop Women's Banda Sandal Urban White; Brand: ; Review: I really like these because they aren't too white. Very comfortable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: FitFlop Womens Banda Perforated Thong Sandal Shoes; Brand: ; Review: These are comfy, but I sent them back because I don't need them.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: .925 Sterling Silver Unique Large Celtic Knot French Wire Earrings; Brand: Doublebeez Jewelry; Review: I LOVE THESE EARRINGS SO MUCH THAT I BOUGHT A 2ND PAIR IN CASE I LOSE ONE. THEY EXACTLY MATCH A PENDANT I BOUGHT IN IRELAND 20 YEARS AGO THAT I WEAR ALL THE TIME. THEY ARE THE EXACT SIZE AND LENGTH FOR MY SHORT NECK.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kipling Alvar Solid Crossbody Bag; Brand: Kipling; Review: I have this handbag in fuchsia and black and absolutely love them. They hug my hip, have compartments for everything and have room for my 10.5 in iPad Pro which is why I purchased them in the first place. The shoulder strap is very comfortable and adjustable. I am always looking for the PERFECT handbag and this is it for me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spalding Women's Slim Fit Pant; Brand: Spalding; Review: I practically live in these leggings. I have purchased 5 pair and workout in them, shop in them, wear a dressy top with them and go out to dinner in them. They are cotton so breath. Absolutely the best leggings I've ever owned.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Kasich to Congress: 'Look in the mirror at how you want to be remembered'; Abstract: Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich said his advice for fellow Republicans in Congress during the impeachment process was to "look in the mirror at how you want to be remembered.; Category: news
Title: Senate GOP braces for impeachment trial 'roller coaster'; Abstract: Republicans are bracing for a high-stakes impeachment fight as soon as next month as a trial in the Senate looks all but inevitable.; Category: news
Title: Analysis: The impeachment inquiry is making Nancy Pelosi more popular; Abstract: Speakers usually lose popularity over time. Pelosi's bucking the trend.; Category: news
Title: Trump claim brings new pain to relatives of lynching victims; Abstract: MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Willie Edwards Jr., a black truck driver, was killed by Ku Klux Klansmen who forced him to jump off a bridge in Alabama in 1957. Two years earlier, white men had bludgeoned black teenager Emmett Till to death in Mississippi. No one went to prison for either slaying. Both people died in racist lynchings, and relatives of each were aghast Tuesday after President Donald Trump compared his own possible impeachment to lynching...; Category: news
Title: Officer in viral-video shoplifting incident to be fired: Police chief; Abstract: The police chief of Phoenix said the Disciplinary Review Board's recommendation of a six-week unpaid suspension was not "sufficient" for Officer Chris Meyer.; Category: news
Title: Willie Brown, Hall of Famer and Raiders legend, dies at 78; Abstract: "My job was not catching passes," Brown would once say. "My job was to stop the receiver from catching it."; Category: sports
Title: Trump's Rallies Aren't Just Part of His Campaign. They Are the Campaign.; Abstract: The president is banking on base-pleasing campaign events more meticulously produced this time to outweigh any need for a fresh message to skeptical voters and to counter a probe that threatens his political future.; Category: news
Title: Facebook's Zuckerberg, Accused of Lying, Withstands a Washington 'Beating'; Abstract: WASHINGTON Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook chief executive, traveled to Washington to defend a cryptocurrency project that has become the latest target of lawmakers frustrated with the social media giant. He ended up answering a smorgasbord of questions on other issues on Wednesday, as members of the House Financial Services Committee took him to task for everything from political advertising and disinformation campaigns to work force diversity...; Category: news
Title: Four ways Trump's tax returns could come to light; Abstract: President Donald Trump broke with a decades-long tradition of U.S. presidential candidates by not releasing his tax returns during his campaign, prompting state and Congressional investigators to seek the returns through other means. Here are four ways investigators could get his tax returns.; Category: news
Title: Photos of the Day; Abstract: Our top photos from the last 24 hours.; Category: news
Title: Warren pledges to overturn military transgender ban on Day 1; Abstract: ; Category: news
Title: Democrats vow not to delay impeachment probe as witnesses ignore subpoenas; Abstract: Four White House officials slated for closed door depositions on Monday did not show up on Capitol Hill.; Category: news
Title: 'Sons Of Anarchy' Star Ron Perlman Files for Divorce After 38 Years of Marriage; Abstract: According to documents obtained by ET, the actor filed papers for a dissolution of his marriage on Tuesday.; Category: tv
Title: Pelosi says Trump has admitted to bribery; Abstract: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said President Trump has admitted to actions that amount to bribery.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: .hack//Sign; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Magic, Mystery, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Azumanga Daioh; Genres: Comedy, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi; Genres: Adventure, Drama, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: FLCL; Genres: Action, Comedy, Dementia, Mecha, Parody, Sci-Fi; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Cardcaptor Sakura; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, School, Shoujo; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Di Gi Charat; Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Heppoko Jikken Animation Excel♥Saga; Genres: Comedy, Parody, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Haibane Renmei; Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Psychological, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Karas; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballa; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Historical, Military, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: .hack//Gift; Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Game; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: One Piece Movie 1; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Paniponi Dash!; Genres: Comedy, Parody, School; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Pokemon; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Pokemon: Mewtwo no Gyakushuu; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Puni Puni☆Poemii; Genres: Comedy, Magic, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Chicchana Yukitsukai Sugar; Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Slice of Life; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Pokemon: Maboroshi no Pokemon Lugia Bakutan; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Pokemon: Kesshoutou no Teiou Entei; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Pokemon: Celebi Toki wo Koeta Deai; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Pokemon: Mizu no Miyako no Mamorigami Latias to Latios; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Pokemon Advanced Generation: Nanayo no Negaiboshi Jirachi; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Pokemon Advanced Generation: Rekkuu no Houmonsha Deoxys; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Kids, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kakurenbo; Genres: Horror, Psychological, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS: Sailor 9 Senshi Shuuketsu! Black Dream Hole no Kiseki; Genres: Drama, Magic, Shoujo; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Ojamajo Doremi Na-i-sho; Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Magic, Shoujo; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Pokemon Crystal: Raikou Ikazuchi no Densetsu; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Pokemon Advanced Generation: Mew to Hadou no Yuusha Lucario; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat; Genres: Comedy; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Pokemon: Mewtwo! Ware wa Koko ni Ari; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Super Milk-chan; Genres: Action, Comedy, Parody, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Sonic X; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Kids, Mecha, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Lucky☆Star; Genres: Comedy, Parody, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Tokumu Sentai Shinesman; Genres: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Ocha-ken: Chokotto Monogatari; Genres: Comedy, Kids; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Sonic★the★Hedgehog; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: One Piece: Jango no Dance Carnival; Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: One Piece: Yume no Soccer Ou!; Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei; Genres: Comedy, Parody, School; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Pokemon Diamond & Pearl: Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kamen Rider SD Kaiki?! Kumo Otoko; Genres: Action, Parody; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei; Genres: Comedy, Parody, School; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Neko Ramen; Genres: Comedy; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Crayon Shin-chan Manatsu no Yoru ni Ora Sanjou! Arashi wo Yobu Den-O vs. Shin-O 60-bu Special!!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Kids, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Kamen Rider Den-O: Imagin Anime; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Kids, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Pokemon Diamond & Pearl: Giratina to Sora no Hanataba Sheimi; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Fireball; Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Lucky☆Star: Original na Visual to Animation; Genres: Comedy, Parody, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Goku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei; Genres: Comedy, Parody, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Casshern Sins; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Psychological, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Tentai Senshi Sunred; Genres: Comedy, Parody, Seinen, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hetalia Axis Powers; Genres: Comedy, Historical, Parody; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Paniponi Dash!: Danjite Okonaeba Kishin mo Kore wo Saku; Genres: Comedy, Parody, School; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Kamen Rider Den-O: Imagin Anime 2; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Kids, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei; Genres: Comedy, Parody, School; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Bangaichi; Genres: Comedy, Parody, School; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Tottoko Hamtarou Movie 2: Ham-Ham Hamuuja! Maboroshi no Princess; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Kids; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica; Genres: Drama, Magic, Psychological, Thriller; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Joshiraku; Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Tsuritama; Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life, Sports; Rating: 10.0/10.0 | anime |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: All the Light We Cannot See; Author: Visit Amazon's Anthony Doerr Page; Review: Great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl on the Train; Author: Visit Amazon's Paula Hawkins Page; Review: Great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nightingale: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristin Hannah Page; Review: Great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl in the Spider's Web: A Lisbeth Salander novel, continuing Stieg Larsson's Millennium Series; Author: Visit Amazon's David Lagercrantz Page; Review: Very good; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: MIDNIGHT SUN; Author: Visit Amazon's Jo Nesbo Page; Review: Great story; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Journey to Munich: A Maisie Dobbs Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jacqueline Winspear Page; Review: Good; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Birds of a Feather (Maisie Dobbs, Book 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Jacqueline Winspear Page; Review: Great; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Manhattan Beach: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jennifer Egan Page; Review: Great writing; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Qupid Women's Athena-868A Thong Sandal; Brand: Qupid; Review: As described and fit well; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fossil Womens Georgia - ES3060; Brand: ; Review: Pretty watch, however the very thin leather ban is not very comfortable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: RICHKING Minimalist Bar Urn Pendant Memorial - Ashes Keepsake Exquisite Cremation Jewelry; Brand: RICHKING; Review: I did quite a lot of research before purchasing this necklace for my Mom's remains. It is a beautiful necklace and looks even prettier in person. The one this I would change is that there does not seem to be any safety feature on the chain that would prevent the pendant from falling off when you are removing or putting it on. I thought this was a feature it had and that is why I purchased it. If I had to do again I would look for one that had a safety feature to prevent this. As my biggest fear is losing the pendant itself. Also the chain on the necklace is quite a bit darker and thicker that it appears in the images provided. So just keep that in mind when purchasing this.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cuddl Duds Women's Softwear with Lace Edge Legging; Brand: Cuddl Duds; Review: Do not fit well at all; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cuddl Duds Women's Softwear With Lace Edge Long Sleeve V-Neck Top; Brand: Cuddl Duds; Review: Do not fit well at all; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Zoppen Multi-purpose Rfid Blocking Travel Passport Wallet (Ver.4) Tri-fold Document Organizer Holder; Brand: Zoppen; Review: Loved this purchase! I made this purchase for my trip to London in May. Everyone was asking me where I purchased this, even the sales girls in Harrods. This purchase will get quite a lot of use. I now use for everydaybin my purse as well as when I travel!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zoppen Multi-purpose Rfid Blocking Travel Passport Wallet (Ver.4) Tri-fold Document Organizer Holder; Brand: Zoppen; Review: Loved this purchase! I made this purchase for my trip to London in May. Everyone was asking me where I purchased this, even the sales girls in Harrods. This purchase will get quite a lot of use. I now use for everydaybin my purse as well as when I travel!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Vanishing Act (The Sisterhood); Author: Visit Amazon's Fern Michaels Page; Review: I always enjoy the sisterhood books they are exciting and you never know what they are going to do next. All of the girls are great but Annie and Marla are a treat. I want to find me a Charles. BUY it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deadly Deals: Sisterhood Series #16 (The Sisterhood); Author: Visit Amazon's Fern Michaels Page; Review: Love it! Each sisterhood book gets better and better. These women can not dies off. I actually sat in my driveway to finish listening to the end of the book. LOL; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Razor Sharp (The Sisterhood); Author: Visit Amazon's Fern Michaels Page; Review: Darn I look forward to m these books, I read and listen to every type of book. But this one you proabably can put yourself in one of the ladies as yourself. love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Under the Radar (The Sisterhood); Author: Visit Amazon's Fern Michaels Page; Review: What can I say...It is the sisterhood series....always great.....newcomers start from the beginning go on the her site and go by the dates .......love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Word Gets Around (Daily, Texas, Book 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Wingate Page; Review: Hey sometimes you have to think of yourself. Read or listen to this book...you willm understand.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Toys; Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: As far as Mr. Patterson book "TOYS" I wish it was on CD or recorded on MP3. I listen to my books coming and going to work and on business trips. Mr. Patterson I also love your commercials. You are funny...going to kill off Alex ..huh Are you married? lol SJB; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: By Unknown Means; Author: Visit Amazon's Doug Giacobbe Page; Review: You have to read this book, and you will not put it down. It is more intriguing and venturesome but very suspenseful and thrilling. If you like James Patterson, Daniel Silva, David Baldacci, Lisa Scottoline; you will definitely enjoy this book. I see sequence coming...... Sandra Bellrose (Sandy Lucas); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lethal; Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Brown Page; Review: Sandra Brown never changes my expectations of her writing she is one of the great authors of our time. This book is solid, fast, dangerous, good cop or dirty cop? Read and find out....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: First Sight: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Danielle Steel Page; Review: Great book makes your heart feel warm. It is a Danielle Steel book after all I did not expect anything else.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Girl Panties: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephanie Evanovich Page; Review: Hilarious but not what yiu think read and enjoy the book. Remember there is no bad books just books with an individual vuew.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Confessions of a Murder Suspect: (Confessions 1) (Confession Series); Author: James Patterson James Patterson; Review: It is a James Patterson book! I read the second book first and really enjoyed it. So I had to find out about the girst. Very intriguing; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Christmas Bride: An Anthology (Fool's Gold); Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Mallery Page; Review: I love all of your books but I have my favorite which is Fool's Gold. Please consider going back to the beginning and putting the paperback on cd or MP3. I drive 50 miles one way to work; so I go througha couple of audio books a week. I would love to hear how it started. A Christmas Bride I have not read or heard yet. I work and read all day long that is why I listen to books now. When I retire I am planning on going back to books or use one of my 3 e-books (can't use it now because I am driving). There just might be other people that would enjoy listening to them too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Without A Trace (The O'hurleys); Author: Roberts; Review: It's the O'Hurley series it is faboulous.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: O'Hurley's Return: Without A Trace; Author: Visit Amazon's Nora Roberts Page; Review: It's the O'Hurley series it is faboulous.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mark Twain: Five Novels (Library of Essential Writers Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Twain Page; Review: Its Mark Twain.... GREAT; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Classic Treasury of Hans Christian Andersen; Author: Hans Christian Andersen; Review: Hans Christian Anderson treasures ... what do you say other fabulous!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To Love and Protect: An Anthology (Count on a Cop); Author: Visit Amazon's Debbie Macomber Page; Review: Fabulous; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secrets of the Tulip Sisters: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Mallery Page; Review: Great book; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Enrique's Journey: The Story of a Boy's Dangerous Odyssey to Reunite with His Mother; Author: Visit Amazon's Sonia Nazario Page; Review: very enlightening, desire must be powerful to go through the anguish and terrible way that they are treated. Good read; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Beloved World; Author: Visit Amazon's Sonia Sotomayor Page; Review: what a great story. well written. no wonder she made it all the way to the Supreme Court. there should be more who work so hard to make a better life for themselves. this book (story) shows that it can be done. I shall recommend it to all the readers I know.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Defending Jacob: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's William Landay Page; Review: grabs ahold of you right up to the end; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Friend Like Henry; Author: Gardner; Review: dogs are great friends and healers; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Two Pedal World; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Rega Page; Review: I had already read the book I also read the journey quit a feat for ones their age interesting reading; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt; Author: Visit Amazon's Eleanor Roosevelt Page; Review: I enjoyed hearing her side of her story so many others have had their says she was quite a woman; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta; City: Puerto Vallarta; Review: Went to PV with a friend of mine for a girls trip after going to Cabo a couple months ago. I had high expectations because of the good reviews on this site and was pretty let down mainly because the food was not good at all. The Mexican place was actually decent, Oceana was bland, the Italian place was AWFUL- I couldn't even eat some of my food it was so bad. How do you mess up pasta? We tried the hibachi place last. This was meh, super greasy (to be expected) but nothing special and the restaurant isn't well ventilated so it was super hot inside. Let me also say we tried room service one night (fries, nachos and just some snacks) and oh my gosh it was nasty. The fries tasted stale and cold and like they were cooked 5 days ago. The buffet they keep at the pool that you can eat for lunch was gross, we tried to eat it one day and i had to toss it out. I swear I've never been a picky eater before so its rare that I'm this way about food. Other than food, the room was dated but Ok. Great tub, shower and balcony with view of the ocean. I was disappointed in the maid service everyday because they would fail to replace things we would use. For example, we used the shower gel the first night and the "vanity kit" that had Qtips in it and they were never replaced even after i requested. Not sure why All in all, it was a fun trip but we wont be coming back; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Iberostar Grand Paraiso; City: Playa Paraiso Playa del Carmen Yucatan Peninsula; Review: Just got back from a 4 day stay at the Iberostar and I have to say the service and beach was amazing. If you can, get a beach front room because it is so worth it! Our room was beautiful and although we didn't spend a ton of time in it, it was great to wake up to the ocean and hear the waves at night. One thing I do have to disagree with other reviewers on is the food. We ate at the breakfast buffet (which was good), the Italian restaurant, Japanese and surf & turf. Italian was awful, Japanese was so/so and surf & turf was good. I guess i just had higher expectations since i had read reviews on here prior to going and everyone had raved about how great the food was. Maybe I am just picky! Note: make sure to email the resort and make reservations a week prior to your stay. They fill up quickly. If you wait, there is a chance you wont be able to get in. The beach was awesome! We spent zero time at the pool so I cant speak to that. Beach was peaceful and chairs were comfortable. There was no problem getting one so no rush on getting there early (although we did because we are early risers) All in all, we will be back to Playa but unsure about Iberostar (jury is out!); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: AC Hotel des Moines East Village; City: Des Moines Iowa; Review: Stayed here for 1 night in March 3 weeks after they opened. Despite a few kinks i think its a great hotel that I would definitely stay in again. The rooms and bathrooms are very modern and sleek, big TVs and there is a great rooftop bar on the 6th floor overlooking the city. The only issues are: -limited parking. You can street park free overnight but then you have to run outside at 8am and put money in the meter. Or you can park in their heated underground parking for $18 a night -they didn't put a receipt for my stay under my door in the morning (which I need for my work expense report). So i had to go to the front desk to get it. Very minor- I'm sure they will work this out -there were some construction-ish marks on the wallpaper in the room. They could easily be cleaned off with a wash cloth but it seemed like they maybe rushed through the open and didn't entirely clean the walls after wallpapering? Overall this hotel was very nice and i would recommend trying it out!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wyndham Garden Ventura Pierpont Inn; City: Ventura California; Review: I stayed at this hotel for 3 nights and definitely wont be back. For starters, the check in area is a tiny room on the side of the building with a sign pointing in that says "registration." Its old and not inviting in any way. I checked in around 830/9pm so it was dark out, i walk to my room and the door was wide open and all the lights off? Please keep in mind I'm a mid/late 20s woman traveling alone and seeing my room wide open to the public is not very comforting. I called the front desk and all they said is oops sorry maintenance must have left it open The main part of the room looks to have been updated but oh my gosh that bathroom was the worst bathroom i have ever seen in a hotel. It looks like something that belongs in a motel 8 or a high school gym bathroom. The smell of the place was also really bad- it made all my clothes smell musty. Lastly, it was SO loud. You hear cars from the highway 24/7. So if you are a light sleeper then beware; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Renovo; City: Urbandale Iowa; Review: I travel to Des Moines for work every other week and was excited to try out this hotel (my usual hotel was sold out and the pictures of this hotel looked pretty nice). The room and bathroom is nice and clean, no issues there. Decent sized gym as well. The $10 breakfast is better than your usual hotel hot breakfast- more options and they changed it up day to day. Where they really missed the mark for me was when it came time to sleep. They have a gas fire pit and 'hangout' area outside of the bar that you are probably thinking is a cool idea right about now. Unfortunately my room/window was right next to it and there were extremely intoxicated people screaming/clapping/laughing past 11:30pm all 4 nights i stayed there. The bar inside closed at 10pm so i didn't understand why they would let the drunk people continue to drink outside and disrupt everyone? I called the front desk several times and complained. At one point i even heard a woman falling in the hallway outside my room yelling "oh my gosh i am so drunk".....this is a hotel. Not a club. I wasn't impressed with the management and how they would let something like this happen 4 night in a row so i wont be returning. I will go somewhere else where i can actually sleep!; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Panasonic DVD-LS92 9-Inch Screen Portable DVD Player; Brand: Panasonic; Review: Haven't even had this DVD player for two months, and only used it approx 1-2 times a week since I received it and already the picture has totally gone out. I still get sound, but no picture. So so frustrating! I wish I had bought this from a bricks and mortar store like Best Buy or Target instead of on Amazon as I now have to deal with the convoluted and non-customer service friendly return policy, which is telling me I'm stuck with a broken DVD player that I just barely bought because it's been over 30 days!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Digital Innovations SecureMount Headrest DVD Player Vehicle Mount (7020000); Brand: Digital Innovations; Review: This product is a genius solution. We've had it for about two years now and it's help up great and works perfectly in our Honda Odyssey. Have been very glad to have it as we opted not to get the in-car DVD system installed when we bought the van (didn't want kids whining about watching movies on every 20 minute drive) so this is the perfect solution for when we take longer road trips. Highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TFY Car Headrest Mount for Swivel & Flip Style Portable DVD Player-9 Inch; Brand: TFY; Review: Works perfectly, fit our Honda Odyssey headrest.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Garmin 010-11251-19 Forerunner 10 Replacement Band, Green, Small; Brand: Garmin; Review: Worked perfectly, fit the green watch, was very easy to put on with the tools.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sylvania SDVD1030-B 10.1-Inch Portable DVD Player with 5 Hour Battery Life; Brand: Sylvania; Review: Feels like the flimsiest piece of plastic which would be fine if it also hasn't stopped working after 3-4 uses. Just won't read DVDs.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Woods 50009WD Digital 7-Day Lamp/Appliance Timer with 2; Brand: Woods; Review: This product works fine, but only for about one year. After that, it dies. Just like other reviewers say, I see 8888.88 on the screen. It means it is not working anymore. I reprogrammed it. Then it went 8888 again after couple days. Repeat the process. It is not hard to program. Really. But why bother if it works only for one year? I should have read the reviews before buying it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Amprobe LT-10 Fluorescent Light Tester with Non-Contact Voltage Detection and 48" Antenna; Brand: Amprobe; Review: Amprobe LT-10 is highly versatile and useful electrical testers. With a LT-10 you can check florescent lamps & light bulbs are operational. products are always smartly designed and durable built. The LT-10 testers are no exception. The amprobe has an antenna which allows you to test the bulb and voltage at a distance. This would greatly facilitate checking multiple bulbs/ fixtures, or difficult to reach fixtures. In my case it did not help a lot but only because the problem was not a fault with bulb, wiring or fixture. You can also use this device to check home's electrical wiring for voltage.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Glentronics, Inc. BWD-HWA Basement Watchdog Water Sensor and Alarm; Brand: Glentronics, Inc.; Review: Installation is super easy. I test it by putting in a bucket and water is dripping into it. After a while, the alarm sounds. The leaflet says "110dB alarm can be heard throughout the house" which is untrue. The sound is not loud at all. I can heard it if I am in the same room. But I am placing it in the basement which I can't heard it from the ground floor. I am looking for a product that can sound very loudly.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Leviton 16693 15-Amp, 120-Volt, Grounded, Compact Automatic Reset Right Angle GFCI, RoHS Compliant, Black; Brand: Leviton; Review: The product is sturdy and I think it will last long. The most useful part is the "ring seal" to hold the input cable tightly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Woods Countdown Timer With 8-Hour Countdown With 1 Grounded Outlet (White, For Indoors Use); Brand: Woods; Review: The LED of "HOLD" is not working after a week of operation. Too much hassle to return the product to Amazon. Had I purchased it at Lowes or Home Depot, I would return it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Homecraft H26-260L 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw by Delta Power Tools; Brand: Delta; Review: Homecraft Miter Saw is a versatile tool for small jobs. The laser guide feature is useful to see the cut line before you make it. It is awkward to see it first but after several tries I find it extremely useful. However, even with laser guide, expect cutting tolerance 1/16 inch. I wish the laser shared the same power with the saw without the need of additional two AAA batteries. I have been using this tool to cut wood but the manual says okay to cut plastic. PVC pipe? I haven't tried. It also says for finer cuts with plastic, a special blade is recommended. One important note before you run this tool is make sure you do not share the power outlet with other power-hungry appliances like air conditioners. This tool will consume 14 Amps!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Westek MLC12BC-4 Indoor Plug-In Corded Motion Activated Light Control; Brand: Westek; Review: I am writing this review after about two weeks of use. So far it is working as advertised. I used it in the laundry room and set it to automatically off after 5 minutes. You can set how many minute it will turn off automatically. The setting is 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 minute. I wish the setting is behind the sensor, instead of the outlet. Some reviewers say it has a delay. I do not experience a delay. In the laundry room it is plugged to fluorescent lights.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Parkfield Single-Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet; Brand: GROHE; Review: This faucet is designed for single-hole solid surface countertop such as granite or concrete. Why I love it: (1) It is very easy to install. No wrench is needed. A simple screwdriver is what you need. (2) It has its own O-ring for sealing with the countertop. (3) It has a large user-friendly lever that easily pivots.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pfister GT529-ELS Lita Single Handle Pull-Down Faucet with React Touch Free Technology, Stainless Steel; Brand: Pfister; Review: Thanks for the easy-to-follow diagrams in the installation guide, I was able to complete the installation in about two hours without round trips to Home Depot. - Tools needed are adjustable wrench and Philips screwdriver - This product needs extra space under the sink for the "control box" (it is the box that contains the electronic components). The control box is about 4 inch x 6 inch and 2 inch thickness. Basically you connect the faucet to the control box then the control box is connected to the water supply. - The biggest challenge is to arrange the flexible lines under the kitchen sink without kinking them. Especially if space is limited. The unit comes with a power adapter to power the control box. GFCI outlet is required. Call your electrician, if you do not have an outlet under the sink. You may be able to drill a small hole on the countertop or kitchen cabinet to insert the cable or other clever stuff. However, without an outlet, the control box can be powered by battery pack, sold separately (it is part #961-192). User manual says it needs 6 non-rechargeable alkaline batteries with expected life of 1 year. I am not sure if Amazon is selling the battery pack. The "hibernate" mode is useful when you need to clean and wipe the faucet without running the water. Hibernate mode disables the sensor.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pfister GT529-ELS Lita Single Handle Pull-Down Faucet with React Touch Free Technology, Stainless Steel; Brand: Pfister; Review: Thanks for the easy-to-follow diagrams in the installation guide, I was able to complete the installation in about two hours without round trips to Home Depot. - Tools needed are adjustable wrench and Philips screwdriver - This product needs extra space under the sink for the "control box" (it is the box that contains the electronic components). The control box is about 4 inch x 6 inch and 2 inch thickness. Basically you connect the faucet to the control box then the control box is connected to the water supply. - The biggest challenge is to arrange the flexible lines under the kitchen sink without kinking them. Especially if space is limited. The unit comes with a power adapter to power the control box. GFCI outlet is required. Call your electrician, if you do not have an outlet under the sink. You may be able to drill a small hole on the countertop or kitchen cabinet to insert the cable or other clever stuff. However, without an outlet, the control box can be powered by battery pack, sold separately (it is part #961-192). User manual says it needs 6 non-rechargeable alkaline batteries with expected life of 1 year. I am not sure if Amazon is selling the battery pack. The "hibernate" mode is useful when you need to clean and wipe the faucet without running the water. Hibernate mode disables the sensor.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GE Bluetooth Smart Switch (Plug-In), 13867, Works with Alexa; Brand: GE; Review: I am disappointed with this product because it is not compatible with Windows Phone or any Bluetooth enabled laptop. But at least it has a clearly visible on/off switch for manual control. I like the flashing blue button when it is plugged to the outlet. I hope that future products are z-wave compatible. Z-wave is the home automation and security system I currently have which has interactive user interface for any browsers and smartphones (Android, Windows and Apple).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stanley 31161 Indoor Remote Control, Polarized 1-Outlet Wireless Remote; Brand: Stanley; Review: I rate 3-star (OK) because this product has only 1 outlet and with just a few dollars more, you can get Woods 13569 Indoor Plug-In Wireless Remote Control w/ 3 Outlets, White which has 3 outlets. The differences between Stanley remote control and Woods 13569: - Stanley has 1 outlet and Woods has 3. - Stanley outlet is 2-prong type outlet and Woods is 3-prong one. For Stanley outlet, I need to spend more money to buy a 3-prong to 2-prong adapter. Why not design the product as 3-prong outlet from start? - Stanley remote has an antenna. Woods does not.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stanley 31166 Wireless Remote Control System (3-Pack); Brand: Stanley; Review: It is more expensive than Woods 13569 Indoor Plug-In Wireless Remote Control w/ 3 Outlets, White (competitor) but it has more features: - Large override button - Compact remote with no antenna - Grounded outlets - Expandable: you can pair additional remotes and receivers - Work over long distance (80 ft. according to the manufacturer. At home I tried in the basement partitioned with two interior walls and doors); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KREG TOOL KHC6 Kreg Wood Project Clamp With Automaxx, 6"; Brand: Kreg; Review: This is far superior than C-style clamps I have from Home Depot. The C-style clamps are limited to clamp the edge of the wood while this one has no limit. However, sometimes I use the C-style clamp to clamp the plastic hose on my aquarium. I'm afraid I can't use this product - it may break the aquarium glass. It is so tight. So I assume this is only for wood.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pyramex Highlander Plus Safety Goggles; Brand: Pyramex Safety; Review: Not bad. It is working as expected. I use this as protection when working at the garden and also when spraying chemical/fungicide to the plants. I like the elastic strap but initially it is too tight and leave some marks on my skin. It is fully adjustable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brabantia Sort & Go Waste Bin, 6L/1.6 Gal. , 6 L, Mint; Brand: Brabantia; Review: The design is very European and Ikea-like. The color I pick, yellow, is very eye-catching and easily-spotted. My existing compost bin,OXO Good Grips Easy Clean Compost Bin, White, is too small so I replace it with this product, which is more stylish than the 5-gallon bucket from hardware store. The lid is super easy to lift but it seems too easy for squirrel to scavenge. The bin has to stay indoor.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Kinderlou Inn; City: Valdosta Georgia; Review: Positives- Staff were nice and helpful Room was clean. Negatives- we had a room in the back building. Right near the exit door. Everytime someone came in or out it sounded like someone knocking on our door. The train at 12:30 am and early am kind of sucked. Beds were really small but comfortable. Went to breakfast at 8:30 and there was barely any food left. Overall- not bad for a one night stay but probably won't stay here again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld; City: Orlando Florida; Review: Positives: Walking distance to Sea World and good distance to restaurants. My children loved the pools. Negatives: Our room could have been a little cleaner. The key to our room was a pain because it took forever to get it to work properly. The beds were not very comfortable and the pillows were hard. $15 a night for parking when you are not even guaranteed to get a spot near your room(worked out good for us though) is a bit much. Oh and when I checked we didn't receive our Fresh Warm Cookies lol. Overall we would stay here again and even the negative things weren't that bad.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld; City: Orlando Florida; Review: Overall the best part of this hotel was the pools and walking distance to Sea World. Negatives: No trash bags in rooms. Beds and pillows were hard. Room had a musty smell to it. Room key kept malfunctioning. Paid $15 a night for parking should guarentee a parking spot near your building. The prices for food were way over priced and thanks for the 2 bottles of water but why would I pay $2.50 a bottle when I can get them cheaper at the Walgreens down the road. Plus who wants warm water after a hot day. We did not have a frig in our room. Oh and the front desk clerk gave cookies to the person in front of me but we didn't get them.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Suites Historic District; City: Savannah Georgia; Review: The location while set more on the edge of the Historic District was good. Free shuttle service to anywhere you need to go. James was wonderful. Front desk staff were very friendly especially Shawnta. Room was spacious and the bed was comfortable. We got stuck on the pet floor but it was pretty quiet. The free breakfast was just ok but again the staff were friendly. Overall I would stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista; City: Orlando Florida; Review: My husband, myself and our 2 children stayed here the weekend after Memorial Day. The hotel is very nice. Room was a bit small and the bathroom could have been cleaner but it was worth the price. We used the shuttle twice and that was nice also. We would stay again. Negative: Please do not send guest over to the time-share counter for "special packages" Spent at least 10min explaining to the lady that I was not interested and she was rude about it. To say " Why wouldn't you want to only spend 2hrs touring a resort to get 7 days for free?" Umm we had every day planned out while we were there so NO we didn't have 2hrs to spare. Very rude. Guests should be made aware that the desk is purely for signing up for Timeshares so we can choose to avoid it!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rosen Centre Hotel; City: Orlando Florida; Review: Stayed here for one night during Pop Warner Cheer Competition. Positives: Clean rooms Convenient location for restaurants and shopping. Polite and professional front desk staff. Negatives: The walk from parking garage to the front desk is horrible. Especially with 2 tired 8yo cheerleaders and baggage. Beds while comfortable are extremely small. Thought they were supposed to be two queens but more like double beds. Overall we were only there for one night. 23rd floor so it was pretty quiet. We would stay again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rosen Plaza Hotel; City: Orlando Florida; Review: My family of four stayed for one night. This is a nice hotel in a great location. Purchased as a name your own price on Priceline. Negatives: Rooms with double beds: Too small for a family of four. Kids 9 and 12. Bathroom: Too small Positives: Aaron at Registration is awesome. From the moment I walked up he was friendly. He has jokes. I should have taken the upgrade but thought it would be too small. Staff: Deli/Store staff very friendly. Double Beds: Though small, very comfortable. Shower: Loved the water pressure and the fact that the water stayed hot. We would definitely stay again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta NW Wildwood; City: Atlanta Georgia; Review: My family and I checked in on 6/17/17. We originally were booked at local motel. We were very disappointed and decided to cancel those reservations. When we checked in the front desk staff at Hilton Garden were extremely helpful and professional. This hotel was very nice and clean. Room was clean and beds comfortable. Breakfast Buffett affordable and under 12 eats free. Shuttle available which my husband and son took to the Ballpark. Very convenient. The only thing I would give a lower score for would be the pool. The water was too warm which when it's 90 degrees out isn't very refreshing. Overall we enjoyed our 2 day stay and would definitely stay again. Thank you. The po; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista South; City: Kissimmee Florida; Review: Stayed 3/16-3/17 for a Sea World trip. Spacious room with comfortable beds. I'm a Hilton HHonors member so they had bottles of water ready when I checked in with two candy bars(no cookies...). Breakfast was great. Plenty to choose from. You don't have to eat at the hotel because there are plenty of local restaurants around. Heated pool was great after a long day at park. Cons: Digital Key worked for our room only. Front desk gave us an extra key parking/room. Never worked. Had to ask for assistance every time we went to pull into the parking lot and leave. Free Wi-Fi is terrible. Couldn't get to barely any of the sites that we normally go to. Ended up just turning off the Wi-Fi. Small con: Could use more tv channels, and bags in trash cans.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Mr Peace Backpacker s House; City: Da Lat Lam Dong Province; Review: Mr. Peace and his wife Strawberry are such great people. They speak very good English and are there to help you in anyway they can. The hostel is a great atmosphere and has a lot of people all the time. Great spot to stay in Dalat and I recommend checking it out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wish You Were Here Guesthouse Bar; City: Sihanoukville Sihanoukville Province; Review: Walked over to this hostel for a beer and to hangout. Met the owners and they are great people and run a very nice business. The atmosphere was great and seemed like a pretty chill place to stay and hangout. It is not located right on Outres Beach but it is a 5 second walk across the street. I heard the rooms are alright and is a decent place to crash. There are places on the beach available but will probably cost you a couple more bucks.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kinh Do Hotel; City: Ninh Binh Ninh Binh Province; Review: Awesome place to stay when in Ninh Binh. Staff was very friendly and spoke very good English. At night I sat down with a older fellow and we had some tea, smoked some tobacco out of a bong, and exchanged/taught each other our languages. It was a great experience. Room was clean and pretty decent considering the price is so low, I didn't expect that. Shower was warm and had pressure. The location is perfect and right in the middle of the city with lots of restaurants and shops around. The food was pretty good at the restaurant in the hotel. We had the breakfast. They also have a locking gate and stored our motorbikes for free and we had peace of mind. I definitely recommend this hotel. It looks like a pricey place but it isn't. Great bang for your buck.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sea Garden Bungalows Otres Beach; City: Sihanoukville Sihanoukville Province; Review: This is the best places I have stayed at so far in Cambodia and even throughout my travels in Vietnam. Great location at Outres Beach and very chill/relaxing atmosphere. Good place to hangout and rest from travelling. Outres Beach is a little ways from the city of Sihanoukville but I think it is the better place to stay rather the in the city limits. Unless you are looking for clubs and casinos. If not check out Outres Beach... Still a great night life but more for the beach bum type of person. The owners are amazing people and are make your stay that much better. Awesome menu and the beds are very comfortable. No bathrooms in the rooms but that just adds to the beach lifestyle. I definitely recommend staying at this place when in the Sihanoukville area!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Tree Bistro; City: Quy Nhon Binh Dinh Province; Review: Can't say enough about the location of the hostel. Situated right on the beach and only a few other hotels/hostels on this pretty much private beach. Great food and drinks. A lot of fun and a perfect place to relax for a couple days during your travels. Just lay around and get a tan or go swimming in the ocean or a run on the beach. The staff is very nice and speak great English. The owner is a little weird and odd but he is a very nice guy. I highly recommend this hostel to anyone looking for beachfront and a quite/relaxing stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tigon Hostel; City: Hue Thua Thien Hue Province; Review: Very nice hostel with an amazing staff. The young girl spoke very good English and was very helpful. The room was clean and the bed was comfortable. Nice bathroom and an actual bathtub/shower with a curtain and great pressure. Not just a drain in the corner by the toilet like most hostels. They were doing renovations to the lobby at the time but should be done soon. Definitely recommend this hostel to backpackers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heritage by Night Hotel; City: Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Quang Binh Province; Review: Very clean, nice hotel located in the middle of the town. Rooms and beds were great and comfortable. The shower was by far the best part. Tons of pressure and very large. The complimentary breakfast was really good as well. The staff also speaks very good English and are friendly. The only negative is that the wifi is not very good and hardly worked.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hanoi Party Backpacker Hostel; City: Hanoi; Review: Booked a private room with a double bed; ended up getting my own room but with three singles in it... Lucky because the beds were so hard that I was able to take all of the pillows and bedding to create one decent mattress. The bedding though smelled like BO and I highly doubt it was very clean. Great bathroom and big shower with pretty good pressure but water didn't get very warm. The WIFI did not work in rooms. The owner was a very nice guy and lots of fun. The free beer was out of a keg only and he gave out a few free vodka shots. It was good that he was English and easy to communicate with... Not overly professional but was very nice and helpful for information. He would though try and push his tours onto guests and suggest things that he offered so he could make a dollar off of you. Workers were friendly and could speak alright English. I do think they charged me twice. Once when I checked in and again when I checked out. I paid cash and didn't get a receipt so it was hard to prove it, but in the end it wasn't much money and I dropped it. I would recommend this hostel for a younger person who doesn't mind beds that are hard as rock. It is in a good location and decently priced for what you get. I wouldn't stay for more then 1 night because there are plenty of places that are just as good if not better in Hanoi for this price range. One night is enough and then go check out another area.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Queen Hotel; City: Hanoi; Review: Great rooms and priced right. Minimal to zero water pressure for showers thigh and beds were comfortable compared to many other hostels. Free wifi and it worked in upstairs rooms. Staff was very friendly and helped out a lot. Spoke above average English. Great location and is in the perfect spot for food, shopping and the city centre area. I would definitely recommend this place. Beware though of the owner/manger who recommends you go get a motorbike from his friend or colleague at Vietnam Motorbike at 79 Ham Tu Quan Street. We had issues with a couple bikes and when we brought them back the next day, he would not give us our full money back for them. We settled on a lower price and took a loss. When we asked the owner/manager of the tourists homestay hostel if he got a bit of money for sending people to this particular motorbike store... He said no. This was a lie because the guy that ran the motorbike store said yes he does have to give him a finders fee. We weren't impressed that he lied to our faces but the hostel manager did give us a lower rate for our second night at his establishment and put our bikes inside for the evening. Something is better then nothing and that was appreciated.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Muong Thanh Phuong Dong Hotel; City: Vinh Nghe An Province; Review: Great location and the hotel is well above average when it comes everything. Low price for what it offers and how nice it is. Very good free breakfast and it has a pool/hot tub outside. Rooms are very clean and the bathroom/shower is awesome. The only knock on it is the fitness facility. It isn't that good and the equipment is older. I think it is definitely time they upgrade and purchase new equipment and also some weights/Dumbbells. I highly recommend this hotel; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Banyan Tree Kampot; City: Kampot Kampot Province; Review: The staff was amazing and can speak awesome English. They are fun to joke around with and make you feel at home. The food is great and the beds are good as well. Nice location on the river and a very chill/relaxing atmosphere. A great place to stop at when in kampot!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mojzo Inn; City: Nha Trang Khanh Hoa Province; Review: The staff is so friendly and helpful. They speak English very well. Great breakfast is included and a really nice morning view on the top balcony. Good price and located in the heart of Nha Trang. Close to bars, shops and the beach. I definitely recommend this hostel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monkey Island; City: Koh Rong Koh Kong Province; Review: Located right in the middle of the island and just far enough from the nightlife. Easy to stumble home and also a quick walk to get food and drinks. Awesome staff and amazing food. Bed was great and so was the bungalow. I shared a bathroom with everyone and it was good. Didn't mind it at all. Highly recommend this spot for anyone visiting Koh Rong. It is priced way better then other spots on the beach!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: M D House; City: Chiang Mai; Review: Very nice spot. They also have a newer hotel next door. This one is still very nice and is perfect. You get a free breakfast and drink each morning. The two pools are awesome... You can always get some sun. Also you are able to book trips and tours around Chiang Mai. Great location and walking distance to anywhere in the central city. Great beds and very clean place. Definitely check it out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ibiza House Phi Phi; City: Ko Phi Phi Don Krabi Province; Review: Can't beat the location if you want to be close to the beach and the action. I stayed in the hostel style room with bunk beds.... There is a bathroom in each room and also 3 shared bathrooms at the end of the hall, which I preferred using. It is a perfect place for backpackers and to meet people. You can walk to the beach in 5 seconds and the beach bars are all right there. Very loud so I wouldn't recommend staying here if you aren't going to go out and party. It's is pretty much the ideal place to stay at for going out. The pool is by far the best part of staying here. Very nice and good chairs to lay on. Has a swim up bar and pool party every Sunday that you get free access to. Food is good as well. The staff speaks very good English and there are convenience stores, restaurants, ATMs and everything else really close.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Downtown Siem Reap Villa; City: Siem Reap Siem Reap Province; Review: Definitely recommend this hostel for anyone backpacking through Siem Reap. They offer tours of Angkor archeological park as well as many other activities. The food is really good and the beds are very comfortable. It is maybe a 5 minute walk to pub street and the night market, so the location is great. Check it out for sure. Seemed to always be pretty full and had a young travelling crowd.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Diamond Cave Resort; City: Railay Beach Krabi Town Krabi Province; Review: This resort is a good price and is very nice. Great restaurant at the bottom of the hill and amazing/friendly staff. The pool is awesome and it has everything you need, including laundry. If you need something... Bars or tours; it is all very close. I didn't stay in a bungalow but rather the cheapest option of a room in the back. Good room with just a fan. I had two beds and thankfully one of the two was in alright shape. The second of the two was awful and needed to be replaced. The one I slept on was on its last leg but it did the trick. Room was a good size and so was the bathroom. Shower had good pressure and was hot. My biggest issue was the staff and what happened on my last night. As soon as they take your money they seem to lose that friendly attitude... On my last night the roof of the bathroom collapsed and woke me up. Because it was 4am I turned off the water, dislodged the light that was now dangling and went back to bed for a few hours. At 7am I woke up and went to tell the front desk. They got a maintenance guy to go with me to look. He then took my key and I went to have breakfast thinking he would clean it up. Nothing was done. So packed up my stuff and asked if I could get something for my troubles... A free night or maybe my breakfasts paid for. The lady said no because "I didn't come right away." I said "it was 4am and I wanted to sleep. Besides I don't think any of you were up or would do anything about it at the time of the morning." I said I needed to shower. They offered a different room but because I was already packed and tired of here awful attitude, i decided to jump in the pool and use that shower. She was not going to budge and kept ignoring me whenever I tried to asked her something. I should have been compensated in some way but I guess that is not how they run a business. Different ways of doing things in different areas of the world I guess. I do recommend this hotel but don't expect the staff be very accommodating once they take your money. To bad they aren't more like the staff at the restaurant! Now those were awesome people; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lanta Emerald Bungalow; City: Ko Lanta Krabi Province; Review: I stayed in the hotel portion and not a bungalow. It was cheaper and did not have air conditioning. I was solo so needed to save some cash... There are cheaper places that are better if you are solo (try long beach area). The staff was great and it was a nice area to stay in. A lot of beach bars in the area as well as laid back people who smoke a lot of weed and drink mushroom shakes. This is what this area of Ko Lanta is for. The pool is nice and so is the beach. My room had a decent shower but was not warm. The bed was good and with the fan directly on me, I was able to sleep. Also the wifi did not work way out in the back where the cheaper hotel rooms are located. The bungalows are probably a lot better for shower, wifi, and beds. Add in the ac and it would be a good spot to sleep but pricey compared to other spots. I think that is just that area of Lanta. A bit more and not for people on a budget, unless you have a group to share a bungalow with.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Phi Phi Palms Residence; City: Krabi Town Krabi Province; Review: This hotel is located in a great spot. Close to the beach and close to everything in the town. Walk out the front door and you are in the middle of the action. A great Mexican restaurant and roof top bar across the street and also a live music bar a couple doors down. The room was big and so was the bathroom. Obviously it was noisy but honestly if you are staying or wanting a place in between Loh Dalum and Ton Sai Beaches... Everywhere is going to be noisy. This is the party and young people area of Phi Phi Don island. So if you are looking to relax and chill, then this isn't your area. We had no problem sleeping because we went out and partook in the fun. The whiter areas are long beach and way down at the ends of the town. The room did smell like chemicals. Almost like a raid or bug killer smell. Not sure what it was. The air conditioner worked great and the shower had great pressure and heat. Bed was big, comfy and great pillows. Great staff and they are very nice. They have a security guard at nights as well. All in all it is a good place to stay and right in the action. Close to both beaches and priced fairly compared to other hotels around.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Funky Fish; City: Ko Lanta Krabi Province; Review: Not the greatest or best place on the island but it is perfect for backpackers on a budget. We stayed in a bungalow with two beds... Bed were pretty good, shower had no pressure but did give out hot water. Lots of room in the bungalow and bathroom. Wifi did not work in the room though, had to go to the bar area for it to work. For what we paid it was exactly what we got. A place to crash and that's all we needed/wanted. It is in a good location on long beach and lots of bars along the beach to walk to. I recommend it but don't expect a 4-5 star hotel. It is more of a hostel category for backpackers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mekong Dragon Hotel; City: Phnom Penh; Review: Amazing staff and very polite. All speak English well and can help you out with questions. Room is quite large with a great shower. Water didn't get overly hot but was still really good. The free breakfast was awesome and was great to start the day off with such a good meal. Great hotel in a perfect location. I walked to the genocide museum/prison. It took about ten minutes. A lot of restaurants in the area and also a fitness center right across the street.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amorn Mansion; City: Ao Nang Krabi Town Krabi Province; Review: Situated less then a 2 minute walk to the beach. It is a half block off of the Main Street in Ao Nang and in about 10 seconds you are on the Main Street with all of the shopping and restaurants. Priced cheaper then other hotels around it because it is not on the main strip. Room is not overly big but it is perfect for what we needed it for... Sleeping. Very comfortable bed and large bathroom. Shower didn't have the best pressure but it was very warm. The staff is very nice and you can book trips through the lobby. I recommend getting ferry tickets from the street because they are cheaper. We went on the Hong island + 7 island day boat trip. Highly recommend this! Great way to see all of the small islands in the area and do some snorkelling. Did it with the krabi lucky tour company. The pamphlet is at the front desk. The best part of the stay other then the location was the breakfast. Pay the extra 100 baht per person or so. I believe that's how much it was. Yo get to pick two food items off the menu and also two drink items. Great food and can't beat that price. There is also a couple computer available with printer. Came in handy for some work that came up out of the blue. Cost a bit but was thankful I didn't have to search the street for a place to print documents.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Khaosan Palace Hotel; City: Bangkok; Review: Priced pretty good for being right in the middle of Khao San road. Can't get a better location... Just be aware that the busiest and loudest bars/clubs are right beside the hotel. Not a problem if you are joining the party but if not; the music doesn't stop until 3-4am. Just join the party! Bed is decent but our room was very small. It was the cheapest room. Just enough room for a bed and bathroom. Did the trick because we were just there to sleep. No breakfast included and it's to bad because it would make the hotel that much better. Either way go onto Khao San and you can find a cheap breakfast on a now quiet street. Worth a stay because it's in the dead center of the action!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mixay Paradise; City: Vientiane Vientiane Prefecture; Review: Awesome staff and hotel. Priced just right for what you get; decent two beds, with air conditioning and a fan! The room with a television was a good size but the room without a television was a little small, still big enough for two people though. The entire staff was very nice and you are minutes from all the downtown attractions. Lots of restaurants and places to drink. Pay for the breakfast because it is definitely worth the price they charge in the room rate. Very good and you can eat as much as you want. Overall it was a good choice to stay here and I recommend it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Relax Beach Resrot; City: Ko Pha Ngan Surat Thani Province; Review: Not an awful place but not good. It is centrally located on the island you can walk to restaurants and bars on the main road. Scooter is a better option though. It is a low priced option on the island and you get what you pay for... A bed in a ok bungalow. It isn't well sealed, not the cleanest and the bathroom is kind of a mess but it is a place to stay and does the trick. It is right on the ocean and has a decent pool which is all shaded. The wifi works good in the lobby area and restaurant/bar area. Good friendly staff in the lobby and restaurant. Nice place to relax and have a beer. The pool tables are in rough shape though and when we were there the menu was limited to just Thai food. I didn't mind the place but it definitely was pretty sub par but when you look to spend as little as possibly in a third world country, what do you expect. I think you can find better in this area for a little more but for this price and on the ocean it would be tough to beat.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Surin Bay Inn; City: Choeng Thale Thalang District Phuket; Review: Can't get a better location in Surin and the price is by far the best! Can't beat this deal anywhere in Phuket... The owner a great person and she drove me to the airport at 5am; with a free breakfast waiting in the backseat! Museli and fruit, just like I asked for. The room was very big, bed was very comfortable, bathroom was big and shower had pressure/heat. The bathroom even has a shower curtain so everything doesn't get water all over it! The only issue with the room was that the air conditioner was not able to get the room cool and I was sweating all night. Had to take a couple showers to cool off. Other then that it was a great stay and I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a great deal in Surin beach area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Living Room Guesthouse and Cafe Bar; City: Karon Phuket; Review: Very good food, good location, and priced just right. The portions are a perfect size and you get more then what you pay for. Staff and owner are very nice and the service is awesome. Definitely worth checking out and grabbing a bite while in Karon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Baan KluayMai Guesthouse; City: Bophut Ko Samui Surat Thani Province; Review: Very nice place and the people the work there are good people. Speak pretty good English. The price is fair for the area you are in and the room is very spacious and clean. Beds are not to bad and the bathroom is a good size. The only downfall is that it is at the end of the main street that goes through Chaweng beach. It's a bit of a walk to get to the center of the beach and town area but not to bad. Easily walkable. That is the only thing that doesn't make this hotel perfect. Definitely recommend it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silver Sands Beach; City: Koh Tao Surat Thani Province; Review: You can't beat the location or the friendliness of the people that work here. They are awesome and are a big help. The price is perfect as well, not to high but not average for the area. I think it might even be cheaper then most places that offer the same. Stayed one night in a bungalow closer to the beach and it was nice. Great location and almost in the sand. For the remainder of our stay we moved into the hotel just across the street. It is located in between the two main streets that run parallel to sairee beach. Great spot for restaurant and bars. It isn't to loud and you can easily sleep. The price was pretty cheap for just a fan room but for a bit extra they will turn on your air conditioning and I still think it is worth the price. Very comfortable beds, great shower pressure and heat, very clean, and just an all around nice place to stay. You can book all tickets from the offices, rent scooters and the taxi boats are at the beach right in front of the bungalows. You honestly can't beat the location. I definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a clean, comfortable and great location in sairee beach area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ban s Diving Resort; City: Koh Tao Surat Thani Province; Review: I'm not sure what I think of Koh Tao and all of its dive shops... I kind of get the idea that they are like assembly lines that just pump out open water divers and collect money... I went on two fun dives as an advanced open water diver. I signed up for the afternoon dives because I wanted to go to a more challenging and deeper sites. They told me to be at there office at 1230pm but upon arrival I could already tell how unorganized and chaotic their operations is. We didn't get our gear until after 1pm and when I inspected mine, I had two different sized fins and neither were the same size! By the time we got to the big boat and heading to the first dive site it was nearly 2pm. The best part of everything is the size of the boat. Plenty of room and more then enough room for everyone when putting on your gear and also upstairs to relax in between dives. I also enjoyed and liked that you had to put together your own BCD, regulator and tank. As well as changing out your old tank for the new one for the second dive. Every other company's fun dive I have been on set up and does everything for you. Our guide/dive master was a very nice guy and good to talk with. He was a brand new certified DM and he was new to the dive sites, so he didn't know them well. He did a decent job, especially with the awful visibility he had to work with. The food between dives was pretty lacking... Literally I got one piece of fruit because there was not enough for everyone. They do provide drinking water, tea, coffee, and some very good cookies. On top of all of this the diving is awful right now. Visibility was between 5 to 10 meters and 10 meters is being very generous... I wouldn't waste your money diving right now. I'm definitely not going again while I'm in Thailand. Bad time of year or unlucky I guess. All in all I do think this company is a good option but you can tell they definitely focus on their new divers and the fun divers aren't a priority. I would look elsewhere or shop around if you already have your license.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blue Parrot Backpackers; City: Sydney New South Wales; Review: Great location, it is right in the heart of the Kings Cross/Darlinghurst area of Sydney. There is plenty to do for nightlife and food. Everything is within walking distance and it is also a easy walk to the Sydney Harbor and the downtown area. Kings Cross is a bit of a different area; were told that it use to be where all the druggies and crack heads would hang out in Sydney. As well as numerous strip clubs, nightclubs, and after hours bars. We were told the city has cleaned it up in the last ten years in an attempt to attract tourism. They definitely have but you can still notice a bit of this at night and also the numerous homeless people and neon light lining the streets give it away. The Hostel is average for what you will find in Australia and as you start travelling away from major cities you will find way better and for cheaper. You pay for the location and the fact that you are in a city and in a high traffic/demand area. The room was very humid and had a musky odor to it from people trying to dry out wet clothing. The bathrooms were decently clean and the showers had good pressure and hot water. Some of the guests were very loud in the hallway drinking until 1am and were finally asked to go to bed by the management; this is not the hostels fault and no matter where you go you will find guests like this. The hostel served a purpose for sleeping one night and seeing this area of Sydney but we would not have stayed another night because we didn't enjoy this area of the city at all. With that said, some people like the party atmosphere and nightlife, if so then this is the area where you want to stay in Sydney. The best part of the stay and the hostel was the management. They were very helpful with getting us settled in and pointing us in the right direction. Very polite and kind. If it wasn't for them then I wouldn't recommend this place at all. Kitchen is very nice and beds are pretty comfortable. It looked like there was a nice patio area outside but it was pouring rain and we couldn't go check it out. Overall I do recommend this hostel if you are going to stay in the Kings Court/Darlinghurst area. It is a good location and not right in the middle of the action. That way you can get away from the street noise and a little bit of quite when it is time to sleep. I would expect most hostels in this area are the same; small in size and it is all about being located in a busy area. Nothing special or great about them but they are nice and comfortable enough.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Aquarius Backpackers Motel; City: Byron Bay Byron Shire New South Wales; Review: I can't say enough about this hostel. The atmosphere, staff, common area/bar, kitchen, rooms, bathrooms, etc are all great. The location is perfect. It is about a two minute walk to the beach and ocean in the one direction and in the other direction is the town. It is honestly the perfect location because you are at the one end of the town on the main street and it is the correct end of town because the beach is right there. Everything in Byron Bay is in walking distance. Once you check into the hostel you do not have to worry about a car or taxi, you can walk anywhere in a maximum of 10 minutes. I think Woolworths was 8 minutes and the gym was 10. As soon as you arrive you see how awesome this place is. The staff is so kind and helpful. There is free secure parking. Check in is easy and they get you set up so there is no worries or doubt. The rooms are very spacious with bunk beds lining the outer walls. A buddy and I stayed in the little adjoining room of the main bunk bed room. It had two beds in it and you get your own key. Most people don't even know what is in that room and assume it is a closet but for a small amount more per night it is definitely worth it. The bathroom for the entire room is good; water pressure in shower is great and the water is hot. The only issue is that with 1+2 people staying in one room, you might have to wait to get into the only bathroom. But it is not that bad at all. The free wifi does not work in the rooms but you can buy a separate wifi service for a couple dollars a day. You just have to go to the main area to use the free wifi which isn't bad because it gets you out of your room and socializing with other people. The kitchen area is very spacious and a lot of room for numerous people to be in there cooking and eating. The common area is really good with plenty of seating and a decent pool area. There is a good pool table and ping pong table to use as well. The bar is fully stocked and the staff is great. The free meal nightly is pretty good (not great) but it does the trick. The overall set up of this area is perfect and well done. It is a fun place to start you night and meet other people. You get drink deals and you can find out where people plan on going out in the town that night. If you are looking to book trips and adventures the hostel has a person on staff all day everyday to help you out. Don't go into the town to do it at one of the many booking places because they give you the run around and take forever. You have better things to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Down Under Hostels Surfers Paradise; City: Surfers Paradise Gold Coast Queensland; Review: You cannot beat the location. Quick walk to the main area of Surfers Paradise; shops, restaurants, bars, and beach. Very clean hostel and really nice. The upstairs bathrooms were not that great but the newly renovated/built ones on the main floor were great. Common area was nice and so was the bar area. Felt bad for the cleaning staff in the morning because people left all of their garbage and empties laying around from the night before. Kitchen area was nice as well and enough room for everyone. It seems pretty new or at least it has been renovated and updated recently. The common area has brand new apple computers and internet to use for free which is a great touch. Also the wifi work really good throughout the hostel. The room was good. Had two bunk beds in it and the beds were decent. Nothing special but it was a good room for what you pay for. Enough space to unpack some stuff and dry out items from the beach that day. The hostel is a party hostel and can be very loud. So don't stay here if you are hoping to get a good night sleep, it won't be happening. The hostel really pushes for the guests to drink at their bar before going out and they will promise you no line no cover at the bar that night... my advice (unless you want to hangout with the group of people staying there) is to find out where the bar is for that night and just go there on your own, when you want. They have to go at a certain time and being on someone else's timeline can be frustrating. Plus it might not be no cover charge by going with the hostel; sometimes it is a discount of $5 off or only pay $5-10. The only negative about the hostel is the front desk staff. Yes it is a very busy hostel and they are swamped but they are not overly nice, warm, courteous, or give you much of their time. They do point you in the right direction and answer your question but don't expect them to go over and above the basic help. To be honest they seemed very tired and are most likely hungover from the night before. Overall I would recommend this hostel because of the location, cleanliness, newness, atmosphere (party/young), and the price is fitting for what you get and where you are.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Central Backpackers; City: Coffs Harbour New South Wales; Review: The hostel is attached to a hotel and it is a nice place. We showed up on a holiday weekend so it was very busy and the staff was swamped with people in the restaurant, so check in was pretty quick and rushed but we got in there and settled in our room. The staff member did a great job for how busy it was. Room was nice with only two bunk beds in it and was very clean with plenty of room to hang clothes and unpack. Bathrooms were very clean, shower had a lot of pressure and had hot water. Common area was nice and there were a lot of people to meet. Or if you want quite, the place is definitely big enough that you can find some peace and quite. The building is old and made out of concrete I believe, so sound did not travel through the walls which is great for getting a good night sleep. The hotel/hostel is located right in the middle of town and close to the shopping area/mall. The ocean and harbor are bit of a ways and could probably walk but it would be a pretty good jaunt. There are a few hostels close to the water but they cost much more and book up fast. We went and had dinner where they are located and you are not missing out by not staying down there. In my opinion save some money and stay in the town and visit the harbor area during the day or go for a morning hike around the sea wall and up to the viewpoint then have breakfast down there. Overall I would definitely recommend this hostel. It is priced just right and is very clean. Can't beat it if you are stopping in Coffs Harbour. The only thing that was kind of crappy; the wifi didn't work in our room because we had one of the furthest rooms in the back corner. But as soon as you walked out of our room into the hallway you picked up a signal. Not a big deal at all just had to go in the hall or common area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aussie Woolshed Backpackers Hervey Bay Fraser Island; City: Hervey Bay Fraser Coast Queensland; Review: Great little hostel and perfectly priced. Room was clean and beds were great; had a very quite and sound night sleep. Bathroom was a decent size, clean and the shower was great; lots of pressure and hot water. Checking in was a breeze and the staff is very welcoming/helpful. They have a back area to park vehicles and it is secure. Kitchen and common area is nice and the courtyard or outside area is pretty cool. Nice place to relax and eat. Highly recommend this hostel if you are in Hervey Bay. It is close to the ocean and a short drive to the ferry for Fraser Island. Overall the place is a very laidback and chill atmosphere. Great to unload and relax. Not a party hostel like a lot of them are in Australia.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magnums Airlie Beach; City: Airlie Beach Queensland; Review: Magnums hostel is definitely the place to be in Airlie Beach. It is central and has to be the biggest hostel in town, which means it houses the largest amount of backpackers; it is a pretty young crowd that stay here and most are just here before and after their Whitsunday Tour/Trip. It is always busy and has a place to eat and nightlife. And if you don't want to eat or drink here you can walk in either direction and find something very easily. It is located right in the middle of town; walking distance to the beaches, shops, restaurants and the woolworths and liquor store is right next door. The place is well run and the staff is very helpful and nice. They are constantly busy and I could see how they would get a little grumpy or short with people because they are always dealing with tourists. Be nice to them and respectful and your will get it in return. The group dorm rooms are alright. Very simple with bunk beds and one bathroom for 8ish people. They get very warm and stuffy but you get what you pay for. They are priced right. We stayed in a group room for a couple nights and then a private smaller room with just one bunk bed. This was much better and because it is located closer to the wifi/outside common area; you are able to pick up wifi in your room. The group rooms you cannot get wifi and it gets very bogged down during the day and at night. The best time is early morning before everyone is up. Mcdonalds always has good wifi and it is right next door. The kitchen is small but does the trick. I recommend getting food from woolworths and making your own breakfast at the very least. It will save you some money because it seemed like Airlie Beach was a pretty expensive town to eat out at. The hostel also offers free parking behind the woolworths parking lot. It is not secure but we had no problems and nothing got stolen. Overall it is a decent hostel and priced right. The location is awesome and cannot beat it. I would stay here again and I recommend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Odor-Free Angus Bully Sticks by Best Bully Sticks - Made of All Natural, Free Range, Grass Fed Angus Beef; Brand: Best Bully Sticks; Review: great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Bully Sticks USA Bully Sticks Dog Chews, Made in USA, All-Natural, Grass-Fed, Free-Range, Single-Ingredient 100% Beef; Brand: Best Bully Sticks; Review: love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Bully Sticks 12 inch Premium Jumbo and Monster Bully Sticks All-Natural Beef Dog Chews for Aggressive Chewers; Brand: Best Bully Sticks; Review: excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: URPOWER Dog Leash Harness Adjustable & Durable Leash Set & Heavy Duty Denim Dog Leash Collar for; Brand: URPOWER; Review: way too small; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Vet Classics No Scoot (65 Soft Chew); Brand: Vet Classics; Review: It works just like the pills from the vet same thing; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Cotton Maternity Panties; Brand: Samfe; Review: These are more comfortable than most maternity underwear...and I have tried a lot. The legs fit a little tight but, in most cases, I find that they tend to stretch pretty well. Overall they are a good selection...just a bit to get used to in terms of functionality.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Motherhood Maternity Fold Over Panties (3 Pack); Brand: ; Review: I've been trying to find somewhat loose underwear since underwear that is too tight during pregnancy can cause all kinds of problems in pregnancy. I got these in extra large since I know some motherhood "larges" are more like mediums. These underwear fall off of me. I got the "hipsters" in large, however, and they are very snug. It's very hard to get this figured when everything seems to be set to different guidelines.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Reef Women's Stargazer; Brand: ; Review: I really like Reef flip flops...they are comfortable and durable. I normally wear a 6.5 but the 7 fits with little room to spare. These flips slips seem a little slim in the arch area and wide around the toes but I am really pleased with the color and the sole. My daughter has the same ones in the toddler size and I can barely get her to take them off for bedtime. If you aren't a big flip flip wearer, it's going to take some time to break them in. Once you do, however, they will last you for a very long time and will be your go-to.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reef Women's Stargazer; Brand: ; Review: I really like Reef flip flops...they are comfortable and durable. I normally wear a 6.5 but the 7 fits with little room to spare. These flips slips seem a little slim in the arch area and wide around the toes but I am really pleased with the color and the sole. My daughter has the same ones in the toddler size and I can barely get her to take them off for bedtime. If you aren't a big flip flip wearer, it's going to take some time to break them in. Once you do, however, they will last you for a very long time and will be your go-to.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Good Dinosaur Boys 6 pack Socks (Toddler); Brand: Disney Pixar; Review: Both my boys love these socks. They are 1 1/2 and 3 and they both have wide feet. They fit snugly on my 3 year old and with room to grow on my 1 1/2 year old. My 3 year old has larger feet than typical for his age so I imagine these would fit for quite some time for little guys. The colors are really vivid but, being that they have designs, there are a ton of strings inside that can cause snagging. That's to be expected, but just something to be cautious about. Overall these socks were a big hit in our house.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crocs Girls Isabella Glitter Flat Ps Ballet; Brand: ; Review: If I could squeeze my feet in, I would. My inner-child is jealous over these. They are fairytale-risqu but seem very flexible. My daughter complains of them rubbing where the strap and top is...I'm hoping this is a temporary problem as they are so cute and I love that the straps are Velcro. Hopefully you can break in a croc?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crocs Kids' CC Minions Clog; Brand: ; Review: My boys love crocs! They are roomy for their chunky, wide feet (shoes are hard to find for such feet) and they are easy to put on. I love how well they clean up and how durable they are. I wouldn't be surprised to see these lasting for years to come. A quick clean up and they look good as new.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chinese Laundry Women's Glitterati Micro Sandal; Brand: ; Review: These are really cute on and off. They are dainty and more of a dressy sandal. These aren't made for a daily worn shoe but they definitely fit the bill for a dressy/casual look. I'd say the sole runs about half a size too big, so you could probably order a half size down and they would fit, though I'm uncertain about the straps. The "ankle" straps fit over the foot and they don't have a lot of excess; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reef Women's Star Cushion Sandal Sandal; Brand: ; Review: I'm a big fan of reef flip flops and their durability. There have been many times I've stopped abruptly and my shoes sounded like basketball sneakers. I am a solid 6.5 the majority of the time, so I wear 7 in reef flip flops. I usually have a little tripping room...but these are shorter than the typical reef 7. I held them sole-to-sole with another pair and there was between 1/4 and 1/2 inch difference. There was a little break-in time for these but it was only a day or two and now they are really comfortable. The extra cushion really makes a difference.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reef Women's Star Cushion Sandal Sandal; Brand: ; Review: I'm a big fan of reef flip flops and their durability. There have been many times I've stopped abruptly and my shoes sounded like basketball sneakers. I am a solid 6.5 the majority of the time, so I wear 7 in reef flip flops. I usually have a little tripping room...but these are shorter than the typical reef 7. I held them sole-to-sole with another pair and there was between 1/4 and 1/2 inch difference. There was a little break-in time for these but it was only a day or two and now they are really comfortable. The extra cushion really makes a difference.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Birkenstock Womens Eva Madrid Open Toe Beach Slide Sandals; Brand: Birkenstock; Review: These fit like other Birkenstocks. I am a solid 6.5 and the size 36 fits me well. These shoes have support while being squishy so they are really comfortable. My only complaint is that they can be a bit noisy at times but it's not that noticeable. Great wet/dry shoe...and it's nice to have the support of a Birkenstock without the fear of getting it wet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Birkenstock Womens Eva Madrid Open Toe Beach Slide Sandals; Brand: Birkenstock; Review: These fit like other Birkenstocks. I am a solid 6.5 and the size 36 fits me well. These shoes have support while being squishy so they are really comfortable. My only complaint is that they can be a bit noisy at times but it's not that noticeable. Great wet/dry shoe...and it's nice to have the support of a Birkenstock without the fear of getting it wet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2MM Tiny Clear Ice White CZ 925 Sterling Silver Solitaire Stud Post Earrings Second Hole Cartilage; Brand: Blue Apple Co.; Review: I wanted to get some time in before I reviewed this item. I used them to re pierce my ears. I am sensitive to most metals and that's why I had some problems and my piercing grew shut. These earrings are tiny and held up while I pierced and treated the slight infection I had developed (worked great through rubbing alcohol and peroxide)...they are really comfortable to wear and are a very nice subtle, sparkly jewelry. I plan on getting more!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reef Little Stargazer Prints Sandal (Infant/Toddler/Little Kid/Big Kid); Brand: ; Review: Based on other reviews I thought these would work for my five year old who is in between a 10 and 11 and they worked for her. There is a little extra room in the toe area but her heel has a little growing room, but not much. I agree they run small, but they are the same quality I've come to expect out of Reef flip flops. The sparkles are always a nice added feature.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Efy Tal Jewelry Necklace Extender Chain, 2" Removable and Adjustable - Sterling Silver or 14k Gold Filled; Brand: Efy Tal Jewelry; Review: Clasp is easy to open, links are nice and big so they are easy to catch with a clasp. Beautiful pearl accent really makes this a step above. Great piece for layering! The customer service was great too!!! They really care about their product and customer and it shows! Love that!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Maglite Solitaire Incandescent 1-Cell AAA Flashlight Black; Brand: MagLite; Review: What can I say it's a Maglite. It's old technology that works. I have other Maglites that I have used for decades and they are still going. About the only things to worry about with these lights is theft, loss, and battery leakage. Works fine lasts a long time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maglite Solitaire Incandescent 1-Cell AAA Flashlight in Presentation Box Silver; Brand: MagLite; Review: What can I say it's a Maglite. It's old technology that works. I have other Maglites that I have used for decades and they are still going. About the only things to worry about with these lights is theft, loss, and battery leakage. Works fine lasts a long time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Winco Double Roll Toilet Tissue Dispenser, Steel, Set of 6; Brand: Winco; Review: This was a good replacement for the commercial roll holders that were broken by customers in my banquet facility.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gerber EAB Pocket Knife [22-41830]; Brand: Gerber; Review: It meets my expectations. I like the fact that I can replace the blade, even though it requires a screwdriver to do so.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Korky 2011BP Hinge Flapper For Kohler Toilet Repairs - Replaces Kohler Parts 84995 and 1000490 - Made in USA; Brand: Korky; Review: Easy to install and works as advertised.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: X10 AM466 Appliance Module, 3-Prong; Brand: X10; Review: Works as advertised. Good service.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 3-Pack of Blocklite 6 LED Mini Flashlights w/Energizer 9 Volt Batteries; Brand: JS; Review: They work well and the high setting is quite bright, but because of where the switch is located, it keeps turning on in my wife's purse.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: X-PROTECTOR Premium TWO COLORS Pack Furniture Pads 133 piece! Felt Pads Furniture Feet Brown 106; Brand: X-Protector; Review: I'm sure this product will protect our floor, but in this case did not quiet the movement of the chairs.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: CRKT Homefront Aluminum Folding Pocket Knife: Take Apart Field Strip, Satin Blade, Flipper Open, Locking Liner, Aluminum; Brand: Columbia River Knife & Tool; Review: Great knife! It's now my EDC.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Furniture Feet Stretchable Furniture Slider Pads Size Large; Brand: Furniture Feet; Review: They did not quiet the movement of the chairs, but I'm sure they helped save wear on the flooring.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fenix Flashlights E05 85 Lumens Flashlight; Brand: Fenix Flashlights; Review: I love it: small, compact, and bright. If you buy it be sure to read the instructions.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KES 28-Inch Hand Shower Slide Bar with Height Adjustable Sliding Sprayer Holder Chrome, F200-CH; Brand: Kes; Review: Works well to adjust the height of the shower head.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: How I Met Your Mother: Season 6; Brand: Josh Radnor; Review: Funny show, like being able to watch the episodes back-to-back and all in correct order (just started watching it, so starting from Season One on through). I also like the show well enough to know that I'll be watching the seasons again in the future, so buying is better than renting in this case.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How I Met Your Mother: Season 7; Brand: Josh Radnor; Review: Funny show, like being able to watch the episodes back-to-back and all in correct order (just started watching it, so starting from Season One on through). I also like the show well enough to know that I'll be watching the seasons again in the future, so buying is better than renting in this case.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bible: The Epic Miniseries; Brand: Keith David; Review: Did not catch all the episodes when on the air, and it's nice to see them all in order, with subtitles option, without ads. I'll want to watch this again in the future too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Walking Dead: Season 2; Brand: Andrew Lincoln; Review: This is a character-driven show, with a season-long story arc. Yes, the special effects are fascinating and gross. It's really more drama than action-oriented, though. And I am SO glad I got the DVD to watch them marathon-style instead of waiting week by week-- addictive entertainment.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: An Idiot Abroad; Brand: Karl Pilkington; Review: Be sure to start this at the first episode, so you get the setup and the character development. Not a joke every second like a sitcom, but the funny bits build up into awesomely hilarious. Only downside is that although it says CC, there actually are NO SUBTITLES, which is an ongoing problem with downloaded amazon content. The sound was well enough done that it was still ok with volume up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: On-Stage SM7122BB Compact Folding Sheet Music Stand with Bag, Black; Brand: OnStage; Review: Maybe my four-star rating is deceptive. On its own merits, this stand deserves no better than 3 stars. For the price, I'd say it's a 5-star value. So I split the difference with the star rating. (Amazon, isn't it time to offer a "value-for-money" star rating?) As others have noted, the supports are below the legs, not above them. That's not really an issue. The lip on the stand, where the sheet music rests, is kind of shallow (1" exactly), so it's best for people who use only sheets of music or lightweight books. My real concern is that the whole thing just screams, "metal fatigue dead ahead." It's made of that kind of cheap metal that has a habit of bending, and then once it's bent a couple times, breaking. Every time I tighten the angle on the music holder (which never does get truly tight), I worry that something's gonna break. [See the helpful customer photo of the tilt adjustment knob and you'll understand why it feels flimsy.] However, nothing has broken so far... though it's only been a couple months. The case is a nice touch for students or folks in cramped quarters, but honestly, I wouldn't dare subject this stand to too much wear and tear putting it away and taking it out constantly. I would recommend this for people on a very tight budget, or people who need an extra stand sometimes, or people/kids who are just taking up an instrument and aren't sure whether they're going to stick with it. PS -- I didn't notice that you get a $2 MP3 credit in the Amazon MP3 store for buying this, until the credit suddenly showed up in my account. Maybe you could use it to buy a stand that can stand the test of time, say, Stand! by Sly and the Family Stone.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Snark SN2 Guitar Tuner; Brand: Snark; Review: I was using an old-school Korg tuner for my acoustic guitar. It worked fine, but any noise in the vicinity would make the "VU-style" needle bounce all over. And I had to manually switch the notes for each string. Enter the Snark. I felt a little guilty buying a new tuner when I already had one that worked fine. But I'm SO glad I splurged on this thing! It was worth every penny. It would still be worth every penny if it had cost twice as much. The display is so easy to read, and it clips to the headstock so both my hands are free throughout the tuning process, which means I can tune more easily and accurately using 12th-fret harmonics. It's very easy to read whether the note is in tune or not, and the display holds long enough for you to get to the tuning peg and see the effect of your tuning on the note. Everything about this item is really well thought out. One thing the main photo doesn't show is the small curved neck this tuner has. The neck doesn't adjust like a gooseneck; it swivels in ball-and-socket joints, so it's quite rigid and yet also easy to adjust for any instrument so you can get a good view as you tune. (There are some customer-supplied photos on the listing if you want to see how it works.) The clip is very well cushioned so it doesn't leave any marks on the instrument. A couple customers have said they had battery life problems. I haven't. I'm fairly vigilant about turning it off when I'm done, but it turns itself off pretty quickly in any case. The batteries are cheap CR 2032s -- kind of like coin-sized watch batteries -- so it's not a big deal to replace them. Shouldn't cost more than a buck or two to buy a new one, but I've had this tuner for months and it's still going strong with its factory-supplied battery, despite daily use. All in all, a pleasure to use and total win on every front. If you're still thinking about it, just buy it already!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dunlop Acoustic Guitar Frets (37083022001); Brand: JIM DUNLOP; Review: Well, maybe it's not the best capo in the universe, but it does exactly the same job as the best capo, and it does it just as well. It holds the strings tightly, with no buzz or loss of tuning, and goes on and off easily. How could that be improved on? You can buy a prettier capo, but not a more functional one. And the price is right. Incidentally, I see some reviewers got a knockoff instead of a Jim Dunlop. I received mine in early Feb 2014, and mine is authentic.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Planet Waves Classic Series Instrument Cable, Right Angle Plug , 10 feet; Brand: D'Addario Accessories; Review: I'm glad I spent the few extra bucks to get a quality cable. I was very pleasantly surprised by the obvious quality of this cable as soon as I touched it. It has a supple, flexible rubbery quality, unlike my last cable, which was stiff and plasticky. No static whatsoever when I plugged it in -- absolutely clean. And the right angle plug is a huge asset when your guitar's jack is in an awkward place. Goodbye, crackly plasticky old cable!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Planet Waves Classic Series Instrument Cable, 15 feet; Brand: D'Addario Accessories; Review: I'm glad I spent the few extra bucks to get a quality cable. I was very pleasantly surprised by the obvious quality of this cable as soon as I touched it. It has a supple, flexible rubbery quality, unlike my last cable, which was stiff and plasticky. No static whatsoever when I plugged it in -- absolutely clean. And the right angle plug is a huge asset when your guitar's jack is in an awkward place. Goodbye, crackly plasticky old cable!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Yamaha L85 Keyboard Stand, Black; Brand: Yamaha; Review: I was worried that the white keyboard with a white stand would look tacky, like some relic from the lounge of The Love Boat. Nope, not at all -- it looks classy and gorgeous, almost like a real upright piano. The stand was pretty easy to assemble and it's very sturdy. It turns an awkwardly huge electronic keyboard into an attractive piece of furniture. I'm so glad we didn't try to support this beast of a keyboard with our X-stand. Invest in the stand, black or white, that matches your keyboard, and you won't regret it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Dog Guitar Black Metal Tungsten Finish Guitar Capo with 10 Picks and VIP Membership; Brand: Big Dog Guitar; Review: I loved the look of this thing the moment it arrived. It comes in a really nice, easily wrappable presentation box. When you slide out the inner tray, the capo is in a cutaway surrounded by red velour, with 10 bonus picks nestled in a cutaway beside it. Pretty sweet packaging, which is great if you want to give this to some lucky guitarist as a gift, and really, any guitarist would appreciate this baby. Why? Read on. Ive been using the Jim Dunlop capo sold elsewhere on Amazon for a couple years now. (A bunch of reviewers of the Dunlop capo have said they received cheap counterfeit Chinese versions instead of the real McCoy, but mine is authentic.) Ive been perfectly satisfied with its function, though it doesnt really have much style or flair. I guess I just didn't expect good looks from a capo. It seems like a pretty nuts-and-bolts object. Enter the Big Dog. This thing is really elegant. The pictures don't do justice to the dark grey chromed (tungsten) finish. If you have a truly swank axe Im envisioning Syd Barretts mirrored Telecaster, or Princes famous guitar from Purple Rain this will complement your style. If you don't have a swank axe well, get this anyway, and maybe youll grow into the style. But how does it work? Well, to some degree, a capo is a capo. This one works as well as any Ive ever owned. When I compare it to the Dunlop, it seems to have a bit more tension, more snap-back. The mechanism is slightly different, so that may account for the slightly different feel. It holds the strings like Hercules with minimal-to-no detuning. Playing sounds bright and clear, without a hint of mud. On to the bonuses: The 10 picks come in a color-coded assortment of light, medium, and heavy. Theyre standard picks, old-school style, made of celluloid and attractively marbled. Nothing particularly special, but what guitarist cant use a few more picks? The secret bonus is obtained by going to a web page and submitting your email. You will be subscribed to the mailing list and gain access to a page that offers a coupon, select YouTube videos on how best to use a capo (including a couple interesting ones about using a capo to simulate alternate tunings like drop-D), and a 16-page .pdf with advice on tuning, reducing fret buzz, and tinkering with intonation. Whether this is useful will depend entirely on how experienced you are with guitars. Overall, if you are looking for a beautiful, elegantly engineered and highly functional one-handed capo thatll probably last forever, I can certainly recommend this. I look at it this way: a capo could easily last your whole life, so why not spend a couple bucks more and get a really sweet one? ~The manufacturer provided a free sample for an honest evaluation. They had no input into my review.~; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elixir Strings 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings w POLYWEB Coating, Extra Light (.010-.047); Brand: Elixir; Review: If you're reading this, chances are you know about Scott Grove, the YouTube guitar instructor and opinionated ranter. Some love him, some hate him, and I don't care either way -- I take what's useful and leave the rest. Well, ol' Scott says these are the ONLY decent guitar strings on the market, which is a pretty strong claim, so I decided they were worth a try, and I'd decide for myself. I can't honestly say these are the only good strings on the market. I've used other good ones, and I've particularly liked D'addario Phosphor Bronze. But dang, these are really good strings. Grove likes them because he says his corrosive sweat destroys other strings in a matter of hours, or sooner, while these never need changing no matter how sweaty his gigs are. Well, I'll take his word on that, but I'm not a gigging guitarist, nor am I particularly sweaty. I just like these because they have a bright, full sound, they stay in tune like nobody's damn business, they minimize string noise, they feel great under my fingertips... and I hate, hate, hate changing strings. I'm going to keep these things on my Washburn EA20 for the foreseeable future, and if Grove is right, they may last for years. If that's true, I'll be an even happier camper. If not, well, I'm loving these anyway. I don't see any down side, except that they cost a few bucks more, but I'm glad to pay that if I get even double the string life, let alone the near-eternal string life that the very excitable Grove suggests. Oh, and if you haven't seen his video (and/or don't like his verbose and "unusual" style), he claims that Elixir Nanowebs are horrible, and only the Polywebs are any good. I can't vouch for that, but I can tell you that in this particular case, he was right about the Polywebs. My advice as always is to listen to everyone, take it all with a grain of salt, and decide what's best for your own fingers and your own sound.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elixir Strings 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings w POLYWEB Coating, Light/Medium (.012-.056); Brand: Elixir; Review: If you're reading this, chances are you know about Scott Grove, the YouTube guitar instructor and opinionated ranter. Some love him, some hate him, and I don't care either way -- I take what's useful and leave the rest. Well, ol' Scott says these are the ONLY decent guitar strings on the market, which is a pretty strong claim, so I decided they were worth a try, and I'd decide for myself. I can't honestly say these are the only good strings on the market. I've used other good ones, and I've particularly liked D'addario Phosphor Bronze. But dang, these are really good strings. Grove likes them because he says his corrosive sweat destroys other strings in a matter of hours, or sooner, while these never need changing no matter how sweaty his gigs are. Well, I'll take his word on that, but I'm not a gigging guitarist, nor am I particularly sweaty. I just like these because they have a bright, full sound, they stay in tune like nobody's damn business, they minimize string noise, they feel great under my fingertips... and I hate, hate, hate changing strings. I'm going to keep these things on my Washburn EA20 for the foreseeable future, and if Grove is right, they may last for years. If that's true, I'll be an even happier camper. If not, well, I'm loving these anyway. I don't see any down side, except that they cost a few bucks more, but I'm glad to pay that if I get even double the string life, let alone the near-eternal string life that the very excitable Grove suggests. Oh, and if you haven't seen his video (and/or don't like his verbose and "unusual" style), he claims that Elixir Nanowebs are horrible, and only the Polywebs are any good. I can't vouch for that, but I can tell you that in this particular case, he was right about the Polywebs. My advice as always is to listen to everyone, take it all with a grain of salt, and decide what's best for your own fingers and your own sound.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Planet Waves NS Guitar Capo, Black; Brand: D'Addario Accessories; Review: This is a very different design from the capos Im used to. Its not a 1-handed spring-type design. It feels like a beautifully engineered and elegant, custom fittable piece of high-end equipment. When its in place, screwed down, it is absolutely a part of the guitar and plays and feels like it. One of its unique characteristics is its slimness. It has a very low profile, both visually and in terms of playability, which I love. It looks and feels light, like an integral part of the instrument. I should warn you that this won't work well for the quick one-handed clamp-and-unclamp switch from headstock to neck. But it only takes a couple seconds to screw into place with absolute rigidity. Ive used it on my SG and on my Washburn acoustic-electric and it fits both flawlessly. Overall, I just love the light, elegant look and unobtrusive feel of this sleek little guy. I think any guitarist would enjoy having this capo in the tool kit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Musical_Instruments |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: A Texas mom is going to prison after putting her son through unnecessary medical procedures; Abstract: A Dallas mother made her son go through unnecessary medical procedures throughout the first years of his life, court documents say.; Category: news
