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Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: 'Ghost kitchens' are taking over fast-food chains from Chick-fil-A to Wendy's; Abstract: Wendy's became the latest fast-food chain to name-check ghost kitchens on Friday at the company's investor day.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: You Can Get A Free Wendy's Double Cheeseburger Next Week So Uh, Lunch Is Solved; Abstract: Here's how...; Category: foodanddrink
Title: New Hampshire shooting: Man barged into a church and wounded bride and bishop; Abstract: A gunman barged into a church in New Hampshire and opened fire, wounding a bride and the bishop before wedding guests tackled him, authorities said. Investigators want to know if the attack is related to another fatal shooting this month.; 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: 2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport Manual First Test: Unhappy Marriage; Abstract: Pentastar V-6 and six-speed stick an imperfect match; Category: autos
Title: Verizon outage hits customers across the US; Abstract: Verizon said it's fixed the problem and recommends customers try restarting their phones if they still have problems; Category: finance
Title: $42 million price cut on tech billionaire's Silicon Valley monster mansion; Abstract: Silicon Valley big shot Scott McNealy drastically slashed the price on his mega Portola Valley, Calif., mansion on over 13 serene acres. McNealy originally listed the estate, which includes a 28,000-square-foot house, for $96.8 million in June 2018. The new listing price is $54.8 million, an impressive $42 million price cut.; Category: finance
Title: 12 things that could save us money if we weren't lazy; Abstract: From checking your credit report to comparison shopping, go the extra mile to keep your cash.; Category: finance
Title: Wisconsin students protest firing of black security guard who scolded student for using N-word; Abstract: Wisconsin high school students walked out of classes on Friday and held a demonstration in the state capital to protest the firing of a black security guard who had been fired for repeating a racial slur while telling a student to refrain from calling him the epithet.Students from Madison West High School left classes about 10 a.m. local time to protest the firing, according to The Associated Press. Local media reports estimated the crowd to...; Category: news
Title: Are Democrats Willing to Pay More in Taxes for Medicare for All?; Abstract: Senator Elizabeth Warren has surged to the front of the Democratic pack by promising "big, structural change" including a "Medicare for all" program that would bring health insurance to all Americans and eliminate private coverage. But at Tuesday's presidential debate, she again refused to say...; Category: news
Title: 50 Budget-Friendly RV Campgrounds to Check Out; Abstract: These budget-friendly RV campgrounds in each state may have more availability in the off-season, and go as low as $16 nightly for a spot with electricity. Even sites with amenities such as swimming holes, mini golf, fire pits, showers, movie theaters, and high-speed Wi-Fi can wind up being surprisingly affordable.; Category: travel
Title: Here's How Often You Should Rotate Your Tires; Abstract: Rotating your car's tires may not seem like a huge deal compared other common car maintenance tasks, but it's actually important for your overall safety.; Category: autos
Title: New Jersey Couple Sues Taco Bell Over Chalupa Prices; Abstract: When is a $5 deal not a $5 deal?; Category: foodanddrink
Title: 9 Types of Retirement Income That Are Tax-Free; Abstract: Believe it or not, there are lots of things Uncle Sam can't touch so long as you play by the rules.; Category: finance
Title: A couple's attempt to re-create a picture-perfect engagement photo with a bottle of Champagne totally backfired, but the result is going viral; Abstract: Alyssa Snodsmith, 24, and Collin Hewett, 23, shared their failed attempt to recreate a Pinterest picture for their engagement photo.; Category: lifestyle
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: Daylight saving time is ending this weekend. These states want to make DST permanent; Abstract: Adjust your clocks back one hour Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. lest you wake up an hour early to everything in the days ahead. But some states might change that.; Category: news
Title: Kevin Spacey Won't Be Charged in Sexual Assault Case After Accuser Dies; Abstract: The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has formally dropped a case against actor Kevin Spacey, after the accuser died.; Category: movies
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: 30 Holiday Gifts You Should Be Buying Early; Abstract: It's only October, but you should be aware that some of the best holiday gifts might not be around by Black Friday at least not at these amazing prices. Pick up these presents with plenty of time to go and you'll pay less, be guaranteed your pick, and, when it comes to certain toys, have time to put them together.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Popeyes mocks Chick-fil-A for National Sandwich Day blunder, reignites sandwich wars; Abstract: Popeyes is mocking Chick-fil-A as the chicken sandwich wars heat up once again before National Sandwich Day.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: McDonald's is adding chicken to its breakfast menu; Abstract: McDonald's is adding chicken to its breakfast menu across the US in 2020, according to leaked internal documents viewed by Business Insider.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Flood of Oil Is Coming, Complicating Efforts to Fight Global Warming; Abstract: HOUSTON A surge of oil production is coming, whether the world needs it or not. The flood of crude will arrive even as concerns about climate change are growing and worldwide oil demand is slowing. And it is not coming from the usual producers, but from Brazil, Canada, Norway and Guyana countries that are either not known for oil or whose production has been lackluster in recent years. This looming new supply may be a key reason Saudi...; Category: finance
Title: Chuck Woolery: Supporting Trump 'pretty much destroyed my career'; Abstract: Supporting President Trump and taking a conservative stance in public ruined Chuck Woolery's career and got him shadow-banned from Twitter, said the former game show host on "Fox & Friends," Wednesday.; Category: tv | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Camo Coll Outdoor Anti-mosquito Mask Hat with Head Net Mesh Face Protection; Brand: Camo Coll; Review: Great hat/net for keeping gnats away from my face/neck.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Classic Safari™ Range Bag; Brand: Maxam; Review: Great quality range bag, just the right size. Plenty of compartments to hold all my shooting needs, 3 pistols, mags, 3 sizes ammo, ear and eye protection. I'd buy again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Remington MoistureGuard Rust Preventative Rem Cloth (10 x 10-Inch) 19902; Brand: Remington; Review: Nice wipe-down cloth. I'd buy again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Concealment Express IWB KYDEX Holster: fits Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9/40 (RPT BLK, RH); Brand: Concealment Express; Review: Good fit and easy to adjust. Just the IWB holster I wanted for my Shield. I'd buy again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ADCO Super Thumb Magazine Speed Loader; Brand: ADCO; Review: Great thumb saver.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Codependent No More and Beyond Codependency; Author: Visit Amazon's Melody Beattie Page; Review: Codependent No More & Beyond Codependency a excellent helpful read for the individual dealing Codependency issues for the first time!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Pilgrim's Progress from This World, To That Which Is toCome (Penguin Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's John Bunyan Page; Review: A book used in US classrooms for the first 100 years revised in todays English for easier understanding I found it best used in a group setting!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NIV, Life Application Study Bible, Large Print, Leathersoft, Pink/Purple; Author: Visit Amazon's Zondervan Page; Review: A gift for a new Christian friend in use with Bible study in applying the Bible in these modern times!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Captain James Cook; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Hough Page; Review: A excellent read in the events of Captain Cook in his true adventures in the Pacific Ocean region in this adventures as the first European to encounter the many people of these Pacific Islands !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Endurance: An Epic of Polar Adventure; Author: Visit Amazon's Frank Arthur Worsley Page; Review: This true life adventure started at the out break of WWI Through this hard ship adventure and the spirit of human endurance to survive! Even today adventures today find this historic trip imposable with modern equipment!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Healing the Wounds of the Past; Author: Visit Amazon's T. D. Jakes Page; Review: Always enjoyed TD Jakes with his upbeat sermons and writings Healing wounds of the past in letting God help you with past wounds and living with God today!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Life Power and How to Use It; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Towne Page; Review: Not a book I would buy, but sent as a gift to a friend who is sole searching in understanding the power with in!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The NLT Bible Promise Book for Tough Times (NLT Bible Promise Books); Author: Visit Amazon's Ronald A. Beers Page; Review: This Bible Promise Book for tough Times was a Blessing for me in the past and bought this copy for a friend they enjoyed this reading for guidance!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress: A Classic Story Wonderfully Told (Listeners Collection of Classic Christian Literature); Author: Visit Amazon's John Bunyan Page; Review: A book used in US classrooms for the first 100 years revised in todays English for easier understanding I found it best used in a group setting!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Chemical Muse: Drug Use and the Roots of Western Civilization; Author: Visit Amazon's D. C.A. Hillman Page; Review: A gift book for a friend they found enjoyable in the history of Drug use and Man Kind Root in Western Civilization!!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Marx Toys Sampler: A History & Price Guide; Author: Visit Amazon's Michelle L. Smith Page; Review: A good reference for the old collectibles with colored photos for easy identification on theses toys of by gone years from MAX!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Social Security and Medicare,2E; Author: Lita Epstein MBA; Review: A book I found helpful for myself in the past and bought a gift for a friend who was looking for those questions when retired!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cadillac Desert; Author: Visit Amazon's Marc Reisner Page; Review: Good price fast delivery!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Modern Rockhounding and Prospecting Handbook (Falcon Guides); Author: Visit Amazon's Garret Romaine Page; Review: A great 101 starter Book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Strike It Rich With Pocket Change; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Allen Page; Review: A good reference!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur'an; Author: Visit Amazon's James R. White Page; Review: Great Product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bedside Blessings; Author: Visit Amazon's Charles R. Swindoll Page; Review: Great Product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Roach Page; Review: Looking forward to Reading on my time off!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vietnamese - English Bilingual New Testamanet / The New Vietnamese New Testament translated into today's Language of Vietnam; Author: ; Review: It was a gift and was enjoyed!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Healthy College Cookbook; Author: Visit Amazon's Alexandra Nimetz Page; Review: Great for our college grandson!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cruel and Usual Punishment; Author: Visit Amazon's Nonie Darwish Page; Review: Eye opening on how many middle eastern women are treated!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Bowden Page; Review: Enjoyed the rest of the story since I was there in 1970!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Vicious; Brand: Ian McKellen; Review: Stereotypical and sometime downright nasty. But the humor is still British.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Snails in the Rain [DVD]; Brand: ; Review: Interesting to see both the similarities and differences berween different cultures facing and handling homosexuality. Ultimately the suffering is exactly the same through out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I'm a Stripper; Brand: Josh Barilko; Review: The same same ...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Walk on Water; Brand: Lior Ashkenazi; Review: Great acting, true emotions.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FRONTLINE: Secrets of the Vatican; Brand: .; Review: Demand Churches to pay taxes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Rocce Azzurre SPA; City: Lipari Aeolian Islands Islands of Sicily Sicily; Review: The Hotel Rocce Azzurre is simply the best hotel. The location is a dream come true - views over a small bay with direct access for swimming (water still a little cold in June, only one very small jellyfish spotted). You could spend your whole time just watching the boats go by. The town of Lipari is a short walk through some typical Eolian narrow streets, shared only with the ever-present scooters. The hotel staff are generous with their warmth and kindness and show genuine concern in helping guests enjoy their stay - but are never intrusive. Many of the staff speak a little English,which is a real bonus on Lipari. The rooms are undergoing refurbishment - the two doubles we had were spaceous and very attractively decorated. Everything is clean and fresh.The food is superb - three course dinners with considerable choice and many local dishes on the menu. We first arrived close to midnight; the hotel staff collected us from the port and kept the kitchen open to provide a fantastic first Eolian dinner (risotto, prawns, lemon sourbet), eaten on a terrace overlooking the sea. The experience was only exceeded by the sight of a clear blue sky and turquoise sea the next morning. Rocce Azzurre delivers a 5 star service at a 3 star price. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel Cadenabbia; City: Cadenabbia di Griante Lake Como Lombardy; Review: Such a beautiful building and setting. Wonderfully clean and equipped. But what a real let down! The front desk staff ignore you for just a few seconds too long. No friendly welcome there. The door card key wouldn't work and had to ask several times for it to be reset. The air conditioning was so noisy even on the slowest fan setting that you couldn't think straight. The buttons labels on the TV remote had worn off - random programme selection! The evening meal was absolutely appalling - cost around 170 euros for 4 and included curried turkey nuggets and north sea fish (why - when there's a lake full of fish across the road?). The maitre d was incredibly rude - never sit down at a table with the cups pointing upwards or you'll be told off. And if you like cheesy keyboard music, including renditions of 'Feelings' and 'Twist Again' then this is the place for you. It was like being on a low-budget cruise ship. Such a shame as the building is amazing and the price should equate to a far, far better experience.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Anchorage House; City: St Austell Cornwall England; Review: The Anchorage - what can you say? It's a very high quality B&B - very luxurious, comfortable,clean, convenient. It could be perfect. The decor is 'deep pile', high quality furnishings - not necessarily to everyone's taste (our room was a cross between Georgian and 1930s Hollywood) but clearly well thought out (the torn out pages of the glossy magazines were testament to this) and beautifully executed. The bathroom was a big as the bedroom. The breakfast was classical, pure English and accompanied by 1930s crooning. It felt like a land-based cruise liner. Hosts, Jane and Steve, make every effort to make you feel like a pampered house guest. Their pride in the Anchorage is crystal clear. The tiny niggle that makes the experience less than perfect is that underlying their hospitality is a hint of weariness. Somehow, there's a feeling that 'guests' are a tolerated nuisance that spoil the perfection. Breakfast so early (08:30) at weekends is unusual and so is being asked to remove shoes and spend the whole stay in stocking feet. Many rules and regulations - no red wine in bedrooms, no return during the day until 15:45, call if arriving later than 19:00. Too much detailed explanation of how to operate your room. Too little soap! (hunt the tiny roundell in a bathroom with two sinks, a shower and bath can make you late for breakfast). But to criticise is mean. These people are genuinely kind and well-meaning but perhaps worn down by the reality of real members of the public who don't conform to being perfect guests. In short, a little like staying with your boyfriend's parents.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thon Hotel Kirkenes; City: Kirkenes Sor Varanger Municipality Finnmark Northern Norway; Review: When you first arrive in Kirkenes you wonder whether you should stay or go. The same is true for the Thon Hotel in town. The exterior is bland and dull. Once inside, it is a very different story. The staff are brilliant - very helpful and speak every language known to mankind. The rooms are a good size, very clean and beautifully styled. Our room looked out over the fjord and we could watch ships come and go. The beds are so soft - felt like I'd died and gone to heaven. Perfect internet connection (Ifree). Huge shower; loads of hot water. Just beautiful! The restaurant (subject of a seperate review) - worth coming all the way to the top of the World just to sample the chocolate mouse. Kirkenes is the most unlikely place to fall in love with but you will and the Thon is the best in town.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PREMIER SUITES Bristol Redcliffe; City: Bristol England; Review: Lucky to get a spare Saturday booking at this central location in down town Bristol. Arrived at 2pm, along with an annoying party of giggly 'hens'. Their room was ready - ours wasn't. Disappeared for 30 minutes - they allowed us to store our bags. Helpful receptionist pointed out Bristol's main attractions and offered to book a restaurant. Despite having requested a car park space - none were available. On -street parking just outside was free after 6pm and on Sunday. The apartment was fine but dull. The floor was still wet from cleaning and the windows all thrown open (sub zero temperatures!). Sofas and beds were very comfortable. Kitchen had just enough tools and equipment. Towels unbelievably soft and huge. Despite a suggestion that it may be possible to provide twin beds in one of the double bedrooms - this wasn't available.Pity it's not more flexible. Woken up in the early hours by the 'hens' back from a boozy night out and a hurd of elephants in the apartment above. Otherwise quiet and very convenient for shopping and waterfront. The full English breakfast was a sad looking set of microwaveable trayed food. Tasted OK but not inspiring. The celebration cake was from Asda and not special. Chocolates, wine and flowers (for hubbies special birhday) were fine. Internet access difficult to figure out but worked well. So, all OK - functional, clean, adequate but not very inspiring.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Undercliff Guest House; City: Trinity Jersey Channel Islands; Review: Chose this for a last minute weekend on Jersey - one of few with rooms still available. It turned out to be the best possible place we could have stayed and for less than half the price of the headline hotels. It lies on Jersey's historic hill climb race route, which in itself is impressive. The Undercliff was comfortable, clean, well managed and the location simply fantastic. The breakfast was excellent. Hosts couldn't have been more helpful but didn't pounce on you the moment you came through the door. We paid £146 for a double room, two nights B+B and worth every penny. Took the cliff path to Rozel Bay, which is just down the road from the guest house - very beautiful walk. The Undercliff has the standard of a good hotel but with all the home comforts. Ideal place for a last minute short break - or longer stay. Unusually for me, I would go back again and have no hesitation in recommending it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Park n Lodge; City: Westcott Cullompton Devon England; Review: Stayed at the Park 'n' Lodge as it was virtually the only place still available. And what a find! Incredible value (£45 per night), really good concept (true motel style) and comfortable, incredibly clean ensuite room. Slightly odd arrangement - never met the owners or receptionist but key was in the door (phoned ahead and was told which room). Breakfast was there ready and waiting (very generous portions) with milk and orange juice in a cute little fridge - but there lay the large 'fly in the ointment'! The little fridge had an incredibly noisy little fan which ran constantly. No problem - we switched ours off but behind the paper thin walls in the room next to ours, the fan continued to run, with squeaky bearings, all night long. Even with a pillow pulled over my head, it was still audible. Not a wink of sleep! Considered going outside and sleeping in the car. It's like some kind of torture - sleep deprivation and a constant 'eek,eek' of a fan. I would really like to recommend the Park 'n' Lodge but if you like sleeping, then I really can't.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hawksley House; City: Sunderland Tyne and Wear England; Review: Stayed at Hawksley for a few days to attend a much recommended brewing course at Sunderland's Brew Lab. The apartment living areas are incredibly spacious and nicely furnished but...they are probably designed to be commercial spaces and the bathrooms are little more than cloakrooms (tiny cupboards!). The venetian blinds are permanently down - to hide an unattractive view over a back alley and dustbins. A roller blind fell on my husband's head when he tried to unroll it and we had to swop the batteries between remotes for the TV/DVD. Also had to unload the dishwasher from the previous occupants. No wi-fi and no welcome pack to explain the finer detail. You need to collect the keys from an estate agents in Athenaeum Way, just up the road (in the direction of the river) and to the right - would have been good to have a little map by the front door, which is at No. 26 not the fancy doors and more info on booking. Having D'Acqua just below is a definite plus. So, despite all the moans and groans I would definitely suggest staying at Hawksley (very comfortable, good location and quiet) but go with your eyes open. Parking at the Bridges Car park needs to be set up in advance (email Hacketts with vehicle details and they are supposed to email the Bridges - they forgot in my case). It's a 15 mintue walk away but the car park people are wonderful and it's very exotic to have number plate recogniton on entry and exit. All in all a good enough stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sisland Tithe Barn; City: Norwich Norfolk East Anglia England; Review: One night I booked two places to stay on LateRooms - Hetton Law Shepherds Hut in Northumbria and Sisland Tithe Barn. One set of owners acknowledged immediately, offered good directions and said they didn't mind whenever we arrived - they'd be there to welcome us. The other set acknowledged a long time later, good directions but were extremely unhelpful about arrival. Turn up after 21:00 and you may be looking for another roof over your heads - in fact, we were encouraged to do just that when I offered to call in if we met traffic problems along the way (note that we never actually said we'd be later than the 21:00 curfew!). Guess which place offered the best experience! The email exchange with Sisland Tithe Barn got worse and worse. If I could have gone elsewhere at short notice and in the peak season I would have (I looked for over an hour - the owners curt response suggested there were plenty of alternatives available. Not the best way to feel welcomed!). To be fair, the place is lovely. The rooms are very well furnished, very comfortable and clean. The breakfasts are OK - more 'homemade' fare would be welcomed. The location and facilities are good. A stair-gate stops the dogs from being annoying but also make access with bags tricky. Lesley and Jane were maybe not born to run a Norfolk B+B but they work hard at it. They offer plenty of help once you're there and everything might have been fine if we'd not got off on the wrong foot. Sadly, in the Hayloft, we ran out of both hot and cold water after the first night, with just a trickle for brushing teeth on the second night and morning. This is likely an unusual experience (Norfolk's notorious low water pressure doesn't help) but there wasn't much of an apology and no offer of a reduction. Have stayed at B+Bs and hotels around the world over many years and never been welcomed in this way and never run out of water (even in the desert!). So, left Sisland somewhat dismayed. However, if you can arrive in time and the water issues are fixed, then you should have a good time there.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Chatham Inn; City: Chatham Cape Cod Massachusetts; Review: Whilst Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard were a disappointment the Chatham Inn at 359 Main certainly was not. Booked this inn by mistake and what a lucky one it proved to be. Arrived early - not a problem for the very efficient and welcoming Kellee and Anne. Free cakes between 3-5pm and endless supplies of tea and coffee, day or night, were just what we needed after a long drive from Vermont. The room was bright and full of fresh air - comfortable and clean. We enjoyed an evening drink on the porch by the fire and loved the breakfasts - the yoghurt + berries and the French toast definitely recommended.The breakfast ladies are lovely as well! It's a good location - handy to walk into Chatham gift and art shops, close to good restaurants and not far to walk to the wonderful sandy beaches. We spent 2 nights here and ate at Squires and the Wild Goose. Chatham is a fun place with a lovely sense of community and the Chatham Inn is a part of that community. They really work hard to please and go much further than the extra mile to make your stay extra special.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Echo Lake Inn; City: Ludlow Vermont; Review: We chose the inn as we're from near Ludlow in the UK and this was Vermont's equivalent. The Inn looked a little homely and the room was maybe not as beautifully furnished as other inns we'd used in New England. We wondered what we'd let ourselves in for. Although the room was on the cool side, things warmed up and so did we. Our stay was amazingly comfortable and the room was huge with two enormous beds. Had a great night's sleep. The best part of all was the amazing breakfast and the lovely people. We had pancakes and local maple syrup. The coffee was good too. The innkeeper was incredibly helpful even for advice on places near and far. The location is wonderful with the lovely Echo Lake over the road. It is a popular venue for weddings so, probably best to ask if you want to enjoy the peace and quiet we had. Either way, you're assured of a real Vermont welcome and hospitality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Omni Bretton Arms Inn at Mount Washington Resort; City: Bretton Woods New Hampshire; Review: Like previous reviewers we landed up at the Bretton Arms Inn because Mt Washington Hotel was full (despite being enormous!). However if there were ever a next time, I'd choose Bretton Arms Inn in preference. It has all the class and quality of the larger neighbour but with a much less frantic feel. We arrived earlier than planned and waited briefly in the foyer while the room was checked - enjoying the free hot spiced apple juice and cookies.The room was large and very comfortable. The bright ensuite and walk-in wardrobe were also appreciated. Bretton Arms guests can enjoy all the facilities of the larger hotel so we set off for a wonderful walk in the grounds, where there are many interesting trails on the foothills of Mount Washington. We ate at the Rosebrook Bar which offers some great beers and club sandwich at reasonable prices and with a terrific view of the sunset over the mountains. In mid-October, the peaks were snow-covered and there was some snow on the ground around the Inn. The weather in the area can be quite extreme and snow was unusually early this year. It is a wonderful place to visit - a definite must-see - and the Inn makes a good base for exploring. Recommend visiting the cog railway just 6 miles up the road.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Green Mountain Inn; City: Stowe Vermont; Review: Wasn't sure what to expect at the Green Mountain Inn but it was a pleasant enough stay. We had a room above the cafe next to the main building with a 4-poster bed. It was clean and cosy although a little noisy at first, possibly from the extractor for the next door bathroom. These old buildings are a challenge for the services but the shower was fantastic. The corridors are quite narrow but there is an elevator to all floors.The staff are helpful and pleasant even when busy. Stowe is a lovely town and with plenty of sights and attractions nearby. Having the Whip Bar and Grill within the hotel is also very handy. We had lunch there, which was just $15 for a set 3 course menu. Not the very best hotel of our holiday (that was Nonantum at Kennebunkport, Maine) but recommend a stay there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beaumont House; City: Cheltenham Cotswolds England; Review: Stayed a couple of nights in this lovely hotel. The staff are wonderful - they seem to know what you need even before you know yourself! The rooms are beautifully furnished and so comfortable. There is a complimentary bowl of fruit and good range of teas and coffees plus free bottles of water. The jacuzzi bath and TV in the shower are fun. The breakfasts are fantastic - lovely creamy yoghurt and good choice of hot food, including haddock with poached eggs. It's a pleasant walk into town, past some lovely buildings and shops. Restaurants seem to book up early so make sure you reserve a table when you book the Beaumont (which doesn't do dinner). We went to Zizzi which is in an amazing church on Suffolk Square and to Indus, which is just 10 minutes walk away and very good. The best aspect of the hotel however was the people - everyone from the receptionist to the waitress and owner was very kind, helpful and friendly and this made our stay extra special.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Farol Hotel; City: Cascais Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: This is a beautiful place - very polished in terms of decoration and the location is superb. For those who, like us, don't speak Portuguese, 'farol' means lighthouse and the hotel is right on a beautiful stretch of Atlantic coast next to charming lighthouse, now an interesting museum. The hotel is pure luxury - beautiful rooms, excellent beds and baths, very polished customer service and the food is of a very high standard. The pool is beautiful too with a good area for relaxing in the sun and a bar that never seems to close. It has a quiet and calming vibe and the sun seems to be guaranteed. The setting with a long sandy beach and rocky outcrops is lovely. We had room 103 which has a small terrace and access to the rocks with a sea view. Definitely recommend that. Air conditioning works well and maintains a comfortable temperature night and day (and you can control it!). We had a European meal one night and Sushi the next in the hotel restaurant. Worth booking for a good table but we rolled up without and they will try to accommodate. It does get busy. Definitely try the sesame panacotta if you can. Also the sharing sushi combination (39 piece) is recommended. The breakfasts are very good with plenty of choice - recommend the amazing pumpkin and walnut jam. If you hire a car, it's a short and easy drive from Lisbon to Cascais (about 30 mins) and the hotel has plenty of car parking. It's then a short walk into town. We visited the museum of culture (a modern art gallery), the Paula Rego gallery and the Museum of the Ocean in Cascais as well as the small lighthouse museum - you can buy a combined ticket for less then 10 Euros. Each place is small but a real delight. The walk to Estoril along the beach is also worthwhile, especially at sunset. The only criticism - I'd have given anything for a cup of tea in the room! Why a luxury hotel can't provide tea/coffee making facilities in the room beats me. Come on, Farol Hotel. Surely this wouldn't ruin the designer perfection? A little generosity (as shown by much less opulent hotels, e.g.the wonderful Casa Baltazhar in Lisbon) would go a long way.