Title: Former Deadliest Catch Star Jerod Sechrist Arrested, Charged with Heroin Possession; Abstract: Deadliest Catch: Jerod Sechrist Charged with Heroin Possession; Category: tv
Title: Amazon is shipping expired baby formula and beef jerky, putting big brands at risk; Abstract: Amazon's marketplace has become home to millions of sellers, making it hard for the company to prevent the sale of expired food.; Category: finance
Title: Verizon to give its wireless customers a year of Disney+; Abstract: Verizon announced Tuesday that it is teaming up with Disney to give new and existing 4G LTE and 5G wireless "unlimited" customers a free year of the new Disney+ streaming service. The exclusive promotion coincides with the Disney+ launch on Nov. 12. New Verizon FIOS and 5G Home Internet customers will also qualify for a year of Disney+.; Category: finance
Title: Top Seattle news: Seahawks stomp Falcons; 1 dead, 1 wounded in weekend shootings; more; Abstract: Here's the most recent top news in Seattle; see what headlines are trending among local readers, with links to full articles.; Category: news
Title: Corn maze in Snohomish made to resemble Washington state; Abstract: The Farm at Swan's Trail in Snohomish is keeping their popular corn maze open through the end of October. The corn maze is a 12-acre plot boasting 4.5 miles of trail for visitors to explore and creates a unique image when viewed from above a complete, to-scale map of Washington state! Pathways within the maze represent more than 250 roads that span the State of Washington, and throughout the maze are replicas of over 400 unique landmarks to...; Category: foodanddrink
Title: America shockingly owes over $6 trillion to these countries; Abstract: In 2019 America's debt surpassed $22 trillion for the first time ever, as debt has climbed dramatically in the years following 2008's financial crisis. But who owns it? US debt can be bought by anyone through treasury securities (bills, notes or bonds), which represent an IOU from the government to the investor. The US then pays interest every year to service the debts. While much of America's debt is owed domestically, foreign investors hold more than $6 trillion, both through central banks and private funds.; Category: finance
Title: Cause determined in Jessi Combs' fatal speed record crash; Abstract: Occurred at speeds near 550 mph; Category: autos
Title: Stars They're Just Like Us!; Abstract: Stars They're Just Like Us!; Category: entertainment
Title: Far-reaching snowstorm may take shape over US; Abstract: A winterlike pattern will continue to unfold across much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation into next week as a brutal one-two punch of bitterly cold air plunging into the United States will set the stage for another major storm.; Category: weather
Title: The stock market's 10-year run became the best bull market ever this month; Abstract: The current bull market, which started March 9, 2009, has enjoyed a whopping 468% gain for the S&P 500 through the first day of November.; Category: finance | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Perfect Storm (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Hunt for Red October (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Deep Impact (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The World Is Not Enough (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Platoon (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible II (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 2 (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Home Alone (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Superman II (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Enemy of the State (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Fugitive (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Few Good Men (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jaws (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Simple Plan (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Double Jeopardy (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red Planet (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Traffic (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Remember the Titans (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Face/Off (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Don't Say a Word (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: GoodFellas: Special Edition (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Tracker (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kiss the Girls (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Pie 2 (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sophie's Choice (1982); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swordfish (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Along Came a Spider (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: In Pursuit of Honor (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Glengarry Glen Ross (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Leaving Las Vegas (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amistad (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Graduate (1967); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Janus Stone (Ruth Galloway Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Elly Griffiths Page; Review: I doubt a PhD in Forensic Archaeology or Archaeology could have avoided Latin. Doesn't ring true. I also was put off by the frequent anti-conservative statements. It is an easy way to eliminate have your audience.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gluten-Free Baking Classics for the Bread Machine; Author: Visit Amazon's Annalise G. Roberts Page; Review: The book suggests you mix a large quantity of GF bread flour, store it, and use a few cups for each loaf. I don't want to mix large amounts of flour for 2 reasons: 1. I don't think the mixed flours in the large batch can have an even distribution in the small batches - no matter how much you stir or shake. The heavier flours will go to the bottom. 2. I don't want to store the large batches. I'll keep the book for reference but I won't use it for baking.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: When You Were Older; Author: Visit Amazon's Catherine Ryan Hyde Page; Review: Great book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grogan Page; Review: very funny.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Light, Shade and Shadow (Dover Art Instruction); Author: Visit Amazon's E. L. Koller Page; Review: This is a small book, about 5x8 with fine print. I have trouble with fine print. I thought it would be a large book. I'll pay more attention to the size on future purchases.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Light and Shade: A Classic Approach to Three-Dimensional Drawing (Dover Art Instruction); Author: Visit Amazon's Mary P. Merrifield Page; Review: This is a small book, about 5x8 with fine print. I have trouble with fine print. I thought it would be a large book. I'll pay more attention to the size on future purchases.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lessons on Shading (Dover Art Instruction); Author: Visit Amazon's W. E. Sparkes Page; Review: This is not a good drawing book. There are much better available, like the E.L. Koller book. This is a small book, about 5x8 with fine print. I have trouble with fine print. I thought it would be a large book. I'll pay more attention to the size on future purchases.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Virgin River (Virgin River, Book 1) (A Virgin River Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Robyn Carr Page; Review: A romance which is not well written and sexually explicit.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: You Gotta Have Wa: When Two Cultures Collide on the Baseball Diamond; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Whiting Page; Review: This book goes into the 80's. Just a small section on current Japanese players. Still was interesting. Would like something more up to date.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Painting the Beauty of Flowers With Oils; Author: Patricia Moran; Review: One of the best oil painting books I've seen. Great advice and Moran's paintings are wonderful to see.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: David Bellamy's Skies, Light and Atmosphere in Watercolour; Author: Visit Amazon's David Bellamy Page; Review: I bought this book because of the beautiful cover painting. As it often happens, the rest of the book isn't so good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Flash and Bones: (Temperance Brennan 14); Author: Visit Amazon's Kathy Reichs Page; Review: Not written very well. High school age kids really can appreciate good writing and sensible plots. This doesn't have either.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Perfectly Imperfect Home: How to Decorate and Live Well; Author: Visit Amazon's Deborah Needleman Page; Review: Has a lot of very good ideas. I enjoy the watercolor sketches.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Painting Beautiful Watercolor Landscapes: Transform Ordinary Places into Extraordinary Scenes; Author: Visit Amazon's Joyce Hicks Page; Review: Good instructions and examples.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skies & Clouds: The Watercolor Techniques Of 23 International Artists; Author: Larry Charles; Review: Very good book with a lot of different styles.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Franklin Page; Review: Well written but weird. Liked the ending.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Painter: A novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Heller Page; Review: Very good book. Interesting plot and great characters. Well written.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Falling in Love: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery; Author: Visit Amazon's Donna Leon Page; Review: All her books are very good. This one is worth a read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Nature of the Beast (Chief Inspector Gamache); Author: Visit Amazon's Louise Penny Page; Review: All of Louise Penny's book are very good. She is my favorite. This book is very good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Sister's Grave (Tracy Crosswhite); Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Dugoni Page; Review: Good story except the part where the smart protagonist does really dumb things and gets into a spot... Oh well. I will read the others in this series because so far I like the characters.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eat Fat, Get Thin: Why the Fat We Eat Is the Key to Sustained Weight Loss and Vibrant Health; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Hyman M.D. Page; Review: Chapter after chapter saying roughly the same thing. The table of contents isn't clear about what is covered in each chapter. Also, there is NO index! Why? This type of a book should be better organized. It can't be used as a reference because there is no easy way to find information. Very disappointed. I will never buy one of his books again.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Eat Like a Champion: Performance Nutrition for Your Young Athlete; Author: Visit Amazon's Jill Castle Page; Review: Too much repetition - saying the same thing over and over in different chapters. I would prefer more advice about the types of meals especially before and after games. More suggestions for meals and snacks. Disappointed.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Matthew Henry's Commentary One Volume; Author: Visit Amazon's Matthew Henry Page; Review: Mattew henry goes into deep details about individual scripture i also have the matthew henry bible and i love and enjoy using them as a reference; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KJV Life in the Spirit Study Bible, Indexed; Author: Zondervan; Review: this bible should be in your library of study bibles it has excellent references and commentary of scripture its a good bible to have; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Everyday Life Bible: The Power of God's Word for Everyday Living; Author: Visit Amazon's Joyce Meyer Page; Review: i really enjoy the many special features that this bible offers you will find life points and other references in the scripture that will help explain scripture in a plain simple way; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word; Author: Visit Amazon's Joyce Meyer Page; Review: there are many topics in this resource that will have a impact on your life as it has mine.you will find yourself being renewed because of this resource; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert J. Morgan Page; Review: i recommend this resource because it has information about scripture memory and 100 scriptures to memorize you will find this as a useful resource in your library; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dake Annotated Reference Bible-KJV-Large Print; Author: Visit Amazon's Finis Jennings Dake Page; Review: dake is a very complete bible you want put it down once you get started while it is in the kjv scripture is broken up into subtopics so you understand what a portion of scripture is all about it has detailed explanation of scriture so theres no doubt about what the scripture is all about a serious bible for the person who is serious about learning gods word; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Matthew Henry Study Bible: King James Version; Author: Visit Amazon's Hendrickson Bibles Page; Review: if you are interested in a deep detail study of scripture this is one of the study bible you should have i enjoy using it in my bible study as a reference; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Laws of Prosperity; Author: Kenneth Copeland; Review: this book is awesome its not just about prospering financial but in every area of your spiritual and natural life the book is hard for me to put down the informaion is powerful and very usually today the book has lots of scripture referrences to back up what ikenneth copeland is saying i really recommend this book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prosperity Promises; Author: Visit Amazon's Kenneth Copeland Page; Review: this book has given me great focus i recommend it to any one who are tired of lack, poverity and just not having enough it will keep you focused on what god truly has for you praise the lord :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: God's Will is Prosperity; Author: Visit Amazon's Gloria Copeland Page; Review: this is truly an eye opening book she goes into more than just finances she goes into every area of the human life very excellent book i recommend; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KJV Mini Pocket Edition: Zippered Black; Author: Christian Art Publishers; Review: where did you get that bible every body wants to know of course i tell them about my amazon then they ask of course how much did that bible cost and i tell them therer eyes get really wide i love the fact i can zip it up and keep it safe i know in my heart that the word of god is the most precious word on planet earth that has set me free from all my sin and Jesus blood too i love kissing my bible holding it on my chest my bible goves me so much comfort Jesus word is alive and sharper than any two edged sword and sets humanity free from all sins of those who will accept Jesus as there personal lord and savior ASK JESUS TO COME INTO YOUR HEART TODAY ASK JESUS TO FORGIVE YOU OF ALL YOUR SINS AND HE WILL COME INTO YOUR HEART AND ALWAYS BE CLOSER THAN A BROTHER HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU EVER. WHEN MY MOTHER DIED THAT WAS ALL OF THE FAMILY I HAD IN THE WORLD I BECAME AN ORPHAN IN JESUS EYES AND FROM THAT TIME ON HE HAS PROVEN HIS WORD TO ME OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND HIS PROMISES TO ME HAVE AND I KNOW WILL ALWAYS BE TRUE TO ME I HAVE NEVER BEEN LONELY WITHOUT MY JESUS AND THE PRECIOUS PROMISES IN HIS WORD I AM HAPPY WITH MY JESUS AND THE WONDERFUL FRIENDS HE CONTINUES TO ADD TO MY LIFE OH WHAT A JOY TO WALK WITH MY JESUS EVERYDAY I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND my LOVE FOR GODS WORD AND WHAT A FIRM FOUNDATION I STAND ON AND I KNOW HE WILL NEVER EVER FAIL ME NOT EVEN ONCE MY JESUS MY JESUS; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Coco’s Closet Bra Extender 3 Hook - Soft and Comfortable Bra Band Extension; Brand: ; Review: These fit well and the side next to your skin is a very soft material.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: coXist Boy's Lace up Boat Deck Shoe (Big Kid/Little Kid/Toddler); Brand: coXist; Review: I bought these shoes for my grandson in size 5. I can't count how many times I have received comments on how precious his shoes are. They dress up his every day outfits and fit beautifully with his dress clothes. I just ordered the size 6 which he will be needing soon! The quality is excellent.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Polo Ralph Lauren Toddler Faxon IL EZ Sneaker; Brand: Polo Ralph Lauren; Review: Very good quality! My grandson wears these often and the still look nice! I will order the next size!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Haggar Men's Cool 18 Oxford Weave Short; Brand: ; Review: Fit is great except they run a little long. My husband is only 5'7" tall and they fall at the middle of his knees. We will have to have them hemmed before vacation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nautica Little River 2 Boat Shoe (Toddler/Little Kid); Brand: ; Review: They run just a bit large but really look nice. Great quality at a good price!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Florsheim Men's Roadster Venetian Driving Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Nice shoe, but I had to return and re-order in a half size smaller than usual. These also run wide, which is nice for us fat footed folks. I normally wear a 4E and the 3E was plenty roomy, even with thick socks. Recommended for the dedicated driver! Amazon return policy makes shoe shopping easy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Men's Verdict Men's Boot; Brand: ; Review: Great construction and truly waterproof. Also very hard and stiff. Unlike the 5 star reviewers , I did not find them comfortable at all, probably due to poor fit. I am a true 10 1/2 4E. I expected these 3E to be a little snug, but instead were much too roomy, regardless of how tightly I laced them. Wore them to work several rainy days and appreciated the water repelling qualities, but feet were very sore from banging around the hard, loose interior. Even tried two pairs of socks to no avail. Regrettably, had to return them. Would be a fine choice for a better fit than I experienced. Edited 2/3/2015 After reordering a size smaller than my usual, and after an extended break in time, these boots are comfortable enough for a light work day, but I still wouldn't want to hike or work hard in them for an extended length of time. After years of wearing lightweight Asics to work my feet may be more tender than average. Got them on a sale for $55.98 and at this price they make a good case for water proof knocking around and regular duty chores. Living in the great northwest makes these desirable. Amazon's return policy and incomparable customer support makes shopping easy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Men's Verdict Men's Boot; Brand: ; Review: Great construction and truly waterproof. Also very hard and stiff. Unlike the 5 star reviewers , I did not find them comfortable at all, probably due to poor fit. I am a true 10 1/2 4E. I expected these 3E to be a little snug, but instead were much too roomy, regardless of how tightly I laced them. Wore them to work several rainy days and appreciated the water repelling qualities, but feet were very sore from banging around the hard, loose interior. Even tried two pairs of socks to no avail. Regrettably, had to return them. Would be a fine choice for a better fit than I experienced. Edited 2/3/2015 After reordering a size smaller than my usual, and after an extended break in time, these boots are comfortable enough for a light work day, but I still wouldn't want to hike or work hard in them for an extended length of time. After years of wearing lightweight Asics to work my feet may be more tender than average. Got them on a sale for $55.98 and at this price they make a good case for water proof knocking around and regular duty chores. Living in the great northwest makes these desirable. Amazon's return policy and incomparable customer support makes shopping easy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: John Henry Men's Black Panel Shirt; Brand: ; Review: Too tight in shoulders and back. Ordered size that fits me in every other line. How about a few cents more in material, John Henry?; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fossil Men's Bradley Execufold Wallet; Brand: ; Review: If the main function of your wallet will be to access cash, this may not be the best option. The cash pocket is too small and requires removal of all the wedged in bills to cull out the ones you want. If the bills are not new and crisp, good luck getting them back in while the line at the register queues up behind you. They have tried to reinvent the tri-fold wheel and did not succeed. This is a shrunken down version of a conventional bi-fold with an additional flap hinged off axis to overlap for more I.D. and credit card storage. This design is extremely awkward, cramped, and counter-intuitive. Three stars for excellence of materials and build quality and extra card storage. Too bad it doesn't work for cash.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sakkas 70" x 28" Paisley Self-Design Pashmina Shawl/Wrap / Stole; Brand: ; Review: Another Lightning Deal score. recipient loved it and thinks I splurged. Very nice quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ASICS Men's GEL-Cumulus 15 Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: I don't think these are available any more, so the review might be moot. Bought 6 pair for future use once I decided they were perfect. Love Asics. Easy Amazon returns- so what can go wrong?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FitFlop Women's Bijoo Thong Sandal; Brand: ; Review: These are about the seventh pair of FitFlops I've bought for my friend. Running out of styles. She is delighted with all of them. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marvel Boys' Antman Movie Short Sleeve T-Shirt; Brand: ; Review: Nice shirt for the Lightning Deal price. A Walmart tagged item resold by C-Life Group. Regular price would indicate a serious mark-up.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: XTREM SPORT Men's Foam Slide Sandal; Brand: XTRM SPORT; Review: Bought these and a pair of name brands to fit my 10 4E feet. Sent the name brands back and saved $30. These are for going outside (don't wear shoes in the house- yes, I'm one of those people) and they work great with comfort and traction. The name brand (initials: NB) had a foot bed that was plush, but too slippery. Adjustable band stays put. Goofy, generic, non-trendy styling, but who cares? No one is Googling my red carpet fashion walks. And I hate wearing product advertising without compensation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sterling Silver Created Opal & CZ Teardrop Earrings and Pendant Set with 18" Chain; Brand: ; Review: I buy a lot of jewelry for a lot of women (that's a boring story). I have been disappointed by a lot of the higher end stuff that doesn't impress. This set is gorgeous. Fine details and gem quality way above average. The opal/amethyst color contrast is a better complement than the pictures show.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: New Balance Men's Mx608v4; Brand: ; Review: This is a roomy, comfortable lounger and knock around chore doer, but too heavy and cumbersome for serious training. And it's a good value, especially helpful if you have trouble finding a wide fit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: New Balance Men's Mx608v4; Brand: ; Review: This is a roomy, comfortable lounger and knock around chore doer, but too heavy and cumbersome for serious training. And it's a good value, especially helpful if you have trouble finding a wide fit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: New Balance Men's Mx608v4; Brand: ; Review: This is a roomy, comfortable lounger and knock around chore doer, but too heavy and cumbersome for serious training. And it's a good value, especially helpful if you have trouble finding a wide fit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter Gryffindor Arm Party Bracelet Set,Red & Gold,One Size; Brand: Harry Potter; Review: Granddaughter loved it. Big House of Gryffindor fan.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Domino's Pizza; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: After 2 hours of waiting for a delivery. I called the store the gentlemen was very honest over the phone. They have 1 delivery driver and let me know that my food would be cold when I asked him about it. I asked him to cancel it and refund my money which he did. He told me it would take 3-4 business days to get my refund, I hope I do if not I'll be calling back.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mona's Cafe; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: Ask for two sides of tzatziki, got none. Hummus leaked all in the bag, food is a mess in the container. Sloppy. Chicken had the consistency like gum. I asked for whole wheat pitas, didn't get those. Other locations take more pride in their presentation and taste so if you want Monas just don't go to the one on Frenchmen.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mr Everything Cafe; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: *Update - Mr. Everything Café gave me a full refund for the order I placed, thank you. I would give Mr. Everything Café and second chance to redeem themselves! Grilled chicken, brown rice, broccoli and a sweet potato, this was the meal i ordered through Uber eats. I've ordered multiple times and I've always asked for them to send a regular potato instead of a sweet potato and it's never been an issue. Unfortunately tonight it was and i did receive a sweet potato, which was not a huge deal. However i did receive a heaping mound of tomatoes on top of my entire dish. I hate tomatoes and no where in the food description does it say it includes tomatoes. Whole meal right in the trash, what a waste and a let down I really liked this place.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Taqueria Guerrero; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: FLAUTAS! I love them! The portions are big and the food is delicious, this place is legit! This restaurant doesn't try to be something that it's not, it's a chill place to grab a soda and a delicious meal! Take-out or eat in - I love you Taqueria Guerrero!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Poke-chan; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: Very pretty place to dine at! Food is good, so good that I tried it one day and was back the next! Keep it up! Great addition to St. Claude!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Royal Sushi & Bar; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: Always go here, love the service love the food. This review is a special shout out to the man answering the phones today. I live close enough you could throw a water balloon and hit my house, they have a strict $20 delivery fee. Okay yes I get it, I was just ordering for myself today so it wasn't a lot, as I'm inching my way adding things to get to $20, I make to $19, I assure the man I'm going to tip the driver well can I add that dollar to his tip? He says no and I was not about to add a $3 soda. So I opted for a pick up (I was just exhausted from work) which is no big deal. I've never gone to or looked around for another sushi place but now I think I may. Religious customer lost for $1? Mistake.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Goldbergs Fine Foods - New Orleans; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: Two stars are for the all stars in the kitchen! I want to love Goldbergs and want them to love me back but it doesn't seem like it is meant to be. The first time I enjoyed their food I was smitten. The second time I got half my order. Now the third time it is a mess. Whoever is packing bags there you are destroying the food by flipping the containers sideways! I also ordered some rainbow cookies and a cinnamon roll. I received the cinnamon roll but not the cookies and was still charged. did not call to complain this time because I have given up on you Goldbergs. I will try again maybe sometime in the far future.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Fablehaven Complete Set (Boxed Set): Fablehaven; Rise of the Evening Star; Grip of the Shadow; Author: Visit Amazon's Brandon Mull Page; Review: This book series was unbelievable! Once I started the 1st book, I could not put them down. Hey 10~13 year olds, if you like fantasy then this is the book for you!!!!!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lost Hero. Rick Riordan; Author: Visit Amazon's Rick Riordan Page; Review: Like I said, I LOVE LEO!!! Leo is an awsome character. I would love to have a book that's just about...LEO!!!!!!!This book is also very inspiring.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus Book 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Rick Riordan Page; Review: This book is amazing. It really brings you to feel how each demigod really is. It is also a wonderful adventure! (With a bit of romance to!!!); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Summer Before Boys; Author: Visit Amazon's Nora Raleigh Baskin Page; Review: In this book Julia's mom has gone over seas. Julia is sent to live with niece/best freind Eliza. The Julia starts to fall in love with...Micheal. Then the story really begins. Ages 10 & up.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Introduction to the Design and Analysis of Algorithms (3rd Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Anany Levitin Page; Review: This book is sadly lacking in examples that fully explain the material. It reads like a giant essay, with references to a library of more worthy material. My overall gpa is 3.82 (out of 4.0); and I am certainly going to receive a D, if I pass my algorithms course at all. Did I mention that I have taken three semesters of calculus, one course in matrix algebra, and two semesters of discrete math, prior to my current algorithms course? To use this text is a shameful waste of a students time and money.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Ann Shaffer Page; Review: I enjoyed this book. It is an easy read with endearing characters. It has humor and substance. It has been a great choice for our book club.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swamplandia!; Author: Visit Amazon's Karen Russell Page; Review: This book was a fun read. I read it quickly because I wanted to know what happened next. The characters are engaging and stick in your mind.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards; Author: Visit Amazon's Jen Hatmaker Page; Review: It is a fast read that is very funny and entertaining while also covering serious life topics in our faith walk. I applaud Jen Hatmaker for her transparency.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Museum of Extraordinary Things: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Alice Hoffman Page; Review: This was an interesting book with an interesting premise. It really kept my attention, and I really enjoyed it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, parts one and two. [Based on the original new story by J.J.; Author: J K; Tiffany, John & Thorne, Jack Rowling; Review: It was a great continuation of the story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: American Metalcraft SQND15 Bowls, 14.375" Length x 14.375" Width, White; Brand: American Metalcraft; Review: Bowl arrived promptly and without issue. It matched my other dish set, is a great size for serving side dishes. It also has a thick sturdy construction to it. And very happy with the purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gibson Home Zen Buffetware 16 Piece Dinnerware Set, White; Brand: Gibson; Review: as expected; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Foodsaver compatible FoodVacBags 100 Quart Size 8x12-inch Vacuum Sealer Storage Bags, BPA Free, Commercial Grade, Heavy Duty, Sous Vide; Brand: FoodVacBags; Review: as expected; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Over & Back 4-Piece 'What a Dish' Porcelain Bowl Set, White; Brand: Over & Back; Review: great bowls, perfect size for sides; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ez Squeeze Toothpaste Dispenser And More Colors Will vary; Brand: Mack-Ray; Review: everything as expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beachcombers SS-BCS-03919 Decorative Signs; Brand: Beachcombers; Review: seemed a nice decorative piece to hang outside, but one of the starfish pieces was broken (broken piece not in the box so was packaged that way). I returned for a refund.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Arabian Courtyard Hotel Spa; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: Stayed on the Executive Floor. Room was beautiful. Great to be able to eat breakfast on the same floor. Great benefits for the evening (nice buffet + you get 3 alcoholic drinks each). The staff were very helpfull and friendly. The location is perfect if you don't want a 'beach front' holiday. The male locals stare at you (if you are a woman) but you get used to it - my advice is to cover up. Felt perfectly safe walking around at night. Used the 'locals' water bus service - great experience. The Indian restaurant downstairs was one of the best Indian meals i've ever had. I would stay there again but on the Executive Floor. Would recommend the 'ultimate afternoon tea' experience at the Burj Al Arab. It's worth the money (around £55 each) for an extra special treat. We had around 6 courses.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom; City: Bangkok; Review: Stayed there in Feb08. Great location. I thought the hotel was very plush for a 4star. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Room was beautiful. The NARO restaurant across the road served the best soft shell crab Thai curry I have ever eaten in my life. Very cheap too. Take the skytrain to Soi Cowboy - great to walk around.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pan Pacific Singapore; City: Singapore; Review: Great hotel, plush rooms - we stayed in the Panoramic View rooms. Great location if you are stopping over prior to catching a cruise.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heritage Park Hotel; City: Pontypridd Rhondda Cynon Taf South Wales Wales; Review: Stayed there for 1 night. OK breakfast. Staff are very nice - we would have eaten in the hotel but there was a wedding reception and they took over the entire bar area/foyer and spilled out onto the landings too. Far too noisy and felt out of place.. so we drove out to eat. Note: if you want to eat out... go out early as we were driving around for 1hr trying to find a place to eat (lots and lots of chinese takeaways though)... we left it too late and ended up eating from the worst Kebab place on this planet I think. But hey.. area was breathtaking, people were friendly and we ended up in Treforest.. lovely views. Area is worth a visit and hotel is OK, but would prob try a chain next time like Ibis/Travelodge etc. But don't be put off if you are booked there.. it's ok - worth a try.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Nottingham Belfry A QHotel; City: Nottingham Nottinghamshire England; Review: Booked the LivingSocial spa day pass for two with refreshments/cake each. Very good deal. Great place, well located outside the city centre. Cake and coffee from Costa. Spa area is nice and clean, nice size pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam. Could do with a few more loungers though. Great offer and gorgeous warm cakes with large coffee. Would recommend this deal if they do it again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alexandra Victoria; City: Southport Merseyside England; Review: Stayed there for 1 night on KGB deal. 'spa' facilities is almost next door at the local leisure centre. Old fashioned facilities but the changing area and pool areas were spotlesly clean - even the likes of David Lloyd/Virgin Active have hair all over the ladies changing rooms. This place was spotless. Nothing fancy, but it was relaxing. The hotel was a little old and of a middle of the road B&B standard, but it was cosy and I had a lovely relaxed time there. The staff are lovely and the food in the restaurant was unbelievable. It was to the standard of a gourmet restaurant. Amazing, tasty and professionally served food. What an amazing offer. You CANNOT complain about the food in the restaurant - and those that do are just complainers. Try it... it's not the ritz.. but hey.. you are not paying ritz prices are you!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Nottingham City Centre Hotel; City: Nottingham Nottinghamshire England; Review: Had a facial and head massage at the Loft spa. The lady was brilliant - very powerful hands and very experienced (she was heavily expecting.. so will be going off on maternity leave). Excellent service.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Park Central Hotel; City: Bournemouth Dorset England; Review: Great location. Very professional, friendly staff. Spotlessly clean rooms. Lovely breakfast area.. I wish we had eaten in the restaurant. Car parking is at the multi storey opposite - with located bays on level 3. Very easy to park, very straight forward. No hassle.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Giulietta e Romeo Hotel; City: Verona Province of Verona Veneto; Review: Lovely littel hotel, with very clean, spotless rooms. Great location.. at the heart of Verona centre and near attractions. We didn't upgrade to the Balcony rooms but heard they were very spacious. Normal rooms are smallish and bathroom is small but it is a city centre after all and quite normal. The rooms/bathroom are immaculate and spotlessly clean. A kettle in the room would have been nice. But again not normal ouside of UK. The breakfast was brilliant. The coffee (ask the waitress) is gorgeous - the caffitiere coffee seems to be instant though.. so ask waitress for a capp or Latte etc. Staff are very friendly and nice. Only thing was that it was a shame to not be able to eat breakfast in courtyard as those side rooms were 'not awake'.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Blu Hotel East Midlands Airport; City: Castle Donington Derbyshire England; Review: Organised another conference at Radisson EMA. Staff were as always very helpful, professional and went that extra mile to assist. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed. Good location if traveling from EMA and they have a shuttle service.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Nottingham City Centre Hotel; City: Nottingham Nottinghamshire England; Review: Restaurant food was lovely. The sushi/canapes are lovely too.. well presented and so tasty. The staff are very attentative and polite. The red wine was gorgeous.. well worth it. Would recommend staying there - as great location and food was very good standard.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Blu Royal Astorija Hotel Vilnius; City: Vilnius Vilnius County; Review: Great location for tourists and safe. Taxis = I reserved a taxi from Ekipazas taxi via their website/e-mail (cost 25litas).. but the hotel can reserve you a taxi from the Government ran firm which is strictly monitored and metered. Ask the hotel via e-mail to reserve you a taxi (not a chauffeur service), price difference is 25-30litas compared to 80litas. They will wait for you on the second floor (Departures). Go up on the lift and turn left and go outside. Taxi was outside. Excellent service from Ekipaza, just make sure you get a quote beforehand. Hotel = The staff are great. Very helpful. Giutrius (prob spelt wrong) was a great help. His English was perfect and went that extra mile to help and give advice. The hotel room (642 - Business Class room) was lovely, spotlessly clean and brilliant selection of coffees etc. The balcony was a nice touch with side views over the area. The food in the hotel is lovely too. The pool is small but has a 'swimming' machine. The jacuzzi/spa areas are spotless (swimming pool/small gym/jacuzzi/steam & sauna). Lots of towels etc. Ask for the Spa to be switched on.. as we used it 3 times and each time it wasn't switched on... we had to keep asking.. probably because we were the only ones in there! Overall, great service, nice staff. Spotlessly clean hotel in a fantastic location. The business class rooms are lovely. However the movie selection is not very well thought out... 2 movies on a loop and start/finish at the same time).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ashleigh Lodge; City: Hunstanton Norfolk East Anglia England; Review: Stayed here for two nights with our 14month old. Hosts were excellent and gave us a two bedroom room. The room was lovely with all the conveniences of a hotel. The room was cleaned on the second day, which was unexpected for a b&b. the breakfast was gorgeous, top quality ingredients and excellently cooked. The location was perfect... 5 mins stroll to the beach. Overall a fantastic stay and weekend break. Thank you to our great hosts. :0); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apartamentos Cruceiro Do Galo; City: Santiago de Compostela Province of A Coruna Galicia; Review: great location. Around the corner from Tertulia cafe - which is a must for breakfast! The apartment was very clean, well equipped and good standard for what we paid. Yes it's a little dark but we didn't spend much time indoors, except to sleep..as visiting family. The staff/manager were very helpful and friendly (It helps if you can speak Spanish). There is a car park opposite that is on waste ground...and is quite tight parking (if you can find a space)...but later in the evening we were able to park directly outside the apartment. Free wifi , which was fast and reliable.i would recommend this place. 👍; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aska Lara Resort SPA; City: Antalya Turkish Mediterranean Coast; Review: This was probably the cleanest family all inclusive I have been to. It is kept clean through the day and the food is excellence quality. The room was beautifully cleaned and the fridge is a nice touch. The a la carte restaurants were a must to visit for a break from the usual bustle of a buffet atmosphere that you get in all places. There was a reduced offer on a la carte and was great. The food generally is great. The alcoholic drinks were good quality too for all inclusive. Try the JD Lynchburgh Lemonade! The staff are polite and professional. Would visit again and recommend it. The wet and wild is brilliant .. Don't be put off by the one min bus ride.. It keeps the hotel clear of wet kids and noise and it works! Wet and wild is really nice and the restaurants serve excellent food too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Travelodge Paignton Seafront; City: Paignton English Riviera Devon England; Review: Great location. Good In-house facilities. Breakfast is a great deal for 7.65 and kids are free. Staff are great, friendly and courteous. However I'm sorry to say my room really desperately needed a Good Scrub.. Especially the bathroom. This is a newly refurbished hotel so cleaning should be more thorough to maintain the 'new' feel. I had to purchase a spray and cloth from the local 99p shop to clean the bath before I would bathe my two year old.. The overflow plug in the bath was totally clotted with hair and sticky gunk.. I couldn't bring myself to touch it..poured boiling water into it and still couldn't clean it all.. So I had to stick toilet paper into it. The ceiling and walls just needed a good wipe over as full of yellow stains from condensation .. The place just needs a good thorough scrub. And what was with the broken handle .. Why didn't anyone fix it???; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Newquay Quintrell Downs Hotel; City: Newquay Cornwall England; Review: Stayed here for three nights. It was clean, helpful and friendly staff and is a great location. Easy to walk to all attractions.. only 10mins to the Zoo and beaches. There are plenty of takeaways and eateries nearby. Breakfast is a good deal (basic food.. but at a great price).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Restaurante Nogallas; City: Ordes Province of A Coruna Galicia; Review: They sell lovely Churros and great tasting coffee here. The little cake selection in the main shop opposite (across the road) is great and their Empanadas are beautiful. Haven't stayed in the 'hotel'.. but heard it is very clean and centrally located.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Patagonia Atiram Hotel; City: Arinsal La Massana Parish; Review: Great family holiday location. The half board special offer the hotel had was great. Food is buffet and couldn't find any fault with it at all. The breakfast was really good.. I ate my body weight in Churros all week. You have to purchase all refreshments in the evening.. including water - but I guess that's the only profit they make. The beers in the hotel bar were cheaper than the ski bars. The staff are really pleasant. The room was cleaned very well and thoroughly - very impressed with the cleanliness in the hotel. You walk two minutes to the foot of the mountain / chair lift. It's all great for a family holiday. The kids ski garden/classes for skiing are great.. staff really helpful and speak perfect English. The food on piste is also very good quality (Surprisingly for skiing). The Kids club was great and the lady there was very good with the kids (of all nationalities). Lovely view from balcony. Lovely surroundings. The Feel/ambiance of the area is that of an upmarket Ski Resort. So no loud bars.. loud apres ski... so if you are not travelling with children.. then this may not be for you. I would recommend staying here and would stay here again myself. Oh and great WIFI in the rooms!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Bilbao Centro; City: Bilbao Province of Vizcaya Basque Country; Review: spacious family room. Very clean. Great location and good underground parking. Breakfast was good with a choice of options. Clean hotel and great staff... bargain for Bilbao city centre. What else can you ask for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Midland Hotel; City: Bradford West Yorkshire England; Review: Nostalgic type of hotel. Grand entrance. Nice breakfast Nostalgic traditional rooms that were nice and clean. Staff were very friendly and helpful. The free wine went down well with all guests... quite a few business guests due to location.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Sheffield Arena Hotel; City: Sheffield South Yorkshire England; Review: We were apprehensive about staying so far out of Sheffield town centre, however only a short and cheap taxi ride from the city centre. Hotel Area is within walking distance of other eateries in nearby industrial estate/shops etc. The hotel room was surprisingly better than expected. The breakfast was £9.99 and kids eat free - which worked out a good choice. Food was good quality. STAFF = there was a middle aged lady who worked the breakfast restaurant (sorry didn't get name) - she was incredibly helpful, friendly, genuinely wanted to provide good customer service, cared about her job and took great pride in what she did. She is a credit to that business - staff like that are Gold. Thank you for making our stay enjoyable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Sindbad Club; City: Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: Don't look at the negative reviews they are not a true reflection of the place as it is yesterday when I left. Fanastic people and staff who can't do enough for you. Cleanliness - Don't understand some of the comments on here concerning cleanliness, they have an army of people who are constantly cleaning. As soon as a leaf is blown into the pool they are in there fishing it out. Rooms - we went with 2 children who had their own room. Very spacious, 2 tvs, good size bathroom and balcony. We were situated above reception and we did here talking into the early hours from the shop keepers, this didn't bother us as we are heavy sleepers but could be a problem for some. Aqua park - nothing to say really apart from excellent. Having this at your disposal all day everyday is a massive positive for adults travelling with kids. U won't see them all day :). 12 slides in aqua park hotel and 3 more in the aqua beech resort hotel. Food - wide range and variety of foods that is of excellent quality. BBQ, Lebanese, Italian, European, etc. Buffet style and waiter service depending on the restaurant. Decor - fantastic decor and reception. Really is impressive. Staff - welcoming and warm. I wud advise if u r with a large party or staying for 2 weeks try and get one of the waiters to be your gofer throughout your stay. I wud give between 50 and 100 Egyptian pounds a day to collect drinks for u throughout the day. They will then go that bit further in their service towards u like getting fresh fruit delivered to you at pool side and ice cream for kids at times wen the bar isn't serving it. They really do look after u. Entertainment - loads of daytime entertainment and games. Beech - it is a private beech to the hotel that is fantastic and close to the bar if u need a drink. Now I'm going to go onto the negative that separate this from a four star to a five star. Entertainment - night time enertainment on the stage is poor for adults. They do have shows but it just didn't stimulate me in anyway. I suppose I'm pretty British when it comes to night time entertainment. As I like some kind of boys v girls, quizzes, bingo, game shows etc but I suppose what you need to realise is that the british are in the minority in this hotel so the entertainment is directed more to the Dutch, Germans, Russians, French . In general then, it is a fantastic hotel that you should enjoy immensely. 3 hotels rolled into 1 where you can use the facilities of any. The beech is a five/ten minute walk from the furthest most point. It is truly is an all inclusive holiday in which you could go with no money and be ok. Usually there is the safe to pay for, pool tables well these 2 things here are free aswell.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jungle Aqua Park; City: Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: Just had 2 weeks here in June and couldn't of wished for a better holiday. We were promptly shown to our rooms and cases came later. The room was large, spacious, clean and had everything you need. Tv, deposit box, hair dryer. Only thing I would say it was short on electrical points. On opening the sliding door we were greeted by our own pool. Literally 10 paces from our room, to be shared with around 20 other families. This place started to smell of class already and was very excited about the rest of our holiday. Arrived late so we ate in the Mediterranean the first night. Food was excellent. This is the late food restaurant. Aqua park is nothing short of amazing. All the slides you need whether your 1 or 40. Truly is brilliant. Don't forget there is another child's pool at the other end of the complex that also has slides for kids. There is an activity pool which is the large pool in the center which has all your games and activities throughout the day. Or if you fancy a relaxing day just stay around your own pool. There seems to be a lot of negativity about bar staff and cup sizes. Never had one problem myself with bar staff who seem hell bent in giving the best service. Also I found that if you just asked for a glass you got one. Very simple really, just ask. Sometimes they may say are u drinking inside, just say yeh and walk out with them. Or alternatively tip a waiter and he ll fetch them for you. I took 60 quids worth of pound coins for tips wen needed. They earn on average 80 quid a week so a tip here and there goes down well. Not all people do tip and I didn't see once a waiter turn his nose up wen he didn't receive a tip. We found the food excellent and varied. Yes it is buffet style but how they manage to produce in volume without effecting the quality amazes me. There are 6 restaurants and I now believe 7 as they opened something else on our last day, also an ice cream parlour. So how people can say there isn't enough variety absolutely amazes me. I thought I was funny with food but obviously not. Also they cook food outside that is also beautiful to eat. The local larger I found nice and tasteful and there is also a large choice of other wines, spirits and cocktails. Didn't use kids club. Mini disco at 8.00 every night but was more like a sing and dance along for kids which they all seemed to enjoy. At 9.00 there's always a show. We enjoyed them all. Did we find that they catered towards Germans in their entertainment. I'd have to say no. Wenever there was entertainment they were speaking mostly in English. We stayed at the sindbad aqua park last year and we never heard and English word spoken. Because we stayed wen the euros were; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Craig Y Don; City: Blackpool Lancashire England; Review: By far the best hotel we've been to in Blackpool. A breakfast that hits the money, it is self service but excellent value. Hotel clean throughout with a good quality rooms and ensuit. Entertainment is on everyday with bingo, cabaret etc. Friday nights cabaret was very entertaining but Saturdays unfortunately wasn't great. No denying he was a good singer but needs to be a bit more personal like chase on Friday. Drinks priced very well as was the rooms. Excellent value for money and will have no hesitation in returning. Excellent staff, owners. Great weekend all round. Thanks :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jungle Aqua Park; City: Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: My second review of this fabulous place and unbelievably it's improved. I'm not going to repeat what I said in my last review of this place because it's all still a fair reflection on this great holiday complex. The things that have changed since last time is the entertainment. It's better than last time by a long shot. Also there are some entertainment for the kids if they need their ps3 or xbox fix along with a 3d ride. Again I went whilst there was a football tournament on therefore was a great international feel about the place. Also there is a stage on the pool side near the large screen which is new. One night there was a fire show and violinist but it was that dark you couldnt see them. And lastly a new noodle bar. This is a brilliant brilliant complex that should be a 5 star. I can't speak of this place highly enough. If your thinking of booking here, don't. Just book it already.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SUNRISE Royal Makadi Aqua Resort Select; City: Makadi Bay Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: I wanted to rate this at 3.5 because to score a 3 would be unfair but don't quite think its a 4 either. like the title says, there is no wow factor about this hotel just a standard Egyptian hotel that does most things to a good standard. Rooms We were on the second floor in block 36 which overlooked the Family pool. We had a noise on the roof that was constant and woke me up twice. The first night being 4am and was constant & didn't get back to sleep. We original thought it was the family above but once we moved rooms we heard the same noise again but not has bad, which made me believe it was something else. a generator maybe. But they did move us with no problem. The bathroom was dated with terrible grouting and wood frame of the door coming away. The beds were large and comfy. Décor, painting and curtains again were dated. Food The buffet food was ok. The al la carte was better. Nothing special but nice and plentiful. Pools One heated pool which is the one with the slides. But you can only be in this pool whilst the slides are on 10am - 12pm and 2pm - 4pm. There were other pools but were very cold in comparison. Slides These are kids slides so don't expect any white knuckle one. Still they were fun and kept the kids entertained but can only be used at the above times. Beech A nice beech which is private with water sports, camel rides etc. Very nice surroundings Kids club Did not use Animation Team A fantastic animation team who work tirelessly to make your stay enjoyable. Always asking if you have any issues and look to resolve any you have which was great customer service. They work very hard with a full program of entertainment day/night which was greatly appreciated. A big thank you to 'Egyptian John' who got me and my wife into the T bones for our Anniversary even though it was booked up. Management Room was resolved no problem and the whole management team took time out of their day to introduce themselves at the morning welcome meeting. Again this showed great customer focus. General They operate a red flag system which you can get from the towel stations. These red flags tell the sellers of trips and spa treatments that you don't want to be bothered. This does not work. They continuingly try to get you to buy something and even when you show them the red flag they ignore it. Reception area is nice and relaxed with good wifi all the other bars and food places also have good wifi In general we weren't blown away by any aspect of this hotel but still had a great time and met some fantastic staff members.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jungle Aqua Park; City: Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: When to makadi bay in April and came to jungle for a day trip. We have stayed here twice before so new exactly what to expect. It's exactly as we remember it. 5 star experience as usual. Another family who was with us so I cheekily took them around the whole complex and shown them everything. They were blown away and we are all booking in October. Don't believe the morons below who say there's no food variety. If you have 7 restaurants how can there be no variety. Chinese, Indian, Italian, German, noodle bar, Mediterranean, Egyptian and lots of BBQ on the outside. It's a fantastic place. If you want to know anything message me and I'll happily answer you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Metropole Hotel; City: Blackpool Lancashire England; Review: This place should be an absolute gold mine yet it is tired and dated, the breakfeast is poor and the staff ok. The best things it's got going for it, is the location. For a lads weekend away it's perfect. It just goes to show that they've given up with this place as I ll know doubt get the same copy and paste message from the 'manager'. Says it all really.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Jungle Aqua Park; City: Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: Im not going to go into any great detail about this hotel as I have done that before so feel free to look at my previous posts about this hotel. A couple of changes since last year tho. The waterpark as a 1 hour break from 12:30 till 13:30 which is a good thing really as it lets the staff have a rest but the consequence of this is that everyone goes for food at the same time. Therefore as a tip go for a 5 minute walk to Club Mc and get your day time food there. They were taking down the small waterpark at the opposite end of the complex. Night time entertainment is better. Watch out for the fire show. Not that it is a slight on the hotel but its the first time I have been here where I have noticed the down right arrogance of other people. The way that some have spoken to staff, not cueing for food & drinks, pushing in on the slides was shockingly bad. Noodle bar now open also. Free Wifi and even had it around our pool. Excellent. For our wedding anniversary they set a table up in the middle of the main swimming pool with front row seats to the fire show. Excellent night and great customer service. If you have questions about this hotel please feel free to send me a message.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PlayaOlid Suites Apartments; City: Costa Adeje Adeje Tenerife Canary Islands; Review: I will try to give a comprehensive review and be as balanced as possible. Reception - welcome was swift and easy. Anytime we needed help with anything they were more than willing to help. Restaurant - always found a table with no issues, breakfast's were nice with plenty of choice, main meals were ok. Nothing spectacular, just average, snacks were basic, burgers, hot dogs, chips and salads. Lobby area and Bar - Nice, looked recently decorated but with a poor games area for children. Millennium Bar - This is where the night time entertainment is. Again looks recently decorated with comfy chairs and a lovely bar. Daytime Entertainment - Basic with the classic daytime games for brits Evening Entertainment - The nights we stayed in to watch the entertainment we found it very entertaining especially the Comedy Show and Hypnotist. Certainly worth a watch. Pool Area - Pretty shocking tbh. Don't look like the pictures. Broken tiles, loose plaster, flaking paint, jammed in sun lounges around pool, you have to chase the sun around the pool in order to be in it due to the poor design of the building not taking the sun into account. Rooms - Basic but large, decorated to a decent standard. The fold up bed was not good and felt it could collapse at any time. Cleaning was completed 5 days of the week and to a very good standard. Stairs and walkways to rooms - This was the most shocking part for me. Looked terrible, dark and dingy. When dark no lights on the stairs, I actually fell down them one night. Luckily im a fit 40 year old but this could of been a lot worse especially for someone older. Reported it to reception who seemed to look at me gone out as I said 'I didn't need a doctor but wanted to report it so you cant do something about it (install lights) before a more serious accident happened. Staff were fine. No real personalities but were all pleasant. All in all this was a nice holiday due to being away in the sum during the winter months. Lots to do, out and about which helped but wont be visiting this hotel again. Siam Park was part of our package which was a definite plus.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blue Palace; City: Marmaris Marmaris District Mugla Province Turkish Aegean Coast; Review: Reception: always happy to help and always sorted any issue out with no problem. All the staff were pleasant any easy to talk to. A credit to the hotel. Room: small, basic with little storage or floor space. Bathroom tiny and hot/cold water issues but nothing major You can pay for TV, deposit box, WiFi and air con which we did. All worked well for us. WiFi could be better for not a problem. Tv package brilliant, all the sports and English channels. Air con good. Cleanliness: hallways and stairways were nothing short of embarrassing. Stained carpets, peeling paintwork, general dust and dirt visible. Constantly people rubbish out of their rooms would be dumped on the stairs and left there in some cases overnight. Our room had crisp on the floor under the dressing table from the previous occupants. Was still there the night we left. Pool Area: clean and tidy, with enough beds the majority of times we needed one. The pool bar had a good selection of drinks at brilliant prices. 10 lira for a pint of efes. Nothing really went off round the pool so we only stayed 1 day. Went to water parks and other hotels the rest. Food: we had a meal the evening after we got there which wasn’t great. Went down for our breakfast the next morning which was equally as bad. Didn’t eat there again even tho we’d paid for it. Location: decent location whether you want to go to the busier strip end of Marmaris or the inland strip. 10 minute walk to beach. This isn’t a bad hotel but needs some TLC in the food and aesthetics department. We really enjoyed our holiday but unfortunately won’t be back here again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Valley Oasis; City: St Joseph Trinidad Trinidad and Tobago; Review: We landed in Trinidad by mistake....long story, should have been Tobago - flight booked by RTW Experts who aren't really experts. So we landed at Trinidad at 6pm with nowhere to stay. The tourist information office at Trinidad airport were very helpful and organised a room for us at Valley Oasis. It was $90 and included continental breakfast and airport transfer. They even asked if we needed to get some food. The transfer included a stop at a local Chinese takeaway. The hosts Arlene and Randy were great, providing us with a drink as we’d forgotten to but one. Lovely hot shower and comfy bed. Sadly we didn’t see much of Trinidad, but The Valley Oasis was located in the cool mountain region about 30 minutes from the airport in a gated secure area. There was a very inviting pool, but we were too tired and stressed to use it. Would recommend without a doubt. Thank you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hostel Bambu; City: Puerto Iguazu Province of Misiones Litoral; Review: We stayed at Garden Stone Hostel for 3 nights (which wasn't great) and we wanted to stay another 2 nights. The original Hostel Bambu was round the corner from Garden Stone looked really nice but was full. There was another Hostel Bambu further up the road, nearer to the bus station. We had a look and the room was big, with ensuite (with 1970's purple tiles and mustard coloured fittings!) We were told the room as 150 and wi-fi would be available in a few hours. They had a 4 bed dorm, a 10 bed dorm, one double with shared bathroom and one double with private bathroom. Hostel Bambu no 2 has only been open for a few weeks and there was a lot of work still being done on the place, The first room you enter at the moment only has a desk in there - no sofas or any other soft furnishings. The kitchen is out the back and was OK. new clean fridge and cooker. There is a pool which was a bit cloudy. When we asked about it, they weren't happy that we thought it was dirty. It was cloudy, so we didn't use it. Then there was a bar which if noisy was far enough away from the rooms. The people working there seemed to bring their friends around in the early until early morning. Chatting. luaghing and playing music in the unfurnished first room, Everything echoed around and we found it difficult to sleep. We had to ask them to keep the noise down. By 8am staff were around again with music on. They also smoked which we could smell in the room. We still didn't have any wi-fi by the time we left 3 days later. I think eventually when finished it could be a nice hostel, but without any soft furnishings it was noisy. Staff were much friendlier than at Garden Stone and gave great advice re buses etc.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Yaganhouse; City: Puerto Natales Magallanes Region; Review: We arrived in Puerto Natales from the Navimag and pre-booked 3 nights at Yagan House. It started off well as the owner met us off the boat on his pushbike. It was a good 15 minutes walk to the hostel from the harbour. The room was small with nowhere to put anything. The sheets on the bed looked nice and the bed looked comfy. We had an en-suite bathroom which looked really nice until you walked on the tiled floor - water squelched up between the tiles. It sounded like you were walked through a swamp. We called the owner in straight away and he said he'd get someone to look at it. When we returned later that day, he said someone would fix it tomorrow. Our room was on the ground floor with the stairs on the other side of our wall. The owner, his wife and little girl used the lounge area to watch TV until quite late. We could hear everything in our room. The next day 3 people were leaving early for a hike to TDP. They were up at 5.30am, talking in loud voices and running up and down the stairs. We cooked, but had to wait for the owner and his wife to finish cooking. There was no tea towel to dry any dishes with and we had to use the bar area to prepare food. The next morning we were getting up quite early, but 3 French girls were up even earlier. Same again, normal loud voices at 5.30am, running up stairs and then jumping down the last few...right outside our door. We didn't book any trips through the hostel and the owner never really spoke to us about anything. The bathroom was never fixed, we don't think anyone ever came to even look at it. It was obviously a long term problem as the walls were damp. Breakfast was good and the bed was comfy. The bathroom was permanently wet, room was too close to living area / stairs and the owner went cold on us.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Garden Stone Hostel; City: Puerto Iguazu Province of Misiones Litoral; Review: After reading reviews of this hostel, we were disappointed when we arrived. We had the most unfriendliest welcome in SA in 3 months. The girl looked bored out of our tree. She said hello, asked to complete a form and showed us our room. All other places have offered info / tea etc. The room was small. We had to rearrange the furniture just so we have somewhere for our bags. There was one bathroom for women and one for men. The bathroom also included the toilet. There were 8 rooms / 16 people using the bathrooms. The water was hot and shower good. We stayed 3 nights and I had to ask for loo paper twice. It was hot in Iguazu so we left the window open at night. We were near the reception where the staff chatted loudly and watched TV until after midnight. We had to close the window. From 6.30am staff arrived and again were talking loudly outside our room, sweeping, filling buckets with water etc. The garden looked nice, but we didn't use it as we were out at the falls each day. We did use the outdoor kitchen. It was OK, but not enough plates etc. 5 people cooked before us and we had to wash plates so we could eat. It would be chaos if everyone tried to cook. With it being outside, everything felt dirty and there were lots of ants running about, so you couldn't really leave food in the kitchen. The day we left we opened a drawer next to the bed only to find 2 cockroaches in there! When we checked out, we mentioned the cockroaches and the other woman on the desk was rude. We also mentioned that in 3 days our room hadn't been cleaned. The reply - it was a hostel not a hotel. I wasn't expecting a turn down service with chocolates...but maybe the bin emptied and quick sweep??? Hostel Bambu next door looked nice, but it was full when we arrived. Unsure why this place has good reviews, we wouldn't recommend it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Latitud 49 Apart; City: El Chalten Province of Santa Cruz Patagonia; Review: We stayed for 3 nights in Chalten at the very end of May. There was little accommodation to chose from as it was the end of the season. We chose Latitude 49 because of the reviews on here. It was perfect. There are just 3 rooms. One on the same floor as the breakfast room which has a window into the corridor - looks nice, but was occupied. There are 2 superior rooms upstairs both of which are in the eaves so they are quirky shapes. Our room had heating - absolute must in El Chalten in June. The bed was large and very comfortable. We had a whole wall of storage shelves and hanging space. The room had a large TV and DVD player - Latitude has an extensive DVD collection. The bathroom was modern, tiled with a great hot shower. We also had amazing views of Fitz Roy. Florenica was great. Serving us breakfast when we wanted - including an early one so we could hike before sunrise. Breakfast was cereal, croissants and fresh toast, juice, tea and coffee. She was also a great source of information on the area. All in all, a lovely place to stay, would 100% recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casa De Huespedes Wasi Masi; City: Sucre Chuquisaca Department; Review: When we arrived we thought Wasi masi was lovely. Nice courtyard and great location. We had reserved the room via telephone as there were many reviews on Hostelbookers and hostelworld about their poor reservation records. We were shown to our room which had a Japanese theme to it - futon bed on the floor and sliding glass door to the bathroom. It did smell quite damp. There was a home-made blind at the window which didn't fit so people could see around it. It also had a half round table badly attached to the wall - don't put anything too heavy on it, otherwise it will fall off. The shower area is made of bricks - looks nice - but they aren't sealed so I guess this is where the damp smell comes from. They knew we were arriving at 3pm, but the girl left in charge didn't have a key for our room. It was open, but we couldn't go out and lock it. After lots of bizarre conversations - such as our friends locker key was actually our room key - we found a key to lock the door. A bit haphazard but we got there, Next morning we tried to have a shower and it was cold. Our friend who was in the new 10 bed dorm also couldn't get a hot shower. A new member of staff who spoke English demonstrated that you had to just to turn it on and wait for it to get hot and then turn it up slightly. It did get hot, but you couldn't increase the pressure otherwise it would be cold again. Breakfast was stale bread, with margarine and jam that looked like tomato sauce. I got ill and so did friends. I spoke with a member of staff who said all the staff had been ill. Seems like there was a bug going round. My other half refused to eat breakfast there and he was the only one who wasn't ill. One day we got up and our shower wasn't working, so we had to use the shared shower. Seems like there was a fault with all the showers so there were about 20 people using 2 bathrooms. The shower was good, but then I had to walk across the courtyard in cold wet towels to my room (I was also full of cold). The staff were in my room trying to fix the shower. I had to ask 3 times for them to leave the room so I could get dressed. All the electric showers had burnt out - power surge??? We decided to stay in Sucre a bit longer but we grew tired of being woken at 6.30am every morning by the staff shouting at each other across the courtyard. The owners kids also used the whole area as an adventure playground all day and late into the evening. No chance of chilling in the afternoon sun. The showers were still not great, we'd given up on breakfast and something was biting us - not bed bugs..but probably; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: La Aldea del Inca; City: Copacabana La Paz Department; Review: We moved here from the Ecolodge as we felt stranded there with the festival that was going on whilst we were there. It was the same price for a double room - 280 Bolivianos. The room was modern and very clean AND it had a heater which helped keep out the nightly chill. the bathroom was fully tiled with an electric shower, if you turned it on too much the flow was too much for the heater, turn it down a bit and you get boiling hot water - perfect. We were not shown any rules when we checked in. We had beer and wine in our room and nothing was said to us. We had fast wi-fi at all times at no extra cost. The breakfast was cereal, fresh orange juice, scrambled eggs, toast, tea and coffee. The garden has deck chairs and hammocks to chill out in. The staff were helpful...even with our Spanglish and they booked us our bus to Puno. 100% recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rainforest Retreat; City: Franz Josef Westland National Park Te Wahipounamu West Coast Region ; Review: The campervan sites were spread out amongst the rain forest, so it was a lovely setting. The kitchen had just hobs, no ovens, 2 x toasters and about 3 or 4 sinks. There was a lounge area and a few dining tables. There was a meter on the wall, so not sure if you needed to feed it to meter to watch the TV. The main toilet block for ladies had 2 showers and 3 toilets in it. There was a sign up saying additional toilet blocks could be opened if it was busy enough. The park was full the 2 nights we stayed there. We showered on an evening, in the mornings there were always queues for the 2 showers. On the second morning 2 of the ladies toilets were out of loo paper and had been since 6am. Maybe just an oversight. The site itself is in the town and over the road from the hot pools. Recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TripInn Hostel YHA Westport; City: Westport West Coast Region South Island; Review: This is a very functional hostel. The owner was lovely in giving us a HI discount even though we didn't have our card on us. The living room has a sofa and 4 chairs plus a TV and a very, very warm fire. There are numerous dining tables and 2 computers. The kitchen is well equipped. The threat of video cameras watching your every move and eviction if you don't clean up after yourself means it was pretty tidy! More hostels should do this!!!! Our room was a double with shared bathroom. The room was an OK size with a small wardrobe. Sadly we could hear the couple next door talking at normal level. We were also next to the bathroom. There were signs up saying no showers after 10pm or before 7am and someone ignored it and got a shower at 6.30am. We had considered Basil Hostel until we drove past and saw a Kiwi Experience bus outside and decided against it. We met friends who'd looked at it earlier and they said Tripinn was better. For 1 night it was OK for us.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Albatross Backpacker Inn; City: Kaikoura Canterbury Region South Island; Review: We stayed here for 2 nights in a double room with shared bathroom. The room itself was quite small, a bit of a squeeze with our bags. It had 2 windows, the bed was comfy and it had a heater - great as the nights can be chilly. The shared toilets / shower room were very clean with hot showers. The kitchen was very well equipped with everything you need - 2 sinks and 2 cookers. It was also very clean. Saturday night was curry night by donation and was a great social event. The best atmosphere so far in a hostel. Highly recommended; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Punakaiki Beach Hostel; City: Punakaiki West Coast Region South Island; Review: The hostel is on the beach as the name suggests. We arrived without a booking and the friendly owner said go and have a look at a few rooms and let me know which one you'd like! We chose room 2 as we could see the sea from it. The room had a big, solid, comfortable bed. The room was big enough for all of our stuff and still allowed us to walk around the room. The room also had a heat pump. The bathrooms were downstairs, very clean and large hot showers. The kitchen / dining / lounge area was well equipped - we wanted for nothing. Great location, lovely room and friendly owners. if going to see the pancake rocks, stop for the night here and see the rocks on 2 different days - it can be very different. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Grapevine; City: Blenheim Marlborough Region South Island; Review: About 90% of the people staying here were long term residents who are working in the local area, so the atmosphere is not the same as a regular backpackers. We felt like we were gate crashing a giant flatshare. We had a double room in a separate building which was pretty basic but clean,and if we hadn't had a heater it would have been a little chilly. We also shared the bathroom with another double room. Our room was right next to the bathroom and the walls were paper then. We could hear EVERYTHING, including people brushing their teeth. Some serious noise insulation is needed. The other couple showered at 10.30pm and then were up at 6.30am. On our second morning another couple spent an hour in the bathroom from 6.30am. The kitchen whilst on reflection is well equipped with 3 toasters, 2 kettles, a microwave, rice cooker, a full sized cooker and 2 electric hobs...the place itself was filthy. This was due to everyone who lived there treating it like their own place. Despite the numerous sign everywhere asking people to clean up, wash up and put away, it just didn't happen. The owner is around during the day and a couple live on site. Apart from seeing the owner a couple of times, we didn't see the staff living on site. Because everyone goes out to work, breakfast in the kitchen is easier than trying to cook your evening meal. That is after you've wiped an area down to put your stuff. Wi-fi is $5 for 1 hour or you can use their very antiquated PC which is $2 for 20 minutes. We tried to use the PC but couldn’t get our SD card to fit into the SD card slot and we just couldn’t get the CF card reader to recognise my CF card. The owner did kindly refund my $2. Grape Vine is ok if you're young and enjoy the student life but if you're a little older like us then try some where else because there must be better places to stay in Blenheim than here.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Shining Star Beachfront Accommodation; City: Hokitika West Coast Region South Island; Review: We stayed for 2 nights here with our campervan and it was great. Lovely location - 2 minute walk to the beach and 2 minute walk to see the free glow worms. Very clean showers and toilets. It had a good kitchen and lounge area, which again was very clean. Highly recommended; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dunedin Holiday Park; City: Dunedin Otago Region South Island; Review: We stayed for 1 night in a campervan whilst in Dunedin. The staff were friendly on check-in. The kitchen was clean and well equipped. We didn't use the lounge. The showers and toilets were also clean. It's a 5 minute drive into the centre of Dunedin. Their literature says it's 2 minutes to the beach...more like 10 after you've crossed a field, climbed a hill and gone over the road...good beach though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Richmond Guest House; City: Wellington Greater Wellington North Island; Review: This B & B is in an old building run by John, who is an older chap. The place is done to his taste - maybe a bit old fashioned for some. I'd say it was homely. We paid $85 a night including breakfast in a double en-suite room. The room was spacious, a heater and hairdryer was provided. The bed was comfortable and we slept well even though we were in the room right next to the kitchen. The shower was good - although the first morning there was a fault with the water heater so I ended up having a cold shower. Close enough to the city to walk, parking outside. Would recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Invercargill TOP 10 Holiday Park; City: Invercargill Southland Region South Island; Review: We opted for this top 10 as it was the closet site to the town. We were quite disappointed with the facilities. There were 2 kitchens, we cooked in the smaller one. There was no extraction, so condensation ran down the walls and made the floor and every other surface wet. It was freezing cold outside, but we had to open the windows and door. The showers were nicely decorated but again no extraction so steam ran down the walls and wet everything including clothes hung on the back of the door. The kettle didn't work in the kitchen. We did mention it and it was quickly replaced. The toasted only worked if you held it down. We couldn't find any recycling bins either. For a Top 10, it felt very basic.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Lodge; City: National Park Village Manawatu Wanganui Region North Island; Review: We chose this site for 1 night in our camper van. We had amazing views of the mountains and the chap who checked us in was very helpful and informative. The kitchen, dining room and toilets are all in the same block. You pass the door to the gents to get to the kitchen and dining area. The door was always open so you could hear the guys peeing whilst eating! The dining room is strange - it's in what looks like a kids paddling pool. it was freezing, so not the most pleasant place to eat your dinner.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Falls Motel Waterfront Campground; City: Paihia Bay of Islands Northland Region North Island; Review: We stayed for 1 night in our camper van. We arrived quite late after a long drive and received a warm and helpful welcome. The site looks straight at the falls - lovely. We used the small but clean kitchen for breakfast. The showers and loo were OK. We hired a kayak for an hour the day we left and kayaked right up to the falls - great experience.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ahipara Holiday Park; City: Ahipara Northland Region North Island; Review: We stayed here for 1 night in our camper van as we needed to be near to Kaitai for a trip up the cape the next day. We'd read that it had a log fire in the lounge area and it was a cold rainy evening when we arrived. The lounge and dining area are one big space with doors wide open. No fire lit, so we froze whilst eating. The kitchen was clean and a good use of space. The bathrooms did the job.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fox Glacier Campervan Park; City: Fox Glacier Westland National Park Te Wahipounamu West Coast; Review: This is small site compared to those in Franz Josef up the road. Catherine who was looking after the site for the owners was very friendly. There were more than enough bathrooms and showers. The kitchen was small, but more than big enough for the people staying there. It was a sociable kitchen and we met lots of lovely people. Great location, just 1 minute walk into the town. Also walk to the glacier is very close by too. Highly recommended; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Portobello VIllage Tourist Park; City: Portobello Dunedin Otago Region South Island; Review: We wanted to freedom camp on the peninsular, but couldn't find anywhere so stayed here for the night. Friendly check-in, free 30 minutes wi-fi and clean kitchen and toilets. No lounge. The showers were quite poor unless you used the electric shower in the disabled cubicle. It's the only campsite on the peninsular, so it's here or drive back to Dunedin. Ok for 1 night.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 5footway inn Project Chinatown 2; City: Singapore; Review: Overall it was a good hostel. The location is great and the staff are very polite. The hostel itself had a weird atmosphere. No one spoke to each other, looked or even smiled at each other when passing in the corridor or in the breakfast room. Not sure why. We managed 3 conversations with 3 different people in 7 days. After 9 months in super friendly NZ, this was a shock. The hostel reception desk shares the same area as their cafe so at check-in it can be pretty busy. The cafe doesn’t open at weekends so we went to project 1 just down the road. We ordered 2 breakfasts and a drink each. My husband’s coffee was cold and they totally forgot his breakfast. When he chased it up, they brought it minus the beans. We never went back. We felt that the hostel lacked any information on Singapore. There are things written on the mirrors in the cafe and if you ask the staff they will find out for you....but it was just lacking in any real info. We had to ask for a map etc. The breakfast room was tiny. The first morning we had to come back 15 minutes later as there was just nowhere to sit. Other mornings were better. It all depends on your timing. The staff did seem to check the breakfast levels quite often, we still had to ask for bread and butter – the butter was given to us out of the freezer compartment so it was solid with no way of softening it. Our initial room was no 14 which was right at the very top of the steps. It was noisy. After 2 nights we moved rooms. This room also had a crack along the join of the wall and ceiling which let in light and noise from room 13 next door. We knew when we booked this hostel that most of the rooms don’t have windows and this is very common in Singapore. The room had air conditioning and a vent that we think sucked air back out. For some reason the strength of this air vent varied. Some nights it sounded like an industrial hairdryer and other nights it was switched off. The bed was comfortable and we slept pretty well. The duvet isn’t big enough for the double bed and was a lot smaller than the duvet cover it was in. After a week, we noticed that when entering the room, our belongings were damp. I have ended up with a chest infection. The bathrooms – after getting over the initial shock at how small the cubicles were and that showers and sinks were in one, they were pretty good showers. The doors are genius. However, the overall feel to the bathrooms were shoddy workmanship. Lovely tiled walls, splattered with tile grout and paint. Mouldy, peeling paint on the door frames. Constantly wet floors. The toilets were hosed down...is that really cleaned? One toilet never had any hand soap in it and they were constantly out of toilet; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jalan Jalan; City: Melaka Central Melaka District Melaka State; Review: We booked a double room at Jalan Jalan Besi. The hostel has 2 buildings. Jalan Jalan Ema and Besi. Ema is where you’ll find Alan – a lovely, hard working English chap. He is full of information and entertaining stories and really makes this place – sit down and have a chat with him. We initially stayed in room 1 at Besi. This is a double with a fan. It has a window onto a balcony overlooking the street. With the fan going, it was a well aired and pleasant room. There are 2 toilets and showers and we never had any problem getting into them. We extended our stay and moved into room 5 which is a very large en-suite room with air con. Both rooms had extremely comfortable beds. Some people have commented on the Hindu temple and the call to prayer at around 5am. I remember hearing it twice...but on both occasions I don’t remember it finishing! It never bothered us. If you want to hang out, Ema hostel is the place to be. But it’s not a party hostel, just a friendly, sociable place. If you want quiet time and you are staying at Besi, then you can chill out there on the comfy sofas. Both hostels had good strong free wi-fi and a computer in each building. Both places were always clean and Sam the owner couldn’t do enough for us. We really enjoyed our stay at Jalan Jalan and would have stayed longer had I not received a surprise call to say my brother would be in Thailand in 2 weeks! Loved it and would highly recommend if staying in Melaka.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thongtapan Resort; City: Ko Pha Ngan Surat Thani Province; Review: Amazing location. The bungalows are in the trees and you can hear the sea you are that close - it's right on the beach. Previous reviewers have complained about the breakfast - not sure if they were at the same place! For 90B you have a huge choice - bacon, eggs, fruit, muesli, cereal. We ate there every morning and it was delicious. And the staff were lovely too. We had a fan room as we are on budget and it was perfect. The windows have mosquito nets on them so we had the windows open all the time for fresh air. It was rarely too warm. The hotel can arrange a taxi for 200B pp from the ferry terminal if you arrive during the day. This is much cheaper than getting one yourself, unless there are quite a few of you. Great place - highly recommended; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Andaman Legacy Guest House; City: Krabi Town Krabi Province; Review: We were initially given a room which was damp and stank. The bathroom ceiling was black with mould spores. I've already got a bad chest from staying in a room with no window in another hotel, so did not want to stay in this room. The woman on the desk was clearly annoyed when we asked to view another room. The next room had an outside shower - no roof - it was bucketing it down and the entire bathroom was 2 inch deep in water. Imagine all the insects later? Eventually we were offered an 'upgrade' to the newer block. The room was better with air-con and cost us 100B extra a night. On closer inspection when in the room, it was quite shabby. We are backpackers and have been travelling for almost 2 years so we have seen worse. But for a new room - the bed spread had a huge hole in it, the sheet had a black stain on it. The shower head was seriously scummy and we only had a cold shower. On the plus side the hotel is in a good location and central.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ao Nang View LaVilla; City: Ao Nang Krabi Town Krabi Province; Review: We booked a room direct with the hotel and paid 1200B per night in a superior room with air con. The hotel is located on the road up from the beach and it was great...within minutes of everywhere but far enough from the noise, hustle and bustle. The room faced the street with a balcony but was not noisy at all. We had a large comfortable bed, with en-suite. The girl on the desk spoke really good English and was very helpful. We used the safe and had no issues. Free, strong wi-ft throughout. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samatha Bed Breakfast; City: Koh Tao Surat Thani Province; Review: When we arrived the lady behind the desk took some time to acknowledge that we had a reservation through Agoda.com. We’d paid 1500 baht per night including breakfast. The room itself is very nice. Big comfortable bed, a/c and a stylish bathroom. It does take at least 5 minutes for hot water to come out of the shower and it is lacking in power. As a previous reviewer has mentioned the lighting isn’t the best. The lights on the ceiling take some time to brighten up and aren’t bright enough to read by. Bedside lights would be a great improvement. The breakfast was simple and delicious. Now the reason I have not given this review 5 stars is because of their chaotic admin. At breakfast we asked if we could extend our stay by 3 nights and we were told yes. They did ask for 1600 baht per night, which was 100 baht per night more than Agoda. This is crazy as Agoda charge hotels a commission, so they should at least match the price or even undercut it as it is cash in their pocket. The girl behind the desk said she would ask the boss when she came in later. Anyway we went to the beach for the day and came back and checked about the price. This was irrelevant as we were told that we no longer had a room from tomorrow. I was shocked. 10.30am I was told I had a room for 3 nights, 5.30pm I no longer do. Why? Apparently they had taken a booking through Agoda at 3pm. Surely my booking at 10.30am should have taken priority. No. To make matters worse both the girl and the boss thought it was so funny and couldn’t stop giggling. Either the girl behind the desk didn’t log in to Agoda and take the room off sale or they decided they would prefer an Agoda booking minus commission rather than allow me to pay 1500 baht per night straight cash. Either way it’s an appalling way to treat a customer. As it happens they did us a favour. When we booked the room we had no idea that there was going to be beach party taking place 20 & 21 January. We slept great the first night, but our 2nd night was the first night of the party and despite being a 5 minute walk from the beach, the music was so loud it kept us awake until 5am. We moved Mae Haad for the next night.....and we could still hear the party in the distance. If you don’t want to attend the party, then I would recommend you don’t stay anywhere on Sairee Beach. I would recommend Samatha House, but if you wish to extend your stay, pay and obtain a receipt.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Poseidon Resort; City: Koh Tao Surat Thani Province; Review: We were staying at Montalay Beach resort where the food was very expensive. We tried Poseidon for our evening meal and it was just about OK. We returned the next day for breakfast and it had to be one of the worst we've had on our travels...we've been on the road for almost 2 years. The toast was dried out bread, my husband's fried egg looked like a kids rubber egg. It was terrible, we shouldn't have paid really.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hathai House; City: Maret Ko Samui Surat Thani Province; Review: We paid 3700 baht through Agoda for 4 nights. The standard of accommodation for the price paid was excellent and it was very clean. Large comfy bed, a/c, fridge, TV (not really needed, but good to have when I was ill), powerful shower. The owner was very friendly and helpful. Not far from the beach and the main street of Lamai. Sadly too close for me to the strip of go-go bars that blasted out very loud music until 3am every night.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Montalay Beach Resort; City: Koh Tao Surat Thani Province; Review: The room was lovely. It had a luxurious feel to it. Although we had a fan room, with the doors open (mosquito nets cover the doors), it was breezy and cool. Large comfortable bed, great bathroom and shower and a sea view from a very large balcony. Our only complaint was the wi-fi - it was almost non-existent in our room. We paid 1500 baht per night through booking.com They did not offer a transfer service early morning for the 6am ferry, so we had to book a night back at the pier. The food in the restaurant was very expensive compared to the rest of the island. A buffet breakfast was 200 baht per person. I would not recommend Posiedon Restaurant at the other end of the beach - terrible food. Diamond Resort was the best of a bad bunch.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Milky Bay Resort; City: Ko Pha Ngan Surat Thani Province; Review: We were picked up from the pier and transferred to the hotel. On arrival we were given a cold towel and a cold drink. Our room was very nice with a flintstone type bathroom - pebbles everywhere. Our only gripe was that we'd asked for a double bed and we were given 2 single beds pushed together. We asked for another room, but it was much older and characterless, so we stayed put. The restaurant serve delicious food and most of the staff are great. There was one chap who whilst we were having a meeting kept coming over to randomly chat to us about nothing - quite annoying. He seemed to have no perception that we were talking. The wine list was laughable - out of 9 different white wines, they only had 1 in stock at £7 a glass. The beach is virtually non existent until the tide goes out and there were quite a few jellyfish in the water in the afternoons. We had been working for 26 days over xmas and NY, this was the perfect place to unwind and relax. For some reason the hotel charge an extra 200 baht for the ferry to Koh Samui than Lomprayah. If need any boat tickets buy them yourself from the office at the pier. All in all a great stay and would return if in Koh Phangan.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Krabi Cozy Place Hotel; City: Pak Nam Krabi Town Krabi Province; Review: We stayed at this hotel before and after flights to Singapore. The good points: >The location was good. In a quiet street away from the road and any noise. 5 minutes walk away from the restaurants and shops. >The deluxe room was large and the bed was comfortable. We welcomed the fridge in the room. >We are backpackers so for 800 THB a night it was OK, but I didn't understand why it had such a high score on booking.com The not so good: >On our first we were originally given a twin room when our booking was for a double. >On our 2nd visit we were given a room with 2 single beds pushed together and the only thing keeping them together was the sheet. >We found the previous guest's used towel in the bathroom. >The shower area was tiny. >The bathroom sink tap was broken, the kettle lid was broken. >One room had 2 bedside lights, another one had 1. The one we refused to stay in with the beds pushed together only had 1 bedside table. >We never used the pool as it always looked cloudy. >We also felt that as soon as we arrived we were being sold a taxi to the airport for the following. day by a pushy member of staff. >On our 2nd visit we asked for directions to somewhere and we ended up walking away from the reception desk as we didn't think anyone was going to bother answering us. >We had an early morning pick up for a ferry to Koh Phangan and it was getting late. They said they couldn't help us by ringing the ferry company to see if the pick was on its way.....despite advertising the same company in reception. We didn't buy the ticket from them, so I'm guessing that is why they didn't want to help. It was 800 baht, so we were not expecting the Ritz, the bed was comfy and it was quiet. It just has an overall tired feeling about the place. With a bit if TLC and some staff training, it could be a gem.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Continental; City: George Town Penang Island Penang; Review: We arrived at 7.30pm and checked in. We were given the smallest room on the entire floor (from the fire plan on the back of the door). It was too small for 2 people for 5 days. We asked to be moved and was told initially that we had to pay for an upgrade. We refused. We were asked if we wanted a smoking or non smoking room, we said non smoking. We were given a room on the 9th floor. We thought the room smelt stale under we put the a/c on during the night and it stank of cigarette smoke. We also over looked Red Garden food market and were kept awake until 2am by the live music. The next day we asked if we had a non smoking room - NO. We asked to change room again and we given a sea view room on the 18th floor which was great. Shame we didn't get this room is in the first place. The breakfast at the weekend was busy, noisy and not great, but on the Tuesday there was someone cooking fresh eggs which were delicious. The staff were efficient to the point of being unfriendly at times. They were also clueless. We asked how to get to Penang Hill and were told we had to go to Komtart when in fact the bus stopped just down the road from the hotel. Overall it was a good central location and if you get the right room then I would recommend this hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maryoo Samui Hotel; City: Bophut Ko Samui Surat Thani Province; Review: We had been in hospital with Dengue fever and chose this hotel to continue our recovery. Sadly it was a little too isolated for us. You need your own transport. The beach is through a resort over the road and it isn't the best beach. The swimming was tiled with green tiles, which was unusual, however the water was cloudy, so we never ventured into it. The room itself was lovely. Large comfortable bed with quality bed linen, feather duvet and 4 pillows. The kitchen area lacked any crockery or cutlery, so was quite pointless. The bathroom was modern with a great rain shower. We ordered room service and the food was delicious. We moved after 1 night due to the location.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Joy Residence; City: Chaweng Bophut Ko Samui Surat Thani Province; Review: My husband and I stayed here for 2 nights after we became ill with Dengue fever. It was very close to the hospital for our daily blood tests. The room itself was large and modern with a comfortable bed, good a/c, hot shower and free, fast wi-fi. The pool looked really nice but we were too ill to use it. Each room had a balcony, but sadly no furniture on it. Overall we would recommend Joy Residence.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Go Samui hotel; City: Bophut Ko Samui Surat Thani Province; Review: We booked 2 nights at Go Samui and extended by another 4. The hotel is a 10 minute walk to the top end of Chaweng which was perfect for us. There are lots of restaurants close by and a family mart just next door. The public beach is a bit poor unless you use the part in front of one of the posh hotels. We were recovering from Dengue fever, so it was perfect for us. We chose a sea view room. It wasn't flash, but for 1000 baht per night it was good value. The shower pressure fluctuated a little, but was always hot. My husband cleaned the shower head and it worked much better. We had a fridge and a/c. The swimming pool was a nice area that we chilled out in a few afternoons. Friendly staff too.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cenang Valley Inn; City: Pantai Cenang Langkawi Langkawi District Kedah; Review: We arrived in Langkawi at Chinese New Year and everywhere was full. We walked around Cenang beach for 5 hours before we found this place. The people were friendly and we agreed a good price for 5 nights. The room was quite basic but at least we had a fridge. The room was never cleaned during our 5 night stay. The location was quiet and not too far from the beach or places to eat; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Khao Sok Palmview; City: Phanom Surat Thani Province; Review: We initially booked 2 nights via Agoda and paid 750 THB a night for a family room as this was the only room left. We had a wooden bungalow with 2 double beds in it which didn't leave a great deal of floor space. The windows had mosquito nets on them and the beds had mosquito nets over them too. We had a hot shower. You can walk through the trees and you are in the village in 5 minutes. Mama, papa and Kong were all very friendly and helpful. We did feel that they were worried that we walked into the village and we that we might have booked a trip with another company. We booked a 2D / 1N trip to the lake for 2,300 THB each exc the NP fee through Palmview. After trekking through the park the day before I woke to find I had 4 blisters on one foot. We still went on the trip. You need decent shoes to walk through the cave so we bought some rubber shoes during the market stop. This was supposed to be a cultural stop, but it was 10 mins to buy shoes or snacks from the 7-11. The cave walk is a fast paced, strenuous walk over uneven ground crossing the river 6 times before entering the cave. We also heard from someone who did the day trip that the walk was the same - very fast. The bamboo raft huts were seriously basic. We've been backpacking for 3 years and this was the worst place we've stayed in. I don't mind rustic but these needed pulling down. The floor was so thin we thought we might go through it. We had 3 mattresses in our room - 2 with sheets on and one without - I wished I'd not seen the one without as it was grim. The mosquito net was a joke as it was full of holes. The walkways from the huts to the toilet and restaurant were a death trap. Planks of wood randomly nailed onto tree trunks some sloping to the left, others to the right, some not fixed, nails sticking up and out everywhere. On our return to Palmview we booked another night in a 790 THB wooden bungalow. It was newer and much better than the first bungalow. Had we known it would be so nice we would have stayed longer. Book direct to and you get more for your money. Would recommend Palmview but unless you're a fit hiker I'd chose a different trip than the lake / cave trip. We wished we had.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fasai House; City: Khao Lak Phang Nga Province; Review: The staff were friendly and helpful and the included breakfast was good. My husband enjoyed the fresh coffee. We had a problem with our door and they fixed it the next day. We could hear the live music at Happy Snapper on the main road - it is on 6 days a week until 1 or 2am. The room was a little more basic that we anticipated, but Khao Lak accommodation is expensive.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: B 52 Beach Resort; City: Ko Pha Ngan Surat Thani Province; Review: We paid 1,440 THB for a bungalow for 1 night. We were in a row of bungalows joined together and the walls were paper thin. The entire floor sloped to one corner and the whole room bounced when you walked across the room. We asked for a double bed and they pushed 2 single beds together. The room was dirty. We are back packers and did not expect the Ritz but we expected a clean, decent room where we could sleep for the price we paid. We didn't get this. Overnight a show went missing from our balcony and there were no staff around to speak with. Three days later we realised in the panic that we had left a new pair of shoes in the room. We received no reply to an email and when we phoned no shoes had been handed in. Wished we'd stayed somewhere else.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Beehive Phuket Old Town; City: Phuket Town Phuket; Review: We booked a superior room through Agoda for 2 nights and paid 1,500 THB. When we arrived we were told there had been a double booking and we would be staying in an condo apartment a few minutes' walk away. We had a look and it was nice. Then we were told that a room was available in the hostel but it still needed to be cleaned - it was 4.30pm. We had a look and decided that we would prefer the condo: it was quieter and the standard was higher. We asked if it would be possible to extend our stay and we were told yes no problem. By us staying in the condo we were helping them and we could stay for a long time. The next day - less than 24 hours later we walked back to the hostel to confirm our extension only to be told that there was no room. The condo is not advertised on any site so how can this happen? We were offered a dorm room for 1 night and then we'd need to change rooms again. We asked why couldn't the new people coming for 1 night go into the dorm room instead of us. The reply was because they'd paid 1,500 THB a night. So these people had booked the pool room and were going to be moved to the condo. It appears that the owner is playing a very dangerous game - taking bookings for rooms he has already sold and then offering the condo. They have 2 condo apartments. The condo is new. It contained a small double bed. The 'blanket' was an oversized towel that barely covered 2 people. There was a wardrobe with no hangers inside it. We had a small kitchen area that had just 2 glasses in it. There is free tea and coffee at the hostel but nothing in the apartment. It had a small balcony that overlooked a parking area and was the area that the cleaning products, cloths, mop etc were stored. The bathroom was modern but could have done with a clean. There is free wi-fi in the hostel but we had to pay for it in the condo. The guy on the front desk was very vague. He asked to wait until 6pm for a decision to be made about us staying in the condo or not. He meant 6pm on the day we had to leave! Crazy - so we'd just sit around all day waiting? We booked somewhere else. Just be aware that what you book may not be available and you may be asked to move rooms every day if someone books a more expensive room than you. It's all about money rather than customer serivce.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Thistle City Barbican Shoreditch; City: London England; Review: I was upgraded to a lovely, double room when I checked in which was really spacious - thank you. I would prefer a shower to shower over a bath. Also the shower was a little weak. The breakfast was lovely, with lots of choice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
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Title: Bridget Jones's Diary (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Igby Goes Down (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour 2 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Major League (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uptown Girls (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Recruit (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nine Months (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Brady Bunch Movie (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sixteen Candles (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Collateral Damage (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spice World (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Don't Say a Word (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scary Movie 2 (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?: Special Edition (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sum of All Fears (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shanghai Noon (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Barbershop (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Doc Hollywood (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bodyguard (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Angels in the Outfield (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What Lies Beneath (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dude (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy Returns (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Amelie (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starsky & Hutch (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Addams Family Values (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Apocalypse Now (1979); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fast and the Furious (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Little Shop of Horrors (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Cop II (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: O Brother (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blood Work (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Where the Heart Is (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Original Kings of Comedy (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stepmom (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daddy Day Care (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Airheads (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Weekend at Bernie's (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Groundhog Day (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Runaway Bride (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Psycho (1960); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shanghai Knights (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hairspray (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Three Men and a Baby (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Adaptation (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Along Came a Spider (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Coming to America (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bring It On (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Copycat (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chinatown (1974); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chicago (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Enough (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Riding in Cars with Boys (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Enemy of the State (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: You've Got Mail (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harold and Maude (1971); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Waterboy (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tomb Raider (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Zoolander (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What About Bob? (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Big Lebowski (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Annie Get Your Gun (1950); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde 2: Red (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Arsenic and Old Lace (1944); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Graduate (1967); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nurse Betty (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Next Friday (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Passion of the Christ (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hidalgo (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secondhand Lions (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Along Came Polly (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Freaky Friday (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Elf (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: About a Boy (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bad Boys II (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Reloaded (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Signs (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Road to Perdition (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Italian Job (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bringing Down the House (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Runaway Jury (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Paycheck (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raising Helen (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monster's Ball (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secret Window (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Dancing (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Happy Gilmore (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cold Mountain (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Radio (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maid in Manhattan (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Count of Monte Cristo (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jerry Maguire (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Stepford Wives (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grease (1978); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Band of Brothers (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mona Lisa Smile (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Matchstick Men (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 13 Going on 30 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gothika (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Taking Lives (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 6: Part 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 4 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bad Boys (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lion King: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Steel Magnolias (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rain Man (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legends of the Fall (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Billy Madison (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Extended Edition (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Extended Edition (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ice Age (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 5 (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Singer (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 6: Part 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ring (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 24: Season 1 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: One Tree Hill: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jersey Girl (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: First Daughter (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crunch: Fat Burning Dance Party (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alfie (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 24: Season 2 (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ray (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Mind (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The O.C.: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 2 (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Super Size Me (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 6 (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Surviving Christmas (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Friday Night Lights (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trading Spaces (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seabiscuit (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 4 (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 3 (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 7 (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Simple Life: Season 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trading Spaces: Viewer's Choice (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 5 (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Catch Me If You Can (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Twelve (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The School of Rock (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Just Married (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 1 (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Fish (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Island Girl Dance Fitness Workout for Beginners: Hula (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Trading Spaces: They Hated It! (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 24: Season 3 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coyote Ugly (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Simple Life: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 8 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 1 (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Man in the Moon (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Five People You Meet in Heaven (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clueless (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Something's Gotta Give (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pooh's Heffalump Movie (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brother Bear (Theatrical Widescreen Version) (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Supremacy (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In Good Company (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Collateral (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hostage (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Cutting Edge (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Cinderella Story (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Original Sin (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Village (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I Am Sam (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ladder 49 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Can't Buy Me Love (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Holland's Opus (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Aviator (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crunch: Boot Camp Training (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Catwoman (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Homewood Suites by Hilton Hartford South Glastonbury; City: Glastonbury Connecticut; Review: We found this place to be sooo friendly even a statue of a little girl & a dog at the front entrance, very clean, very quiet, restful, very welcoming, we will definitely stop& stay here again when in CT Included in the price is free breakfast, comfortable bed and shower. there was plenty of room for us and our 3 dogs 2 Gordon Setters & 1 Irish setter all over 75 lbs each! they loved it too, there very first overnight hotel stay. Plenty of different places to dine in the area, easy to find off the highway.. but never heard any traffic; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Orlando; City: Orlando Florida; Review: We enjoyed our stay here, great location, easy to I-4, not far from many attractions, Sea World, Disneyworld, the airboat ride, the airport. The Convention Center is right there(but we did not need it) The pools, slides, lazy river, putting course. We ate some late night meals next to the pool which was very relaxing after the days in the hot sun. The staff was very friendly & helpful. I was missed that the sushi bar was never open. The grab & go breakfast was good..I loved the yogurt parfaits. We would recommend this place to stay if you are not staying in Walt Disney World!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Zero Degrees Norwalk; City: Norwalk Connecticut; Review: We were sggested by the wedding couple to stay here...which turned out to be close enough, but not tooo close to major highways, easy off/on the rooms were a very large size(we had a king size) the bathrom was more than enough, very comfortable, very quiet! The complimentry breakfast was very good..always restocking, complimentry cooffee, tea, hot chocolate. The drinks in the bar were a little expensive and not very good,,,but we only stayed a short while for the after party because we had to get up early the next day, I would reccommend & stay again. The front desk people were very cheerful; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Yorktowne Hotel; City: York Pennsylvania; Review: The hotel was very nice, the wedding revenue was beautiful. The food served(filet & chilien seabass) were done to perfection. the staff was very helpful. We stayed in a handicapped room & other family members remarked how much bigger, roomier & better decorated it was. I did not find the accomadations for wheelchair persons all that accessible...they did have a lift to help get you in the front/side door into the lobby. The handicapped room/bath were very good however. I would recommend this hotel to stay...I would return if heading in that direction; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Oceanfront; City: Ocean City Maryland; Review: We have stayed here with friends a few times for golf trips, Easy to find, amble parking, indoor and outdoor pool, comfortable rooms. The bar area is cozy to sit and relax after a round of golf. Hot tubs. Walk right onto the beach. Near enough, but far enough away from crowds. The water feature and tropical birds in the atrium are soooo relaxing to watch and attempt to talk to.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Princess Royale Resort; City: Ocean City Maryland; Review: We were here to attend what was supposed to be a Beach Wedding...It poured the day of the ceremony..fortunately there was a backup....their conference rooms. It was decorated beautifully...like on a beach. The employees were so helpful and friendly. The room we had was sooo comfortable!!!, quiet, clean. Plenty of parking. The food in the restaurant was very good, offered many different types of breakfast entrees or buffet was also offered. Right on the beach with an indoor pool and 2 outdoor hot tubs!! A definite stay again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bayfield Inn; City: Bayfield Wisconsin; Review: We stayed here for 5 nights, it was beautiful. We staying at the Inn, our room was on the 2nd floor facing the lake. The room was very roomy and comfortable and quiet. The view was outstanding. We were within walking distance of the docks, shopping, food. The meals were good, they have an outdoor deck upstairs for lunch, with a fully stocked bar, and a view of the lake. They had live entertainment a couple of nights. The bar was open into the evening, with almost anything to drink that you could think of. There is a beautiful public sitting area, just outback with benches. The staff is very attentive, helpful and pleasant. A definite stay again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Bensalem Philadelphia Area; City: Bensalem Pennsylvania; Review: We were able to get away for just a quick overnight and chose Holiday Inn Express because we wee not to far from home, yet we were able to get a nice quiet rest. We were close enough to Parx Casino(walking distance), we were close enough or casual dining also within walking distance. The place was very clean, quiet, the room was big, spacious. We were offered a great continental breakfast as the kitchen was undergoing renovations, but they offered more than enough choices. We were close enough to major highways for easy access to center city or route 1 or I95 if needed. I would definitely recommend this place for travel plans. There were even accomadations for 2 weddings while we were there. A definite do again; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Night Circus; Author: Erin Morgenstern; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Read it in 4 days, it's been a long time since a book got me engaged like this. It's been a very sad moment when I got to the end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society; Author: Mary Ann Shaffer; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Absolutely loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Atonement; Author: Ian McEwan; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Pretty language, but slow-placed. Almost boring.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: One Day; Author: David Nicholls; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: Reading Challenge 2015 - A book that became a movie; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sound and the Fury; Author: William Faulkner; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: At one point I started to understand Jason and feel sorry for him being the only one in the family, who possesses a tight grip on reality. Mrs. Compson would drove me nuts too...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next, #1); Author: Jasper Fforde; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Reading Challenge 2015 - A mystery or thriller.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tatty; Author: Christine Dwyer Hickey; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, young-adult, fiction; Review: I've found it in a litte bookshop in Howth, Ireland, which looked as if it was originally a livingroom, but the lady who owned the place suddenly got bored and turned it to a bookshop. She was really lovely. The book itself didn't really make an impression, it was OK. However, the story which goes with it makes it memorable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cloud Atlas; Author: David Mitchell; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, romance, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Took me a good three years from the first attempt to finally read this book cover to cover, it feels like a small achievement.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Handmaid's Tale; Author: Margaret Atwood; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Brilliant story. Beautifully incomplete.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eleanor & Park; Author: Rainbow Rowell; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: A bittersweet read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close; Author: Jonathan Safran Foer; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Reading challenge 2015 - A book written by someone under 30. Beautifully written. Reminded me of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, although Oskar's grandfather really was annoying with his "i-m-sorry-i-exist" attitude.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heart of Darkness; Author: Joseph Conrad; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Reading challenge 2015 - a book you were supposed to read in school but didn't; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hollow City (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children, #2); Author: Ransom Riggs; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Reading challege 2015 - A book with nonhuman characters; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories; Author: Angela Carter; Genres: paranormal, romance, fantasy, fiction; Review: Reading Challenge 2015 - A book of short stories; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Auschwitz: A Doctor's Eyewitness Account; Author: Miklos Nyiszli; Genres: history, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Reading challenge 2015 - A nonfiction book; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: When God Was a Rabbit; Author: Sarah Winman; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Strange. Really strange.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: MAYTEX Mills Metal Double Roller Glide Ring, Chrome, Set of 12 Shower Curtain Hooks; Brand: MAYTEX; Review: Went through many mediocre hooks before I found this on Amazon. Glides easily over my plastic shower rod and so easy to hang my curtain and liner. I will never use another hook again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: m.styles MS8021-MIDN Classic Check Shower Curtain, Midnight; Brand: m.styles; Review: A tad pricy for a shower curtain but great quality and instantly upgraded my bathroom aesthetic. Hope it lasts me a few years!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: mDesign Bar Soap, Sponge and Scouring Pad Holder for Kitchen Sink - Matte Black/Clear; Brand: ; Review: Quality and price met my expectations. Was the perfect size for my sponge and brush without taking up unnecessary space on my counter. Sleek, modern design fit right in with my kitchen decor.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HIC Harold Import Co. NT301 HIC Porcelain Oyster Plate, 9-inch; Brand: HIC Harold Import Co.; Review: I'm happy with these plates. They've held up very well over time and keep the oysters upright, retaining the liquor inside.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker with Bonus 350 Micro Filters (700 Total); Brand: AeroPress; Review: This produces excellent coffee and takes up very little space in our small kitchen, compared to traditional coffee-making appliances. We have had ours for years and it still works like a charm. A+ product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Country Pear Adorable Soap Dispenser Set - Farmhouse Decor Kitchen & Bathroom Accessories - Mason Jar Pump Lid; Brand: Country Pear; Review: Pricy considering the set doesn't come with the mason jars but the rest of the components look to be of high quality. Time will tell if these are rust-proof. The chalkboard labels and twine are a nice, functional accent.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: iRulu 10.1 inch Android 4.0 Resistance Touchscreen Tablet PC Support MID Google 3G WiFi Network; Brand: iRULU; Review: cons: the documentation is very bad the book if youcan cal it is four pages in a four by 5 inches booklet very bad english you have to figure out for your self what it can do.the battery discharges very rappidly you have about one hour of live I still have to figure out where the 8GB of memeory is it tells methat the internal memory is 8gb but it tells me that i have available 0.98gb in the internal storage and 1.71gb of internal storage, where is the 8gb? andso the little manual(4x5) will n ot help you and there is no maual on the web.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: KOMPUTERBAY 2GB (2X 1GB) DDR2 667MHz PC2-5300 PC2-5400 (240 PIN) DIMM Desktop Memory with Samsung Semiconductors; Brand: KOMPUTERBAY; Review: I tested these out and they are working perfectly so all I could say this what I wanted and they came in and they are working in the computer with windows7 and 8 thank you; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Azio Vision Backlit USB Keyboard with Large Print keys and 5 Interchangeable Backlight Colors (KB506) - Wired; Brand: Azio; Review: perfect keyboard I like the tough of the keys when they are depressed it gives you like a click sound the lighting is fantastic; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ZOSI 1080P HD 1920TVL Hybrid 4-in-1 TVI/CVI/AHD/960H CVBS CCTV Surveillance Weatherproof Bullet Security Camera 42PCS Infrared LEDs, 120ft IR; Brand: ZOSI; Review: this item is very good because of the number of led's it has 42 infra reds led there for at night it give you better details at 65 feet than the 24 leds at night. Overall the camera is all better than the one I have already installed not naming the manufacture.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UGREEN USB to SATA USB 3.0 to Hard Drive Adapter Cable Converter for 2.5 3.5 Inch Hard Drive Disk HDD; Brand: UGREEN; Review: very very handy for back up or use it for my IT programs stored on a hard drive to trouble shoot customers problems.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Perixx 10165 PERIBOARD-513II Wired Keyboard with Touchpad, Standard Full Size Layout, Fit with Professional or Industrial; Brand: Perixx; Review: very nice key board works fine like the mouse pad nice key board; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Seastar Inn; City: Negril Westmoreland Parish Jamaica; Review: We just returned after a week at the Seastar Inn, in beautiful Negril, Jamaica, and could not wait to tell everyone about this wonderful B & B. Chris, Francine, Wilton, Clarol, Michelle, Rory...and all the rest of the staff were so gracious, so accomodating. They all made us feel like we were at home! The owners, Chris and Francine, have compiled an absolutlely wonderful group of employees, all determined to make your stay at the Seastar Inn memorable. We'll they all exceeded our expectations! The rooms are very clean,comfortable, and quiet. The air conditioning works very well. The food is sooooo good, ( the warm homemade muffins in the morning are to die for!! ) The grounds are very well kept, beautiful flowers, trees...even their dogs were wonderful!! We fell in love with Maggie...their 8 month old puppy!! Wilton the manager is very,very accomodatiing, very warm and courteous, ..asks constantly if we are happy...if there is anything he can do for us,as does everyone else, including Chris and Francine! Does it seem like we are over-enthusiastic about this place??!! Well..we are..it is such a wonderful place to stay! The service is that of a 6 star resort......but much more personal. We cannot wait to return!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Charlotte Marriott City Center; City: Charlotte North Carolina; Review: Stayed there over the weekend. Great service!! Great food....very busy, but that was fine. The room was quiet, very, very clean, and the bed was awesome! Use the valet service if you arrive by car....parking is a bit challenging...the staff there is the terrific !!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Cave Castle; City: Negril Westmoreland Parish Jamaica; Review: This was our second visit to Negril. We stayed at the Sea Star Inn on our first visit..Sea Star was awesome, but has no ocean view. This time we wanted to stay ocean front, and did not want to deal with the beach, so after reading the reviews on the Blue Cave Castle, decided to stay there. What an excellent choice!!! The grounds are beautiful...well maintained, clean...flowers everywhere...very well taken care of by people who care. We chose an air conditioned room which was very comfortable, clean, spacious,and had a breath taking view of the Caribbean!!! Susan, the owner was fun, warm and very caring. She has put togetther a wonderful staff....all who care for you like you are family! Petrona the manager is kind, patient, warm and very caring...goes out of her way to take care of you. Teddy...the chef, is an amazing cook. His Lobster Thermadore is awesome..and his bananas flambee was tooooooo good to describe !!!!!!!!! Breakfast was very good also...try the banana pancakes !! Every employee cared very much...and it showed. Our waitress for our entire 9 days was Alisia...she was kind, funny, warm...and very attentive. Snorkleing off the castle is too cool, easy to get in and out of the water , and very fun to swim around in the cave. We also jumped about 40-50 feet off the cliffs there which was quite an experience!! This is an amazing place to stay , with excellent service and food..for a very reasonable price.... Well done Susan!! Well done !!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pier 5 Hotel Baltimore Curio Collection by Hilton; City: Baltimore Maryland; Review: I highly recommend this hotel! The people are very professional, courteous, and caring!! the room was great...spotlessly clean, and quiet! Great hotel!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Lansdale Hatfield; City: Kulpsville Pennsylvania; Review: Stay there quite often for business. The staff, Sam and Paul are the best!! I sometimes have to stay past normal the normal check out time..and they always accommodate me..with out question. The rooms are always spotlessly clean, and very comfortable and quiet. The beds are very comfortable..and the wireless works great!! The hotel is very quiet..and very, very clean. They have a bar and restaurant which are both great...good service and quality. I highly recommend this hotel!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Historic Smithton Inn; City: Ephrata Lancaster County Pennsylvania; Review: Have stayed here two separate times. Both times we have stayed in Tailors Cottage, a large two floor room which I highly recommend! The big soft comfortable queen bed is heaven! There is a small single bed beside the queen bed, kind of built into the wall which is very cool!!! There are beautiful antique pieces of furniture throughout the rooms. The huge two person tub is wonderful, and so relaxing!! In the yard are several very comfortable chairs, to sit out in an early morning and enjoy the fresh air and quietness of this quaint little town!! Breakfast is wonderful too!!! Rebecca's was so nice, funny...and she has a passion for her place! Which she should...this is a true experience!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Blennerhassett Hotel; City: Parkersburg West Virginia; Review: I grew up in Parkersburg..and had never stayed at The Blennerhassett. I was visiting some friends in P/burg and decided to stay here! What a beautiful place! The rooms are wonderful...better than any chain in the area, the price was reasonable, and the service was awesome! The food was very, very good....and were the wait staff. I liked to old wood work, and the history of the place. I highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seastar Inn; City: Negril Westmoreland Parish Jamaica; Review: It's been a while since I have been back for my second visit to The Seastar Inn. Stayed there last week, and it is even better than before! Chris, Francine, and all the "family" make you feel more than a family member than a hotel guest! It was soooooo good to see that Clairol and Barbara were still there, and the members of the staff that weren't there the last time I was there are wonderful too!! The new rooms are spacious, very clean, and so comfortable! The food is awesome, as is the service! But, the one thing that the people do that make you feel like family is that they genuinely care about you, and your stay. They do so much more than just go through the motions! I had a bit of a rough vacation, had some work issues back home, and they were sincerely concerned that I still had a wonderful time, which I did!!! When the owner of a hotel, personally asks if he can drive you an hour and a half away, to Montego Bay, or asks if he could take me out one night to go hear some live music on the beach, that is personal service! Thank you to my "Jamaica Family" in Negril.This is the place to stay in Negril.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: James Manning House B B; City: Honesdale Pocono Mountains Region Pennsylvania; Review: A friend of mine and I decided to get away for a weekend to the mountains above Scranton Pa. As I looked at local B&B's I noticed what seemed to be a beautiful quiet place near Honesdale Pa. The drive up was beautiful, it was a wonderful spring day in the Pa. Mountains, and Warren and Janet, the owners of James House made it even a more memorable weekend. This is a beautiful bed and breakfast!! The rooms are large, beautifully decorated, and very cozy! They bed was extremely comfortable,with amazing bed linens! The breakfast was wonderful....a delicious quiche, fresh fruit, home made jellies, and wonderful cranberry breakfast cake. But the thing that made this B&B even better was the warmth and friendliness of the owners, Janet and Warren!! They take so much pride in the Inn, the comfort of their guests, and in making every moment being there as pleasant and wonderful as possible. We met as strangers, but departed as friends!! They are truly wonderful people!!! I highly recommend this bed and breakfast. You will not be disappointed!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Cry From The Grave; Author: Visit Amazon's Carolyn Mahony Page; Review: This is a good read. Surprise twists and turns continue throughout the book. Believable characters that involve the reader emotionally.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: If Angels Fall; Author: Visit Amazon's Rick Mofina Page; Review: Rick Mofina does not disappoint. Characters pull you in with realistic emotional content. Story line keeps you turning the page.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Those That Remain; Author: Visit Amazon's Rob Ashman Page; Review: Rob Ashman has written a riveting psychological thriller. Great character development. Its a page turner and Im anxious to read the rest of the trilogy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dying Hour; Author: Visit Amazon's Rick Mofina Page; Review: Rick Mofina excels at his craft. This book is excellent from beginning to end as long as you can move through graphic descriptions of ritualistic murders.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Every Fear; Author: Visit Amazon's Rick Mofina Page; Review: The second of the Jason Wade books by Rick Mofina is a winner. A suspenseful thriller that pulls at your heartstrings. You may find yourself reading late into the night.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Perfect Grave; Author: Visit Amazon's Rick Mofina Page; Review: Enjoyed Ricks writing so much that Ive read 3 of his books in a row. Always interesting twists and turns, as well as converging story lines.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: PetSafe Easy Walk Harness; Brand: PetSafe; Review: I bought this to walk my 97 lb. Olde English Bulldogge puppy and on the first walk I experienced the same issue that some others have reported - the front clip connection causes the leash to end up under the dogs front legs. So I thought about it for a minute and realized that if I used this harness with a collar and hooked the leash through both it would fix this issue. Guess what? I now have the perfect system for walking a dog. Not exactly rocket science....By connecting the leash to the harness AND the collar it keeps everything at chest level. I used the Rogz Fanbelt collar, which I already had and it works perfectly. No brainer as far as I'm concerned. As far as the other issue that some have reported about irritation under the front legs (armpits) of the dogs, I don't have this issue at all by correctly fitting the harness and using the collar. Overall, this is the best harness for walking a strong dog.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LupinePet Basics 1" Black Leashes for Medium and Larger Dogs; Brand: LupinePet; Review: Very heavy duty and good quality for the price. I wish the clip were a little bigger to fit through the hook on a harness and a collar at the same time without having to struggle with it. That's my only issue with this leash. The leash is actually very good and a better price than I have seen in local pet stores.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Simple Solution Lawn Spot Away Instant Lawn Repair, 32 Ounce Spray; Brand: Simple Solution; Review: This product works as advertised. We've used it when we got new puppies to help blend in the yellow spots with the lawn until they lift their leg to pee and it does what it says it does. it is not a replacement for repairing your lawn, it's a temporary cosmetic fix.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KONG Extreme Dog Toy, Black; Brand: KONG; Review: I think it's actually too big for my standard peanut butter or sliced cheese filling but I know my dog will never be able to chew through it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Outward Hound Kyjen 31007 Egg Babies Dinosaur Plush Dog Toys Squeak Toy Dog Puzzle, Large, Red; Brand: Outward Hound; Review: The hole is way too small, there are other hideaway toys that are much better.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: NaturVet GrassSaver Biscuits Peanut Butter Flavor for Dogs, 11 oz Biscuits , Made in USA; Brand: NaturVet; Review: No change, yellowing still happens when my male squatter pees. I am still on the hunt and may try Doctors Foster and Smith next.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Honest Kitchen Human Grade Dehydrated Grain Free Dog Food; Brand: Honest Kitchen; Review: The dogs loved it but it's way too expensive, switched to TOTW and mix in my own raw meat and they are just as happy and healthy for half the price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Outward Hound Matz 16-Squeaker Plush Toy; Brand: Kyjen; Review: Still going strong after over 6 months. It has lost a few squeakies but the dogs still love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Isle of Dogs Everyday Violet & Sea Mist Lush Coating Shampoo for Dogs; Brand: Isle of Dogs; Review: My dogs still smell good two weeks after a bath with this stuff. They hate baths so it's always a major to do at my house when I have to bathe them so anything that keeps them smelling good longer than a week is worth any price but this stuff is reasonable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vetericyn Wound & Skin Care; Brand: Vetericyn; Review: My dog had some crazy skin irritation after coming back from being boarded for a week and I tried this before going to the vet and it cleared up in just a few days. He's had skin issues in the past so I wasn't worried about waiting a few days before spending a hundred dollars on a vet visit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Backseat Pet Barrier; Brand: Pet Parade; Review: One dog figures out how to get around it every time.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: PetKind Green Beef Tripe Chews Dogs; Brand: PetKind; Review: The first time I ordered these my dog loved them in spite of the smell. The 2nd time he wanted nothing to do with them so maybe the recipe changed.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: PetSafe Pawz Away Pet Barriers Adjustable Range, Pet Proofing Cats Dogs, Static Stimulation; Brand: PetSafe; Review: I wish I had found this years ago, before I had to go through 4 sofas in 8 years! I have a 100 lb. Olde Bulldog and it only took one stubborn try before he learned not to go on the new sofa. He yelped and hasn't tried again. I'm going to order more, one for my bed definitely! I've had gates and large empty boxes up everywhere to keep him off the furniture for the last few years, ugh. I love this dog but he is huge and not very delicate on the furniture and I know I should have tried harder when he was younger but he was just too cute.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Club Med Punta Cana; City: Punta Cana La Altagracia Province Dominican Republic; Review: We stayed at Club Med Punta Cana from April 16-23 in one of the new 5-Trident suites around the private infinity pool and Perle Bar. This is the third Club Med resort I have visited - Ixtapa (before recent rennovation) and Cancun (before it was upgraded to 5-Trident). The Punta Cana location was my favorite, but I only place it ahead of Ixtapa because the beach in DR is private to Club Med. The new 5-trident suites are very nice. All right on the ocean (literally 20 feet away). Some are nearer the pool and Perle bar, others a little further away, but all within a minute's walk, and all on the ocean. The suites are all numbered in the 900s. the lowest number being closest to the rear entrance of one of the two restaurants - Hispaniola. It's not really noisy, but busy. The higher 900s are closer to the public beach, which has one or two LOUD parties until 2am. Whilst we were not really 'annoyed' by the music, it was hard to miss the booming base and definitely did disturb some guests. The rooms had two bathrooms, one room with 2 twin beds, the other a master bedroom. Rooms in the 5-trident area had computers with internet service at not charge. This was amazing. There was also wifi ... and a password was provided at check-in. 5-trident guests have their own concierge and check-in. This was convenient and civilized - fast service, no waiting around. I immediately felt special on arrival! The Perle bar has live music every weekday night, and serves complimentary french champagne to 5-trident guests between 6-11pm. The towel guy set out towels on loungers, bringing new towels when needed, and moving sun umbrella's if requested. One bar-man was particularly attentive, regularly stopping by loungers and taking drink orders ... delivering them soon after. This was really lovely. When the staff changed mid-week, his replacement did not do the same, so we were pleased to see him return a couple days later! The infinity pool was lovely, with a life-guard on duty between 10am and 6pm. We noted that if you want to sit right next to the pool on one of two decks set out with loungers and umbrella's .. you'll have to get up and put something (a book, bag, etc) on the lounger before 7.30am. The pool was clean ... not to warm ... but very welcome in the heat of the day. It was never crowded since it serves only the 5-trident rooms The food was the best of the 3 resorts we have visited. Particularly the fish - which was very fresh and varied. We never had any kind of tummy upset - and there were 4 of us. Unlike other resorts, daily selections did vary slightly ... and the food at the other on-site restaurant - Samana - did seem just a little better than Hispaniola. Hispaniola is open air, and the birds did both some people. The resort have clearly made an attempt to prevent them entering the dining; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inn of the Five Graces; City: Santa Fe New Mexico; Review: I admit that when our car pulled up outside the front entrance, on an unassuming side street, I was a little apprehensive. It probably took 2 minutes for that to be replaced with absolutely amazement! This hotel is exquisite, amazing, luxurious, incredible ... there are not enough words ... not to mention that the attention to detail, decor, arrangement of furniture, colors, foliage, gardens, water features is simply flawless. Nothing was too much trouble, and our room was divine! I'm not sure I even wanted to go out and explore ... I could easily have stayed there all day every day!! Breakfast was incredible. The only negative ... and I think it's a local negative not a negative for the Hotel ... everything starts to close down after 9pm. Almost impossible to get a glass of wine or a cocktail after that!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The St Regis New York; City: New York City New York; Review: Attention to detail was incredible at one of New York City's finest hotels. Our suite was beautiful, and despite being worried about traffic noise, we were surprised to have had a very restful night. We used travel points to book our room, and were very impressed to have been upgraded to a better room - this is excellent service and excellent recognition that people who travel all the time rarely cash in their points, but when they do ... it leaves a lasting impression and a very much increased likelihood that we will return and also highly recommend. Well done!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Chatwal a Luxury Collection Hotel New York City; City: New York City New York; Review: The Chatwal seems like a very fine hotel. The door staff, desk staff, concierge and bar staff are all lovely, professional and attentive. In fairness, I suspect our experience was probably attributed to the fact that we cashed in some travel points for our room reservation. Room 302. We were given no upgrade options - which we would have loved to do ... but the exceptional reputation of the hotel made us accept the room we were given. I admit I was a little surprised. The room had a queen bed and very little space. It looked out on a brick wall with a few gloomy windows from a neighboring building. It had a fancy toilet seat that could do all kinds of washing and drying tricks - unfortunately didn't work. A clicker in the bathroom indicated that somewhere there was a bathroom TV system ... again, not working. I even tried the weigh-scales ... and the dreaded ERR (error) appeared on the screen. These are things that should really not happen. I was also surprised that there was no coffee machine or coffee making facility in the room. I understand that as a business it's simply not possible to give award the best room for free to those redeeming points ... but frankly the reason we have the points is because we travel ... and that's exactly why the points should give us a more luxurious experience - because we are more likely to come back and / or recommend as a luxury hotel if we have an exceptional experience. Must give a shout-out to the amazing bar tender at the upstairs bar/lounge though. No idea of his name - but he had amazing dreadlocks and looked a little bit like David Ortiz ... he clearly knew his stuff and it was a pleasure to watch him work. Location to Time Square is great and the road is quiet in comparison to surrounding streets. Even on the 3rd floor we were not bothered by traffic noise.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Francis Malbone House Inn; City: Newport Rhode Island; Review: At the recommendation of a friend, we chose The Francis Malbone House hotel for a recent overnight stay in the heart of Newport, RI. We stayed across the parking lot at a separate historic house, in the Benjamin Mason Suite. I was instantly in love with this perfect little house, which had ample space in a shared communal area with dining room, lounge, kitchen and entrance. My husband and I could imagine how wonderful it would be to rent the other bedroom upstairs and have the whole house to ourselves to enjoy with friends - what a lovely way to have a few days away. The room was spacious, we did use the fireplace and lit the provided single-use instant fire log at the end of our evening. We did not hear any street or traffic noise and were very happy with the location! The bedding was ample and comfortable. The bed itself was a little creaky - but it's an antique bed, so I think that's to be expected. We were impressed when the owner had remembered to bring us matches to light the fire when she noticed they were missing from our room during our brief tour upon arrival. Plenty of towels in the bathroom, which was very spacious. Lovely large shower too ... and nice to see several bars of boxed soap - nothing Downstairs there were other fireplaces - each with a single-use fire log. Had we stayed longer, we would have loved to use these additional gathering areas ... perhaps next time! We did, however, make use of the Keurig machine and very much appreciated it's presence!! We also bought a bottle of wine and used the fridge to chill it for the end of our evening. The only tiny negative - and honestly there is nothing that could be done about it - is the stairs up to the suite we reserved are quite narrow and slippery. Gotta love those old houses !! Before checking out, we walked over to the main hotel for breakfast. I was a little surprised that there were not enough tables for the number of guests, and other guests seemed to be spread out around the hotel. We are not unfriendly people, but we are not big into sharing our table LOL, preferring instead to enjoy each other's company. We helped ourselves to pastries and sat in one of the front greeting rooms. A lovely staff member with a feint Irish accent was kind enough to bring us the menu and we enjoyed our breakfast there. No complaints, and the chef omitted the meat from the menu item so our breakfast was vegetarian - perfect! Since we pre-paid for our room, checkout took less than 60 seconds. I had taken one single-serve bottle from the 'honor system' fridge, and wrote that down on the provided 'honor system log' ... we were not charged for that, which I did query (being an overly honest person!). They had received the note, but chose not to charge us. Sometimes the smallest gesture speaks the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Club Med Cancun; City: Cancun Yucatan Peninsula; Review: This was my 5th vacation at a Club Med Resort, and 2nd visit to Club Med Cancun - once before the hurricane, and then just last week (Thanksgiving week, 2016). Since we organized flights through Club Med, our airport transfers were included. We were reminded to ignore the various sales people waiting to pounce before you walk out into the arrivals hall (some timeshare sales people too!). Straight outside of the arrivals terminal all the 'actual' resort people are waiting and we spotted our agent immediately. A large SUV arrived within 5 minutes, our luggage was loaded and we were on our way to the resort - only 15 minutes away. There is a full bar immediately outside the arrivals terminal should you wish to get in the vacation spirit immediately! LOL The check-in process was so much better. No sitting in an office filling out paperwork. We were greeted with cocktails, soft drinks and cold towels. Our Club Med bracelets were attached, and we were immediately given a short tour and taken to our rooms. We stayed in rooms 4008 and adjoining 4010 (turqeta building?). Our family consists of 18 and 16 year olds, and my husband and I. We had adjoining rooms - one with twin beds, the other a king. Each room had a lockable closable door ensuring privacy for both rooms if desired. Although a little older, the rooms were spotlessly clean. Each room had a fridge with soft-drinks, 2 large bottles of water (replenished daily), coffee machine, hairdryer. The bathroom was stocked with plenty of towels, toiletries (replenished daily), and a shaving mirror. Only one sink though, and the shower operation was a little funky - remember to push the little button FULLY in to ensure the 2nd shower head doesn't start whipping around the throwing water everywhere. I did think the water pressure was a little low. Toilets blocked easily. We had to call housekeeping 3 times, but the attended to it almost immediately - very impressive service considering the size of the resort. Each room had 2 robes and slippers. These rooms are right across from the beach with just a short strip of grass between (maybe 10ft). Great location. Even though they are near the pool bar and beach restroom, we heard almost no noise from our rooms, which were very well insulated. The only noise was first thing in the morning (6am onwards) when they seemed to be wheeling supplies up and down the sidewalk a few times. The resort is very well guarded with visible security patrolling at all times, including through the night. The weather had been windy and there was quite a bit of seaweed washed up on the mail beach. We noticed that they were cleaning it up daily and the beach was beautifully groomed at the start of each day. This beach tended to be noisier, with organized beach parties. You could also hear pool-side events and entertainment easily. We ended up spending most of our beach time on the little beach next to the Mexican Restaurant at; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grand Pequot Tower; City: Mashantucket Mystic Country Connecticut; Review: I stayed just one night at the Grand Pequot Tower at Foxwoods Casino to celebrate a special occasion with friends. I have been to Foxwoods before several times. Upon arrival, we were a little concerned about the Valet Parking. There were cars backed up in all 4 lanes - maybe upwards of 50 cars - and only 2 or 3 Valet staff. As the owner of an expensive sports car, it was not at all comforting to have to leave it with the window down and keys on dash. Poor service. Check-in was quick and easy, no lines at the desk, and we were quickly on our way ... however the check-in agent (an older gentleman) directed us to the wrong elevators, so we had to carry Xmas gift and all our bags all the way down to the far elevators, only to find they went to the 20th floor only, not 21st ... and then walk all the way back. Might need a little staff training. I booked through a special rate ($269?) and got a suite, with kitchen-ette, 2 bathrooms and large lounge on the 21st floor (room 2130). The room was spotless and really very nice - loved the two bathrooms and kitchen / bar area, which allowed us plenty of space to have friends over with appetizers and wine. Nice linens, plenty of toiletries. Great view. I was surprised to note that the room had a small balcony. I would have liked to go out on the balcony, but the door was bolted and locked. What a pity. Signs to rooms were not clear when we got out of the elevator on the 21st floor. We wandered around a central gathering area with circular sofas for a few minutes until we accidentally discovered the room number signs. Could be better. This room is quite a walk from the elevator - maybe 3 minutes. We ordered room service the following morning, which took about 40 minutes. We just had omelettes and smoked salmon & bagel with coffee. Our toast, bagel and omelette were kept warm in a warming cupboard - very well done. Food seemed freshly prepared. About 30 minutes after delivery, we received a call to ensure our breakfast was satisfactory. I would have given the Grand Pequot Tower a 4-star rating, but the valet car situation and the mis-direction to the elevator should not be the first experiences you have.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Viking; City: Newport Rhode Island; Review: We stayed at Hotel Viking this past weekend to celebrate a special occasion. It's a little out of the town, but a 10-15 minute downhill walk will get you to where the action is, depending on whether you are heading for Thames Street or the trendier side where the White Horse Tavern is. We pulled up to Valet parking and were immediately attended to. Our bags were taken to the lobby / reception and our car parked in the private rear parking lot. Our room was not ready so we decided to grab a light lunch in the restaurant "One Bellevue". Unfortunately it seemed that they were switching from breakfast to lunch service and we waited at least 15 minutes for someone to take out order, by which time we had decided on coffee and mimosa's ... and we'd catch lunch out. The side dining room is very bright on a sunny day. I had trouble seeing across the table as the winter sun was glaring in my eyes - even the waitress apologized for it! Our room was ready around 3pm and we received a call from reception and headed back to the hotel. Bags were not there ... had to call reception, but they arrived within 10 minutes. I've stayed in a lot of hotels over the years. Some very high end and exceptional, some knowingly low end. This is one of those hotels that used to be high end but has lost the plot. (Sorry guys ... staff were very friendly and awesome ... accommodation very outdated and frankly lacking in facilities.) Our suite door (room 418) opened on a lounge area, and for one dreadful moment we thought we were consigned to a sofa bed surrounded by highly patterned wallpaper. It was then apparent that there was a small hallway behind the door leading to the bedroom. (Might be an idea to change the orientation of the door so it opens to the left LOL). I was pleased to see an in-room coffee maker, but only 2 portions of Starbucks caffeinated, and 2 decaf ... paper cups, no napkins. Really? It doesn't cost that much money to have real cups and a couple extra portions of coffee - or even a Keurig machine? Since we drove to the hotel, I threw a couple bottles of water in my bag ... I was so glad I did this. The in-room small bottles of water were priced at $6 each? In the hotel industry today, I should not be paying for water. A case at Costco is less than 50c per bottle - I had to use tap water for my coffee. Not very elegant at all. The bed was only a queen size, but linens were nice and lots of pillows (a bit squishy though). The bathroom had no mirror other than a small round shaving mirror. I have very long hair, I don't always want to wash it. It was impossible to get in the shower without getting my hair wet as the door only opened a certain; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fairfield Inn Suites Worcester Auburn; City: Auburn Massachusetts; Review: We stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Auburn in order to attend a New Year's Eve party at a friend's house and not need to drive all the way home in the early hours of the morning. I normally do not select this type of chain hotel / motel, but it was cheap and convenient and I was able to book a much better room for quite a bit less money than I would usually spend on a hotel. We booked a King Suite, 1 bedroom with whirl pool tub. I'm trying to be objective and realistic with this review, hence the 3 star rating. If I compare it to the other hotels I've stayed in that would be unfair - it's not comparing apples with apples, so to speak. The room was on the ground floor - which I didn't like. It was, however, quite large, with a fireplace (which worked) and an in-room heater/ac unit (which worked). It had a fridge, microwave, good sized TV. The room and bed seemed clean. The bathroom was large, but I thought it weird that the shutters above the bath folded back so you could sit in the bath and watch the tv and see the entire bedroom ... I guess some people like that !! It would make using the bathroom privately challenging! I anticipated it being noisy at night, but it was not. There was plenty of parking. The included breakfast, however, was horrible! We ventured out to grab something to eat around 10 and the entire breakfast area was mobbed with families and groups. There were only a couple scraps (yes, literally scraps) of over crunchy bacon left in a warming pan, swimming in fat. The scrambled eggs looked squishy and the coffee had run out. Honestly, we just checked out and thankfully found the Edgemere Diner on our way home. That said, for $150 it was better than I expected ... just not what I'm used to. Staff seemed friendly. Of particular interest - a young girl came to the checkin counter with a bottle of sprite to purchase, they sent her on her way and said it was free. When I went to get a couple bottles of water for our room, they went to charge me ... but I noted the previous situation, and they gave me the water on the house. No fuss, no trouble - good job.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Roseledge Country Inn and Farm Shop; City: Preston Mystic Country Connecticut; Review: If you are used to staying in high-end luxury hotels, the Bed & Breakfast experience may not be for you. That said, Roseledge Country Inn and Farm Shop comes pretty near to b&b perfection with host Gail going out of her way to accommodate her guests in her 300 year old house just 5 minutes from Foxwoods Resort & Casino. Gail has amassed an interesting collection of antiques and decor throughout (probably a nightmare to dust ... but not a spec of dust to be seen!). Even in the depths of our New England winter, the gardens (her pride and joy) are beautiful. Chickens greeted me upon arrival and departure, and breakfast (made just for me) featured eggs from her flock. I stayed in the Avery Browning room at the top of the stairs on the right. The room has spectacular 300 year old floor-boards - over 12" wide, and authentic queen size bed with beautiful linens - and spare blankets in the cupboard. There is a fireplace, which I could have requested be lit for a meeting I had previously scheduled, but it seemed such a waste to make more work for them !! The bathroom was generously sized and with plenty of fresh towels. Breakfast was freshly prepared for me, and Gail and her partner evened joined me in the dining room. They did ask first if I was OK with that ... I'm sure some people wouldn't be, but I like people and enjoy hearing their stories. There was a blazing fire in the hearth throughout breakfast ... I even commented that I don't remember the last time breakfast was made for me without me being sick !! I felt utterly spoiled, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this beautiful B&B. There is adequate parking for at least 3 or 4 cars in a separate parking area off a small lane. I can't wait to visit again in the spring or summer and fully appreciate Gail's love of gardening. I'm it's simply beautiful! Don't forget ... this is a B&B. You'll need your shampoo, soap and other toiletries! This is not the right choice of B&B if you have mobility issues or problems climbing stairs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rothschild Pound House Inn; City: Columbus Georgia; Review: We recently stayed for a night at the Rothschild-Pound House in Columbus GA to attend a special concert at the Civic Center (walking distance). The house is absolutely beautiful ... and graciously furnished with elegant antiques in the most tasteful manner. Light and airy, with a little historical info, but not too much. A 20 minute walk to the Columbus Civic Center. We stayed in the Rothschild suite - with an incredible fireplace and huge bed (with its own steps!). A door (lockable) led straight out to the piano room ... perhaps reminiscent of earlier times when this was a family home? We LOVED the bathroom. The white marble sink was pretty amazing! This guest house is about a 1 hour 45 minute car ride from Atlanta airport. Would have given 5 stars save for these things: - No bottled water in room, no refrigerator - Breakfast ended at 9 ... - Lack of privacy ... anyone could hear what you were saying because of (in part) gaps under doors ... of particular note, I opened the door to bring an updated credit card to the check-in desk and was immediately in full view of the dining table seated with breakfast guests ... was a little odd. However, this is an amazing guest house. Immaculately clean and absolutely beautifully furnished.. The outdoor porch is incredible and the hosts could not do enough for us.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Dark Angel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lynne Graham Page; Review: very disappointed, this is the first Lynne graham book I have read, that I had a hard time finishingn and why the heroine stayed around I do not know .; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Dark Angel; Author: Mika Waltari; Review: very disappointed, this is the first Lynne graham book I have read, that I had a hard time finishingn and why the heroine stayed around I do not know .; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Until the Day You Die; Author: Visit Amazon's Tina Wainscott Page; Review: but was a little bit disappointed about the ending, I expected the villian to meet a diffrct fate, but you will not be disappointed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: As Twilight Falls (Morgan's Creek); Author: Visit Amazon's Amanda Ashley Page; Review: loved this book so much, did not want it to end. her vampire books are the best.looking forward to the next one; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Christmas on 4th Street (Fool's Gold, Book 14); Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Mallery Page; Review: love her books, but am getting weary of the same old theme and Fools Gold. I will be gladewhen she goes on to other stories.....Like her sheik stories that she used to write. Also another time travel would be ok too.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: All the Right Reasons [Damaged Heroes, Book 3] (Bookstrand Publishing); Author: Visit Amazon's Sandy James Page; Review: could just not finish the book...not much else to say...This was my first and last book by this author so sorry. I am just glad it was free.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Back in Her Husband's Bed (Harlequin Desire); Author: Visit Amazon's Andrea Laurence Page; Review: whenever you pick up one of her books, this book is terrific. As usual from the first page, you get drawn into the storyYou will ot be disappointed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Her Secret Husband (Secrets of Eden); Author: Visit Amazon's Andrea Laurence Page; Review: so glad I found a new author to read, who is also terrific; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cowboy's Pride and Joy (Billionaires and Babies); Author: Visit Amazon's Maureen Child Page; Review: always enjoy maureen child; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Running for Her Life; Author: Visit Amazon's Beverly Long Page; Review: another new author to read.. terific; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Unforgettable (Benedict Brothers) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Joan Johnston Page; Review: would like to purchase this book....is it ow finished.so many of the reviews say it is unfinished, and I do not want to waste my money; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sold to the Enemy; Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Morgan Page; Review: I have just discovered Ms Morgan and what a delight it is. Now I have so many books to read. She makes me homesick for Lodon, were I was born and grew up. Sadly I am unable to return to visit family anymore because of illness, but her books take me there. Thank you sarah.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Twelve Nights of Christmas; Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Morgan Page; Review: sarah morgan keeps getting better. This made me wish I was Back in England for the christmas holidays. As a child growing up in Lodnon Christmas for was enchantment, this book took me back to those time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seduced by the Spare Heir (Dynasties: The Montoros); Author: Visit Amazon's Andrea Laurence Page; Review: very disappointed. I have enjoyed this author in the past, I just could not get into it. Skipped a few pages now and then, toget tp the end quicker. I hate to write a negative report, all my others have been positive, all with this author, maybe it was just me..; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Midwife's Marriage Proposal (Medical Romance S.); Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Morgan Page; Review: book arrived in a timely manner...very pleased thanks will do business again; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Norpro 469 Deluxe Jumbo Potato Ricer; Brand: Norpro; Review: Great product for making non lumpy mashed potatoes. No lumps creamy tecture; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Original Beater Blade for 5-Quart KitchenAid Bowl Lift Mixer, KA-5L, White, Made in the USA; Brand: New Metro Design; Review: Great added addition to my 35 yr old kitchen aid mixer. Scrapes the sides of the bowl without my having to stop the mixer and scrape with a spatula.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Original Beater Blade for KitchenAid 6-Quart Bowl Lift Mixer, KA-6LR, Red, Made in USA; Brand: New Metro Design; Review: Great added addition to my 35 yr old kitchen aid mixer. Scrapes the sides of the bowl without my having to stop the mixer and scrape with a spatula.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Battery Operated Mill; Brand: epar; Review: I like how this works so far but was not happy that it took my ex who is super strong to open this unit. I'm a country girl and fairly strong myself and I couldn't budge it. I hate to think that every time I need to open this to fill it that I'll have to get someone else to do it. I think every unit should be tested before it leaves the factory. If others have this problem I can see many units being sent back.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: My Pillow Classic Series [Std/Queen, Firm Fill] Now Available in 4 Loft Levels | Patented Adjustable Interlocking Fill; Brand: MyPillow Inc; Review: Bought for my 90 year old father, not impressed with it however; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Warthog Sharpeners V-Sharp Classic II Black Knife Sharpener; Brand: Warthog Sharpeners; Review: Great knife sharpener, well worth the money; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Sahara (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Myths and Logic of Shaolin Kung Fu (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Scratch (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rick Steves' Europe: Ireland (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: It's All Gone Pete Tong (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman Begins (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: White Noise (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Better Living Through Circuitry (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Very Long Engagement (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: X2: X-Men United (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dogma (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Phantom of the Opera: Special Edition (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Revolutions (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clerks (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jaws (1975); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Logan's Run (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future Part III (1990); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Creepshow (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fallen (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aliens: Collector's Edition (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clash of the Titans (1981); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sixteen Candles (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Amityville Horror (1979); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Under Siege (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Identity (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Collateral Damage (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Scream (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Alien: Collector's Edition (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Escape from Alcatraz (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blade: Trinity (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1974); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 28 Days Later (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: War Games (1983); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Goldfinger (1964); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sleepy Hollow (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bowling for Columbine (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Army of Darkness (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Escape from New York (1981); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Last Starfighter (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Snatch (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sin City (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Young Guns (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Amelie (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Terminator (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scarface: 20th Anniversary Edition (1983); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Edward Scissorhands (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gremlins (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Bug's Life (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The City of Lost Children (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Romancing the Stone (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Real Genius (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blade (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: O Brother (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Willow (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Super Troopers (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Net (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Evil Dead (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Boogie Nights (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghost World (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fifth Element (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Bone Collector (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Clockwork Orange (1971); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: U-571 (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Psycho (1960); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Stir of Echoes (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Brazil (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Audition (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Final Destination (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 48 Hrs. (1983); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hellraiser (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hero (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thelma & Louise: Special Edition (1991); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Boondock Saints (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Big Trouble in Little China (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lost Boys: Special Edition (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chinatown (1974); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Toy Story (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Basic Instinct (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Powder (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Jackal (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Crow (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Total Recall (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Trainspotting: Collector's Edition (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 12 Monkeys (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Batman (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tomb Raider (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: K-19: The Widowmaker (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blade Runner (1982); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Traffic (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: sex (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Friday the 13th (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Mask of Zorro (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Van Helsing (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hellboy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red Dragon (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Unforgiven (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Highlander (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Exorcist (1973); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Halloween (1978); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kalifornia (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: The 20th Anniversary (Rerelease) (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Run Lola Run (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vanilla Sky (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last Temptation of Christ (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Firestarter (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Professional (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Omen (1976); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: From Hell (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dark City (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cocoon (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Village (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Day of the Jackal (1973); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Time Bandits (1981); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amores Perros (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Big One (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Videodrome (1983); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I Shot Andy Warhol (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Philadelphia Experiment (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Salem's Lot (1979); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Movie (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Underworld (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: House (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Red Dawn (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Hawk Down (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blow Out (1981); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Usual Suspects (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Altered States (1980); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Beastmaster (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Die Another Day (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: An American Werewolf in London (1981); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: May (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Barton Fink (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cube (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hearts in Atlantis (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sexy Beast (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: From Dusk Till Dawn (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Black Hole (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Airport (1970); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Animatrix (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Night of the Living Dead (1968); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pi: Faith in Chaos (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fantastic Voyage / Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1966); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Running Scared (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Frequency (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Phantom of the Opera (1925); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Howling (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Death Race 2000 (1975); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Abyss (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Mosquito Coast (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Starship Troopers (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Equilibrium (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: King Arthur (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Thing (1982); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Resident Evil (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ninth Gate (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carrie (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rambo: First Blood: Ultimate Edition (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Face/Off (1997); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Licence to Kill (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ring (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Goonies (1985); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Children Underground (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sea Inside (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hampton Inn Stroudsburg Poconos; City: Stroudsburg Pocono Mountains Region Pennsylvania; Review: We stayed one night while hiking in the Deleware Water Gap. We weregreeted by a friendly & helpful staff at the front desk. My kids used the heated indoor pool. They had a manager's reception the night we stayed. Breakfast the next morning featured waffles, fresh fruit, bagels, muffins, cereals. The staff continued to keep it full. The room was very clean. The bathroom could have been updated a little...shown a little wear & tear. The location of the hotel was a short drive to nearby attractions & it was right off the highway.