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casa Balthazar; City: Lisbon Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: This hotel was a total surprise - in a very good way! We didn't know what to expect and the outside didn't look much, in a side street up a steep hill in Lisbon central. Once through the doors, it was like an oasis in a hectic world. Such a beautiful hotel, with green, open spaces, a lovely pool and charming rooms, both the bedrooms and the guest spaces. The customer service is like no other - very pleasant, intelligent people who offer just the right amount of help and assistance, neither too much or too little. They speak excellent English and are very friendly yet professional. Customer care seemed really genuine. The facilities were amazing too. The rooms were large, clean and very well-furnished. The beds are supremely comfortable (and huge!). We were surprised to have a mini-apartment with cooking facilities, kitchen sink and cutlery/plates etc. There was a free bottle of wine and also free water, teas/coffees, milk and yogurt. Breakfast was served at a time of our choosing in the room and it was very extensive and tasty. It has a very Moroccan feel about it and is like a riad - a real pleasure to come back to after a day sight-seeing in Lisbon. Tip: There's a good bus service to/from the airport. Go to the far end of the street to the hotel, down the hill and steps, down to the main square and the bus stop (called Rossio) is just on the far side. A great hop on-off tourist bus is available in the next square. Take a trip to Belem and eat the pastries! The hotel is also near the central station at Rossio, so a great choice for public transport; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Gathering Edale; City: Edale Hope Valley Peak District National Park England; Review: We hired one of the safari tents for four days to celebrate a special birthday - booked at the last minute as usual and how lucky! It was glorious. Arrived in the dark. We didn't get lost as we followed the travel instructions to the letter - there really is a gate and private lane up to The Gathering to the left side of the Old Nag's Head. We were able to offload right next to the tent before parking at the top of the drive and walking back. The tent has three bedrooms, separated by canvas 'walls' and heavy curtains offer privacy. First job is to warm the lounge/diner/kitchen area with a wood burner that doubles as the oven and a second wood burner which heats the water and bathroom. Lighting is by paraffin lamps and some battery powered LED lamps. There is one socket in the tent for charging. It's all very easy to use and very comfortable. It is dark in the tents even during the day so a head torch is useful but then you spend most of the time outside. The surroundings are beautiful for walking or mountain biking (all right on your doorstep) or just relax by the outdoor fire on the decking. The beds are simply amazing. Our only problem was gales which sounded like there was a hurricane outside - that's the joy of camping, even when as glamorous as 'The Gathering'. Definitely recommend going to Hathersage Social Club - it's a must. We had an amazing Persian 5 course feast. The breakfasts at Coopers Cafe are also a highlight. Finally, Tommy, who runs the Gathering, is such a lovely person, incredibly kind and hospitable, from the start of the booking process through to our waving a sad goodbye. You really must stay there!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casa Conforto; City: Ponta Delgada Sao Miguel Azores; Review: We were unsure about this place when booking - one of those that is left after all other have been considered and found to be unavailable. How lucky we were that those others were booked! Recommend putting Casa Conforto at the top of your list. Casa Conforto is ideally located for some of the best restaurants in the Azores (recommend Adega Regional, A Tasca and Calcado do Cais) . The rooms are spacious and clean, nicely decorated. Customer service was amazing, with very rapid responses to all communication and all staff friendly and proficient in English. Breakfast is highly recommended. It arrives outside your door each day in a basket. Well worth it - food lasted through to lunch as well! The room didn't have much of a view but there was plenty of hot water and the air conditioning worked amazingly well when needed. The only downside was thin walls but the other residents were very quiet and pleasant. Having a kitchen was really useful and we cooked our own dinner a couple of times (hob, oven and microwave available as well as a fridge, coffee maker and all cutlery and crockery. Hotel arranged a whale watching tour and discounted car rental. They even invited us to a special sunset evening and meal for residents. Parking can be an issue (none close to the hotel) but we found plenty of spaces for free in a municipal car park either opposite or just a bit further up on Rua do Mercado.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: SoundBot SB250 Stereo Bluetooth Wireless Speaker Headphone, Foldable Design 3.5mm AUX Audio Port (Cable Included); Brand: Soundbot; Review: Great product as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OmniMount Tria 3 Shelf Wall System, Black; Brand: OmniMount; Review: Great product as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VideoSecu 150ft HD Video Power Security Camera Cable Pre-made All-in-One BNC Extension Wire Cord with BNC RCA Connectors for 720P; Brand: VideoSecu; Review: Great product as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: i-Blason Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 Case/Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 Case; Brand: i-Blason; Review: Great product as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Poetic Turtle Skin Bumper Silicone Case for Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite 7.0 and Galaxy Tab E Lite; Brand: Poetic; Review: Great product as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BAM 60-Mile Digital HD TV Antenna - Indoor OTA (Over the Air) VHF / UHF Amplified HDTV Receiver; Brand: BAM; Review: Did not get much signal if any. No obstructions. Easy return process.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Poetic Turtle Skin Bumper Silicone Case for Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite 7.0 and Galaxy Tab E Lite; Brand: Poetic; Review: Great product as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bobj Rugged Case for Nexus 7 1st Generation 2012 WiFi or 3G/4G Tablet; Brand: BobjGear; Review: Great product as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 1 PK Dual USB Port Electric Wall Charger Power Outlet Panel Plate Dock Station Socket; Brand: greencycle; Review: Great product as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sabrent Ultra Slim USB 2.0 to 2.5-Inch SATA External Aluminum Hard Drive Enclosure [Black] (EC-UK25); Brand: Sabrent; Review: Item as described and worksgreat. Fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Nautica Little Boys' Plaid-Rashguard Swim Set; Brand: ; Review: Too small!!!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Silver-tone Men Unisex Huggie Earrings in Stainless Steel; Brand: iJewelry2; Review: Bought these for my boyfriend and to this day he hasn't taken them off. Needles to say he loves them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sexy Womens Long Sleeve Bodycon Bandage Cocktail Party Mini Dress Clubwear (US L, Multicolor); Brand: WOW CLOTHES; Review: Super sexy dress. Wore it to go clubbing and turned a lot of heads.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dreamgirl Women's Geisha And Dragon Tattoo Costume; Brand: ; Review: Ok, I cannot say enough about this costume. It is absolutely beautiful, stretches so fits like a glove and I got compliments all night. I even won the sexiest costume award at the party. My husband wants to keep this whole "outfit" very close to our bed. One warning though: if you have a big butt and hips, it will be very VERY short. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bay Sunville Womens Roman Gladiator Sandals Flats Thongs; Brand: The Bay; Review: They are made of plastic, cheap plastic. They feel like you braided a pool chair and put them on your feet. The fitting around the ankle is weird. Not made for long walks. Would not buy these sandals again. Total FAIL.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: DREAM PAIRS MEDINIE Women Rhinestone Casual Wear Cut Out Flat Sandals; Brand: DREAM PAIRS; Review: I love these sandals, they are very comfortable and versatile. I wear them with shorts, jeans or casual dresses. I bought the gold color. Would buy more in other colors. Fit as expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Dooley s Hotel Waterford; City: Waterford County Waterford; Review: View of extractor fan system, kitchen aromas, noise from extractor fans, air conditioning, this was from room 17 and I suppose the others that surround the under santum of the fabric of the hotel. Hotel management did try to resolve the situation but if they have no rooms to move you to you are stuck with it, spoilt my time in Waterford. Dooleys is a place to forget rather than a place to remember.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Connacht Hotel; City: Galway County Galway Western Ireland; Review: Was booked into this hotel as a group, when arrived and tried to get keys was grumpily informed that the operator should have collected the keys and distributed them. Stayed for two nights using the table de note menu, on both nights service was slow as insufficient staff allocated to the group. The desert course was exactly the same for both days is a medley of deserts. When a fellow traveller went to the desk to point out a couple of things was told by reception staff, if you have any comments put them on trip advisor. This hotel is too big to be personal but it is possibly great for the 18 to 30 age group, stag or hen parties are very welcome and you can make as much noise as you like, but not for the elderly traveller who is looking for some personal service. In my opinion not a nice place to stay.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: International Hotel Killarney; City: Killarney County Kerry; Review: We were booked into this hotel as part of a tour package, we were treated like second class citizens, the rooms were so hot and had no air con, when opening the window the outside noise made it impossible to sleep. Food in restaurant was not cooked properly , raw fish dish. When we were served by the staff we were forgotten, but if you were an international resident you were treated like royalty, would not recommend unless you arrive from the USA; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gatwick White House Hotel; City: Horley Surrey England; Review: We booked for a twin room, we were allocated a double room with bunk beds, when asked if we could change we were told that we could use the bunk beds and had a choice of top or bottom. As we are elderly travellers with some mobility problems one of us had to struggle to get in and out of bed. In general the place give a tired appearance and food is basic but edible. Would not use this hotel again.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Steigenberger Aqua Magic; City: Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: Booked this hotel on an all inclusive basis. When booking we were informed that there were limited baths in the rooms, we emailed in advance to request a bath and were allocated a room with a bath on booking in. Food is good but is aimed at the eastern European taste but there was enough variety in the cuisine to satisfymy wwestern taste. Room and hotel was kept very clean and the main hotel was constantly being kept in good order. A credit to the staff. My only negative comment is the evening adult entertainment programme was sub standard in that for the quality of the hotel I expected a more professional show not the same animation team performing dance routines every night. We only experienced four outside artists who performed for approx 40 mins each. Would still recommend this hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Liberty Hotels Lykia; City: Oludeniz Mugla Province Turkish Aegean Coast; Review: Just returned from a 10 day stay, weather was great, food was good, staff very attentive and helpful, place was kept clean and tidy, pools were cool but usable, the down side for me was the size of the site regarding getting to and from your room. Hotel is located on the side of the mountain and rooms are up the mountain away from the restaurant, pools and entertainment area, I suffer with mobility problems and found it difficult to negotiate the steps and distances involved in getting anywhere,even though this resort tries to cater for the less mobile I found it a struggle. I would say this resort is unsuitable unless you are fit enough to constantly climb stairs and walk up slopes. Wifi not good as constantly dropping out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jurys Inn Prague; City: Prague Bohemia; Review: Upon arrival within a group, the check in was performed by the group administrator, when reception approached about WiFi connection they did not answer the question posed, asked another guest who helped me. WiFi offered was either STD or enhanced speed, found no difference so would recommend STD speed and save some money. Plenty of choice at breakfast and it was hot. Rooms were clean but towels were poor quality and were thin, as it was near the end of the season maybe they were OK at the start??? Air conditioner not working properly Staff were polite but very impersonal and a training course on communication skills would do no harm. Location was good as it is just outside an underground station. Hotel was quiet at night. For a 4 star hotel; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sandos San Blas Nature Resort Golf; City: Golf del Sur San Miguel de Abona Tenerife Canary Is; Review: Have a 11 night stay at this resort Hotels as clean and tidy, quiet at night even though we had aircraft noise it could not be heard in the rooms. Food was great but a little repetativeafter 10 days AL la carte restaurant was good but menu only changed after a month. Towels and linen were changed upon request so environmental friendly hotel. 2 pools were heated and there as a mixture of sea and fresh water available. Adult areas available but kids noise was not bad.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bay Royal Weymouth Hotel; City: Weymouth Dorset England; Review: Stayed on a 8 day Shearing break ona half board basis, First impressions is that the hotel is tired out. Reception is dim and small, if you get into an old lift you are lucky if it works. As this was the start of the season I expected rooms to be bright and airy, room was tired and in need of decoration and a good clean, window only opened 100 cms and was stuffy and as it was a sash window rattled in the tram lines. Restaurant for dinner was adequate and portion size small, on the Friday we had battered cod and was offered 8 chips between the two of us, made sure we got more.Breakfast was buffet style and once you got past the scrum for the food and helped yourself it was OK. Entertainment was like the hotel old and tired out. Bar prices as expected were on the top side. Staff were polite but as usual in these places there was not enough of them at peak time and therefore restaurant was slow, but they did their best. Linen was clean and changed when requested, but quality of towels was very poor as they were thin. Access for disabled is poor as there are six steps up with no assistance available and as the place is cramped up movement is somewhat slow. Would not go back for a second stay as once was enough.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Occidental Lanzarote Playa; City: Costa Teguise Lanzarote Canary Islands; Review: Booked an all inclusive stay for 11 nights, arrived late on Sunday, reception was good and we were allocated our room very efficiently. Visit to restaurant next morning all seemed well. Room was clean and tidy but lacked the refinements of a 4 star, no little extras like a bottle of water in the fridge, no minibar supplies to purchase, no glass to drink from, room decoration was poor as you could see that the paintwork had been touched up, but flaking ceilings were evident. No problems with getting a sun bed, drinks were served in disposable plastic çup which I understand from a safety point of view. There were 3 pools temperature was cold in all 3 which was not expected at this time of the season and the kids pool was small. Pool towels were available with a deposit of 10 Euros each. Animation team did their best but struggled and were constantly shouting and loud. Restaurant food was very repetitive and quality was poor, food was presented cool to warm and I am sure was not at the recommended temperature for long. There was a lack of variety in the daily menu as it was just samey every day. Entertainment was good except for the animation team shows which were poor. The pool party was inflicted on everyone as all rooms seem to be around the pool, but it did finish at 11.00 on the dot so you could suffer the noise. Hotel is rated as a 4 star but on this visit I could only give a low 3 star, maybe it is going through a change of ownership phase but I will not be visiting again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Patterdale Hotel; City: Patterdale Lake District Cumbria England; Review: Stayed for a 5 night break, room was disappointing as it was small and cramped. Breakfast was a buffet style which was OK if you timed it right to miss the scrum down. Evening meal was fine except the chef has a hankering for winter root vegetables in the height of summer. Had a ground floor room in the extension area, room was tired and needed decoration. Bathroom ceiling was turning black in the corners through lack of ventilation and some of the fitments didn't work, ie extractor fan and shaver socket. Wifi was available but very poor reception area. Disappointed with my stay; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Cesare Augusto; City: Naples Province of Naples Campania; Review: Stayed here for a week to see the historic sights of the area. Arrived very late and had no problems booking in. We asked for a room with a bath but we're allocated a room with shower, spoke to reception that night and was then allocated what we had asked for. Room was very clean and tidy, and well maintained during our stay. Restaurant in the hotel was good, food was hot and tasty with a choice in the evening. Location was good as if you left by the rear entrance you could reach town centre after 2 mins walk.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fort d Auvergne Hotel; City: St Helier Jersey Channel Islands; Review: When looking for a place to stay in St.Belief the photos shown of this hotel gave the impression that it was on a peninsula jutting out into the bay, the actual location is on a main road on the edge of the bay. The hotel itself is OK but you suffer with traffic noise and a public bus stop just outside the hotel, which causes noise and disruption. We paid for a sea view and were allocated a room with a view of the lido and surrounding rocks but the sea did come in and at high tide you could hear the breakers. Hotel was clean but needs a little t.l.c to bring it up to standard. Our room had a bath with broken tiles around the bath, the paintwork needed seeing too and the cleaning of the room during occupancy could have been better as i suspect that a vacuum cleaner was not used during our stay. Food was varied and a choice was available everyday but breakfast was always cool even when new items were brought out from the kitchen they were still cool. Access to the outside area was via a door in the restaurant and you needed very strong fingers to pull the door open when you wanted to come back in as there was no handle and the door kept getting stuck. Staff were pleasant and friendly Overall I was disappointed as I expected a high standard from a 3 Star hotel; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Brook Red Lion Hotel; City: Colchester Essex England; Review: Booked in for lunch on Sunday Greeted by a very polite receptionist who guided us to the restaurant. Greeted again by our server and given menu to brouse was offered drinks from the bar while we waited, we ordered and the food was very good and plentiful. Restaurant was quite empty and lacked a little atmosphere but had background music which was not to my taste but OK. Service was good and food arrived in timely fashion. A very pleasant experience and would recommend a try.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bell Inn; City: Diss Norfolk East Anglia England; Review: Went here for lunch on a Wednesday, starter and main ordered and arrived after 20 mins, the food was freshly cooked and hot, timings I thought were just acceptable, ordered desert and had to wait over 30 mins from order to service. Lunch was booked for 1 PM and we left the establishment at 2.40 PM for a lunchtime I felt this was excessive on time. Disappointed as I expected better.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Delta Hotel; City: Tulcea Tulcea County Southeast Romania; Review: Visited this hotel on a tour of Romania, stayed in the 4 star accommodation as there is also a 3 star part. Was given a room that was on the third floor on the far corner of the building, views were very good as we could watch the river and the town at the same time, linen was clean and fresh, lifts are a little on the small side as it was a crush when fully occupied. Food plentiful but not hot only warm, Buffett style restaurant but when the dish was empty it took ages for replacement food to appear. Staff were friendly and polite. Looking at the area not a lot of competition about for hotels but on the whole a nice place to stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SENTIDO Phenicia; City: Hammamet Nabeul Governorate; Review: Took a 14 day all inclusive trip, First week enlightening with a range of activities going on, food was ok , but the salad bar was nothing to write home about, they used the day before leftovers to make the combination dishes, but there was enough choice and if you went hungry it was down to you. Activities were various with all the normal things going on, the only problem was the water polo where the rep Chris gave verbal encouragement to the participants to drown each other and as boys will be boys it went too far with fisticuffs involved. Evening entertainment was performed by the team and it could have been better. Room was a good size but the decor needed updating and the cleaning was well below par, have stayed in many a Sentido hotel before and this was the worst for room cleanliness. Staff are friendly and helpful and if you tip them enough you get looked after. The place needs an update and some standards set. Would not go back to this hotel.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Plains of Passage; Author: Visit Amazon's Jean M. Auel Page; Review: I know there are a lot of people that complain about the biology lesson the author tries to give but I don't find it to be a problem. I am looking forward to reading the next one!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children); Author: Visit Amazon's Jean M. Auel Page; Review: I enjoyed the idea that Ayla now has to figure out how to live with a people that she is going to be with for, potentially, the rest of her life. Up to this point she always had doubts about where she was going to settle. It's also nice to meet some new characters and see that everyone is not enamored with her. I am into the last book now and my only qualm with all of them is the back story is retold a million times for people that haven't read them all. I suppose this is a necessary evil but I could do without it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Flies; Author: Visit Amazon's William Golding Page; Review: Exactly as advertised. Very satisfied; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Flies; Author: Visit Amazon's William Golding Page; Review: Exactly as advertised. Very satisfied; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DEEPLY ODD PB; Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Koontz Page; Review: Consistent with the other novels.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: (R)evolution (Phoenix Horizon); Author: Visit Amazon's PJ Manney Page; Review: Overall I enjoyed the book. Character development was decent at least for the main character. I could have used a little more background in order to understand some of the other relationships and how they were affected by what was happening. Concept is interesting and did not end in the way I thought it would which was nice and confusing at the same time. On that line I'm interested to see how she continues this story in the books to come.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Worth Dying For: A Reacher Novel (Jack Reacher); Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: Continues the series. Reacher is Reacher. I enjoy these because it reminds me of the Louis L'Amour books I used to read when I was a kid.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Martian; Author: Visit Amazon's Andy Weir Page; Review: Amazing book, on so many levels. Cannot recommend this book more. Best book I've read in a long time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Darkness Brutal (The Dark Cycle); Author: Visit Amazon's Rachel A. Marks Page; Review: I gave this book four stars for the simple reason that I enjoyed reading it. I would not say that the characters are well developed but my hope is that the author goes more into their motivations as well as their past in future books. It's a little frustrating not really knowing what the main characters abilities are or how he will come to figure that out but again this can be addressed in the future. I haven't read a lot of books of this genre so I don't know how this compares but I can say that I like the author's ability to keep me interested definitely look forward to the continuation of this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City of Echoes (Detective Matt Jones); Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Ellis Page; Review: Don't waste your time. Feel like the author couldn't make up his mind when to end this thing. Waded through the whole thing and at the end felt like...."that was it?" I will not be reading future Matt Jones books - this one was a waste of time.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The John Milton Series: Books 4-6: The John Milton Series; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Dawson Page; Review: If you're a fan of Jack Reacher you will probably enjoy this series. I burned through the entire series in a few weeks. Not quite as good as Reacher but well worth the money.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Claus Boxed; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Bertauski Page; Review: Overall I enjoyed this series. They are nicely tied together and definitely make you think. The books in general are a little dark, especially the middle one, Jack. These are worth a read and I will be reading more from this author.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Better World (The Brilliance Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Marcus Sakey Page; Review: Enjoyed this series. Very fast paced and interesting concept. Sometimes it was a little too fatalistic but a good read nonetheless.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Residence Mauritius; City: Belle Mare; Review: My husband and I stayed for 6 days, it was a wonderful experience. The Residence, beautiful hotel and courteous staff was complement to the place. Ocean view room, dinner at Plantation and the live music in the evening, everything was just amazing. I had a memorable time in this place and would love to visit again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WelcomHeritage Traditional Haveli Hotel; City: Jaipur Jaipur District Rajasthan; Review: This hotel has got beautiful interior even the smallest corner is aesthetically designed. Food is good. Staff is courteous. But, the rooms are having dull lighting. We also missed full view or big mirror in our room. Room service is quite slow. Second day of our stay in Jaipur, we went for outing and came back in the evening. But, our room was not cleaned. This was really disappointing. All these things need to be ameliorated to make the stay convenient.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Sangeet; City: Shimla Shimla District Himachal Pradesh; Review: It was nice stay and the location of the hotel was complementary to this stay. The hotel is at the one end of the Mall road and the rooms facing towards road give the picturesque of the town. Food and tea was really good. Room was spacious and clean. However, there was dampness in room which was little irritating as it was causing unpleasant smell. Staffs are courteous. The hotel has also got their cab facility, this helped us to visit various nearby places to Shimla. It is quite a reasonable hotel at good location.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mayfair Lagoon; City: Bhubaneswar Khurda District Odisha; Review: It was a very pleasant stay in the hotel, it is one of the best hotel I have ever stayed. The stay in the hotel was like staying in the lap of nature. It has got lush green view all around with beautiful lake. Beside this, all the time soothing music at the background (in the courtyard) gives a very peaceful feeling. Rooms are spacious and service is quite good. It has got complementary breakfast which has got quite large continental menu with fresh fruits and juices. Food is delicious. However, cleanliness of the room was little poor as I stayed there for 4 days on 3rd day the room was not cleaned properly. Still, I recommend this place to stay if you are visiting Bhubneshwar.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WelcomHeritage Haveli Dharampura; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: The way to this place is from the narrow lanes of old Delhi, this might give you dingy feeling. But the lovely and ethnic ambiance of the place will leave you enchanted. The place is very well restored which is quite evident from the old pictures hanging on its wall. From the rooftop, you can have the beautiful view of Jama masjid and old Delhi. For food, I would say that menu was not large. But, the food I had, was really delicious. Specially, mushroom makhana and phirni. Service is good and Indian classical music at the background magnifies to the beauty of the ambiance. I would recommend to visit this place if you are in old Delhi.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rock End Manor; City: Pachmarhi Hoshangabad District Madhya Pradesh; Review: This is a wonderful place to stay if you're planning for Panchmarhi. Everything about this place is so perfect that I will choose to stay here if I am in Panchmarhi again.It is a quiet and well-maintained bungalow. The staff is courteous, food is like home cooked food, the rooms and ambiance are fantastic. The greenery and garden are quite nicely nurtured. However, beware of monkeys. Of course, they'll not harm people until we do so. They come, take the food and go. So, do not react much when you see them. Another thing is WiFi connectivity, which was really poor. Overall, it was indeed a comfortable and pleasant stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Noor Us Sabah Palace; City: Bhopal Bhopal District Madhya Pradesh; Review: This place is located on the higher elevation compared to some of the other places in the city, this gives a beautiful view of the lake and the city. Initially, I was really disappointed with the room I got as it was not the lake view room (requested for the lake view room). But, good service, helpful and courteous staff and delicious food had overcome our disappointment. The gym area wasn't maintained the way it should. Else, everything was nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Giorgio Brutini Men's 66014 Boot; Brand: Giorgio Brutini; Review: Extremely well priced for a dress boot. Suggested for someone looking for something dressy and either will not use it often or has a small budget. Leather fine and thin but is not that soft. You may need a size or 2 up from your shoe size (maybe this only applies for wide feet) Good Luck!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 2(x)ist Men's Essentials Long-Sleeve Henley Top; Brand: ; Review: Works great worn by itself (pajama top)(maybe too thin for some use - the white one is a bit see-through) or even under formal dress shirts. Fine and thin (not extremely thin) but warm. The end of sleeve has a finish like a shirt which keeps it tight so it doesnt hang loose. Very happy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dockers Men's Straight Fit Signature Khaki Pant D2; Brand: ; Review: The navy is a good dark navy blue. Looks dressy and keeps well after wash.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MJ Soffe Men's Long-Sleeve Cotton T-Shirt; Brand: ; Review: It's a great T-shirt. Doesnt work well under dress shirt - the neck is tight and will show (even when you are wearing a tie - would look silly) Good Luck!