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lake Lodge Cabins; City: Yellowstone National Park Wyoming; Review: We stayed here for 3 nights while we toured the canyon area of the park as well as Lake Yellowstone, Fishing Bridge and the Bay Bridge. The views could not be beat especially from the beautiful front porch with rocking chairs. Very relaxing after a full day in the park. The rooms were spacious and comfortable. The bathroom was new and the rooms were clean. There was a cafeteria that was convenient and had good food. Definitely worth staying here and being in the park.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spring Creek Ranch; City: Jackson Jackson Hole Wyoming; Review: We stayed at a 2 bedroom condo for 4 nights while we visited the Jackson area & Grand Teron National Park. The condo had a great view of the mountains, was clean & spacious. If you are tired of eating out there was a food store (albertson's) nearby. The kitchen was well equipped. The only drawback is plan on about a 1/2 hour drive each way to the park. We felt it was worth it since we would get an early start at the park & then return late afternoon to use the pool and relax before dinner. the concegiere service was very knowledgeable & helpful with making reservations so be sure to use their expertise.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Old Faithful Inn; City: Yellowstone National Park Wyoming; Review: Our stay here was just ok. It is very crowded with tourist so if you are planning on enjoying a tranquil time in the most beautiful park forget it. We had a room in the west wing. The rooms are very old and dated. The carpet was warned and stained. The light bulb in the bathroom was burned out. Had to call front desk twiceto have this fixed....my question is how did the maid clean the bathroom? There is a very nice balcony that faces Old Faithful where you could have drinks (very relaxing). There is no assigned parking for guests of the hotel so be ready to carry your bags quite a distance. The hallways are dark and dingy. I have seen nicer dorm rooms. If I were you I think I would investigate hotels in west yellowstone before I stayed here which is about a 20 mile drive. We cut our stay one night short and went onto Jackson Hole. I would stay at the Lake lodge which was a quiet, beautiful stay!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites Billings; City: Billings Montana; Review: We stayed here on our way from Mt Rushmore to Yellowstone National Park. It was a good stop over as it was close to Yellowstone. The hotel was near many restaurants and stores to stock up before you entered the national parks area. It had a laundry facility, good breakfast, small pool & the rooms were clean & spacious. It was fine & met our needs for the one nifty stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Embassy Suites by Hilton Alexandria Old Town; City: Alexandria Virginia; Review: We stay at the Chevy ChaseEmbassy suites every time we visit the DC area. This time we thought we would stay at another location. What a mistake! The breakfast is awful...under cooked eggs & bacon, badly made omlettes, buffet suppose to open at 630 on Fridays...how about try 730. The parking is made for sub compact cars, the furnishings in the rooms are outdated, leaky toilet & uncomfortable seating for the room. The manager's reception is understaffed and stale snacks. Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere. Not sure what updated renovations the manager keeps replying about that are suppose to be finished by 2012...it looks like nothing has been done.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Honua Kai Resort Spa; City: Lahaina Maui Hawaii; Review: We stayed here after a recommendation from a travel agent as well as looking at reviews on TA. Let me start off by saying that if you look at the ocean view on line it is much different than the ocean view from your room. (See my attached pics from our kitchen vs theirs on the website). You will note that you are looking across at others rooms. Could actually think you were in NYC. The only ocean view is from your balcony or near the patio doors. We were in unit 511. Other people we met at the resort said if staying on a lower floor the palm trees got in the way & you had to hang over the balcony...so beware!! We paid for a 2 br ocean view. Also they give you a towel card. What is this??? 2 towels per person. When you turn your towels; you may get another 2 towels or your card back which must be surrendered at check out or be charged $50. There are 2 towel stations at the pool area. One is only interested in selling pricey subtannlotion, sunglasses or chair rentals & ignores guests waiting for towels. They are only open from 8-5...after hours trek to the front desk to get your towels. Check out is at 11 am...which I think is early! Fully stocked kitchen....no type of pan to broil or bake anything in the oven...a few pots with no lids...only 6 dishes, bowls, glasses...that's not fully stocked to me. Washer & dryer in unit is very small dryer takes FOREVER to dry! Check out is ealey at 11am & dont expect any extension even by an hour. Ok enough of the cons. Now for the pros...The locaton, grounds & pools are beautiful as well as the ocean views/sunsets from the balcony. They have patio doors that fully open to experience the trade winds that blow thru everyday. The rooms are a nice size. The restaurant on site is very good as well as the marketplace...both very pricey but convenient. I personally would also check out the Westin hotel which is right next door or perhaps other accommodations in Lahainia beach area. Also if shopping for groceries go the the Safeway in the Lahaina Cannery Mall about 3 miles south of here...much better selection, better prices than the Times supermarket across the street. Oh did I mention the $25 daily resort fee...yes read your fine print in the reservation...it includes laundry detergent, dryer sheets, sponges, dish detergent, dishwasher detergent, spotty wi-fi & parking.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Lancaster; City: Lancaster Lancaster County Pennsylvania; Review: We stayed here for a baseball tournament. The positives were a friendly hotel staff, convenient location, and easy check in and out. The negatives were a small, dark room, noisy (you could here the people next to you, above you, in the halls and courtyard area). There was not an event in the courtyard, just people walking thru it...I can't imagine how loud it must be if there was an actual event there. The rooms are dark because they face the courtyard. I would not opt for the breakfast since it was a very mediocre breakfast at best. I have had better at at Hampton Inn.I don't think I would stay here again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Disney s Grand Floridian Resort Spa; City: Orlando Florida; Review: Our original plans were to stay at the Polynesian, but after being notified about the renovations there we switched to the Grand Floridian. So happy we made the change. It is absolutely beautiful here. So relaxing. There are several restaurants on property to have a sit down meal as well as a large quick service area which was good for breakfast if you wanted to get to the park for opening. The monorail is right there in the mail building on the 2nd floor. There is also the water taxi to take you to the Magic Kingdom or it's a short walk along the lake. There are 3 pool areas as well as a beach. My teenage boys enjoyed the water slide. They have a gym and basketball court nearby. We stayed in the Big Pine Key outer building with a lagoon view and found it to be very nice. The bathroom was a nice size with 2 sinks outside of the bathroom area to help expedite getting ready for your day in the park. The room had a nice balcony area. The beds were comfortable and there was a ceiling fan in the room as well. Definitely would stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center; City: Pittsburgh Pennsylvania; Review: We stayed here for college visits. It's very convenient to Pitt and Carnegie Mellon. There is a parking garage and lot right at the hotel. I would not say it's the cleanest place and the front desk is not friendly or helpful. There are other options just as close and I would definitely check them out before staying here.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Chapel Hill; City: Chapel Hill North Carolina; Review: We had a short stay here while visiting the UNC campus. The staff was very friendly from check in to the breakfast buffet. The room was very clean and comfortable. The hotel is very convenient to the UNC campus and the surrounding area. I would definitely stay here the next time I'm in the area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Winston Salem I 40 Hanes Mall; City: Winston Salem North Carolina; Review: We stayed here while visiting Wake Forest University. The location is close to things and easy access off of the highway. Our room was clean and ready when we got here early. The staff was friendly. I struggled between giving it 3 or 4 stars because the breakfast was just ok. The eggs and sausage were luke warm and not very good. The lobby and eating area were very small. We got back to the room around 3pm on Saturday and it still needed to be cleaned. When maid service came we just took clean towels so we could rest before going out for the evening. You could easily hear the noise from the highway and other guests from your room. There are many other hotels in the area and I can't say I would definitely stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pine Barn Inn; City: Danville Pennsylvania; Review: We decided to stay here for two nights for Bucknell University parent weekend. It's about a 20 min drive to the school. The staff is very friendly, room spacious and clean, great restaurant where we had breakfast. Very well run hotel. I would definitely stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gaylord National Resort Convention Center; City: National Harbor Maryland; Review: We recently stayed here with extended family over the Christmas holidays. We used the mobile check-in. The mobile key option did not work, so we needed to go to the desk to get a key card. I was told that they would resend the mobile key to me, but that didn’t work during our visit. The check in area was crowded, but it is a large hotel and there were plenty of employees assisting guests. The rooms are a good size. We had an atrium view in the 11th floor with a nice balcony with 2 chairs for viewing the light show. We had a double sink separate from the shower area which makes getting ready in the morning easier. The beds were comfortable. There is also a mini fridge in the room. The safe did not work. The hotel is about a 15 easy drive to the Southern Ave metro station for a quick ride into DC. The ICE show was a must see! My complaints with the hotel was the extremely slow elevators. You could wait a good 5-10 mins to get on an elevator. We attempted to contact the at your service to request extra towels several times....the phone rang and rang and then I was put on hold. I used the chat feature on the app and finally got our request. While we did not have any meals here except for coffee I did overhear other guests complaining about long lines and slow service. Be sure if you use self parking to tell the person when checking in otherwise your keycard will not work to open the gate to the parking garage. We weren’t asked (you would think the hotel employee would ask just in case you forgot to say like I did) and then I had to go back to the desk again to have our car coded with parking. Other reviews on here complain about prices....I say do your research so you know what things cost....it’s not cheap, but is a beautiful hotel with plenty of stores and restaurants surrounding it that our walkable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Springhill Suites Hershey Near the Park; City: Hershey Pennsylvania; Review: We stayed here recently while visiting Christmas Candylane at Hersheypark. It was a 5 minute drive to the park. The rooms are a decent size with a micro and small refrigerator. The beds were comfortable. The hotel had a nice breakfast buffet. The only thing negative would be the noisy neighbors above us. I would get a room on the upper floor.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Novotel Avignon Centre; City: Avignon Vaucluse Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: Was very hot when we arrived - air conditioning was better than most. Staff were helpful. Pool was small but well used. Rooms very clean and comfortable. Very modern decor. Terrible service from restuarant; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Citadines Les Halles Paris; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: We were a family of four. It was a bit cramped but the position was wonderful. We could walk to notre dame and the louvre and the tower was not much further. Room was very clean and so many restuarents at the doorstep; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Novotel Beaune; City: Beaune Cote d Or Bourgogne Franche Comte; Review: This was a very clean hotel. There were a lot of families staying there and they catered well for all age groups. Food was excellent. We drove there and parking was plentiful and easy to find off tollway; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Citadines South Kensington; City: London England; Review: it was well positioned and clean. The stairs were very narrow and the fold out sofa was very uncomfortable. The bed upstairs was however good. Great little kitchenette including dishwasher. A short walk to shops, cafes etc and also short walk to Kensington Palace.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hilton York; City: York North Yorkshire England; Review: a nice friendly place to stay and right opposite the cities greatest attraction. There were restaurants close by and the city sightseeing bus stop was just across the road. The room was quite basic and a little short on space as there was four of us sharing. The staff were very helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crowne Plaza Liverpool City Centre; City: Liverpool Merseyside England; Review: As we have been travelling for 3 weeks our stay here was wonderful. The room, in which four of us were staying, was large and very comfortable. It was a generally agreed that these were the best beds we had slept in. The bathroom was large and well equipped. Would highly recommend; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Cold Mountain VHS; Brand: Jude Law; Review: Wonderful story of love and the quest for love. Never a dull moment here, A must have for a movie buff's collection.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cowboys & Aliens; Brand: Daniel Craig; Review: Action from start to finish. This is one of those you can watch over and over again. Very entertaining. A must have in a home collection.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Afraid Of The Dark; Brand: Not Applicable; Review: I watch this history channel movie all the time. It is really entertaining and informative. Makes me want to find a good dark place, just to view the stars since we have so few of those left. History channel offers so many specials like this, that this one is just another one of their goodies. Love it and highly recommend it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: G.I. Joe: Retaliation; Brand: Channing Tatum; Review: Action packed, overall enjoyable movie; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jack Reacher Combo; Brand: ; Review: This is one of those action packed Tom Cruise films I can actually like. I'm not a Cruise fan, but will say this is a very entertaining movie. Highly recommend for individuals 14+. Might be a bit too violent for the little ones.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Rising from Katrina: How My Mississippi Hometown Lost It All and Found What Mattered; Author: Visit Amazon's Kathleen Koch Page; Review: Kathleen Koch's personal experiences with the aftermath of Katrina brings tears to the reader's eyes. With the advantage of growing up in Bay St. Louis, she provides anecdotes that bring the tragedy into sharp focus. With her years of experience in broadcasting, Mrs. Koch writing style is sharp and readable creating a page-turner of the highest quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Presidential Dollar Collector's Folder; Author: Inc. Sterling Publishing Co.; Review: Two slots for each coin, P and D mint. These are much harder to find than the quarters, and such more challenging. The book is well built and holds coins well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Witch of Agnesi (Bonnie Pinkwater series); Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Spiller Page; Review: An easy read, Spiller's style keeps the writer intrigued with humor, puzzles and references to familiar literature and cinema. The whodunit part is well hidden, so a nicely crafted mystery. However the plot isn't easy to figure out even with the last chapter explanation without a lot of pondering, and one never CAN figure out why Stephanie was killed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Moonstone: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Wilkie Collins Page; Review: Predating Agatha Christie, this classic mystery set when class distinction was the way of the English world, spins a great tale with believable characters and intriguing ideas. It's a bit long and slow, but a good read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Anthony Horowitz Page; Review: Style, Character, and Plot -- this work brings the reader deep into Doyle's world, a classic tale with 19th century language, strong characters, typical Holmes humor and hidden-in-the-open clues. The plot offers twists and suspense more in line with modern thrillers, updating the readability while maintaining the genre's essentials. One of the best Holmes knock-offs ever.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cold Dish: A Longmire Mystery; Author: Visit Amazon's Craig Johnson Page; Review: This first of a series of Walt Longmire, Wyoming sheriff, develops the setting for the series. The characters, with all their flaws and history, become real and sympathetic. The poetic style brings to life the great Wyoming vistas, with a strong emphasis on Indian traditions, and contrasts developed by the individualistic homes and vehicles. Yet the plot is slow and weak. Reading is slow as so little involving plot development occurs for pages on end. The reader is given almost no clues as to the eventual perpetrator, leaving a let down at the end.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maltese Falcon (Picador Books); Author: Richard J. Anobile; Review: The classic hard nose detective, Sam Spade, shows his toughness in this cleverly crafted plot. Besides Spade, Hammett created enduring characters, including Fat Man, the homosexual Cairo, and the beautiful and vicious Bridgid O'Shaughnessy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Red Sparrow: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jason Matthews Page; Review: I rarely give a 5-star rating, as most books have weakness in one of the three aspects required in a novel; style, characters, and plot. However, Red Sparrow reads crisply, the characters are believable with well developed backgrounds and consistent motivations, and the plot follows a logical and seductive process. There are no surprises, this is not a "mystery" as much as a spy-thriller, and there are some weaknesses, particularly the senator, who is totally unbelievable as a character with extremely unlikely motivations. Matthews develops several subplots, and weaves them into the novel tapestry throughout, ending them relatively quickly. There is a sequel planned which certainly will be worth following. Another drawback, in my mind, is the length. Mathews takes a very long time to develop the Russian spy's motivations here, which is the book's main theme.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The 9th Girl (Kovac and Liska); Author: Visit Amazon's Tami Hoag Page; Review: Sadly, style isn't everything. "The Ninth Girl" is an easy read, and if one is looking for a mindless, mildly suspenseful thriller, Hoag's book will do the job. The characters are flat with no interests besides what benefits the plot, and the plot is notably unbelievable, especially when the actual whodunits are revealed. The whole concept is to fool the reader with a red herring at the beginning, and lace this red herring subplot of the "serial killer" throughout. Even the style, though easily readable, doesn't offer anything exciting such as intriguing metaphors or compelling sets. It's okay, that's about the best one can say.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spineless: Portraits of Marine Invertebrates, the Backbone of Life; Author: Susan Middleton; Review: The photos are amazing! These images of microscopic creatures make you aware of God's incredible creative nature and our own appreciation of symmetry.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: House Call; Author: Visit Amazon's Darden North Page; Review: Medical stories always fascinate me. Darden's murder mysteries featuring hospital setting bring to life the drama and devotion of those in the field in the hospital settings. His style is classic, straight forward Mystery Genre, emphasizing plot with strong vicious criminals and determined mystery solvers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Remove Before Flight; Author: Scott Phillips; Review: I picked up this book from Scott at a Geekonomics conference where he had a collection of his memorabilia and models he'd created. Being an author myself, I tend to be critical of writer's work, and I am quite pleased to say this work flows well, prose is sharp, and the stories captivating. This memoirs speak to all Americans as we shared the experiences of space travel inspired by the sci-fi fiction of our generations. Well illustrated with photos from the program, including many seeing their first publication, it's a pleasant and informative read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic; Author: Visit Amazon's Mike Duncan Page; Review: Following in his captivating podcast tradition, Duncan spins a tale of ancient events in modern compelling words, bringing to life the motivations and scruples of deeply researched Roman history. The last chapter loses the smooth narrative style as he races to summarize the post Sulla years. Otherwise the story is an engaging page turner.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: D-Link Skype USB Phone Adapter; Brand: D-Link; Review: I lament not finding a suitable Skype phone which doesn't require a computer. After trying and returning an Ipevo S0-20 (and reviewing other devices from Netgear and Belkin), I resigned myself to having a computer running all the time. So for $20 or so, I thought I'd try this device. I initially installed the drivers from the box (1.0) and it crashed whenever the other party hung up. As I read the other reviews in Amazon I saw the confusion of version numbers -- is it 1.1 or 1.10 or 1.01 -- what's going on? So I got the latest drivers from Dlink for XP/Vista (they're the same on their website) and this is how the version numbers work: when you download the latest it will say v1.1 on the website, but after you install it, the software will say, v1.01. So much for good documentation. Anyway, this solved the hang-up-and-crash issue. I'm running Skype 4.0 and Dlink's USB Voip adapter v 1.01, on an XP SP2 P4 machine, so it's pretty old. Seems to work okay now.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: D-Link DP-301U 10/100TX 1-USB Port Print Server; Brand: D-Link; Review: Bought it in 2009 for a used HP laserjet 1012 printer given to me. Works fine with that laser even though it is not on HP's compatibility guide. Since this is only laser printing -- not scanning, or color, or special functions an all-in-one might do -- it works fine for simple printing. Setup was easy since DHCP set up the IP addressing for me. But I went ahead and disabled DHCP and hardcoded the IP using the web interface. There's 2 hardware versions listed in some articles but because it has been out a while, I got h/w ver B2, f/w ver 2.10. Made my used USB-only laser printer a network print and I love that!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CowboyStudio Photography Table Top Photo Studio Reflector Lighting Tent Kit - 1 Tent, Light Kit; Brand: CowboyStudio; Review: I was pleased with the quality of the lights and stands. Everything moves smoothly and locks in place easily. I like the on/off switch. Lots of use of plastic but I expected that for what I consider light home studio use. You need to be careful not to tip it over -- especially since the bulbs protrude past the shades. Aside from that it is quite stable and stands firmly. So inspite of this I'm pleased with the purchase.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: CowboyStudio Photography Table Top Photo Studio Lighting Kit - 2 Light Kit; Brand: CowboyStudio; Review: I was pleased with the quality of the lights and stands. Everything moves smoothly and locks in place easily. I like the on/off switch. Lots of use of plastic but I expected that for what I consider light home studio use. You need to be careful not to tip it over -- especially since the bulbs protrude past the shades. Aside from that it is quite stable and stands firmly. So inspite of this I'm pleased with the purchase.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: rooCASE Executive Portfolio (Black) Leather Case Cover for Google Nexus 7 Tablet (NOT Compatible with 2013 Nexus 7 2; Brand: rooCASE; Review: Received the case today. It is certainly "sturdy." The leather is a bit stiff but then I just got it. I expect it to soften a little, but not much. However, although bulky, I feel my Nexus 7 will sit snugly in the zipped case protected from the occasional bumps and possible drops. I want to be able to take the Nexus 7 "out into the world" without the worry of accidentally damaging it. So was certainly the right purchase for that purpose.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 with Built-In Multi-Touch Touchpad; Brand: Logitech; Review: This keyboard is light, compact, and the total keywidth slightly smaller (by about 1/4" from the 'Q' key to the 'P' key) than a full sized keyboard. So it feels a bit tight if you use a full sized keyboard all day long as I do. But I wanted a keyboard that I could easily store to the side when I'm not using my secondary workstation and free up some desk space. So you may not want to use it as your primary keyboard if you need to use it all day long. But for my needs it fits the bill.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KFK Adapter & Splitter, Dual Ports Headphone Adapter Compitable Phone Dongle Splitter Comptiable IP X/8/8Plus/7/7Plus Headset Audio and Charging; Brand: Palytte; Review: The tuner is sensitive to poor quality signals. Although my TV showed a channel okay (except when a plane flew overhead--an indicator), there was breakup when viewing the same channel through the CM DVR+. But the problem was really with my antenna placement, not the Channel Master. So I had to climb back into the attic and correct my antenna placement and direction. Fortunately,the CM DVR+ can tell you the signal strength AND the signal quality. So I thank Channel Master for inspiring me to fix a problem I already knew I had with my antenna location. Now everything works great (and airplanes don't affect me anymore). One of the reasons I chose this device among what was on the market was the free channel guide. Also, the DVR+ records in the same resolution as the broadcast. One DVR I researched recorded in 720p and did an upscale to a 1080p TV -- I didn't want that. The quality of the DVR+ recording matches what I would have seen watching the direct broadcast.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nexus 7 from Google (7-Inch, 16 GB, Black) by ASUS (2013) Tablet; Brand: Asus; Review: I own both a Nexus 7 Gen 1 and Gen 2. This review is on the Gen 2 version which came out in 2013. The performance of the Gen 2 tablet against my older Gen 1 is like night and day! I am about to toss my Gen 1 tablet because its performance is awful as the Android versions got updated. Don't buy a Gen 1 no matter what the price! The Gen 2 version is thinner and the bezel is narrower - so the Gen 2 tablet is slightly smaller than the original version. When buying accessories such as covers, be sure to get one for the correct version -- the Gen 2 version has a back camera and the front camera is offset to the right (the front camera on the Gen 1 is in the center of the top bezel).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aduro U-Grip Tablet Stand Holder Adjustable Multi-Angle Universal Desk Mount Compatible with iPad and All Tablets (Black/Red); Brand: Aduro; Review: Grips Nexus 5 2013 firmly. It is at the maximum extension when holding the tablet vertically.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Google Nexus 7 Screen Protector (2nd; Brand: Skinomi; Review: This is a wet application but it goes on so much easier than dry screen protectors. This was for a Nexus 7 Generation 2 (2013) and there are NO openings on the face of tablet making this super easy to apply. I've applied lots of dry screen protectors on my smart phones and this was the easiest. You should view the skinomi.com video because there are things I would not have throught about -- for example, they recommend wetting your hands before touching it. I also used canned air to blow off any dust particles which fall on the tablet screen even after meticulous cleaning. We don't live in clean-rooms so it is SO hard to keep dust off. But applying wet allows you to gently left off the Skinomi sheet so you can wipe any dust particles which appear. ...24 hours later... After 5 hours of drying I was shockingly appalled to find that large bubbles had formed - and there were NONE when I had first installed it. It is now 24 hrs later and most of the bubbles have disappeared. I am glad I read that others had bubble problems which eventually disappeared otherwise I would be tempted to pull it off and try again. I think if I had squeegeed it better to remove more water from underneath the film it might not have been so bad. Maybe.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OontZ Curve Bluetooth Speaker Ultra Portable Wireless Full 360 Degree Sound with Built in Speakerphone works with iPhone iPad tablet; Brand: Cambridge Soundworks; Review: I was surprised by how good this little speaker sounded when I first turned it on. The quality of the sound from my phone through this speaker was crisp, clear, and filled my little kitchen. Don't expect lots of bass, of course, and it is not meant to fill a huge room with sound.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics Bluetooth 4.0 Audio Receiver; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Works well right out of the box. Have a 15+ year old amplifier and this device allowed me to continue using it rather than spending hundreds of dollars replacing a perfectly good stereo amp. I know Blu-ray connectivity doesn't provide the highest audio quality but I can't hear that quality difference anyway. So it works well for my needs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Fisher-Price Thomas & Friends DC Ferdinand; Brand: Thomas & Friends; Review: This was an Easter gift for my son. It arrived ahead of schedule. My son was delighted to have this engine since he already has Bash and Dash.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Learning Curve Thomas And Friends Wooden Railway - Annie And Clarabel; Brand: Learning Curve; Review: This was a gift for my son who enjoys Thomas videos. He has many of the trains that are part of the railway. It was good to give him these so that Thomas can finally pull what he normally pulls on his branch line. The cars arrived in excellent condition in their original packaging.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Play Visions Crayola Bath Dropz 2.68 oz,45 tablets (Pack of 2); Brand: Crayola; Review: This was a gift for my children. They had gotten one of these containers for Christmas and enjoyed having colorful baths. My children are enjoying more colorful baths since this was a two pack. I have not had any issues with staining or anything like that. I would like to note that we only use one or two of the drops depending on the color. I do not know if you make the color darker (more drops) if that will have any negative effects.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TOY HAMMOCK - A Large Storage Net For Plush Toys and Stuffed Animals; Brand: EpicKids; Review: This was a gift for my daughter. The netting will stretch some so pull it tight. She was able to put about twenty small stuffed animals in the net.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Melissa & Doug Dress-Up Reusable Sticker Pad; Brand: Melissa & Doug; Review: Christmas gift for my daughter. I will update when I have more information.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: ZOOB BuilderZ Inventor's Kit; Brand: ZOOB; Review: Christmas gift for my grand nephew. I do not know his input on the present. Will update if I know more; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Radio Remote Control 1/14 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse Licensed RC Model Car (White/Blue); Brand: Midea Tech; Review: The car is fast enough for me as a first timer. I did scratch the windshield in a crash. The car rides low to the ground so it can easily scrape the surface it runs on. The range is great. The only thing I need to remember is that when the car is coming to wards me the left and right need to be reversed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Midnight Cowboy (1969); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cracker: Series 1 (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Spanish Prisoner (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python: The Life of Python (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Red Violin (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hero (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: House of Flying Daggers (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cracker: Series 2 (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pompeii: The Last Day (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rome: Power & Glory (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Full Monty (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Hannah's Voice; Author: Visit Amazon's Robb Grindstaff Page; Review: Wow! I read this book at the recommendation from a friend. Not my usual read - well, at least I assumed so. THis book is for everyone. If you don't get totally drawn in and held by the central character immediately and all the way through then you are not reading this book. Very relevant to the current world we live in, perhaps to you presonally. It certainly hit a few buttons of mine.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Endless Joke: An Alternative Writing Manual; Author: Visit Amazon's David Antrobus Page; Review: A great read. The style, pace, humor, wit all come together in a wonderful way to educate without being preached to. Even should you walk away with nothing more than an enjoyable series of insights, my guess is you will get lots more, it will still be worth your time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Infusion of Evil; Author: Visit Amazon's David S. Rosenberg Page; Review: I expected a good story from this author after reading a few of his books. I was pleasantly surprised by the unusual plot and the possibility that our near future might include such clever technology - maybe as we speak.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Third Kingdom; Author: Visit Amazon's Terry Goodkind Page; Review: Mr. Goodkind. Please go back and read all your books before this one and the last. I don't know what has turned you around, but I would bet my last dollar that a different pen is at work, or the same pen with an agenda to annihilate a most wonderful series up until now. I read once where an author (NOT YOU) vowed to write a bad novel because he could not get out of his contract. I, unfortunately, bought and read the book before learning this - yes, it was a terrible change in writing style from what i was used to. I'm sure you care for your fans. I have read all of your books; got a little behind, and just this past few weeks jumped into those referred to above. I think I will stop here. Thank you sir, for all yor good work.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Splendid Boy; Author: Visit Amazon's Melanie Martin Page; Review: A very engaging story from start to finish. I grew up in such an Outport; the characters in this book came across to me like long lost friends. My father was a merchant, and trade with the fishermen went exactly as described. The horror of the Great War is shown to the reader from inside one characters experience, yet it tells us what a tragedy it was for everyone involved. The love of the two main characters is presented as a problem from the outset, and the unfolding events of life contrive to undo them. That alone should make you want to read the story, and in doing so, you will find much, much, more. Great stuff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Soul of Christmas; Author: Thomas Moore; Review: I may have slipped over the years as I come to Christmas, gotten a little jaded. This book gave it back to me. There are not too many books I read a second time. This one compelled me to do so. It is far and away not about religion. It explores the spirit of mankind and its necessity to share, join with others, celebrate, and oh so much more. Thank you Mr. Moore.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Story Engineering; Author: Visit Amazon's Larry Brooks Page; Review: Great, great book. Mr. Brooks knows we all like to get the lesson fast and move on; so he slows it down and reiterates the lessons over and over. When I finished I knew I had been given a good schoolin'. Thank you for making it all so manageable and workable. I know the writing is still up to me, but I know what the necessary components are, and where they should be placed. I highly recommend this book to ANYONE who wants to write a compelling story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Devil's Dance; Author: Kristen Lamb; Review: Not my usual genre, but I had read Ms. Lambs Rise of the Machines, and could not help taking a peek. Well, I am so glad I did. From the opening dialogue to the incredible finale this story crackles like a dry tinder wood fire being stoked by a raging onshore ocean breeze. Romis wit and humor tug at Sawyers all-business attitude. A great team. Ever scene makes you race along with Romi to the next encounter; into a maze of betrayal and deceit. Could I guess the outcome? Hell, no; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Walker 54312 Quiet-Flow Stainless Steel Muffler Assembly; Brand: Walker; Review: I jacked up my Civic, disconnected my old muffler, and reconnected this new one with all new hardware. What a difference! The stainless option on an OEM style muffler is just too perfect to pass up. This will last the remainder of my car's life (another 100K or so). This is very important, as I live in New England, and there's lots of road salt that rusts all other steel. I would recommend this to anyone who has a jack, jack stands, a socket set, a wrench set, and an old screwdriver (to scrape off the old gasket). If you fit this bill, you can save hundreds over going to a muffler shop in just an hour or two.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Walker 31360 Exhaust Gasket; Brand: Walker; Review: It fit perfectly on the OEM exhaust pipe, and the replacement Walker Exhaust 54312 Muffler Assembly-Quiet-FlowSS that I purchased along with it. Be sure to scrape the old one off first, and then this thing seals everything right up. I haven't had to retighten, and it's been a few weeks. I will check again in another couple weeks, but it seems to have seated well on the first go.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Walker 35129 Exhaust Spring Bolt Kit; Brand: Walker; Review: Don't bother with rusty bolts or springs. Odds are one will break, especially if you're in a climate that uses road salt. These things are actually larger than stock. The threads are the same size, but the bodies are wider and the heads are 14mm, instead of the stock 12mm. Very nice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nopro Plastic Funnel, Set of 3; Brand: Norpro; Review: I only needed the larger one, but the kids like using the smaller ones. Good solid material, and you just can't beat the price!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FRAM CF10135 Fresh Breeze Cabin Air Filter with Arm & Hammer; Brand: Fram; Review: This only took me 10 minutes to install. I believe 8 of those 10 minutes were fidgiting with the glovebox, because once that's pulled down, it's a matter of seconds to pull out the cartridges, reload, and put back. Would definitely recommend these, my Civic actually took two so I'm glad I bought the 2-pack.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Glamorise Women's Perfect A Full Figure Wireless Padded Bra #3010 (A Cup Only); Brand: ; Review: more like a "c" cup than an "a".; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Berkshire Women's Plus-Size Queen Silky Sheer Control Top Pantyhose 4489; Brand: ; Review: If these were the actual size I ordered they should have been almost falling off me. As it was, I couldn't get them over my rump. They felt like they were a petite size small.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Berkshire Women's Plus-Size Queen Silky Sheer Control Top Pantyhose 4489; Brand: ; Review: If these were the actual size I ordered they should have been almost falling off me. As it was, I couldn't get them over my rump. They felt like they were a petite size small.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Anne Klein New Recruits Zip-Around Small Wallet; Brand: ; Review: Thin, lots of space inside, and doesn't take up a lot of room in your purse! Perfect!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dockers Men's Agent Slip-On Loafer; Brand: ; Review: We were disappointed that the soles cracked at the ball of the feet. The shoes didn't last as long as anticpipated, being the Dockers brand.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Decay; Brand: Visit Amazon's Roger Hayden Page; Review: Good concept. Dialogue was a bit stilted. Slow.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: PURSUIT - Complete Collection (The Pursuit of Passion, An Everlasting Pursuit & Relentless Pursuer) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Liv Bennett Page; Review: It isn't often that I don't finish a book, but this is one I can't finish. Ridiculous dialogue.. The character of Adam sounds mostly like a whiney high school girl. Ridiculous situations.. In the hospital for a few days but didn't call because I didn't want to worry you? The alternating first character narration became annoying quickly.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: American Epidemic; Brand: Visit Amazon's Roger Hayden Page; Review: Interesting concept poorly executed. Writing is stiff and dialogue is stilted. Not worth the time, let alone money.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cassie's Space eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's PK Corey Page; Review: Cassie tells about her history with her husband The old fashioned dialogue was flat. And describing spankings from years ago just doesn't resonate.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Myka and the Millionaire - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Alexis Alvarez Page; Review: I received an ARC in return for an honest review. This was a well,written, fun book. The main characters were believable. The sex scenes were hot, the HEA worked. Felt like the "mystery" resolution was a bit of a red herring. I would read more by this author.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Wrong Guy (A New Adult Military Romance Novel) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Alana Hart Page; Review: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. On the plus side, the dialogue was strong. The lead character, Francesca was complex. On the other hand, the male lead, Rick, didn't feel,fully fleshed out. And while the book took place over a period of time, his love for Francesca felt too much like instalove. The scenes between Francesca and her older boyfriend didn't resonate because she wasn't turned on. And there weren't enough hot scenes between Francesca and Rick. The HEA felt rushed.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: IN HIS KEEPING: TAKEN - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Mia Frances Page; Review: This wasn't a wonderful book. The dialogue is clumsy and awkward. The heroine is so attracted to the hero that she sleeps with him without telling him she is a virgin. He becomes instantly possessive of someone he barely knows. Ridiculous. And the sex scenes are kind of boring.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: My Dom (Boston Doms Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jane Henry Page; Review: This is one romance I enjoyed immensely. No virginal or oh so innocent heroine. The hero wasn't a rock star or a member of a motorcycle club or a billionaire. They were real people, which made the story relatable. Hot sex, not insta love, but a relationship that grows... What more can tou ask for ?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dream Girl: Love On Reality TV - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Alexis Alvarez Page; Review: It wasn't the plot, which was solid. It wasn't the characters, who were likeable and had their own voices. It was the dialogue, written like people really speak that had me enjoying the book. Oh, and a few really hot scenes with light spanking. I took a star off for the contrived misunderstanding although the making up almost made up for it!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Delphi MyFi XM2GO Portable XM Satellite Radio Receiver with Home / Car Kits; Brand: Delphi; Review: I got this unit for Christmas. First, let me say that reception is highly dependent on where you live. You should check it out BEFORE you purchase one. I live near Sacramento, CA. The XM2go has dual-receivers in it. One is a satellite receiver, and the other is a terrestrial receiver. The second one receives a local data stream from a "ground" transmitter (similar to an FM broadcast station). Xmradio has a limited number of these terrestrial transmitters in selected cities. Sacramento must be one of them! Both the satellite and terrestrial data streams are identical. If one goes away, the unit switches to the other without any interruption. At home (in Elk Grove, CA), I setup the home satellite antenna (about 4x5 inches) and aimed it out a south-facing window. The unit worked immediately. Indoors, when I removed the unit from the base (and antenna), the signal failed immediately. I walked out to the front yard, and regained the signal. I could walk down the street, listening to the unit, and it would only occasionally fade out and back in. This is using the built-in antenna. Don't expect this to be like an Mp3 player or an FM radio. It has limitations. But I love it, and would buy another unit! As long as you have a good signal, you'll have uninterrupted music/talk/sports/whatever you listen to. At work, I'm on the 17th floor of a steel / concrete building. I get zero satellite signal, but I get three bars of terrestrial signal, with NO external antenna connected! So if you are in the Sacramento area, I think you'll enjoy this unit. I'm listening to the unit right now in the desk stand, and it is driving a pair of amplified speakers on my desk in my office. Sounds great! I love the "2go" button. You can hit it, and the unit will record up to five hours of continuous music/talk to play back later. You can even schedule the recording (similar to a VCR) when you aren't there. The best part of using the "2go" feature is during the playback, you can skip to the next song if you don't like the current one playing. Very much like a CD. In mobile mode, I drop the unit into the included car-mount kit, and it immediately starts playing through my in-car FM radio. I have it tuned to an unused frequency here (107.1). There are many frequencies to choose from. You should be able to find at least one that isn't in use in your area. So the only two connections you need to make in the car are for power and the magnetic antenna you stick on the roof. I was able to drive anywhere in the Sacramento area without losing the signal, even under freeway overcrossings.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: XMDirect XMD1000 Satellite Radio Universal Tuner Box; Brand: XMDirect; Review: Product delivered in about a week. This, along with the TERK JVC adapter for my car stereo, lets me receive XM radio on my car stereo. Works great! I love commercial-free radio, and it only costs me an additional $6/mo (in addition to my $12.95/mo existing subscription) for this second unit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Philips PHDTV1 Silver Sensor UHF/HDTV Digital Indoor TV Antenna (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Philips; Review: The product works good, as promised for a reasonable price. Installed in my attic and it works just fine.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fujifilm Media 25367101 Empty Color Slim Jewel Cases - 100 Pack; Brand: Fujifilm; Review: I read some of the reviews about how some cases were received broken. Well, 100% of mine were fine, in perfect shape! So thanks for the good packing job. Used the cheapest shipping method, and it took about a week to arrive after ordering, just fine with me. Thanks!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Panasonic Cordless Telephone Battery (HHR-P104A); Brand: Panasonic; Review: My phone battery wasn't holding a charge, so I ordered one of these. It arrived in just a few days. Been using it since, works great! Thanks for the fine service.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Foscam FI9821P HD 720P WiFi Security IP Camera with iOS/Android App, Pan, Tilt, Zoom, Two-Way; Brand: Foscam; Review: Fantastic resolution and sensitivity, took some fiddling to get it to work on my network. But that's because I have two (disjointed) networks at home. I was able to upgrade the firmware, and it went without a hitch. Still wish it had a couple of more features. Also, when the IR LED's switch on, there is a loud CLICK that everyone in the room can hear. Not very clandestine. The other reason for not giving 5-stars is because there is no apparent way to view the camera stream without installing software on the computer that is viewing the image. I shouldn't need to install software to simply view a stream.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Garmin Montana 600 Waterproof Hiking GPS; Brand: Garmin; Review: I use this weekly for Geocaching. No other GPSr has the features that this one does. Best GPSr I've ever used! Took a while to get used to, and find all the features.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VideoSecu One Pair Black Univaersal Satellite Speaker Mount Bracket for Wall and; Brand: VideoSecu; Review: I mounted two of these to a ceiling joist, and they hold the speaker nice and tight.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UL Listed Pwr Extra Long 12 Ft 2 Prong Ac Wall Cable 2 Slot Power Cord for Led LCD Tv; Brand: PWR+; Review: My wife lost the cable to her Samsung TV in our recent move. So I bought this replacement, and it works perfectly. And it is a little longer than the original one! Makes it easier to reach to an AC outlet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hikvision OEM 2.8MM Turret Compatible as DS-2CD2332-I 2048 X 1536 Network Surveillance Camera, Weatherproof, 3 MP, Gray/White No Logo; Brand: Hikvision; Review: Really happy with this camera. It is very sensitive, even without the IR LED turned off. It has great dynamic range. Very configurable. I didn't have much time to install it before the sun went down, but wanted to get it up so I could play with it. I eve-mounted it above my front door. I need to add a piece of wood underneath to drop it down a little, as the roof overhang is cutting off the top of the picture. But from what I can see, this camera has one of the sharpest images I've ever seen in a security camera. Very clear. I use DVR software on my computer to capture the image, and it works fine with that. The only thing I'm not so happy with is that I had to run a separate 12v power cable to the unit, even though the box says that it is "PoE (802.3af) compliant". Yet, it also says DC 12v, 7.5W MAX. My PoE inserter puts 48v on the line, and I think that would blow the camera up, so I'm going with a separate 12v power source. Sample frame grab here:[...]; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2X JACKYLED New DC 12V 2A 2.0A Switching Power Supply Adapter for 110V- 240V AC 50/60Hz 2.1mm; Brand: JACKYLED; Review: These work well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SkyBell (SH02300BZ) HD Bronze WiFi Video Doorbell; Brand: SkyBell; Review: Returned unit after a few weeks of using it. Unable to set the sensitivity so it doesn't pick up the tree movement or cars driving by the front of the house, yet still pick up people coming to the front door. Installed Ring Pro, and it works great! Very happy, as is my daughter and son-in-law with their Ring unit. Skybell also had problems sending video to my Wifi router, even though none of the other devices in my house have a problem. I had to mount an extension wifi router in the garage on the other side of the wall from SkyBell to get it to work.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: ITIS Replacement Earpads Cushion Compatible For Bose QuietComfort2 QC2 QuietComfort 15 QC15,QuietComfort 25,QuietComfort35,AE2,AE2i,AE2w,SoundTrue, SoundLink(Around-Ear)Headphone With ITIS Cable Clip; Brand: It is; Review: I wore my Bose headphones while mowing the lawn, and the old pads got worn out from my sweat in no time. Ordered these units - nice to have a "like new" headset again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DJI Phantom 3 Part 39 Anti-Vibration Gimbal Mounting Plate for Pro and Adv; Brand: DJI; Review: Ordered this because I crashed my DJI Phantom 3 Advanced, and broke the gimbal mount. This fit & worked perfectly!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Replacement Ear pads Cushion Compatible for Bose Quietcomfort QC2,Quietcomfort 15 QC15,Quietcomfort 25 QC25,QuietComfort 35 QC35,AE2,AE2i,AE2w,SoundTrue Headphone with ITIS Cable Clip; Brand: It is; Review: I wore my Bose headphones while mowing the lawn, and the old pads got worn out from my sweat in no time. Ordered these units - nice to have a "like new" headset again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BTG Upgrade White Damping Rubber Balls; Brand: BTG; Review: I've crashed my drone three times, and have now gone through all of these replacements - will have to order another bag. Thanks for making these parts available!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Neewer Carbon Fiber Black Gimbal Guard for DJI Phantom 3 Standard, Professional and Advanced, Protects Camera & Gimbal; Brand: Neewer; Review: I broke the gimbal on my DJI Phantom 3 Advanced three times. Then I bought this gimbal guard to help protect it. Haven't crashed since!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anker [Upgraded Version] USB 3.0 SuperSpeed 10-Port Hub Including a BC 1.2 Charging Port with 60W (12V /; Brand: Anker; Review: Still working after continuous use after 9 months. Love it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics USB 3.0 Cable - A-Male to B-Male - 3 Feet (0.9 Meters); Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: I use this to connect my Anker 10-port USB Data Hub. Still working great after 9 mos.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KDLINKS X1 GPS Enabled Full HD 1920x1080 165 Degree Wide Angle Dashboard Camera Recorder Car Dash Cam with Gravity; Brand: KDLINKS; Review: Worked OK at first, now it keeps "forgetting" the date & time, so none of the files have the correct date/time stamp. Makes it very difficult to find the video you are looking for. Video looks great, and it operates OK in all other ways. I can't recommend this dashcam. Also, the gold-colored paint has faded in the sun, and now it has a dull silver look to it. Would have been better if it was painted with black paint as the photo shows.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Mr Shield For Motorola Moto Droid Turbo Premium Clear Screen Protector [3-PACK] with Lifetime Replacement Warranty; Brand: Mr Shield; Review: I've always been against using cases and screen protectors because YOLO. After inspecting all of the microscratches on my HTC One though, I decided to get some. The Verizon branded one fell off after a day. These seem to be holding up pretty well though. You can't even tell that there's anything there. (that's what she said); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Motorola DROID Turbo, Metallic Red 32GB (Verizon Wireless); Brand: Motorola; Review: Update 6/14/15: The phone looks nice on paper, but the lack of any Lollipop update is troubling. The preview for Android M was released a couple weeks ago for Nexus phones, yet we have no estimate on when we'll get Lollipop despite the fact that it has been out for eight months. Motorola has said that we should expect it to take longer since it's a carrier exclusive phone. In short, if you care about frequent bug fixes updates, and transparency, this isn't the phone for you.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Galaxy S7 Case, REDshield [Black] Slim; Brand: RED SHIELD; Review: I got the featherweight case. As someone who hates cases, I like it. It's thin, clear, and the cutouts line up perfectly -- not to mention about a fifth of the price of the cases that the Verizon salesmen are peddling. With that being said, I'm a little uncomfortable with how loose it is on the phone. The sides aren't tight at all.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Galaxy S7 Case, REDshield Featherweight [Clear] Light as a feather; Brand: RED SHIELD; Review: I got the featherweight case. As someone who hates cases, I like it. It's thin, clear, and the cutouts line up perfectly -- not to mention about a fifth of the price of the cases that the Verizon salesmen are peddling. With that being said, I'm a little uncomfortable with how loose it is on the phone. The sides aren't tight at all.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spigen Rugged Armor Samsung Galaxy S7 Case with Resilient Shock Absorption and Carbon Fiber Design for Samsung Galaxy S7 2016; Brand: Spigen; Review: I've had three cases so far and this is the best. The fit is very snug, it isn't too thick, and the feel is surprisingly nice. Update: I've owned smartphones for eight years and for the first time ever, my S7 cracked big time after dropping it on pavement. Maybe it was bad luck but I'm dropping to three stars.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: South Shore Prairie 5-Drawer Dresser, Country Pine with Metal Handles and Knobs; Brand: South Shore; Review: My Mom needed a brand new dresser after hers fell apart. She is very picky and didn't want just any dresser. She loved the wood color on this, loved that it had 5 drawers, she can keep all her clothes folded neatly and can set stuff on top. Fits perfectly in her closet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prairie Collection Armoire with Two Drawers - Country Pine Finish by South Shore; Brand: South Shore; Review: Bought this for my Mom to hold clothes, in the drawers, and for storing sheets and blankets in the top portion. My Mom loves it. Fits perfect in her closet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Creative Converting Bright and Bold 50th Birthday Molded Numeral Cake Candle; Brand: Creative Converting; Review: I was looking for a 50 candle and this was perfect! Give the dark themed party a little color on the cake!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 3 Ply Lunch Napkins 50th Holy Bleep 16 Ct; Brand: Creative Converting; Review: Perfect for a 50th birthday party I am throwing! The birthday boy and his friends are all smart asses and will love this!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BigMouth Inc The Prescription Coffee Mug, Ceramic, Funny Gift for the Caffeine Lover; Brand: BigMouth Inc; Review: I bought this as a gift and was not able to give it. I had two friends spot the mug and now they both want it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Patriot Web Design Clean/Dirty Dishwasher Magnet; Brand: Patriot Web Design; Review: This is the exact Magnet and Look I was trying to find. The only problem is the magnet is not very strong. I have to use two other magnets to hold it up. It does the job for the dishwasher though.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BigMouth Inc Original Anger Management Mug, Holds 16 oz, Ceramic Coffee Mug, Tea Mug, Funny Novelty Gift; Brand: BigMouth Inc; Review: My boyfriend has anger issues and this mug was perfect for him!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Looney Tunes Marvin The Martian Insulated Travel Mug, Green; Brand: Looney Tunes; Review: My boyfriend loves Marvin The Martian. He uses this mug constantly!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Looney Tunes Marvin Travel Mug, Green; Brand: Looney Tunes; Review: My boyfriend loved this mug!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Collection Plush Pillow Faux Fur Soft and Comfy Throw Pillow (2 Pack), Chocolate; Brand: Sweet Home Collection; Review: I bought these pillows for my Mom for Valentines Day. Her favorite color is purple. The pillows are much bigger than I expected which is a good thing. Very soft and fluffy. My Mom is going to love these. Thank you very much!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coxeer 15 X 12 Inch Throw Pillows Heart Shape Pillow Soft Pillow with Cushion; Brand: Coxeer; Review: Big fluffy pillow and very comfy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lock N' load Gun alarm clock/target alarm clock/creative clock - Black; Brand: Ypper; Review: Fun alarm clock! Gotta shoot it to shut it off.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Keira Prince Happy Birthday Banner, Party Decorations, Versatile, Beautiful, Swallowtail Bunting Flag Garland, Chic White and Gold; Brand: Keira Prince; Review: Simple Birthday Banner. Exactly what I needed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ideal Home Range 20 Count 3-Ply Paper Naughty Betty Cocktail Napkins, You're 50; Brand: Ideal Home Range; Review: I about died laughing at this! I can't wait to use these at a 50th birthday!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wilton Over The Hill Candle; Brand: Wilton; Review: This is the perfect funny candle for a cake!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Creative Converting Bright and Bold 70th Birthday Molded Numeral Cake Candle; Brand: Creative Converting; Review: Perfect candle and the exact one I was looking for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 70th Milestone Birthday - Dashingly Aged to Perfection - Birthday Party Bunting Banner - Vintage Party Decorations; Brand: Big Dot of Happiness; Review: Th perfect Banner for my Mom's 70th Birthday!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Happy FING Birthday Bunting Banner - Funny Birthday Decorations - 21st – 30th – 40th – 50th Birthday; Brand: Sterling James Co.; Review: This Banner will be perfect for my friend's 52nd Birthday! Thank you!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Proper Goods Smart POP UP Collapsible Laundry Basket - Space Saving Foldable Storage Container; Brand: Proper Goods; Review: Sturdy and easy to pop out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Charlie Brown Christmas Tree with Blanket 24" Tall (Non-Musical); Brand: Peanuts; Review: Classic. As expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Purple, Green, Orange & White Girls Multi Flower Twin Comforter Set (5 Piece Bed In A Bag); Brand: Kreative Kids; Review: Decent quality. Kind of thin, but love the colors. Bought this for my 8 year old step daughter. Just had to add a light blanket under the comforter to ensure warmth.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: FAO Schwarz 18 inch Lion - Tan; Brand: 5Star-TD; Review: Great quality. So very soft.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rooster Mason Jar Shot Glasses Set - Mini Mason Jars with Lids Featuring Unique Rooster Design (10 Pack); Brand: The Slinger; Review: Great gift and customer service follow up; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hario V60 Drip-In Coffee Dripper, 700ml; Brand: Hario; Review: Great product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nourison RS022 Home & Garden Green Multicolor Floral Indoor/Outdoor Area Rug (5’3” x 7’5”); Brand: Nourison; Review: Gets dirty very easy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Utopia Bedding Bed Ruffle Skirt - Brushed Microfiber Bed Wrap with Platform - Easy Fit - Gathered Style; Brand: Utopia Bedding; Review: As expected; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Kodak Photo Paper; Brand: Kodak; Review: Good value; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Smead Pressboard Classification File Folder with SafeSHIELD Fasteners, 2 Dividers, 2" Expansion, Letter Size, Gray/Green, 10 per Box (14076); Brand: Smead; Review: works well for real estate!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Paper Mate EraserMate Stick Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point, Blue, 4 Count; Brand: Paper Mate; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EXPO 86074 Low-Odor Dry Erase Markers, Fine Point, Assorted Colors, 4-Count; Brand: Expo; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HP C9353FN#140 96 Black & 97 Tri-color Original Ink Cartridges, 2 Cartridges (C9353FN#140); Brand: HP; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Musgrave Pencil Company Pencil Fidgets, Set of 4; Brand: Abilitations; Review: good for 1st grader; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EXPO 1921062 Low-Odor Dry Erase Markers, Fine Tip, Black, 36-Count; Brand: Expo; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bouncy Bands Original for Elementary School Chairs (Blue, Pack of 1); Brand: Bouncy Bands; Review: good for 1st grader; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avery Flexi-View Presentation Book, Black, 24 Page Book (47690); Brand: Avery; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics Permanent Markers, Black, 12-Pack; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Needed for a school event - they worked well and inexpensive; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Office_Products |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Prospero Burns (Horus Heresy); Author: Visit Amazon's Dan Abnett Page; Review: I originally thought this would be based on the Thousand Sons and was surprized ... in a good way that it was based on the Space Wolves, as until now there hadn't been a Wolves only Heresy book. Great read, and a lot of depth came to light on the Wolves and their history, as well as how torn they are mentally, but the strongest and most loyal of all the Astartes. Great read ...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Know No Fear (Horus Heresy); Author: Visit Amazon's Dan Abnett Page; Review: Little has been available regarding the Ultra Marines chapter in the way of books until this one. Good read, strong characters and plot.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fear to Tread (Horus Heresy); Author: Visit Amazon's James Swallow Page; Review: Haven't put this down since I got it in the mail. Gripping read, very descriptive ... a little odd as it is out of order with the rest of the series, but the plot is awesome.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Primarchs (Horus Heresy); Author: Visit Amazon's Christian Dunn Page; Review: Adds some nice insight into some of the Primarchs and plots that are ongoing in the whole Heresy series. Worth the read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forging Zero (The Legend of ZERO); Author: Visit Amazon's Sara King Page; Review: Great book, easy and fun read. Checked it out using Prime loan and got the next one right away.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Combat and Other Shenanigans: Tales of the Absurd from a Deployment to Iraq; Author: Visit Amazon's Piers Platt Page; Review: I have read some of the authors fictional work but this non fiction account of his time in Iraq gave me a myriad of emotions reading. Humor was the best one but others are there too and the insight of seeing how combat comes through the eyes of those experiencing it. Well worth the read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Void Wraith (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Chris Fox Page; Review: great book, when are more coming???; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dark Space; Author: Visit Amazon's Jasper T. Scott Page; Review: Was a little short but overall a good read. Interesting plot and left open for more both prequel and sequel novels which means a good starter book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Liberty Meadows: The Collected Sundays Book 1 HC (Liberty Meadows Sunday Coll Hc); Author: Visit Amazon's Frank Cho Page; Review: PvP and Liberty Meadows are awesome comics that will make anyone have a great day after reading them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Champion RC12YC Spark Plug, Pack of 1; Brand: Champion; Review: It's a spark plug. Fits my mower and keeps it running all season with no issues.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Briggs & Stratton Air Filter Cartridge/Pre-Cleaner Intek 5059K; Brand: Briggs & Stratton; Review: Its an air filter and it includes the foam sleeve pre filter. Works great in my mower to keep it running as expected. Note this does have the foam ring at the bottom of the filter that compresses when you put the cover back on.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bando 6PK2200 OEM Quality Serpentine Belt; Brand: Bando USA; Review: The old belt was squealing on our 2004 Sienna. I purchased this one and had it swapped out in about 15 mins. It was the same design as the Toy belt that came off of it and you could tell how much the old one had stretched. With the new one on and tightened no more squealing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bando 6PK2385 OEM Quality Serpentine Belt; Brand: Bando USA; Review: The old belt was squealing on our 2004 Sienna. I purchased this one and had it swapped out in about 15 mins. It was the same design as the Toy belt that came off of it and you could tell how much the old one had stretched. With the new one on and tightened no more squealing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TYC 800008P Toyota/Lexus Replacement Cabin Air Filter; Brand: TYC; Review: Perfect fit, good markings on the orientation. Air flow was unchanged.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bosch 50011225 QuietCast Premium Disc Brake Rotor, Front; Brand: Bosch; Review: They were a perfect fit. Like it says in the info, no rust has developed on the rotors. Very good for the money.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Akebono ACT906A ProACT Ultra-Premium Ceramic Brake Pad Set; Brand: Akebono; Review: Used on our front brakes for a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The pads are quiet, little to no dust and provides stopping needed for this heavy van.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Denso (3297) SK20R11 Iridium Spark Plug, Pack of 1; Brand: Denso; Review: Perfect OE replacement, now if Toyota had made it easier to replace in our Sienna; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Riad 107; City: Marrakech Marrakech Tensift El Haouz Region; Review: Our family of five stayed in Riad 107 for a total of 8 nights, so we know the place pretty well. Pros - It is a relaxing place to stay; Abdel is wonderful and helpful; They let you use the kitchen if needed; Mathilde, the owner, helped organise good trips and recommend nice places to go for shopping and dinners; And I think the price is reasonable. Cons - The Riad would be wonderful with only 4 rooms, but with the new courtyard opened and an addition of another 4 rooms, the standard of service is lacking behind without the addition of more staff. When the Riad is full and all 8 rooms occupied, you will have to wait for your turn for breakfasts as there is only 1 girl doing the cooking, and she is also the only one cleaning all the 8 rooms plus the Riad with 2 courtyards. I feel that if they add in more rooms, they should also add staff, at least to clean the common areas or get the rooftop sofas ready for sunbathing etc.. The only staff is also responsible for cooking lunch and dinner...That's why we were not surprised to find a mouse running around in the courtyard and one of the rooms in the Riad, which the owner blamed it to the constant downpour of rain. Hot water in the showers of the new courtyard doesn't last very long, so if you want to take long hot showers in the cold winter days, you wil likely come out of one feeling very cold, which is not very pleasant. Book the old courtyard, the rooms are smaller, but no problem with hot showers. Besides the above complaints, I would like to thank Abdel for helping us with a memorable stay.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Irocha; City: Ouarzazate Souss Massa Draa Region; Review: IRocha is charming, rustic, and unique. The scenary from the terrace is breathtaking. My family and I had a most enjoyable night outside Marrakech during our 10 day trip in Morocco. I would not hesitate to recommend this hotel to anyone on the way south of the Atlas Mountain.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao; City: Luang Prabang Luang Prabang Province; Review: It is expensive but suits people whereby money is not a concern. The pool is the main attraction, especially for mild to hot weather season. All details looked into. Very good service. You pay for what you get, maybe paying way too much comparing the standard of living in Luang Prabang. If you ask me whether it is worth to stay here for the price, I would say yes purely for the name, but no, not really.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vedana Lagoon Resort Spa; City: Phu Loc Phu Loc District Thua Thien Hue Province; Review: The aqua bungalow is good value for money. Breakfast consisits of very fresh ingredients. All staff were attentive with a personal touch. You can't compare the interior of the room to an international chained brand new room which charges twice the amount. Managed your expectation and you will be staying in an exclusive resort at a reasonable price. The beautiful location is also its shortfall, as being so isolated means you need to pay a lot extra for transportation in and out of the resort. I had a wonderful experience and would not hesitate to recommend it to those who knows what they want. My son enjoyed fishing in the deck and cycling to the nearby village.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Medusa Hotel BoutiqueSpa; City: Castellammare Di Stabia Province of Naples Campania; Review: We stayed at the hotel for four nights this summer. Great helpful staff with enthusiasm, beautiful gardens, nice pool and spa, rooms are clean and good, and the price is good as compared to hotels in Sorrento. The only thing is about its location, which is fine if you have your own car or transfer arrangement. The hotel provides shutter to the train station which links to any stop along the line from Sorrento to Naples, including Pompeii and the volcano. That's not a problem at all. The problem arises during the evening, when one finishes touring the sites. Due to the location of the hotel, it is inconvenient for guests to take the train and shuttle back to the hotel and have a shower before dinner. As there are no choice of restaurant near the hotel except the hotel restaurant, one needs to dine in other restaurants like the ones in Sorrento. Last train departs from Sorrento before 9:30pm, and with the Italian late dining hours, it makes it very time tight for guests to catch that last train back to the hotel. If you miss the train and needs to get back to the hotel in the evening, taxi costs 70 euros one way from Sorrento to the hotel, which is the normal taxi fare charges in the area. So bear this point in mind, if dining in the evening is not an issue for you, this is a very good hotel with excellent value and experience.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Santa Claus Holiday Village; City: Rovaniemi Lapland; Review: I think travellers have to seperate the two concepts of staying at the SCV cottages/hotel and visiting SCV as a day tour by coach buses or private cars. The experience between the two are completely different. I heard so many of my friends or comments at tripadvisor complaining about SCV being commericial, but all of them are day visitors. If you stay at the hotel, especially for families with children, I gave it a 100. Why? Becasue Markos and his team did a great job to ensure people have a good stay. Food in the hotel restaurant is nothing to write home about, but we found other restaurants in the village offering food of very good standard and reasonably priced. And the tours are cheaper than the ones offered in other hotels or tour operators in town, and they are of good standards. By staying a few nights, one has a lot more time to truly enjoy the facilitis on offer at the whole complex, and at a time when day trippers are gone and the village becomes your own. It makes things a lot easier to mange too for familes with kids especailly in extreme cold winter weather. Looking back, I would recommend anyone visiting Rovanemi for the first time to stay at SCV as a based,(we stayed at the nearby Chalet Rovanemi as it's no comparison). Add a stay at a glass igloo nearby to enhance the whole Artic experience. If time permits, then one can head north to further explore true Lapland. Thank you Markos and his team for locating my iphone 6. I am totally impressed with the honesty of Finnish people. The only downside of this hotel, I would say, is one have to book and prepay nearly a year ahead to get these cottages for Christmas period. Well worth it though!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Arctic SnowHotel Glass Igloos; City: Sinetta Lapland; Review: The glass igloo is only 2nd year in operation. Everything is brand new and very clean. It's not cheap but worth every single penny. The owners have used their hearts to build and run this hotel. No need to go anywhere else, stay here at the glass igloo for at least one night if you come to Rovaneimi for the snow and northern light experience. If you haven't, you would have regretted it. Also recommend ice-fishing. One just walk out to the lake (a few minutes) and it's a lot cheaper than other operators on offer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Riad Madu; City: Hassilabied Merzouga Meknes Tafilalet Region; Review: Riad Madu is a charming hotel next to the sand dunes which has been in operation for 2.5 years. The room I stayed is large in size with a huge bed. The desert camp is run by the same family for 6 years and has undergone renovation recently. Both the hotel and the desert camp are beautiful. The tents in the camp are immaculate. Everything were well run, and we had very good food in the desert camp and the hotel. Ammar, the boss, helped us organized everything at a reasonable price. I would not hesitate to recommend this hotel to whoever is travelling to the Sahara. I think Morocoo is a unique and authentic country and I have always enjoyed my visits there. However, it is important to stay in a hotel/riad/dar which is run by people with an overseas experience or someone from abroad. They provide the final touches and ambience that a local cannot match. Ammar, berber in origin, has spent years in Germany which gave him the edge to provide what visitors want. I am very glad my money, however small, benefits the local people. All the staff I encountered worked hard to help me and my family having a memorable time. Well done and thank you! (I wish to escape to the desert some time again but it's really a long car journey both from Marrakesh or Fes, must do it when I am still young!!); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets; City: Rovaniemi Lapland; Review: We booked the hotel in March for our stay during Christmas eve via booking.com. When we arrived at the hotel, they said there is no room. The hotel obviously has overbooked and bumped us off. There are three other parties having similar situation. We paid 1800 Euros for 2 nights half board stay and just look at the photos of the room they gave us after hours of negotiation. We wasted many hours with the management and in the end, they only refund us 25% of our stay. They charged us more than 1200 Euros for the 2 nights stay. Terrible management and mediocre hotel. It's the worst experience I had for my many years of travel.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Tambo del Inka a Luxury Collection Resort Spa Valle Sagrado; City: Urubamba Sacred Valley Cusc; Review: We stayed for 4 nights and the hotel is luxurious. We particularly enjoyed the daily breakfasts which include all kinds of fresh juices, nuts and local produce. I also love the mixed salad for lunch or dinner, and their chicken curry with rice. We had a lovely stay in the Tambo. Highly recommend! The hotel booked Machu Picchu Vistadom, bus and park entrance tickets for us. For other tours around the Valley and Cusco, I opted for a local agency as the hotel is rather pricey, but I am sure their service will be top notched.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Spa Retreat Boutique Hotel; City: Negril Westmoreland Parish Jamaica; Review: I think the room price for this hotel is reasonable,, mind you breakfast is not included. However there is not much else on offer and it gets a bit boring after one night stay. The hotel is small, the pool not exactly luxurious and there is only one restaurant which is not cheap. I haven't tried the spa. I think it is better to rent a car in Negril as joining local tours from the hotel is expensive. Rick's cafe is a must go in Negril, and I must admit that staying in the Rock's House is within walking distance to the cafe, and the food is better in Rock House. So do check the price before making decision.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ziwa Bush Lodge; City: Nakuru Rift Valley Province; Review: This resort is the most charming one I stayed in my trip in Kenya, food was good, restaurant with lovely atmosphere, and the price was the most reasonable. There is only one thing that they could improve on - hot water is not strong for the shower in the evening. I like this Lodge and would not hesitate to recommend it to all travelers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Madrid Plaza de Espana; City: Madrid; Review: This is a nice new hotel, clean, modern and reasonably charged. However, I find the hotel a bit on the far end of the attractions and shopping area. Which means when you are done with your shopping or viewing of attractions, you have to walk all the way back the repeated route every day. Of course, this can be solved by taking the rather complicated subway especially for tourists like me who know little Spanish or get in a cab with a bad rush hours traffic in Madrid. All in all, I would recommend this hotel if you have checked the location. All the rest are of a very good standard. Mind you, one could hear the banging of the noise from the next rooms so if noise is an issue for you, maybe you should also reconsider.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Old School Bed and Breakfast; City: Little Compton Moreton in Marsh Cotswolds England; Review: Almost don't want to write this review to keep this special place a secret but that would be mean! From the minute you walk through the door you are made to feel welcome. Time is taken to show you around and everywhere is beautifully decorated with lots of cosy touches and fresh flowers. Afternoon tea and cake is the norm, a complementary bottle of port is in the main sitting room (with stunning arched windows and a wood burner) and breakfast is a banquet of choices all beautifully cooked. Rooms are impeccable, beds as comfy as I have slept in anywhere and there is a lovely house party atmosphere as you seem to meet lovely people here. We are comming back for a house party weekend with friends which we can't wait for. My husband and I will become frequent visitors for sure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Old School Bed and Breakfast; City: Little Compton Moreton in Marsh Cotswolds England; Review: Had the most wonderful time at The Old School House. From the minute you walk to the door you get a genuinely warm and friendly welcome. Wendy and John create such a fantastic place to stay. We booked the whole place for a weekend along with 3 other couples. Everyone loved their rooms and the guest areas. We had afternoon tea and cakes outside in the sunshine and Wendy produced the most fantastic evening meals and breakfast's for us. Wonderful service from Lisa and John. Would give this 10 stars if I could and I am really hard to please. Many thanks again Wendy and I can't wait for our next visit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Old School Bed and Breakfast; City: Little Compton Moreton in Marsh Cotswolds England; Review: This is our 3rd trip this year - it says it all really as we often find ourselves cutting short trips away due to being disappointed. Wendy and John have an amazing way of making you feel welcome and create a fabulous chic place to stay with everything geared towards the guests. We had some lovely times over the communal breakfast table meeting a variety of other guests which created a lovely atmosphere. The fact that the Old School is so consistent in its ratings goes to show that this isn't a one off this is down to hard work and dedication from the whole team. Can't wait to return thinking it will make a nice base for some Christmas shopping trips- thanks again Wendy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Old School Bed and Breakfast; City: Little Compton Moreton in Marsh Cotswolds England; Review: What a great way to enjoy some chill out time and get beautiful Christmas presents from lovely local boutique shops. As always the stay was perfect, breakfast amazing and we met some lovely fellow guests as well. Cannot fault the Old School and the log burner in the lounge made sure we had a cosy chill out space to enjoy the complimentary port :) Thanks again Wendy x; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hogarths Hotel; City: Dorridge Solihull West Midlands England; Review: Had a lovely time at Hogarth's a group of us decided to meet up for a pre Christmas get together. Lovely venue really gorgeous afternoon tea with a glass of Prosecco and Santa decided we had been extremely good girls and joined us for a chat an a quick photo shoot. All joking apart lovely hotel, fantastic food with friendly and attentive staff. We have now decided to make Hogarth's our Book Club's "Joie de Livre" official club house :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Old School Bed and Breakfast; City: Little Compton Moreton in Marsh Cotswolds England; Review: Fantastic weekend break with friends and cannot fault anything - even the sun came out !! Beautiful rooms and decor lovely hosts and as always met some other lovely guests. We will be back for sure. Thanks so much to Wendy, John and Lisa for another relaxing stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Old Town Hall House; City: Cley Next the Sea Holt Norfolk East Anglia England; Review: From the minute we arrived (half and hour early :/ we were greeted by the lovely lady owner and shown into a gorgeous sitting room. Time for a few nibbles and a drink before the other guests arrived. It was a mix of locals and holiday makers - everyone was lovely and made for lively dinner conversation. The food was exceptional as was the service and the setting. Thanks to everyone for making our first night of our holiday a very enjoyable one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Grove; City: Cromer Norfolk East Anglia England; Review: We managed to grab a late room booking - our cottage rental proved to be a bit let down so needed to recover the rest of our holiday. Right from the original booking I knew this was going to be a great place to stay. We had a standard double, last room available, which was a lovely room with a view over the garden. Everyone of the team were lovely, attentive and welcoming. I was introduced to Black Shluck gin :) and the wine list was excellent and very well priced. Attractive bar area with folding doors out to the garden and the most amazing evening menu and food - the 2nd Chef was on during our stay - really fantastic food. Lovely dining room, an individual feel to the hotel with a family and team who genuinely put their guests first. I too missed Marmite as an option at breakfast though :) we will definitely be returning.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ardeonaig Hotel; City: Ardeonaig Loch Tay Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Scotlan; Review: Had a short break as we wanted to see how this lovely hotel was fairing now that it's under new, local management. It's only been up and running a couple of months and already you can see this will once again be a great place to stay. Beautiful location, great for out door pursuits and a warm cosy place to come back to. The restaurant has some fantastic views and the food is pretty good. We had the dinner bed and breakfast deal and could choose from the bar menu too. Chef was more than happy to accommodate - only downside was a limited choice of desserts :( Some very good wines and a good choice of Whiskey and Gin - might be nice to have some cocktails on the menu. A relaxed and friendly atmosphere, dogs and children are welcome - which might make it less of a romantic getaway in the Summer - whilst some of the decor needs a bit of a spruce up the hotel was very clean and fresh towels in abundance. The new owners and team will be injecting a new lease of life into Ardeonaig and are passionate about customer experience - I am sure they will be successful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Old School Bed and Breakfast; City: Little Compton Moreton in Marsh Cotswolds England; Review: Beautiful setting, the worlds most comfortable beds and cosy sitting rooms where you can simply sit and relax. Add to this, fantastic breakfasts and afternoon tea and cake it really is the most amazing place to stay. Wendy and John make you feel at home as soon as you arrive and nothing is too much trouble. Beautiful gardens and of course you are right in the heart of the Cotswolds, with so much to see and do. We met some lovely guests from far flung locations which only adds to the overall fun of staying at the Old school. Simply perfect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Red Lion Inn; City: Little Compton Moreton in Marsh Cotswolds England; Review: Ideal location for an easy to get to pub from our B&B. Nice menu and a really warm welcome, both from the staff and the fire on a very cold February night. Food is above average for a pub, will definitely be returning.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Old School Bed and Breakfast; City: Little Compton Moreton in Marsh Cotswolds England; Review: We managed to pick the hottest Easter ever to spend a lovely few days at our favourite weekend getaway. To be honest we don’t book anywhere else these days. Every visit is the same, beautiful place, never looking tired or rundown. The team that is Wendy, John and the breakfast ladies is supplemented by the “girls” residing in Cluckingham Palace who’s never ending supply of fresh eggs make for the most glorious Breakfast choices and afternoon Cakes 😀. We always recommend staying here and it’s always a treat meeting new people over breakfast and relaxing in the lounges or beautiful gardens. Thanks again both, it was a much needed break xx; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Vans Herren Authentic Core Classic Sneakers; Brand: Vans; Review: I choose this rating because delivery time was on time and because my daughter loved them! I would recommend for anyone to purchase these because the shoes are great quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: Vans; Review: I choose this rating because delivery time was on time and because my daughter loved them! I would recommend for anyone to purchase these because the shoes are great quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vans Men's Authentic Pro Black/White Skate Shoe; Brand: Vans; Review: I choose this rating because delivery time was on time and because my daughter loved them! I would recommend for anyone to purchase these because the shoes are great quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vans Authentic Core Classic Sneakers; Brand: Vans; Review: I choose this rating because delivery time was on time and because my daughter loved them! I would recommend for anyone to purchase these because the shoes are great quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LOCOMO Hats Women Girl Pattern Slouchy Knit Beret Beanie Crochet Rib Hat Cap Warm; Brand: LOCOMO Hats; Review: Don't like. Looks like it's been stretched out & it smells really bad! Do not buy! ZERO stars!!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Set of 10 Assorted Flexible Belly Button Navel Rings - 14 Gauge 7/16"; Brand: The Home of Hot Deals; Review: Would not recommend. These broke so quick & easily but my daughters loved the colors of them!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Caramel Cantina Soft Chevron Sheer Infinity Scarf; Brand: Caramel Cantina; Review: Nice but took several months to get it. It's something I could've made myself.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Alkaline Trio,Agony & Irony,Sony Music Canada Inc.,Pop,Pop/Rock Music,Punk,Rock,Recorded Music - Rock & Pop,Rock & Pop - General" />; Brand: Alkaline Trio; Review: I probably am one of the only people out there that think cd's like "Good Mourning" and "Crimson" were much better than "Godamit" or "Maybe Ill catch fire". To me those cd's were amateurish at best with no real catchy melodies. A classic release like "Crimson" showed them completely grown up and making the best cd of the year and their career. I think all these haters need to grow up and blossom like The Alkaline trio did. As for the new cd, "Agony and Irony", besides the tacky title, I like this cd alot! Sure there are some throwaway's but for the majority, this cd has plenty of great songs. And so what if they were on "The Hills"! All in all, this ranks as no. 3 on my top Alkaline Trio cd's with"Good Mourning" 2nd and "Crimson" in first. Good job guys.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass; Brand: Yo La Tengo; Review: I'll start by saying that "Summer Sun" is my favorite record by these guys. This is not like that. Everyone goes on and on about this and I don't get it. The way that they start this disc just rubs me the wrong way going for this noodling repetitive song that just stinks. This couldve easily been widdled down to an e.p. WAY TOO LONG. Too much filer. Sorry for the dis but its the truth. Ill pass on this 1.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Paralyzed; Brand: Gino Vannelli; Review: One star for the cool cover,and One star for J.Mascis being in the band. Other than that, this is boring stuff with nothing but the first track that you will want to play again. Pass.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Live From Austin, TX; Brand: Guided by Voices; Review: I am a huge fan of this band and have all of their cd's but this live document could've been much much better. At times Pollard is way too drunk and yea yea yea I know thats part of his persona but cmon pal, you sounded like an obnoxious drunk frat boy on Kareoke night. If this was supposed to be a farewell performance and gift to the fans...treat us with respect and keep your booze in check until after the lights go down!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fast Times At Barrington High; Brand: The Academy Is...; Review: Just because this record seems like they are backsliding, who cares. This is a pop masterpiece front to back and I haven't taken it out of my car cd player since I got it. I haven't heard something so catchy since Teenage Fanclubs' "Bandwagonescue". Instantly catchy with all the right hooks and melodies, this is a perfect Summertime record.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Folie à Deux; Brand: Fall Out Boy; Review: This release has taken me by suprise. By all accounts I should be not digging this. But I do, alot. The melodies are here in abundance and almost every song on here has a over the top(in a good way) chorus that blows you away. YOu cant deny the hooks on this record. Its not punk..Its pop but there is nothing wrong with that.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: It's Blitz!; Brand: Yeah Yeah Yeahs; Review: This is by no means a 1 star record. From start to finish as a whole, this record works. Not as good as "Show your bones" which is my personal fave, but still a whirlwind of sound with a Sioxsie and the Banshees vibe(post 80's).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elephant Jokes; Brand: Robert Pollard; Review: After listening to all the newest stuff he has been releasing in the past year,most all of it is really really good. 'Elephant Jokes' however doesnt come close to any of the most recent stuff like his newest Solo record 'Space city Kicks' or his band Boston Spaceships record 'Our Cubehouse'. There's a whole lot more to grasp on to with those 2 records I just named. 'ELephant Jokes' feels forced most of the time. Just Pollard humming through songs and seeing how quickly he can make this into a double reocord without really even trying on this one. I think that's what it comes down to. He could of tried harder. It comes off as one of his weakest if not THE weakest solo record yet(next to 'Superman was a rocker'). Some songs work but even then, those songs need to be drilled a few times to start liking them anyways. I give him credit for an ambitious sprawling record. Too bad it couldn't be filled with stuff we know he still has in him. Note to Bob, when you feel like it's an 'Elephant Joke' kind of day of writing, just take a break and skip that day. Like I said though, he redeemed himself right after this record with 'The Crawling Distance' 'Moses on a snail' and 'We all got out off the Army' leading up to his latest, which is my personal favorite 'Space City Kicks'. Buy that asap if you want prime Pollard. "Elephant Jokes is Pollard on Auto Pilot. Just my opinion of ocurse.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_CDs_and_Vinyl |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Lutron Claro 2 Gang Decorator Wallplate, CW-2-IV, Ivory; Brand: Lutron; Review: Looks good and easy install. I like the fact how it let's you screw the switch/outlet as well as the mount before you pop the faceplate on it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lutron Maestro Dimmer for Halogen and Incandescent Bulbs, with Wallplate, Single-Pole, MAW-600H-WH, White; Brand: Lutron; Review: Buttons are a bit annoying to interact with due to the fact that they aren't so easy to click as their size suggests. But aside from the small nuisance most people won't pay attention to, this is a great looking and feature filled switch. Download the full manual from Google and see what this switch can really do because the booklet included doesn't list all the features.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DEWALT DW3983C 18 TPI Portable Band Saw Blade, 3-Pack; Brand: DEWALT; Review: Cutting electrical conduit with this gets you decent usage time (about 3 weeks), just make sure it's not too tight not too loose otherwise it either snaps or slips while cutting. Bought this for my Makita 2 inch wide band saw and it's a perfect fit.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: TOPGREENER TU2154A High Speed USB Charger Outlet, USB Wall Charger, Electrical Outlet with USB, 15A TR Receptacle, Screwless Wall; Brand: TOPGREENER; Review: Quick charging and good quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DEWALT DWA2601IR IMPACT READY Cutter Accessory Replacement Blades; Brand: DEWALT; Review: I get about 3 weeks of use doing electrical work before the blade snaps, not sure if they should last longer but they start getting dull after two weeks for anyone curious. Not worth the price.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Makita B-40559 Compact Portable Band Saw Blade, 32-7/8", 18TPI, 5/pk; Brand: Makita; Review: Sharper than the DeWalt I usually purchased, and this one does not slip off the bandsaw like the other one has on numerous occasions.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RioRand RR-PWM-15V Low Voltage Dc 1.8v 3v 5v 6v 12v 2a Motor Speed Controller PWM; Brand: RioRand; Review: One came dead on arrival, another would work for two weeks and after do only do full speed with no regard to knob position.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Fairy Bay Guest House; City: Huntsville Muskoka District Ontario; Review: Our second visit to Huntsville saw us looking for accomodation (as the B&B we had previously used had closed). The welcome was great, the expectations from the web site were met. An evening on the lake shore was a great way to wind down after a day touring the area, prior to heading out for an evening meal. Breakfasts were of a fantastic quality. The availability of complementary wireless internet access was an unexpected but grateful bonus to the stay. I subsequently found out a colleague where I work has also stayed at the Fairy Bay Guest House and he concured with my experiences.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta Galleria; City: Atlanta Georgia; Review: Stayed here as part of a business trip. First disappointment was the non-complimentary internet access, especially as this was a business trip and access was desirable. Suite was not bad, however having to keep the curtains in the living room area closed and the lights for privacy was not ideal. Within walking distance of shopping, eating, and the location where I was working. Breakfast was great and definitely set you up for the day.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Halifax Airport; City: Enfield Halifax Region Nova Scotia; Review: Following a good experience at the Hilton Garden Inn at Niagara-on-the-Lake in May 2007, we did not need much encouragement to use the same chain at Halifax Airport. Close enough to Halifax to visit, but also on the onto the freeway to head around Nova Scotia. Breakfast was incredible, and we spent several evenings working our way through the evening meal menu. Business facilities were great for checking out web sites of locations to visit. We initially did not have accomodation booked for the whole of our stay in Nova Scotia, and after two days extended our stay at the Hilton Garden Inn for the whole time in the province.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ard na Coille Guest House; City: Newtonmore Aviemore and the Cairngorms Scottish Highlands Sco; Review: Booked this accomodation as a part of a celebration trip for my wife's birthday. Location was great, the welcome was fantastic. For an evening meal the recommendation of a local restraurant was the icing on the cake. Facilities in the room was beyond expectations and the attention to detail was taken through to whole experience. Breakfast set us up well for the trip home - quality and quantity was excellent.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ThistleDown House; City: North Vancouver British Columbia; Review: Yet another return stay to Thistledown House. Our favourite room - Sweet Tibby - was ours for our seven night stay. The small sitting room between the bedroom and bathroom is an ideal place to sit and read upon returning from an evening meal - or to set up the computer to back up the masses of pictures that have been taken during the day. Rex and Ruth are excellent hosts, and as with all B&B that we have experienced, it is the little extras that make the holiday. An excellent souvenir of the visit is the breakfast card that details the menu each day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flery Manor B B; City: Grants Pass Oregon; Review: A second visit to Flery Manor. Being off I-5 north of Grants Pass, is not a handicap as it provides some solitude which is ideal for a short break. The location is spectacular, being in a forest. Marla's breakfasts are always a treat and set you up for the day. The rooms are well appointed. Recommendations for where to eat in the evening were most welcome, especially on the first night having just arrived.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Castlebay Hotel; City: Isle of Barra Outer Hebrides The Hebrides Scotland; Review: A great few days at the Castlebay Hotel. Food and service was great, and coupled with fantastic weather it was a great place to conclude our holiday. Good points were the great view from the guest lounge and the excellent service and attention. Bad points: car parking was either at the bottom of a long flight of steps, or on the level but past the entrance to the bar and the crowds of smokers outside (not a pleasant environment). If you are getting the early ferry on your departure day, you will need to settle up the night before and will miss the excellent breakfast fare.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Isle of Benbecula House Hotel; City: Benbecula Island Outer Hebrides The Hebrides Scotlan; Review: A very quiet night we stayed here - and in a quiet location at the side of a road on a sparsely populated island. Room was adequate for our purposes - a stop-off on our way down the Outer Hebrides. For dinner the main course was good value with reasonably (not overly large) sized portions. Was a bit disappointed with the sweet selection at dinner as most of selections were not available due to a coach party in the associate hotel nearby. Breakfast was good value and set us up for the travelling during the day.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Alison House Hotel; City: Cromford Matlock Derbyshire England; Review: Looking for somewhere in the Peak District for a weekend break to celebrate a birthday, Alison House ticked all the boxes. Our room was large, and since it had a fireplace there was somewhere to display the birthday cards. Being a large room, a section in the corner had been partitioned off as the en-suite shower room. Flat surfaces were at a premium, which caused a few difficulties at the end of the day was backing up the images on the cameras via the laptop. Incidentally, although Wifi was advertised, the service was patchy to non-existent. Food was great. Breakfast had a great selection (although being late down on Saturday meant that most of the fruit juice jugs were empty). The poached egg on Derbyshire Oatcake has to be sampled - looks good and tastes great. A great shame there was not evening meal service on Sundays, although we were recommended a local pub to visit, which provided an excellent food service. As a base to visit Chatsworth, Matlock, Bakewell, Crich Tramway Museum, and the Monsal Trail.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Guanfa Enjoy Hotel; City: Fuqing Fujian; Review: My visit was five days in June 2012. A room on floor 15, was well fitted out. It was a shame that the bathroom only had a shower. Arriving after being travelling for 24 hours, I would have liked a relaxing soak in a bath. The buffet in the restaurant had a wide selection, mainly fish. However for a hotel with a significant number of European guests, it would have helped if the dish labels were in an European language as well as Chinese. The hotel claimed to have a "Western Restaurant" however the only two options was the Japanese and Buffet (Chinese - mainly fish). Used the laundry service and had to chase the hotel for the return of my clothes. Although I had them collected in time for same day return, the were not returned the same day until I complained (being delivered within ten minutes). The air conditioning in the room only operated when the key card was inserted in the location just inside the door. Returning to the room after a day at work found the room warm and humid which took the AC at least an hour to overcome.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ThistleDown House; City: North Vancouver British Columbia; Review: Four years since the last visit and Thistledown House did not disappoint. A new room this time - Mulberry Peek. Well appointed as is expected from Rex, Ruth and Liz, Mulberry Peek has a balcony above the main entrance. The room was comfortable and met our needs. One of the iconic points about Thistledown House is the breakfasts. My descriptions cannot do them justice, so a selection of pictures and the menus are attached. A three course breakfast every morning setting you up for the day. With a seat at the table by the window the bird feeder outside was visited by a wide range of birds also looking for their breakfast. Next visit, not sure, but will have to try a different room.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blythswood Square Hotel; City: Glasgow Scotland; Review: Having received a gift voucher for Champagne Afternoon Tea, we took the opportunity to partake on a Sunday afternoon. From the moment we walked through the front door we were made most welcome. After being directed to The Salon, we were taken to our table and given a chance to peruse the menu. We went for the "The Duchess of Bedford Strawberry Afternoon Tea" and "Blasad Albannach (Tasty Scotland Tea)". The food was fresh and tasty. The tea selected was Ceylon Tea and being leaf tea came with a strainer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oban Inn Spa and Restaurant; City: Niagara on the Lake Ontario; Review: We visited Niagara-on-the-Lake in September 2015. Having eaten there once before (in 2003), we decided to base ourselves at the Oban Inn for our Fall 2015 visit. Situated on Front Street, close by the centre of Niagara-on-the-Lake (Queen Street), it was easy to walk to most of the attractions that the town has to offer. We received a warm welcome when we arrived, which was added to by a small birthday gift to my wife in our room when we entered. Our room was on the top floor, the north-west side of the building, with a balcony looking over adjacent gardens. If you are after a cooked breakfast, this is not the place for you. The breakfast is a selection of fruits, pastries meat and cheese. We were also offered toasted bagels or toast. We had a problem with the plumbing in the bathroom, which once mentioned at reception was fixed and gave sterling service for the rest of our visit. Although Niagara Falls, was on our itinerary, there was plenty else to visit in the area, including Queenston Heights, Niagara Butterfly Conservatory and the local wineries. On our final evening, we walked to the shore of Lake Ontario to see the sunset. Would we stay again? Yes - definitely.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fairy Bay Guest House; City: Huntsville Muskoka District Ontario; Review: This was my second visit to Fairy Bay Guest House, There are new hosts, John & Christine Kropp, since the last visit in October 2007. The hosts displayed great hospitality from the moment we arrived until our departure. Fairy Bay Guest House is a great base for heading into Algonquin Provincial Park. If you want to have a barbecue this is possible on the shore of Fairy Lake. Would we go again, too right.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: London Bridge Hotel; City: London England; Review: We stayed at the London Bridge hotel at the beginning of June 2017. Having been out for the day, we returned around 10:10pm. Little did we know at the time, there was a Major Incident ongoing on Borough High Street only 50 metres away. Within a few minutes via social media we discovered what had happened, including the tragic loss of life. Tuning into BBC News we watched what was going on outside the hotel. Inside the security cordon, the hotel was put into Lockdown. I have nothing but praise for the Night Duty Manager. She kept calm and collected answer enquiries at the reception desk, took phone calls. In the morning, shall used what resources that were available to her to organise a breakfast service for the guests who were in the hotel at Lockdown. The staff due to come in for the breakfast service were trapped outside the security cordon, as was the Day Manager. She also liaised with the Metropolitan Police to arrange for guests leaving the hotel to be escorted via a safe route out of the hotel. I have nothing but praise for her as she went well beyond her duty to ensure that those inside were looked after. She also realised that there were a lot of guests who were trapped outside the hotel and would not be able to get back in until the security cordon was lifted. Will we stay there again - Yes, Yes and YES!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ThistleDown House; City: North Vancouver British Columbia; Review: A return visit to Thistledown House, with new Innkeepers since our last time. Rex and Ruth have retired and Brian and Virginia have taken on the mantle of providing excellent service. The service is still impeccable, and the three course gourmet breakfasts are still a feature. On this occasion, we sampled the enclosed garden for the first time. One minor point, concerns the web site. The blog section is blank. I am sure there are lots of exciting things that can be put in. It would also be of benefit if some more recent than 2014 reviews were quoted. I would if much has been done to it since the new Innkeepers took over.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Torcastle House B B; City: Banavie Fort William Lochaber Scottish Highlands Scotland; Review: A few miles north of Banavie to the west of Fort William, this is a very comfortable B&B. Our excellent host provided a warm welcome to their establishement. Access is via a road which passes through a tunnel under the Caledonian Canal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Foxwood On Skye; City: Struan Isle of Skye The Hebrides Scotland; Review: An all-to-short visit to Skye, Foxwwod On Skye provided us with an excellent based. From the moment we arrived to when we left Katrina and David could not be more helpful. Our was excellent, including a little ante-room where the hospitality tray and place to leave walking boots was provided. As part of her welcome, Katrina provided the Breakfast menu. By pre-selecting our choices and time, our breakfast was ready in the morning. A large living/dining room meant that there was a place to review the photographs of the day on the laptop, and if you wanted to bring food in in the evening cutlery and plates were available. We will visit again, too right. Foxwood on Skye will be our first choice next time we visit the Isle of Skye.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scourie Hotel; City: Scourie Caithness and Sutherland Scottish Highlands Scotland; Review: Having arrived in Scourie late, we were recommended to eat at the Scourie Hotel. Getting in was a bit of a challenge as the first door we came to was the Residents' Bar. Following rediection, we made our way round, to what seemed like the back, to the public bar. We ordered our meals. The Steak Pie came as a steak stew with a flaky pastry hat. Nothing wrong with the taste. The Fruit crumble came next. It appears to be a fruit coulis/stew with a handful of crumble mix scattered over it and a scoop of ice cream. Again nothing wrong with the taste.Would have been much better to have a specific fruit crumble (i.e. Rhubarb, or Apple and Rasperry). I identified blackcurrant, redcurrant, strawberry and raspberry. There may have also been apple. It is a pet hate of mine, that pies are really stews with pastry hats, and crumbles are mixed fruit stews with a handful of crumble. Unfortunately this is to be expected from the big chains, however you would expect something more akin to home cooking at a small hotel in north west Scotland. We gave it a miss on our second and final night in Scourie. Service at the Public bar and at the table was attentive and not overly pressing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scourie Lodge and Gardens; City: Scourie Caithness and Sutherland Scottish Highlands Scotlan; Review: Two nights at the Scourie Lodge. A warm welcome from the Innkeepers, and plenty of help when we were planning our trip to Cape Wrath. Our room was comfortable and had plenty of space. The hospitality tray was well stocked for tea and coffee.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Logitech Revue with Google TV (Refurbished); Brand: Logitech; Review: To my surprise Logitech hit a home run with this product. It was more than I expected because it covered all my wants and then added more than I could ask for in a controller. One of the major surprises is that it improved my video and audio on my HDTV and through my Sony AV system. A great product for the price!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Yamaha RX-V475 5.1-Channel Network AV Receiver with Airplay; Brand: Yamaha Audio; Review: I spent some time reviewing all the AV amps to get the one with the best features. Although it was more expensive than similar apm's, this one has an acoustic settings device to auto setup the best listening position. I tried the amp without the setting first, and then with it to see the difference. It was so easy to setup and the results were exactly what I wanted.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TVPower Mini USB Power Cable for Chromecast; Brand: Mission Cables; Review: Very poor performance returned it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ausdom M04S-B Bluetooth Headphones for All Smartphones, Tablets, PC, Mac and Laptops - Retail Packaging - Black; Brand: AUSDOM; Review: The headset would not sync to TT-BA01 Bluetooth unit.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Inateck Bluetooth 4.0 Portable Speaker with Stand for iPhone 7/7 plus/6/6s, iPad, iPod and Other Phones or Tablets, Black; Brand: Inateck; Review: Gave it as a gift and my daughter loved it. Said it sounded better than more expensive speakers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maze Exclusive BSH4000-BLK Wireless Bluetooth Headset with Microphone For iPhone 6, Samsung, HTC, LG, Nokia, iPad, iPod, PC, PS3; Brand: Maze Exclusive; Review: It took awhile to get it to work. The headset need to work with the bluetooth transmitter, and it did not play nice at first. But I had to use the instruction for both items to get it right. Very good quality sound.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PNY Elite Performance 128 GB High Speed SDXC Class 10 UHS-I, U3 Up to 95 MB/Sec Flash Card (P-SDX128U395-GE); Brand: PNY; Review: PNY stuff rocks; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WOWOTO Video Projector 3D Mini Projector DLP Portable LED Projector HD Supports Smart Phone Android Multimedia Outdoor for Party/Business/Home; Brand: WOWOTO; Review: Really helped with my second monitor.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dual Lens Car Camera, Car Video Dash Cam Rearview Mirror Recorder for Vehicles Front and Rear DVR, Full HD; Brand: Evoplus; Review: The user manual was not very good. I spoke to the company and they are rewriting the manual. They sent me a copy of the draft manual and I did edits on it to improve the grammar. The recording mirror concept was the only one at this price that had all of the features that I was looking for in a back up mirror. Their recording approach added to the usefulness of the product. I really liked the warnings for being too close to the car in front, and the warning when the car drifts right or left from the center of the road. I also liked the ability to switch between the views on the mirror, or to show one view front or back view. The best part of this product is the company's support. They worked very hard to answer any question and to resolve questions.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Universal Car Mount [2 in 1] - CD Slot Tablet Car Mount Compatible with 7-11 inch; Brand: APPS2Car; Review: I've really like the design where it uses a CD player to hold my phone, and iPad on the dash. One day I had a car hit me in the rear at 40 miles an hour at a stoplight, it ejected the holder with my fire tablet installed, and it survived without any damage to either the CD holder or the CD player. Great design guys!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Digitgear 80" Cable Management Sleeve (5.3 inches wide) Neoprene - Adjustable Black & White Cable Organizer - Cord Organizer; Brand: DigitGear; Review: Really cleaned up the wiring bunch from my game controllers to my wall-mounted TV.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Sissi Haz Hotel Boutique; City: Buenos Aires Capital Federal District; Review: We spent 2 night in this hotel. Our room was in the attic with slanted ceilings and windows in the roof. Everything was new and prepared with great attention to detail. Lots of space and surfaces. From the bed we could not see traffic or building, just green trees, in the center of Buenos Aires. Very quiet for BA. A generous breakfast with omelette was served to the room. The owners took extreme care to satisfy us. We felt more like in B&B than in a hotel. Nearby there are lots of good restaurants. A busy street with buses is one block away and the metro is 10 blocks away.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sandpiper Motel; City: Apollo Bay Victoria; Review: We found this hotel by cruising through Apollo Bay. Sandpiper caught our eye because it was designed with a style, not a cube or row of rooms. We had room 16 with the ocean view. The hotel was nicely furnished with a style like B&B and it was pretty large. Nice ocean view from the balcony and also from the bed. We felt like in a country but in fact we were 5 min from the city. The shower was excellent. All in all, my wife and I declared Sandpiper the best of any of 10+ hotels that we have stayed recently. The owner was very nice and knowledgeable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Castle Inn; City: Warsaw Mazovia Province Central Poland; Review: This small hotel is located in a (restored) historic building just across the (restored) Royal Castle. Inconspicuous entrance with fast access to rooms. Willing personnel. Quiet but in the middle of everything touristy. The hotel has many rooms, with some facing the well, some facing the castle, and some facing the castle and the castle square. The last are best as one can see lots of action in the evening. Excellent restaurant downstairs and many restaurants withing one block. Paid breakfast but with good service. If the coffee is weak, ask for stronger.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pollera; City: Krakow Lesser Poland Province Southern Poland; Review: The hotel is situated in a historic building. Large stairs suggest long history. Excellent location one block from main square and next to the opera building. Very nice breakfast. The hotel has a variety of rooms, some air-conditioned and some not, some with view and some with not. The level of satisfaction depends on in which room one stays in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Avance; City: Bratislava Bratislava Region; Review: Very nicely situated, one block from Danube, old city, new city,and noises. One block from tram, one block from amajor museum, one block from excellent yet affordable and "old style" restaurant. Very nice personnel. Excellent breakfast. Nice room. Very fast internet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Westin Sendai; City: Sendai Miyagi Prefecture Tohoku; Review: This hotel was last option as all the other hotels seemed booked up. Large room and very large window. Good view although somewhat obstructed from 26th floor. To go to hotel rooms requires taking two elevators with extra walk through reception. Good breakfast although not much better than in a 3* hotel where I stayed before. Very good service but ditto. The hotel has exercise room but it closes early. It has a spa but at high cost. Getting anywhere requires walking quite a bit. This is a good hotel to those who want a spacious room with a view, do not explore much on their own, value extra safety (not important in Japan), want to rub shoulders with similar minds, and do not mind paying much more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The B Ikebukuro; City: Toshima Tokyo Tokyo Prefecture Kanto; Review: The hotel is 5 min from Ikebukuro station. Well marked and thus easy to find. Around, large number of good restaurants and shops around while less busy than Shinjuko. The hotel room is small but very practical. Even nice reading lamp by the bed. Fast internet. AC is not as silent as in other Japanese hotels but still quiet by USA standards. Good breakfast in a well-laid restaurant. Service is good although not everyone speaks good English and extending stay for 1 hr requires extra payment. Many trains from the nearby station but they all take time if one wants to explore main sites in Tokyo. If one values own time, consider getting a hotel located more strategically.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Al Fagiano; City: Padua Province of Padua Veneto; Review: It is a family based hotel in good location. Small street with very little noise. Labyrinth crossings between different parts of the hotel plus lots of modern art. All created interesting atmosphere. Rooms not too big, not a business style hotel. A pretty good restaurant with same name next to the hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Restaurant La Taverne des deux Augustins; City: Etretat Seine Maritime Haute Normandie ; Review: We stayed in September after the end of the season. This hotel is situated in front of the beach, just next to parking. We got a room with side view. The room was large enough and good enough. Nothing special and nothing bad. We also ate at the restaurant and the food was OK. We could have saved by having a half-board option instead of paying for everything separately.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Seven Urban Suites Nantes Centre; City: Nantes Loire Atlantique Pays de la Loire; Review: I had a suite shared with my wife. From the engineering viewpoint it was perfect. No noise heard either from outside or from the hall. Also not from living room when in bedroom. In bathrooms, quiet fans turned automatically on whenever anyone came. The air conditioning worked but could not be heard in the bedroom. Good desk with plugs, nice kitchen, good bed. The hotel was about 1 km from the center but next to the river, bus stop, parks and a large shopping center. It was also next to one of numerous stands for bike rental. The rental costs 5 euro for a week and there are many stops throughout the city. Biking in Nantes is marvellous.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Templers Boutique Hotel; City: Haifa Haifa District; Review: We got a room for two days in the area above the restaurant. Modern decor inside with attention to detail. Quiet. Excellent breakfast in the restaurant below. For own drinks/laptop/enjoyment, convenient lounge furniture in front of the lobby. For transportation, lots of buses with 2 blocks.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ron Beach Hotel; City: Tiberias Galilee Northern District; Review: The hotel is right on Lake Galilee. From the deck, one can jump directly into the lake. Without worrying about pebbles and low sea level like at other beaches. A bit cold in April (18C) but clear water and no waves. Excellent views especially from rooms up in front. Over my 18 days in Israel, this was the best hotel. The hotel serves buffet for dinner. Must be good judging by excellent breakfast buffet. We skipped and enjoyed a kosher place in the downtown area: tasty, reasonably priced, and with lots of locals.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: National Hotel Jerusalem; City: Jerusalem Jerusalem District; Review: This a clean hotel with signs of past greatness and nice breakfast on the 4th floor. Attentive service. It is 5 min walking from Herod's gate. 20 to 30 min to Jaffa gate, and longer if you don't get lost. Therefore, if many of your activities are close to Jaffa gate, you will need an extra hr walking daily. A tram that goes across Jerusalem has a stop about 0.5 km from the hotel. Quite a few Arab businesses around with better prices than in the old city. The area seems safe.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nof Ginosar Hotel; City: Ginosar Northern District; Review: The kibbutz offers accommodation in hotels and bungalows. We stayed in a bungalow away from views. Nothing special but clean. There is a beach, however, access to water is via a pebble bottom -- quite painful. There are two walkaways on the sea, one with benches and fine views. This hotel is used by many tours. IMHO, the main attraction is a self-guided tour of the kibbutz. One can see their businesses (cows and citrus plantations) and see how people live.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Austrian Hospice; City: Jerusalem Jerusalem District; Review: The Hospice looms high over the main street. Good food and beer a reasonably prices be eaten on a terrace, with views over the main sites, or on pedestals two floors above the main gate, with good but safe view of the main street. Our favorite place to eat in Jerusalem.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stay Winter Park; City: Winter Park Grand County Colorado; Review: We stayed in a one bedroom apartment close to the office. The apartment was good enough with nice balcony and a gas fireplace. Kitchen equipment was sufficient, heating never a problem, and it was very quiet. The bus to the ski area is just around the corner, and the downtown is quarter mile away. Office building contain sauna, two hot tubs and a swimming pool. All in all, an excellent value. The office seemed lost at time with the paperwork as they seem to employ temporary workers but all of them were polite and trying.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Addis Regency Hotel; City: Addis Ababa; Review: The hotel is clean and very well maintained. Personnel is attentive and speaks good English. Wi-Fi is pretty good for Ethiopia. Quiet. Nice views of the mountains from rooftop - one can order drinks and food there. Neighborhood initially appears run down but is full of life and safe. Lots of restaurants within a km, including a closer of perhaps 10 barbecues. When the van to the airport was unavailable, the owner gave us a ride. All in all, very good impression.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Birds Hotel; City: Addis Ababa; Review: We stayed just for one night. The parking lot look like a slum but this is to lots of construction around. The hotel is new, has a nice cylindrical design, and the personnel did the best to please us. The metro is just next to the building.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Longview Hotel; City: Knutsford Cheshire England; Review: I was looking for a hotel just off the highway, and Kuntsford was the closest one. After seeing the hotel, an OK price was negotiated (without breakfast) and while the room was small, sleep quality was good. Close to downtown and a good pub. On the way to the pub, a Lotus dealership with 200,000+ pound cars telling you that this is a very special town for people with lots of money. In fact, Wikipedia says that Knutsford is favorite of well-to-do working in Manchester or Liverpool and has the highest real estate prices outside of London. So for better value off the highway, choose another exit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Surrone House; City: Gretna Dumfries and Galloway Scotland; Review: This hotel is a bit away from main street, which means quiet. Good size rooms, excellent lounge with comfy eating and fireplace (and drink on request). Helpful owners and tasty good breakfast. Close to restaurant and pub. All in all, very happy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Corran Guest House; City: Kyleakin Isle of Skye The Hebrides Scotland; Review: This is a small B&B with a view of water and the bridge. Also ruins of the castle when bent. Just across the street from a popular pub with music on weekends. Very quiet and with helpful owner. Nice breakfast. Very good choice for those wishing to sleep just across the bridge.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Manor; City: Weston on the Green Oxfordshire England; Review: This is almost a castle with very nice sculptured gardens. Large foyer with fireplace and champaign on arrival. Large room with views of the garden. Lots of corners with historic armchairs/sofa to wind down or wok on a computer. Fabulous breakfast (including large fish if you wish) in a museum like hall environment. If you want to feel luxury and ambiance without spending a fortune, this is it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Puelche; City: Puerto Varas Los Lagos Region; Review: This hotel was available when other hotels were not. Rustic, not busy, about 10 min to center by foot. Across the street from a small park over the lake. A newly built construction blocks most of lake view. Attentive lobby service and a bit less at breakfast. All in all, a good place with preference for quiet place and short walk is OK.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Fish that can survive on land appears in US waters; Abstract: The northern snakehead fish, an invasive species that can breathe air and survive on land has been found in Georgia waters, according to wildlife officials.; Category: news
Title: Snakehead fish that survives on land was discovered in Georgia. Officials want it dead; Abstract: An invasive fish species that can breathe air and survive on land has been found in Georgia for the first time. And officials are warning anyone who comes into contact with the species to kill it immediately.; Category: lifestyle
Title: These two maps show how the trade war with China is hurting 'Trump country'; Abstract: New study finds tariffs are taking their toll in battleground Midwestern states.; Category: finance
Title: NFL world reacts to officials handing Packers win over Lions; Abstract: It's a regular occurrence for NFL officiating to cause controversy, with the Packers seeming to benefit from a questionable call against Lions defensive end Trey Flowers.; Category: sports
Title: Ways of Being; Abstract: Three new books explore the variety of transgender experiences.; Category: entertainment
Title: Cummings' widow responds to Trump's attacks, gets standing ovation; Abstract: Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, the widow of the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, appeared to respond to President Trump's previous attacks of her husband during a speech at his funeral.; Category: video
Title: Southwest Airlines flight attendant: Pilots streamed airplane bathroom video to cockpit; Abstract: A Phoenix-based Southwest Airlines flight attendant says she was retaliated against after reporting two pilots for livestreaming a plane's lavatory.; Category: news
Title: Far-reaching snowstorm may take shape over US; Abstract: A winterlike pattern will continue to unfold across much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation into next week as a brutal one-two punch of bitterly cold air plunging into the United States will set the stage for another major storm.; Category: weather
Title: Comics - 'Bliss' by Harry Bliss; Abstract: ; Category: entertainment | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: BOOYAH Buzz; Brand: BOOYAH; Review: Awesome lures; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BOOYAH Buzz; Brand: BOOYAH; Review: Awesome lures; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Muzzy Bowhunting Trocar Crossbow Broadheads 3 Blade, 1-3/16 Inch Cutting Diameter, 3 Pack; Brand: Muzzy Broadheads; Review: Muzzy's Rock; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Guide Gear Universal Gun Cleaning Kit, 62 Pieces; Brand: Guide Gear; Review: cleaned my gun twice and the rod broke; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Arbogast Buzz Plug Fishing Lures-Perch; Brand: Arbogast; Review: Awesome lures; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Arbogast Buzz Plug; Brand: Arbogast; Review: great lures; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fat Tire Snow Tube; Brand: FAT TIRE SNOW TUBES; Review: awesome fun tube, great product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Arbogast Junior Buzz Plug; Brand: Arbogast; Review: Awesome buy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RIMSports Gym Gloves for Powerlifting, Weight Training, Biking, Cycling; Brand: RIMSports; Review: thank you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stamina Hyper Bench, Red; Brand: Stamina | X; Review: thank you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Red Hot 38-3368 Nock Illuminated, Red, Powered By Lumenok, 3-Pack; Brand: RED HOT; Review: couldn't use them on my Ravin; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the Battle in Your Mind; Author: Visit Amazon's Joyce Meyer Page; Review: The author (a favorite of mine) has lived what she speaks of and uses her own life and examples that make her point easy to "get". If you are suffering with depression and seemingly can't get out, this book shows you how Jesus Christ can set you free NO MATTER WHAT your past was like. Grab a pen, a high-liter marker, a box of kleenex, and start reading and overcoming your past and the battle in your mind.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dollar Store Decor: 100 Projects for Lush Living That Won't Break the Bank; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Montano Page; Review: Somehow when I purchased this book I didn't notice that it was written by Mark Montano, one of my fav artists! He and I are on the same page 95+% of the time. I have all his "Big Ass..." books (The Big Ass Book of Bling was my most recent purchase). The projects in this book are cheap and easy (I know there's a joke in there somewhere). I highly recommend it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What About Me? AND 49 Other Surefire Ways to Lose Your Joy- Joyce Meyer; Author: JOYCE MEYER; Review: Joyce Meyer is amazing - she is SUCH an incredible woman of God and so very, very real. This is a fun, heartfelt, you'll-see-yourself-in-it book that you can pick up and read cover to cover when you need to be reminded of who YOU are in the Lord. Thanks Joyce, you've touched my heart again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 100 Ways to Simplify Your Life; Author: Visit Amazon's Joyce Meyer Page; Review: Joyce knows that even though we are not of this world, we are, at least for now, in this world, and she makes being here so much easier. One of her first rules, of course, is to keep God first. Today I read rule #37, "Stop Doing Things You Don't Do Well" and continues to say "Do what you're good at and everything else will fall into place." I read only one or two a day to be sure I don't just skim over them and forget them. This book is invaluable, at least to me, and I plan to read and re-read it until it ALL becomes second nature. It all just makes so much sense. Thanks Mama Joyce, you did it yet again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes(Expanded and Revised 5th Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Todd Downs Page; Review: This book is GREAT!! My husband has recently gotten into refurbishing vintage bikes and/or taking various parts from this bike and that bike and making hybrids. He has found this book to be insanely helpful - there are pix and clear directions to follow. It turns out that I'd mistakenly bought two of these books - the exact same one - so my husband sent the extra copy to the guy whose been mentoring him on this bike hobby... this man has been doing bikes for YEARS and said that this a wonderful book and even HE picked up a few pointers and some information and instruction. I don't honestly do the "bike thing", but these two guys, novice and expert, both say this is a wonderful book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Message: The New Testament in Contemporary English; Author: Visit Amazon's Eugene H. Peterson Page; Review: LOVE this! The Lord had laid it on my heart to purchase this for my ex-husband, which I did. I bought myself a copy too and while I've not had the opportunity to give him his yet I read one book just yesterday after church. I had initially purchased my husband the KJV but he said it was too hard for him to understand (hey! ...it's all they had at Walmart and I wasn't as familiar with translation to to translation versions yet. I know this is something he'll be able to read, and while I was reading it yesterday it encouraged me to re-read some parts in my side-by-side KJV and the Living Bible. This was a wonderful, God-inspired purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Kingdom Hearts; Brand: by
Square Enix; Review: Quick reviews (no spoilers): You play 3 campaigns /1/ for each character. Each is about 12-15 hrs minimum, but you could play up to 20-25 if you try to 100 percent them. Note* if you want the secret ending it is far easier to get on proud difficulty than standard. The game itself feels like a great side story to the series and is very worth it for its story and gameplay mechanics. I really enjoyed the magic level up and meld system which for me gave the game far more deapth than the early kh games. I have just finished my campaigns and unlocked everything with putting in about 70 hrs. The last piece that really brought this together for a five star rating is the limited text dialoge. Most convo's are voice acted which for me brings the chatacters to life. Suggested playing with power supply then selected accelerated Processor from ingame menu for quicker load times. That was the only downfall!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Resident Evil 6 - Playstation 3; Brand: by
Capcom; Review: Positive Points: Plenty of game-play campaigns - 4 total Co-op is ok, single player AI has been improved quite a bit from other RE games Graphics are good Not so horror based to scare the pants of people (more guns blazin) Keeps lazer sight or cross-hair sight A large library section for you to view all kinds of stats Negative Points: Last campaign is single player only and has sketchy core cover mechanics. No more gun upgrades Not enough horror aspects for the people who enjoy the thriller rush Boss's can be some-what annoying for first playthrough; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Twisted Metal - PS3 [Digital Code]; Brand: by
SCEA; Review: Multiplayer was not what I wanted. When I started playing this I was hoping it was gonna be like twisted metal 1 and 2, but it wasn't...There was only a few unique vehicles in which many of thems specials feel the same. Graphics are not up to par for what they could be. Campaign was short-lived leaving the co-op to be more enjoying but then that failed as well. Overall if your expecting this to be part of the good Twisted Metal games, it is not.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Halo 4 - Xbox 360 (Standard Game); Brand: by
Microsoft; Review: Pro: Graphics are very nice Multi-player (Infinity) has a large supply of game types - My favorite is Swat Campaign had in my opinion what felt as a more mature dark story Customization for your character is quite in-depth Spartan mode (I'll review later, I haven't tried this yet) Con: Experience cap in which you can hit within a few hours of gaming (I'm sure they will change it) Campaign length took me and my wife only 9 hours on "Legendary" difficulty with no skulls on. Overall I was very disappointed in the length and detail of the story. I found myself wanting to just finish the campaign just to move onto Multi-player Some game modes were not released on opening day Gun sound effects are not very good Game Length: 8-14 hrs each campaign play-through (Could be more if you try to find all the terminals) Multi-player depends on how much each individual would like to play, but most game modes last about 6-12 minute per match Spartan mode (unknown) Overall I would say this game is a great rent, but to pay full price I would not do that unless you are a die hard fan of the halo series. The campaign may be easily forgotten after first playthrough, so if your planning on spending most of your time with multi player, then this may be for you. Enjoy the graphics because that was by far the best part.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Assassin's Creed - Playstation 3; Brand: by
Ubisoft; Review: First off, this review is based only on the fact that I ran into a glitch which forced me to have to start completely over. What happened is I just finished "memory block 3", woke up from the machine, didn't talk to the girl or doctor, ran into the bedroom found the code card, slept, then shut down the console. Thinking that it saved at the checkpoint like usual, well when I reloaded the game I was in the room main room with no npc's in it and nothing that I could interact with. Doing some further research i realized that many others were having this exact same problem and that they were forced to start a "new game" because at this point in the game you were supposed to talk to Lucy or you could also pickpocket the doctor. You also were supposed to look through Lucy's computer, BUT when it loaded me in I was unable to do anything. I have researched for over 2 hours and posted videos following the problem and every solution was to start over...Start over a broken game...NO THANKS! If this doesn't help people for a game review at least I may help someone from running into the glitch...Good luck; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny - Playstation 3; Brand: by
Natsume; Review: Pros: Love the monster system by which you can literally capture almost every monster and use them to fight with your or farm for you. Voice acting is good but not fantastic Events keep you looking forward to other days during each season unlike some other Rune Factory games which you spend most of the time simply doing chores. Loved the crafting system in which you can make your own armor, weapons, food, house decor, medicine, etc. ( I spent most of the time leveling these up). Anyone could truly beat this game because you can pretty much grind for everything, which takes the difficulty level down but the hour level up. Fishing was my favorite task and pays off immensely. We paid 35$ for the game and I would say this is even worth a full retail purchase Cons: In the beginning you feel like your running around like a chicken with your head cut off, not exactly knowing what to do. Spend a few weeks learning the map, talk to everyone each day, brush your animals. I didn't care for the farming concept because the only way you can actually determine what grows is by what the monsters you have caught can make. So in other words, you use the wand at a planting point and then let the monsters do the rest while you come back and visit them every so often to see if they are ready for harvest. I wish there were more anime cut scenes Time to Complete: 102 hours to Platinum, but could be reduced if I would have used a guide Shipping: I purchased this from Amazon and received the package with no problems what-so-ever.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PowerA DualShock 4 Charging Station for PlayStation 4; Brand: by
PowerA; Review: My wife and I both have our own ps4 consoles but wanted a means to have quick charges to our controllers. This device seems to charge quicker than having it directly plugged into the PlayStation 4 with the USB cable Pros: Purchased at $14 Charges 2 controllers quickly Can charge 2 controllers actively running two separate PlayStation 4's without syncing them to one another. Has a nice click down device to know your controller is securely fastened on the charger. Have owned this device for 4 months now and with everyday use we have had no issues Cons: 0 so far, will update if that changes; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Video_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Azincourt; Author: ; Review: A real page-turner. Lots of fast paced action. I thought it was hilarious the crude language that Cornwell uses . Enjoyable blood and guts.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Judas Strain: A Sigma Force Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's James Rollins Page; Review: This book caught me off-guard. I wasn't expecting anything more than a cursery mention of the Mormon religion in this book, but it was obious that Rolloins did his homework. I learned some facinating facts about the ancient Americans and Mormons that I never knew before. I really appreciate the way Rollins seperates the fact from fiction in the author's notes at the end. He did a great job intertwining fact with fiction.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Infinite Jest; Author: Visit Amazon's David Foster Wallace Page; Review: I just tired of two and three page paragraphs. Author must have been paid by the word. Parts were interesting, but the chapter breaks didn't seem to make any sense. This is one of only a handful of books in my entire life that I did not finish to the end. This book just did not seem to tie together. Parts were good, but not good enough to save it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Once a Runner: A Novel; Author: John L. Parker; Review: I was delighted that I stumbled on this treasure. Anybody who has ever been part of a cross-country team or a distance track runner in high school or collage can identify with this book. I re-lived my track days in vivid detail, so much co that I had to check several times just to make sure I was reading a novel. A real page turner with a finishing flourish. I have recommended it to my running friends.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nightingale: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristin Hannah Page; Review: Great book. I don't usually bother reviewing books, but this one deserves a review. Presented another side and gave me a better perspective of the war and how it affected the French people. Even though I am a man, I liked getting a woman's view of the atrocities and heroics.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Palace Job; Author: Visit Amazon's Patrick Weekes Page; Review: I almost gave this one star. Ridiculous. I have the next two books in the series, but I don't think I will read them. Every time there seemed an impossible situation, the author simply had the character use magic to resolve it. Not satisfying at all.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Doughty Page; Review: Great guidebook. Unbiased. Only two problems: first, the one hotel that I was interested in (Hilton Garden Inn) was shorted in its description. Second, and a more major problem, was that the book had absolutely no info on the Wailua River boat tour up Waimea Canyon, sponsored by Polynesian Adventure Tours.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In Sheep's Clothing: An Action-Packed Political Thriller (Matthew Richter Thriller Series Book 1) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's L.D. Beyer Page; Review: A fast read. Fun.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Keraton at The Plaza a Luxury Collection Hotel Jakarta SPG by Marriott International; City: J; Review: living close to the Keraton, last year in Jakarta, we decided to go on a Sunday brunch followed by a facial massage and treatment... we were lucky since a Greek chef from a sister hotel was on visit during the brunch and introduced Jakarta to some typical Greek dishes and the brunch had a greek touch... we were told that we didint have to take food from the brunch buffet but could order any Greek dish we had in mind.. tops, great but the buffet (which includes free flow genuine champagne Billecart-Salmon, we had 2 bottles..) was just too nice to avoid.. we went for a so called Parisian "Fruits de Mer": lobster, mussels, king krab, oysters, clamps on ice plate... gorgeous... we also tried some duck foi grass... and then we asked the Greek chef some nice main dish: he made for us a braised lamb in greek herby and veggy cream sauce... absolutely delicious... full and satisfied and tipsy.. we went upstairs for a sooting facial treatment and cleansing... superb products and my skin felt fresh and cool when i left, even after all the alcohol .. ;); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Shilla Seoul; City: Seoul; Review: after like 10 years working and living in Asia and taking up a job in Moscow, we decided to visit a country in the region which was worth a final visit.. it was beginning December and we needed too cool off before going to moscow.. so Seoul with probably some snow was the right place.. in a cold climate we like fire places, afternoon lounging in a couch browsing some interesting books with a decent drink.. so we booked at the famous Shilla Hotel in old town section of Seoul (other side of the river than Gangnam style..;) ).. when we arrived .. yes .. the weather was as cold and windy as we thought.. (terrible).. the hotel room was a blessing: we booked the Club floor room with its own breakfast and hangout lounge offering snacks, high tea in afternoon and coctails, wines, spirits and canapes at night (all incl in price).. we usually do that in Asia, since concept and quality is high compared to Europe or S.Africa (where we live), where this would be unusual .. the place was terrific.. huge lounge with private corners, bookshelfs and hundreds of impressive books covering interior design, photography, travel, cuisine.. history.. like a real library.. cosy sofas and constant service of complementary drinks and food, sparkling wines, wines etc.. we spent 3 days there and we agree that this was the best club floor ever we stayed on..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Atlas Park Hotel; City: Domodedovo Urban Okrug Moscow Oblast Central Russia; Review: we were inviited by friends to spent some time in the forests about 45 km from Moscow.. it is in the middle of green farm land right next to a river with a lot of forest around.. great spot.. it looked very well maintained and although we were told upfront that check in time is unusual 6 pm and checkout is a great 4 pm, when we arrived at about 4 pm we could move straight in the room which was a studio with income hall and small salon with a couch... the room was nice and very clean with a nice size bathroom.. nice balcony.. good 4 star quality.. we went to the forest BBQ area where you find open air cottages with a BBQ and a river view if you like. the hotel provides a big bag of charcoal and shiskebab swords to rig the meat on.. our friends brought delicious spring onion, meaty tomatoes, gurkins and marinated meat... the cottage has 2 tables with table linen and benches.. it was a great lunch in the middle of the forest. after that we hired some gocarts and pedalled around the big property... later we joined the bar with a dance floor and a small band/DJ who were playing enjoyable music.. the guests started dancing at the first song and with the kids dancing aswell it was a great night.. the vodka and russian snacks like potato and haring did go extremely well... we intended to go horse riding at nearby manege but unfortunately they don't take foreigners who dont speak Russian as a matter of safety.. but overall it was a great stay.. will do that again..; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus; City: Istanbul; Review: decided to go to Istanbul for long weekend for the 4th time.. last time was in the nineties.. and the city has become less of culture shock and more cosmopolitan with international brands allover (unfortunately).. the old center hasnt changed.. taksim on the northern european part is like any other european center.. you wouldnt know you are in turkey.. we booked a king bedroom at the conrad which is further east on the european part near the Dolmabahce palace (former residence of President Ataturk) in the lovely Besiktas area with its own non-touristic bazaar like area full of streets with shops and small delicious street eating.. (try the grilled fish, doner kebab, pide (turkish pizza)..) shopping is nice with low prices (bought a nice jacket for 30 USD). and much less tourists than in the grand bazaar, taksim or the gallata tower area.. the hotels smells like new.. wify was impressed with that.. on arrival we were upgraded to a sea or Bosphorus view room at the executive floor with free access to the business lounge with free drinks (wine etc) the whole day if you like. nice side dishes are served in afternoon and evening.. for the smokers there is real nice huge balcony with cosy couches and heaters where you can relax and sip coctails and wine... and in a town where this is expensive because of tax.. this gesture of the management was highly appreciated. the personnel is highly qualified and the service is great.. will definitely come back; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prana Lodge; City: Chintsa Eastern Cape; Review: we spent 2 days at this delightful luxuryboutique lodge with hosts about 9 people.. it is located at about 45 min from east london driving and recommended to drive there during day light since roads are windy and not lit. there is also no signage on the road so make sure you have google map activated.. we got lost second night because of this. Apart from that, we got a beautiful big forest lodge cottage with antique interior decoration, wooden floors, persian carpets, its own outside deck where we were served a 5 star dinner.. the bathroom was big and hand nature friendly bio green products. the lodge itself has a beautiful dining and relax area with a big library for those who want to read and relax.. its a 100 m and steep walk down to the beach where one can go for endless walks with nobody around.. thats the wild coast..the food is really 5 star in taste and presentation and it is advised to take lunch and dinner there.. with 3* prices.. one get a 3 course meal which in my case had a memorable pork belly dish.. it was also nice to hear they recently won best luxury hotel in south africa from "world luxury hotels"..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aloe Lane Guest Lodge; City: Midrand Greater Johannesburg Gauteng; Review: lovely lodge in midrand area of gauteng, 30 min out of the hustle and bustle of sandton in johannesburg and yet so close.. ideal for a farm type holiday in middle of horse riding area.. : almost everybody has a paddock and horses.. also stables available in the area... the lodge itself is rustique in exterior design and looks.. like most type of well of propertiies in that area.. inside some stylish interior designer has had big impact..mix of old and new and extravagant.. spacious rooms, wine cellar, delightfull outside entertainment area, infinite pool annex bar.. very friendly hosts.. close to restaurants etc but one can order dinner at the place.. we will defnitely come back there..; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: New Century Hotel; City: Qingdao Shandong; Review: stayed in this 5 star hotel on a business trip on the industrial west side of Qingdao.. the only other 5 star hotel there is the Hilton hotel.. The rooms are great.. spacious and very modern and cosy.. but that's about it.. the rest of the hotel misses the 5 star touch of design and service.. breakfast is good but i would say 4 star.. the chinese restaurant design and food are not better than the numerous small restos located around the hotel.. there is a small but adequate gym with modern equipment..no complaints about that... there is also a spa with good service but expensive : sauna is RMB 180 and a full body massage is RMB 620 for one hour.. that is about 100 USD. the in-room dining menu is very small .. had a burger and it was nice.. about RMB 65..the seafood noodle was awfull : water, noodles and one prawn.. there is also a swimming pool (25 m) .. the hotel is well located with lot of restos and shops around to stock up on goodies and easible access to dining restos.. nearby is a nice Indian-Thai resto with good food.. we also had a nice hot pot dinner at a resto near by.. all in all convenient location but room for improvement in service although the staff is very friendly. we had late check out at 4.30 pm and we had to pay one half day extra.. a bit disappointing after staying there for 10 days... one warning: they require a deposit which is equal to your full stay... make sure you have financial space because they cancel deposit and charge again but deposit took for me 7 days to be cancelled on my CC.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Olivia Balmes Hotel; City: Barcelona Catalonia; Review: we have been staying at lovely asian hotels and coming to Europe, the quality drops a little bit for the money you pay... we stayed 5 nights here and the rooms in this hotel are not luxurious but very clean and spacious, modern and sleek.. not normally our style but in barcelona, i guess, its a very good deal... the mini bar is well equiped.. although a bottle of cava or red could join the white... the hotel is well placed near the famous segrada famillia cathedral, la rambla, la pedrera.. the staff is great and happy helpfull bunch... well done.. some negatives: placed on top of a metro station causes a hum every 2 minutes from 5 am to midnight.. not pleasant when you try to sleep a bit longer in the morning.. the shower was also indecisive between cold and hot water.. but i still recommend staying here ... the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side..; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Le Cavendish; City: Cannes French Riviera Cote d Azur Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: we spend 4 nights on holiday in Cannes and didnt want to spend too much money staying in the Carlton or Martinez hotel.. so we choose for a Le Cavendish which had very good references here...it didnt disappoint.. upon arrival professional treatment with a drink of any choice.. white provencal wine was our choice while we were cooling down with it...we opted for a standard room with breakfast.. we were lifted with the charming vintage lift to the 4th floor... the room was spacious with nice comfortable bathroom and all the nice goodies like slippers, bath robes... we had a safe, a minibar (mainly fridge with no drinks except the free sparkling and still water every day).. one can order drinks.. not bad prices ( 13 euro for a bottle of white..).. definitely cheaper than in restos outside... very clean and nice... if you have a car and want to park it will cost you 25 euro per night.. the personnel is very friendly and helpful... best part of the hotel is the free drinks at the bar between 6 and 8.30 pm.. well stocked and help yourself.. in my experience of all hotels i have been that normally comes with a premium price of club floors.. here part of standard treatment.. very nice.. breakfast is a mix between full english and continental..plenty if you want... we prefer to leave some space for nice provencal seafood lunch.. when we left we were happy and love to come back... as a matter of honesty: when back home i got email that they found my missing sunglasses and offered to post them... that is 5* experience.. improvements? maybe coffee/tea in the room in case you dont make breakfast.. maybe a beer or wine in the fridge?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Limoneto di Ercole; City: Maiori Amalfi Coast Province of Salerno Campania; Review: Stayed a week in this french provence style house perched on a hill overlooking cute quite village of erchie. I got a spacious apartment with separate bedroom and bathroom.. nothing luxurious but functional and clean. Nicola the owner is friendly. What I liked about this hotel is the positioning high on the hill where you drive. . They have nice car parking immediately accessible from the road.. you may think so what.. but at amalfi coast the car is a bit of necessity but also a serious liability. Most hotels are at the beach some 200 m below the road you drive.. some have road parking some not.. at Positano you have to leave your car on the road at 5 euro per hr parking fee. Also in the small villages it is difficult to find parking space. The breakfast is minimal continental: coffee, croissants, jam, fruit and yogurt. No cold meats, eggs, cheese etc.and, don't know why: prepacked toast. We got 7 mornings same stuff. The upside is that you have plenty of space for a delicious lunch on the quiet beach of erchie. You need to drive down there though because walking is too dangerous on the narrow amalfi coast roads. The kitchen is okeyish... a microwave and hot water cooker would be great to have..but all in all I would stay again there because of practicality and tranquility. Erchie is also nice located in middle of the coast..amalfi, Ravello, Salerno is easy accessible. If you really want to visit overcrowded Positano, don't drive, it will take you 11/2 hr at 30km/hr.. grab a boat taxi.. jetties cruising the coastline. . Much more convenient and safe.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Omni La Mansion del Rio; City: San Antonio Texas; Review: we stayed here for 3 nights in normal superior king room and already on arrival we were pleasantly surprised with soothing Spanish music playing in the parking-arrival area. the bell guy was very helpful and admission went very smooth. The building is an old Catholic school with great history and located right at the famous river walk between hotels like Hyatt, Marriot, Hilton.. the only difference is the price you pay.. very reasonable compared to the major chains.. you can descend down to the river walk from your room and walk straight on the river walk with it's quaint restaurants and bars along the river.. the room was a cosy delight.. spanish interior and cosy and clean.. great value for money.. we had nice quiet 5th floor balcony with views on the river... you have mini bar and prices are reasonable.. what is lacking is the complementary water .. not sure why they dont offer like any other hotel.. for the rest we were very happy and we recommend..; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Villa Kadashi Boutique Hotel; City: Moscow Central Russia; Review: Booked 3 nights and 2 days before arrival they ask registration of previous hotel. I came fom work in Russia with valid 3 month stay visa. So no need for registration but they don't know the law. They asked me to check in at other hotel for one night and come with that registration to check in with them. .crazy. Avoid this hotel!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cascades Sun City; City: Sun City North West Province; Review: after reading a lot of poor reviews we didn't go with high expectations but the stay turned out to be nice. The 2 rooms we had were spacious and clean,as was the bathroom. One TV didn't work on arrival but after phoning room service, it was quickly resolved. The bed was soft and we had a good sleep. The staff in general was friendly and helpful. The hotel ground with the pool and tropical garden was beautiful. One minus, but that also applies for the other hotels at Sun City, is the rather high price but then some attractions like the wave pool are included. We would come back.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blue Crane Villa Private Guest House; City: Hartbeespoort Madibeng North West Province; Review: Spent 2 nights and is excellent choice if you want some peace from bustling hartbeespoort over the weekend.. Gerda is a very friendly and accomodating host who goes out of her way to make you comfy and feel at home...dressing the bed, chocolates, honesty bar with wide choice of wines, spirits, etc... Special accolades for the breakfast which provided different food every morning.. Think egs bacon boerewors, saucages and mushroom, potato crust or delicious mushroom quiche..delicious spicy mince on toast.. Fruit salad and healthy bar... Home made deserts.. We were lucky and had the 4 bedroom villa for ourselves but Gerda limits the amount of guests to ensure a peacefull atmosphere is maintained for the guests. I wouldnt recommend for families with small kids but Gerda makes a plan for well behaved kids from say 10 year old. The.place is located in a quiet estate with an equestrian center catering for visitors.. Really enjoyed the stay and love to come back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Dark Wife; Author: Sarah Diemer; Review: This was a great read! I literally sat down and read it in one night. The author does a great job bringing her characters to life and her descriptions are fantastic! I highly recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Good, The Bad and The Furry: Life with the World's Most Melancholy Cat and Other Whiskery Friends; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Cox Page; Review: Love this book! The tribulations of the Bear and his cohorts make for such good reading! Highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Llewellyn's Complete Formulary of Magical Oils: Over 1200 Recipes, Potions & Tinctures for Everyday Use (Llewellyn's Complete Book); Author: Visit Amazon's Celeste Rayne Heldstab Page; Review: Very thorough, interesting book. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Thousand Mornings: Poems; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Oliver Page; Review: Beautiful poetry, great book. Love Mary Oliver!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Poetry Handbook; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Oliver Page; Review: Great book, lots of info; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best of the Best American Poetry: 25th Anniversary Edition (The Best of the Best); Author: Visit Amazon's David Lehman Page; Review: Great book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2015 Poet's Market: The Most Trusted Guide for Publishing Poetry; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Lee Brewer Page; Review: Great book with a ton of info; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Poetry; Author: Visit Amazon's Nikki Moustaki Page; Review: Great book, fun to read, tons of helpful practice tips.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: nejma; Author: Visit Amazon's Nayyirah Waheed Page; Review: Heart felt poetry, enjoyed reading this on my Kindle; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Natural Menopause Solution: Expert Advice for Melting Stubborn Midlife Pounds, Reducing Hot; Author: Prevention Magazine Editors; Review: Great book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Walk Your Butt Off!: Go from Sedentary to Slim in 12 Weeks with This Breakthrough Walking Plan; Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Lorge Butler Page; Review: Great book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mercury and me; Author: Visit Amazon's Jim Hutton Page; Review: This book was fantastic! I read it in one sitting and am in the process of rereading it a second time. What a beautiful, complex, complicated relationship between two very different personalities. What I felt most is just how much Jim and Freddie loved each other but how complicated to be in a relationship with a very famous and flamboyant man. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mercury: An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury; Author: Visit Amazon's Lesley-Ann Jones Page; Review: Great book about an amazing man; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Voice of Knowledge: A Practical Guide to Inner Peace; Author: Visit Amazon's Don Miguel Ruiz Page; Review: Well worth the read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Circle of Fire: Inspiration and Guided Meditations for Living in Love and Happiness (Prayers: A Communion with Our; Author: don Miguel Ruiz; Review: Great boom; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash; Author: Visit Amazon's Bev Pettersen Page; Review: Very entertaining!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Queen Unseen: My Life with the Greatest Rock Band of the 20th Century; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Hince Page; Review: I want to go on an adventure as grand as this book. Well written and funny!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Queen: On Camera, Off Guard 196991; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Hayward Page; Review: Great book! Enjoyed the candid photos.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chrysalis Tarot; Author: Visit Amazon's Toney Brooks Page; Review: This is a beautiful, unique deck. A must for any collection; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics: The Collected Lyrics of Robert Hunter and John Barlow; Author: Robert Hunter; Review: Excellent book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Davis Page; Review: Excellent book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When Giants Walked the Earth: A Biography of Led Zeppelin; Author: Visit Amazon's Mick Wall Page; Review: Excellent book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jimmy Page by Jimmy Page; Author: Visit Amazon's Jimmy Page Page; Review: Beautiful book about one of the greatest guitarists to walk on planet Earth.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I'm with the Band; Author: Visit Amazon's Pamela Des Barres Page; Review: Fun read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Light and Shade: Conversations with Jimmy Page; Author: Visit Amazon's Brad Tolinski Page; Review: Great read on the musical life of one of the greatest guitarists ever.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: soft magic.; Author: Visit Amazon's Upile Chisala Page; Review: great book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Horses: Poems; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Oliver Page; Review: Beautiful book of poetry.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Upstream: Selected Essays; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Oliver Page; Review: Excellent. Thoughtful and well written. Mary Oliver is one of my favorite writers. I love her connection with the natural world.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Night Without Armor: Poems; Author: Jewel Kilcher; Review: Beautiful book of poetry; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Portable Beat Reader (Viking Portable Library); Author: Visit Amazon's Ann Charters Page; Review: Great book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: These Are My Rivers: New & Selected Poems 1955-1993; Author: Visit Amazon's Lawrence Ferlinghetti Page; Review: Great book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pictures of the Gone World (City Lights Pocket Poets Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Lawrence Ferlinghetti Page; Review: Great book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: No Matter the Wreckage; Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Kay Page; Review: Great book of poetry.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lillian Too & Jennifer Too Fortune & Feng Shui 2017 Dog; Author: Lillian Too and Jennifer Too; Review: Lillian Too is my go to expert for Feng Shui tips. This was a very enjoyable read. Highly recommend; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Daily Poet: Day-By-Day Prompts For Your Writing Practice; Author: Visit Amazon's Kelli Russell Agodon Page; Review: Great book, interesting prompts, helpful; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pagan Portals - Candle Magic: A Witch's Guide to Spells and Rituals; Author: Visit Amazon's Lucya Starza Page; Review: Excellent book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Little Big Book of White Spells; Author: Visit Amazon's Ileana Abrev Page; Review: interesting read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crystal Grids Power: Harness The Power of Crystals and Sacred Geometry for Manifesting Abundance, Healing and Protection; Author: Visit Amazon's Ethan Lazzerini Page; Review: Great book on crystal grids; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rock Her; Author: Visit Amazon's Inglath Cooper Page; Review: Really great, fun read! Highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Candle and the Crossroads: A Book of Appalachian Conjure and Southern Root-Work; Author: Visit Amazon's Orion Foxwood Page; Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is well written and it challenged me to think hard about my own spiritual journey. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Fairfield Inn Suites by Marriott Atlanta Buckhead; City: Atlanta Georgia; Review: The hotel is located right in the middle of Buckhead with free parking, which in this part of town is hard to come by. A basic Fairfield Inn hotel. Clean, safe and basic hotel room. The breakfast is good and plentiful. Front desk personnell is helpfull and friendly both early in the morning and late at night. While the place isn't anything outstandingly different from the any other Fairfield Inn I have stayed at, it is a great deal for its location in Buckhead, near Marta, the malls and restaurants. It is also easily accessible to GA400 and I75 and I85. Being originally from Atlanta, this is a great value and conveinent location to get to and from just about anywhere in the metro area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: HYATT house Parsippany Whippany; City: Whippany Morris County New Jersey; Review: I stayed here twice in June, both times for business. The Suite is great and very spacious. The kitchen is very well equipped, everything you need you will find. The decor is modern and comfortable. The bed is also comfortable and the location is quiet, no problems sleeping here. Both times I was greeted by friendly people and even when I arrived rather late at night. They provided me with local restaurant menus that had delivery and offered to provide me with any directions if necessary. They also provide a nightly happy hour, with food, unfortunately I didn't have time to visit. The free breakfast is great, with a lot of variety, from meats, eggs, and other hot breakfast foods as well as the standard contential fare. Again the personnell was helpful and friendly. The lobby and dining area is roomy, stylish and clean.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rockport Inn and Suites; City: Rockport Cape Ann Massachusetts; Review: We booked a room here rather last minute for Saturday of Labor Day weekend. If we could have, we would have stayed another night. The room was nice and spacious, clean and modern decor. The hotel is pet friendly, which is a huge plus for us on this trip. The front desk was friendly, and honored their newspaper ad for $99 a night even after we reserved at a higher rate. They accommodated our request to be put in a room near an exit door and on the end, just in case our dog barked, we didn't want to disturb anyone. They gave us 501 which was perfect with it's own separate entry and right in the middle of the complex, very convenient to the parking lot, grassy areas and the main lobby. The breakfast was decent, with option to have waffles made for you. the only thing we noticed was that the room was rather small given the size of the property and there could have been more counter space, allowing more space for everyone to get their food. but all in all for a free breakfast it was nice and the personnel was very friendly and helpful. Probably the only things I would say that fell short would be the walls seemed a little thin, we could hear the loud TV from the room below us and next to us, but it was fine when ours was on or the AC was on. the bathroom was a little small and it would have been extra nice to have a sink/vanity available outside of the bathroom so you can get ready while someone else was in the shower. Lastly, there is a great flat screen TV, but the cable was limited in channels without any HD, seems like a little waste. With those minor things said, this is a nice place, affordable and a good value. we will certainly will consider staying here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel St Paul Downtown; City: Saint Paul Minnesota; Review: The room was good size, clean and in good condition. The service was friendly and helpful in giving direction and providing me with razor which I forgot. There looked like a new restaurant that was lively and popular but, I didn't get to try it out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Omni Parker House; City: Boston Massachusetts; Review: The hotel and the room were great. The room itself was large, however the bathroom in comparison was tiny. There was a walkin closet. Rather have more room in the bathroom and sacrafice closet space. The outdoor noise late at night was excessive. Not sure what was going on but perhaps better windows would hlep with that?; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, Lucy Mack Smith; Author: Preston Nibley; Review: I've always wanted to read "History of Joseph Smith by His Mother." Kindle made it easy to do so. It's very interesting, uplifting reading. Readers should know that this was from a mother's point of view and contains a few inaccuracies. Also, the Kindle version contains a few errors that I suppose are optical character recognition errors (the word case in several instances is rendered as ease, for example) and there were some names of people that really baffled me until I realized what had happened. I'll use John Doe as examples. Reverend John Doe, Colonel John Doe, General John Doe I'm guessing were originally abbreviated as Rev., Col. and Gen. John Doe. Autocorrect or something like it interpreted the abbreviations as books of the Bible and these men are referred to in the text as Revelations John Doe, Colossians John Doe, and Genesis John Doe. Once I figured out what was going on, it was pretty amusing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 4:50 From Paddington; Author: Visit Amazon's Agatha Christie Page; Review: I'm a big fan of Agatha Christie, and I love Miss Marple, so I admit that I was predisposed to like this mystery novel. That said, how could any mystery lover not enjoy this book? It's a bit dated, and American readers have to accustom themselves to some British-isms, but I think this all adds to the charm. The plot involves a murder onboard a train, witnessed by one of Miss Marple's lady friends. But there is no body to be found, no missing person reported, so there is no crime as far as the police are concerned. This, of course, does not stop Miss Marple. This is not your typical murder mystery, and you won't be disappointed by the range of interesting characters you will meet and suspect of the vile deed. I love it when a whodunnit really is a MYSTERY. (too often I figure out who is guilty very early in the book. not so with this one!) See if you can figure out whodunnit before Miss Marple's dramatic revelation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Five Little Pigs: A Hercule Poirot Mystery (Hercule Poirot Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Agatha Christie Page; Review: If you like mysteries, if you like psychology, if you like great storytelling, you'll probably enjoy this book. I sure did. It is a little different than your typical mystery story. Hercule Poirot is looking into a closed case, very many years old, so the only real evidence he has to work with are the various accounts given by people who were there when the crime was commited. Therefore, the story is low on action, but high on character analysis and observation to detail. I found it fascinating. Agatha Christie amazes me!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Collins Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Arthur Conan Doyle Page; Review: I've been a fan of Sherlock Holmes as long as I can remember. It was great to get all the stories for my Kindle and read them again after all these years. Snaps to Amazon for making classics like this collection so easily available.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Legend of Lightning Larry; Author: Visit Amazon's Aaron Shepard Page; Review: This is a cute little story with a good moral to it. It was simple enough for my beginning readers to read to me with only a little help, and was fun for me to read to the littler ones. They loved it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Complete Sherlock Holmes (Volume One); Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Review: I've been a fan of Sherlock Holmes as long as I can remember. It was great to get all the stories for my Kindle and read them again after all these years. Snaps to Amazon for making classics like this collection so easily available.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Secret Adversary; Author: Visit Amazon's Agatha Christie Page; Review: Okay, this may not be the most unbiased review, but honestly, I've never read anything by Dame Christie that I didn't like. Modern American readers may have to make adjustments--some of the terminology in this book is either distinctly British or out of date or both--but I say to them, "Expand your horizons and enjoy this woman's genius!!" I have not (yet) read everything Agatha Christie wrote and this was my first Tommy and Tuppence book. It won't be my last; I definitely want to read more stories of this pair. The story is intriguing, exciting, and as always, the author gives enough information to keep the reader's mind working on solving the mystery, but it's complex enough that the solution is not immediately obvious. That's just how I like my mysteries!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Circular Staircase (Dover Mystery Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Roberts Rinehart Page; Review: First, I'm going to point out the main negative, which may keep some people from selecting this book. It's in the public domain. That means it was written a long time ago. Society has changed a lot. Mary Roberts Rinehart's main characters display racial biases that were shocking to me. These displays were few and far between, and understanding that she's the product of a different time and culture, I was able to disregard them and still enjoy the book. The story, given through the point of view of an older woman, at first gives the impression that it will be somewhat slow-moving. However, I soon found myself really caught up in it and spent much more time reading than usual, just because I was eager to find out what was going on in the spooky, isolated house. If you enjoy a good clean old-fashioned mystery and can overlook Political INcorrectness, you would probably enjoy this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Way of Kings; Author: Visit Amazon's Brandon Sanderson Page; Review: Okay, I'm going to tell you up front that it took me quite a long time to get into this story. Like many sagas, the book starts out with a series of seemingly unconnected tales with different characters in different places and different times. Sometimes the viewpoint character, just after you start to get drawn into his story, is killed. Hmm. And it all seems so disjointed at the beginning it was a bit confusing, and for quite a while I didn't find myself getting really invested into characters as I love to do when reading a good book. But I kept reading because the book was so highly recommended by a good friend. And I was so glad I kept reading, because after a while I found myself completely invested in the main characters of the story, and my mind beginning to hypothesize about how the various elements were going to connect to each other. In fact, I became so intrigued, wanting to figure out what was happening and so eager to find out what would happen to these people I was rooting for, that I could hardly put the book down. I'd hurry home to snatch up the book. My hubby got warmed up leftovers. My dishes waited longer than usual to be washed. I had to keep reading! So be forewarned--you might hate how much you'll love this story. I had enjoyed what few books by Brandon Sanderson I'd ready before this. I am amazed at his imagination to create this complex world, with such a complex history, and being able to unfold it all to the reader. Of course I had to order the second book in the series even before I finished reading the first.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries Volume One: Whose Body?, Clouds of Witness, and Unnatural Death - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Dorothy L. Sayers Page; Review: I found Lord Peter Wimsey a pretty delightful character and the stories intriguing. As always when reading old stories written in this time period, the reader needs a thick skin to ignore (and credit it to ignorance rather than ill will) shocking (to modern readers) displays of bigotry and stereotyping--in this case racial and gender biases. Some may be used ironically, but some is presented shamelessly as a matter-of-fact. The racial slurs are relatively few and far between, but blatant. If you can overlook these and let them roll away like water off a duck's back, you will probably enjoy these stories if you like a good, fun mystery. If not--steer clear of this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I'll Be Seeing You; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Higgins Clark Page; Review: I love a good mystery that isn't spoiled by too much profanity, graphic violence and sex. Mary Higgins Clark delivers an artfully crafted and intriguing tale that will challenge your detecting skills, with characters that you can invest in. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys great mysteries.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Landmoor; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Wheeler Page; Review: I really enjoyed this book and its sequel, Silverkin! The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that it took a little while to get into it and it was a little confusing until I got way into it. That said, I have to admit that it may have just been me. I love to read, so to keep from spending too much time reading, I only allow myself to read when walking on the treadmill at 4mph. And where I work out there are television screens on loud all across the front of the treadmills. So maybe it was the fact that I was bouncing along when I read and the story was competing with The Price is Right or Eyewitness News that gave me trouble following things at first. Wheeler has created an interesting world with good, rich characters. But there were so many different groups, and within the groups so many different religions or philosophies or specially trained subgroups with their own name (within their group); I felt like he dumped them all on the reader a little too fast to keep straight. Other than that complaint, I loved the story. As I said, the characters are rich and believable, the story line is very interesting, the writing pulls the reader along, and I found that when things got real exciting I couldn't stand it and read even when I wasn't on the treadmill. If you enjoy a good fantasy adventure without the garbage that some of them contain, you should enjoy this book a lot.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fireblood (Whispers from Mirrowen); Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Wheeler Page; Review: This is the first of a three-part series, and because I've read them all it is hard to review just this one. I actually read Fireblood twice. The first time I read it right after finishing Jeff Wheeler's Muirwood trilogy, and I felt a little let down. Then I let some time pass and re-read Fireblood and quite enjoyed it. I think my problem the first time is that I wanted to read more of the Muirwood story, and I didn't really give Fireblood a fair chance. Like the Muirwood trilogy, the Whispers from Mirrowen trilogy gets even better the further you get. I enjoyed it so much I begged my husband to read it (he has just started it) so we can talk about it. I highly recommend the entire trilogy! The story introduced some fascinating concepts and dilemmas, has you wondering just who can be trusted and who can't, and the story just pulls the reader along. It's a great read, but I'm warning you--if you read this book you will want to read the trilogy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silverkin; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Wheeler Page; Review: As in the first Jeff Wheeler trilogy I read (Muirwood trilogy), I felt the second book was better than the first. See my review for "Landmoor" for a more detailed review. I wrote that review after I had read both "Landmoor" and "Silverkin" and that review has more to say about the interesting world Wheeler has created and his skilled storytelling abilities.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Banished of Muirwood (Covenant of Muirwood); Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Wheeler Page; Review: If you enjoyed the first trilogy, you'll love this book too. It's full of great characters and unexpected turns in the exciting plot. Do read the other books first.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Princess ABC Picture Book; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Lee Page; Review: I hoped there would be something cute and creative about each of the princessess and their personalities, but it basically just consists of cookie cutter princess shapes colored and decorated differently. I was disappointed.