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 2(X)IST Mens Essentials Long Sleeve Crew Top; Brand: ; Review: Works great under formal dress shirt. Fine and thin but warm. The neck is not too tigh and doesnt show when wearing under dress shirt [this was a concern to me before I bought it]. The sleeves are not tight and end of sleeve hangs loose. Very happy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2(X)IST Mens Essentials Long Sleeve Crew Top; Brand: ; Review: Works great under formal dress shirt. Fine and thin but warm. The neck is not too tigh and doesnt show when wearing under dress shirt [this was a concern to me before I bought it]. The sleeves are not tight and end of sleeve hangs loose. Very happy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Calvin Klein Men's Egyptian Cotton Dress Socks; Brand: ; Review: perfect; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: People's Republic; Author: Robert Muchamore; Genres: young-adult, thriller, children, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: This book was awesome!!!!! Good start to a new series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Throne of Fire (Kane Chronicles, #2); Author: Rick Riordan; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This book is awesome and it is a must read if you read the first book. It is a really good series and I can not wait till the third one comes out. This is a book for boys and girls. It is a adventure/mystery and a lot of other things.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus, #2); Author: Rick Riordan; Genres: young-adult, romance, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: My favorite book this year. Awesome!!!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nightrise; Author: Anthony Horowitz; Genres: young-adult, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This was long but it was worth it; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer (Theodore Boone, #1); Author: John Grisham; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, fiction; Review: Awesome law book!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Abduction (Theodore Boone, #2); Author: John Grisham; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, fiction; Review: This is my favorite series!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #3); Author: Rick Riordan; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This book is an exciting series that is based on the greek gods!! This book is probably my favorite one out of the first four ones!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last Straw (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #3); Author: Jeff Kinney; Genres: young-adult, comics, children, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This book is a funny boy who has an annoying brother and some school problems...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Waiting for Anya; Author: Michael Morpurgo; Genres: history, young-adult, children, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: A sad but well written book by Michael Morpurgo.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3); Author: J.K. Rowling; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Awesome book!!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Second Wind; Author: Dick Francis; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: This book is a book that is very confusing to me at parts of the book. It is a mystery boothst is very well written. This is my first book from this author and i really liked it. Think that I will read more of his books in a few months.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Reckless (Mirrorworld, #1); Author: Cornelia Funke; Genres: young-adult, romance, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is one of the best books written of all times. The way the story is told and how it is said is just amazing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Set Up (Medusa Project, #1); Author: Sophie McKenzie; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: A good first book of the series!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rescue (Medusa Project, #3); Author: Sophie McKenzie; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: A good story that continues a good series! She writes the storys good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hunted (Medusa Project, #4); Author: Sophie McKenzie; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: By far my favorite one in the series so far!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: GOAL!: The Dream Begins; Author: Robert Rigby; Genres: young-adult, fiction; Review: A very good story if you are interested in football!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: GOAL II: Living the Dream; Author: Robert Rigby; Genres: non-fiction, young-adult, fiction; Review: Now he is moving to real madrid and he finds a distant relative that he never know of!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: GOAL: Glory Days; Author: Robert Rigby; Genres: children; Review: Now he is trying for the national team before something happens.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #1); Author: Lemony Snicket; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: A sad but a good beginning!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #6); Author: Jeff Kinney; Genres: young-adult, comics, children, graphic, fiction; Review: AWESOME!!!!!!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hostile Hospital (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #8); Author: Lemony Snicket; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really like the idea of a half built hospital.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Book Thief; Author: Markus Zusak; Genres: history, young-adult, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is an amazing book. This is my favorite book so far this year. The ending is really sad but really good!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, #3); Author: Eoin Colfer; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This series is okay!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hunger (Gone, #2); Author: Michael Grant; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This book was okay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Chase (Lionboy Trilogy, #2); Author: Zizou Corder; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This book is a good book and it is sad but it is still a good book. I can not wit to read the third one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dogfight (Special Operations, #1); Author: Craig Simpson; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This book is about occupied Norway in1940.It is a good book!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Nicer Way To Die; Author: Sam Mills; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: It was kind of complicated at parts.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I Know What You Did Last Wednesday; Author: Anthony Horowitz; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, fiction; Review: I thought this was a kind o freaky horror adventure but it is still funny at the same time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Day of the Predator (TimeRiders, #2); Author: Alex Scarrow; Genres: history, young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This book is okay and you find a lot about the story lay out.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1); Author: Cassandra Clare; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really liked the story idea and everything.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Doomsday Code (TimeRiders, #3); Author: Alex Scarrow; Genres: history, young-adult, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I really like the robin hood idea.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Eternal War (TimeRiders, #4); Author: Alex Scarrow; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was an awesome book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cowboys and Aliens; Author: Scott Mitchell Rosenberg; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I absolutely loved this book. I was a really good book. It was kind of twisting and turning the story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flight 714 to Sydney (Tintin, #22); Author: Herge; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, children, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: My favorite one so far in the series.... :P; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Silverfin the Graphic Novel (Young Bond Graphic Novels); Author: Charlie Higson; Genres: history, young-adult, thriller, comics, children, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: It is just like the book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Agent 21 (Agent 21, #1); Author: Chris Ryan; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, fiction; Review: I loved this book!!!!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fall (The Seventh Tower, #1); Author: Garth Nix; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This book was so awesome and can not wait to read the rest series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, #3); Author: Cassandra Clare; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: this book was okay!!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Aggressor (Nick Stone, #8); Author: Andy McNab; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: One of the best books ever. A must read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began (Maus, #2); Author: Art Spiegelman; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I did not really like this book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Abomination; Author: Robert Swindells; Genres: young-adult, thriller, children, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: It is a short but very well written book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2); Author: Cassandra Clare; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I didn't really like the book!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Twisted Symmetry (The Bad Tuesdays, #1); Author: Benjamin J. Myers; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This book was okay but had a good structure!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Revenge of the Witch (The Last Apprentice / Wardstone Chronicles, #1); Author: Joseph Delaney; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This book is one o the most awesome books eva!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Curse of the Bane (The Last Apprentice / Wardstone Chronicles, #2); Author: Joseph Delaney; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really have liked this series so far!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Vampire's Assistant (Cirque Du Freak, #2); Author: Darren Shan; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: i am lovng this series!!!!!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Living Nightmare (Cirque Du Freak, #1); Author: Darren Shan; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Really good book series!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Bride; Author: William Goldman; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, children, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I did not really like this book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: City of the Dead; Author: Tony Abbott; Genres: young-adult, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This book is really cool and I think that theism series is going to be really cool.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bayou Dogs (The Haunting of Derek Stone, Book #2); Author: Tony Abbott; Genres: young-adult, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Also a must read series!!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: House of Spies; Author: Griselda Gifford; Genres: history, children, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: I absolutely loved this book!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Attack of the Mutant (Goosebumps, #25); Author: R.L. Stine; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was a good book and I hope the continue it!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Cavern of the Fear (Deltora Shadowlands, #1); Author: Emily Rodda; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Really short but good book to read!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Death Bringer (Detective esqueleto, #6); Author: Derek Landy; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Probably the best book I have read in a while. It was awesome and I would rate it to everyone!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Doctor Who: The Stone Rose; Author: Jacqueline Rayner; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I t was my first DW book and I thought that it was okay!!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Color of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind #1); Author: Terry Pratchett; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This book was really good and I loved the ending the best!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2); Author: Suzanne Collins; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: A really sad ending.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, #1); Author: Holly Black; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Good first book to the series!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stowaway; Author: Karen Hesse; Genres: history, young-adult, children, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: My first ship record book!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles, #2); Author: Holly Black; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: It is an okay series so far!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3); Author: Suzanne Collins; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This book was the best book in the series but also the saddest one because of the stuff that happens. I really like the epilogue to the story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tunnels of Blood; Author: Darren Shan; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I am like this series!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lucinda's Secret (The Spiderwick Chronicles, #3); Author: Holly Black; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Another okay book in this series!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming: Teen Edition; Author: Al Gore; Genres: history, young-adult, children, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Probably my favorite book in the world!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Public Enemy Number Two; Author: Anthony Horowitz; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: A good book!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 451; Author: Ray Bradbury; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: I didn't really like this book but it had a good beginning.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: University students break into U.S. ambassador's residence in Seoul; Abstract: They used ladders to climb over the compound's wall; Category: news
Title: Four flight attendants were arrested in Miami's airport after bringing in thousands in cash, police say; Abstract: Four American Airlines flight attendants were arrested at the Miami International Airport and charged with money laundering after bringing large amounts of cash into the country, police said.; Category: news
Title: California sheriff's deputy shot dead, ride-along injured in 'active shooter incident,' officials say; Abstract: A police officer in Northern California was killed and another deputy was injured after an "active shooter" incident early Wednesday, according to officials.; Category: news
Title: Tourist in Venice kidnaps local woman in row over exchange rate; Abstract: The 46-year-old Israeli was unhappy about the sum of money he was given, and reacted by locking himself in the currency exhange with the worker; Category: travel
Title: 'A sad day': Louisiana deputy and his school teacher wife face 60 counts of child porn and child rape accusations; Abstract: Sheriff's deputy Dennis Perkins and his wife Cynthia Thompson Perkins, a teacher, were arrested on child pornography and rape charges in Louisiana.; Category: news
Title: Fast food cashier and manager fired for refusing to serve police officer; Abstract: Two fast food employees have been fired after one of them refused to serve a police officer who wanted to order food from the establishment.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: RIN Grand Hotel; City: Bucharest; Review: Been there for 1 night although I was supposed to stay for a week. Even so I had to change the room (it was smelling like hell). Rooms dirty, the car park filled with dust, few choices for breakfast in a very dark room... Definitely not worth going back; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ambiance Hotel Bucharest; City: Bucharest; Review: The room was big and, although of an uncommon shape (oval), very well furnished so we had the feeling it was a 2-room apartment. The bathroom was big but the shower cabin leaked no matter how careful we were. Breakfast was small in choices, the plus being they had espresso machine instead of the regular brown brew normally hotels try to pass for coffee. The downsize is the location (not close to anything but the students quarters) and the personnel is not living up to standards (very loud and present, discussing personal things in front of guests etc.). Overall a pleasant experience and a good value-for-money deal.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mimoza Hotel; City: Oludeniz Mugla Province Turkish Aegean Coast; Review: We just came back from a 6-day vacation in Oludeniz. We stayed at Mimoza Hotel, which is basically the upper floor above the restaurant with the same name. The rooms are quite big and spacious, modernly designed, with balcony overlooking the main street (in our case). The bathroom is good sized and it had amenities and hair dryer. The bed was very good and comfortable, and the room had also tea and coffee facilities. The staff is very friendly and will try to satisfy every wish, with a Turkish approach. For more introvert persons it may seems intrusive but for us was very good. The hotel is family-owned and run and it really has this flavor. Now for the parts to be improved: the standard breakfast is quite poor and comprised of low-quality ingredients (soluble coffee, processed cheese, butter and honey replacements, frozen chips etc), but we discovered that if you ask what you want they would prepare it for you (e.g. scrambled eggs, Turkish coffee) at no extra costs. However no drinks are provided and a buffet would be better. The cleanliness is good but the rooms are cleaned every 2 days, including towels. So if you have sand in your room or no clean towels that would be a problem. Overall a very good experience in one of the most beautiful spots of Turkey.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: That s Rome; City: Rome Lazio; Review: It is actually a 2-room B&B, inside an older building near Termini. It has a good location which enables you to visit all the historical part of the city by foot. A bit dodgy area at night, but nothing to worry. Very clean, very quiet. Helpful staff. Small bathroom but clean. Coffee and tea making facilities in the room. The breakfast is actually a coffee and a croissant in a nearby cafe, so it's worth skipping altogether and go have a proper one in nearby cafes and restaurants with fabulous pizza and breakfast food that dots the area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Leon Beach; City: Constanta Constanta County Southeast Romania; Review: We stayed there for 4 nights in July 2015. The location is right on the beach, which is clean and you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds. The rooms are big and with a nice balcony. The restaurant is ok and the pizza is quite good. The whole area is quiet and in full development.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Riviera Hotel; City: Constanta Constanta County Southeast Romania; Review: The hotel has been renovated recently and the rooms are now ok. There are a few drawbacks like not having a hanger to dry the clothes and towels on the balcony, and the parking is very small so you have to tip local guards to show you the parking spots. One remark comes to cleaning: it was mainly changing the towels, no mopping or dusting in the room so the sand from the beach will stay until you leave. Very poor breakfast.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Island Club; City: Bucharest; Review: It is hard to list all the flaws in this hotel: the smell, the bed, the room, the staff. Walls with holes that had cables running through, dust all over the place and windows with no insect net. Frogs jumping up and down. Personnel and people that where not guest that would smoke and drink next to our room while blissfully ignoring us. Probably the worst accommodation I had in years.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Eurostars Danube Budapest; City: Budapest Central Hungary; Review: I stayed on night in Hotel Exe and everything was excellent. Location is quite good, the rooms are on the smaller side but very clean and comfortable and the breakfast was excellent, with real espresso as a plus. I can only recommend this hotel to everybody wishing a nice, tranquil spot in Budapest.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Elizabeth; City: Trencin Trencin Region; Review: The hotel was a a very pleasant surprise at the end of a very long day. Very big, with an imposant lobby, very good restaurant and an excellent spa with 4 saunas and a pool (all topped with complementary lemon water). Good breakfast, very diversified. Every time I have to stay in Trencin I will try first the Elizabeth Hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with food recipes as follows:
Title: 6 week bran muffins auntie anne s muffins; Review: These are really really good. I dont like bran muffins because they often seem so bland. The uncooked batter is so tasty that i ended up eating a few spoonfuls of it. I also added a can of chopped peaches since i had them sitting in my fridge. Great stuff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: hunky baked beans casserole; Review: Love this stuff. I hd this at a BBQ yesterday and it was a bit hit. Great side dish, and it does serve a large crowd; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: epicure extraordinary cheese dip; Review: awesome, definetly a crowd pleaser; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: mediterranean onion orzo soup; Review: This is really really good. I can't believe it could get any better after sitting for a night. A must try.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: salsa di pomodoro; Review: So easy to make and really good. No need to ever buy jar sauce again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: maple beans from quebec; Review: French people know how to make beans. This is the recipe to try.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: kittencal s super moist one bowl dark chocolate cake; Review: really good very moist, tastes like boxed cake. a definate must try i cut the sugar to 1 1/4 c i think its plenty sweet. i didnt even make icing for it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | food |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Book of Crystal Spells: Magical Uses for Stones, Crystals, Minerals ... and Even Sand; Author: Visit Amazon's Ember Grant Page; Review: so you say you've got a big box of crystals and stones and you don't know what to do with them except look at them?well no more, this book takes you from basic clean/charge to making spells using sand and everything in between.this is the book you been looking for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 101 Ways to Meet Your Angels: Affirmations and Exercises to Connect With and Learn From Your Angelic Guardians; Author: Visit Amazon's Karen Paolino Page; Review: easy to understand,it covers the subject very well.i would suggest reading it through twice .you will find small things you missed the first time around.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pineal Gland & Your Third Eye: Proven Methods to Develop Your Higher Self; Author: Visit Amazon's Dr. Jill Ammon-Wexler Page; Review: book is an easy read.while not a big book,it has everything you might want to know on the subject plus more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: World of Archangels: How to Meet an Archangel; Author: Chaudhary Sufian; Review: if your a mensa scholar,then this will be an easy read for you.but if your just an average joe it will take you sometime to get through it,let alone understand it! try any of the doreen virtue books on the subject.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Daily Guidance from Your Angels: 365 Angelic Messages to Soothe, Heal, and Open Your Heart; Author: Visit Amazon's Doreen Virtue Page; Review: i never got what what i paid for.all i got was a tracking number .it showed that the package was at at my post office.but when i went there they told me they have no record of it .so who dropped the ball?the seller or the post office.anyway the end result was the same i wound up with nothing!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Archangels 101: How to Connect Closely with Archangels Michael, Raphael, Uriel, Gabriel and Others for Healing, Protection, and Guidance; Author: Visit Amazon's Doreen Virtue Page; Review: i kept seeing combinations of 1,3 4.now i know what it means.its more like the old dream books it has numbers from 0 to 999.the book tells no storys,its just about angelic number combinations.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Be Your Own Shaman: Heal Yourself and Others with 21st-Century Energy Medicine; Author: Visit Amazon's Deborah King Page; Review: this is one of the best books i have in my collection.the author covers quite a lot in a book with less than 200 pages.its a good read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Psychic Development For Beginners: The Secrets to Unlocking Your Psychic Ability; Author: Grace Loveman; Review: here's a book thats ok but can be a little hard to grasp.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Healing Words From The Angels: 365 Daily Messages; Author: Visit Amazon's Doreen Virtue Page; Review: not bad but most of the messages are the same ....just worded different.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Witches Guide to Candle Magic; Author: Visit Amazon's Lady Gianne Page; Review: lots of quick 1 candle spells,easy to read ,easy to do.have done 2 from this book with results.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Energy Oracle Cards; Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Anne Taylor Page; Review: a really nice deck of cards,the art work alone is worth the price of the deck.as i started to work with them they really told me many amazing things about myself,and how to change different aspects of my life for the better.a deck of cards everyone should have.i got mine used on amazon and saved some money.but new or used you can't go wrong!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals; Author: Visit Amazon's Jamie Sams Page; Review: nice set of cards ,just not my cup of tea.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Original Rider Waite Tarot Deck; Author: A.E. Waite; Review: what can i say everyone knows these cards these are the best; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pendulum Magic for Beginners: Tap Into Your Inner Wisdom; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Webster Page; Review: not quite what what i thought it it would be .a little hard to understand for a beginners book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Buckland's Book of Spirit Communications; Author: Visit Amazon's Raymond Buckland Page; Review: good all around book tells you how to write the angelic text ,thats why i got it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Power Animals; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven D. Farmer Page; Review: kind of hard to follow,seems to be something missing.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Crystal Therapy: How to Heal and Empower Your Life with Crystal Energy; Author: Visit Amazon's Doreen Virtue Page; Review: anything this author writes is worth the read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angel Numbers 101: The Meaning of 111, 123, 444, and Other Number Sequences; Author: Visit Amazon's Doreen Virtue Page; Review: this will tell you much about the numbers you may be getting from the angels.its sort of like a dream book,nothing to read just look up numbers you may have seen.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wicca Candle Spells; Author: Visit Amazon's Milla Walsh Page; Review: easy to use, got great results; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Powerful Candle Burning Rituals - Kindle edition; Author: Timon Forst; Review: simple to understand easy to do spells that work; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mediumship for Beginners: An Easy Guide for Spirit Communication; Author: Visit Amazon's Emily Stroia Page; Review: pretty good for a quick read ,not many pages.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Signature Series Strategy Guide; Author: BradyGames; Review: not what i thought it would be ,it has no walk tru; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Heinz Tomato Ketchup, 64 oz Value Size Bottle; Brand: Heinz; Review: Good product. Arrived as described. No high fructose corn syrup; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ziploc Freezer Bag, Gallon, 28 Count; Brand: Ziploc; Review: Just like I always buy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Breakfast Cereal, 23.6 oz; Brand: Cinnamon Toast Crunch; Review: Crushed box but contents were ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Near East Rice Pilaf Mix, Garlic & Herb, 6.3oz Box; Brand: Quaker; Review: A of of rice; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Near East Rice Pilaf Mix, Roasted Chicken & Garlic, 6.3oz Box; Brand: Quaker; Review: Good product. Arrived as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rice-A-Roni Mexican Style Rice Mix, 6.4 Ounce; Brand: Quaker; Review: Good product. Arrived as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rice-A-Roni Chicken and Mushroom, 5 Ounce; Brand: Quaker; Review: Good product. Arrived as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kellogg's Breakfast Cereal, Frosted Mini-Wheats, Maple Brown Sugar, Low Fat, Excellent Source of Fiber, Family Size, 21 oz Box; Brand: Frosted Mini-Wheats; Review: Crushed box but contents were ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Velveeta Kraft Cheesy Potatoes Box, Hash Browns, 9.01 Ounce; Brand: Velveeta; Review: Also very cheesy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Velveeta Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes, 10.17 Ounce; Brand: Velveeta; Review: Very Cheesy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Velveeta Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, 11.75 Ounce; Brand: Velveeta; Review: Good product. Arrived as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swanson White Premium Chunk Chicken Breast, 9.75 Ounce (Pack of 12); Brand: Swanson; Review: It's a can of chicken; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Munchies Snack Mix, Flamin' Hot, 8 Ounce; Brand: Munchies; Review: Hot but good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: McCormickCalifornia Style Garlic Pepper With Red Bell & Black Pepper (Fresh Black Pepper Seasoning), 22 oz; Brand: McCormick; Review: Very good; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Prime_Pantry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: JJC HC-SP Cap Cover Protector; Brand: JJC; Review: The price was good and fast delivery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EACHSHOT MK-320 TTL flash Speedlite for Sony Sony A7 A7R A7S A7 II A77 II A6000 NEX-6 A58 A99; Brand: EACHSHOT; Review: Work beautifully, fast delivery; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VICFUN 10pcs 8GB USB Flash Drives USB 2.0 8GB Memory Stick Pen Drive Green; Brand: VICFUN; Review: The price is good and very fast delivery; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PNY Optima 8GB SDHC Class 4 Flash Memory Card P-SDHC8G4H-GE; Brand: PNY; Review: Good price and fast delivery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PNY Elite Performance 16GB High Speed SDHC Class 10 UHS-1 Up to 90MB/sec Flash Card - P-SDH16U1H-GE; Brand: PNY; Review: Good price and fast delivery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
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: Good price and fast delivery; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EldHus FBA_RP-WD01 Headphone Jack Audio and Charge Connector Splitter Calling/Charger/Music/Remote Control, Dark Brown; Brand: EldHus; Review: This the product is the one I am looking for, very useful gadget. Transfer SD card to Usb drive.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Qishare 10 11"; Brand: Qishare; Review: Good product, said as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PNY High Performance 32GB SDHC Class 10 UHS-I up to 65MB/sec (P-SDH32GU165G-GE); Brand: PNY; Review: Fast delivery and good price; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PNY Performance Series 16 GB Class 6 15 MB/s Rated SDHC Flash Memory Card (P-SDHC16G6-GE); Brand: PNY; Review: Fast delivery and good price; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Photography Compact Fluorescent CFL Daylight Balanced Bulb with 5500K Color Temperature for Photography & Video Studio Lighting; Brand: G-raphy; Review: Good product and reasonable price. Fast delivery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fancierstudio E27 Bulb Holder Socket Flash Umbrella Swivel Bracket Photo Light Lamp Mount Umbrella Ac Adpater By Fancierstudio E27; Brand: Fancierstudio; Review: Good product and reasonable price. Fast delivery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Neewer 600W 5500K Photo Studio Day Light Umbrella Continuous Lighting Kit; Brand: Neewer; Review: Good product and reasonable price. Fast delivery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hermitshell Fits Canon Selphy CP1200; Brand: Hermitshell; Review: Good product and reasonable price. Fast delivery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Neewer 5.9x6.7 inches/15x17 centimeters Camera Collapsible Diffuser Mini Softbox for CN-160, CN-126 and CN-216 LED Light; Brand: Neewer; Review: Does fit and cannot close completely; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Sobetter TV Antenna 35 Mile Range HDTV Indoor Antenna Premium Materials for High Reception Performance Free Antenna Indoor Digital TV; Brand: Sobetter; Review: Too short and does not even get the regular channel; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Toshiba Satellite A355-S6940 16.0-Inch Laptop; Brand: Toshiba; Review: A laptop has almost all the features (see product page at Amazon.com) that any selective buyers are looking to purchase: Performance, Features and Price in one package at current time. Fast and sleek with HDMI 1080p output! If it comes with internal Blue Tooth connection and a surface is less susceptible to user finger-printed that would be "110%" perfect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsung SWA-4000 Wireless Receiver (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Samsung; Review: I did not encounter any problem in set up and works really well for Samsung 5.1 home theather system. Now I could sit down and relax with my other Samsung product - HDTV.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsung LN52A750 52-Inch 1080p DLNA LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color (2008 Model); Brand: Samsung; Review: The best LCD product in its class!! I integrated Samsung's products of HDTV 52A750, Wirelss Home Theather System (HT-X715T 5.1 Channel Bluetooth Home Theater System) and a Blue Ray player (P1500) in my living room. The Samusung's Anynet+ makes the control among its family is very smart indeed. It could have been "perfect" if it came with 55" in size. Finally, Samsung ovetakes Sony products for comsumer electronics market, a true success story! Sony is good but too pricy without much clear advantage.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nikon Coolpix P Series Fabric Case; Brand: Nikon; Review: Nikon P90 is a fine camera. We need a good case to go with it. The camera size for P90 and P80 is virtually the same. For P90 case the going rate is $20.00 to $ 30.00 but P80 is only $5.00. I compared it online with the information available, it looks like both of them is identical. So, I went for the $5.00 case and really it is what it worths. The case serves to protect stratch and storing few small items like memory disc and battery. There is no padding as such. It is doing its basic job for $5.00 and got 4 stars from me. Don't spend more than $ 5.00 (shipping included), for the same thing from Nikon.... marketing at its best/worst.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kingston Digital 8GB SDHC Class 4 Flash Card Twin Pack (2 Pieces) (SD4/8GB-2P); Brand: Kingston; Review: good price at that time, but it dropped further in recent weeks. Memory product is getting cheaper every week, so be patient.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Insten 2 PACKS - HIGH Power NB-6L replacement Battery Compatible with your Canon PowerShot SD770 IS; Brand: INSTEN; Review: Good for what you paid for, it works bottom line.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SKIVA Micro USB Cables [4-Pack] USBLink Premium Short Length (6" /; Brand: SKIVA; Review: Fast and slick; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Case Star Neoprene Laptop Notebook Ultrabook Sleeve Case for Macbook Pro 15/15.6-Inch A1286 and Other Brand 15-Inch; Brand: Star Case; Review: It smelled badly because of the material used.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: High Sierra Access Backpack; Brand: High Sierra; Review: Super heavy but the size is good.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Classic Accessories 79507 Gas Pressure Washer Cover, Black; Brand: Classic Accessories; Review: GOOD; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shark 87122080 Pressure Washer Pressure Gauge Kit (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Shark Pressure Washers; Review: AAA GOOD; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Powerfit PF31052B Gutter Cleaner Attachment; Brand: Powerstroke; Review: OK GOOD; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: AR North America Telescoping Lance 6' - 18', Fiberglass; Brand: Annovi Reverberi; Review: OK GOOD; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BE Pressure 85.400.007 Washer Gutter Cleaner Attachment, 4000 PSI, Chrome/Brass; Brand: B E Pressure; Review: OK GOOD; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Powerfit PF31071B Quick Connecting Pivoting Coupler; Brand: Powerstroke; Review: AAA GOOD; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Patio_Lawn_and_Garden |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Highland Notes, 3 x 5-Inches, Yellow, 100 Count, Pack of 12 (6559); Brand: Highland; Review: Exactly as expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avery 2" Durable View 3 Ring Binder, Slant Ring, Holds 8.5" x 11" Paper, 1 White Binder (17031); Brand: Avery; Review: Exactly as expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Smead File Pocket, Straight-Cut Tab, 5-1/4" Expansion, Legal Size, Redrope, 10 per Box (74234); Brand: Smead; Review: Exactly as expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsung Part# CLT-K504S. CLT-C504S. CLT-M504S. CLT-Y504S Toner Cartridge Set (OEM); Brand: Samsung; Review: Exactly as expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bankers Box SmoothMove Classic Moving Boxes, Tape-Free Assembly, Easy Carry Handles, Small, 15 x 12 x 10; Brand: Bankers Box; Review: Exactly as expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avery 24286 Preprinted Laminated Tab Dividers w/Copper Reinforced Holes, 12-Tab, Letter; Brand: Avery; Review: Exactly as expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Office_Products |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Crosman 12 Gram CO2 Cartridges; Brand: Crosman; Review: Excellent!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Soft Air M9 US Army Helmet; Brand: Palco Sports; Review: The strap is not so good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 2-Pack of Magazines for Crosman C11 Airsoft Pistol; Brand: Crosman; Review: They work just fine!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MetalTac Airsoft Speed Loader with Capacity of 100 Bbs; Brand: MetalTac; Review: They seem light weight but have held up well so far.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tenergy Airsoft Battery 8.4V 1600mAh NiMH Flat Battery Pack with Mini Tamiya Connector for Airsoft Guns MP5, Scar, M249,; Brand: Tenergy; Review: Perfect fit!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: H&K USP Pistol (Medium); Brand: H&K; Review: A very nice airsoft pistol.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Valken V-TAC Half Finger Plastic Back Airsoft Gloves; Brand: Valken; Review: These fit very well. I like the wrap around velcro to hold them in place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Combat Zone Umarex Enforcer .6mm Airsoft; Brand: Combat Zone; Review: So far a very solid performer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Game Face 20GBW5J 5000 Count Match Grade White Airsoft BBs, 0.20gm; Brand: Game Face; Review: Nice BBs. No issues.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Yakeda Tactical Vest Outdoor Ultra-Light Breathable Combat Training Vest Adjustable for Adults 600D Encryption Polyester-VT-1063; Brand: YAKEDA; Review: This is a great deal for a tactical vest. I would like a little more room. It just fits me stretched all the way out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: jg airsoft m4 s-system full metal gearbox desert tan aeg rifle; Brand: JG; Review: Very nice gun. It has done well so far. The hop up door pops open easily but does not effect the gun's operation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Military Paracord C-5040-h X-cords 750 11 Inner Strands+marker Meets All USA Military Specs; Brand: X-CORDS; Review: Apparently, we all need to have some of this stuff to survive the apocalypse.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UKARMS M4 / M16-350 Round Airsoft Hi-Cap Magazine Clip AEG Electric Rifles - Metal; Brand: ukarms; Review: I had to return this. It did not fit my Golden Eagle M4 even though it looks like it should.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: EXEL Sig Sauer P938 G10 Gun Grip; Brand: EXEL; Review: This grip has a nice feel to it. Very solid and makes the plain black gun look so much better.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Conquer Wall Mount Bike Repair Stand Bicycle Mechanic Workstand; Brand: Conquer; Review: It works pretty well but has trouble securely gripping the bike frame. I'm concerned that by cranking it down very tight, it will eventually break. Stickier rubber in the gripping area might help.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: CAT EYE - Velo 7 Bike Computer - Speedometer and Odometer - Optional Headlight and Tail Light; Brand: CAT EYE; Review: This is a nice unit. It provides a good amount of information and is pretty easy to install and program. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TekMat Walter PPQ Gun Cleaning Mat with Parts Diagram and Instructions / Armorers Bench Mat; Brand: TekMat; Review: So nice, I hate to get it dirty.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Home Basics Bamboo Hamper, Rectangle, Brown; Brand: Home Basics; Review: Did not know this product folded, it is not sturdy and when I put the clothes inside it bulges. Not happy with it; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Festive Season 12pk 80mm White Snowball Christmas Tree Ball Ornaments; Brand: Festive Season; Review: Simply beautiful. Love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 6Pcs 5 Inch Glitter Artificial Wedding Christmas Flowers XMAS Tree Wreaths Decor Ornament Red; Brand: Gardeningwill; Review: love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Emeril 2-Piece Knife Set with Sharpener, Black; Brand: Emerilware; Review: love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CHEFVANTAGE Salt and Pepper Shakers Set with Adjustable Holes - White; Brand: CHEFVANTAGE; Review: love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CHEFVANTAGE Salt and Pepper Shakers Set with Adjustable Holes - Black and White; Brand: CHEFVANTAGE; Review: love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DecoBros Expandable Stackable Kitchen Cabinet and Counter Shelf Organizer,Silver; Brand: Deco Brothers; Review: love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Home Basics Metal Bread Box with Lid; Brand: Home Basics; Review: Bought it for my camper, love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Panasonic TC-L32C22 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV; Brand: Panasonic; Review: ease-of-use is amazing. picture quality I would rate it a 4 1/2 stars. the colors are magnificent. I encourage the reader to experiment with the cool settings warm settings and normal settings first,..ease-of-use in adjusting the picture I would rate it five stars. I am no tech geek. the sound is amazing proper manipulation gets the volume up to more than sufficient levels.. I like the fact that I can control the bass and trebel. (for example I have a cable remote which I turned all the way up and turn down the Panasonic remote.. I turned up these Panasonic volume control and it is more than enough). the SD slot is great it works with my Nikon digital camera. by the way it's the only TV out there that has a SD slot. for $22 more I went from the 720p the 1080p in anticipation of the next new thing. my cable company wants to charge me, I see that ending in the near future. the remote is easy to operate. the only thing I don't know is how the Panasonic is going to hold up. but I've purchased other Panasonic products before and they more than hold up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Belkin USB A/A Extension Cable, USB Type-A Female and USB Type-A Male (6 Feet); Brand: Belkin; Review: great purchase cheap what more can you say for a 10 foot capable extension! they are, how to use up the last word hooray; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Belkin USB 2.0 Extension Cable (F3U134b16); Brand: Belkin; Review: great purchase cheap what more can you say for a 10 foot capable extension! they are, how to use up the last word hooray; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr Shield For Samsung Galaxy Tab A 9.7 Inch Premium Clear Screen Protector [3-PACK] with Lifetime Replacement Warranty; Brand: Mr Shield; Review: I think it saves me numerous times on having a scratch screen if you don't have one I will highly recommend! Together with a ballistic jacket anybody who has these high-priced cell phones who doesn't have it in jacket is just nuts!. It is a tough jacket ballistic; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsung UN65KS8000 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (2016 Model); Brand: Samsung; Review: I did some extensive research, money wasn't too much of a problem, I bought in March 2017. I wanted the TV which was advanced enough and all the reviews pointed to this one! I wanted an HDR 4K 120-240 hz with an excellent picture and good sound! Easy to understand set up good apps although I don't use them much! I so like watching movies with my Samsung 7 phone mirrored to the TV I go through kodi Exodus. I'm relegated to cable for now so picture quality isn't that good compared with DirecTV. But none of the more advanced features will work on a wide scale! Overall I'd say this TV is outstanding I have had no problems with it! It exceeds my expectations! oh And the TV prices have not come down at all!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Thai Legacy Restaurant; City: Brandon, FL; Review: I am a Thai food addict and was pretty let down when I decided to try Thai Legacy. While the presentation of the food is fine and it was hot and fresh, the flavor was just not there. Green curry is my favorite dish and it honestly just tasted bland from this place. It was almost like eating meat with water on it. Ultimately I wouldn't recommend it to my friends but It's an option if you're into mediocre Thai.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Thai Ruby; City: Tampa, FL; Review: This little hole in the hole might not look like much from the outside but is gorgeous on the inside. Covered from head to toe in Thai art, the space is small but feels very inviting. The staff is incredibly nice and is super accommodating. The chicken rice soup and Tom kah kai are absolutely delicious. The green curry is my absolute favorite dish. No place makes it like Ruby Thai! The Pad Thai is also very good. This is a Tampa Bay MUST have if you're a fan of GREAT Thai food.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Anchor Bar; City: Tampa, FL; Review: I've been coming here for 2 years now and it is my favorite go-to bar for any occasion. The bar tenders are awesome and very friendly. They have plenty of TVs showing anything sports which is great for the downtown location. The space is a bit small but honestly the crowds come and go so often it's not really that noticeable. Aside from great drinks and a fun atmosphere the food is also surprisingly good! Their wings are great and my girlfriend is nuts about their grilled chicken Caesar-wrap. Their Parmesan fries are perfect after a few drinks and overall I really love this place. I'd highly recommend everyone drops by while in downtown Tampa.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Danny's All American Diner and Dairy Bar; City: Tampa, FL; Review: I like Danny's but to be honest the quality of the food is very hit or miss. I've gone here for around 2 years now and used to live across the street for a time. I would say their burgers are very good but be prepared to get messy. My biggest complaint about just about all of their food is how soggy the bread is. They essentially shower the food in sauce which is great but also really makes eating the food a task. Personally I'm not a big fan of soggy buns. I've had some good burgers here and some not so good burgers. There is live music once or twice a week and it's a neat little place to try. I just wouldn't go their expecting a life changing burger.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Melting Pot; City: Tampa, FL; Review: This place was absolutely amazing from start to end the staff was very courteous and helpful. I'd highly recommend this place to all cheese lovers and enjoyers of conversations.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Romi's Tacos; City: Brandon, FL; Review: I've been coming here for around a year now and have never had a bad order. The tacos are authentic and are perfect size. The burritos are surprisingly a decent size and also filling. The margaritas are ridiculously strong and that's not a bad thing either. Would highly suggest coming here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tibby's New Orleans Kitchen; City: Brandon, FL; Review: Tony's is a pretty hit or miss joint to be quite frank. It's Cajun food isn't as authentic as it promotes itself to be but nonetheless less it's not a terrible place to grab a meal.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Phantom Ranch; City: Grand Canyon National Park Arizona; Review: We did the mule ride and stayed overnight in a cabin at Phantom Ranch. We were absolutely overwhelmed by the services available for such a remote location... lights and extra power points in the cabins, a double bed, and a toilet and sink within our cabin - we were expecting a lot less! We did a couple of small walks and saw some mule deer, and some amazing sights. The dinner and breakfast were served family style, which is not our thing, and meant that I was left with a slightly rarer steak than I would normally eat, but the food was tasty and there was plenty of it. Overall, an incredible experience that I would recommend to everyone!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Peacock Suites; City: Anaheim California; Review: We stayed in a 1 bedroom suite for a week through a timeshare gift from my grandparents. Checking in was great - the staff were helpful and friendly, and even though we checked in at about 8am, they were still able to find us a room to go straight into. I was a little disappointed with the room - was expecting more of an apartment style room like we have here in Australia, but it was just like a normal hotel room but with the bedroom separate. There was a microwave and kettle, but we certainly weren't able to make our own meals or anything. The water pipes were very noisy, and anytime any of our neighbours had a shower or went to the toilet it woke us up. Our bathroom door wouldn't close, but they organised for someone to come up to fix it for us. It was a decent walk to Disneyland, took us about 20-30 mins, which was fine for a young couple with no kids, but it would have been nice to be closer. The breakfast was very disappointing. We basically just popped in for a muffin on our way to the parks. I did find some good things in the gift shop though! Basically it was an ok place to stay, but I would definitely choose somewhere else next time. I haven't given it a rating for value as it was a gift and I'm not sure how much it actually would have been.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn San Francisco Fishermans Wharf; City: San Francisco California; Review: We booked this on one of those mystery hotel deals, and were pleasantly surprised when we arrived. The hotel was a lot more upmarket than what we would normally choose for ourselves, and we were amazed that the pillows were labelled hard and soft! The rooms were clean and modern, and fairly spacious. Ours didn't have a particularly good view - was a bit of alley and some parking. Was a great location for us, pretty central to most of the things we wanted to check out, and we walked everywhere (although I wouldn't necessarily recommend walking to the Golden Gate Bridge...). The hotel restaurant wasn't that great. We didn't find much we liked the look of there, and ended up getting pizza which we could have gotten from anywhere at half the price - it was eerily quiet too. They had a guy there you could book tours etc with, and we tried to talk to him about some activities we were interested in, but he didn't really seem that knowledgable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mia Resort Nha Trang; City: Nha Trang Khanh Hoa Province; Review: We stayed at the Mia Resort in a pool villa for 4 nights as part of our honeymoon. The room was just beautiful and the service was outstanding. Everything I expected and more. We were aware of the complimentary shuttle bus but never felt the need to use it. For us it was really worth splurging on the private pool. It was the only time I swam in the whole 3 weeks we were away. The beach was average, but we weren't planning to swim there so it didn't bother us. They had flagged a section for swimming in. We found the rocks actually gave the pool villas a little more privacy. We spent some time in the bar at the top, taking in the view while sipping on cocktails. You can get a free buggy any time you like to take you from your room/restaurant/pool area to the top, which we were constantly reminded of during our stay. We really enjoyed all our meals, both in the bar and the main restaurant - of course it is 'resort-priced', but we never felt ripped off. We visited the activities desk on our first day and organised to do the tour of the islands. It was beautiful, and it was an amazing feeling whizzing past the crowded junks on our private speedboat. The tour was very personalised, our guide giving us as much or as little time at each place as we wanted. We also did the cooking class at the resort restaurant, which was another great experience. Cindy, in particular, looked after us extraordinarily well, always making sure everything was going smoothly. We really were spoilt and I was genuinely sad when it was time for us to leave.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sanctuary Park Cottages; City: Healesville Yarra Valley Victoria; Review: I stayed in the Loft Cottage the night before my wedding with my maid of honour, then the night of the wedding with my new husband. The cottage was absolutely beautiful - my photographer had a field day! The grounds were gorgeous and very well maintained too. Would have liked more of an opportunity to see them! Everything was very good quality and well maintained. The bed was comfy, and the rain style shower was great. The spa was amazing, but took ages to fill, so make sure you leave plenty of time! I had family members staying in a couple of the other cottages, and it was very easy to visit between the cottages, but still lovely and private. Wendy was lovely and very helpful. Upon checking in we were able to take a few DVDs and board games to entertain ourselves during the night. My maid of honour tells me the fold out couch was fairly uncomfortable. Usually you would only book the loft cottage for a couple, so that wouldn't usually be a problem. Wendy was very helpful in getting the water turned back on ASAP when it got cut off in the middle of getting ready for the wedding. She even offered us the house shower (on tank water) if we needed it. There was a massive spider in the bedroom, which can't be helped when you're in the middle of the bush. There is bug spray provided, but I ended up getting my dad to help as I am quite afraid of spiders. I'm sure Wendy would have helped if required. My family that were staying with me all seemed to enjoy their cottages too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel Saigon; City: Ho Chi Minh City; Review: We stayed at the Grand Hotel for one night. We had a junior deluxe room in the luxury wing, on the 9th floor. The room was amazing! Spacious and bright with beautiful decor. The bathroom was lovely too. The shower was great, and big fluffy towels. The service was great too! Everyone was so keen to look after us. The guy who took our suitcases for us gave us a little tour of the room when we arrived. We had to get someone around at 6:30am as we were having trouble figuring out how to work the shower, and it was no problem at all (you pull down on the shower hose by the way). The night we stayed, they were experiencing some problems with the power, and we had to wait in the lobby until it was back on so that we could use the lifts. We had our free welcome drink while we were waiting and it was actually a bit of fun! Once the power was back on we went to the rooftop bar which was amazing! The view was awesome, the service was fantastic, and the food was great too. We really enjoyed the breakfast buffet in the morning. The room had gorgeous decor, and looked well organised and clean. There was heaps of variety of food, with Vietnamese and western dishes. There was even an omelette station. We were a bit sad in the end that we only had one night here as it was a lovely hotel!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Muchenje Safari Lodge; City: Chobe National Park North West District; Review: We stayed at the Muchenje Lodge for 5 nights at the end of our honeymoon. It was the perfect way to end our trip. All the staff were friendly and helpful, the guides were knowledgable, we really felt like part of the family by the end of our stay. I was genuinely sad to leave. I'm very grateful to Joy and Rob who bent over backwards for me when I came down with a bad cold. The cabins were rustically beautiful, very romantic, and overlooked the flood plains. The bathroom was nice, with a good shower. The food was lovely home style meals which we really enjoyed. Nick was our guide and it was usually just me and my husband on the drives. The west side of the park was very quiet - we rarely saw other vehicles, and the drives were very personalised. Although we went at the end of the rainy season, which apparently isn't that good for game viewing, we were very happy with all the animals we saw. We saw a good variety of animals, and lots of babies. There were massive herds of elephants and buffalo, and also good numbers of giraffes. We were lucky enough to see a herd of zebras even though they should have migrated. We loved having drinks and nibbles in the park watching the sunset. The river safari was good too, and we saw lots of hippos and elephants, but we did get pretty wet on the way back! We also visited the local school where the kids sung us a song - it was pretty special.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sunway Hotel Hanoi; City: Hanoi; Review: We stayed at the Sunway Hotel for one night. We arrived fairly late and left early the next morning, so didn't get to spend any time exploring the city, but we enjoyed our stay in the hotel. Our room was nice, nothing flash, but clean and tidy. It had an ashtray in it, but didn't stink. The shower was quite good. We both got manicures. We both enjoyed it, but the lady was very pushy and wouldn't let us leave until we agreed to come back for a massage after dinner. We didn't really want to, so we told the manager down at the reception desk and he cancelled our appointment for us. We went down to the lounge for pre-dinner drinks, and left when someone started smoking. It was a nice vibe at the hotel. Even though there was a large group there when we checked in, we were still given a friendly welcome and personal service. We had a nice dinner at the restaurant. The brekky wasn't the best we had, but was still quite good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge; City: Victoria Falls Matabeleland North Province; Review: We really enjoyed our 2 nights at this hotel. We were amazed by the view of the waterhole with all the animals coming and going. The lodge itself is rustically beautiful, all set out so that you can see the waterhole from wherever you are (room, bar, restaurant, pool). We had a second floor room and loved the high ceiling, and the balcony got a lot of use. We did have a wasp in our room at one stage, but we just told reception on our way out and when we got back it was gone and there was a can of bug spray in our room. We enjoyed the restaurant - we had breakfast and dinner there both days. It was a lovely ambience, with a great view of the waterhole and sunset. All the meals we had were delicious. It wasn't the cheapest place to eat though. We found the staff to be friendly and helpful. Any issues (ie wasp) we had were quickly addressed with minimum fuss, and our servers at the restaurant were excellent. The lady at the tour desk was busy, but was still happy to go out of her way to get us onto the next sunset cruise. We enjoyed the sunset cruise, and saw lots of wildlife including elephants, hippos and giraffes. We also did the walking tour of the falls, which was great! And we did the horse riding. It was a relaxing way to spend an afternoon and we got to see some more animals too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Victoria Hotel; City: Rutherglen Victoria; Review: We had dinner at the Victoria Hotel on a recent overnight visit to Rutherglen. I haven't enjoyed a meal so much in years! I had the lamb shank, which came with mashed potatoes and broccolini. The shank was tender with a great flavour, and not too fiddly to eat. The mash was lovely and creamy, and the broccolini was just a little bit crisp - perfect! The sauce was a great finishing touch. My husband had the steak with pepper sauce and chips. The bit of steak I tried was a nice cut, and perfectly cooked, and the chips were to die for! I'm not a big fan of pepper so I didn't try the sauce. We finished off the meal by sharing a sticky date pudding, and it was beautiful. Sweet and moist, and served with a great sticky sauce and wonderful thick cream. I had a glass of local sparkling to accompany my meal, which was also lovely. And the service was awesome too - true country style.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Basic Hotel Innsbruck; City: Innsbruck Tirol Austrian Alps; Review: Three of us stayed 2 nights at the Basic Hotel. It took us about 10 minutes to walk to the hotel from the train station, and we were checked into a spacious triple room on the 2nd floor. There was plenty of room for all of us and our luggage, and a lovely balcony with a great view of the mountains. All the staff were lovely and very helpful. The room was modern, and did I mention spacious? New modern bathroom, good water pressure in the shower. It was about a 2 minute walk to old town where there were plenty of restaurants and shopping. We walked to the ski jump which took about 20 minutes, or we could have easily caught a tram from the front of the hotel. It was a 10 minute walk to the station to get the train up the mountain. Free wifi was very handy and worked a treat. We had breakfast at the adjoining cafe which was about the best scrambled eggs we've ever had!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney s Hollywood Hotel; City: Hong Kong; Review: My husband and I stayed here for 2 nights for our anniversary. On our honeymoon we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, which I would say is far more suited to a romantic couples holiday. There was nothing wrong with the Hollywood Hotel though, just not as luxurious. The room and bathroom were a decent size, and we had a great view of the fireworks as we booked a park view room. The hotel and grounds are well maintained and have great detail with hidden Mickeys everywhere! We had dinner at Chef Mickey's, which had a great variety of yummy food, but we thought was pretty overpriced for what it was. We had a light meal and drinks in the Studio Lounge, which we found to be quite good and better value. We had breakfast one morning at the Hollywood & Dine, which is more of a cafeteria style place. We were pretty happy with our breakfasts though. It was about 20 minutes walk to the park. We opted to catch the complimentary shuttle bus a couple of times which was also convenient.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel l Elysee Val d Europe; City: Serris Marne la Vallee Seine et Marne Ile de France; Review: 3 of us stayed here for 5 nights for a trip to Disneyland. It was a modern and clean hotel, in a great location right next to the train station and with shops and cafes as an alternative to the ones at Disneyland. We found the complimentary shuttle bus to be easy and convenient, although during the middle of the day it didn't run very frequently. The only slight downsides we found during our stay were that there was no food available in the hotel itself despite advertising everywhere that they did snacks in the bar area, and it did get a bit noisy with people talking loudly outside the entrance - I imagine in summer it would be worse.