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Void of Muirwood (Covenant of Muirwood); Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Wheeler Page; Review: If you liked the first Muirwood trilogy, you'll definitely enjoy the second trilogy. This is the exciting conclusion. You may think you've got it all figured out, but I bet you find at least one surprise in this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Death of a Crafty Knitter (Stormy Day Mystery) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Angela Pepper Page; Review: The voice of the book (the main character) is fun and likeable. The writing is creative but very natural. If you like a good mystery without the f-bombs and sex that plague so many stories, this is a good choice for you! It is what it says it is--a humorous, cozy mystery. I hope to read more in the series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Death of a Dapper Snowman (Stormy Day Mystery) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Angela Pepper Page; Review: Stormy is a great protagonist: funny and feisty, smart enough to solve crimes but human enough to goof up along the way. Angela Pepper's writing is fun and easy to read, moving the story along without stumbling over itself. I loved stormy's relationship with the cat! The book is a fun read that will keep you guessing and chuckling. I appreciate a good smut-free mystery like this.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Battle of Hurtgen Forest; Author: Charles WHITING; Review: The Battle of Hurtgen Forest was a difficult book to finish, not because the subject matter (the bloodiest and most futile American campaign of the war in Western Europe) was so disheartening, but because the book is so poorly written. I was unaware of author Charles Whiting before, and after reading just a few chapters, I did a little research to find out just who he wasI downloaded this book for free from Amazon, and I wondered if this was a first effort by an amateur writer and wannabe historian. I was surprised to read that his Wikipedia biography labels him a military historian. He was also a prolific writer of trashy suspense and thriller novels, but that I could believe, as much of the books prose was lurid and more befitting a cheap paperback throwaway than a work of military history. I had difficulty following the flow of the four- or five-month battle due to Whitings disjointed narration, and was often annoyed by the frequent digressions that had nothing to do with the battle, and were usually just opportunities for Whiting to go off once again about how much the American leaders sucked. This vitriol about the American armyespecially about Eisenhowerwas for me the most annoying aspect of the book. I have never given a book a one-star rating beforeif the book is that bad, I usually put it down and pick up anotherand for the life of me I don't understand why I persisted in reading this book through to the end. Maybe its because of the subjectI was hungry to learn more about the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest, and I kept wading through Whitings turgid account hoping to glean some information and understanding. But mostly what I got was a desire to read a better book on the subject.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: If You Have a Hat; Author: Visit Amazon's Gerald Hawksley Page; Review: Most kids will love this book. My grandchildren sure do! Once or twice the meter doesn't scan, but it's still a fun book with cute illustrations.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dying For Danish: A Lexy Baker Bakery Cozy Mystery (Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Leighann Dobbs Page; Review: If you're a fan of cozy mysteries like I am you'll probably find this book a fun read. The plot and the writing style are rather simple, so if you're looking for a challenge , you should look elsewhere; but if a quick light-weight read is just what you need, this is the book for you.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: That Risen Snow: A Scary Tale of Snow White and Zombies (The Scary Tales) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Rob E. Boley Page; Review: ...but then the story ended without an ending. I'm not a zombie fan, but I was intrigued by the mix of zombie apocalypse and traditional fairy tale and gritty modern update of same. I know this is the first book in a series, but come on! I'd like a story with a complete story arc, not merely a cliffhanger ending with a "to be continued in the next book" message.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Two!; Author: Visit Amazon's Tia Perkin Page; Review: Obviously written by a mother. Cute rhyming book about a day in the life of a mom and a toddler. The rhymes scan, which unfortunately can't be said about all rhyming books. I look forward to more by this author. Moms and tots will like this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Designer Dirty Laundry (Shoes, Clues, and Clothes Mystery) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Diane Vallere Page; Review: I'd really like to give 4.5 stars to keep 5 stars for the rare Agatha Christie level of greatness. After reading many cozy mysteries with simplistic writing and weak plots, it was a real pleasure to read Designer Dirty Laundry. I will seek out more books by this author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ordeal by Innocence (Signature Editions); Author: Visit Amazon's Agatha Christie Page; Review: Christie is such a prolific writer but never formulaic. The premise of this book is unusual and fascinating. Two years after a murder, and a year after the man convicted of the crime has died in prison, evidence comes forth that proves he couldn't have committed the murder. Relationships are strained/destroyed as the parties of interest begin to doubt or suspect each other. And don't forget that there is a killer on the loose. Asthma Christie spins a tale like no other!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Changes of the Heart: A WEST BY SOUTHWEST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE SERIES BOOK 1 (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Debra Erfert Page; Review: I don't often read romances, but I picked up this book and got hooked pretty quickly. Maybe I liked it because it includes mystery, which is more my thing, but I must confess it was the romance that kept me turning pages long after I should have been sleeping. I will read more by Debra Erfert. If you are looking for a love story without the explicit play-by-play so many books throw in these days, I recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: THE LITTLE LEPRECHAUN WHO LOVED YELLOW!; Author: Visit Amazon's Sally Huss Page; Review: This is a story that can open a discussion about many important topics, such as not being afraid to be different, to be yourself, and not judging other people who are different than you. The illustrations are simple, and the text is too, so older children may not enjoy it as well as younger ones.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fame Is A Killer; Author: Visit Amazon's Meredith Potts Page; Review: The writing's not bad--grammatically speaking, and the premise was promising. The idea of an actress who played a detective for seven years on a television being accused of murder and deciding to try to solve the crime herself intrigued me. However, I found her investigation and her thought process so unbelievable it was off-putting. Then the part where she actually figures out whodunit was just glossed over as if Ms Potts either didn't think through the path to the solution or got tired of writing and decided to end the story.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: 21 & Over; Brand: Miles Teller; Review: All I can say is, this movie SUCKS. All of the supposedly "funny" stuff you've already seen in the trailers. And even that crap wasn't funny. I'm a huge fan of funny movies (and scary), and this movie is not funny at all. Like the movie Bridesmaids, they make it look like the best, funniest movie ever made. So where is the funny stuff?? Seriously. Totally predictable, really stupid. So not worth the $4.99 I paid to rent it. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY ON THIS CRAP MOVIE!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Unaware; Brand: na; Review: Don't waste your time or money. Seriously. I don't even know what else to say. Couldn't even watch half of it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Now You See Me; Brand: Jesse Eisenberg; Review: Possibly the BEST movie I have seen in the last decade. Don't know why the "professional" reviewers said it was a horrible movie, it's just the opposite. WATCH THIS MOVIE! YOU WILL LOVE IT!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legends of the Ring - Sugar Ray Robinson - Pound for Pound VHS; Brand: ; Review: Way better than I expected. I had seen coverage of the actual event, and watched the short-lived tv show that Nikki had, so I knew the basics of what happened already. Emma Watson was awesome as bratty Nikki. Definitely worth watching!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Big Wedding Digital; Brand: Robert De Niro; Review: Really good movie, worth the money. I love Katherine Heigl, love every movie and tv show she's in. Watch this movie. Funny, heartwarming, all around good flick.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: This is the End; Brand: James Franco; Review: Not that great, not that funny...wish I had waited until it was a rental instead of buying it. Maybe if you're stoned it will be funnier. Kinda funny, predictable, expected much better from these guys. (Even "I Love You, Man" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" were better than this). Amazing graphics, though! "Hermaini stole all our s***!"; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Insidious: Chapter 2; Brand: Patrick Wilson; Review: This movie was awesome. Really makes you think, unlike other "scary" movies, you actually have to pay attention. Quite a few times I said (out loud) WHAT!?! W.T.F. just happened?! Seriously?!? Don't consider watching this movie....JUST WATCH IT! And pay attention, you will be amazed!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Conjuring 2 Includes Digital Download 2016 Region Free; Brand: Patrick Wilson; Review: 97% as good as the first one. A bit different since it's set in the U.K., different accents & sayings we don't use. But still scary. Great story line and easy to follow. I was a bit sad that the real Lorraine Warren wasn't in it like the first Conjuring. (She was in the audience at the lecture in the beginning) But definitely worth renting.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Toy Story (1995); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Matrix, The (1999); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future (1985); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Silence of the Lambs, The (1991); Genres: Crime, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inception (2010); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller, IMAX; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shawshank Redemption, The (1994); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) (1981); Genres: Action, Adventure; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: The Imitation Game (2014); Genres: Drama, Thriller, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dark Knight, The (2008); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, IMAX; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, IMAX; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Empire of Dreams: The Story of the 'Star Wars' Trilogy (2004); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008); Genres: Action, Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Kyriad Prestige Joinville Le Pont; City: Joinville le Pont Val de Marne Ile de France; Review: We were staying in this Hotel to watch the World Cup Final and all the Hotels in paris were booked out. Didn't expecrt much at all - you know the feeling when you get the last Hotel available - but it was just excellent - good room for 3 star , bathroom was excellent - it's in a really nice suburb on the RER so Ok fro paris - breakfast was Ok without vbeing spectacular but the staff were out of this world - there were lots of people here for the game and they smiled there way all of the issues - big transport strike and were generally fantastic. This isn't in central paris but if you want a nice Hotel in a nice place go this - the manager was a superstar.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Grand Makadi Hotel; City: Makadi Bay Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: We'd had spent the last 4 winters breaks in the Caribean so were a little nervous about Egypt but it was excellent. The sea takes a bit a of getting in - you have to walk 40 yards across a rocky shelf and you do need reef shoes to do it. Second bad thing was the weather - hot in the day but cooled off by 3.30. Those were the only 2 negatives. The Hotel itself was faultless , the staff are excellent , genuinely heplful , food is great , room was excellent - we just loved it. It has a very comfortable intimate feel especially in the evenings before and after dinner. It's also very spaciously laid out so it didn't feel busy even though it was full. Top notch.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Praia Sol; City: Quarteira Faro District Algarve; Review: It;s 3 star not 8 star and yes the path from the back gate looks a bit dodgy but that apart tjhis is just excellent. Super friendly helpful staff , decent rooms with good air con , nice pool and a decent breakfast. LOcation is exceelnt 300 yardss from tyhe beach and right between Vilamouyra and Quarteiera - thoroughly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cottons Hotel Spa; City: Knutsford Cheshire England; Review: Overnight stay fir a group of us for my moms 90th - 12 including 4 kids Rooms are excellent , lovely swimming pool and spa. We didn't have dinner but breakfast was excellent and the bar was good also Very good value fir what is on offer; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Corse Lawn House Hotel; City: Corse Lawn Gloucestershire England; Review: i booked a cheap (inexpensive ) room fir a business stopover between Gloucester and Stratford. Price was abiyt the same as travelogues etc . Dint arrive until 10pm and left by 8am next morning but I’m sold . Room had leaf tea , fresh fruit and proper coffee with fresh milk in the fridge . Bed was comfortable in very elegant room. Breakfast next morning was lovely , freshly cooked for me . Minor gripes were the lack of promised kidneys and shower over the bath but that’s it . The dinner menu wasn’t cheap but it was superb Lovely hotel , nice relaxed feel to it . Great quality but not stuffy or pompous . I will be back; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Abbey Hotel; City: Tewkesbury Cotswolds England; Review: I needed an inexpensive room for 1 night in Tewkesbury and plumped fir this , the cheapest . Room was billed as a small double but it was very spacious and comfortable . No frills but a good TV and Avery skeepable bed. Breakfast was included in the ridiculously low price but I overslept and missed it but it as to be fresh cooked . Lorna was charming and helpful and I can’t fault the place at the price. Follow up is that I left an exoensuve phone charger in the room which they have agreed to post on to me . Brilliant; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Corse Lawn House Hotel; City: Corse Lawn Gloucestershire England; Review: everything just about perfect as previously. Slightly miffed not to be able to have breakfast outside ( not geared up for it) but there was a lovely terrace right there so that seemed a bit odd but top class apart from that; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Danubius Hotel Astoria City Center; City: Budapest Central Hungary; Review: 10 minutes from the Danube. Not an overlarge room but ok with a good shower . Excellent breakfast ,good allround hotel at a sensible price and in a very good position. We found lots of different ways to get to the river and the restaurants and akways si thing I terexting to see; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Le Strange Arms Hotel; City: Hunstanton Norfolk East Anglia England; Review: Just a lovely experience. we just booked a few days before the break to blow away Christmas and New year. Really friendly reception staff , room was excellent , bathroom especially so. One of the best hotel showers ever. Hotel is 40 yards off the beach , breakfast was excellent as was dinner which we had in the bar. Whats not to like . I'm sure we will be back .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sacristia de Santa Ana; City: Seville Province of Seville Andalucia; Review: Just getting ready to go home from 3 nights in Sevilla at this lovely hotel .it was a brilliant price , very comfortable if not massive room with a good bathroom , shower very good . Staff were all lovely and breakfast was pretty good . Cookedstuff wasn’t great but the pastries fruit etc were really good , cheese and ham, salami good Position is great , out of the very centre so not noisy ,but on a road with bars and restaurants all there and 15 mins walk to the cathedral so hardly outlying Not sure about the air con ,fine in February but may get stressed in the summer We loved it; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Godfather, The (1972); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Godfather: Part II, The (1974); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Shawshank Redemption, The (1994); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Usual Suspects, The (1995); Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Goodfellas (1990); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Genres: Action, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Toy Story (1995); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Selma (2014); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: American Sniper (2014); Genres: Action, War; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Focus (2015); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chappie (2015); Genres: Action, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Big Eyes (2014); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: City of God (Cidade de Deus) (2002); Genres: Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dumb & Dumber (Dumb and Dumber) (1994); Genres: Adventure, Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (a.k.a. ID4) (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Fargo (1996); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Léon: The Professional (a.k.a. The Professional) (Léon) (1994); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trainspotting (1996); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heat (1995); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Natural Born Killers (1994); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Jumanji (1995); Genres: Adventure, Children, Fantasy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: As Good as It Gets (1997); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Desperado (1995); Genres: Action, Romance, Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: From Dusk Till Dawn (1996); Genres: Action, Comedy, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bad Boys (1995); Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Casper (1995); Genres: Adventure, Children; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jackie Brown (1997); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (1996); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Matilda (1996); Genres: Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Little Princess, A (1995); Genres: Children, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Assassins (1995); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flubber (1997); Genres: Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Requiem for a Dream (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Snatch (2000); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casablanca (1942); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amelie (Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le) (2001); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Inception (2010); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller, IMAX; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dark Knight, The (2008); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, IMAX; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scarface (1983); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Intouchables (2011); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magnolia (1999); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Slumdog Millionaire (2008); Genres: Crime, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Whiplash (2014); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Green Mile, The (1999); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grand Budapest Hotel, The (2014); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Imitation Game (2014); Genres: Drama, Thriller, War; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Amores Perros (Love's a Bitch) (2000); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave (1995); Genres: Animation, Children, Comedy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: No Country for Old Men (2007); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: There Will Be Blood (2007); Genres: Drama, Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: All About My Mother (Todo sobre mi madre) (1999); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Talk to Her (Hable con Ella) (2002); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Into the Wild (2007); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Persepolis (2007); Genres: Animation, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Elite Squad: The Enemy Within (Tropa de Elite 2 - O Inimigo Agora É Outro) (2010); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Once (2006); Genres: Drama, Musical, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Perks of Being a Wallflower, The (2012); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Before Midnight (2013); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rush (2013); Genres: Action, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: In Bruges (2008); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Waltz with Bashir (Vals im Bashir) (2008); Genres: Animation, Documentary, Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Diving Bell and the Butterfly, The (Scaphandre et le papillon, Le) (2007); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nine Queens (Nueve reinas) (2000); Genres: Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Last King of Scotland, The (2006); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Hot Fuzz (2007); Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime, Mystery; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ratatouille (2007); Genres: Animation, Children, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Argo (2012); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: District 9 (2009); Genres: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Crime; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Before Sunrise (1995); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inglorious Bastards (Quel maledetto treno blindato) (1978); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Batman Begins (2005); Genres: Action, Crime, IMAX; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Almost Famous (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blind Side, The (2009); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crash (2004); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Limitless (2011); Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Wolf of Wall Street, The (2013); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The (Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The) (2008); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Drive (2011); Genres: Crime, Drama, Film-Noir, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Single Man, A (2009); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boyhood (2014); Genres: Drama; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Headhunters (Hodejegerne) (2011); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: (500) Days of Summer (2009); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Visitor, The (2007); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010); Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Musical, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Black Swan (2010); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Artist (2011); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Superbad (2007); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wrestler, The (2008); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lilya 4-Ever (Lilja 4-ever) (2002); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Match Point (2005); Genres: Crime, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mother (Madeo) (2009); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Lord of War (2005); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller, War; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Skin I Live In, The (La piel que habito) (2011); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nightmare Before Christmas, The (1993); Genres: Animation, Children, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lars and the Real Girl (2007); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The (2011); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Crime; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Genres: Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Wo hu cang long) (2000); Genres: Action, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (2003); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Genres: Action, Crime, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004); Genres: Action, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko (2001); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Matrix Reloaded, The (2003); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller, IMAX; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Incredibles, The (2004); Genres: Action, Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Little Miss Sunshine (2006); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Fish (2003); Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Unbreakable (2000); Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pan's Labyrinth (Laberinto del fauno, El) (2006); Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Royal Tenenbaums, The (2001); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shaun of the Dead (2004); Genres: Comedy, Horror; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avatar (2009); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, IMAX; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Bridget Jones's Diary (2001); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ice Age (2002); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Children of Men (2006); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: 40-Year-Old Virgin, The (2005); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Garden State (2004); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: About a Boy (2002); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Hangover, The (2009); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rwanda (2004); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Vanilla Sky (2001); Genres: Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Zoolander (2001); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: King's Speech, The (2010); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Sideways (2004); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Toy Story 3 (2010); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Fantasy, IMAX; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Django Unchained (2012); Genres: Action, Drama, Western; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Avengers, The (2012); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, IMAX; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zombieland (2009); Genres: Action, Comedy, Horror; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, War; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Social Network, The (2010); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: King Kong (2005); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Thriller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hellboy (2004); Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Horror; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Brokeback Mountain (2005); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Kick-Ass (2010); Genres: Action, Comedy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: The Machinist (2004); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Inside Man (2006); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Taken (2008); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: 8 Mile (2002); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The (2008); Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Punch-Drunk Love (2002); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Old School (2003); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: And Your Mother Too (Y tu mamá también) (2001); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Village, The (2004); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The (a.k.a. LXG) (2003); Genres: Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 1.5/5.0
Title: Cars (2006); Genres: Animation, Children, Comedy; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Island, The (2005); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Good bye, Lenin! (2003); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Burn After Reading (2008); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gone Girl (2014); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Babel (2006); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Zodiac (2007); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The (2012); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, IMAX; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: House of Flying Daggers (Shi mian mai fu) (2004); Genres: Action, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Man Who Wasn't There, The (2001); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Looper (2012); Genres: Action, Crime, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Devil Wears Prada, The (2006); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Van Helsing (2004); Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Horror; Rating: 1.5/5.0
Title: Spy Kids (2001); Genres: Action, Adventure, Children, Comedy; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: True Grit (2010); Genres: Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fantastic Four (2005); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 1.5/5.0
Title: Edge of Tomorrow (2014); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, IMAX; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coraline (2009); Genres: Animation, Fantasy, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Before Sunset (2004); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Constant Gardener, The (2005); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thor (2011); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, IMAX; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: American Splendor (2003); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Closer (2004); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Superman Returns (2006); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, IMAX; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cloverfield (2008); Genres: Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Big Hero 6 (2014); Genres: Action, Animation, Comedy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Moonrise Kingdom (2012); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller, War; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Darjeeling Limited, The (2007); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: 127 Hours (2010); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Fountain, The (2006); Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Moneyball (2011); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Something's Gotta Give (2003); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Life of Pi (2012); Genres: Adventure, Drama, IMAX; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Death Proof (2007); Genres: Action, Adventure, Crime, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sunshine (2007); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Twilight (2008); Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The (2013); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, IMAX; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sexy Beast (2000); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Planet Terror (2007); Genres: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Click (2006); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 1.5/5.0
Title: Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008); Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Igby Goes Down (2002); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Enchanted (2007); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Fantasy, Musical, Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cabin in the Woods, The (2012); Genres: Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: House of Sand and Fog (2003); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Adjustment Bureau, The (2011); Genres: Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Dirty Pretty Things (2002); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Easy A (2010); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wreck-It Ralph (2012); Genres: Animation, Comedy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Tron: Legacy (2010); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, IMAX; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Volver (2006); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Idiocracy (2006); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Memoirs of a Geisha (2005); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Red (2010); Genres: Action, Comedy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Super 8 (2011); Genres: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller, IMAX; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 1.5/5.0
Title: Charlie Wilson's War (2007); Genres: Comedy, Drama, War; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Ladykillers, The (2004); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Bucket List, The (2007); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Frozen (2013); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Musical, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Squid and the Whale, The (2005); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kinsey (2004); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 1.5/5.0
Title: Elephant (2003); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Horrible Bosses (2011); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Brave (2012); Genres: Action, Adventure, Animation, Children; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Happy Feet (2006); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, IMAX; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Step Brothers (2008); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Bridesmaids (2011); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Across the Universe (2007); Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Musical, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Caesar's Women (Masters of Rome, #4); Author: Colleen McCullough; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Loved this. Working my way slowly through this series. Being immersed in such a different culture and time, seeing the similarities to our own, meeting fascinating characters, reading well crafted thoughtful prose - it was a joy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prodigals and Those Who Love Them; Author: Ruth Bell Graham; Genres: history, children, poetry, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: I cannot say enough good things about this book. I read it back in the day, when my prodigal was in the far country, and it saved my sanity. She writes with such compassion, and such understanding - two of her children were also prodigals. Her poem "They Felt Good Eyes Upon Them" became my mantra. This book moved me to tears frequently, and occasionally doubled me over with remembered pain. Ruth Bell Graham was a Godly woman, and a kind, good woman too. I miss her.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: John Lennon: The Life; Author: Philip Norman; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: This book was awesome and it broke my heart all over again. I miss you every day, John. In many ways you were my first and true love.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions; Author: Gloria Steinem; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: I enjoyed this book but despite all of her inclusionary talk there is no place in her philosophy for a feminist who is against abortion. If you are against abortion you are a fascist. Period. I wish Gloria did not have such a hard on for abortion because it is possible, you know, to be a feminist and still believe that abortion, as the ending of a human life, is murder.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The National Portrait Gallery History of the Kings and Queens of England; Author: David Williamson; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: I enjoyed this book enormously - it has wonderful pictures and I am always glad to fill in some of the gaps in my knowledge. But its easy assumption of Henry VIII's syphilis, which has NOT been proven conclusively, as if it were the only explanation for his sickness and those of his children, which it is NOT, bothered me as did the author's frequent references to 'frigid' queens and giving that as a presumeably sufficient cause for their husbands' infidelity also bothered me. Definately a man's view of history.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sisters; Author: Nancy Jensen; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Cute enough to finish, not great enough to look for more books by the same author. I enjoyed it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek Movie Memories; Author: William Shatner; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I just love me some Bill!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fire from Heaven (Alexander the Great, #1); Author: Mary Renault; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Absolutely love this book. Love it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Persian Boy (Alexander the Great, #2); Author: Mary Renault; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Loved this one even more than the first one!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rope (Anna Pigeon, #17); Author: Nevada Barr; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I usually love her books a lot more than I loved this one, but I confess that I could not put it down, either.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Divided in Death (In Death, #18); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I always enjoy these books and this one was no exception. I see on here that I read it back in 2012 but I was still surprised by the ending. In a way this is because these books are so similar. Again the killing cycles back to Eve and Roarke, Eve and Roarke engage in much hot sex in assorted places, Eve stuggles with her past, Eve struggles with the current expectations of her as a friend and wife and member of society, etc. etc. But the mystery was good and, as always, the book is well written.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: No Place Of Safety (Charlie Peace, #5); Author: Robert Barnard; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Robert Barnard is one of my very favorite authors. He writes tightly crafted mysteries with characters you really care about, and there is frequently a touch of humor just as there is in real life. I highly recommend him if you like mysteries.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Tale of Briar Bank (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, #5); Author: Susan Wittig Albert; Genres: history, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wish I hadn't read it out of sequence. I checked it out of the library thinking it looked interesting but I might not finish it - I don't even know why. I thought it might be silly, or pretentious as so many of these books about real literary figures are. But it was charming and now I plan to start with the first one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Tale of Hill Top Farm (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, #1); Author: Susan Wittig Albert; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I love this series. It is quaint and charming, with a touch of mystery and a glimpse into another time and set of attitudes. It is also a close look at an author, and based on her journals and other writings. I read one out of sequence just out of curiousity, and now am planning to work my way through them all. HIGHLY recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fitzgerald Ruse; Author: Mark de Castrique; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: It was interesting - fascinating - that this book is set in Asheville. The protagonists' office is in Pack Square, they live in the Kenilworth Apartments (formerly a luxury hotel, formerly a VA hospital, formerly a psychiatric hospital)etc. I enjoyed that. But if it weren't for that I wouldn't have finished it. It's not badly written, but I didn't really care about the characters or their plight. If you enjoy mysteries with a touch of espionage thrown in, and you like reading books set in this area, it's a fast read and, as the two stars indicate, it was okay.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Corpse In A Gilded Cage; Author: Robert Barnard; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I just love Robert Barnard. I don't care that it's not great literature - it gets 5 stars from me because it is fast moving, a tricky mystery, has characters you really feel you get to know, sparkly dialog and snappy wit. I was delighted to find this one that I had not read yet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Stand; Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: One of my very favorite books of all time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy The Shocking Inside Story; Author: Ann Rule; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: This was one of the scariest books I ever read. To know that such evil exists, that it is out there wearing a normal human face, is horrifying. This book frightened me so much that I ran a red light trying to get away from the car behind me because I thought it was following me. Then the driver of said car - a state trooper in a fully marked car with light rack and all - pulled me over. He was rather bemused by my explanation and apologized if he had followed too closely and scared me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crooked House; Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Although it does not feature either of Agatha Christie's prime detectives - neither Hercule Poirot nor Miss Marple - it is one of my very favorite of her books. Although I have read it many times, the line at the end of the second to last chapter, when the murderer is revealed, still makes the hairs on the nape of my neck stand up just as it did the very first time, when I was completely and totally gobsmacked. Gobsmacked in the very best way when you had no idea what was coming but when it did you clearly see it couldn't have been anybody else. Absolutely superb.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wind Through the Keyhole; Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: When he is writing story, as opposed to creating a plot device to hang a string of horror upon, nobody can touch Stephen King.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: There's Something About St. Tropez; Author: Elizabeth Adler; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: I love Elizabeth Adler's books. They are always exciting and rich, full of scenery, history, character development and poignancy. This was no exception and I highly recommend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Inn at Rose Harbor (Rose Harbor #1); Author: Debbie Macomber; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: I really enjoyed this book, more than I had expected to. It is an intriguing premise - the setting of a B&B leaves the field open for many characters to come and go while the main character grows and develops. I will be looking forward to the next one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Dangerous Inheritance; Author: Alison Weir; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this book but I didn't care for the dual story/timeline/character device. I got what she was doing, and I appreciated the originality of the idea and the skill with which she did it but I found the head hopping and story shifts distracting and annoying when all was said and done. I also am not a fan of the mystical spooky ooky voices from beyond the grave, the dark premonitions and connections to those who have gone before. Not one of my favorites of hers but as I said I enjoyed it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lonesome Dove; Author: Larry McMurtry; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This book was outstanding. Very sad in parts and I wept frequently but it was just superb all around.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ladies of Missalonghi; Author: Colleen McCullough; Genres: history, young-adult, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this little book - it was a sweet, fast, satisfying read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Alphabet Sisters; Author: Monica McInerney; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: SPOILERSPOILERSPOILER I was enjoying this book - light frothy Australian chick lit. And then all of a sudden we have the terminal cancer, the child orphaned, the long lingering death agonies. I don't think these two genres blend at all well - I don't read this type of book to cry. If the author thought she was writing a completely different type of book (i.e. not frothy chick lit) it was a deep dark secret from me until the last chapters.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Thorn Birds; Author: Colleen McCullough; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Now this is a book. Thick, fascinating, multi generational, getting you right inside the minds and hearts of an Australian family and showing you the land and the times. Very sad in parts; I wept frequently, but so good. So absorbing and rich and good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Affair; Author: Amanda Quick; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, mystery; Review: This book was okay. I certainly wanted to finish it. But if the hero guy had said "bloody hell" one more time I might not have.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Born in Death (In Death, #23); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Gosh, I love these books. Sometimes I skim over the sex scenes - she does tend to use the same phrases - 'her eyes went blind' 'she fisted her hands in his hair' and others which I will not repeat - out of boredom rather than prudery. I usually just want to get back to the story, which, as her character Mavis would say, is always mag.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society; Author: Darien Gee; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: I loved this book! It was interesting, with a large cast of characters, all of whom I came to care about. The story was absorbing, the writing excellent. I just thoroughly enjoyed it all the way through.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Beast (Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus, #21); Author: Faye Kellerman; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I liked this book. I like this author, and her characters and this was an exciting mystery that had unusual elements and kept me reading all the way to the end. Can't quite believe it was not on Goodreads already.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Garden Spells (Waverley Family, #1); Author: Sarah Addison Allen; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I really loved this book. It was sweet and honest and real, with a good supernatural type backdrop that was just enchanting. The people were fascinating and I really cared about them and their lives. Great cast of characters and a good villain too. Highly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I, Robot (Robot #0.1); Author: Isaac Asimov; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: There really isn't anything to say about this book that somebody hasn't already said, and better. So I'll just say that the concept is brilliant, the characterization - both human and robot - is deep and profoundly touching, the stories are fascinating and I enjoyed this immensely.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Keeping the House; Author: Ellen Baker; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: I finished this book. That's about all I can say. It dragged a bit, was a bit dreary but I liked the characters enough to stick with it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spring Came On Forever; Author: Bess Streeter Aldrich; Genres: history, young-adult, children, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this sweet little book which really gave a good insight into those hard days of the prairie wives and their families. I cannot imagine a life where I work from dawn to bedtime without stopping. I am just lazy, I guess. I so would not have been one of those people aching to go West (or to the New World or anyplace else where civilization had not arrived yet). However I am aware that if my husband had wanted to go I would have had to follow. Glad to live when I do and just read about those times.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Death of a Literary Widow; Author: Robert Barnard; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I just love Robert Barnard's books. All of his characters are interesting and you care about them. His writing is sharp, quick and witty while being insightful and careful about setting his scenes. This particular book had me guessing till the end which was not what one might expect but was great anyway.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Drawing of the Three; Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I just love these books and am having a blast rereading them. Because the first time I read them I did it as they came out so sometimes there were YEARS between volumes. With my work schedule plus the other books I like to read that is reduced to weeks which makes it much easier to keep up. Did a chuck dad a chum, y'all!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sassy Belles; Author: Beth Albright; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Cute, fast moving, interesting characters, good sub plots, good murder plot. Enjoyed it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Week in Winter; Author: Maeve Binchy; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I just loved this one. I love the way Maeve Binchy collects a group of disparate people and makes you care about each and every one of them. Her settings are wonderful, too. I hope this is only the first in a series because I love the hotel and the proprietor and her family and friends and would really enjoy seeing another set of guests stay here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Colony; Author: A.J. Colucci; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Possible Spoilers unless like me you see all this coming before the end of the first chapter: This book was creepy enough that the one time I tried to read it before bed I had nightmares. In some ways very typical - nature gone wild/government interference with nature/government cover-up/evil army generals/ambitious politicians/research scientists separated by divorce forced to work together rediscover their love but the ant scenes were good, the descriptions of the bunker and the ants themselves were good. Definitely worth a read if you like this kind of thing; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sister's Choice; Author: Emilie Richards; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I did enjoy this book. I am a sucker for books about sisters, and a sister surrogacy subject was very interesting. Not as predictable as it at first appeared but the expected boy meets girl, romance blooms, misunderstanding separates/alienates boy and girl, boy and girl reunite through some sort of trauma/drama, happily ever after plot element played out as expected. But I enjoyed it all right. Addendum: I reread this book this year (original read in 2013) and didn't remember it so I don't know if that indicates superior writing, only fair to middlin' writing (which corroborates the 3 star rating) or failing memory, but the 3 star rating and review pretty much stand.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Storyville; Author: Lois Battle; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this book but about 3/4 of the way through the pace really picked up like she was racing through the rest of their lives, having finished with the interesting parts. And it was sort of depressing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Cottage At Glass Beach; Author: Heather Barbieri; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I enjoyed this book - interesting characters, very current situation but when I had to put it down for a couple of days due to work pressures it didn't call out to me demanding that I finish it. Good light reading for when you're busy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lavender Garden; Author: Lucinda Riley; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this book. It had a dual storyline going - one modern day and one during WWII and both come together in the end in a way that I didn't see coming - the author avoided the cliches and it really was a good read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lawgiver; Author: Herman Wouk; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Herman Wouk is a freakin' genius.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Dark History:The Kings & Queens of England 1066 to the Present Day; Author: Brenda Ralph Lewis; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: While the characterizations in this book are shallow and one dimensional - Anne Boleyn was a sexy shrew, Jane Seymour was stupid, Queen Victoria was a prude - the history is interesting and the linkage of one dynasty to another clearly explained.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Habits of the House (Love & Inheritance Trilogy, #1); Author: Fay Weldon; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This book was absolutely splendid. I feel funny giving it the same 5 stars I gave Les Miserables but I enjoyed it thoroughly, couldn't wait to get back to it after having to put it down and am really looking forward to the next part in the trilogy. According to the jacket it will be on the screen too (what screen? TV or film? I don't know) and I will want to see it. The author managed to create what the jacket called 'a delightful romp' which it was, and people it with characters I really cared about. I liked them all from the lords and ladies to the moneylender/banker to the American heiress to the ladies maid. I wanted happy endings for them all. I recommend this book highly to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wedding Night; Author: Sophie Kinsella; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I found this book, like all of her books, silly. It is a silly premise and the situations are practically slapstick. That said, it was entertaining and I finished it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Perfect Proposal; Author: Katie Fforde; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: See - this is how it's done. After being disappointed by Sophia Kinsolver's latest I was delighted with this one. Classic chick lit, classic romance line, classic offbeat yet sincere and sweet heroine - yes, she is feisty - and Katie makes it work where Sophie didn't. I enjoyed myself thoroughly while reading this book and highly recommend this author to anybody who loves this type of reading but prefers well rounded interesting characters and a plausible plot line.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Tattered Quilt (The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club, #2); Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I do like these Amish quilting books. This is the second in this series I have read and I enjoyed them both. Sweet, rather predictable overall (i.e. happy endings all around) but with some surprises thrown in. It is a fascinating glimpse into that culture and how they interact with the 'Englishers' (i.e. us) around them. I liked it enough that I am going to look into the author's other series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat; Author: Edward Kelsey Moore; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this book but there was a bit more jumping from one character to another than I care for. It felt like I could never really get into one woman's story before I was jerked into another's. Through the first 2/3s of the book I was thinking this is a 3 star book - I like it. (Thus has Goodreads permeated my reading experience.) The end was quite powerful, though and as I closed it I thought wow, maybe 5 stars. So I am compromising on 4.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Decent Interval (Charles Paris, #18); Author: Simon Brett; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I like Simon Brett, I enjoyed this book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Laura Rider's Masterpiece; Author: Jane Hamilton; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Sucked.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Tale of Holly How (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, #2); Author: Susan Wittig Albert; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I love this series. I read one randomly from the shelves and was so delighted with it that I am now working my way through the series from the beginning. Charming, elegant little mysteries, lots of local flavor and interesting characters and Beatrix Potter herself is like having a brand new best friend. Highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Reason for My Hope: Salvation; Author: Billy Graham; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Heavy material told in Rev. Graham's eminently readable style - it always seems to me I can hear him speaking the words he writes. His sincerity is palpable. He doesn't skim over the awkward subjects but has some hard things to say about sin and hell. But page after page the love of Christ shines through and humanity ignores this message at its peril. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nefertiti; Author: Michelle Moran; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This very interesting because I really knew nothing about Nefertiti or the Heretic Pharoah (except for ominous himts from H.P. Lovecraft) so had no idea how it would all turn out. I was disappointed in the end which, though satisfactory in itself, seemed to directly go against the factual "what happened next" portion the author put as the afterword. An explanation of that would have been nice. But it was an engrossing read and a fascinating glimpse into a very different time and place.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Long Live the King (Love & Inheritance Trilogy, #2); Author: Fay Weldon; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I am thoroughly enjoying this series. Historical fiction - lighthearted with great characters and glimpses of the royal family- it is just delightful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Teatime for the Firefly; Author: Shona Patel; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This book was superb. Excellent immersion in an alien (to me) culture, great narrative voice, a people and a way of life I really came to care about. Beautifully and subtly written. A real pleasure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Boleyn King (Boleyn Trilogy, #1); Author: Laura Andersen; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I confess to being a little bemused by the current trend towards what I think of as historical fan-fiction. This is an interesting concept - what if Anne Boleyn had had a son who lived - and the author develops it convincingly. It is fascinating to see familiar characters - Elizabeth, Mary, Robert Dudley, Norfolk et al - and see how they would have developed in this different yet very plausible reality. Plan to read the next installment.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, #3); Author: Susan Wittig Albert; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I absolutely love this little series. The books are charming and sweet, with a good old fashioned mystery thrown in and lots of thinking and talking (but we can't understand them) animals. It is completely delightful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Innocent in Death (In Death, #24); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I didn't just read this book. I was trying to find out where I was and see that I missed entering it. Sometimes I do if I return it to the library right away. I liked it as much as all the others, is what I remember. Date is very approximate.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Creation in Death (In Death, #25); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I am ready to admit that this is not a fair review. I never got past the first few pages and am sorry I read those. The torture description was too horrendous and since it seemed likely it would not be the last such death in the book, not to mention that Eve is remembering this killer from before, so some horrendous torture deaths in retrospect were probably due, I stopped reading it. I dislike the sort of murder where there is an almost prurient interest in the suffering of the victim. It has almost turned me off her books completely but I will give #26 one shot.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Waste Lands; Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Gosh I love this series. I think it must be the best thing King ever wrote with the possible exception of The Stand - with which it has much in common. From the first page I was sucked in and couldn't put it down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The White Princess (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #5); Author: Philippa Gregory; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I love this series. This book was, like the rest, hauntingly sad because really, things don't end well for most people in ye olde War of the Roses. But despite criticism I have heard about Philippa Gregory's playing fast and loose with history, I love her books, I love the human touch she gives to it and this one was no exception.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Firefly Summer; Author: Maeve Binchy; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I love all of her books. This one is rich, dense, full of wonderful characters and plot twists that somehow seem like real life. Highly recommend Maeve Binchy to anyone who likes to curl up with a good read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: History's Most Magnificent Rulers: From Ramses II to Napoleon; Author: Hywel Williams; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: I liked this book and finished it and plan to keep it. It has a lot of very cool information and I learned about rulers I had never heard of. It is pretty world encompassing. 2 caveats keep it from a 5 star rating. One - it is rather dense and so many strange names - place names as well as people's names - are thrown at the reader within the two of three pages allotted to each ruler that after a while it is like 'blah blah, chief ruling sovereign sun king of blah blah, formerly blah, now blah, executed his chief ministers blah blah and blah.' The other is that a map would be helpful. A little map for each ruler showing where their country was at the time they ruled.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wizard and Glass; Author: Stephen King; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I just love love love these books. I think Stephen King is brilliant and his characters, the setting, the plotting, the long plunge into back story - all are brilliant.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Strangers in Death (In Death, #26); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I almost always love these books and I loved this one. I had figured out the twist about 1/3 of the way through but that didn't hinder my enjoyment. I've read a lot of murder mysteries so I spotted this particular element early on. But these 'In Death' books aren't really whodunnits most of the time anyway. It's watching Eve close in on the killer or killers, watching her spin her web, lay her trap and 'get her man' that is the fun of it. And watching the characters develop and grow, not just Eve and her hunky husband Roarke but all their friends and co-workers adds a rich texture that this genre often lacks. If you like these books, you will like this one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Perv: The Sexual Deviant in All of Us; Author: Jesse Bering; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Well, I read it all the way through and learned some interesting tidbits I did not know but the author's self boasting atheism as well as his consigning anyone who feels differently to the scrapheap of science irritated me although to be fair I can understand why a gay man would have this bias, having been put down and judged by religious folk all his life. But the declared aim of this book was to show us the deviant in us all and he didn't do that, in my opinion. There was a lot of (to me) disgraceful apologias for pederasts - oh, it goes way back in our culture, oh many other nations don't share our revulsion for adults who have sexual desires on children oh as long as they don't act on it it is fine and dandy. But this is a result of a world view that gives no credence to sin and some things are just sinful among which I include sexual feelings for children. And then there was a lot of just what he said his book was not about - shocking and titillating perversions (ants in your anus anybody?>) which, I am sorry, seemed just put in there for the "Can you believe anybody would do this?" shock value. I know many would say I missed the point. I didn't.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Earthly Joys (Tradescant, #1); Author: Philippa Gregory; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I liked this book a whole lot although the characters' motivations at times are obscure to me. It is a fascinating glimpse into the old class system, and into the new thinking that replaced it within one generation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Pale Horse; Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: I was delighted to find this Agatha Christie I have never read before. Although it did not feature any of her famous detectives neither did a few other books of hers that were actually my favorites (Crooked House, Ten Little Indians ...) I enjoyed this and am glad to have read it but it is not in my top five.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Hercule Poirot, #1); Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Ah, one of my very favorite of her books. They never get old for me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Copper Beech; Author: Maeve Binchy; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I always love her books and this one was no exception except it seemed rather more loosely structured than some of her others which made it a little harder to keep up with all the characters and their relations to one another and the story. So there would be intervals when one character encountered another and dun dun dun! I could tell it was supposed to be all meaningful to me and I would have to go back to find out why and oh! He was the tinker who sat across from her on the train when she returned from London! Oh! So I enjoyed it but not as much as some of her others.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn; Author: Robin Maxwell; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I thought this book was absolutely terrific. The 'diary' segments were a fascinating look into Anne's life using known quotes and events, and the Elizabeth segments (where she is reading her mother's long lost diary) are riveting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Echoes; Author: Maeve Binchy; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this book - she has a way of creating a rich complex world that is a pleasure to enter each time. But I didn't like the characters as well as I usually do which is why this gets 4 not 5 stars. Still a great read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Boleyn Deceit (The Boleyn Trilogy, #2); Author: Laura Andersen; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: The extraneous romance grew more annoying in this middle book in the trilogy. Like King William (Boleyn) Tudor, Elizabeth, Mary, Lord Rochford et al were not sufficiently interesting so the author had to throw in these two OCs. And since the two OCs, who I believe are supposed to be sympathetic characters, are behaving in an underhanded, dishonest fashion it is hard to root for them. But the fascinating premise and decent writing kept me reading.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Boleyn Reckoning (The Boleyn Trilogy, #3); Author: Laura Andersen; Genres: history, young-adult, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I liked this trilogy enough to keep reading until I had finished them all, but not enough to recommend it to anyone in particular.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Killer (Alex Delaware, #29); Author: Jonathan Kellerman; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I thought this was terrific. A fascinating story, a twisty plot, excellent characters. I like Dr. Delaware and Milo and the whole crew. Just what I ask for in a whodunit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Queen Margot, or Marguerite de Valois (The Last Valois, #1); Author: Alexandre Dumas; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This book was absolutely wonderful and made me go back and retract the five star ratings I had given some other books. It's like I read the mysteries and the lightweight sit com type books and really enjoy them so I'm like okay, 5 stars. Then I read something like this - dense, fascinating, textured, complex but eminently readable and enjoyable - and I remember what a classic book is all about.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jane Austen Ruined My Life; Author: Beth Pattillo; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Cute and intriguing premise, basic chick-lit with an unsatisfactory ending.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wolves of the Calla; Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Love this series and this is a particularly eventful and exciting chapter. Stephen is at his finest when he has a very few people standing for the good and right against seemingly overwhelming odds and prevailing. Excellent.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Minding Frankie; Author: Maeve Binchy; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I love her books and this one was one of my very favorites. Great characters - 3 dimensional and 'real', fascinating story line, real growth in the main characters and a wonderful glimpse into another culture and life. Just enjoyed it thoroughly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wedding Belles; Author: Haywood Smith; Genres: graphic, comics, romance, fiction; Review: Cute enough to finish.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart; Author: Beth Pattillo; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Like the first one in this set - good enough to finish, intriguing plot idea. Would read another by this author in this series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Other Queen (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #16); Author: Philippa Gregory; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I always enjoy this author and her books - love the way they take me away to another place and time. Never was a fan of Mary Queen of Scots but this was well told, a good narrative voice and the glimpses into other characters was good too.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Save the Date: The Occasional Mortifications of a Serial Wedding Guest; Author: Jen Doll; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This was very cute though my empathy for the author waned with each ridiculous drunken episode. How many times does it take to be mortified, sick etc. before you stop drinking like a fish? But it was amusing and interesting and I finished it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Glass Lake; Author: Maeve Binchy; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Not one of my top favorites of hers but I still enjoyed it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter (Dixie, #1); Author: Lisa Patton; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: I liked it enough to finish it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Joyland; Author: Stephen King; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I don't know how I missed this Stephen King book but it was one of his very best in my opinion. Just loved it and could not put it down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball; Author: Donita K. Paul; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I absolutely loved this book. It was sweet and interesting and had great characters. Just loved it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Butterfly (Butterfly Trilogy, #1); Author: Kathryn Harvey; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Pure trash but so much fun and I want to be a member of Butterfly too.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Rule Against Murder (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #4); Author: Louise Penny; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Wow. Just discovered this author and this book was fabulous! Great mystery, very thoughtful and character oriented, wonderful main character. I am going to enjoy reading 5the other books in this series. Highly recommend if you like intelligent whodunnits.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Tale of Hawthorn House (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, #4); Author: Susan Wittig Albert; Genres: history, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Just love these Beatrix Potter books. Love them!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heaven Is For Real Conversation Guide; Author: Todd Burpo; Genres: history, young-adult, children, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Just not sure how I feel about this. I enjoyed reading it, don't get me wrong, and I would love to totally believe it but not sure if it is true, not sure if this really happened, not sure at all. I believe this is what happens, I believe in heaven, I believe in Jesus. Just not sure I believe this particular tale.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Clara; Author: Kurt Palka; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: This book was absolutely amazing. It tells the story of ordinary people, an ordinary woman and those in her life, caught up in the rise of Nazism and World War II. It is perfectly normal people in a dark, abnormal time, just trying to live their lives, stay alive, feed their children while holding on to some humanity, idealism and truth. It was totally engrossing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lilac Bus; Author: Maeve Binchy; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I know I always say how much I love Maeve Binchy and it is still true. This book is one of my favorite genres - a group of people brought together by some chance (in this case they all ride the same private commuter bus) and their interrelationships and how their lives entwine. Maeve writes such beautiful, real and interesting characters that I can never stop reading until I find out how it works out for all of them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Second-Chance Dog: A Love Story; Author: Jon Katz; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance; Review: This was a great story and made me want to go right out and rescue a dog. I admire the author's resolve to tame and save this dog but I was concerned about his other animals - at what point do the rights of the dogs already living in the house supersede those of a newcomer, no matter how needy? But it all worked out well for everybody concerned thanks to this man's determination, dedication and, at times, sheer bodily strength. Highly recommend for all dog lovers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Enemies; Author: Jane Heller; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: I really enjoy Jane Heller's books. They are a huge cut above your typical chick lit while keeping the elements of that genre that I enjoy. This was no exception and I had a ball reading it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Salvation in Death (In Death, #27); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Another excellent book in this excellent series. Enjoyed it thoroughly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Star for Mrs. Blake; Author: April Smith; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This was an absolutely splendid book - the type of book that you hate to put down and can't wait to take up again. I liked all the characters, even the unlikable ones because they were so real. A part of American history I had been completely unaware of and a fascinating story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quentins; Author: Maeve Binchy; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Another fabulous Maeve Binchy book - expanding on the universe she has created in this area of Ireland among these people. Just loved it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cassandra (Delphic Women, #2); Author: Kerry Greenwood; Genres: history, fiction, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I loved this book. It is exactly the sort of thing I like - history through the woman's perspective, a different view of a familiar story, rich background, absorbing narrative, multi-dimensional fascinating characters. Highly recommend if you enjoyed Mists of Avalon etc. by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Ms Greenwood is not quite the writer Ms Bradley is, but then who is.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Medea (Delphic Women, #1); Author: Kerry Greenwood; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I absolutely loved this one. I have since read the other two in the series - because I liked this one so much I went out and ordered the whole trilogy (the Delphic Women series) from Amazon. This is far and away my favorite. A completely different look at a personage we think we know all about, as well as a very clear picture of the position of women in these different cultures - positions which varied widely even within the same time frame, as they still do today. Highly recommend this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Obsession (Alex Delaware, #21); Author: Jonathan Kellerman; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: This is another series I love. I like Alex and Robin, I like Milo, and I always enjoy the psychological aspects of his investigations. The end always takes me by surprise and it is always chilling to see the evil that can lie under an ordinary surface. His books give me nightmares and I often have to put them in the freezer at night. This one was no exception.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Song of Susannah; Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Just not one of my favorites in this series. I never really cared that much for Susannah/Detta/whoever, the whole demon baby thing with its twist as to parentage seemed far fetched to me and I just seemed an interruption to the story. Sorry.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Promises in Death (In Death, #28); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Another excellent version of this series although a little gruesome at parts. I will say for J.D. Robb that she mitigates this at timies - the horror is in retrospect, in viewing a video etc. When it is first hand from the perspective of the victim I find I cannot finish the book which is a tribute to her writing ability. But I made it through this one and it is chilling to reflect on what can influence one's life and death, events quite beyond one's imagination or power to change. The grandmother who appears at the end of the book is one of her best characters, I think and I would like to see her again - as long as she is not killed hideously!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Guilt (Alex Delaware, #28); Author: Jonathan Kellerman; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I liked this book and read it with great enjoyment - again totally fooled by the twists and turns of the plot.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The King's Curse (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #7); Author: Philippa Gregory; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This ties in with the White Princess/White Queen/Kingmaker's Daughter books and brings the curse home where of course it doesn't belong because cursing future generations for the actions of their ancestors is just wrong no matter how you look at it. Engrossing, absorbing, full of color and spectacle and human triumphs and griefs and tragedies. Her books always make me really glad I did not live in ye days of yore and if I did I would not have been struggling for a crown, you bet!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dark Tower; Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Okay, I loved this book. I know other people who sharply disagree, who hated the end, but I thought it was superb all the way through. Stephen King writing himself into the story as a sort of god ex machine seemed odd to me and I have to wonder how hard he hit his head in that accident, but the story on the whole was superb.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kindred in Death (In Death, #29); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Good, scary, creepy, a tad too horrendous. I almost didn't finish it but I did and I was glad I did.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lydia Bennet's Story: A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice; Author: Jane Odiwe; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: If I had rated this book on the first half, the part that follows Pride & Prejudice only from Lydia's POV, I would have given it 2 stars. As long as the author had to use Lydia's actions, dialog and character as it was in P&P, she was stuck with a character who just wasn't interesting enough - silly, flighty, catty, shallow - to sustain a book of her own. It was brought forward how her father's open dislike of her affected her and that was interesting, but in part 2 the author could really take off on her own and Lydia grew and matured due to rather exciting and interesting developments so by the end it was up to 3 stars. I still kept wishing I were reading the original.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Catered Fourth of July (A Mystery with Recipes, #10); Author: Isis Crawford; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Meh.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody #1); Author: Elizabeth Peters; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I read this series many many years ago and I remember starting with #1. But at some point I stopped reading it and new ones came out and I didn't read them because I had missed so much so I am starting over. I enjoyed this book thoroughly. Amelia Peabody is a delightful narrator and heroine and of course Emerson is like an ill mannered Mr. Darcy. The Egyptian background and characters are fascinating and the clear eyed look into mores, prejudices and thought patterns of the era are equally so. I am looking forward to continuing through this series with great pleasure.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Prodigal: A Ragamuffin Story; Author: Brennan Manning; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: This book was inspiring and compelling. It's hard to imagine a less sympathetic lead character than a fallen megachurch pastor (I hate those guys!) but this book makes him real and reminds us that we are all sinners, that God loves and forgives us and that second chances and new beginnings are possible. I loved it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Pursuit of Mary Bennet: A Pride & Prejudice Novel; Author: Pamela Mingle; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This book was better than the last one of this genre I read - both better written and, I think, the author had more leeway with Mary Bennet than Lydia Wickham nee Bennet offered since Mary was less drawn in to begin with. I confess to being bemused by the genre of what amounts to fan fiction for classic novels. It feels new to me but I suppose it isn't - how long ago was it that 'Scarlett' and 'Rhett Butler's People' et al were written? And of course we can't overlook the whole "Pride & Prejudice with Zombies" type of books of which I think there are many. Anyway, I enjoyed this book pretty well.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Leah's Choice (Pleasant Valley, #1); Author: Marta Perry; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This is one of my favorite of this newly popular genre of Amish books. I liked the main character and the supporting characters are well drawn, too. The author has a clear eye for children as well. I like a book where faith and the struggle to know and follow God's Will is accurately drawn. I will definitely look for the next book in this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Debbie Doesn't Do It Anymore; Author: Walter Mosley; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: This was a terrific book. It is a fascinating look into a subculture with which most of us have very little interaction except perhaps as consumers. I don't even have that much but I had no difficulty identifying with these damaged yet hardy characters. It is a riveting tale of loss and pain and sorrow and redemption. I loved it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bury Your Dead (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #6); Author: Louise Penny; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: This is the second book I have read in this series - I liked the first (when I say 'first' and 'second' I mean as the order I found and read them. I am not reading them in the order in which they were written as you can see above. But I am going to start now - it is so helpful that Goodreads obligingly gives you the #s in the series). These are thoughtful, deep, and in this book's case, dark mysteries. In this volume the author manages to have 3 separate crime narratives going on and none of them get confused and each one is rich and fascinating and they didn't magically come together in the end but each came to its own conclusion and contributed to the growth and healing of the main characters. I loved it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tara Road; Author: Maeve Binchy; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This was a wonderful book - rich, absorbing, with turns in the plot I didn't foresee but which seemed like the most natural developments in the world. Wonderful characters, authentic dialogue and, as always in her books an immersion in the culture of Ireland as well as, a rare treat, contemporary suburban America. Just loved it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Abstinence Teacher; Author: Tom Perrotta; Genres: non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I actually really liked this book all the way through to the end until the end. It presents a very interesting perspective on the Christian fundamentalist vs secular humanity conflict and it was noteworthy that both sides felt ganged up on and persecuted - at least in this author's view and I would think it is pretty accurate. But I like my books and stories to come to some sort of conclusion, not just stop, like the author is like 'well, I'm done'. No resolution, no climax, just a last page. This may be shallow of me and the not ended ending probably is more life like but that's how I feel.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rachel's Garden (Pleasant Valley, #2); Author: Marta Perry; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I enjoyed the second book in this series as much as the first one. Lots of Amish detail, good characters, fun dialog in the dialect of the Amish of PA. (I assume - I don't really know first hand but I think the author did her research). Rather predictable romance development but I like that. If I am reading a romance novel I want the romance to flower despite the obstacles. I feel cheated when the author goes for the 'realistic' ending like the "Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart" "Jane Austen Ruined My Life" books. I'm shallow that way.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #1); Author: Louise Penny; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: After accidentally stumbling across this series, and reading two of them in random order I am going back and starting with the 1st. Thoughtful, intelligent, a little dark but with warmth and faith in human nature and a deep love story at the heart of this long married couple. Excellent side characters, great plotting. Really enjoyed it and looking forward to the rest of the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cat Among the Pigeons (Hercule Poirot, #32); Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: I just love love love Agatha Christie's books (most of them - not a fan of the Tommy & Tuppence series). I must have read this book ten times and I enjoyed it just as much this time around and had (as often happens) totally forgotten whodunit. The setting at an English exclusive girls' boarding school made for interesting characters among students and staff alike. An excellent read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anna's Return (Pleasant Valley, #3); Author: Marta Perry; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Of all the Amish romance/mystery books I have read lately this is my favorite series by far. Each book features a different person's challenge - so far it is someone whom you have met before in an earlier volume, and the main characters of those earlier volumes form the backdrop so as time goes on and you read more you are immersed in a rich community of people you feel you know. It is very enjoyable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kings & Queens of England: From the Saxon Kings to the House of Windsor; Author: Nigel Cawthorne; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: I enjoyed this book - it was rather dry at times but thorough and mostly interesting. It had a lot of great pictures and interesting sidebars on things like the plague, the Field of the Cloth of Gold etc.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Otherhood: Modern Women Finding A New Kind of Happiness; Author: Melanie Notkin; Genres: history, children, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: This was a thoughtful and thought provoking look at a segment of society which does not include me, so I am not offering a lot of opinion since who am I to review someone else's life? But the thrust is an examination of women who are childless by circumstance. Not by choice, because these women always assumed they would have marriage and children and desired same. Not by necessity - i.e. they are not physically infertile. They just never met the man they wanted to have children and raise a family with and are not willing to become single parents at the age of 40 some odd. Is this in fact the result of choices made, or pure fate and chance? The author leans towards the latter and in fact waxes indignant on the idea that she ever made 'choices' that led her here. I am a little skeptical about that - after all, she ditches a perfectly nice man after one date because of his laugh - because perfection just ain't out there - or in here. But I totally sympathize with the idea of waiting for your one true love, I believe in the soulmate, and I ... am still single after over 35 years divorce. But having children was not something I ever saw two ways about and I did marry a man who I thought was a good friend, thinking that was as good a base for raising children together as any. It wasn't, but I have my children. Actually I am among what the author described as the "very few" people who actively choose to live alone. But if I were doing so childless - I don't know. I think that would be a whole different kettle o' fish. I do totally agree with the author's premise that no one should devalue somebody else's life experience and we should not devalue our own. Recommend this book if you are interested in women's lives, both inner and outer, whether or not they mirror your own; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Burglar in the Library (Bernie Rhodenbarr, #8); Author: Lawrence Block; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I really like this series - not as dark as his Matt Scuder series and not as disquieting as the Hit Man series which I can't even read. The main characters talk to one another in a very witty one liner/quip type of way that leaves me, as when I read Jane Austen, wishing people really talked like that. One line towards the end reduced me to helpless laughter - the kind that is so good for your heart, blood pressure and immune system. I laughed out loud all by myself for quite a while and whenever I slowed down I peeked at that line and I was off again. Thanks, Mr. Block! I needed that!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: This Year It Will Be Different, and other stories; Author: Maeve Binchy; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This was a sweet - and sometimes bittersweet - collection of stories by one of my favorite authors. It is a little troubling how many of them centered on young women having affairs with married men and it not working out and they become older but wiser. Are that many young women having affairs with married men?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 451; Author: Ray Bradbury; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: I go back and forth on Ray Bradbury - sometimes I am totally immersed in his floods of words, adjectives, adverbs, flowing on and on and on and sometimes I just want to shout "Get on with the story, damnit!" I have the same issue with Thomas Wolfe. It depends on my mood and this time around I was more in the "okay okay and THEN what happened?" Which I suppose speaks to his brilliance as a story teller - on the one hand I want to turn the pages faster to see what happens next and on the other hand I don't want to miss a word. I read this a very long time ago and had either forgotten the end or never reached it. Futuristic novels are always interesting for what they foresee - big video screens and what really sounds a lot like "Life with the Kardashians" on the wife's video walls - and what they don't - personal computers, the Internet and the fact that walking back to a city destroyed by atomic weapons RIGHT AFTER THE EVENT might not be too healthy if you plan to live long enough to carry these memorized books to the next generation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls; Author: Anton DiSclafani; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: On the one hand I think this book deserves a higher rating. It was very well written with a fascinating look into a place and time I had never imagined - back in the Depression when girls' education had no requirements or accountability because they were just girls - no tests or grades, just some subjects they needed to know to be able to speak intelligently to their future husbands' co-workers and bosses. And it is set here, in the Appalachian Mountains near Asheville. The lead character is interesting ... it is a good book. I finished it. I didn't want to put it down. But in the long run it left me feeling rather depressed and down and I wouldn't look for another one by this author despite her brilliance as a writer. You might love it. It deserves to be loved. But I didn't.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Fatal Grace (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #2); Author: Louise Penny; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Oh, this was a good book. Rich, dense, deep, great characterizations, great dialog, winter in Quebec (BRRR!!!) and on top of that a wonderful mystery. Ms Penny has the gift of alluding to prior events in the characters' lives without over-explaining but without leavingly you annoyingly mystified either. This book was perfect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fantasy in Death (In Death, #30); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Another great book in this series. It was less hideous than the last one which is a plus for me. Fascinating mode of murder, great characters, less detailed sex (I tend to skim those pages where Eve 'fists her hands' in Roarke's hair and her 'eyes go blank' and Roarke slides into her slippery silk - I don't object to it and I get why she does it but after a while I just want to get on with the story. Maybe I'm just jealous. Anyway. I enjoyed this one thoroughly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Light a Penny Candle; Author: Maeve Binchy; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This book was absolutely fabulous. A wonderful, rich, compelling read with people I really cared about and complex plot turns that really read like real life. One of my absolute favorites of hers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edwin of the Iron Shoes; Author: Marcia Muller; Genres: mystery, thriller, children, crime, fiction; Review: I know I am in the minority in only thinking this book was - eh. Okay. I see it has an average of over 4 stars here, and by the sheer volume of her books on the shelves I know she is very popular. I will persist in this series hoping it becomes more multi-dimensional and fleshed out as it continues because I do see potential in this heroine and her (obvious from the first meeting) cop beloved. No real explanation was given for his change from obnoxious mcp to kind understanding supportive resource except that it was clear that she was going to end up with him so he had to become more likable and that isn't enough for me. But I will go ahead and reserve #2 in the series.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Evidence (Alex Delaware, #24); Author: Jonathan Kellerman; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I didn't want to put this one down. It was gripping and exciting and two murder mysteries were twined together, bringing up past nefarious deeds as well as the current case. Jonathan Kellerman is one of my favorites and this book did not let me down.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cruelest Month (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #3); Author: Louise Penny; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Wow. This was amazing. Deep, rich, dense, exciting and suspenseful. I absolutely loved it and am reserving the next book in this series as soon as I am finished here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Standing in the Rainbow (Elmwood Springs, #2); Author: Fannie Flagg; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this, as I do all her books. I just wish it were longer! The early years - a fascinating look into post WWII America - were so detailed and explored characters, events and choices in great depth. By the last 5th or so of the book it had sped up till it was a series of then ... and then ... and next ... I did enjoy getting to see how it all turned out for everybody but I would have preferred a whole second volume on that time! A compliment to the author, I suppose.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ask the Cards a Question; Author: Marcia Muller; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: Again I can't say much more that 'it was all right' for this series but I am going to persevere because I want to like it. Partly because so many other people rave about it, partly because I want to give Ms Muller the benefit of the doubt that things will improve and partly because there are so many of them that if I love them how many hours of reading pleasure await me. Besides, it was okay. Interesting extra characters, less focus on the predictable romance. Convoluted crime pattern that the heroine figures out very quickly. I don't mean early in the book, I mean suddenly within about five pages all becomes clear - to her, that is. It was so convoluted that I had to keep stopping and going back - who was that? when did that happen? etc. but that is probably a reflection of how fragmented my reading time is. If I had been able to read it all the way through in one or two sittings I may not have had that problem. Anyway, not just good enough to finish, but good enough to look for numbere 3.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Power of a Praying® Life Prayer and Study Guide: Finding the Freedom, Wholeness, and True Success God Has for You; Author: Stormie Omartian; Genres: non-fiction; Review: This book was excellent. I liked the way it was organized, and her words are simple, sincere and true. I could apply most of it to my own life. Prayer is a mystery but truly we now see as through a glass darkly. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Innocent (War of the Roses, #1); Author: Posie Graeme-Evans; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I do love this sort of historical fiction but it was a tad too romancy to get 5 stars from me. It does amuse me that the same plot line that would make me gag in a normal novel holds my interest if you set it in ye days of yore. It was also very interesting that as soon as the main character made the astonishing discovery about her lineage not only the attitudes of the people around her but her own view of her self completely changed. I can't say more without spoiling, but it showed to me the importance of rank and family.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Therapy (Alex Delaware, #18); Author: Jonathan Kellerman; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: His books are all so good and quite creepy too. The only problem I have with Kellerman's books is there are so very many side characters, and some of them are mentioned only briefly (ex. not from book but generic) Milo had seen Freddy Kruger eating waffles at his favorite restaurant that morning and noted he seemed unusually pleased with himself as he polished his steel claw fingernails. Well, then 100 some odd pages later LO! Freddy is - not the killer because even that would be too easy - but the brother's sister's n'er do well nephew who bought bad drugs from some other random person who had tripped over Alex & Robin's pet dog Spike while jogging oon the beach and HIS great great grandfather whom all had believed dead was the killer! I am always turning pages backwards frantically trying to find this elusive person who is suddenly crucial to the case.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three Brides, No Groom; Author: Debbie Macomber; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Pap. Cute, readable pap, but pap nonetheless. I expected mre from Debbie Macomber, whose quilting books I really enjoy.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Silent Partner (Alex Delaware, #4); Author: Jonathan Kellerman; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I know I always say I love Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware books but it is always true. I do. This is evidently an earlier one and I liked the glimpse of a younger Alex and a Milo still so caught in the homophobia of that era. This story was extremely creepy and would kind of put me off of psychotherapy if I were seeking it out - especially if I were young and impressionable. Watch out who you trust, who you love, who you believe. Watch out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Indulgence in Death (In Death, #31); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Another terrific book in this series. Well plotted, fast moving - I didn't want to put it down. A chilling look into the minds of 'soul mate' psychopaths and an all around great read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Curse of the Pharaohs (Amelia Peabody, #2); Author: Elizabeth Peters; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: These books may not be great literature but it gets five starts from me anyway because they are so completely enjoyable. Fascinating backdrop, wonderful look into a certain mindset of a type and a time and excellent entertaining mystery with absolutely terrific characters. Love Amelia Peabody's voice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1); Author: Ken Follett; Genres: history, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This book/series was recommended by my sister, Elaine and I am so grateful. It was awesome. It was magnificent. If I could give more stars I would. I won't give away any of the story but it is set in the 1200s and focuses on the struggle between might and right. It made me very glad I live in the time and place I do, because even though people still commit atrocities they can't just go trotting back to their castles all devil may care because no law can touch them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tudor Queens of England; Author: David Loades; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: This was an excellent book. It offered a dispassionate studied narrative of the lives of fascinating women as well as a clear look at the conventions of the day and the varying roles a queen would have filled. There is a brief epilogue discussing queens of England right up to the present day which was interesting and enjoyable as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy Case (Amelia Peabody, #3); Author: Elizabeth Peters; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Fun, intriguing, and the addition of Ramses is great.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sarah's Gift (Pleasant Valley, #4); Author: Marta Perry; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I am enjoying this series immensely. It is the same issue as with historical romances - I don't generally read romances, I disdain those books where within the first chapter you know who the love interest will be etc. but throw in some 'ain't so' and 'boppli', put the protagonists in those buggies and I am all about it. It is also nice to read books where people are truly looking to God for help and trying to do what would please Him.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Brutal Telling (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #5); Author: Louise Penny; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: This book was tantalizing because when I first found this series by reading a random book out of order it referenced what I now find to be this book. I quickly had realized that this is NOT a series to read out of order so now as I move through them I reach this one wherein, oddly, I know the surprise ending that is an unknown number of books down the line but I knew nothing of what led up to it. I can't wait to reach that book again because so much will make sense that did not, earlier. All of these books are absolutely wonderful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One True Thing; Author: Anna Quindlen; Genres: non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This was an absolutely beautiful book. Wonderfully written, excellent characters, excellent narrative voice. It seemed so sad to me - well, the book is sad, of course, the slow deterioration and death from cancer of the narrative's mother - but that these people had no idea of God in their lives. There was no prayer, no reading of Bible verses or singing of hymns, no looking ahead to meeting again. They truly, as Paul said, sorrowed as those who have no hope. Because they had none.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: To Look and Pass; Author: Taylor Caldwell; Genres: fiction; Review: I don't really know what to say about Taylor Caldwell. There are books of hers I have enjoyed immensely, and even this one, with its meager two stars, I finished fairly quickly and was not tempted to abandon it. Her characters are not so much living people as archetypes, and they repeat in every book. The well meaning, rather clumsy young man who means well but causes harm by that very well meaning. The noble yet socially clueless man who comes to grief because he does not understand the malice and hatred of those who are less than he is. The sweet pure woman who is often often misunderstood and hated. The cozy domestic wife. The vicious evil one (can be man or woman) with dancing eyes filled with malice. This particular book was written in 1973 and is at least lacking in the long political conspiracy diatribes about bankers and munitions manufacturers and their great evil. Sometimes I wonder - did she not think we would recognize the exact same polemics even though coming from different characters mouths? But Caldwell is sort of a poor man's Ayn Rand. She is (incredibly) viciously anti woman although I am sure she would deny that. But listen to this quote from this book "Women have no originality, no power, and little fortitude in other than physical matters, and so education is an affectation to women, adding nothing to them except stupidity and arrogance ... giving them an education adds a shrillness and clamor beyond endurance to them." This was said by the noble clueless man and the viewpoint was never challenged - in fact it was proven out by the women in the story. So I can't say that I like her, but I read her books and one of them "Testimony of Two Men" is one of my favorites.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: World Without End (Kingsbridge, #2); Author: Ken Follett; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Wow. This book was absolutely amazing. Just as good as the first in the series with the added excitement of the plague. I loved all the characters - even the evil lords - and could not put it down. I see that this is all in this series but I plan to start the Century trilogy next. Cannot recommend this series highly enough.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gone (Alex Delaware, #20); Author: Jonathan Kellerman; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Creepy as all get out.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lion in the Valley (Amelia Peabody, #4); Author: Elizabeth Peters; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I really liked this book - I like this series. The ending of this book was so OTT that I kept waiting for the catch - but there was none. It is as bodice ripping as one could possibly imagine so just relax and enjoy it and stop looking for the twist ending. There isn't one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Cry From The Dark; Author: Robert Barnard; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Another one of my favorite authors. He writes intriguing mysteries with interesting, well drawn, three dimensional characters and there is always some little twist. If his books were a cocktail they would be 'suspense with a twist of wry'.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Esther: Royal Beauty (Dangerous Beauty, #1); Author: Angela Elwell Hunt; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I liked this book. It was an interesting glimpse into another culture and interesting to see the Bible story play out with this author's interpretation of the characters. I found it a fast read and fun.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Katie's Way (Pleasant Valley, #5); Author: Marta Perry; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Enjoyed it thoroughly, fast read, predictable but sweet.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Treachery in Death (In Death, #32); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I always say that I always enjoy this series, and it is always true. This particular one doesn't stand out especially but it was fun to read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Cinderella Killer (Charles Paris, #19); Author: Simon Brett; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Simon Brett is another of my favorite authors and I enjoyed this book. It gives an interesting view into the world of community theater and it always fascinates me to think about what people are into.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Body in the Belfry (Faith Fairchild, #1); Author: Katherine Hall Page; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to. Good characters, an interesting situation for the amateur sleuth (a pastor's wife and mother) good detecting. Am going to look for the second in this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Deeds of the Disturber (Amelia Peabody, #5); Author: Elizabeth Peters; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Enjoying my re-read of this series. I think I stopped reading them at some point so will reach a place where I am not familiar with the stories. Have to love Emerson and Ramses. And Amelia is a wonderful voice.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Family Nobody Wanted; Author: Helen Grigsby Doss; Genres: history, young-adult, children, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I really love this book. I read it years ago - I mean years ago, when I was young - I mean really young, like in grade school - and loved it. Surely a long lost track of book from one's youth is a lovely thing to rediscover. Today, with interracial adoptions and overseas adoptions far more common place, it is good to look back and see that we really have made strides.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 11/22/63; Author: Stephen King; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, romance, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: There were things I liked about this book - the whole immersion in the early 60s, the reappearance of characters like Beverly and Eddie from "It" but I finished it with a feeling of 'eh'. Really this gigundo book boiled down to "Time travel is good! You can save John Kennedy!" "Oh no! Time travel is bad! You don't know how your own present will be changed but odds are it won't be good!" Eh.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: All Night Long; Author: Jayne Ann Krentz; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This was one of those books that I would enjoy reading while I was reading it, but when I would have to stop and put it down I didn't really care about it and wasn't eager to get back to it. I finished it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gossip from Thrush Green (Thrush Green, #6); Author: Miss Read; Genres: history, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I absolutely love Miss Read's books. They are sweet and honest and true - cozies without the pesky murders. Details of English village life (this book was written in 1955) and specifically the life of a country schoolteacher. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and if the day ever comes that I get to go to England a country village ala Misses Read and Marple is high on my list.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Body in the Kelp (Faith Fairchild, #2); Author: Katherine Hall Page; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: This is the second book in this series and I am really enjoying it. Interesting characters, a good whodunnit which I did not figure out before the reveal, beautiful setting and fascinating quilting background. Totally plan to find and read the third.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Crimson Cord: Rahab's Story (Daughters of the Promised Land, #1); Author: Jill Eileen Smith; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I do love books about women in the Bible, and while I know it is fiction the elements that explain the culture of the times, placing the familiar Bible verses in the right historical perspective, are fascinating to me. All the Bible tells us about Rahab is that she was a prostitute. This book explores the ways in which a woman would enter that life and being sold into slavery to cover another's debts (in this case her husband but it could just as easily have been her father or her brother or any other man who was over her) is one of them. Women were so powerless, but this woman found some self determination and helped the Israelite spies. The view of her as a slave also explains why she would so readily sell out her city and countrymen to this wandering nomadic nation. It was well written and fascinating and Rahab emerges as a real flesh and blood woman who helped change history.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: New York to Dallas (In Death, #33); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Another amazing read in this series. Dallas goes back to her roots in more ways than one and (again) must confront the nightmares from her past. Tangled in with this is a thrilling case with a stone cold killer, civilians in dire peril etc. Thoroughly enjoyed it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chestnut Street; Author: Maeve Binchy; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I am generally not a big reader of short stories mainly because they tend to be depressing. I don't know why that is, but most short story collections leave me feeling down. But Maeve Binchy's collection of short stories, all linked by location and, often, characters, was beautiful. Just a lovely glimpse into a neighborhood's lives - as if we are walking by and see all those lit windows at night and are picturing the lives within.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Trick of the Light (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #7); Author: Louise Penny; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: This book was beautiful. It gives a new insight (for me, anyway) into art and the artistic process as well as the deep unpleasant depths of the human heart, even when there is love there. A terrific mystery and beautifully written, as are all her books. Could not put it down and finished it in one summer day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Southern Women; Author: Lois Battle; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Eh. I finished it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lionheart (Plantagenets #4); Author: Sharon Kay Penman; Genres: history, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Wow. What a book! This was absolutely fantastic. I wish I had read it in order as I see that it is the 4th in this series, but I will force myself (ha ha) to go back and start with #1. Rich, dense, absorbing, fascinating characters. I had always thought of Richard as a 'bad king' because he spent so little time in England etc. etc. but Ms Penman makes many things about the era clear - the vital importance that was placed on going on Crusade for one, and the relative insignificance to Richard of his English domain compared with the rest of his holdings for another. It is hard to get into the mindset of the Crusade mentality but the author does an excellent job at that and other things too, such as the position of women, the vital importance of legitimacy and other customs. The view of a 'good king' as first and foremost a warrior is also fascinating and all put together it really reminded me of the necessity of viewing historical figures in their own context, not mine. That not only vastly enriched my understanding of this book, this period and these characters, but will carry through to other historical books and film as well. Thank you Sharon Penman!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Main Street; Author: Sinclair Lewis; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: This book should probably get five stars because it is certainly a worthy tome and of course very well written but full of unlikable characters and extremely depressing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last Camel Died at Noon (Amelia Peabody, #6); Author: Elizabeth Peters; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This series is so much fun to read, and the drama heightens with every installment. The desert, the hidden city, the ... well, I won't spoil it but it was enthralling and I raced through it in one day.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Tudors The Kings And Queens Of England's Golden Age; Author: Jane Bingham; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I am such a sucker for these books and they are usually pretty cheap at Barnes & Nobles. Enjoyed this one thoroughly. Good pictures, excellent detail. A great edition to my library.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: O's Big Book of Happiness; Author: Terri Laschober Robertson; Genres: non-fiction; Review: I enjoyed this thoroughly. A good mix of good articles and photos without the annoying ads that are so prolific in the magazine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Village School (Fairacre, #1); Author: Miss Read; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: I absolutely adore all of these Miss Read books. I read and re-read them and love their perfect summoning up of another time and place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Celebrity in Death (In Death, #34); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: An excellent book in this series. Fascinating look at the film industry in this near future society, the lives of the celebrities and their hangers-on not having changed all that much. Fun too to see Dallas, Peabody et al through the eyes of the Hollywood stars playing them in the movie (or 'vid' as they will call in when these are the good old days).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The World of Thrush Green; Author: Miss Read; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: This was a lovely exploration of the fictional village of Thrush Green, as created by Miss Read. It has color photographs of the area around it, and charming sketches of the areas of the town and the homes and the townspeople. I enjoyed it thoroughly as I always love being immersed in this sweet old fashioned world.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Beautiful Mystery (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #8); Author: Louise Penny; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Loved this as I do all the Inspector Gamache books. This one is set in a remote monastery and provides a fascinating glimpse into this cloistered life centered around worship and music - which are one and the same. It ends on a dreadful emotional cliff hanger which left me raw and anxiously searching the library files for the next installment.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Delusion in Death (In Death, #35); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This book is absolutely hideous and gripping and a compelling read which I could not put down, yet could not wait to finish. Terrible evil plot, terrible death and destruction, brilliant crime solving. One of the very best 'In Death' books I have ever read. Ms Robb is tending towards that 'jumping the shark' time (for me at least) in crime novels and shows where the emphasis is becoming too much on personal involvement with the main characters. Someone is deliberately stalking Eve. Somebody from Roarke's past has returned. That is okay in small doses but when it goes to far it completely ruins the series for me - I stopped reading the Kay Scarpetta series for the same reason. But this book steps away from that and I was glad to see it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Revival; Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I absolutely hated this book. Now that doesn't mean that I didn't finish it, or even that I could put it down. It was riveting and absorbing and hideous. The end is so hideous that I have to think Stephen King suffered some form of brain/ego/psyche damage when that van hit him. The man who used to write about people who stood, or didn't stand, now writes about absolutely universal hopelessness. Worse than hopelessness. I hated it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: How the Light Gets In (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #9); Author: Louise Penny; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I say this every time and will doubtless go on saying it but these Inspector Gamache books are absolutely wonderful. Rich, complex, layer upon layer of plot and characterization and exploration of the human psyche. It picked up where the emotionally harrowing cliffhanger left off in the last book and continued to be so gut wrenching that I had to look ahead to the end which I very seldom do unless a child or an animal is at risk. The title centers on the idea that we are all damanged - 'cracked' by life but that it is through those very cracks that the light gets in. At once philosophy, theosophy, psychology and a gripping murder mystery, I highly - HIGHLY - recommend this series and if you do decide to read it start at the very beginning with the first book. Goodreads makes this very easy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Story of God and All of Us: A Novel Based on the Epic TV Miniseries "The Bible"; Author: Roma Downey; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this simplification/fictionalization/retelling of the Bible stories. It was a pleasant read, and interesting to read the Bible as a complete sweeping story without all those begats and meaurements. Not a substitute but a companion.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hippopotamus Pool (Amelia Peabody, #8); Author: Elizabeth Peters; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I don't know why I didn't write a review of this book when I posted it - I generally do. Maybe the cat who sleeps on the desk accidentally deleted it. All I remember now it that this installment was typical of the series - I enjoyed it without remembering it very well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Body in the Bouillon (Faith Fairchild, #3); Author: Katherine Hall Page; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I am enjoying this series - the heroine is likeable, the settings are well drawn and interesting, and the mystery is intriguing. Working my way through it and really appreciate Goodreads making that so easy. The library catalog does not always include what number in a series a particular book is, making it necessary to find the publication date and even that can be tricky if it is a different edition. If you like your mysteries and suspense without hideous gore and you enjoy reading about different places, then I recommend this series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Affairs at Thrush Green (Thrush Green, #7); Author: Miss Read; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I have reviewed these Miss Read books often enough now that I don't feel the need for a lot of words. They are sweet and true and beautifully written. I cannot say enough good things about this series (which I discovered quite by accident, intrigued by the author's name). They are like Agatha Christie's without the murders. Loved this book, loved it, loved it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Liberty Falling (Anna Pigeon, #7); Author: Nevada Barr; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: This is one of my very favorite of the Anna Pigeon books because the surroundings are fascinating. I had never thought of Ellis Island or the Statue of Liberty being national parks but obviously they are. The descriptions of the maze of Ellis Island, focusing on the abandoned unvisited sections was a wonderful glimpse into a world I never knew existed. As Anna wandered through there I felt as if I were there myself - without the ever present danger and bat guano, ha ha. A great thriller, a totally unexpected ending, unseen and unsuspected villains - I loved it all the way through. This is not the first time I have read it, and I don't think it will be the last.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Tree of Liberty; Author: Elizabeth Page; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: This was an old fashioned type of book - at least that is how it felt to me while I was reading it. I alternated between being fascinated and kind of wishing I would finish it - it dragged in some places and there was an element of 'and then, and then, and then' type of storytelling but it was a fascinating look into American history and overall I really enjoyed it. I would read another book by this author if I came across it but I am not hunting for one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog (Amelia Peabody, #7); Author: Elizabeth Peters; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this book - not as much as the others because I don't care for the whole amnesia thing and the romance between Amelia and Radcliffe is a favorite element of mine - without it I just didn't like it as well. But hey, that's me. The story was good, the archaeological detail fascinating and the mystery excellent.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Performance; Author: Richard Avedon; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: This book was amazing. I bought it at a used book store and the price was hefty for a used book but the photographs are absolutely spectacular. Not only do they capture an era in our cultural history but each one is an individual work of art. I could not put this book down until I had wallowed in each and every photo and accompanying text. Beautiful. The book itself is a giant work of art. I love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When Christ and His Saints Slept (Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, #1); Author: Sharon Kay Penman; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Whenever I pick up a book as thick and dense as this one is my first thought is "This better get real good real fast or I'm moving on." A book like this is a big investment in time. But oh my word this book was more than real good. This book was absolutely fantastic. I was completely taken into this other world and caught up in the lives of these characters. I learned a great deal about a period of history I knew little to nothing about, and plan to pursue more of her books. She is a wonderful historical fiction writer in that it doesn't read like fiction - it is so factual and rings so true - but it isn't like a heavy history book either, all about dates and movements of armies with no insight into the people. And nearly every night after I closed the book for bed, the blessing I cited topmost in my journal is 'I didn't live back then'.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Downtown; Author: Anne Rivers Siddons; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This was a different type of book for this author - at least it seemed so to me. Set in Atlanta during the 60's, a time of cultural upheaval, it is a coming of age story that really spoke to me. It so poignantly captured the hero worship of youth, the searching after a family of the heart when one's biological family seems unsatisfactory, that shining time when all comes together and one rides the wave in triumph and glory, and the inevitable change, passing and end of it all. As I grew older I realized that life is really a series of intervals and while each interval seems permanent at the time none of it is. But the first time it happens is a shock, and a blow, and one either grows up at that time or spends the remainder of life like a child clutching at happiness. I really liked this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Devil's Brood (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #3); Author: Sharon Kay Penman; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: This book was amazing. I knew very little about this period of history so it was all fascinating and riveting - the passion, the wars, the love, the betrayals - amazing. The portrayals of these characters - Eleanor and Henry, Richard and John and everybody else - it was a total absorbing experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: You're Never Weird on the Internet; Author: Felicia Day; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: This book was cute - I am a huge fan of The Guild so was delighted for this opportunity to hear from Ms Day. The message is important, especially for younger women/girls who are still trying to find their community. I liked it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World; Author: Paul E. Miller; Genres: non-fiction; Review: I read these books because i believe they are good for me, and not because they are such page turners. This was no exception. Not riveting but interesting with many thoughts to ponder.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Taming of the Queen (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #12); Author: Philippa Gregory; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I am a total sucker for these books. I absolutely loved this one. Katherine Parr is one of the queens that has been - if not overlooked, certainly not focused on to the degree some of Henry's other wives were. This book gives a truly insightful look into Katherine's heart and the only thing keeping it from 5 stars is my feeling that Henry is not so three dimensional and human as I would have liked.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Love Goddess' Cooking School; Author: Melissa Senate; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this book thoroughly. I love the 'random collection of strangers learn about more than (fill in the blank here - cooking, knitting, high school equivalency diploma, memoir writing) but learn about life and in the process their own lives improve and at least two of them fall in love" genre. This was well done and the characters were interestingly written. I liked it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thankless in Death (In Death, #37); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I have already said how much I love these books and I still do. This particular one is always chilling because it makes me wonder who in my life I have inadvertently offended to the point that they will return some day and subject me to a slow horrific death. Yikes. I have to skim the brutal torture scenes, as I skim the graphic sex scenes, but I can never put these books down until I am finished.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Bright Tomorrow (American Century, #1); Author: Gilbert Morris; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I barely remember this book, although I finished it, which tells me 'it was ok' as the two stars indicate. I do love a Christian based book because it is refreshing and pleasant to read about people who, like me, try to please Christ and live a real Christian life, but my memory of this book is that the characters didn't really strike me as 'real' people. Plan to speed up my entry process so I have better recall.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Roman Blood (Roma Sub Rosa, #1); Author: Steven Saylor; Genres: history, fiction, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I absolutely loved this book and plan to read the whole series. The setting was fascinating, the characters true to their times while remaining recognizably human so I cared about what happened to them. Does that make sense? I have read books set in ye olde daye where the characters were so removed from my life that it was hard to care. But these people lived and bled and suffered and loved and solved crime - yes. Wonderful to find a new author and a new series. Wonderful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: And Then There Were Nuns: Adventures in a Cloistered Life; Author: Jane Christmas; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I enjoyed the views of these different convents and the differing lives of modern nuns. I was irritated by the author who seemed so self absorbed that I felt she wasted this opportunity, but if it helped her who am I to judge?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Body in the Vestibule (Faith Fairchild, #4); Author: Katherine Hall Page; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: While this series is cute and entertaining and usually gets at least 3 stars from me I was beyond disgusted with little Miss Faith this go round because she is pregnant and yet she blithely risks her life and hence the life of her unborn baby chasing murderers. You know what, Faith? Your primary responsibility is to the baby in your womb. Let les gendarmes handle the murders this time around. Okay? Got it? Good.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Small Furry Prayer: Dog Rescue and the Meaning of Life; Author: Steven Kotler; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I am all about some dog rescue and I enjoyed this book although the author is so self congratulatory and pretentious I nearly choked on some of his prose.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last Days of California; Author: Mary Miller; Genres: non-fiction, young-adult, fiction; Review: It was okay. Inside the mind of an adolescent girl is not always that fascinating a place. I finished it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Divergent (Divergent, #1); Author: Veronica Roth; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I liked this and plan to go on with the series. Fascinating dystopian universe, interesting to speculate on what system I would choose (I liked the Amity, I think - or Amiable or whatever it was) and know for a fact I would not survive those initiations. Interesting look at human nature which persists in being human no matter what the ruling systems try to do to it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Autobiography of James T. Kirk; Author: David A. Goodman; Genres: history, romance, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Okay. I gave this book one star more than I otherwise would based on the writing and all because it is about Captain Kirk whom I absolutely love. So I loved being 'in his head' so to speak, and hearing about all his adventures and all. And it absolutely killed me that the author disposed of ST V "The Final Frontier" by making it only a movie the characters watched instead of part of the canon. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Corpse on the Court (Fethering Mystery, #14); Author: Simon Brett; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Love Simon Brett, love this series. Very interesting learning about Real Tennis, of which I had never even heard. Like Carol and Jude, enjoy the mystery and the solving thereof. Good times all around.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Carly's Voice: Breaking Through Autism; Author: Arthur Fleischmann; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: I loved this book. It was inspiring and very touching. It is fascinating to hear from people with autism what their experience is although from other reading I have done I know that this is not a universal panacea. As the saying has it "If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism." It did inspire me to obtain a similar device for a child in my preschool class with severe autism, who was non verbal. However he was not interested in it although he did learn to press the image for 'no' when we would try to encourage him to use it. Maybe he was too young - 4. In any event the poignant reminder that we all have depths and we all need to treat and be treated with respect was deeply moving to me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Concealed in Death (In Death, #38); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I always love these books and this one was especially intriguing due to the cold nature of the case. (I mean it was an old case, not that it happened in the Arctic ha ha). The character development and relationship development in this series is also always satisfying and it is one of those series you really need to read chronologically. A fast thrilling read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Street Dreams (Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus, #15); Author: Faye Kellerman; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I enjoyed this. The whole 'finding an abandoned baby in a dumpster' theme was interesting to me and the subplot about family history was also intriguing. I wish I could give 3 and a half stars because I more than just 'liked it' but it wasn't amazing either.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Tale of Applebeck Orchard (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, #6); Author: Susan Wittig Albert; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I just love this series. I love the animal dialog, I love the look at their lives, lived under, above, around and (sometimes) despite us. I like Miss Potter and the look at the era in which she lived and wrote. Just a thoroughly enjoyable read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Joy in the Morning; Author: Betty Smith; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Oh gosh I love this book. I have read it several times and, depending on the life stage I am in when I read it I get different things from it. It is absorbing and satisfying and the characters are real and true. I will read it again. (God willing); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Arms of Nemesis (Roma Sub Rosa, #2); Author: Steven Saylor; Genres: history, fiction, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Yet ANOTHER wonderful series! I think all book lovers know the pure joy of reading a book, loving it and then discovering it is only one in a series. I love the ancient Rome setting and I love the main character/narrator. I want to say here that I know my reviews look as though I am not very selective because I rate so many of them so highly but the fact is if I am not enjoying a book I abandon it. Life is too short to read a book I am not loving. (I know others feel differently and that's of course fine). My criteria is that if I am not looking forward to picking it up after having had to put it down, if I am not willing to go back out to my car in my pjs because I forgot and left it there, then I stop reading it right then. So it's not that I mindlessly love everything I read, it's that I only read what I love. Or at least like. A lot.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Isolation Ward (Nathaniel McCormick #1); Author: Joshua Spanogle; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Ha ha after my last discourse on only finishing books I really like here is a 2 star rating. It was okay. It was exciting enough that I wanted to finish it but I didn't really care about the characters and Robin Cook does it better anyway. Besides, the older I get the less I want to read books set in hospitals wherein doctors/nurses/orderlies/researchers are sinister and don't have my best interests at heart. Yikes!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Queen's Man (Justin de Quincy, #1); Author: Sharon Kay Penman; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Yet another fabulous historical series! I know not a whole lot about this era although having read the author's historical novels about these same characters (oh, which I recommend. HIGHLY recommend - "Lionheart", "The Devil's Brood" etc.)I know a little more than I did. This is fascinating. The ancient history/detective story is a genre I just am enthralled with (if well done - many of them are NOT well done, not well done at all) and Ms Penman is a wonderful author. Can you tell I liked this book? A LOT???; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Victims (Alex Delaware, #27); Author: Jonathan Kellerman; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I like Jonathan Kellerman and I like Delaware well enough although sometimes he gets on my nerves. Let's put it this way - these are not murder mysteries where I care enough about any of the characters (except maybe Milo) that I peek at the end to be sure they are all alive and well unless Delaware's little dog seems in jeopardy. But I like them, and I can't stop reading them once I have started which is pleasure enough to bump this from 3 to 4 stars. 3 for quality, 4 for pulling me along so fast I don't want to stop till it's finished.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Andy Warhol was a Hoarder: Inside the Minds of History's Great Personalities; Author: Claudia Kalb; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: Enjoyed this book thoroughly. Fascinating details and explorations of people whose public faces were often so very different from what was going on inside.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Pioneers (Leatherstocking Tales, #4); Author: James Fenimore Cooper; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: this was the first time I have ever read these books by Mr. Cooper. Loved them. I actually have a ginormous volume of the 5 Leatherstocking tales, printed in the order in which he wrote them, which does not match the chronology of the character's life nor the numbers here in Goodreads. It is cited as #4 but it is actually the first one written. (at least according to the editor of this big book). He has a very detailed writing style and of course you have to read past the cultural stereotypes of the time but it is fascinating, engrossing and a wonderful view into this part of our oft lamented history. Cooper does not celebrate the Indian as a noble savage nor as the animal like brute portrayed by some of his other characters but as a human being with good and bad like all human beings. He laments the white settlers' pushing out of the Indians and recognizes their right to the land but all his characters are so human it is a fascinating read. Looking forward to the next one!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Festive in Death (In Death, #39); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Enjoyed this of course. Love the In Death books, love all the characters and really enjoyed Eve's frustration with the necessity for Christmas shopping and festivities in the midst of her demanding and perilous job.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A King's Ransom (Plantagenets #5); Author: Sharon Kay Penman; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Oh, how glad I was to start this book. I have gone through this series but slowly because the books are so big and my life is so busy. But I love them. When I started this I knew that for days or weeks I would be immersed in this medieval world of treachery and love and passion and deceit. I cannot say enough about Sharon Penman - she is a marvelous author and completely recreates this world while giving the characters with all the differences - because in many ways the medieval mind was different from ours, formed with such different influences - and similarities, because we are all still human. Loved it and had a mad crush on Richard by the end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flesh and Blood (Alex Delaware, #15); Author: Jonathan Kellerman; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I enjoyed this book the way I enjoy all of his books - neither more nor less than the others. Alex is a little smug and self absorbed for me but I like Milo enough to make up for that. Always a good mystery, I am always surprised by the end even when I think I see it coming - often I see it coming so early in the book I think it must be a trick ala Agatha Christie - but there is always a twist. The side characters are interesting and I wished the victim were alive because she was one of the most interesting and sympathetic of all.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The History of Henry Esmond, Esq.; Author: William Makepeace Thackeray; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: I like Thackeray although he can be a bit wordy (at least to modern eyes). His books are like rich tapestries of word pictures and I am thoroughly immersed in this past world as I read. I was annoyed with Henry himself for being in love with two women at the same time - sorry, it's not real love then, but I am a OTP girl all the way) but I enjoyed this book all the way through.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Obsession in Death (In Death, #40); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I am always wary when an author starts centering too many of the plots around the main character herself - I mean wherein the murder suspect is after the main character instead of the main character (this is growing awkward sentence structure wise) investigating 'outside' murders. That ruined the Kay Scarpetta books for me. But given Eve's position and Roarke's position, and their high media visibility and the vids etc. it is plausible and in this instance it worked. The obsessed fan is always a creepy subject and Robb handled the change from adoration to rage very skillfully. I devoured this book in near record time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Life of Christ; Author: Fulton J. Sheen; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance; Review: A difficult subject to do well, done brilliantly. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Murphy's Law (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #1); Author: Rhys Bowen; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: As the stars say, I liked this book. It was fun to read and interesting to read about the immigrant experience. I liked Molly herself and plan to continue this series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Legacy; Author: Susan Kay; Genres: history, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I always love books about Elizabeth I and this was no exception. I don't really buy the whole witchcraft/sorcery subplot although it does explain some of Elizabeth's choices and actions. But since I don't really believe any of it a feeling of fiction filled this otherwise accurate book. Character portrayals were well drawn, historical details were expertly drawn in. Loved it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CRUSH: Writers Reflect on Love, Longing, and the Lasting Power of Their First Celebrity Crush; Author: Cathy Alter; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this. The subject matter is interesting to me, as I have always had a crush on one celebrity (David McCallum) or another (John Lennon). It was fascinating to read these essays and get a look into other people's takes on this phenomenon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Devoted in Death (In Death, #41); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: The hideous gory detail in this one knock it down from 4 to 3 stars for me. It is enjoyable in the way all of these books are but there were too many things I had to skim over.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Memory of Violets: A Novel of London's Flower Sellers; Author: Hazel Gaynor; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Oh, I loved this. I had no idea about any of this part of history, these poor little orphaned, crippled children selling flowers on the street as their only way to live. It was fascinating and both storylines aligned beautifully. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A.D. 30 (A.D., #1); Author: Ted Dekker; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I liked this book okay - enough to finish it and enough to look for the rest of the series, but it felt lacking in some way that I can't even put my finger on. Maybe too much other story besides that of Jesus which the title led me to expect. Not sure about setting a romance in Jesus' time although of course Ben Hur does the same thing - maybe it's the quality of the writing that makes the difference.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The House in Amalfi; Author: Elizabeth Adler; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: I love Elizabeth Adler and this book is a classic. Dense, rich storytelling, interesting characters and plot twists, a beautiful and mysterious (to me, at least) setting - a thoroughly enjoyable read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man; Author: William Shatner; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I thought this book was a beautiful tribute. I know what everybody says about William Shatner, but in this case he set himself and his ego aside and the book was truly about Leonard Nimoy. I still can't believe he's gone, and I thank Bill for this glimpse into his life.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mistress Shakespeare; Author: Karen Harper; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this book. I love that time period and really had no idea that drama was such a world of intrigue, treachery, betrayal and violence back in ye daye of yore. The whole spy web network was fascinating but since the protagonists, who are supposed to be sympathetic, are engaged in adultery throughout, just doesn't sit with me. True love yadayadayada, adultery is wrong and don't expect me to feel sorry for you when - gasp! it doesn't work out as one might have desired.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Cold Day For Murder (Kate Shugak, #1); Author: Dana Stabenow; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: This book was, as the 2 stars indicates, okay. I read it, I enjoyed it, I finished it. Not really interested in following through with the rest of the series. The main thing I came away with was BRRRR!!! It's cold in Alaska! All the freaking time!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart; Author: Peter J. Gomes; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: This was okay. A little pretentious and sanctimonious and irritating but not enough of any of those to make me stop reading it and on the whole I felt I learned something, which, for summer reading, is pretty good.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Brotherhood in Death (In Death, #42); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Woo hoo! With this book I have finally caught up with Ms Robb and am now reading her new ones as they come out. This was good, of course, they all are, and the main characters interesting and with growth and development etc. etc. Frankly I kept getting confused by the plot and having to go back and reread to see who was who and what had happened and why someone held a long simmering grudge etc. but I am sure it was good for me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Neanderthal; Author: John Darnton; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Ha ha the sub-title of this book is "Their Time Has Come" and every time I saw it I heard my daughter Elizabeth, who said, on seeing me check it out of the library "I have news for him. Their time came and went a long time ago." An interesting premise, fast moving action and the eternal divide between the peaceful Neanderthals in their beautiful valley and the savage brutal murderous Neanderthals in the caves and mountains. Great for what it was, a summer read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last of the Mohicans (The Leatherstocking Tales #2); Author: James Fenimore Cooper; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: OMW this book was absolutely amazing. Fast moving yet beautifully descriptive, it completely captured me and I hated having to put it down (to work at Walmart - doh!). Shocking violence and strong true brave men and women, beautiful scenery and hideous slaughter - books become classics for a reason and this one blew me away.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wives of Los Alamos; Author: TaraShea Nesbit; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I really love it when a book takes you to a time and place that is unique yet (at least for me) relatively unknown. These women who followed their husbands to a strange, secretive yet still typically suburban type of setting, who endured real hardship and deprivation because, you know, the men who could plan every moment of war and science didn't really have a handle on what these families with women and children would need for day to day living. It tells the story of that time from many different viewpoints, but all were wives living there while their husbands worked on the secret project. Highly recommend. If I hadn't just finished "The Last of the Mohicans" I probably would have given it 5 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Islands; Author: Anne Rivers Siddons; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: I just love Anne Rivers Siddons. She is an author who, when I read the first book of hers I read, which I don't remember which one it was now, made me ecstatic when I returned to the library to see how many books she had written and, hence, what joys awaited me. She tells about family, and changes, and life, and environment, so beautifully that I read and reread her books. This one was no exception. If you have not read her, go right out to the library and check out one of her books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dog Merchants: Inside the Big Business of Breeders, Pet Stores, and Rescuers; Author: Kim Kavin; Genres: non-fiction; Review: This was an uncomfortable book for me to read. On the one hand, I am heavily involved in dog rescue so my conscience wasn't that wounded, but on the other hand there are breeds I do love, like German Shepherds and Pekingese, and if I had a chance to get a purebred and my life style allowed it I would. But to read how these dogs suffer - and not just in the puppy mills, but by the very traits they have been bred for. Like the ones whose brains are too big for their skulls, and who scream and seize throughout most of their miserable lives, or those with the squishy faces I love so, who struggle and strain for every breath - just because we think they look cute that way. It's a stunning indictment of an industry in which these living, breathing, loving creatures are just product. It was a little more thinking than I wanted to do on my summer vacation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Five Little Peppers and How They Grew; Author: Margaret Sidney; Genres: history, young-adult, children, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: I read this book when I was very young and I remember loving it although I was baffled by some things that I had to learn later - for example that 'receipts' was the way they said 'recipes'. I was totally baffled by how getting a 'receipt' from a neighbor helped Polly bake a cake. But I had always read above my age level so was accustomed to just skimming over things I didn't understand. (like why Hester Prynn didn't just move to another town). But when I found it in a used book store I snatched it up and found that it holds up (at least for me). It is a reminder of a time when a mother and children could literally starve to death if the work didn't keep coming - no safety net for the Pepper family - but also that family and love, friends and neighbors, faith and compassion, are what bind us together and keep us going. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trans/Portraits: Voices from Transgender Communities; Author: Jackson Wright Shultz; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Oh dear. This book had the absolutely opposite effect on me that I am sure it was intended to. I began it with a typical liberal 'it's all good' view of this issue. By the time I finished it I was calling shenanigans on the whole thing. A big part of it was the complete self absorption of the writers. Now I know they are suffering - that is real and genuine and came across in the writing. I know I can't imagine their struggle and I know that #thestruggleisreal. And yet. I have read books by many people who have suffered - through death, disease, mental illness, paralysis, birth defects, sin, rape, captivity, slavery - and the complete and total 'me me me how I feel' is, I am sorry to say, unique to this group, at least in the category of 'see how I struggle' memoirs. The last straw for me was the 'gender fluid' guy. Now I can really believe that there are tragic cases in which for some physical genetic/hormonal reason someone can be to all outward appearances and on their birth certificate one gender while the brain inside is the other gender. I absolutely do not believe that your gender identity shifts from day to day and one day you are a woman and the next a man. I say hogwash.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hearts in Atlantis; Author: Stephen King; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I often think that Stephen King is at his best in the novella/short story genre (although my favorite book of his is "The Stand" which I know is self contradictory. I loved these stories even as they totally creeped me out and I had to put this book in the freezer when I went to bed. The line that really stuck out for me was something about Atlantis being the boomers' figurative continent, and "when your continent sinks underneath you it does a number on your head". Indeed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Single Thread (Cobbled Quilt #1); Author: Marie Bostwick; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: For someone who can't sew a stitch, I sure do love these quilting novels. I think because they also are such good women's novels, drawing portraits of women who need one another - not for completion, but for expansion. We do better when we feel we are part of something bigger, and when we are doing for others outside our own immediate circle of me/my family/my work/my best friends. For some reason these fit perfectly with the quilting analogy and maybe that is because quilting exemplifies this, as it takes assorted scraps of fabric and thread and creates something larger and more beautiful than could have been expected just by looking at the ingredients heaped together beforehand. I enjoyed this and plan to pursue the series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Healing Quilt (The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club, #3); Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: From one quilting book to another. I do enjoy this series very much - the people are drawn well and stereotypes are avoided. Putting the next one on my list.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Poisoning in the Pub (Fethering, #10); Author: Simon Brett; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I love Simon Brett, love the Fethering series, wish I'd read them in order. Now that Goodreads makes it so easy I plan to go back, start with number 1 and work my way through again. One benefit to aging and less sharp memory - I can reread books with perfect enjoyment and often renewed surprise!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pavilion of Women: A Novel of Life in the Women's Quarters; Author: Pearl S. Buck; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: What can you say about Pearl Buck? Her stories are riveting, her characters unforgettable, her settings spectacular. This book makes me so sad for the inevitability of change, often for the worse, and the disruption of a society that had functioned like a well oiled mechanism for centuries.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bomba the Jungle Boy on Jaguar Island; Author: Roy Rockwood; Genres: children, fiction; Review: I give this book five stars largely on sentimental grounds. I read the Bomba books when I was a child and was enthralled. In fact this was my first fangirl crush ever. I not only loved Bomba, I wanted to be him. I wanted to have a pet puma and live free and wild in the jungle, a perfect physical specimen, capable of astonishing feats of strength and agility. Bomba also had no pesky parents to tell him what to do or not do, (hard to picture - "Don't kill that headhunter, Bomba!") but as I reread it I realized that he spent a great deal of time and mental energy trying to find his parents. That part of the story totally went by me as a child. (as did the unfortunate references to the superiority of Bomba's white blood as opposed to the 'dusky' savages around him).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: From a Buick 8; Author: Stephen King; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Again, although this book is a novel, it is told as a series of short stories, which is one of King's strengths. It is fascinating, horrifying, brilliant. I love it and reread it frequently. (or sometimes). (or every once in a while).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Death and the Lit Chick (St. Just Mystery #2); Author: G.M. Malliet; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Again, a probably higher star rating that would otherwise be the case because I love the setting - a writers' convention. Having attended my fair share of Star Trek conventions, I really enjoy books set in a similar milieu. I also found the characters excellent and hilarious - nothing like a hearty laugh along with your murder mystery. Truly enjoyed this one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Battle for Room 314: My Year of Hope and Despair in a New York City High School; Author: Ed Boland; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: As a teacher I enjoy books about teaching. This was good and although the writer did not stay with teaching he learned many valuable Lessons About Life and wrote about them in an interesting enough way that I finished it. One more star than would be given due to classroom setting.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lost Tudor Princess: The Life of Lady Margaret Douglas; Author: Alison Weir; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Alison Weir is just brilliant. I confess to sometimes finding her non fiction works a bit tedious, with all the footnotes and details of wardrobe and meals and expenditures, but I usually finish them. When she writes it as fiction, without all that pesky verification, it is pure joy to read. I love the Tudor times and finding somebody I don't know much about, and whose life journey I'm not already very familiar with, is a rare pleasure. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Body in the Cast (Faith Fairchild, #5); Author: Katherine Hall Page; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I liked this one better than the last one - at least Faith isn't pregnant here so I'm not so angry with her for wantonly risking her unborn baby's life in her crime investigations. This was a cleverly written book, the mystery kept me guessing till the end and the subsidiary characters were interesting and fun. Continuing on with this series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dragon Seed; Author: Pearl S. Buck; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Again, this is a brilliant writer and a marvelous book. I knew next to nothing - or less than nothing, really - about the Japanese invasion of China and it was horrifying to read of the barbarities of war practiced on civilians. This book is not what one might call politically correct - no attempt is made to whitewash the hideous atrocities committed by the Japanese, nor to soft pedal the hatred felt in response by the Chinese people. War is a tool of the devil, it makes people do unbelievable things, and women, as always, are raped as a vehicle of oppression towards the defeated side. Absolutely hideous, absolutely beautiful, totally enthralling. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bomba the Jungle Boy Among the Slaves or, Daring Adventures in the Valley of the Skulls; Author: Roy Rockwood; Genres: fiction; Review: Again, five stars due to the pure nostalgia value of finding and re-reading these books. It is a blow to find out that Roy Rockwood, the author, is not a real person, much like the later Carolyn Keene. He is a pseudonym for "anybody the publishing company could get to write one of these books who is desperate enough not to need his name on the cover". However, it could be worse. I could be one of the miserable wretched slaves in this book. NOT a good thing. But Bomba saved them. Well, he brought a great catastrophe on the cruel slave owner and escaped with his life and his friends. The slaves were kind of on their own.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bomba The Jungle Boy on the Underground River; Author: Roy Rockwood; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, young-adult; Review: Again five stars, again cringing at the superiority of white blood, again wish I had a pet puma.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bomba the Jungle Boy and the Lost Explorers or, A Wonderful Revelation; Author: Roy Rockwood; Genres: fiction; Review: Just read the review below and the guy is right about the white blood and the racism etc. Still give it five stars because ... hey, pet puma. How cool is that?!? A puma that lets you pet it and kills headhunters for you! In this adventure Bomba finds his parents. And leaves the jungle. So what happens to the puma? I bet his parents don't let him keep it. I bet they give him a curfew and make him wear more clothes than the animal skin. I bet he runs away back to the jungle. After all, how much fun is it having superior white blood when everybody else around you does too? Run, Bomba, run! Civilization is a trap!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dragon's Lair (Justin de Quincy, #3); Author: Sharon Kay Penman; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Oh, wonderful. Another in Sharon Kay Penman's fabulous mysteries set in ye days of really really yore, with Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lion Heart and the evil Prince John. An absolutely rip roaring read and I loved it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coming Home; Author: Rosamunde Pilcher; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Rosamunde Pilcher is another one of my favorite writers. To quote from the book jacket, her books are 'sweeping' and 'panoramic'. Her characters are fascinating and realistically drawn, and this book is set against the backdrop of WWII and colonial Britain. Knowing a little of this history adds to foreshadowing the writer doesn't even have to really do - just reading that this girl's mother, father and baby sister are going to Singapore just as the war is beginning is like an ominous chord. You know this isn't going to end well and of course you are right. (Clever you!) But the way she (the author) gets the reader there is amazing. A wonderful read. And of course the 'madcap English aristocracy' are entertaining as always.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Death of a Cozy Writer (St. Just Mystery #1); Author: G.M. Malliet; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I enjoyed 'Death of a Lit Chick' so much I went back to the shelves and read the first one. Enjoyed it just as much. I personally love 'cozies' and loved reading about them, their authors, their fans, and of course the murder which I did not solve at all until I read to the end and then I was like "Huh." It fit but I didn't see it coming, even in retrospect. Very glad to see here on Goodreads that there is another one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ape Who Guards the Balance (Amelia Peabody, #10); Author: Elizabeth Peters; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Well I enjoy these books etc. etc. but once again I weary of the plot continually centering around the main characters. I'd like to see them solve a case where it isn't personally centered on them. Was nobody else operating in Egypt at the time? A group of tomb robbers who aren't in love with/ancient enemies of/savage rivals of Amelia and/or her husband, son, adopted daughter, cat?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Prophetess: Deborah's Story (Daughters of the Promised Land, #2); Author: Jill Eileen Smith; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I am a little shocked myself at the measly two stars I gave this book but the fact it is was just okay. I wanted to like it more, I love these Biblically based books, but despite the subject matter, and the interest of learning about life in those times, it was ... well, it was okay.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Prince of Darkness (Justin de Quincy, #4); Author: Sharon Kay Penman; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: Another (and, I'm very sorry to see, the last so far) in this series about a secret agent/detective in ye days of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lion Heart, Prince John (the Prince of Darkness of the title) etc. I have enjoyed these immensely. It is at once a historical novel (very well written and detailed and accurate) and an exciting mystery. I loved it and am hoping she writes another one soon.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea; Author: Jonathan Franklin; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: This book was amazing. It is astonishing that this man survived this ordeal, that he never lost his will to live, that he never succumbed to the madness/depression that took the life of his companion, that anybody could suffer so much, be so alone, have so little objective hope, and still not only live but struggle and endure and keep on hoping until finally he made his own way home. It's the kind of book that makes you thankful for things like the water bottle handy beside the bed, the food in the fridge, the warm cozy bed. And it is the kind of book that fills you with admiration for the human spirit. Highly recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In a Different Key: The Story of Autism; Author: John Donvan; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: This book was beyond amazing. It takes you an a historical journey about autism, from before its diagnosis, to the ideas of saints blessed by God, through the horrors of medieval and not so medieval insane asylums, through the era of the 'refrigerator mother' to the present day. The author presents all this in a factual objective fashion that nevertheless manages to be absorbing and gripping. Once again, as in the book I just finished, I am awed by the resilience of the human spirit, the power of love and the incredible uniqueness, the delicacy, the mystery of this disorder.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Three in Death (In Death, #7.5, 12.5, 22.5); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This is an anthology of 3 'In Death' novellas. I don't remember one of them now - the main reason I am trying to catch up on my Goodreads account, so a book is fresh in my mind when I review it. But my impression is that they were typical of the series (which is not a bad thing, not at all, it is an amazing series) and that there was a little more ghostly/woo woo stuff which I don't care for but enjoyed nonetheless because of Ms Robb's writing skill.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Katherine of Aragón, The True Queen (Six Tudor Queens, #1); Author: Alison Weir; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Seeing this book on the shelves, with the additional bonus of the subtitle indicating that Ms Weir is going to attend to each of Henry's queens, one by one, was like striking gold. I snatched it up, took it home and devoured it immediately. It was wonderful. Beautiful glimpses of the young Katherine and Henry VII's court, the glorious time when she and Henry loved one another, rejoiced and grieved together, and then the well documented downslide, as she ages, as living male heirs do not appear, as Henry's eye wanders, as Anne Boleyn appears on the scene. Poor Katherine and poor Mary. Katherine's life was never really her own but with her staunch religious faith, her courage and character, she made it so except for the outward circumstances, over which she had (given the qualities already cited) no control.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apprentice in Death (In Death, #43); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I ranked this book so high because the psychological study of the apprentice, the master, and the inevitable reversal of roles as the apprentice slips the bonds of the master's control, was fascinating above and beyond the usual Eve/Roarke/Peabody/Mira etc. etc. dynamics. I see that I interrupted Katherine The True Queen for this and I believe it is because I had a series of days with multiple errands for which I knew I would need a book and this little paperbook was much easier to transport. And of course once I started I had to finish.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society; Author: Mary Ann Shaffer; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: My sister Elaine recommended this book and she was so right. It was so good. I loved the blending of two stories - that of the protagonist, and the one she uncovers as she researches a book of her own. This is a hard style to do well but Ms Shaffer succeeds triumphantly. I had absolutely no idea that islands off the British coast were actually occupied by the Germans during WWII. British citizens were literally arrested by the Nazis and sent from their own homes in England to die in concentration camps in Europe. This was a fascinating read and I recommend it highly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1); Author: J.R.R. Tolkien; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: I read this book a long time ago but when I saw it on the library shelf I decided to re-read. Fortunately it was a long enough interval that I had forgotten most of it so re-reading was extremely pleasurable. I absolutely loved it. Exciting, beautiful, deep character insights, complex characterizations, and very clear light vs. dark. Looking forward to the next installment which I don't think I have read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seinfeldia: How a Show About Nothing Changed Everything; Author: Jennifer Keishin Armstrong; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Essentially this was a book about a show about nothing and ultimately it felt like a book about nothing too. The author is so young, and actually said things like (quoting from memory so very much 'sic') "This was the first show where the fan base was as much a part of the story as the show itself." Uh - hello? Star Trek? There was a world before you, you know? Like, for sure?; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: First Light (A.D. Chronicles, #1); Author: Bodie Thoene; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I liked this book enough to finish it, but the guilt that always fills me when I think about abandoning a book about Christ was a factor. It was okay. The real truth came when I checked out the next installment, read the first two paragraphs and thought 'oh, I'm not going there again' and abandoned it without regret. Just (in my opinion) not very good.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: I Had to Survive: How a Plane Crash in the Andes Inspired My Calling to Save Lives; Author: Roberto Canessa; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: This book was amazing. This topic has always fascinated me - when I was in my early twenties I read "Alive!" and, having never heard anything about it, read it like a work of fiction that happened to be true - i.e. I had no idea who survived (except for the spoilers inherent in the photograph section) or what happened to them or how they suffered etc. Now this book adds a new dimension, in that the account of the long harrowing unbelievable walk to civilization is told by one of the men who did it and triumphed, and then the result that this man dedicated himself to saving lives in honor and memory of his friends who did not survive. It was enthralling. I loved it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Great Reckoning (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #12); Author: Louise Penny; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Oh, a new Inspector Gamache! Woo hoo! I had worked my way through t his series until I am finally up to the point of reserving the new one as soon as word of it reaches me. And this one did not disappoint. It was beautifully written, wonderfully plotted and crafted, and the characters are so real that I am always eager to find out what is going on in their lives, as if they were friends I only hear from once in a great while.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Maximum Security Book Club: Reading Literature in a Men's Prison; Author: Mikita Brottman; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: The 1 star (a rarity for me because usually if I don't like a book I don't finish it hence do not review it) really reflects my intense dislike of the author. This girl got on my nerves so badly - I really only finished the book because the story itself is inherently so interesting. She started a book club in a maximum security prison and writes about the men who take it. The men are interesting. The prison setting is interesting. But the author - oh my gosh. She whines and complains about the security systems in place - hello? maximum security? - and glorifies the inmates at what seems to me the total expense of their victims. She scorns and denigrates the guards without ever trying to see them, when they could have been as vital and interesting a part of the story as the inmates. She is (or pretends to be) blithely unaware of her impact on the inmates as she complains about the modest clothing she has to wear. She irritated me all the way through but when she professed great shock that on reading the book 'Lolita' anyone could see HH as a pedophile instead of the tortured tragic magnificent soul she perceives him to be she lost me. HH is one of her heroes. She was horrified that anyone could feel differently. Good grief. Enough said.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas (Stories Behind Books); Author: Ace Collins; Genres: history, children, poetry, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: This book was amazing. I had no idea how little I knew about Christmas - mostly that it used to be a riotous debauch! Turns out the Puritans didn't outlaw Christmas because they had something against happy little children! Christmas was a day when women and children hid inside because rape, robbery, murder - anything went. That carol where they sing about giving them some figgy pudding because "We won't go until we've got some?" They weren't kidding! They would invade the house, trash it and steal anything not nailed down. I don't want to give away any more stories behind traditions but this was a great Christmas read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eternity in Death (In Death #25.5); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I probably always rate these books higher than they strictly deserve because I enjoy them so much. This was really good. Good plot, great character development, surprises and new glimpses into Eve's world and the time it is set in. If you like these books you'll like this one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Prairie (Leatherstocking Tales, #5); Author: James Fenimore Cooper; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I always kind of put off reading these books (as I work my way through the ginormous collection I have in one huge heavy volume). I don't even know why. Because once I start I am absolutely captivated and can't wait to get back to it. This one is rather bittersweet because the hero is old and weary of endlessly fleeing the encroach of civilization and the destruction of the forests he loved so, but it is a rollicking good adventure tale and everyone - Indians, settlers, squatters etc. - are portrayed three dimensionally and the setting is absorbing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Family Christmas; Author: Caroline Kennedy; Genres: history, young-adult, children, poetry, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Enjoyed this thoroughly. It is a collection of tales, prayers, hymns, Bible passages and reminiscences. Bittersweet in its portrayal of the Kennedy family, sweet in its traditions. Another excellent Christmas read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Tale of Oat Cake Crag (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, #7); Author: Susan Wittig Albert; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, romance, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Oh I love these books. They are exquisite little tales about country life, the animals and people who inhabit them, and the baffling mores of the times wherein Beatrix Potter couldn't just tell her selfish parents to shove off so she could live her own life. Add to that a really well crafted mystery and it is just pure reading joy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: This Christmas Night: Reflections from Our Hearts to Your Home; Author: Billy Graham; Genres: non-fiction; Review: I was really into the Christmas books this season and it is a tradition I plan to maintain. I enjoyed this one very much. I love being reminded of why we observe Christmas and this book was perfect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Complete Short Stories Of Thomas Wolfe; Author: Thomas Wolfe; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: It took me years to get through this book because frankly a little bit of Thomas Wolfe goes a long way. But I enjoyed it and kept plugging away - a story here, a story there, in between my other reading, and I finally finished it. Well worth the read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nine Women, One Dress; Author: Jane L. Rosen; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Cute. I am a fan of this type of thing - different people's life stories tied together by some random occurrence - a night class, a trip to a hotel, a stuck elevator - or a dress. A fun read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Catilina's Riddle (Roma Sub Rosa, #3); Author: Steven Saylor; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: Oh gosh I loved this book! I knew very little about Catilina and Cicero and what I did know came from Taylor Caldwell's fictional account of Cicero's life. Now I enjoy Taylor Caldwell sometimes but she does see the world in black and white, good and evil and there are no shades of grey anywhere. Cicero was, in her view, practically the archangel Michael vying against the Lucifer that was Catilina. This books gives a much more balanced version and the only real conclusion I could come to was that I was glad I didn't live in ancient Rome. If you were a woman you were really powerless and if you were poor it was worse and if you were a poor woman - well. Even the Victorians had it better. And a great mystery that left me totally surprised at the end but also shaking my head and saying 'I should have known!'; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boar Island (Anna Pigeon, #19); Author: Nevada Barr; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Read this book out of order because on New Year's Eve I left Catilina's Riddle at my son Ed's house. So in readus interruptus I turned to the next one in my pile. This book was interesting in that Anna Pigeon is frequently viewed by 3rd parties so we get to see her and experience her through someone else's eyes. The subject matter of this book - cyber stalking and bullying of a young girl - is disturbing and once again the crime is against someone in Anna's inner circle which as I have said before is a trend that always makes me like a series a little less, but the plot was excellent, the characters well developed, the narration fast paced and suspenseful. Could not put it down by the end.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Summer Before the War; Author: Helen Simonson; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Although the shadow of WWI hangs over this book and then covers it, for me the overwhelming thing was the role of women. This isn't that long ago, yet the protagonist Beatrice has no control over her own funds, any older relative or man can take over and decide she only deserves an allowance for which she must keep strict accounts and justify every penny spent. This book is interestingly written, and the setting comes alive. Enjoyed it very much.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Brilliant Friend (The Neapolitan Novels #1); Author: Elena Ferrante; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: The two stars isn't really fair because this book is absolutely beautifully written and the characters are real. The life portrayed is absorbing and authentic and you really care about everyone in it. That said, I gave it 2 stars because it made me feel depressed and 'what is the useof anything' and filled with world weary ennui the whole time I was reading it. I couldn't stop reading it because it was so good, but I also couldn't wait to be done with it and was relieved when I was.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Insurgent (Divergent, #2); Author: Veronica Roth; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Really enjoyed this book. A fast read, a fascinating setting and so suspenseful that I ended up having to look at the end to be sure everyone survived to the next installment. When I finish the books I plan to watch the movies - they are entirely too suspenseful for me to want to immerse myself in the visual experience of a movie until I know how it all turns out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2); Author: J.R.R. Tolkien; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: What can you say about this book (which I think is really one book split into three sections) that hasn't already been said? Tolkien is a genius, the book is a classic, I couldn't put it down. If you've already read it you know this. If you haven't, get off the computer and go read it. But start with the first one. Start with The Hobbit and work your way through. No shortcuts. It's worth it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bad Faith (Sister Agatha, #1); Author: Aimee Thurlo; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I totally enjoyed this book. It was a good mystery, an interesting setting (a monastery which I did not know could contain nuns instead of monks) and the nuns were very serious about their faith and prayed constantly which is always a pleasure to see in a book. I read so many books that, in that sense, don't even touch my own life. It is a joy to find - not just one book but a series! - that does so. And in mystery format. And there's a dog. Definitely going for the rest of the series. Highly recommend if you enjoy mysteries.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eat, Pray, Love; Author: Elizabeth Gilbert; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I feel like I'm the only person in the world who hadn't read this yet. I frankly resisted it partly because I'm not usually a big memoir fan and party because the subject matter sounded so woo woo to me. But it came up in my rotation (someone gave it to me, I think) so I began it thinking I'd just quit if I didn't like it. But it was superb. It is a wonderful book and it really helped me gain insight into myself and the spiritual journey I am - as we all are - on. Sounds silly to say highly recommend after all this time and the movie and the fame and all but ... well, highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Duty To The Dead (Bess Crawford, #1); Author: Charles Todd; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Interesting setting, good mystery. I really enjoyed it and will look for the next in this series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rite of Conquest (William the Conqueror, #1); Author: Judith Tarr; Genres: history, romance, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: The 4 star rating is really significant because usually I dislike the 'woo woo' mystical magical type of book. I don't buy it so it takes a really good writer to sell me. But once I am sold, I enjoy it and this book, with its historical background and excellent characterizations and settings, was great. Totally looking into the rest of the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Death of Riley (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #2); Author: Rhys Bowen; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This book was good - again an interesting historical setting and intriguing mystery. The glimpse of life in the Village at the time was fascinating to me. The plucky spunky heroine is a little stereotyped but not too much so.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Hawaiian Quilt; Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Enjoyed it enough to finish it - while the story is interesting enough the writing style is a little pedestrian for my taste but that is just me. I know this is a very popular author and it is always good to see Christianity in a book because it makes the characters more relateable to me. Characters who act with little or no moral compass are very difficult for me to identify or emphasize with. So I enjoyed this book well enough.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Seeing a Large Cat (Amelia Peabody, #9); Author: Elizabeth Peters; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this although frankly I am sick of Nefret calling Ramses 'my boy' - what's up with that? But all the regular characters were there and the seance lady will make an interesting addition if she does indeed marry Cyrus. I figured this one out about halfway through but to be fair that may only have been because the murderer was so obnoxious I figured he was probably the guilty one and I don't think that's what Agatha Christie has in mind when she issues her challenge to the reader. (which I never accept - usually I have no idea whodunnit. On the one hand pure dislike is hardly sufficient cause but on the other hand in this series it may well be an indicator of guilt because all the innocent people are just so swell.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The United States Constitution and Other American Documents; Author: Fall River Press; Genres: history, children, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: It was a fascinating exercise to actually read these documents in their original language (rather archaic and I kind of wished for footnotes to explain some of the wording - maybe I need a version of this book for dummies!) and realize anew what a bold venture this was. My only caveat is that I wish the documents had been in chronological order instead of - I assume - most important on. Reading the Constitution before the Articles was a little less satisfying than it would have been to read the Articles first and then see how they were expanded and adapted to become the final Constitution. And "Common Sense", advocating for these measures, should have come before the measures themselves. I realize I could have read the book out of order but by the time I realized it I was already halfway through. But this is a small issue and there is probably a good reason for it. Stirring reading and I strongly fee;l we all need to maintain copies of these original documents before some government begins to alter it which in our online society would be all too easy. The last thing we need is an Alternative Facts Constitution!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Miracle in the Andes; Author: Nando Parrado; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: This book was amazing. It is beyond belief what these young men accomplished, and also beyond belief what they suffered. The most eerie image for me was at the moment of the plane's first impact with the mountains - the author noted that "clouds were swirling in the aisle". That is something you do not want to see in your airplane! That is just so wrong! I loved this book and despite knowing how it all ended was riveted to each page. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3); Author: J.R.R. Tolkien; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: What can I say about this book? It was riveting, enthralling, exquisitely crafted, beautifully written and completely took me into that world while I read. Loved it and, of course, highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why; Author: Amanda Ripley; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: I got this book used and damaged at a yard sale. I thought it was another of those descriptions of disasters and that it might make interesting reading and if it was too graphic, exploitative or boring well, 25 cents spent and no harm done. But this book was amazing. It is a an analysis of personalities, situations and our brain biology and how this affects our response to disasters. I learned a lot I did not know - for example the large numbers of people who literally freeze for extended periods of time - and it also offers ways to mentally prepare oneself in case of a disaster. It was fascinating and informative and - I hope - helpful. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bridget Jones's Diary (Bridget Jones, #1); Author: Helen Fielding; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Cute cute cute and nearly impossible to put down. Love the parallels to Pride & Prejudice and was rooting for Bridget all the way through. Thoroughly enjoyed it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Twelve Days of Christmas; Author: Debbie Macomber; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Cute - predictable like all romances and if I had been reading it at Christmas I probably would have given it 3 stars just because I would have been feeling more sentimental. Ms Macomber is a good enough author that I liked her characters enough that I wanted to see it all turn out well for them, which is why I finished. I really would like to live in this world where the heroine has a blog with tens of thousands of followers and comments and not one hater. Even though she is deceiving this guy, and really bragging on it (although it is okay because it is, as it turns out, True Love) not one negative comment arises. I have read the comments sections on blogs and I call shenanigans on this rosy view of the Internet.