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus Travel Inn Hotel; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: We stayed at this hotel with friends when we went to see a show in the city. The city was a decent stroll, or a quick trip on public transport. There were heaps of restaurants around the hotel, and a 7-11 just on the corner. The guy who checked us in was very friendly and helpful, the girl who checked us out not so much. Parking was free and convenient, but a little disorganised and difficult to get around! The hotel itself and rooms were modern and clean as a whistle. The bedding smelt a little bit of bleach, but at least we knew it was thoroughly laundered. The bathroom was modern and clean like the rest of the room, but a little poky, and the towels were quite small. The major let down for me was the lack of sound-proofing in the room. Luckily we were on the top floor, so didn't get any noise from on top, but we did get a lot of noise from the corridor and the street during the night and early in the morning. Our friends were in the room next to the lift and said it was very noisy. I would definitely consider staying there again for just one night, but would ask for a room at the end of the corridor and away from the street if possible.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Robert Towns; City: Townsville Queensland; Review: My husband and I stayed here for 2 nights on our way through to Magnetic Island. It was pretty basic, motel style accommodation, but our room was a decent size, modern enough, and well-maintained. We came on the overnight train from Brisbane, so it was an early morning check-in. We received a lovely welcome, a basic overview of the local attractions, and were even moved to a different room so that we could get settled straight away. The location isn't right in the middle of everything, but is close enough to walk to most places, and just across the road from Castle Hill. The shower was decent, and the bed nice and comfy. It would have been nice to have a balcony or nice big window to get some natural air movement, but the air-con worked pretty well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Welcome Melbourne; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: My husband and I stayed here when we went to a concert in the city. The location was excellent! Right near Chinatown, shopping etc. We used the car parking that they recommended on the website and it was handy and cheap (only $12 because we were out by 6am). Unfortunately we didn't go in early enough for dinner, but plenty to choose from! When we checked in we were surprised by a free upgrade! The guy didn't even tell us, but we figured it out soon enough when we got to the room. We got a corner room, it was lovely and spacious, and had a renovated bathroom. Everything was clean and in good working order. We were disappointed we weren't in the room for longer to take full advantage! Having said that, we did have a very comfortable night's sleep. Couldn't hear any neighbours or other disturbances, but to be fair, we were only asleep from about midnight to 5am. We will definitely keep this one in mind for future trips to the city for events, with it's handy location and decent prices.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wintersun Gardens Motel; City: Bicheno Glamorgan Spring Bay Tasmania; Review: My husband and I stayed here one night on our way up the east coast. Accommodation is very expensive in the area, and this was about the best price I could find for one night in peak season. As it was relatively cheap, I decided to splurge on the 2 bedroom unit, which others have pointed out (and is clear from their website) is a caravan park style cabin. As that's what I was expecting, I wasn't disappointed. The cabin was fairly modern and clean enough looking, and we appreciated the extra space of the sitting area. It would have been nice to have more power points close to the couches. I had to unplug the TV and use that power point to plug in my laptop. Wifi was excellent. We were also impressed by the service at check in and check out. We were given lots of recommendations for places to eat and things to see/do. Also, after we checked out, we realised we'd left a few things in the fridge. We went back after breakfast and all the staff were eager to help. Nice gardens and pleasant location, although slightly out of town.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Summer View; City: Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan; Review: This hotel had everything you expect from a budget hotel, nothing more, nothing less. We arrived early in the morning and, although I wasn't expecting our room to be ready, we weren't even able to check in. Fortunately, we could leave our luggage with the hotel and spend the day exploring. The location was very convenient for us as we had arrived on the train from Singapore at KL Sentral station, about a 5 minute walk from the hotel. This is also where the airport train leaves from, so it was easy the next morning to get to our flight. There wasn't really anything we wanted to see within walking distance of the hotel, but it was easy to get to wherever we needed on the train. If I was staying for a longer time, I might choose somewhere closer to the city centre. When we finally did check in, it was an ordeal that took a good 10 minutes (no queue). The room was basic but clean enough and had everything we needed for the night. The window opened which was nice to get some fresh air into the room, air-con and wifi worked well. We did hear a bit of noise from the street and the mosque during the night, but we were so tired we slept pretty well anyway. Breakfast was fairly unappetising, but enough to get us through until we got to the airport lounge.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vedana Lagoon Resort Spa; City: Phu Loc Phu Loc District Thua Thien Hue Province; Review: My husband and I stayed in an overwater villa for 2 nights at the end of our trip to south east Asia. Unfortunately it rained for the whole day we were there, even coming onto the deck furniture so we couldn't sit out there and enjoy the view, but that was hardly the hotel's fault! The spa treatments were too expensive, and it was too wet and cold to swim (although the pool area looked really nice), kayak or ride the bikes out. We enjoyed the great breakfast spread before just relaxing in the huge luxurious villa, and got some use out of the massive bath. The bathroom was huge, with both the shower and toilet outside. I liked the outside shower, but the toilet took some getting used to. The restaurant was nice, but expensive. It would have been nice to have some variety. Staff were friendly but not very personable to start with, although this started to change towards the end of our stay. Something to be aware of, the hotel is nowhere near Hue. They do have a free shuttle, but it takes about an hour. We stayed in Hue city and did our sight-seeing there before staying at Vedana Lagoon. This hotel is pretty isolated and there's not much to do in the area. I would only stay here for a couple of nights for a relaxing break, not for sight-seeing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kiri Boutique Hotel; City: Siem Reap Siem Reap Province; Review: My husband and I stayed here for 3 nights. First of all I have to say that the staff at this hotel were very friendly, welcoming and helpful, especially Lykhon in the restaurant, who really went above and beyond for us. On our last day, my husband wasn't well, so the reception staff organised a late check out for us, which was much appreciated. The hotel has a lovely atmosphere, being small and slightly out of town, it felt very relaxed and friendly, nice pool area for relaxing with a drink. It was just a short tuk-tuk ride into town when we wanted to visit the market, and not far to the Angkor complex. We ate at the hotel every night and were very happy with the food and service. Unfortunately breakfast was fairly mediocre. The room was fairly basic, but had everything we needed including a small fridge with mini bar and tea and coffee making facilities. The bathroom was disappointing, in desperate need of a makeover. The layout of the bathroom meant that the toilet area got flooded whenever we had a shower. Bathroom amenities were not replaced at any time during our stay, but I'm sure if we'd had asked for more of anything it wouldn't have been a problem. There was lots of noise above our room from the kitchen on the top floor, which started early in the morning and went until quite late at night. Power seemed to be a bit of a problem, wasn't working when we arrived (was fixed quickly though), and was intermittent on our last day. There was a generator for back up power though, which was great when there was a city wide power outage one night.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Phong Nha Lake House Resort; City: Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Quang Binh Province; Review: First of all I want to point out that I went into this accommodation with different expectations to normal city hotels/resorts, and that is how I base my rating. My husband and I got a fairly basic but nice enough double room, with a little sitting area out the front. The bed was comfortable, and the bathroom was practical. We never had any problems with the hot water, even having two showers in a row, but the water pressure was very low. We spent most of our time out on tours or in the common area up top, which was open and inviting, with plenty of power points for charging on the go. We met some great people, both travellers and locals. The staff were super friendly. Even after leaving, the staff have been great, helping to return a pair of boots which I left up there. Food was a little hit and miss as per a previous review. Not everything on the menu was actually available, particularly with drinks, and mostly was on the expensive side compared to city prices. We really enjoyed both our tours with Vuong, the caves were spectacular, and the adventure tour was great fun!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Central Private Hotel; City: Sydney New South Wales; Review: My husband and I stayed here for 2 nights when we went to Sydney to see the Lion King. It was a great location, easy to get to being right opposite Central Station. There were heaps of great restaurants in the area, and it was just a short walk to the theatre. The check-in staff were great, very friendly and happy to lug our suitcases up to our second floor room for us. The room was fine, bed was comfy (but small compared to the queen we're used to!), everything was clean and tidy. We had an end room which was nice, and never heard any noise from either the hotel or the road. The ensuite was very tiny, literally just a toilet and shower, but it was all we needed. The sink was in the main room. It's an old building and the stairs and hallways have definitely seen better days, but that didn't bother us at all.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crossways Historic Country Inn; City: Marysville Victoria; Review: My husband and I stayed here one night on a trip to Lake Mountain/Marysville. We were part of a family group of 6, with 3 cabins in a row. We paid $140 for each cabin, which I thought was a very reasonable price for a Saturday night at a peak time. I personally never saw any staff. My mother in law checked in for all of us and said Pam was lovely. I never saw reception open, but my mother in law just rang the bell and Pam came out. The cabins were super cute, with a nice outlook to a little shared courtyard type area. They were spacious enough for 2, clean as a whistle, and the bed was super comfy. Our bathroom looked a little dated, but everything worked well and was clean. Other cabins had more modern bathrooms. There was room for one car out the front of each cabin. It was a great location, just a stone's throw from the river, trails, information centre, and beautiful lake and park. I'll definitely consider staying again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sunnyvale Garden Suites Hotel Joshua Tree National Park; City: Twentynine Palms California; Review: I stayed here with my husband and parents for one night while passing through Joshua Tree National Park. As others have mentioned, this is not your regular hotel, and I wish we'd had more time to enjoy the grounds. I believe it is the only apartment style hotel in the area. Cost - We paid about $130 for the night, including tax. For that price, for 4 people, you can't complain too much! Service - The service was fantastic! The hotel staff were very friendly and helpful. We were given a small tour of the grounds when we checked in. Issues were dealt with straight away. Rooms - This is unfortunately where we started to notice some wear and tear. We had a two bedroom suite, with 1 1/2 bathrooms (ie one full bathroom and an extra toilet). It was a good size with full kitchen and big living area. The room was looking a little run down. Cupboard doors were hanging askew, switches and dials didn't necessarily do what they were supposed to and it looked like things had been replaced without removing the old control panels etc. The ceiling fan in the second bedroom was coming loose from the ceiling and my husband didn't want to use it. We mentioned this as we were leaving for the afternoon and, while they were unable to fix it immediately, we were provided with a fairly new pedestal fan which did the job. The air-con was centrally located in the hallway, so because we sleep with our bedroom door closed, we needed that fan. In the end we had a very comfortable night's sleep. Dining - There was nowhere to dine on site or within very close proximity, but there were heaps of options just a short drive away. Otherwise, with a full kitchen, it would be easy to self-cater. Amenities - As I mentioned previously, we would have enjoyed a bit more time exploring the grounds. The gardens were fabulous, and the bird nests were pointed out to us on our little tour. We had a nice balcony which would have been a nice place to sit with a drink. There was no pool, but there was a spa. It was kept unheated, but if you gave notice, the staff could heat it for you. Since it was so hot while we were there, it was much more refreshing unheated. In the same area there was also a games room and fitness room. The laundry had plenty of washers and dryers and was well priced. Wifi was free in the room, but we could only connect one device at a time. For a family of 4, all with phones, iPods/iPads and laptops, it just wasn't enough. Location & Transportation - This hotel is in the middle of a residential area. It was nice and quiet, but there is really nothing around. A car is definitely required, and there was plenty of undercover parking provided. The Verdict - I would have loved to give this place a better rating, but for this family,; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Corral Creek Lodge; City: Kernville California; Review: We really enjoyed our 2 night stay here. The hotel staff said they were still in clean-up mode from Labor Day weekend, but it was lovely and quiet while we were there, and we practically had the place to ourselves (2 rooms). Cost - We paid about $80 per night, which was great value for such lovely accommodations. Service - All the staff were friendly and helpful, and seemed to really enjoy their work. We had a situation with a blocked toilet on the first night, and it was fixed immediately while we were having breakfast. Rooms - The rooms were spacious and comfortable. Everything was a little older in style, but maintained perfectly. There were cute woodsy accessories (the lamps and toilet roll holder come to mind). There was an old style TV hanging up out of the way. Wifi was free but access was limited, which was absolutely expected in such an out of town location. We didn't really use the kitchen facilities, but the mini fridge was definitely handy. Dining - There was no dining on site or anywhere close. There was a free shuttle service provided for several restaurants in the area, however the shuttle is only available on weekends. We went to the Kern River Brewing Company and McNally's for our meals, which were a short drive away, and enjoyed both. A basic breakfast was included with the room rate, and included cereal, pastries and juice. Amenities - There was a lovely large deck area, which we made good use of with some drinks in the evenings, and for breakfast in the mornings. There were horse corrals available just across the road. Location & Transportation - This hotel is located out of town, which really adds to the charm of it. A car is definitely required. The Kern River is just across the road and was really nice for swimming at that time of year. It was a great gateway to the giant Sequoias. The Verdict - We were very happy here and would definitely go back if we were in the area again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites; City: Anaheim California; Review: I stayed here for 4 nights with my parents and husband for the RunDisney marathon weekend. Cost - I booked this hotel nearly a year in advance at about $160 per night for a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom suite (the price was different for weeknights and weekends). I thought the price was very good for 4 people. Service - This was severely lacking the whole time. My mother checked us in and was informed that because there had been a problem with my credit card a couple of days beforehand, we actually no longer held a reservation. Thank goodness they hadn't re-booked our suite! All other interactions with staff were brief and to the point. Rooms - The suite was spacious and clean. There was a slight discrepancy with the layout compared to the room plans on the website. The room plan showed a door from one bedroom straight to the sitting area, but you actually had to go through the other room to get there. The beds were comfortable and showers were good. Towels were pretty small. We had a view of the fireworks from our window. If you are an early to bed type person (which we were before the RunDisney events), be aware that the fireworks are loud and will wake you up. Dining - There was a continental breakfast included in the room rate. It was pretty basic and presented on plastic plates and cutlery. The breakfast room was being renovated, so it was served in a makeshift room that was far too small. They didn't mind us taking the breakfast back to our room. There was no restaurant on site, but a Denny's next door. There was a 10% discount at the Denny's when you showed your room key. Amenities - This is where the place really lost points for me. Unfortunately they were mid renovation when we stayed. I wouldn't have minded so much, but it would have been nice to be given notice. The rooftop fireworks viewing deck was going to be a highlight of our stay, and this was completely closed for our whole stay. There was construction going on around the check in area and the previously mentioned breakfast area. Fortunately they kept noise to a minimum. There was an inside pool and hot tub, which was ok for cooling off, but not very nice for just sitting around relaxing. Location & Transportation - This is definitely the best thing about this hotel. It is directly across the road from Disneyland, only a 5 minute walk to the gates. There's really no need for any other transportation. If you're driving, be aware that there is an extra fee for parking. The Verdict - I would quite happily stay here again for a quick trip to Disneyland where I'm planning to spend most of my time in the parks. However, for a more relaxed trip I would choose somewhere with nicer shared areas.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Santa Margarita KOA; City: Santa Margarita San Luis Obispo County California; Review: My parents, husband and I wanted to stay somewhere on the central coast for 2 nights as part of a road trip. Everything that was in our price range got terrible reviews and looked like a real dive. A two bedroom cabin at Santa Margarita KOA was just within our price range, and ended up being a comfortable and relaxing place to spend a couple of nights. The location was a little out of the way, but it wasn't a long drive to the coast from there and we had a great day horse riding in San Luis Obispo and exploring Montana de Oro State Park. The campground was a little difficult to get around, being so hilly. We were quite glad that our hire car was a 4WD. The cabin was definitely 'cosy'. There was hardly enough room in the bedrooms to walk around the bed. But it was brand sparkling new, clean and comfortable. We enjoyed spending the evenings outside at the picnic table with a beverage and some snacks. The campsite shop was really the only place around for supplies. Even the town of Santa Margarita didn't really have any supermarkets or anything. If we'd had known, we would have stocked up on the way. We were a little surprised that we had to make our own beds after paying for the linen package, but maybe that's the norm in the US. The wifi was pretty patchy at our cabin. We checked out the lake, but it didn't look that spectacular and we weren't keen on paying any money to spend more time there. We did see lots of deer and squirrels around, but we also saw lots at the campground. I'd really like to give this place 3 1/2. It was pretty good for what it was, just not quite what we wanted.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Greenleaf Guesthouse; City: Pak Chong Pak Chong District Nakhon Ratchasima Province; Review: After reading a number of reviews of both the accommodation and tours available in the area, we decided to go with Greenleaf. As others have pointed out, it seems like you can't do one independently of the other (ie if you want to do the tour here, you have to stay here too and vice versa). I'm not a hotel snob, but the accommodation was VERY basic. There are private bathrooms, but no hot water, no air-con, uncomfortable bedding, and flimsy curtains that didn't quite cover the windows. There was decent food available at the restaurant, and we very much enjoyed our iced coffees at the café across the road. The free wifi was only available in the restaurant area, but we weren't staying there for the internet... It was worth staying here to experience their tours. Both the half day and full day tour were brilliant, with friendly, informative guides, and plenty of wonderful experiences! We were lucky enough to have two elephant sightings, and to observe some gibbons playing in the branches above us. We also saw plenty of hornbills, deer, monkeys, snakes, and creepy crawlies of various kinds! The scenery was great too - we enjoyed the jungle trek, the scenic lunch stop, the waterfall, and the natural spring on the afternoon tour. Although I enjoyed the tour, I was happy to get to our next accommodation and be able to have a proper shower and relax!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bunbury Apartment Motel; City: Bunbury Western Australia; Review: We chose this hotel because it was the cheapest in a convenient location. We only had one night there for a wedding, so we figured we wouldn't be in the room that long anyway (which we weren't). The bad points - the room was very tired and desperately needs an update, soundproofing wasn't great and we were woken up by someone talking on the phone outside our room in the morning. The good points - service was awesome! We were slightly early, and were able to check in straight away. The guy who checked us in was friendly and helpful, and made me feel right at home. Although the room was terribly dated, it was clean and comfortable. Location was neither great or terrible, being a little bit out of town, but close enough to walk if you had to.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Moon River Resort Phimai; City: Phimai Nakhon Ratchasima Province; Review: We stayed at Moon River Resort for 2 nights during the Phimai festival. Great location just across the river from the town, quiet and secluded feeling, but very easy to get around on foot or bike. Unfortunately there was very loud music and announcements coming from the festival both nights of our stay, making it slightly less peaceful - could hardly blame to the hotel for that though! The owners were very friendly and helpful, we enjoyed our breakfasts on the terrace. We had one of the air-conditioned bungalows, which was very comfortable. Only complaint was that it was difficult to shower without getting water everywhere! We really liked the little boardwalk area along the river, with nice relaxing places to sit every so often. It was totally worth staying in Phimai rather than just visiting on a day trip. One of the highlights of our trip!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Menger Hotel; City: San Antonio Texas; Review: First of all, the location of this hotel can't be beat. It's right next to the Alamo, and the RiverWalk is easily accessible from a few points within a 5 minute walk of the hotel. There's a large shopping centre right next door with a variety of restaurants and a movie theatre. I felt pretty safe there on my own, and never had to walk too far to get where I wanted to go. Also of note is the ice-cream right on the corner of the hotel. It was my dessert on both nights. The hotel is old and historic, which is a good thing and a bad thing. The lobby and courtyard were beautiful, and the staff were great too. As a young lady on my own, I felt a little out of place sitting in the lobby, which seemed to be filled with mainly older couples. I didn't get a chance to check out all the features of the hotel, but I did walk past many antique displays. My room was on the 2nd floor (or 1st floor for you Americans), right next to the stairs. It overlooked the renovations on the building next door. I was immediately concerned about noise, but it was actually very quiet and I slept well. The room itself is, like the rest of the hotel, old. Unlike the rest of the hotel, it felt a little rundown. The bathroom, as others have mentioned, is definitely not of a modern standard, with just a showerhead over a free-standing tub encircled by a shower curtain. I think the rooms are probably due for a period sympathetic renovation, which I think could definitely be done without losing the charm of the hotel. Nonetheless, the room was comfortable and stayed a nice temperature.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Timbers Motel; City: Eugene Oregon; Review: I always like to choose accommodation that is a bit different when I'm travelling if possible. It's so much nicer than staying in generic cookie cutter Best Westerns or Holiday Inns. The Timbers Motel fit the bill nicely. Rooms had great character and were clean and comfortable. We were upgraded to a king room as it was our anniversary, which was a great bonus! The location was great, being an easy walk to many restaurants. Unfortunately we only had one night here and didn't get to check out the surrounding area very much, but we both felt very safe walking back from dinner after dark. There was a very basic breakfast included, which was great for getting going in the morning (bagels, pastries and juice). All the staff we met were friendly and helpful. We didn't hear any other guest noise, but did notice some traffic noise through the night, not enough to keep us awake, but enough to be noticeable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Econo Lodge City Center; City: Portland Oregon; Review: Good location on the edge of Downtown. We felt quite safe walking to and from the hotel, even at night. Good access to public transport if you're not keen on walking, streetcar stops close to hotel, and only a 5 minute walk to the light rail. Parking at the hotel was an extra $10 a night, but easy and convenient. The location was good enough that we didn't even need to use our car. Room was decent. We were pleasantly surprised by how modern it was, spacious and clean. The staff at the front desk were friendly and helpful, suggesting places to eat and pointing out the public transport close by the hotel. There was a very basic complimentary breakfast provided (bagels, pastries, juice). The free wifi was easy to access and worked well. This is a budget hotel, and was definitely no frills. However, it served its purpose well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Celilo Inn; City: The Dalles Oregon; Review: We stayed one night as part of a road trip around Oregon. We had some difficulty finding the hotel, as the steep slope was messing with our GPS unit. We were surprised by how industrial the area looked, and the little 'village' directly below kind of on the driveway. It was generally a bit of a weird setup for a hotel. However, as soon as we went to check in, we immediately felt like we'd made the right decision. The staff were friendly and helpful, the rooms and common areas were modern and tidy, and all had lovely views over the river and bridge to Washington State. We did the short drive into town for a nice dinner at a place recommended by the hotel with a 10% discount. We enjoyed the basic but tasty breakfast overlooking the river (really loved the fruit salad). I used the treadmill in the small fitness room and had no problems - everything was in good order and easy to use, again with that lovely view. There was a water filter and gym towels provided too which was an unexpected surprise. Generally a charming, great value place to stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Woodburn; City: Woodburn Oregon; Review: I usually try to avoid chain hotels as I prefer something with a bit more character. However, we did enjoy our stay here for one night. Convenient location right next to the on-ramp for the freeway (with the outlet centre just on the other side). Plenty of cheap eats in the immediate vicinity, including the Denny's right in the carpark. Room was clean and comfortable, and we slept well. Decent breakfast including DIY waffles, which are always a hit! Would stay there again if we were ever back in the area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Springfield Lodge; City: Sydney New South Wales; Review: I got this hotel for a great price on a mystery hotel deal in the Kings Cross/Potts Point locality. I was really thrilled to get somewhere in such close proximity to the station, even if it is considered a somewhat seedy area (although the immediate location of the hotel was nice and quiet, and a little more upmarket). I felt safe enough wandering around the immediate vicinity of the hotel looking for some dinner, but wasn't keen on wandering too far after dark on my own. Luckily there is a good variety of choices close by, and the organic supermarket just across the road. I loved the character of the building and the quirky features of the room. I didn't have a problem with the size of the room. It was tastefully decorated and clean, but on further inspection, there were a few maintenance issues. There looked like some water damage or something above the wardrobe, some paint was chipped away around a light switch, the batteries in the remote for the TV was flat, and the light in the bathroom stopped working halfway through the night. Luckily I was on my own, so I just left the bathroom door open for light. Unfortunately I was in such a rush when I checked out, I forgot to mention any of these issues! My apologies to the next person in that room! The room was on the top floor, directly in front of the stairs. I did hear some clumping around downstairs, and along the hall, but it seemed to quiet down at bed time, and I wasn't disturbed. There was no noise from outside. Due to the age of the building, the floors were a little squeaky and somewhat uneven in places. Just a couple of things that I want to make people aware of. The free wifi is only 2 days or 100kb worth. This was plenty for me as I was only staying overnight, but for a whole week, you'd need a plan B. It started off well, nice and fast, but then started doing a few funny things. The lift stops one floor short of the top, so those on the top floor need to climb one flight of stairs. Again, fine for me as I am an active able bodied person, and only had one small bag, but could pose a problem for someone else. The lift, stairwells and halls are quite small and narrow, obviously due to the age of the building. I didn't mind it - it was all part of the character of the building - but it could be an issue for big groups with lots of luggage. Overall, I enjoyed my stay, and would definitely stay here again if I got another great deal. However, at this point I probably wouldn't specifically plan on it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Styles Cairns; City: Cairns Cairns Region Queensland; Review: We were at this hotel for about a week. We were very happy with the location - very handy to shopping, dining and the Esplanade, but far enough away to be nice and quiet. We had a loft spa room, which was nice and spacious. There was a bit of mould in the shower, especially around the door, but otherwise it seemed clean enough. Unfortunately there was a mix up when we arrived and we were first of all given the keys to a standard room. It was easily fixed when we went down to sort it out, but there was no apology for the inconvenience or anything. The staff generally didn't seem that friendly, but we didn't really have much to do with them after that first day. Another inconvenience was the lack of parking. I realised that parking would be limited, but with the renovations there was literally NO parking provided for hotel guests for several days of our stay. Luckily we managed to find free street parking fairly close by. The breakfast was about as much as could be expected for an included continental breakfast - cereal, fruit, yoghurt, toast and some pastries. Towards the end of the breakfast timeslot, supplies were often running low, and the whole buffet area was looking a little untidy. It would be nice if they maintained it for the whole time. The pool looked nice, but we never got around to using it. We had no problems with the free wifi, and were generally comfortable - the beds were great! Despite the couple of small negatives, we thought the hotel was great value, and would consider staying there again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Suites Rochester; City: Henrietta Finger Lakes New York; Review: We scored this place on Priceline - stayed one night on our way through Rochester. Very convenient location close to the freeway, and with plenty of restaurants close by. Check in assistant was helpful and friendly in a professional way. Room was clean and spacious, but smelled a little mildewy. It wasn't overpowering though, and we slept well in the comfy bed. No problems with the bathroom. Breakfast was great - I headed straight to the waffle machine. Nothing fancy, but more than adequate for a short stay on the way through.