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Three Sisters, Three Queens (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #8); Author: Philippa Gregory; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Thoroughly enjoyed this as I do all her books. This period of history is fascinating to me and to discover a new viewpoint, a previously unknown perspective, is a rare treat. Not only did I get to 'know' Margaret, Henry's older sister, but I was given a new and refreshingly different view of Katherine of Aragon and Mary, Henry's younger sister. I knew so little of Margaret's life or Scotland's history that everything was new and surprising to me and while I didn't really like Margaret I am aware that I am looking at her through 21st century eyes and there is no way that can really work. It certainly was hard times being a woman and being royal seemed to make it even harder - certainly more complicated. It was also hard times to be anybody because nobles and kings rampaged all over everybody else's lives like they didn't matter at all - and they didn't. To themselves, of course, and their families, but not to any of the movers and shakers of history. Some things have not changed all that much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: King's Blood (William the Conqueror, #2); Author: Judith Tarr; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this book even more than the first one despite/because of the magical woo-woo. The author is so talented that it is actually enjoyable even though that usually throws me out of the story. I have to compare it to Marian Zimmer Bradley's Avalon series in that regard. It is a fascinating look into that period of history, from court to battlefield to convent to farm. And frankly nobody likes a little tasteful male/male bromance more than I do. I wasn't a fan of the end because ... well, I guess I am conventional enough to believe that some things are just wrong no matter the justification but I won't say what (NOT the male/male sex, ha ha) because it would be a total spoiler. If you read this and you reach the end just know I didn't like the resolution.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Sense of Belonging; Author: Erica James; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this sweet read. I am a sucker for themes wherein a group of random strangers are brought together and in this case they have moved to a new housing development. As they meet and their lives entwine personalities are shown, conflicts arise and growth occurs. All fairly predictable but charming and lovely. I would definitely read more by this author.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Left Behind (Left Behind, #1); Author: Tim LaHaye; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I have read some of this series before, but a long time ago and not, I think, in the right order. So now that end times seem to be drawing nearer I went back to them. It is the kind of book I hurry through, turning pages as fast as I can, staying up late to finish a chapter, abandoning household responsibilities to sit and read. I enjoyed it immensely and am looking forward to both finding out what happens to the main characters, and seeing how the authors handle what comes next in the book of Revelation. Spoiler alert - it's not good! Until the very end when of course it is wonderful. Unless you're the antichrist. Or Satan. Then still not good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: World Religions; Author: Robert Pollock; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: This was a fascinating book and I really enjoyed reading it. I learned a lot - both about religions I was already familiar with, and religions I had never heard of. My only quibble is the evident lack of a copy editor. There were spelling errors, the occasional doubled word 'the the' for example and in at least one instance an entire skipped line that totally changed the meaning of a paragraph. Here is an exact quote (regarding the Yoruba religion). "Divination is done only by those who are trained objects such as cowrie shells, nuts, or seed pods." Clearly somewhere in there should be a line like ... "trained in the use of objects such as ..." however as written it indicates a religion centering around divination performed by trained nuts. (Ha ha sounds like some churches I have been to). So I call shenanigans on Fall River Press for sloppy work. But the book itself is excellent. I wish it had had photographs of some of the temples described and the clothes worn for rituals but then, if this book had lots of full color plates it wouldn't have been a 7.99 bargain at Barnes & Noble.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Tale of Castle Cottage (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, #8); Author: Susan Wittig Albert; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: I loved this as I loved all of this series and now it seems this is the last one? Beatrix is married, will live happily ever after, and that's it? Well I can't complain - this has been a series of gems and I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one. Highly recommend all of them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A House for Happy Mothers; Author: Amulya Malladi; Genres: fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this book. I love books about women having children, trying to have children etc. and this is fascinating look into a different society that I know little about. We saw the women at the optimistically named 'House for Happy Mothers' (the surrogates), and the biological parents in England and India who have put their hopes for offspring onto these women whom they don't even know. It was excellent.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Allegiant (Divergent, #3); Author: Veronica Roth; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Loved the series, was loving this final installment and looking forward to seeing the movies. Hated the end, won't be going to see the movies any time soon. Well written, well plotted, lots of twists and surprised.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love Letters; Author: Katie Fforde; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: I just loved this book. It made me want to talk like the people in it, to say things like 'it's full of lovely bits' and to sip tea or drink strong whiskey. Just a lovely story filled with interesting people who wind up in the most satisfactory of ways. The whole literary/music festival backdrop was fascinating in itself. I am according this author one of my highest honors in that if I see one of her books in a thrift shop I will buy it. Highly recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tribulation Force (Left Behind, #2); Author: Tim LaHaye; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Absolutely gripping and a page turner that it is hard to put down. I found myself frustrated that I did not immediately have the next volume to dive into right away. You know it's a terrifying and grim scenario when, on the death of one of the main characters, you are thinking 'well good for him. He is spared what is to come.'; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Virus; Author: Graham Watkins; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: This book was surprisingly good. I say surprisingly because the front cover (which is not the same as the one Goodreads is showing) features giant capital letters, a screaming face and assorted computer graphics which led me to expect something on the level of 'Neanderthal - Their Time Has Come!' But it was well written and fast paced and interesting, with interesting characters. It was written in 1995 so some of the things they don't think a 'normal' computer could do they now do, and much of the plot is tied to the use of the phone modem to access the 'World Wide Web' which was still such an esoteric thing that only experts and kids knew much about it, but that aside it was enjoyable. I hated the end because it was the kind of thing that for the 'oh no!' dismayed shock value the logic of the solution was tossed aside, but okay. I still liked it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Venus Throw (Roma Sub Rosa, #4); Author: Steven Saylor; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: This book was absolutely wonderful - by far (in my opinion) the best of the series so far. The mystery was deep and subtle yet the resolution, in true excellent mystery fashion, involved no facts that I myself did not have in my possession as the protagonist did. Character development (and absolutely fascinating characters, all of them) was rich and went in unexpected directions, and once again I saw how very hard it was to be a woman in another culture. Ancient Rome was no joke! Highly recommend this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom; Author: Corrie ten Boom; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I don't really know what to say about this book. All my words sound puerile in the face of the courage, the strength, the love, the compassion, the true witness for Jesus Christ exemplified in these people's lives. Corrie and her family were like apostles from the days of Paul and Silas, forgiving and loving their enemies, trying to witness to the very Nazi prison guards who were tormenting them, risking and ultimately giving their own lives to rescue total strangers. There is no telling how far their influence spread - the lives saved, the souls brought to the Lord. It was inspiring and humbling and absolutely a must read. Thank you to my sister Elaine for not only recommending it but buying it for me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nicolae (Left Behind, #3); Author: Tim LaHaye; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Another gripping installment in this series. I enjoy them immensely and always can't wait to get back to them after some sort of break - you know, like work, or sleep - but I also kind of feel the writing is aimed at a lower level of education and reading level than, say, "Pride and Prejudice" but on the other hand Revelations is so complex and hard to understand that it is just as well they are dumbing it down a little bit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Not Pretty Enough: The Unlikely Triumph of Helen Gurley Brown; Author: Gerri Hirshey; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: I enjoyed this book far more than I expected to. I began it with a feeling that it would be boring, and that I would give it a try and drop it. But it was fascinating, and so well written that I am putting this author's other biographies on my 'to read' list. Helen's life reflected so many of our societal upheavals - the sexual revolution, the women's movement, the AIDS crisis - that re-examining them through the lens of her life was an engrossing experience. Here was a woman who was not always right but always her true self. Strongly recommend to readers of biographies and anyone interested in the life of a strong woman.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Murder at Hazelmoor; Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: You can't go wrong with Agatha Christie except that I dislike her spy novels - I don't like Tommy & Tuppence or any other of her espionage type books. Just not a fan of the genre. But her mysteries are beyond compare. With this one I am torn between thinking I am brilliant - because I knew who the killer was (or strongly suspected, at least) from chapter 1 - or the opposite of brilliant because did I read this book already and completely forgot it? I have to lean towards option b because a) I have never solved one of her mysteries before, and b) it's really unlikely that I missed this book since I have read her voraciously for as long as I can remember. But maybe I am brilliant because I remembered nothing else at all about this story, all the way through. Either way it is a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a couple of days, in the snow in Hazelmoor with this assortment of characters.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: One Second After (After, #1); Author: William R. Forstchen; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This book scared the living crap out of me. It is well written, grimly plausible, and all the more frightening for being set right here, in Black Mountain, Swannanoa, and Asheville, NC. You think about being blasted back to the Dark Ages and kind of think 'well, people survived back then, and lived their lives ..." but not as many people as we have now, not by a long shot. The pioneers who survived by hunting and trapping and fishing in these mountains were not the hordes who would be trying to do the same now. Plus all the people who would have died then but live now - diabetics, asthmatics, heart victims - and those in prison and gangs now, who would gleefully take advantage of the situation to pillage and plunder like the barbarians of old - only with automatic weapons. Gee whiz.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Soul Harvest: The World Takes Sides (Left Behind, #4); Author: Tim LaHaye; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: The next book in this series is as gripping as the first three. I tore through it, not wanting to put it down. The main characters are so interesting that their personal sagas are absorbing even in the context of the enormous events unfolding. I have heard debate about how accurate these books are, specifically in the sequence of when Christians are raptured - before or after the Tribulations. I obviously am hoping for the former because believe you me, you don't want to be around for the Tribulations. Getting the next book in this series next library visit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Closed Casket; Author: Sophie Hannah; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: I actually am not finished with this book but Goodreads does not seem to have a 'abandoned book' key. The book is very good but there are so many back references to the first one "The Monogram Murders" that it is obvious that while I may be able to follow the plot, which is stand-alone, I won't understand the character development. So I'm returning it to the library and adding "The Monogram Murders" to my list. Updated review on finishing book. As a writer of fan fiction I recognize it when I see it, and that is what this book is - Hercule Poirot fanfic. Not that that is a bad thing. Not at all. However I did not buy most of the plot. I call hooey on the motive - it's not just ridiculous and fantastic, but it does not, to me, fit the personality of the murderer at all. I call shenanigans on the solution - without spoilers I can say no more but I think it was cheating the reader to suddenly have some of the prime 'facts' and statements by witnesses turn out to be ... oops, memory faulty due to shock. That means the reader was not in possession of all the facts and Agatha Christie always made sure that we were - hence her challenges to the reader. Plus the plot got very confused and tangled and disorganized which Christie never did - it may have been unclear to the reader but one never got the impression that it was a jumbled mess. The shadowy outlines were obviously clear to the killer and, of course, to Hercule Poirot. There are two telling indicators that this is NOT Agatha Christie although I make no claim to being the kind of reader who could read this and know that on my own. I'm not insightful that way. But since I knew perfectly well it was not her some items jumped out at me. The main one was that as I was reading the final 'gathering of the suspects and reveal' which is of course classic Christie, I finished my lunch and put the book down to continue with my housework. I could NEVER do that with a real Christie. I would sit over my empty plate for as long as it took to find out whodunnit. And as for the lessons learned (which I always include in my Christie and faux Christie reviews) it is again (as in the first book in this series) to beware of people holding long grudges and serving their vengeance cold, not to beware of one's nearest and dearest, which is most often the lesson taken away from Christie. So this book was 2 not 5 stars although if it had not been put out as an Agatha Christie it might have gotten 3. Those are big shoes (or pages) to fill.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Thief in Retreat (Sister Agatha, #2); Author: Aimee Thurlo; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Fun and entertaining with a deep spiritual underpinning that I really liked. I like Sister Agatha and her dog Pax, I like mysteries, and I love the Lord. This book had all of that. The secondary characters are not (at least to me) fully fleshed out - more representations of assorted traits/types than real people, which made it hard to keep track of who was who, but I enjoyed this and will read the next one in the series as well.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A God in Ruins; Author: Leon Uris; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: Another book I actually abandoned within the first few pages. I have read books by Leon Uris that are absolute favorites of mine - Armageddon, QBVII, Exodus - but the style of this one, a kind of internal monologue in a stream of consciousness type form just is not my thing. So I didn't finish it but I gave it the 4 stars because I am sure it is a very good book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sex and The Single Girl; Author: Helen Gurley Brown; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance; Review: I checked out this book because I enjoyed Helen Gurley Brown's biography, "Not Pretty Enough" so much, and so much of it was about this book. I alternated between thinking it was hopelessly silly, with its references to 'prezzies' (gifts from men one is seeing) and well ahead of its time - chapters on nutrition, exercise, career moves. I can clearly see that although I was a single girl I was never this Single Girl. If this is what it took to attract men, then this is why I never really did. I had friends who were guys, I was married, I had a few lovers, but I never had men buzzing about me, I was never 'adopted' by butchers or mechanics or plumbers, I never attended or gave chic little parties, and I never flirted. I didn't know how, and even if I had read this book then I can't picture myself carrying any of her suggestions through. This book was fun to read, and its saving grace is that Ms Gurley Brown herself did not even pretend to take herself seriously.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Redeeming Grace: Ruth's Story (Daughters of the Promised Land, #3); Author: Jill Eileen Smith; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This is my favorite in this series so far. I felt it was better written than the first two and told a more rich story. Maybe it's just that I've always liked the story of Ruth, but I don't think so. It is always exciting to see an author develop and grow and I believe that is what is happening here. It was a fascinating look into ancient Biblican cultures and mores - of Israelites and Moabites. And, as always, I love books where the main characters look to the Lord because it speaks more directly to my life. Also as always, I am so thankful I was not born a woman back in ye days of olde.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Apollyon (Left Behind, #5); Author: Tim LaHaye; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I am absolutely riveted by these books and when I am reading one I cannot put it down. I tear through it, page into page, and am always disappointed when I reach the end. The character development continues and the authors do not make the mistake of painting them in black and white (except antichrist, of course,) but you see the humanity - theirs, and ours. Our pettinessess and our greatnesses, our selfishness and our self sacrifice. The next book in the series is on my shelf and it is next on my list.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon's Privates: 2,500 Years of History Unzipped; Author: Tony Perrottet; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this. I am not as obsessed with sex as the authors seem to think I am, but it was a light, fun read, and I did learn some things I did not know before.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: For the Love of Mike (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #3); Author: Rhys Bowen; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, mystery; Review: This was the best yet in this series. It was an intriguing story, fascinating mystery, tense situations and, again, a fascinating look into the times - specifically this time the lives of textile workers - all female, all paid starvation wages which could be docked on the spot by the foreman - no documentation needed, just his 'twenty-five cents off your pay' for such infractions as using the (unheated unlit uncleaned) bathroom too often, or whispering to a neighbor even if the work didn't stop. Plus workers were docked for the use of bathroom towels and for their 'power usage' - i.e. the work of running the machines. It is something to consider in this time when unions are under attack. Do we all really think big business gave us our benefits out of the goodness of their hearts? Do we really think they would maintain it and not dock our pay for using bathroom towels if they were not compelled to? It is something to really consider.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Iris Grace; Author: Arabella Carter-Johnson; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: This book is luminously beautiful. It is a wonderful inspiring story, and presented with original artwork by the remarkable artist who is the central character, a little girl with autism. It is also filled with the author's equally remarkable photographs of the child and her cat, and her family. I loved it more than I can say, although it also made me sad. Not for the book's characters, but for all the children with autism who do not have the opportunities to shine that this little girl is given by her gifted, spiritual, insightful parents. I think of the children with autism I have taught, with their painfully young parents, poor parents, parents where both are working a full time job and there is just no way to entirely revolve their world around the child, following the child's interests and needs. These children have to go to school because their parents have to work long hard hours. There are often many other children in the home, demanding and entitled to their own share of attention and focus. If this is what it takes to reach, help and develop children with autism, then that will only happen for the privileged few.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Assassins (Left Behind, #6); Author: Tim LaHaye; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I love this series. It is enthralling and well written. On the one hand it is written rather simplistically but on the other hand the subject matter (the Book of Revelation!) is dense and very difficult to grasp or understand, so I appreciate being taught as I go.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Three of Us; Author: Cynthia Victor; Genres: fiction; Review: I enjoyed this book enough to finish it but not enough to remember it after a lapse of 2 months. I had to look at the reviews to refresh my memory. Yes, the 'bringing the random strangers together' plot device was novel and interesting but otherwise it was standard chick lit - not that that is necessarily a bad thing but in this case it was a mediocre thing.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Murder of a Bookstore Babe (Scumble River Mystery, #13); Author: Denise Swanson; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Cute of its cozy genre. The characters are exagerrated - kind of like cartoon versions of people but the plot moved swiftly, the bookstore locale is of course always a plus, and I couldn't figure out the killer so long story short I enjoyed this one but on seeing it is one of a series am not interested in following up with the remainder of them.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Strangers; Author: Dean Koontz; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I have read this before but reread it because it is one of my absolute favorites of his books. It is an enthralling plot, and the characterizations are excellent. The end disappointed a little just because it's so ... I don't want to say trite but I can't think of another word for it. Kind of a (blank so no spoiler) ex machina ending.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Great Gatsby; Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Meh. I liked it enough to finish it but what all the fuss and hoo ha is about escapes me. A bunch of rather unpleasant people living aimless pleasure seeking lives and it doesn't work out so well for them. Surprise.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Echoes in Death (In Death, #44); Author: J.D. Robb; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This was one of my favorites in this series. It was a complex plot with many layers and the characters were well drawn and fully fleshed out. The only thing that bothered me (POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT) was that I had chosen my suspect early on but couldn't figure out how the victims wouldn't have recognized him. Yes, I know lights drugs costumes etc. etc. but the killer talked a great deal to his victims and was naked with them and all and it is just beyond my belief that somebody you have known intimately for much of your life (not sexually intimately, but family/friend intimately) and at no point would you recognize a voice, a mannerism, a scent. So I assumed I was wrong. But I wasn't wrong and at no point was the issue of recognition addressed - not so much as the victim whimpering "I can't believe I didn't recognize him! I've known him all my life!" and Eve saying 'well yadayadayada this is why'. So I still don't buy it but I enjoyed it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rocket Boys (Coalwood #1); Author: Homer Hickam; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It was well written, with a fascinating take on a familiar topic. All the characterizations seemed spot on - real people in real life situations. These young boys, who became so interested in rockets, and the town that ultimately supported them, made for fascinating reading. The end was a little disappointing - we grew up, etc . etc. all kind of condensed into a short summary - but I see from here it is #1 in a series (?) so maybe this growing up process is gone into in more depth in later volumes. But hey - when your only gripe about a book is that it ended too soon and I want to know more more more that is a pretty good review in itself.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Death on the Nile (Hercule Poirot, #17); Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: As the summer heated up and I began work at my new job I turned to Agatha Christie. Fast moving, absorbing, complex and fascinating - I love this one. Don't believe what you think you see!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Indwelling (Left Behind, #7); Author: Tim LaHaye; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: We move along through the Tribulation Times, when the abomination of desolation (surely one of literature's great phrases of all time) is set up in the rebuilt Temple and the antichrist is assassinated - which does not work out as well as one might expect. This series remains thrilling and gripping and a reminder that despite the current world situation 1) God has it and 2) things could be MUCH MUCH worse! And they will be.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Endless Night; Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: Another absolutely brilliant Christie. This is one of her non-famous-detective mystery novels and centers on the controversial view that some people are just born evil - or, as the poem puts it "Some are born to sweet delight ... and some are born to endless night." Are some people just born without a conscience, the way some are born without limbs, or the ability to process wheat? Christie certainly thinks so. Anyway, like the last Christie novel I reviewed - again, beware of believing what you think you have seen with your own two eyes. Someone may be manipulating you, tricking you, killing you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Dog in the Cave: The Wolves Who Made Us Human; Author: Kay Frydenborg; Genres: history, young-adult, children, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: This book was fascinating. It brought us right into the world of human/dog interaction and I learned a lot of interesting facts I did not know before, as well as gaining even more respect and admiration and love for my very own dogs. Highly recommend to anyone interested in dogs, humans, or the bonds we form with species so very different from our own.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sleeping Murder (Miss Marple, #13); Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Never never never try to solve a decades old murder. And if you think you recognize the killer DON't scream and say "It was you! It was you who killed her!" Just smile and say 'goodnight trusted old family friend' and lock the doors. Then you can call the police (or Miss Marple). Only then.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nemesis (Miss Marple, #12); Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: I am no longer going to spend review space rhapsodizing over her books. Assume that I loved it. Assume that it gripped my interest and kept me paging through it. It's a given. I will use this space to pass on whatever wisdom I have gleaned from it. In this case: Don't judge by appearances. Some people are just evil. Don't believe what you think you saw. Marriage is dangerous.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beatles '66: The Revolutionary Year; Author: Steve Turner; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: This book was fascinating, insightful and I loved it. It's about the Beatles. It explores in depth that year when they seemingly morphed from the Fab Four Moptops into counter cultural icons, when their music changed so rapidly that it seemed beyond belief. I enjoyed the trip and relished the immersion in those days which seem so long ago and out of reach now. Highly recommend for people who love and are interested in music and how it is made, as well, of course, for Beatles fans.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories; Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Lessons learned: Just because someone is nice does not mean they will not kill you. Your nearest and dearest are your biggest danger. Not having a great fortune to leave somebody is a good thing. Don't underestimate old ladies. If you are accustomed to drink from a glass of milk by your bedside in the dead of night, and you don't live alone, think again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Digging to America; Author: Anne Tyler; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this book right to the last section in which it seemed the author threw in a bunch of other plots that seemed rather random and unnecessary. Now it's her book so she can do what she wants but I was disappointed.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Death at the Alma Mater (St. Just Mystery #3); Author: G.M. Malliet; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Love a cozy mystery and love this series. The setting (a nonexistent college at Cambridge/Oxford) is interesting, the characters are interesting and the plot baffled me all the way through. I totally followed all the author's cleverly placed red herrings and was appropriately dumbfounded when the killer was revealed. Highly recommend the whole series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories; Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Nobody is what they seem. Beware your nearest and dearest. Leave a real will, not some wacko scavenger hunt.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Memoir Club; Author: Laura Kalpakian; Genres: fiction; Review: The book sounded as if it was right up my alley, with the memoirs and the 'collection of strangers assembling together for some random reason and learning Valuable Lessons About Life' theme, which I have already said is one of my favorites. And I enjoyed this book most of the way through and was invested enough in the characters to finish it even when it seemed that a sudden mass of random plot devices were thrown in there towards the end. But not enough to look up anything else by this author.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Evil Under the Sun (Hercule Poirot, #23); Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Be very careful who you marry. Don't believe what the killer wants you to believe. Believe only what you have seen with your own eyeballs DURING (not after, not before) the fact. Just because a woman is beautiful and sexy and wealthy and all the men including your husband fall all over her does not make her evil. She may just be not too bright. Don't try and involve Hercule Poirot in your murder because of your inflated ego. He will find you out. Be very very careful who you marry.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hollow (Hercule Poirot, #25); Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: I had actually never read this one before which was pure joy. I did not know who the killer was and was suitably surprised by the ending. Lessons: Do not believe what you think you see. Believe no one (Ms Christie was a "Trust no one" person LONG before the X-Files were ever dreamed of). Even the nicest person can be a murderer and if you find him/her out, s/he will murder you too. In the Goodreads notes it said that Ms Christie referred to this book as the one she ruined by introducing M. Poirot and evidently there is a later version without him. I find it hard to see how ANY mystery could be ruined by M. Poirot's inclusion, but I am sure she had her reasons and this in fact would have been great even without him. I'm just a fan.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Death Comes as the End; Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Lessons: Beware your nearest and dearest. Human nature in ancient Egypt is the same as human nature today. If someone is always sweet and kind and self-effacing watch out. Underneath may be a murderous rage. Be wary of who you introduce into your household. If you know for a fact that someone is a killer, and that person KNOWS that you know, kill them first. Or they will surely kill you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beach Town; Author: Mary Kay Andrews; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It tracks an ambitious Hollywood location scout/finder/manager girl who finds an old beach town in FL that seems to have been left behind in time. This is exactly what her boss wants so she secures permission to film in the town, finds lodgings for cast and crew and in the process finds True Love, as well as learning many Valuable Lessons About Life. A perfect summer read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gizelle's Bucket List: My Life with a Very Large Dog; Author: Lauren Fern Watt; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I really did enjoy this book but I hate when in the first half of the book the author is struggling just to make ends meet and working assorted jobs she doesn't really like and then all of a sudden she is taking her ginormous dying dog on all kinds of road trips, staying at hotels etc. and DOESN'T TELL YOU WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM!!! Is it too much to add "My dad paid for all of it" "I got a big advance on this memoir" or something? It just threw me out of the story. I kept going back to see if I had missed something and maybe I did but darned if I could find it. I knocked off a star for the aggravation and privilege.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: My Sister's Keeper; Author: Jodi Picoult; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: Okay. I know this book and movie are supposed to be all that. Somehow I missed both when they came out so I read this with no idea how it all turned out. It was interesting and I liked the two sisters - although not mom and dad. It shows, to me, how much harder and more harrowing life is without knowledge of and trust in the Lord. Nobody in this book prays or asks for prayer or even considers the spiritual and moral implications in statements like how many embryos that did not provide a good match for the sick daughter were disposed of. Killed, is what they were, for the crime of not serving the purpose of their parents. So it is bleak and really rather hopeless and I totally call shenanigans on the end. Car wreck ex machina. On the whole I disliked this book intensely, but give it the two measly stars instead of one because except for the crappy rather cheater ending it was well written.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Mark (Left Behind, #8); Author: Tim LaHaye; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: So the antichrist is in control and all have to worship him and his statue, and take his mark. But taking the mark is the final choice and once you have taken the mark you have sold your soul forever. If you don't take the mark not only can you not buy and sell (kind of amazing that the Bible foretold all those centuries ago that there would be the technology - i.e. computer chips and scanners - that could actually make this happen) but you will have your head chopped off. (if they catch you). Believers have set up a huge underground market for buying and selling but of course the beast's police are everywhere. It is the time to choose, the time for courage. Would I have it? Would you?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Small Town Girl; Author: LaVyrle Spencer; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Very predictable and sweet. Small town girl leaves home and family to become a country music megastar in TN. She returns home to care for her mother following hip surgery because her two sisters, who have cared for mom lo all these many years, drafted her for her turn. She goes unwillingly and is filled with resentment as well as feeling herself a definite cut above her former classmates, neighbors, friends and beaus because she got out and made it big while they are content to live their small pathetic lives raising children, working, creating a community. But while there she falls in love and learns very many Valuable Lessons About Life. Happy endings all around for everyone (except for one jealous sister). A fun, easy summer read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Desecration (Left Behind, #9); Author: Tim LaHaye; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I am tearing through this series. It is so good. It is wonderful to see God's plan working out through the end times although it is frightening to see people resolutely choosing what they have to know by this point is evil. In the beginning Carpathia, (anti-christ) is posing as a benevolent maker of peace, so it is understandable that he fooled many, but by now he has nuked several cities and people are being executed left and right for refusing to take the mark, refusing to worship his statue, or just being in the way, or convenient scapegoats or generally pissing him off. It is not just Christians who oppose him - the Orthodox Jews are fighting his determination to place the abomination of desolation (is it bad that I keep thinking what a great name for a heavy metal band that would be?) in the Temple. He does and God saves His Chosen People by providing supernatural escape and refuge for them. On the one hand, you don't want to mess with the antichrist, but on the other hand you REALLY don't want to mess with God. Because Satan's end is foretold and sure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Humans of New York: Stories; Author: Brandon Stanton; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: Absolutely loved this book. It was riveting. The different people, the backdrop of my favorite city, the insight into everyone from upscale parents to the mentally ill homeless, all done with extreme respect and affection, held me so I could not (literally) put this book down but read it all the way through. It was amazing. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Acceptable Risk; Author: Robin Cook; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Classic Robin Cook. I enjoyed it although I had figured out the ending by chapter 2. But it was exciting and interesting and the suspenseful ending had me racing through it so frantically that when I finished the book I went back and reread the end because I knew I had missed nuances due to my need to see how it all came out. Very good reading.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Back on Blossom Street (Blossom Street, #4); Author: Debbie Macomber; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Sweet, heartwarming, moving. Always enjoy these knitting books and they always make me want to knit. When I retire, maybe.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Talk; Author: Neil deGrasse Tyson; Genres: non-fiction; Review: This book was awesome! It has a fabulous cover which I don't understand why that is not showing up. It is intelligent, thoughtful, insightful, readable, and humorous. I loved it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Monogram Murders; Author: Sophie Hannah; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: I loved this book. She had Christie's tone down pat and her Hercule Poirot is very very close to the original. As to lessons learned, however, they are not the same. They do include one of Christie's constant warnings - do not believe what you think you see before your eyes. However it is not your nearest and dearest you should fear but ghosts from your past who have long memories and believe, with Melville and Khan, that revenge is a dish best served cold.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Dunwich Horror and Others; Author: H.P. Lovecraft; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I absolutely love H.P. Lovecraft. I discovered his books during my first semester at the University of Miami, back in 1971, and devoured them. I recognize his - I won't say 'faults' because it is all part of who he was and how he wrote - idiosyncrasies, such as the multitude of adjectives, and the racism, but he created a world and a framework that has never been equaled, no, not by Tolkien or any other. Every story in this book is brilliantly written and deeply terrifying. I highly recommend Lovecraft if you have never read him. I don't think I am the only person whose mental processes are tinged with the book I am currently deeply involved in - for example when I read Austin I tend to walk about thinking in long detailed sentences such as "My it is a fine day for a long pleasant conversation with friends and family." But with Lovecraft it goes kind of like this. (no offence to Mr. Lovecraft). My dogs shrank, strangely affrighted, from their food dish. They cowered, staring with strange eldritch terror at their formerly beloved sustenance. Curious, drawn by I knew not what fascination, I bent over to look. Then I leapt back in horror. Small strange black shapes swarmed there, crawling and seemingly unbound by the laws of physics we know - crawling up, up, defying gravity, following obscene and non-Euclidian patterns, nearly concealing the sane familiar lumps of brown kibble. I lifted the bowl to see more clearly and their blasphemous shapes took on hideous and unknown meaning. I began to carry the bowl towards the door, barely conscious of what I was doing, knowing only that this monstrous thing must not be in my bedroom where I gave myself up to the unguarded reams of Morpheus. A strange prickling in my wrist made me start and when I looked there one tiny hideous figure was there. It wriggled in a morbidly suggestive way and waved two tiny feelers at me as if mocking me. I shrieked aloud and then came a nightmare of plunging down cyclopean steps, running and nearly falling until I burst out into the night air, where a hideously fungoid moon leered down from a curiously starless sky. I flung the bowl from me, dancing frenziedly as I brushed my arms, my hair, my garments, to free myself from any trace of their malignant presence. Then I retraced my steps back to my room. But I never shall sleep there with any degree of peace. Instead I flee down nighted corridors of blasphemous regions from beyond space, beyond time, tormented continually by images of the ants!!! The ants in the bowl!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Betsy Was a Junior (Betsy-Tacy, #7); Author: Maud Hart Lovelace; Genres: history, young-adult, children, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Always loved this series - found this in the library! Fun to see the drawings of styles back then and fun to read. Many hijinks ensue and multiple Valuable Lessons About Life are learned.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Betsy and Joe (Betsy-Tacy, #8); Author: Maud Hart Lovelace; Genres: history, young-adult, children, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Sweet, fun to read, well written. I enjoy this series thoroughly and have since I was a little girl. Fun to be discovering these later books since really all I read as a child were the earliest ones where they were all children together - Betsy and Tacy, Betsy, Tacy and Tib, Betsy, Tacy & Tib go Downtown. I think that is as far as I got until I found these later volumes at the library.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Remnant (Left Behind, #10); Author: Tim LaHaye; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This was my least favorite so far, mainly because it got confusing. Not theologically but all the characters were off on different missions and it was hard to keep track with their aliases and what not. I had to keep going back to see who was who and who was in disguise as what person/name/title, which kind of threw me out of the story. But it is still engrossing and I look forward to the next one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Virgin's Lover (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #14); Author: Philippa Gregory; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This is a shockingly low rating from me for a Philippa Gregory novel, and considering that it is about Elizabeth I, my very favorite historical figure of all time, it is even more shocking. But Elizabeth is unrecognizable to me in this book. She is hysterical, weak, clingy, with no trace of the ruler I have always admired. However. The book is well written, the other characters are well drawn and the look into Amy's pitiful love and life is excellent. That's the only reason for the 3rd star.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Confessions of Young Nero (Nero #1); Author: Margaret George; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I went through this very large book in two days because I lost power due to Irma. What else did I have to do? I swept and mopped, did some good story editing, and read. I enjoyed this book although the main character is in such wide variance from his 'known' historical persona that I kept waiting for the punchline - the terrible event that changed this thoughtful, pleasant young man into the monster we all think of when we picture Nero. One terrible event after another occurred but Nero continued to confound me by being ... well, human. In the epilogue Ms George explains that in her view (which I presume is historically supported - she certainly has a looooong bibliography and some convincing quotes and theories) a few biased historians and Hollywood created the monster out of whole cloth. This, she avers, is the true historical Nero. It was very interesting, well written, of course, and I am looking forward to the next volume. I don't trust Margaret George as a fiction writer - any author who can kill off a child whose inner dialogue and thoughts we have been privy to, is off my reading list - but her historical novels are splendid.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Return Journey; Author: Maeve Binchy; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I generally don't like short story collections because for some reason they tend to be depressing. But Maeve Binchy is an exception. Every story is a complete little tiny novel in itself, with full plot development, full character expansion and growth, beautiful descriptions and dialogue. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cavendon Hall (Cavendon Hall, #1); Author: Barbara Taylor Bradford; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I liked this book and its characters enough to finish it but not enough to seek out the next installment. That's really all I have to say about it. I keep trying Barbara Taylor Bradford because so many people love her, and generally (but not always) I do finish her books but then I am not bound up enough in the characters' lives to want to continue.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Silver Wedding; Author: Maeve Binchy; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: If I were a 'real' book reviewer I would be able to say what about the author's technique made this book (in my opinion) so far superior to the last one I read, by Barbara Taylor Bradford. I can't. I don't even know. All I know is that these people felt like real people to me, whereas Barbara's didn't. I cared about each one of them and genuinely loved getting to know them. If there were a sequel to this book I would read it. In this book every character gets a chapter to him/herself and as they all approach the silver wedding celebration we see into their hearts and lives and, as it progresses, we 'meet' each character through the internal life of the preceding one - we see the mother through the eyes of two daughters and a son before we actually get to her chapter. It piles on, one richness after another until by the end I rejoiced in their triumphs and grieve for their sorrows as if they were indeed neighbors and friends of mine. I never feel this in Ms Bradford's books. I highly recommend Ms Binchy's tales - each and every one of them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Forsyte Saga (The Forsyte Chronicles, #1-3); Author: John Galsworthy; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Wow. What an awesome read. I absolutely loved this book. Not exactly a page turner - at no point did I feel i couldn't go to bed without knowing what happened next, but these felt like real people to me, and I was completely invested in their lives. HIGHLY recommend if you enjoy these big family sagas. Books like this always leave me wishing people still talked this way. I find myself thinking things like "her skin was flushed an exquisite shade of pink, like the first turning petals of a wild rose in the morning" instead of "she is sunburned."; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon: The Cosmic Battle of the Ages (Left Behind, #11); Author: Tim LaHaye; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Almost at the end of this series. Am enjoying it thoroughly. It is very exciting, and I turn the pages as fast as I can, and am always disappointed when I reach the end - wanting just a little bit more. Next and final book is the Glorious Appearing - can't wait!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Constant Princess (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #6); Author: Philippa Gregory; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed reading this book - I always enjoy Philippa Gregory's books because they are so well written and about people and topics that interest me. But I have to ask what her deal is with virginity. First The Virgin Queen is not one at all, and now Katherine of Aragon was lying - to her priest, to her Pope, despite her obviously sincere Catholic faith - about being a virgin when she married Henry. Ms Gregory has invented an elaborate deathbed promise to explain the contradiction between this great lie and Katherine's well known integrity, honesty and faith. Evidently Ms Gregory does not believe anybody over a certain age could possibly be a virgin and if they say they are they are lying about it. I don't buy it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Modern Dog: How Dogs Fit into Our Society, Culture, and Our Personal and Emotional Lives; Author: Stanley Coren; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: This book was excellent. It had a great deal of insight into the human/dog relationship and had some fascinating information I did not know - for example that the presence of domesticated dogs may have tipped the balance in favor of Cro Magnon man over the Neanderthal. I had also never considered dogs as the original GMO creatures but certainly it is true that we have been genetically altering them from the very beginning. The tracing of the development of hunting dogs, for example, from the slow moving patient pointers needed for the slow process of loading a muzzle type gun (you know, put in the powder, wrap something in paper, insert the bullet etc.) to the excitable fast moving spaniels that flush out everything for the 'hunter' who can then blast away with his automatic weapon. There were tragic, harrowing tales of dogs executed by the CIA, by the US Army, by rescuers during Katrina, and beautiful inspirational stories of human/dog bonding. I highly recommend this book to any dog lovers out there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pathfinder (Leatherstocking Tales, #3); Author: James Fenimore Cooper; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: I bought this ginormous volume of all 5 Leatherstocking tales at, I think, Barnes & Noble, on such a good sale that it seemed worth it to investigate these well known novels. I have been working my way through it and enjoying it immensely. The stories are packed with excitement and beauty, long in depth philosophical conversations and thrilling adventures. The beauty and wild nature of these areas long ago, before they were developed and the American continent was covered with thick old growth forest is brought to life so vividly that it seems incredible that I couldn't hop a train and see it for myself. The virtues of honesty, integrity, simplicity and courage are set forth as well as their opposites, and I highly recommend these books. (or in my case this book that must weigh about 20 pounds).; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Angelology (Angelology, #1); Author: Danielle Trussoni; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: The book was a page turner all the way. I always found it hard to put down in between readings. There was a point though when I thought I knew exactly how it was going to end when certain details were revealed so I kind of lost some of my interest I bit. But boy, was I wrong. The book ended with a wonderful but bittersweet surprise. This is definitely a must read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Million Suns (Across the Universe, #2); Author: Beth Revis; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: A-FREXING-MAZING.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Snow White & the Huntsman; Author: Lily Blake; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: In this book, Snow White and the Huntsman had a really good chemistry.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Days of Blood & Starlight (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #2); Author: Laini Taylor; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Great book. Really primes you and builds your anticipation for the apocalypse that they plan to bring on to the world. I can't believe I'm saying this but I can't wait for their apocalypse to come. :D; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boy, Snow, Bird; Author: Helen Oyeyemi; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: The "Snow White retelling" was such a misleading marketing attempt which ultimately made this book a disappointment. Helen Oyeyemi writes a beautiful prose which is a shame because the book never felt like it had a proper resolution. The end felt rushed, like she was pressured to meet her publisher's deadline.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Grin and Beard It (Winston Brothers, #2); Author: Penny Reid; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: One of the funniest romcom books I've read in a long time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: InterDesign Reo Power Lock Suction Bathroom Shower Combo Caddy Basket for Shampoo, Conditioner, Soap - Stainless Steel; Brand: InterDesign; Review: I like this tray, but I was just never able to get it to stay up. It may just be my tile, but it seemed always to be too heavy to be able to remain suctioned. Nicely made though!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: InterDesign Suction Toothbrush Holder for Bathroom Mirror, Shower - Polished Chrome; Brand: InterDesign; Review: This little thing has stayed stuck for years! Excellent!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Linden Sweden Original Jonas Vegetable Peeler – Made In Sweden- Great for Apples, Carrots and Potatoes; Brand: Linden Sweden; Review: Eventually you realize you just need to buy all the kitchen items your grandmother had, because they are the best, and here we are.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterDesign Suction Shaving Mirror for Shower or Bathroom - Circular, Chrome Finish; Brand: InterDesign; Review: This little thing has stayed stuck for years! Excellent!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coffee Mug - Camera Lens Thermos - 13oz Cup - Stainless Steel Insulated; Brand: ANTVEE; Review: Well-made, reasonably priced, and an excellent gift for photographers!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Neil Young Greatest Hits Easy Guitar With Notes And Tab; Author: Neil Young; Review: Easy way to learn lyrics and play Neil's hits. I am a beginner guitarist but old fan of his music.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JustinGuitar Beginner's Songbook: 100 Classic Songs Specially Arranged for Beginner Guitarists with Performance Tips; Author: Visit Amazon's Justin Sandercoe Page; Review: Great book to easily learn new songs. Use with YouTube videos to evaluate myself.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Learning: How To Become a Genius And Expert In Any Subject With Accelerated Learning (Accelerated Learning, Learn; Author: Visit Amazon's Harvey Segler Page; Review: Setting realistic expectations is important toward achieving any goal. Buy aim and result may be surprising. Good reading habits review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Code of the Extraordinary Mind; Author: Visit Amazon's Vishen Lakhiani Page; Review: Repackaging of old concepts found in many personal growth books. Zen, meditation, thinking positive are familiar tools discussed by the author.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Collected Works of A. J. Fikry; Author: Visit Amazon's Gabrielle Zevin Page; Review: Great read. Good story flow. Characters drawn from real life. Humor, suspense, insightful. Plenty of hooks to keep reder interested.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Read Music: Beginner Fundamentals of Music and How to Read Musical Notation; Author: Visit Amazon's Erich Andreas Page; Review: Good book for beginners or refreshing lost music reading skills. It could be used in conjunction with YouTube's video if you are a visual learner. It's fine for what it advertises to be, a primer. As the author states, playing an instrument is an acquired skill that is developed over time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beneath a Scarlet Sky: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Sullivan Page; Review: The importance of strong family ties, good friends, and a value system is essential when dealing with life's ups and downs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beneath a Scarlet Sky (Center Point Large Print); Author: Mark T Sullivan; Review: The importance of strong family ties, good friends, and a value system is essential when dealing with life's ups and downs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Crime Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained; Author: Visit Amazon's DK Page; Review: Good overall recap of famous criminal activities. In some cases, the provides insight and perspective from the criminal mind. Well organized for review of stories.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Falling For My Best Friend's Brother (One Night Stand, #2); Author: J.S. Cooper; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: Great book, really enjoyed reading Alice and Aiden's story. It was full of fun and hot steamy sex. The window scene was one of the best :)) Really felt for Alice all the times she doubted herself and Aiden's feeling / intentions. Thankfully it all worked out in the end. Jamie is now one of my favorite authors. Looking forward to reading the rest in this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Billionaire's Secret Marriage (The Hart Sisters Trilogy #1); Author: Elizabeth Lennox; Genres: romance; Review: This was quite a good read. It's the story of Jayden Hart and Dante Liakos. Dante comes to the rescue and saves her business from falling into the hands of an unscrupulous businessman. What Jayden doesn't know is that the real culprit of her calamity is the very man she is falling for. Dante needs a wife to gain control of his company from his overbearing father. He uses Jayden to this end. He is unprepared to fall in love but that's what happens. I liked Jayden from the beginning and of course Dante's brooding good looks, what's a hero without all that, eh.:)) The chemistry between the characters was well portrayed and believable. I'll definitely be te sequels.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SAVING SARAH: RUN FROM ME (HARTS of GOLDEN Book 1); Author: Cee Cee Houston; Genres: thriller, children, crime, romance, mystery; Review: Great book by a new author. Sarah is running from an abusive ex-boyfriend who wants to kill her. She meets Mike and sparks fly from the first moment they meet. Neither of them realize they have found the person each of them have been dreaming about. That first encounter has a steamy scene and a fight at the end. Mike isn't a man who believes in the 'happy ever after' theory, not since he was burned by his wife's betrayal. All he's looking for is the next woman to warm his bed for the night. Sarah is running scared. When Sarah has an accident next day and it's Mike who rescues her, they discover the truth. But Sarah can't believe she's found her true love and Mike just wants to run now. They finally give in to their desires. Everything seems rosy until Mike has to leave. All alone in the house, Sarah finds a painting that makes her think she was wrong about Mike and she does what she's been doing for a while now. Runs. This is the first in a 3 book series and ends in a cliffhanger.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finding My Prince Charming (Finding My Prince Charming, #1); Author: J.S. Cooper; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Really good read. Lola is quite a stubborn and hard headed character but she needs to be to out up with the relentless arrogance and aggressive attitude of Xavier. But he's a real Prince and expects his woman to bow down to his wishes. He's not prepared for Lola's obstinance or how she manages to worm her way under his skin and into his jaded heart. He tries to put her out of his mind once he has his way with her, but when he finds out she's part of his Art History class he decides he needs more time with her to get her out of his system once and for all.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SAVING SARAH: RUN TO ME (HARTS of GOLDEN Book 2); Author: Cee Cee Houston; Genres: children, romance; Review: This is the second book in the Saving Sarah collection. Mike and Sarah finally reconnect after a two-week hiatus. This was due to Mike having an accident and being unable to continue his search for Sarah after she ran away at the end of the first book. Both Mike and Sarah have to face up to their new found feelings and decide if they want to go with it or fight to the bitter end. Sarah believes Mike has betrayed her trust in him. She flees to L.A to be with her best friend and lick her wounds. But fate has a funny way of tying this couple together. So, do they finally get their happy ever after. They certainly have a raunchy get together and there is a surprise in store. Sarah is on a date with another man and this make Mike mad. Fists fly and not long after so do the clothes. I really enjoyed this second book and I'm looking forward to the last one. Hopefully, we'll see what that nasty man, Scott has been up to. I recommend this book to anyone who loves romance with a bit of suspense to it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disillusioned (Swept Away, #2); Author: J.S. Cooper; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: It's a few weeks since I read this book but it still resonates in my head when I think about it. Jakob and Bianca have separated after the events of the 1st book, but eventually circumstances bring them back together and they help each other to discover the truth. Unfortunately even more lies and revelations lay in wait for them. Bianca faces an unknown adversary who will make her re-think everything around her. Who can be trusted and who can't?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: That Night with My Best Friend's Brother; Author: J.S. Cooper; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: This was so much so fun and a sexy read too. Aiden and Alice had one night six years ago, but neither of them forgot about it. Alice has been obsessing over Aiden before and even more since that night. Aiden has been waiting for Alice to 'grow up' in his eyes because he believed she was too immature before to know what she really wanted. Him. He has always wanted her, ever since that night. It's a bit of a rollercoaster ride for Alice and sometimes I wanted to shake her and others I was crying with her. It all came right in the end. We all like our HEA's and this delivers beautifully.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Protecting Shaylee (The Fae Guard, #1); Author: Elle Christensen; Genres: paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance; Review: First in a new series by Elle Christensen. Shaylee has lived her life thinking she was normal. She's had a crush on a guy ever since she knew what crushes were. When she meets up with Aden after her first year of college, things become heated, and steamy. Oh, pantries never looked so good. But Aden takes a step back and leaves. He comes back two years later when Shaylee is about to find out the true nature of her heritage and what he has to do with it. Moving to Rien and learning about the Fae as well as dealing with her growing feelings for Aden consumes Shaylee's time, she tries to guard her heart knowing that if Aden left her again she'd never survive, but love takes over and slowly Shaylee succumbs. A fantastic story with depth, the world of the Fae is just like ours and their heroes just as sexy. Hot sexy scenes and a rollercoaster ride of emotions,with a HEA at the end. Looking forward to book 2.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: That Night with My Boss (One Night Stand #2.5); Author: Helen Cooper; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Great new story about Scott and Elizabeth, they are the newest hot couple from JS Cooper and they work so well. Steamy story line. Elizabeth wants to be an actress but works at an agency that delivered birthday grams. She's very unhappy and short of cash. So when the opportunity to play secretary to incredibly sexy Scott. She dithers but finally gives in. But before she can play her role. She is saved by him at a local bar, where she has gone to meet Mike, an ex-marine, who looked hot on his profile. Mike, is twenty years older and fifty pounds heavier.After saving her, they spend the rest of the evening at the bar and then Scott takes her home with him. One hot and steamy night later and Scott gives Elizabeth the impression it was just a one off. But, they aren't finished, and Elizabeth is going to make him suffer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Chase, Volume 1 (The Chase, #1); Author: Jessica Wood; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: really good. Great storyline and plot.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brothers (Brotherhood of Souls, #1); Author: K.C. Falls; Genres: young-adult, romance; Review: I really, really loved this book. I felt all the emotions Sarah went through with her obsession will Darren. He was a boy from the wrong side of the tracks but Sarah was drawn to him from the first moment she saw him roar up her parents driveway on his noisy bike. Over the year's she fantasized about him. He was her first love, her first kiss and the man to make her a woman. But she made mistakes and Darren left her thinking she was a stuck up snotty nosed brat. K.C Falls write beautifully and emotively. I was desperate to find out what happened next and the second book, Darren did just that.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Insatiable (Insatiable, #1); Author: J.D. Hawkins; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I love this book. It blew me away with the emotions the characters show and develop over the course of this hot read. Feelings and intense and very personal. Jax and Lizzie are supposed to be having a 'teach me how to be like you' relationship. Lizzie had dumped her boyfriend of 8 years, the only guy she'd ever been with. She was feeling lost and unworthy, until she met Jax. He agrees to the arrangement, thinking it will be just sex, no strings attached for the week he has agreed to teach her all he knows. Will he come out of the encounter unscathed or as a changed man. Will Lizzie become the sex kitten she wants to be or remain for ever the mouse she thinks she is? Read this book and find out, you won't regret it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Loving Lo (Devil's Knights, #1); Author: Winter Travers; Genres: romance; Review: This was my 1st MC book so I don't know what the 1 and 3 stars reviewers are complaining about in that context. To me,it was a fabulous story about Meg how has suffered through a disastrous marriage to an abusive husband. She was physically hurt, but something the mental scars are worse and the take much longer to heal. Meg meets Lo and the attraction is instant. lo knows he wants Meg, he just has to convince her that she's worth his time. Lots of steamy sex and plenty of sass and sarcasm too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: S.I.R. (Love is for liars Book 1); Author: Samantha Knight; Genres: romance; Review: This is the 1st Samantha Knight book I have read and it certainly won't be the last. Silas and Starr are both damaged in their own way and neither of them believes in love anymore. They 1st connect by email, then text and finally after some intriguing pics from Starr, Silas calls her. A few months pass before they finally agree a meeting place. One night of passion is all they want. Except, Starr has fallen for Mr, hot, hunky Silas. He too has fallen under Starr's spell. Next day a chance encounter in a cafe sparks both's their interests again. But before anything can come of it, Silas meets someone from his past and everything is up in the air. Love this book. Silas, had all the making of our next book boyfriend material and Starr? She's spunky, sexy and needs to get her life sorted.The chemistry between these two characters was spot on. Can't wait for book 2. Or to see it made into a movie!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kinky Carnival Games (Maybe Mandy #1); Author: C.C. Genovese; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Short and steamy little story. Sexy new author, Mandy and Braden are a fun, sexy couple. Mandy hasn't had a boyfriend for 5 months and is feeling a lot of pressure.She needs to relieve and fast, her best friend sets her up with a blind with Braden and he takes her on the ride of her life. A whirlwind of a ride ending on a ferris wheel. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bet; Author: J.D. Hawkins; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Brilliant!! Best so far!! I loved this book. How anyone can write a review and say there was no chemistry between these characters is beyond me. I actually had this as Brando 1 and when I went to purchase Brando 2, I couldn't find it ANYWHERE!!!! I didn't realize JD had released it in this version as a stand-alone. I was so invested in the first part of the story, I literally searched everywhere for it. Not just on amazon!!! That's how hooked on the story I had become. I ended up contacting the fabulous man himself and he helped me out. Love you JD Hawkins!!! As to the story? Haley is playing at a open mic night that Brando just happens to be attending. He meets up with his ex-girlfriend and her now manager, who stole her from Brando- cue some angst there. Brando stupidly makes a bet with the sleezebag manager to get his previous act, Lexi back. Things are going great, Haley and Brando hit it off and then Lexi throws a spanner in the works. Don't want to give too much away other than to say this is a brilliant story told by a fabulous author. The chemistry between Haley and Brando was off the charts hot. The story was great and held my interest. I have never once regretted buying a book by JD, and I serious doubt I ever will.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Romantic (Mister, #2); Author: J.A. Huss; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: Powerful story telling at it's best. OMG!!! Where do I start? I l fell in love with Ivy right away, Nolan took a little longer and there were parts where I almost wanted to hide behind my kindle. I don't normally read dark stories, and in J.A Huss own words, this book isn't dark, but to me it was. It pushed my boundaries and made me question why, why why? But in the end it was clear why. Nolan needed closure from that horrible night ten years ago and Ivy was the girl to help him. She's innocent when they first meet,but she's strong and has a backbone of steel. And she needs it, this is one helluva ride and I was grateful to make it to the other side unscathed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sex Education of M.E.; Author: L.B. Dunbar; Genres: young-adult, romance; Review: Wow. This could be the start of something new!!! I wanted to read this story from the moment I first heard about it. And from the second it hit my kindle I couldn't put it down, it seemes like such a divergence from the norm that we are all used to. It's a welcome change and maybe the start of a new genre, who knows? But, over 40 and fabulous? Don't we older woman want to read those types of stories, where we can pretend that we, not our daughters, really are the heroine. Emme is that woman, she's of that age and has been widowed for a year. She feels like she's missing out on life and all it has to offer. Plus, she misses the sex. The closeness of another human being, even if they aren't that great a person. She needs the connection. Enter Merek. He's tough and hot sexy as sin and he pushes all her buttons. He offers to fill that missing gap, and keep filling it when it was supposed to be just a one-time fling. Merek feels things for Emme he didn't expect or want. They both fight the attraction and try to push the other away. But when the time comes, can they really do it, or just give in and see what life really does hold for the over 40's?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Owned by Dominic (Possessed, #1); Author: K.L. Donn; Genres: thriller, crime, romance, mystery; Review: This is the first book I've read by K.L. Donn and I enjoyed it a lot. It's a bit dark, with some harsh violence and brutality. Deidre is a young woman who has her mother taken away from her at the age of eight. Her abusive father keeps her and plans to sell her when he decides it's time. Dominic has been sent to spy on Deidre's father and is given the job of her protector, one in which he fails as she's kidnapped while Dom is trying to take out her father. He makes a deal with Bradshaw, his life for Deidre's. She will be Dom's, but when he returns to claim her she's gone. Fast forward 7 years and Dom finds her again. He takes her with him to keep her safe from her father, but he is not giving up. There's a lot of angst, a lot of pain. Tons of swoon worthy moments and the sweetest, cutest little boy, Jaxson, you'll ever meet. Insta-love x3. Dom is certain over-protective but given the situation it's understandable. When he's forced to make the hardest choice ever in his life will bring tears to your eyes. The strength of character the DeeDee shows is remarkable, she's a real spitfire when needed, although some of her plans needed a little more thought put into them. Overall I really loved this book and I'm looking forward to book 2 which is Casey's story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: One Dance for Case (Possessed #2); Author: K.L. Donn; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Book 2 in the Possessed Series Book carries on from one finishes, with Casey meeting a damaged young woman who is a stripper in a local club. Ev's been dealt a poor hand all her life and is wary not just of Casey but all men. Her mom abandoned her at a young age and she's had to learn to take care of herself. Finding her long lost sister makes Ev think she's safe, but nothing could be further from the truth. Casey is tormented by his past military career and his parents rejection at a time in his life when he really needed their support. He spirals out of control and it's only thanks to Do that he makes it through to the other side. He meets Ev just as he has survived this hellish time and falls for her instantly. He wants to protect her with everything he has, but Ev's having none of it. He has to fight to get her to lower her barriers. Once again, K.L. Donn has written a well thought out story with plenty of heat and angst. Definitely a new favorite author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost & Found (Possessed, #3); Author: K.L. Donn; Genres: romance; Review: Wow, when we first met Ace way back in Owned by Dominic he seemed like just another guy employed by Creed Black. But we find out about this book that this is a complex and caring man. He has a complicated relationship with his cousin, Nick whom he looks on as more of a brother. When the love, they love together or not at all. Snow has been dumped battered and bloodied in a snow storm. Left for dead but found but Ace and Nick, the sheriff of Golden. B.C. She has no memory of what happened to her, and slowly she falls for these two hot and sexy protective men. The love and trust these characters display carries the story. It's not just a menage book about sex and little else. There's passion, there's secrets, there's a mystery to be solved... but most of all, there is LOVE. But all in not well, in this pretty little town. An evil lurks here and is stalking them. Who or what will be the deciding factor? Good or bad. Life or death. Hate... or LOVE ever after. Even though this is the 3 in the series, it's not necessary to have read them first. It stands easily and well on its own. Loved this book and highly recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Out of the Storm; Author: J.B. McGee; Genres: romance; Review: Out Of the Storm by J B McGee Now, this is what I'm talking about. This is the best book I have read so far this year, and yes, it is only January, but that doesn't make it any less true. JB McGee may not be on the New York Times bestsellers list, but she should be. This book has it all. The feels, the emotional connection. It was full of twists and turns that you don't see coming, especially at the end. Theo and Jules mad a super hot couple, the sex scenes were well written and made you feel as if you were that character. I loved how protective Theo was of Jules right from the outset, even though he didn't understand it himself or why he was putting himself out there they way he did. My only meh moment came near the end with the baddie. I'm not going to say what it was though as it would spoil the story. But, I honestly loved this book and would definitely recommend it. 5 stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ray of Light (Ray #1); Author: E.L. Todd; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Ray Of Light by E.L Todd 4.5 stars. This was another new author to me. I enjoyed the story of Rae and Ryker's story, and look forward to read the rest in the series. Rae bumps into Ryker in the park when her dog Safari runs off and she chases him. There's an immediate attraction and Ryker invites Rae to his place. She doesn't go because she has a date that night. One she regrets. More so because she blew Ryker off to go out with her dud date. Thinking she will never see him again, she puts Ryker out of her mind, until a chance encounter puts her back on his radar. But, it was a one time fling, wasn't it. Will Ryker be the man Rae wants and needs, or will he always be a man-whore? Looking forward to the next in the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bidding on Santa (Holiday Heartthrobs, #1); Author: Annelise Reynolds; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I loved this quick and sexy little novella. Cory and Katie are quite the couple. Katie met Cory a while ago and was attracted to him from the start, but Cory, was an ass and it has taken years since that first meeting before he got a chance to rectify his mistake. Being a secret santa at an auction for cakes is just what he needs. Katie is too. But can he make her see she can have her cake and eat it, and him too. Part 2 is out now, so grab this and Stupid Cupid and enjoy the ride on Santa's sleigh.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stupid Cupid (Holiday Heartthrobs, #2); Author: Annelise Reynolds; Genres: romance; Review: Ah, what a brilliant conclusion to to this two part novella series. Stupid Cupid starts off where Bidding on Santa finishes, with Katie discovering that Santa, her Sir, was not who she thought he was. And she's not pleased. Not one bit. As Cory soon finds out to his dismay. It takes an accident with her best friend to get them back together and when they do. Sparks fly once more. Will Cory get the girl of his dreams. Will Cupid lose his arrow in time to win Katie back or are they destined to be star-crossed lovers forever more. Find out in this final part. Pick up your copy now.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Final Breath; Author: L.K. Collins; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Okay, I'll admit it. After having read the blurb for this book, I was both intrigued and dismayed. A love story without a HEA. Who does that or reads it. Remember Love Story the movie. I went into this expecting to have much the same premise. Thankfully, I was wrong. But, oh my God. Just the prologue had me in tears. Faye lost her husband, and the man whom she thought was her soulmate to cancer. One year later a stranger buys her a coffee at her local Starbucks because she forgot her wallet. In payment he asks her to pay it forward. Faye thinks she'll never see him again. Even though she was drawn to him from the moment they met. But, how wrong she is. Thane, is the father of her six year old son's best friend. They keep meeting and finally give in to the attraction. Oh, how I loved this story. So, different from the norm and not quite what I was expecting from LK after having read Sexual Encounters a few weeks ago. But, it's so uplifting and emotional, and then ending had me in tears too. I love it, I love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Park Avenue Prince; Author: Louise Bay; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Prince of Park Avenue by Louise Bay Oh, first the King made me swoon and now the Prince is so hot, he makes my kindle want to melt. Sam Shaw is a self-made man, who's infiltrated to the very top of the elite of Manhattan society. He has the billions, the job and now he's acquired 'the' most sought after of addresses. But, his apartment is empty, all he has is a ratty old couch and a mattress from Ikea, literally, just a mattress. On the floor. He decides he needs some artwork for his walls, but only the kind that will appreciate in value. He hires a consultant and she takes him to Grace's gallery. The first meeting isn't your usual eyes meeting across the room, although they do. Sam's captured by the way Grace is being man-handled by her ex-boyfriend. He saves her by asking for help in discussing the paintings... painted by said ex. Their mutual attraction leads to more and more meetings, each finding reasons to spend time together, until the crunch. Does Sam buckle under the weight of his past heartbreak, can Grace put her other less than stellar ex's behind her and find the real woman masquerading behind the Princess facade? I really enjoyed this story and the little bit of insight into Max and Harper's lives was an added bonus.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Charmed by the Bartender (Modern Love, #1); Author: Piper Rayne; Genres: romance; Review: From the moment I saw an ad for this book on Facebook, I knew I wanted to read it. That cheeky smile on the cover model's face. The twinkle in his eye. It called to me. Don't judge a book by it's cover? Well, so not true for this one. Cole is sweet and sexy, but he did a bad, bad thing years before he knew Whitney, and unbeknownst to him, it had far reaching consequences. Consequences that caused Whit to instantly hate him once she finds out that the sexy bartender she met one night is THAT guy. But, love has to have it's way. They're brought together, unwillingly on Whit's part by her best friend's impending nuptials. Tahlia is marrying Cole's brother Chase, and he and Whit are asked to help out by reviewing venues. Whit starts to see a new side of Cole, one she didn't realize he had and that she likes... a lot. But, then the one night something happens. Can Cole convince her he's not THAT guy anymore. Or will Whit walk away-forever. I thoroughly recommend this book. It's fast, it's funny. It'll make you swoon and then mad in equal portions. Pick up your copy today. You won't regret it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hooked by the Boxer (Modern Love, #2); Author: Piper Rayne; Genres: romance; Review: The Boxer blew me away! It was a sweet, fun read. I think everyone who's read The Bartender was feeling bad for Tahlia, although it wasn't really a shock from the last third of the first book. Now, in her own book with Lucas, it's 6 months later and she's still wallowing in self-pity and loathing. Pity for herself and her unasked for situation and loathing for her ex, Chase, the lying cheating douchecanoe. I loved this story, there isn't a ton of drama, just a small hiccup maybe. The three girls showed their sisterly like love and affection for each other once again. They didn't hold any punches ( no pun intended lol) when pulling Tahlia out of her fugue and back into the world of men and dating. When Tahl first meets Lucas, it's insta-lust but she doesn't even know who he is, or what he does. Which is box... but there's so much more to him than that, and when she finds out, it doesn't take long for her to fall even further. I got a real kick out of these two characters. They were a hot and sexy combination that combusted at almost every turn. I highly recommend this book. It's full of fun, frivolity and a fast paced sexy story-line. Well worth the read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All the Frogs in Manhattan; Author: Carrie Aarons; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: All The Frogs In Manhattan by Carrie Aarons This is my first book by Ms. Arrons but it sure won't be the last. This was a seriously funny, laugh out loud book. The characters were sweet and entertaining. Poor Gemma has been stuck with frog after frog for many a year. But, like any true romantic she keeps searching for that guy. The right one. Her Prince Charming. The ONE!!! After one disastrous date leaves her calling in her Auntie Flo card and nearly face planting in the sidewalk. Gemma is saved. Literally by Oliver. He's nice, she thinks, cute even, but so not her type. Oliver thought it was funny and refreshing when he heard Gemma shake off her date by mentioning her period. When he finds out it's really a thing girls do, he's taken aback, but he likes Gemma's honesty. This story is littered with lots of little quirky, incredibly funny and true mentions of things like this, that most authors veer away from, but Carrie, carries it off with aplomb. Not many authors can make a nervous tummy realistic and hilarious at the same time. The chemistry between Gemma and Oliver isn't built on insta-love or even lust, rather a mutual decision. But, it wasn't long before it's burning up my kindle. This is definitely one to pick up. Kudos to Carrie for a brilliant laugh of a book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chasing Kade (Thrill of the Chase, #1); Author: Anna Paige; Genres: romance; Review: The Ghost Pepper Babes book blog This is the first book I've read by this author. It certainly won't be the last. I'll be reading all of this new series for starters. I love discovering new authors and I came across Anna almost by accident as I was reading blurbs for other books. But once I read hers, I was hooked and knew, I HAD to get my hands on this awesome hot little number. Chasing Kade is about Kade Edenfield, the lead singer in a band called The Thrill of the Chase. He's a typical bad boy and hot headed with it, or so he seems. He is so bad, his band's record label sends in PR babysitter, Aubrey Taylor to make them, mostly him, behave or they will have the contract cancelled. Sparks are struck at first sight, but neither want to admit to the burning attraction pulling them together. But, they can't fight it and when they give it. It's so HOT your kindle will melt. But, all is not as it's been portrayed and as Aubrey and Kade become closer, she finds out his most guarded secrets. When one is leaked to the press, siting Aubrey as the author, Kade loses control. Can they get over this upset. Will Aubrey be able to prove her innocence? Will Kade believe her and will she be willing to forgive his readiness to throw their new found relationship away? Guess you'll just need to pick up your copy and find out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Moment of Madness (Boston Alibi, #2); Author: Brooklyn Skye; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: My first delve into the world of miss Skye lead me to the bar of the Alibi in Boston. This is where Ryan Edwards resides. He's the owner of said bar and one hot, hottie. He's so sexy that Sailor Carlson can't resist him, even though she should. He's the guy who holds the key to her future plans, to right the wrong she made of her past. Sailor left her dad, for a life with a drug addict of a man who lead her down the wrong path. She finally got out and got into rehab. Now clean, she wants her dad's bar back, but it belongs to Ryan who has no intention of selling to anyone, least of all her. But, Sailor doesn't give up and slowly she chips away at Ryan's resolve as well as his desire. To have her. Ryan is a typical alpha male, hard exterior with the sweet, soft inside. Sailor likes to think she's tough and can look after herself, and she can, but everyone needs someone to lean on. But, when a misunderstanding turns to distrust, they splinter. Will this be the end? Can Ryan find it in his heart to forget the past, will Sailor forgive being let down? Take A Moment of Madness and pop it in your kindle today and find out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thank You for Holding (On Hold, #2); Author: Julia Kent; Genres: romance; Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. Both authors and new to me, and this book although not part of Ms. Kent's 'shopping' billionaire' series, definitely has references to those books, not enough to detract from this one, just a little sprinkle to encourage the reader to go buy them lol. That being said, Thank You for Holding. What a cracker of a story it was. Not quite boy meets girl, love and lose, rather he meets her the day they both start working for the same company. That's what happened to Ryan. Only before he had the chance to ask Carrie out on a date, Carrie new best friend Jenny's brother asks her out. Fast forward 2 years. Ryan still wants Carrie, but she's still with the other guy. Other guy, Jamey, has a secret. A huge secret, which only Carrie and his family are unaware of. Everyone else could see it. Hell, the reader can see it before poor Carrie. But, when Jamey is finally made to see the light, he dumps Carrie and leaves her in the lurch. Carrie is in dire straits. She has Jenny's wedding to attend and doesn't want to look like a loser going alone. Enter Ryan to the rescue, he offers to act as her boyfriend to save her feelings. But Ryan isn't pretending, this is his golden opportunity to show Carrie how he really feels. I really felt the connection between Ryan and Carrie, their chemistry was fantastic are burned the pages. Ryan is part geek, part alpha and all male. He's strong, sweet but with a healthy dose of insecurity too. There are several memorable moments throughout the book that shook his vulnerability, but the best was definitely the battery pack fire and donuts. How the authors came up with that scenario I'll never know. LOL This is a really great, laugh out loud, cry and tear your hair out book. The secondary characters were well fleshed, I'm thinking Zeke with be getting a story at some point. All in all I recommend this as a fun read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Once More With Feeling; Author: Visit Amazon's Emilie Richards Page; Review: I am a big fan of Emilie Richards already, but I had not read this, one of her earlier books. Two women living very different lives come together in a unique way. As I read, I kept thinking I knew how it would end, but the end really surprised me. Well written and interesting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cool for Cats; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Ordover Page; Review: What a fun book! Easy to read, entertaining, surprises near the end. Waiting for the next book: want to hear more from the characters.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Christmas Wedding Quilt: An Anthology; Author: Visit Amazon's Emilie Richards Page; Review: A romantic touching story about 3 cousins finding love and making their way back to their childhood friendships. Having the love of quilting intertwined in the story was an added bonus,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Between Heaven and Texas (A Too Much, Texas Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Marie Bostwick Page; Review: What a fun book! Typical view people have of Texans told in fun and funny ways. Strong women characters. Love of quilting shines through. I really enjoyed it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blood Work; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Connelly Page; Review: Another fun Michael Connelly story! Lots of twists and turns. Compelling. McCaleb is not as haunted as Bosch. Liked the other characters, too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost Light; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Connelly Page; Review: Once again: great plot, twists and turns, solutions, sadness, twist at the end! Loved it- where's the next book! I'm ready!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cause of Death; Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia Cornwell Page; Review: Suspense, panic, lies, evil, death. Kay Scarpetta, Morino, Wesley, and Lucy. Christmas and New Years like you never want. Enjoy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Murder in Time: A Novel (Kendra Donovan Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Julie McElwain Page; Review: The character's background and the change of her location add to my interest in this book. I knew nothing about it before starting. The mystery was complex and intriguing!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Superior Death: An Anna Oigeon Mystery; Author: Visit Amazon's Nevada Barr Page; Review: Didn't seem as sinister as many of the Anna Pigeon books, but just as fun. Lots of excitement. Great descriptions of nature. Nothing better than a national park!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Norwegian Wood; Author: Haruki (translated from the J Murakami; Review: This was a strange read. Started our very intriguingly but then many of the scenes were strange. I didn't want to stop reading but overall it was satisfying.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Found (A Mickey Bolitar Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Harlan Coben Page; Review: Like books 1 and 2 the plot is pretty simple. It's really for late elementary and middle school kids. There are good life lessons and some interesting twists at the end. Fun quick read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Going Underground (Jonathan Roper investigates); Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Leese Page; Review: Really good story. Unique because of the autistic character! Off to find the next book!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Trace of Death (a Keri Locke Mystery--Book #1); Author: Visit Amazon's Blake Pierce Page; Review: Officer Keri Locke is a great character! She has a partner and they work well together and solve the cases. Im looking forward to the next book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Fretless Finger Guide for Full (4/4) Size Violin; Brand: Fretless Finger Guides; Review: If you want to self teach yourself to play violin, this is the thing you want. You have to know where the notes are on the treble cleff staff to use it, but that isn't to hard to learn. I already could read music from playing trumpet , guitar, and mandolin, so all you have to do is put the fingers of your left hand on the correct notes as labled on the fretless finger guide and bow the violin.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: D'Addario Prelude Violin String Set, 1/4 Scale, Medium Tension; Brand: D'Addario; Review: This is the only kind I tried and they are OK for me. I don't want to spend a whole bunch of money for the expensive strings just to have some fun. I would buy them again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Glaesel GL3834 Violin Ultra Practice Mute; Brand: Glaesel; Review: Keeps the vibrato noise practice down. Wife doesn't complain about noisey parctice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Guarneri 4/4 Violin Chinrest - Ebony with Standard Bracket; Brand: JSI; Review: It seems to be real ebony, but my jawbone isn't a real good fit, but I am 75 and don't have all the padding. I use it and it works.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Full-size 4/4 Silver Winding Violin Bow, Fluer-de-lys Inlay, Golden Mount, Well-balanced; Brand: Vio Music; Review: It seems to be good balanced, and I really like it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bonmusica 4/4 Violin Shoulder Rest; Brand: Bon Musica; Review: You can bend it to fit any scrawny shoulder like mine and it hooks over the shoulder very secure. This is the only rest I tried that fits me; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Musical_Instruments |
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