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Horseblock Point Cottages; City: Gananoque Ontario; Review: I wasn't too sure about this place when we arrived, but by the time we had to leave, I was very sad to say goodbye. We only had 2 nights here, so I just booked the smallest cottage. It certainly is teeny tiny, but has everything a couple would need for a short stay, including a teeny tiny ensuite. There was a large spider in the ensuite when we arrived, but my husband soon booted him out. Everything did what it was supposed to - the bed was comfortable, the shower was hot and decent pressure, the mini fridge cooled our drinks, the free wifi worked well. There was no air-con, but we just put on the little table fan and were perfectly comfortable with that. It was lovely to sit by the river with a drink and just enjoy the ambience. Short drive into town, and some good walking trails not far away just across the little creek. Carlos was great, made us feel very welcome and gave us some good tips.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Queen Incheon Airport; City: Incheon; Review: We stayed for one night on a short stopover in Seoul. We arrived late at night, and got the train out 2 stops (be aware that you will need cash for train tickets). The hotel was nice and easy to find from the train station, and it seemed a decent neighbourhood. We were surprised with a free upgrade on check in. Unfortunately since we were only in the hotel for about 6 hours, we didn't get the best use out of the room - no chance to use the spa! The room was spacious and comfortable, and we slept well. We had breakfast at the hotel, which was pretty good value, then got the free hotel shuttle to the airport. Couldn't really expect anything more from a convenient airport hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nelsons of Bridgetown; City: Bridgetown Western Australia; Review: We were on a budget and had left it til the last minute to book accommodation over the Christmas/New Year period, so pretty much just had to take what was available. I think we paid too much for what was very basic (but clean and tidy) accommodation, but that's the nature of that time of year really. Everything worked as it should, and we were quite comfortable, although there was an incident with a large spider at bedtime. I was a little nervous about finding more after that! I imagine the other room categories would be much nicer, but then again, they were outside our budget. We didn't have much to do with the staff, but check in and check out were fine. The hotel is towards one end of the main street, but it's only a small town, so everything was still within walking distance.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Park Inn By Radisson Toronto Markham; City: Markham Ontario; Review: I'd like to give this room a 'good' rating, but TripAdvisor doesn't allow for that. The hotel was conveniently located near the highway (just passing through the Toronto area on a road trip, so no need to be in the city). Not much in the immediate vicinity, but there was a little shopping area a short drive away that had a small selection of restaurants to choose from. In hindsight, we should have chosen one of them for dinner rather than going to the hotel restaurant. Worst meal ever. Terrible service, awful food. We spoke to the front desk and got a refund on one of our meals that was just inedible. Other than the restaurant, everything else was fine. Room was spacious and clean. Bathroom clean and tidy. Bed was comfortable and the room was nice and quiet overnight. Laundry machines worked well. Staff were very pleasant and friendly. Would give them another go if I was in the area, but definitely would not eat at the restaurant again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mornington Motel; City: Mornington Mornington Peninsula Victoria; Review: I stayed one night here on a bushwalking holiday on the peninsula. Staff were very friendly and welcoming. The rooms are oldish, but have obviously been well maintained and updated as they go, so still look fresh and clean. Good size and the little kitchenette came in handy. Decent size bathroom, although the shower curtain tended to blow into the shower a bit and get in the way. As a young woman on my own, I was pleased that there is a security gate to the complex which gets closed overnight. However, there was no security latch or anything on the door, just a button to push to lock it. I wasn't thrilled about that. The location was great, easy to find and just an easy stroll up the main street to find some dinner (important after walking 30k during the day!). I went to the Thai place recommended by the motel and was very happy with it. Being on the main road, there was a bit of traffic noise, and there was also a bit of general coming and going noise from outside my room, but the soundproofing between rooms seemed pretty good. Overall, a very good stay for the price, and will definitely consider going back next time I'm in the area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong; City: Hong Kong; Review: We stayed here one night on our way back from Thailand. I'd heard mixed reviews about this hotel, but the prices at the Disneyland hotels were too much for us, and we didn't want to go all the way into the city when we only had 23 hours and were planning to do activities on Lantau. We took the bus from the airport and arrived fairly late - close to midnight. We were surprised with a free upgrade to a panoramic view room (had just booked a basic mountain view) as it was our anniversary. We were also given a voucher to exchange for 2 complimentary glasses of wine and a 'surprise' in the hotel restaurant. The check in assistant was very friendly and helpful. The room was great! Huge views from the wraparound window, which we could see from the bed. The only annoyance was the TV in the middle of the window - who wants to watch TV when you've got that view? The bathroom was large with an amazing shower configuration - large rainfall shower head, plus an extra handheld shower head, and you could even fill it up and have a bath overlooking the sea! We had been planning to go hiking in the morning before heading to Disneyland, but we decided to have more time in the room instead. The bed was very comfortable and we slept well. We decided to go to the hotel restaurant for breakfast so we could use our voucher. There was a huge variety available, but it wasn't as nice as other breakfasts we've had, and wasn't cheap. Was worth it to get our champagne and little dessert though! I don't usually like to rely on free shuttles, but this one was ok. We had to reserve our seats in advance though, which may not be the best on the way back from Disneyland. We just went straight to the airport so didn't take the shuttle back. I'll definitely consider staying there again next time we're in the area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Le Dream Boutique Hotel; City: George Town Penang Island Penang; Review: This hotel was perfect. I literally can't think of anything to make it better. Fresh funky décor, clean and spacious room, comfortable bed, plenty of charging space, great location just down the road from the bus station and mall but within easy striking distance of the historic district, great friendly and personalised service, excellent breakfast with heaps of variety, awesome rooftop deck, heaps of added extras thrown in for free (drinks, ice-cream and popcorn, movie night, laundry, local car service). We're already planning our trip back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus Lake Kawana Hotel; City: Birtinya Sunshine Coast Queensland; Review: Let me just start by saying that if you are going to the Sunshine Coast for a tropical holiday to lounge by the pool/beach, this hotel is not for you. It is more business style, with no real guest amenities other than the restaurant (which I hear is very good, but didn't try as it was fully booked and a little on the expensive side for me). It is a new hotel in a brand new area which has not been mapped on my GPS yet, so it was a little tricky to find, but was fine once I found the area. There's really nothing nearby yet, except for a couple of café style places on the corner, which I imagine would only be open for breakfast and lunch. There are no supermarkets, convenience stores, or even petrol stations nearby, which is fine if you're prepared and get anything you might need on the way. The rooms are great! Large and modern, all with nice canal views. Large bathroom with humungous shower with rainfall shower head. Toilet is a little awkward - good thing I've only got short legs! And the shower could do with a little more pressure. There is fridge and kettle in the room, but no microwave or other kitchen appliances. The bed and seating areas were all very comfortable, and everything worked well. All staff members I encountered were friendly and welcoming. Overall an enjoyable stay, and I'll be interested to see how the area changes in the next few years.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shanghai Yang Jian Hua Hotel; City: Shanghai; Review: I stayed here for one night before Shanghai Disneyland's opening day. I needed something convenient to both the airport and to Disneyland, inexpensive, and reasonable looking. This place was not fancy, but it met my criteria, being a short walk away from a metro station which was just one stop away from the Maglev and Line 16 which heads to Disneyland. I didn't have great experiences with the staff. They didn't seem to know English and weren't particularly friendly or welcoming. The check in process was pretty much done in complete silence. The room itself was smallish but modern enough, but hadn't had the most thorough clean I'd seen at a hotel. Again though, it did the job. That afternoon, I wandered through Century Park to the Science Centre metro station and took the train into Pudong city to have a look around. It was a pleasant enough way to while the afternoon, and very easy to get around. There was plenty in the immediate vicinity of the hotel too, including a supermarket right next door. I didn't get a chance to try the breakfast as I left for Disneyland at 6am the next morning. I would recommend this hotel to anyone not particularly fussy, just wanting a reasonable convenient place to stay.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Toy Story Hotel; City: Shanghai; Review: I am only giving this hotel a 'very good' rating in comparison to the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, which I also stayed at on my trip, but is not available to review yet. The customer service wasn't quite as good (quite a long wait to check in, and the CM who I got was confused about my visa), and common areas of course nowhere near as beautiful and luxurious. It was lots of fun though, with huge Toy Story prints adorning the walls, fun details like the floor numbers in Toy Story font, and aliens 'oohing' when you get in the lift. The room itself was great! Spacious with comfortable beds. Brand new everything and clean as a whistle. Lots of cool extras like a tote bag, slippers, great Toy Story themed tin with toiletries in it, and of course the usual hotel stationery. Everything worked as it should, including the wifi. I did grab an ice-cream from Sunnyside Marketplace in the afternoon. It was absolutely empty down there, and the staff were fantastic. As the previous review mentions, prices are the same property wide (in the parks, Disney Town, and both hotels). However, I liked the lack of crowds at the hotel. I didn't spend much time outside, but I did head out to the courtyard once when I saw Woody and Jessie hanging around out there waiting for visitors. I had some great interaction with them since there was no one else around, and got heaps of photos. The huge Woody and Bullseye in the courtyard was a fun touch. Buses to the park were easy and convenient. I didn't try walking as it seemed like it would be a pretty long way and wasn't really set up for pedestrians. Nothing wrong with the buses though. Even at peak times, I could always get on the bus and never had to wait for the next one. I had to stand up once, but it's such a short drive to the hotel, it really wasn't a problem. I would say, if you can afford it stay at the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel. If not, this hotel is more than adequate.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shanghai Disneyland Hotel; City: Shanghai; Review: I had the pleasure of staying at this hotel on its very first official night, 16th June. I had a room booked on club level, because it was the only room type left when I booked! I arrived on the complimentary shuttle bus from the Shanghai Disney metro station. My luggage was immediately taken to bell services to be checked in for the day, and I was pointed in the direction of the check in desk. I was briefly distracted by the amazingly beautiful lobby, before being quickly and easily checked in by friendly and excited staff. On my way out, I briefly checked out the bathroom facilities (perfect), Ballet Café (great place to stop for some quick takeaway pastries), and quickly headed downstairs to see the Beauty and the Beast statue. I took the shortcut through Wishing Star Park to get to Disneyland, which took me out the back of the hotel through the garden, which was lovely and boasted a magnificent view over the lake to Disneyland. There is a private gateway to Wishing Star Park for hotel patrons, but as I didn't have my room key yet (it was only about 9am), the security guard opened the gate for me. The walk took less than 10 minutes. Later in the day I headed back to the hotel to take a short break from Disneyland. I took the shuttle bus again, which was quick and easy. My room was still not ready, but I was escorted to the club lounge so that I could relax there. The lounge was a beautiful place to relax, with a magnificent view of the park and a full buffet of sweet and savoury treats plus a full bar. There were Disney movies playing on two TVs at either end of the lounge. While I was there, I was approached by a manager who gave me a voucher to cover the purchase of a large Grand Opening Mickey plush to make up for the delay with my room. It was a lovely gesture. My room was finally ready at about 5:30pm, and I was escorted to it from the lounge by one of the concierge and someone from bell services with my luggage. I was given a brief tour of the room and shown how to operate the awesome light up bedhead! The room and bathroom were luxurious and plush, with so many cute Disney touches throughout. The bed looked so soft and comfortable, I nearly ditched my evening at Disneyland lol! Later that night, I had a fantastic sleep! In the morning I headed back to the club lounge for breakfast, where there was a huge array of food available. I was genuinely sad to have to check out that morning, but the CMs were lovely and made the process quick and painless for me. They sent my luggage off to the Toy Story Hotel, and I headed back to Disneyland on the shuttle bus. This room was a huge splurge for me, but I've never experienced anything like it! The level of luxury; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shanghai Disneyland Hotel; City: Shanghai; Review: I stayed club level for opening day on 16th June, because it was the only room type left for that night! For my next night I transferred over to the more budget friendly Toy Story Hotel (which I have reviewed separately). The hotel is just gorgeous, one of the most beautiful I have seen with the amazing art nouveau detail in the grand lobby. The gardens are also lovely, and include the cute Lion King themed waterplay area for kids. Customer service was an absolute stand out at this hotel. I was able to check in and leave my luggage with bell services before the park opened. Everyone spoke very good English, and were friendly and seemed genuinely excited to be part of the opening day celebrations. Unfortunately in the chaos my room wasn't ready until nearly 6pm (I came back to the hotel for an afternoon break). While waiting for my room I was escorted to the club lounge so that I could relax and enjoy the extensive buffet. I was also given a voucher for one of the grand opening plush Mickeys. The next day when I was checking out, the staff were wonderful again, and it was very easy to organise for luggage to be transferred to the Toy Story Hotel. This was my first time staying club level, as we usually stick to fairly low budget hotels. The lounge was amazing, with a huge buffet for both breakfast and afternoon tea, and a full bar. The concierge staff there were very helpful, and it was just generally a pleasant place to relax. There was a lovely view over the lake to the castle. The room itself was lovely too. Spacious and luxurious, with super comfy beds and awesome light up bedheads! Of course everything is brand new, and super sparkly fresh! Getting to the park was super easy. I took the shuttle bus a couple of times, which was only a 5 minute drive. Other times I walked through Wishing Star Park, which took about 10 minutes and was a lovely walk. You can only do this during certain hours though as they close Wishing Star Park overnight. The other option is the ferry which I didn't take. Highly recommend staying here if you can afford it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hyatt Melbourne; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: I stayed one night for a recent conference. On arrival, I was upgraded to a view room, which was a nice touch since it happened to be my birthday! Unfortunately I didn't get to spend much time in the room, but it was lovely - clean and modern, and the view was great! Nice river vista from the MCG all the way over the Arts Centre. I had to make time for a bath in the luxurious marble bathroom. The bed was a lot softer than I'm used to, but was very comfortable. Staff were fantastic, very helpful with both accommodation and conference related issues. Don't have anything bad to say!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Parks Maidens Inn Moama; City: Moama New South Wales; Review: I'm a bit late with my review, but we had a family get together here late last year. Everyone was very happy with their stay. The cabins were great, especially with the lovely river views from the deck. The kids enjoyed the jumping pillow and water play area. It was a nice short drive into town.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Parks Bunbury Village; City: Bunbury Western Australia; Review: I'm a bit late with my review - my parents and I stayed for a couple of nights over last year's Christmas break. There wasn't much to choose from and this did the job perfectly well. We stayed in our own caravan, with access to our own ensuite - nothing fancy but in good working order. I believe there was a jumping pillow and mini BMX track to keep the kids entertained, and there was an additional inflatable waterslide which I assume is only brought out at peak summer times. It was a bit chaotic and noisy with kids running around and screaming in the middle of the night, but I suppose that's to be expected at Christmas time anywhere and certainly not the park's fault. We did enjoy wandering around the park and catching the Christmas lights that the permanent residents put up. There wasn't much around the immediate vicinity, but it was only a short drive into Bunbury. Although it's located on the highway, we didn't hear much traffic noise overnight.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Yarra Gables Motel; City: Healesville Yarra Valley Victoria; Review: We had an overnight stay here in one of the spa rooms. The grounds are very pretty with all the gardens, and the room was lovely, spacious and clean. Not too far into town for restaurants/entertainment, but I was disappointed to not have more time to just sit on the deck relaxing! Unfortunately we discovered that our spa wasn't working when we went to use it that night. We called to see if we were missing anything obvious, but it turned out to be broken. In the morning we were offered a full refund for our stay, but only accepted a partial refund as we still had a lovely time and agreed that it was still very good value!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wodonga Caravan Cabin Park; City: Wodonga Victoria; Review: My partner and I stayed at this caravan park for a weekend with his 5 year old and my parents. My parents were in their van and we had one of the 2 bedroom cabins. I'll start by saying that this park is in the middle of an industrial area, with car dealerships etc around and not much atmosphere. You do need to drive to get anywhere nice. That is the main reason for my low rating. The park itself was simple but clean and tidy with great staff. The 5 year old was bored - there is not much for kids to do and there weren't any other kids running around he could play with. We didn't really use any of the shared facilities so can't comment on those, but my parents were happy with the amenities block. Our cabin was basic but again, clean and tidy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Jugendherberge Hamburg Auf dem Stintfang; City: Hamburg; Review: The 6 people dorm room was wide enough to host every one. It had a bathroom with shower and toilets included, which was nice. Note that the only sink was in the dorm, which meant noise for room occupants willing to sleep. Concerning the other facilities of the hostel: the self use kitchen is VERY small, and does not have any fridge! Nevertheless, the hostel provides good food in the morning for breakfast and is not that expensive in the evening for the buffet meal. Finally, there also a bar, but I did not have time to try it. Some staff people at the reception desk did not speak a very understandable English... WIFI was free but veryyyyy slow! And note also that a Member card is needed, otherwise it's 3.5 € extra fee per night.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Archipelago Hostel Old Town; City: Stockholm; Review: 3 nights in the hostel. The bed was very comfortable. Hostel well located in Stockholm. The room was very small and get dirty quickly by winter time. Why not installing carpets to clean our shows? On the contrary to other reviews, the staff was kind and helpful. Finally, concerning facilities : Don't expect too much. The kitchen is VERY small and dark. The fridge is cleaned only once a week rather than every day like in most hostels I've been in. There is no living room (or I couldn't find it). Showers are also very narrow. In a nutshell: Hostel only for a short night.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: STF Malmo City; City: Malmo Skane County; Review: Modern hostel well located in Malmo; close two the two main park and the pedestrian area. The staff is kind and helpful. Rooms are large and quiet. Facilities are recent and of good quality. Only regret : lockers broken in the room I was in.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spoton Hotel Sportsbar; City: Gothenburg Vastra Gotaland County West Coast; Review: Good hostel for a short stay. The dormitories are built in such a way that you even don't notice sharing the room with 10 people. The facilities are all very clean and recent Only issue : Having to go through the living room to access the bathrooms and shower from one of the dormitory.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Goteborgs Vandrarhem; City: Gothenburg Vastra Gotaland County West Coast; Review: Clean quiet and exceptional services. Continental breakfast very complete, delicious. Worth it. The people working there are kind and helpful. An example : they proposed to me cleaning my clothes, they folded them after drying. Rooms are spacious and cosy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: U.S. soldiers who fought alongside Kurds blast Trump's Syria retreat; Abstract: In the summer of 2004, U.S. soldier Greg Walker drove to a checkpoint just outside of Baghdad's Green Zone with his Kurdish bodyguard, Azaz. When he stepped out of his SUV, three Iraqi guards turned him around at gunpoint.; Category: news
Title: Subprime auto giant's loans souring at fastest clip since 2008; Abstract: A growing percentage of Santander Consumer USA Holdings' subprime auto loans are turning out to be clunkers soon after the cars are driven off the lot.; Category: finance
Title: USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll: Biden's lead over Warren narrows in a turbulent Democratic field; Abstract: A year before Election Day, 18% of likely Democratic voters were undecided, and 57% with a preferred candidate said their decisions weren't firm.; Category: news
Title: 40 conservative groups sign ethics complaint against Pelosi; Abstract: A coalition of conservative groups have filed an ethics complaint against Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), arguing among other charges that she has usurped authority from the executive branch by "weaponiz[ing]" the impeachment process.In a complaint to the Office of Congressional Ethics, 40 conservative groups led by Jenny Beth Martin of Tea Party Patriots Action wrote to board chairman David Skaggs arguing that a vote scheduled for this week...; Category: news
Title: 9 grim facts about the vaping illness epidemic; Abstract: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last week that 38 people have died so far from vaping-related illnesses.; Category: health
Title: Obama calls out call-out culture: "That's not activism"; Abstract: At the annual Obama Foundation summit, the former president said he's concerned about how people approach differences in opinion, especially on social media; Category: news
Title: Surfing executive sentenced to prison in college admissions scam; Abstract: Federal prosecutors in Boston said Wednesday that surfing executive Jeffrey Bizzack has been sentenced to two months in prison for participating in the massive college admissions scheme.; Category: news
Title: Amazon's $1.5 million political gambit backfires in Seattle City Council election; Abstract: Amazon's $1.5 million political gambit backfires in Seattle City Council election; Category: finance | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Esky Waterproof 5V/2.1A Dual USB Output Motorcycle Handlebar Clamp Power Adapter Charger; Brand: Esky; Review: Excellent design! Well built and and water proof! Every motorcyclist should have one of these. It's a must for never running out of battery on your smartphone. Highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Astra Depot Jet Black Universal Light Weight Adjustable No Slip Cup Cans Bottle Drink Beverage Holder Clamping Clip Mount; Brand: Astra Depot; Review: Super easy to install and holds pretty tight on my Harley. Good size and well built. OK, this review wants me to use more words than it took for my opinion! I will choose the words I want to use so back off Amazon!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: REESE Towpower 72783 Universal Coupler Lock, Adjustable Storage Security, Heavy-Duty Steel; Brand: Reese Towpower; Review: Feels kinda cheap but works.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Curt Manufacturing 55534 Trailer Connector; Brand: Curt Manufacturing; Review: Super easy to install! Right hook up for my car.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Highland (1127200) 69" Aluminum Smooth Rung Tri-Fold Loading Ramp - 1 unit; Brand: Highland; Review: Kinda cheaply made. The cross braces all bent first time loading my Fat Boy. Though they bent only the first time, it doesn't hinder the loading process and seems to be up to the job.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reese Towpower 21536RAK 2" Drop Standard Class III Starter Kit; Brand: Reese Towpower; Review: Great quality, no hitch! LOL; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Show Me, Baby: A Masters of the Shadowlands Novella (1001 Dark Nights); Author: Visit Amazon's Cherise Sinclair Page; Review: I love the masters of the shadowlands series and have recommended it over and over to my friends. I love the dynamics of the relationships and getting in the heads of the characters.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Loving War (The Sterling Shore Series) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's C.M. Owens Page; Review: I love this book. I love everything I have read of yours. Please keep them coming. I can't wait to see what happens next. An early release for breaking even would make my Christmas !!! Just sayin. Lol; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: There Are No Men; Author: Visit Amazon's Carol Maloney Scott Page; Review: I loved this book so much. I laughed so hard I cried and almost peed my pants. ( this is Cindy by the way -even though it shows up as Rick ). I actually had people making fun of me because I was laughing so much. I love when that happens. This is a truly feel good book that everyone should read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Afraid of Her Shadow; Author: Visit Amazon's Carol Maloney Scott Page; Review: I love how this book takes a look at really stressful real life situations and helps us laugh about them. Again I truly believe that laughter so the best medicine. I will reread these two books over and over again whenever I need a break from my own reality. They are really remarkable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Courtship Maneuver, Complete Series (Volume 4); Author: Alexa Wilder; Review: I had heard about this series from multiple people and several of my book clubs. Now I see what all the fuss is about. I absolutely loved it. I thought it was great having love, suspense, a happy ending, a not so happy ending ( in my opinion ) for one character. I read this on kindle unlimited and now have to buy a copy because I know I will reread it. It's a must read that you will love !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Christmas From Hell: A Neighbor from Hell (Volume 7); Author: Visit Amazon's R.L. Mathewson Page; Review: I love R.L. Mathewson. This book is just as fabulous as all the others. Love grandpa ! Keep them coming please.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Club (The Club Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Lauren Rowe Page; Review: This is a series you just have to read. Love how she smacks him with the truth in her email and he actually pays attention to what she said. Can't wait for the rest of the series; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wedding Belle Blues (Weddings by C & C); Author: Visit Amazon's Mia Epsilon Page; Review: I love finding new authors who really know how to capture my imagination and make me fall into a story. This one is so sweet. I love how sometimes seeing what is right in front of you for years finally hits you like a bolt of lightning. As soon as I finished this book I had to buy the others. I will definitely be recommending this series in my book groups. Can't wait for the next one !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mother Road; Author: Visit Amazon's Meghan Quinn Page; Review: I absolutely adored this book. It reminds me so much of family vacations my family took. From the inappropriate conversations and jokes to the bad food and the love of family. I've seen some reviews that find some of the dialogue and jokes and conversations as disturbing !! Lol. I'm pretty sure those people are only children. My brothers and I try and gross each other out any way possible. I love the reason for the trip and how they honor their mother. It is just a fantastic book all around. It will be one of my go tos when I need a laugh because you just can't read it without laughing. Thank you Meghan Quinn for such a masterpiece.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Something For The Pain; Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Ashley Page; Review: I love Victoria Ashley's books and this one was no exception. I love watching the characters grow and finally realizing how much they truly mean to each other. I loved the way she finally gets to understand. So good. Can't wait for the next book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Juggling Act (Rom-Com on the Edge) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Carol Maloney Scott Page; Review: I absolutely adore this series. For laugh out loud reading you can't beat it. Third book is just as wonderful as the first two. Love these characters and their real life situations. Can't wait for the next book !! This is an author I automatically buy without even reading what the book is about. I just pre order as soon as I can.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thrust; Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Ashley Page; Review: I love Kyan, Hunter, Calla and Tori. I thought the interactions between the characters was great and I love Tori's bitchiness. This book is just another in the list of amazing books by Victoria Ashley. Hope we get to see Tori's story next ??!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mason (Striking Back) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's S. M. Shade Page; Review: A great ending for a great couple ! I love the bumps in the road that come with any great love story. I love how this series brings domestic violence out into the open even in a love story. Most people never really think about issues this series openly talks about (I know I don't really think about these things). Great read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Everly (Striking Back) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's S. M. Shade Page; Review: I wasn't sure about this book until I actually read it. I love romance books in general, but when you can get drawn into a book so completely that you feel like you are there with the characters, it's the greatest feeling. I love how this book actually lets you know how broken the foster care system really. It works wonderfully for some children but is a complete nightmare for others and I love when books bring these kinds of issues to the public. Thanks for a great read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Royal Prick: A British Royal Stepbrother Romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Nikki Wild Page; Review: Too good to put down. Who doesn't love stepbrother romance? Nikki Wild writes it best. Loved this book and can't wait to read more of her books. I thought these stories were more in depth than the typical taboo books out there without being too heavy and I love that.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: This Regret; Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Ashley Page; Review: Wow. This is a must read. Beware though, it will rip your hard out and make you bawl your eyes out. I haven't read a book that even comes close to being this emotional in forever. You just have to read it to understand. Trust me, it's amazing !!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Walk Of Shame (Full Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Ashley Page; Review: Another incredible series. So hot it will melt your panties right off. I'm getting very addicted to Victoria Ashley's writing. Love this series !!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Property of Drex #2 (Death Chasers MC series) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's C.M. Owens Page; Review: C.M. Owens is my all time favorite author !! Every time I read her newest book I think it's better than the rest. They are all unbelievably amazing. Of course she's done it again. Holy crap on a cracker this book is too amazing to even describe. I'm on the edge just wondering how long we will have to wait for the next book in this series while already being on edge waiting for the next book in other series. Lol. If you haven't read any of her work you are seriously short hanging yourself. This new series is as unbelievably addictive as the rest. So if you like mc books, this one will blow you away !!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stone (Walk Of Shame 2nd Genration #1); Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Ashley Page; Review: I love this series and can't wait for the next book !! So hot and so sweet at the same time. Wish it was longer though, it's just over too soon and then you're left with a massive book hangover. Lol; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Country Kisses (3:AM Kisses) (Volume 8); Author: Visit Amazon's Addison Moore Page; Review: I love this book and the entire series. I absolutely adored all the secrets and angst and fears and joys. Since I have scars on the outside as well I completely understand those fears and when you work through its amazing. This entire series is a must read. I can't praise it enough !!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dirty English; Author: Visit Amazon's Ilsa Madden-Mills Page; Review: I love this book. Getting over the past is definitely worth the fight and with Declan helping? Who could ask for more? Hoping to see what happens with Dax next.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hooked On The Game (The Sterling Shore Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's C.M. Owens Page; Review: I'm hooked on this series. C.M. Owens is an incredible author. I think seeing things from Kades eyes in the next book will be even better since I already know Rayas point of view.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Protecting His Own (Masters of the Shadowlands) (Volume 11); Author: Visit Amazon's Cherise Sinclair Page; Review: While I was really hoping for Uziris book next, this one really did need to come before hers. Another amazing read (as if we would get anything else from Cherise Sinclair). Make sure you start this book early in the day because you won't want to put it down once you start it ! Can't get enough of this series!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Filthy English: (Stand-alone British Romance) (British Bad Boys); Author: Visit Amazon's Ilsa Madden-Mills Page; Review: Another incredible read !! This is one of my favorite series. These characters wiggle their way into your heart and take up residence there. I can't wait for the next book!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Creating Clark: Suzanne Brockmann Presents: A California Comedy, #1 (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Jason T. Gaffney Page; Review: This book is incredible!! So sweet and sexy. I can't wait for the next book. I read the blurb for the next book and I'm already hooked. Can't wait for it. Write quickly please !!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cocky Biker: An MC Romance (Cocker Brothers) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Faleena Hopkins Page; Review: This book was a lot deeper than I expected. It's amazing. I love how committed Jett is and I love the god his club does even if they do it in an unorthodox way. Can't wait to read about the other brothers. Write quickly please !!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Close to You: A Fusion Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristen Proby Page; Review: Loved this book!! Just as great as all of Kristen Proby's books are. Can't wait to read about the rest of the girls!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Listen To Me: A Fusion Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristen Proby Page; Review: Love, laughter, tears, passion and happily ever after!! What more can you ask for in a book? Kristen Proby is simply amazing!! This is another incredible read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Listen to Me: A Fusion Novel; Author: Kristen Proby; Review: Love, laughter, tears, passion and happily ever after!! What more can you ask for in a book? Kristen Proby is simply amazing!! This is another incredible read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aced (Blocked) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Jennifer Lane Page; Review: This series is so sweet nowhere near the heat level I usually read but very heartwarming. I hope the next book is as good as the first two. So far I'm loving this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Kisses (3:AM Kisses) (Volume 10); Author: Visit Amazon's Addison Moore Page; Review: Another awesome book in this series. I love the soap opera that is Whitney Briggs !!! I hope Grants book is next, he really needs some good in his life. Addison Moore always gets one clicked even before I read a blurb about a new book because I know how good it will be. Love this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Passion's Pain; Author: Visit Amazon's Ella Jade Page; Review: This book was so much better than I thought it would be! I little twisted ( in a very good way ). I'm looking forward to reading the next book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cocky Cowboy: A Second Chance Romance (The Cocker Brothers of Georgia) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Faleena Hopkins Page; Review: I love this series so much !! So much romance and chemistry mixed in with real life tragedies and conflicts. It doesn't get any better than this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Goal (Off-Campus) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Elle Kennedy Page; Review: I think this is my favorite book in this series although they are all incredible. I'm not even a hockey fan but reading this series may have led me to watch a game or two. LOL. I can't give it high enough praise.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lyric and Lingerie (The Fort Worth Wranglers) (Volume 1); Author: Tracy Wolff; Review: OMG. This book is too flipping incredible for words. I read it through Kindle Unlimited and then had to buy it because I will definitely be rereading and loaning it to friends because it is too good to not share ( plus I know I will get it back-I love digital copies). A definite must read. So hooked on a new favorite author. Now I have to go and buy more of her books. Happy reading !!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Head Over Paws; Author: Visit Amazon's Rory Wilde Page; Review: This story was a very sweet read about coming to terms about being gay. Well written. Very hot sex scenes. I would have liked to see how Ollie came out to his parents and how they took it but overall it didn't really matter because he seemed to really come to terms with it very quickly. I will definitely read more books by Rory Wilde.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fit for Love (A stand by me novel) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Brinda Berry Page; Review: Good book. Although I absolutely hated the sadness factor near the end it did help with theHappily Ever After. I love that persistence paid off.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Styx (Walk Of Shame 2nd Generation #2) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Ashley Page; Review: OMG. Another incredible Walk Of Shame book. I will never get enough of this series. It's just too good. A definite must read series. So hot and full of feelings. Love Styx protective side.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cocky Romantic (Cocker Brothers) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Faleena Hopkins Page; Review: Another amazing read in this series. I fall so hard for these Cocker brothers!! How can you not? All of the brothers are so hot (and they know it). I can't wait for the next one, and definitely can't wait to find out what happens with the father. Faleena Hopkins is so talented you actually live in her stories, you don't just read them!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rendezvous (Renegades) (Volume 6); Author: Visit Amazon's Skye Jordan Page; Review: OMG!! Another incredible Renegades book. I swear they get better and better and the first one was already incredible. This is one of the best series out there. I hate spoilers so I'm just going to say that this is a must read. This series is a one click without enemy needing to read a single teaser or blurb. They are just that good. Please don't make us wait forever for the next book!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pucked Under (The Pucked Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Helena Hunting Page; Review: Randy and Lily are so perfect together. I love their story so much. I can't wait to see Lances book. That is going to be a wild ride I think. This series needs to go on and on. There is so much more we need to see from these couples!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Trouble With Tinsel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kelly Collins Page; Review: Kelly Collins writes second chance romances so well. These characters grabbed my right from the start. Tommy stole the show-he's just too adorable for words! Wonderful book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mischief and the Masters (Masters of the Shadowlands) (Volume 12); Author: Visit Amazon's Cherise Sinclair Page; Review: Another incredible book in this series. I couldn't wait to get Uzuries book. It was so worth the wait. It was great to finally learn a few of her tricks. Can't wait to see what happened to her accomplices. LOL. This book is amazing. If you like heat, sizzle, sexiness, love and laughter then this entire series is a must read !!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Modern Proposal; Author: Visit Amazon's Emma Nichols Page; Review: This was a sweet, sassy, fun read. I loved watching Willow grow and start becoming her own woman. I loved how sweet and patient Wyatt is with her. Of course I loved the HEA. I really want to see Willows moms book!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anti Hero; Author: Visit Amazon's Skye Warren Page; Review: This book was a lot more detailed than I thought it would be. I have many military men in my life and recognize that Skye Warren either knows a few herself or has really done her homework. I thought this book was excellent and that Nates character was captured beautifully. With the pasts that these two have is was incredible to see them come together to help heal each other.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Waterfall Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story; Author: Visit Amazon's Krista Lakes Page; Review: I received an ARC and want to give my honest opinion. I really enjoyed this book. Leo and Charlotte are made for each other. This is the first book I have read by Krista Lakes and now I will definitely be reading the other books in this series. I hope they are as good as this one. Very sweet and touching with hot love scenes. Great read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big League: MMF Romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Bianca Vix Page; Review: I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. This is an amazing book. Relationships are hard enough for two people. When you add in a third person it can be crazy. This book is so well written and really shows some of the complications that come along with a mnage. I will definitely read more books by Bianca Vix. I hate spoilers so what I can say is that this book is hot, steamy and an awesome read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Worth It; Author: Visit Amazon's S.M. Shade Page; Review: This book need about 20 stars. From beginning to end you cannot put it down. Not a good idea to read at night when your spouse is trying to sleep because you will wake them up laughing so hard you snort and can't breathe. Anytime I am feeling down or stressed or just wonky in general I will reread this. There are not enough words to express how amazing it is. I recommend this book to anyone who reads. I'm going to buy copies for everyone I know so that they will read it. These two authors need to work together on more books. They are amazing authors on their own anyway, but since they worked together on this book it's seems like they fed off of each other's awesomeness!! Just amazing !! A serious must read book!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mack: Black Mountain Pack; Author: Visit Amazon's Miranda Lynn Page; Review: Oh my gosh! This book is incredible. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first page until the very last. I was sad to see it end and can't wait to read the next one! So so good!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cold Hearted; Author: Visit Amazon's Winter Renshaw Page; Review: This book is so good. So many ups and downs. The course of true love never runs smoothly, but holy moly this course was rough and choppy. So so good. I hope we get Bostyns book and get to see all the ups and downs with her and Locke. This is a book I will read over and over again!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fake Fiancee; Author: Visit Amazon's Ilsa Madden-Mills Page; Review: Ilsa Madden Mills has done it again !! I know. No surprises there. This is another amazing book. You love Sunny and Max right from the start ( ok Max can be a bit of a jerk from time to time-he is only a man after all). I was kind of surprised at who the second culprit was so that was awesome. Awesome book. Definitely a one click!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tonight's Encore: A Second Chance Gay Romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Parker Avrile Page; Review: I voluntarily reviewed and advanced review copy of this book. I absolutely loved Reed and Bobby/Zac. I even loved Troy because of the role he played in letting Zac see what was really important and that he could have it all. Wonderful book. This is a new to me author and I will definitely be reading more books by Parker Avrile!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Be Loved (At Last, The Beloved Series) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Stella Starling Page; Review: This is such a sweet and sexy book. Every couple goes through ups and downs, but holy cow these two have to go through so much you sometimes wonder if it will be worth it in the end? Of course it's worth it. Lol. Awesome read. I was given an ARC copy of this book and I am giving my voluntary review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brothers in Blue: Marc (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Jeanne St. James Page; Review: I loved this book! Officers are so sexy to begin with. Add in a loving family, love and acceptance from a small town and scorching hot sex scenes and you couldn't ask for anything more. Once Marc finally pulls his head out of the mud and loses his archaic thinking he is adorable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Too Tempting (The Lewis Cousins) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Bethany Lopez Page; Review: I loved this book. The love between the cousins is inspiring-close knit families are heartwarming. The twist this book takes is enough to shock you senseless and although freaks out at first she handles it remarkably well. I can't wait for the rest of the series!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Jock; Author: Visit Amazon's Sienna Valentine Page; Review: This was a wonderful story. Definitely a unique twist on a secret baby romance. I love the changes that Tanner makes for his daughter and how he is growing. It was so touching how Delaney helps him even though she wants Izzy for herself. Watching the two of them trying to do the right things was heartwarming. Great book. Can't wait to see Quinn and Roxie's story! I received an ARC of this book and I am giving my honest opinion. I will definitely be reading more by Sienna Valentine.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Make Me (The Sterling Shore Series) (Volume 10); Author: Visit Amazon's C.M. Owens Page; Review: I love love love all of C.M. Owens books. Every single one!! This is definitely my favorite so far. OMG I just love Dale and to see him so discombobulated is hilarious, and Harley is amazing!! I just finished this book and I have to reread it because it was so good I read it very quickly. The second time around I can slow down and savor it. This is a MUST read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Married for the Millions; Author: Visit Amazon's Parker Avrile Page; Review: This is a great book! Yeah it's a little cheesy in places but it is so sweet you can easily just roll your eyes and overlook the cheesiness. This is a story about a dog and her inheritance leading to men back together. It even lead to two half brothers finding out about each other-even if it wasn't in the friendliest way. I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it! I received an ARC of this book and am giving my honest review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Violent Delights: A Dark Billionaire Romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Linnea May Page; Review: Wow! This book is so much more than I expected. So hot and steamy and dark and twisted. I love how psychological it is and how perceptions change due to the circumstances. If you are into dark romances then this is an absolute MUST READ. I am anxious to see what else Linnea May has out there since this is the first of her books that I have read. It's a brilliant book in my opinion. I am voluntarily giving my honest opinion. I received an ARC of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Honor (Men of Virtue) (Volume 6); Author: Visit Amazon's Brian C. Palmer Page; Review: I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced reader copy of this book. This is a unique love story that truly shows how people change as they grow up. I loved how it shows that everybody has their own struggles in life and they can be overcome. I also loved how it shows that priorities change and the one thing you thought you wanted the most in life turns out to be so unimportant in the end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rebound List; Author: Visit Amazon's Hedonist Six Page; Review: This was a sweet, sexy, fun read. The characters were totally likable and fit well together. The ending was perfect. I will definitely be reading more by this author. I loved how Becky decided to go after what she wanted while trying to find herself. I really loved how she went after what she wanted again even though her friend wanted her to keep going with the list.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Match Made: Bad Boys and Show Girls (Love and Play Series); Author: Amelie S. Duncan; Review: Oh my goodness. This book is incredibly sweet, and sexy, and fun and hot. This is a must read series. I was completely blown away by the amount of emotions this book elicited. This is definitely not your run of the mill romance-it's actually too good for words. I will be rereading this book over and over when I need an emotional boost. I received an ARC of this book and am giving my honest review. I loved it!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Taken; Author: Visit Amazon's Holly Jaymes Page; Review: I really liked this book but it seemed to jump at the end. I would have liked a little more of Nicolas actual breakup. And I definitely would have liked how Chip ended up handling the situation at the end and an apology from him would have been nice so that he didn't look like a total putz. Good book but could have been great except for the abrupt ending in my opinion. I received an ARC for my honest opinion.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Play (Brit Boys Sports Romance) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's J.H. Croix Page; Review: This is a wonderful book. Loved how connected Liam and Olivia felt about each other right from the beginning. I hope the rest of this series is as good as this one. I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I'm not much of a soccer fan but now I'm going to have to watch a few games to see this intensity the players seem to have.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Into the Heat; Author: Visit Amazon's Tamara Lush Page; Review: Time and distance, PTSD and grief are no match for true love. I love the chemistry between Leo and Jessica!! This was a new to me author and I will be reading more of her books. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. Great book. I definitely recommend!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Perfect Illusion; Author: Visit Amazon's Winter Renshaw Page; Review: I love this book. I love the twists and turns which I wasn't expecting at all. This book is so sweet it will give you the warm fuzzies. i received an ARC of this book. This is my honest review. I would love to see a follow up novella set a few years down the road to see how everyone is doing!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Single Mom Wanted For Fake Marriage: A Billionaire Romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Aubrey Dark Page; Review: I really enjoyed this book. A great unique take on a fake marriage! My only problem with the book is how quickly Kit learned to talk. Otherwise this book is fantastic. I'm excited to read about the other brothers. I received an ARC of this book from Hidden Gems. This is my honest review. I will definitely be reading more books by Aubrey Dark.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fever (A Songbird Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Melissa Pearl Page; Review: I love this book so much. Cole and Ella just melt your heart and make you sigh. So much real life, heartache and love in this book. Rods can't describe how amazing it is. A must read if you are a romantic at heart.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dangerous Fling (Dangerous Noise) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Crystal Kaswell Page; Review: WOW. This story is so moving. I had to read this book in one seating. I couldn't put it down. Lacey and Mal will tear your heart out and put it right back together. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. I didn't realize it was book four in a series (it doesn't really matter, the book is incredible even as a standalone) but now I have to buy the series because I have to know about the others. This book really grabs you right from the start and you are hooked.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cocky Rockstar: Gabriel (Cocker Brothers of Georgia) (Volume 10); Author: Visit Amazon's Faleena Hopkins Page; Review: This book needs way more than five stars!! Amazing, awesome, incredible!!! These words do not do this book justice. I love all of the Cockers but this was is just so much more. I love the feelings these characters bring out in each other and how this book shows that you can still be alone even when surrounded by family and friends. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. I cannot even tell you how amazing this book and the entire series is. If you are only going to buy one series this year this should be the one. It's that awesome.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nailed: A Blue Collar Bad Boys Book (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Brill Harper Page; Review: I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. I loved this fun, sexy, short read. I loved how Brody showed Megan over and over how special she was. So sweet. And his alpha sexiness didn't hurt either. So sweet and steamy at the same time. So good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sheikh's Fake Fiancee (Azhar Sheikhs) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Leslie North Page; Review: I loved this book. Poor Asim is so caught up in defying his mothers wishes that he can't see what's right in front of him until his mother truly acts like a mother who loves her son. This is a fast paced quick read that I wish was longer because I didn't want the book to end. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. I'm so glad I did. I haven't been able o give five stars in a while. This book truly deserves all five stars. I'm looking forward to Nasir's book (which I hope is in the works?).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hacker Exposed (White Hat Security) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Linzi Baxter Page; Review: I love this book. Very fast paced with great characters. Some of them do some questionable things, hence the title. I hate spoilers so I'm not going to tell you about the book. Read the blurb and you will want to read the book. I'm hoping for books about the other characters as well. Great read. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. The opinions are my own.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: a fighting chance (Free at last series); Author: Visit Amazon's Annie Stone Page; Review: Just WOW. I think I simultaneously love and hate Annie Stone right now! This book is amazing! The writing is incredible and I was captivated from the beginning. At this point I'm not even sure about what I want the outcome to be. This is the reason I also hate Annie Stone-I want the entire trilogy right now!!!! I hate waiting for the next book. OMG what a cliffhanger. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book and I can't wait for the rest of the series. I think there could definitely be more than three. So so good. This is a must read in my opinion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Becoming A Vincent (The Wild Ones) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's C.M. Owens Page; Review: Amazing. C.M. Owens has been a favorite author of mine since forever. I automatically one click her new books without even reading the blurb because I know they will be incredible. I have never been disappointed!! This is another spectacular book. So funny that I recommend you don't read it at night while your spouse is trying to sleep. I woke mine several times because I was laughing so hard. I can't wait for the next book. I think I may want it even more than I want the next S.S book. It's that good!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Forever Kind of Love; Author: Visit Amazon's Krista Lakes Page; Review: This book is so good!! Every book I've read by Krista Lakes is wonderful and this one is no exception. I love how much the children play a part in this book. You don't see that much in romance books. This book gives you all the great feelings a love story should. I especially loved the ending but I hate spoilers so you will have to read it yourself to find out what happens. I highly recommend this book. I received an ARC of this book. The opinions are my own; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Country Nights; Author: Visit Amazon's Winter Renshaw Page; Review: Good Lord this book is so good! I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and these opinions are my own. This is a great book. OMG. Some of the twists in this book just made me gasp and my heart freeze. So good. This is a must read for any true romantic. What River and Leighton overcome is just amazing. This is the first book I have read by Winter Renshaw but I can see myself becoming addicted to her writing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Wonderful Kind of Love; Author: Visit Amazon's Krista Lakes Page; Review: I love Krista Lakes! Everyone of her books are wonderful. This one is no exception. I love how loving and friendly and thoughtful Ethan is with Ivy and Dallas and always takes into account their feelings. I love how Laura stepped up when her parents died. I didn't particularly care for Ethan's attitude toward Laura's fear of him flying. This is a great book. I received an ARC of this book. The opinions are my own. I can't wait to see what's next.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Out Of Bounds (Brit Boys Sports Romance) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's J.H. Croix Page; Review: Another amazing book in an amazing series! You just can't go wrong with J.H. Croix. All three books in this series are just too good to describe. Must read!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Solid Stone: Revolving Door; Author: Visit Amazon's E.G. Patrick Page; Review: I love this book. It's hot and steamy and sensual and heartfelt all rolled into one. The characters are well developed and you ride right along with the plot routing for them all the way. This is a new to me author and I look forward to much much more. I received an advanced review copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cocky Love: Emma (Cockers Brothers) (Volume 11); Author: Visit Amazon's Faleena Hopkins Page; Review: The Cockers are so special and Emma is no exception!! She is so strong and independent and doesn't want help from her family. When she is weak she isn't on her own. Love her sassiness and spunk and that she doesn't take stuff people throw at her and stands up for herself. So amazing. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book and then purchased a copy so that it could be in my Cocker collection on my kindle with the others. Lol. Love, love, love Faleena Hopkins and look forward to the rest of this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Looking For Love (Semper Fi, The Forever Faithful Series) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Stella Starling Page; Review: Love this book so hard. A very feelgood book with unwavering love throughout. I love Micahs unending optimism and I love how Zach watches the world through Micahs eyes. His book is so heartfelt that it just makes you feel warm and cozy and so blinding happy that you just want to read it all over again. I received an ARC of this book and I so glad I did!! There really aren't adequate words for how credible this book really is.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rose (Thorn Tattoo Studio) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Leslie North Page; Review: Wonderful book!! This is the start of what I can tell is going to be an amazing series. When two strong, passionate people clash and they both want what's best for the shop, sparks are going to fly. I love those strong characters. I love the passion. I love the story. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stud Muffin (Irresistible Bachelors) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Lauren Landish Page; Review: I cannot say enough amazing things about this book. So much laughter and craziness that has much meaning behind it. A must read that I will be reading again and again whenever I need a laugh. It is a fantastic depression buster and stress reliever. I adore Mo Mo the parrot and all the characters in this book touch my soul. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book an am extremely grateful for the opportunity.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cocky Quarterback: Eric Cocker (Cocker Brothers) (Volume 12); Author: Visit Amazon's Faleena Hopkins Page; Review: Another fantabulous read by Faleena Hopkins. OMG. This book is so good you just have to read it. I love this entire series and it just keeps getting better and better. Although Jakes book has always been my favorite by just a little bit, I think his sons may have just edged him out of that position. Eric's story and his honesty are just incredible. A serious MUST READ. I love the " no shame" and no woman walks to her car alone no matter what!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Absinthe; Author: Visit Amazon's Winter Renshaw Page; Review: Just WOW!!! I loved this book from start to finish. Such a new and intriguing premise. I loved how they actually had to communicate to move on to the next level. I absolutely cannot believe some of the reviews I've seen!! I'm pretty sure they didn't read the same book I did. This book is in a class all by itself. So new and refreshing and definitely different from anything I've read. It truly is a work of art and I enjoyed every minute of it. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book and I'm so glad I did. I highly recommend it. Incredible read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Fixit; Author: Visit Amazon's Lauren Landish Page; Review: Holy hotness. How does this series keep getting better and better? It started out so fantastic to begin with and each book just seems to get better and better!! I love Cassie and Caleb. I loved them when they were in Hawaii and really thought they might get together back then. This was so much better. Caleb is such a good guy and I adore Cassie's sassiness. Just a perfect book all around. Loved, loved, loved it. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mine: MMF Bisexual Menage Romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Chloe Lynn Ellis Page; Review: This story is fantastic. Three fantastic characters oming together and learning the true meaning of family. Yes this book is on the longer side, lots of info into the way the characters were raised. It flowed beautifully and I didn't even realize how long it was until I stayed up all reading it. Sully knew exactly what he was doing leaving the house to all three of them. Jacks solution to the deed is brilliant and and it all culminates into an amazing family. This is a new to me author and I look forward to reading more of her work. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Darcy Brothers; Author: Visit Amazon's Alix Nichols Page; Review: I really enjoyed this trilogy! Sebastian So uptight and bottled up. Seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders and rarely smiles. Enter Diane, his archenemy, spontaneous and witty and full of life. A wonderful enemies to lovers book. Just the right amount of mystery, love and steamy scenes. Raphael So funny how Raphael and Mia meet. Another amazing read. These two definitely have their ups and downs. I love how they each figure things out on their own. I love how Mia's family react to everything going on in her life and give her their never ending love and support when she believes they will disown her and never speak to her again. Noah Wow. This book was just heartbreaking until Noah finally starts to figure things out. I love how enthusiastic Sophie is about life and wanting to make her own way in the real estate world before going to work with her dad. It was incredible watching Noah show her how she just needed the right man in her life to open her up. I think this was my favorite to the three because it really does tie everything together in the trilogy for me My one complaint about it is the endings. They seemed very abrupt. I would have liked an extended epilogue. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book. I definitely recommend this trilogy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Missing From Me (Sixth Street Bands) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Jayne Frost Page; Review: Heartwarming!! So many ups and downs. Trying to mend fences and making mistakes. This book grabs ahold of you from the very first page and doesnt let go. Even at the end I wasn't ready for the end. Poor Sean tries so hard but really doesnt have a clue. I love how willing he is to do whatever it takes, he just doesnt know what that is. I loved how heartfelt this book is. It makes you believe anything is possible. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Damaged Love (TRUST); Author: Visit Amazon's Cristiane Serruya Page; Review: An emotional, second chance love story. It shows selflessness and true although misguide Love. I love how it really showed the emotions and feelings our heroes go through and the ravages of war that so many of them go through. Really enjoyed this book. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Billionaire's Ex-Wife (Jameson Brothers) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Leslie North Page; Review: Overall I really liked this book. I do feel that the booked is fairly biased against Sam and that Trinity really didn't have to account for her actions at all or for her lack of communication. I loved how Sam grew throughout the book and tried all the way through to be a better man. Trinity appeared to think that she was perfect and didn't need to grow or change in the least little bit. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lightweight; Author: Visit Amazon's Kirsty McManus Page; Review: This is a pretty good book and I enjoyed reading it. There were times when it dragged a bit and it took me longer to read than usual. This book deals really deals with real life issues in a realistic way. I really enjoyed the characters in this book and would have loved to get some of their thoughts and feelings from their point of view. Overall a good book. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Playing Dirty: A Second-Chance Sports Romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Alix Nichols Page; Review: Another great book in this series. I love how this book shows that love can conquer all. We have all done things in our past that we aren't proud of. Most people grow up and outgrow childish behaviors, some dont. I love the dual point of view so that we can see what Julien and Noemi are thinking and feeling. Quick, steamy, fun read. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book, the opinions are my own.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Three Last First Dates: A romantic comedy of love, friendship and even more cake (Cozy Cottage Cafe) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Kate O'Keeffe Page; Review: Cute story. I liked how it was the girl who was a commitment phobe this time. I found her to be completely clueless though. I get that love can be fickle and sometimes you cant see the Forrest for the trees. Her entire life seemed this way. Dealing with her brother, her job and her love life. Very flakey and juvenile for a woman nearing 30. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fall with Me (Sixth Street Bands Series) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Jayne Frost Page; Review: This is an incredible book. Its wonderful how sensitive and hard to deal with issues are addressed in this book and helps bring awareness to these issues. A great love story. I loved watching Christian and Melody grow together and grow individually. I love this series and cant wait for the next one. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Slow Burn (Into The Fire Series) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's J.H. Croix Page; Review: Love this story. Have never read anything by this author that I didn't love. Maisie and Beck are perfect together. Hot, steamy book with enough emotions to keep you riveted and craving the HEA. I love this series and cant wait for more. I highly recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clarissa and the Cowboy: An opposites-attract romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Alix Nichols Page; Review: Very quick enjoyable read. I think it would have been so much better if it was longer and had more character development. Just too short to reply get in Clarissa and Nathan's heads. Still very enjoyable. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cocky Rebel: Sofia Sol (Cocker Brothers) (Volume 13); Author: Visit Amazon's Faleena Hopkins Page; Review: Wow. Did not see that coming. Faleena Hopkins is just a phenomenal author. Every one of her books that I have read has been outstanding. This one is just as good. Poor Luke goes through so much to get his HEA. The twists and turns in this book keep you turning the pages so quickly its comical. I just couldn't wait to see what would happen next. Another amazing read in this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spider (British Bad Boys); Author: Visit Amazon's Ilsa Madden-Mills Page; Review: Seems like I waited forever for this book. It is very much worth the wait. Definite must read. I cant say enough good things about it. So heartbreaking and heartwarming. A true coming of age and coming into yourself book. Learning who you are and what you want in life. So, so, so good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Every Moment with You (Redeeming Love); Author: Visit Amazon's J.E. Parker Page; Review: Wow! This book grabs you right from the beginning and doesnt let go even after the last page. So emotional and gut wrenching at times. I cant even explain how good this book is. A definite MUST READ. This book makes you believe in fate and true love. This is a new to me author but I will definitely be reading more. This book also shows that family is family no matter what and that anyone is capable of change. Absolutely love this book. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Cruel Kind of Beautiful (Sex, Love, and Rock and Roll series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Michelle Hazen Page; Review: I loved this book. Its all about regular people with regular problems. Jacob is so sweet and nice and handles just about everything thrown at him without any complaints. Jera is kind of a basket case for a while and afraid of disappointing everyone, especially Jacob. I love watching them work out their issues and how he helps steady her. I cant wait for the rest of this series. Michelle Hazen is a new to me author and I look forward to reading much more from her. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Christmas Hims: A Christmas Romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Henle Page; Review: Cute story with some funny twists. Love some of the dates. Funny, clean, sweet romance. Both the main characters and the supporting characters are great. I love it when a man and woman are best friends and always there for each other. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ruin Me: Vegas Knights; Author: Visit Amazon's Bella Love-Wins Page; Review: Im not even sure how to write a review for this book. It is so emotional, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. While I wanted to smack Mac most of the time, I wanted to wrap him in a warm hug at the same time. Angel really is an angel to put up with everything. Such an intense read. I cant wait to read Sly and LeVans books. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book. The opinions are my own.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Darcy's Kiss; Author: Visit Amazon's Krista Lakes Page; Review: This book is so touching. First impressions can go so wrong and changing those impressions can be extremely hard. Watching William try was sweet, and lovely written. I really enjoyed this book. I loved how hard he tried to fix his mistakes. I definitely recommend this sweet, heartwarming read. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book. The opinions are my own.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In His Collar (Restrained) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia D. Eddy Page; Review: I love this book!! This is the only book in the series I have read and I wasn't lost at all. Works very well as a stand alone, although I cant wait to read the others. This book takes you on a roller coaster that is a fantastic ride. Nick and Sofia are perfect together. The twists in this book will have you on the edge of your seat. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book. The opinions are my own.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Invincible (Trident Code) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Alana Albertson Page; Review: I gave this book five stars because it is a very heavy, dark at times, love story that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you believe in real life heroes. Even when said hero is flawed like a human. My one big criticism of this book which made me think about giving far less stars, is the lie Patrick tells Annie- even though he believes it is for her own good. In my opinion she deserves the truth even though it will hurt her. After everything she went through she deserves the truth and has proven she can handle anything. I really liked the book and hope in further books in the series that the truth is revealed. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost For You (Sixth Street Bands) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Jayne Frost Page; Review: Although this book is a stand alone it is so much better (in my opinion) if you read the whole series. All the books in this series are amazing. Roller coaster that you don't want to ever get off of. Well developed characters that you cant forget and emotions that grab your heart. I must read book and series!! I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love, Luck & Clusterf*ck (Legal) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Bree Dahlia Page; Review: I love this book!! It was great watching Perry and Stephen getting to know each other. This is a true romance with some sexy scenes. Watching Perry figure out watch she really wanted and didn't want in life was very heartwarming. Stephen was adorable and so sweet through the whole book. This is the only book in the series I have read and now I need to go read the first two. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Se7en Deadly SEALs: Season 1; Author: Visit Amazon's Alana Albertson Page; Review: This book is so full of ups and downs and twists and turns. Just WOW. I could not put this book down and read it in one sitting. This is a completely twisted roller coaster of a book with so many emotions being pulled. The SEALS in this series are amazing even when they are being complete jerks. I wanted to keep hating Mitch for being the misogynistic jerk he is, but by the end of the book I just couldnt. I cant wait for the next book in this series. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book. It really is a must read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rebound; Author: Visit Amazon's Winter Renshaw Page; Review: I loved this book. With its ups and downs and misunderstandings. It was very frustrating at different points and those misunderstandings could have easily been dealt with. Then I think back in time to when I was that age and I feel like Winter Renshaw nailed it. This book shows that love really does conquer all even if it takes forever to happen. I definitely recommend this book. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bitter Exes (The Social Experiment) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Addison Moore Page; Review: Addison Moore has been one of my favorite authors for years. This book is a great example of why she is a favorite. Great characters with depth and real feelings and real problems. Lane and Violet are incredible. While they both have their issues, Vi moreso than Lane, they also really want to be together. I love this. Ok and cant wait for the next in this series. This is a must read author!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Babyjacked: A Payne Brothers Romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Sosie Frost Page; Review: Fantastic book. This is a new to me author and I am looking forward to reading much much more by Sosie Frost. I really loved how Rem thought he was doing the right thing even though it really, really wasnt. This book really tugs at your heartstrings and has you pulling for the HEA. I got completely drawn in to the book and could picture every scene!!! Looking forward to the next book in this series. Looking forward to the entire series! I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Accepted: A Reverse Harem Romance (VIP College #1); Author: Visit Amazon's Athena Wright Page; Review: This is a hot, steamy, intricate book. Lots of feelings and new beginnings. Being new to college and new to relationships is hard enough, throw in three sexy, alpha males and some added drama and you have a definite must read book. I am very upset with the fact that this is only part one. I wasn't aware of that until I finished it. So frustrating. Im positive it will be worth the wait. Everything I have read by Athena Wright has been amazing. Cant wait for the next book. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Talk; Author: Visit Amazon's Lauren Landish Page; Review: I would definitely give this book more stars if I could. I have read some really negative reviews for this book and I would like to point out a few things. The most important point that I took from it is this-you do what right and feels good and gets you hot and bothered and let me do the same for myself!! Not everyone likes dirty talk, or any kind of kink, just like not everyone likes vanilla. Throughout the entire book Derrick stresses talking honestly with your partner and expressing your needs and wants. The critics are complaining about him calling her a dirty little c***. Again, if you actually READ the book you would have noticed that Kat was not the least bit offended. Another negative I read was about Kat supposedly being a genius but not acting like it. Just WOW. Being an intellectual genius is a far cry from being a genius in love. To those critics I say that I feel sorry for you because youve obviously never truly been in love or you would know first hand how stupid it makes you. This book is terrific and sexy and sweet and the characters realif you aren't looking for a sweet, sexy, dirty talking romance then you need to find the simply sweet romance books out there and leave these books for us instead of complaining about all the hot moments in the book. This is another fantastic book by Lauren Landish and I loved it!! I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book. I do give bad reviews when they are warranted but that is not the case with this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Then Came You: (Love Everlasting) (The Youngers Book 1) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Iris Morland Page; Review: i Love this book. Hes afraid of becoming his father and shes afraid of getting hurt. Im loving the characters and seeing some of the characters from the Thorntons as well. This is a great read and I definitely recommend it. I look forward to more books in this series. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stay; Author: Visit Amazon's Emma Nichols Page; Review: Sweet and sexy. I love how devoted and stubborn Xander was when he knew what he wanted. He was somewhat patient and very tender and caring. Cadence is at heart terrified of loving and it kind of comes off as being rigid in her plans and a bit immature. I loved the book. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Man in Charge: A Steamy Contemporary Romantic Comedy (The Manly Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Teddy Hester Page; Review: Fantastic book. I love Cleo and Tony. Such a fun couple. Their dynamic is amusing and loving and definitely heartfelt. Watching them work through their issues and actually talk through them was wonderful. Im really enjoying this series. My only criticism is that this should be book one in the series. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Road to You; Author: Visit Amazon's Piper Lennox Page; Review: This is an okay read. It just didn't really resonate with me. It was slow going and just never grabbed me. Im not really sure why, but the characters never really seemed to develop or grow on me. Just okay. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Boyfrenemy: A Payne Brothers Romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Sosie Frost Page; Review: OMG. I love this book. I laughed so hard I cried and had trouble breathing. Julian is too hot to handle and Micah is too frigid to touch. When they get together its explosive. The love/hate between the two comes out in hilarious ways. I couldn't wait to read this book and its a great follow up to baby jacked. I hope the books for the other brothers are just as great as this one. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Master Cole; Author: Visit Amazon's Marie Tuhart Page; Review: For the most part I really enjoyed this quick sexy read. The characters play well off of each other and you can feel the chemistry between them. I like how it showed how D/S relationships should work. I also like how it showed how real life happens. Abuse happens in all kinds of relationships, not only in D/S relationships. While I liked the journaling Janie had to do, a true relationship would have Cole also being open and honest with Janie, which he was not until the end of the book. Still a very enjoyable book which I would recommend. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three Blind Dates; Author: Visit Amazon's Meghan Quinn Page; Review: Let me start by saying that I LOVE Meghan Quinn books, including this one. While I see that most of the reviewers found this book to be as fun, lighthearted and terrific as I did, I also read so really harsh reviews. One said they skimmed the book but couldn't get into it. In my opinion if you haven't actually READthe book then you shouldnt be writing a review. The other one that really irked me was the one that basically said this couldn't happen in real life. Guess what? Most romances I read aren't things that happen in real life!! Romances are supposed to be fun, sexy, HEAs that take us into a fantasy where everything works out in the end. Meghan Quinn always delivers!!!! I love her books and look forward to each new one. This books made me laugh so hard at points that I had to cross my legs because I just knew I was going to pee myself. Definitely worth the read and I highly recommend it!!! Thank you Meghan Quinn for another awesome LOL book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Sky (Blue Devils); Author: Visit Amazon's Alana Albertson Page; Review: I really hate it when I don't know how to rate a book. I have read other books by Alana Albertson and loved them. This one is not a favorite of mine. The story is fine and its a good read but it just felt a little flat for me. Paloma is young in this book but she has lived through enough to make her older than her true age. I appreciate that she is trying to do the right thing for her family but it just seems off. Beck basically falls for the first woman he actually has to be in proximity with after his wife dies. Thats classic rebound. I think I might have liked it more if the story was longer and everything didn't feel so rushed. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: P.S. I Hate You; Author: Visit Amazon's Winter Renshaw Page; Review: This is such a unique and wonderful book. Very heartfelt. Some nice twists and turns. The two main characters are a definitely unique duo. I loved the week of Saturdays and the corny, fun things they did. Winter Renshaw writes amazing books. If you haven't tried her books you are really missing out. I cant say enough good things about this one. I hate reviews with spoilers so I will just say that you really should give Maritza and Isaiah a chance. You won't be disappointed. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beauty and her Billionaire Beast; Author: Visit Amazon's Bella Love-Wins Page; Review: Wow. I typically love books by Bella Love Wins. This one fell very very short for me. The main characters were flat and one dimensional. I never felt and real chemistry between them. Very bland book overall. The best characters in the book were the supporting characters. I loved Gramps, Beth and Foster because they actually had personality. Im very shocked by how bland I found this book. I absolutely hate giving poor reviews but with this one I don't have a choice. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Professor's Pet: A Forbidden Romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Wolf Page; Review: I really wanted to love this book. I love finding new authors. This book just didn't really wow me. I like the whole prof/student forbidden romance thing but this one was just too much. Hes old enough to at least be strong enough to wait until she is finished with his class and she is a spoiled little brat. It just didn't work for me. The steamy scenes were well written and hot. The whole book just seemed kind of rushed, especially the ending. This was my first book by Alex Wolf. I would definitely try another. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pretend You're Mine; Author: Visit Amazon's Crystal Kaswell Page; Review: Fantastic book. If youve ever been cheated on this book will bring back some memories and feels. I loved how honest Ryan is with his feelings throughout this book. How he tries to deal with everything and doesnt want to lie. While I love Leighton I think she was a bit to pushy and not nearly patient enough. Dean lifts the entire seriousness of this book. He is so freakin adorable I just wanted to hug him. Crystal Kaswell is an amazing author. I look forward to every one of her books. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Breaking Rules; Author: Visit Amazon's S B Alexander Page; Review: I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and, fun and steamy. The characters were well developed and easy to love (or hate). I don't usually read books about high school students but this book caught my attention and I had to give it a try. Im very glad I did. S.B. Alexander is a new author for me and I have to say that Im impressed. I will definitely be checking other books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pull Me Under (Love In Kona); Author: Visit Amazon's Piper Lennox Page; Review: Another hot, sexy read. Just what you expect from Piper Lennox. Characters that get under your skin and make you want their happily ever after. Everyone has some kind of baggage, its how you deal with it that counts. Give Piper Lennox a try if you havent. Youll fall in love. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hard Rock Crush (Cherry Lips) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Athena Wright Page; Review: If you have glanced at the reviews then you know this book is incredible. Nobody does rock star romance like Athena Wright!! Cerise and Liam wrap you up in their story right from the beginning. Watching these two come to grips with their past and present is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Friends and family are there for them and really try to help. Athena Wright is one of my favorite authors and she has never disappointed me with any book of hers that I have read. They are all so different from each other and yet still so connected. Love this book. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mitus Touch: Book One of The Touch Series; Author: Visit Amazon's Stoni Alexander Page; Review: This is a very interesting read. There is A LOT going on in this one. All of the characters are unique and the dynamics between them is fun. While a few things in the book were predictable there were definitely some twists that were fantastic. Some of the things in this book are a little bizarre but in a good way. Lol. I look forward to the next book. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: An American Cinderella; Author: Visit Amazon's Krista Lakes Page; Review: I really liked this book. I thought the political twist was new and refreshing. I loved the close friendships you got to see in this book. I loved how Aria was trying so hard to stay true to herself and protect her dad. Henry truly is a knight in shining armor and helps her do the right thing. Its a very sweet read. My one criticism is the ending. I would have like a few more chapters showing how everything ended with Audrey and how things played out as far as Arias new life. If she is living in Paradisa what is she doing? I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tempting Levi (Cade Brothers) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Jules Barnard Page; Review: This is a very enjoyable read. Hot alpha male and feisty spitfire female. I loved the premise of the book. Levi coming to terms with the loss of his dream career and learning to like his new one. It did seem to get a little repetitive in the I want to but I shouldnt over and over. The one thing that really irritated me though was that Adams book (which is supposed to take place before this one) is in another series. It doesnt take away from this book but I like to read about a family in chronological order. Still a very enjoyable read. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Playing the Pauses (Sex, Love, and Rock & Roll series) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Michelle Hazen Page; Review: Danny and Kate seriously pull at your heartstrings. I pulled for them all the way through the book. Poor Danny just doesnt know how to express himself or really even know what hes feeling at first. He is a man of his word even when it hurts him. Kate is so focused on her career she almost misses what is right in front of her. I love this book and enjoyed it immensely. My only criticism is that I would have liked Dannys point of view. Still an awesome book. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tie Me Down: Sex, Love, and Rock & Roll Book 2.5; Author: Visit Amazon's Michelle Hazen Page; Review: I love this follow up to Kate and Dannys story. At different times in this book I just wanted to slap each one of them. For the longest time neither are willing to say what they really want. Emotional read. Loved it. Definitely recommend, but its better to read the previous books first. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Man of My Dreams: A Steamy Contemporary Romance (The Manly Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Teddy Hester Page; Review: While I really enjoyed this book it is not my favorite in this series. I love both Mick and Menuett, there are times when I just wanted to slap them. They needed to get out of their own head, grow up, and face their feelings. This is a quick read. I think it may have been better if it wasn't so short. It was also more disjointed than the other books in this series. Still a very enjoyable read and I look forward to the next book. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Alton's Secret Baby (The Promise They Made) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Iris Parker Page; Review: I really like this book. I was tempted to only give it 4 because I was really, really frustrated with Jessie throughout most of the book. But thats what makes a great book. Getting so involved with the characters that you just want to hug them or in Jessies case I wanted to smack her in the back of the head and tell her to grow up and get some therapy. I haven't read the first book but will go and do so now that I know this was the second. Great book. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Three: MMF Bisexual Menage Romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Chloe Lynn Ellis Page; Review: I really really enjoy mnage romances but they are definitely not all created equal. This is one of the best I have read. The depth of the characters is so wonderful. I love the inner dialogue they have. Watching each of them deal with their own issues and helping each of the others work through everything that comes from being in a non traditional relationship was enthralling. Yes, real life doesnt usually get resolved as quickly or nicely as it does in this book, but sometimes love really does conquer all. I love romances because I get the HEA. This is my first book by Chloe Lynn Ellis nut it sure won't be my last. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: His Banana; Author: Visit Amazon's Penelope Bloom Page; Review: LOVE this book. It is so funny my sides hurt from laughing so hard. Bruce and Natasha are exact opposites and that makes them perfect for each other. My only complaint is that Charlie wasn't mentioned after they became a couple and we don't know how he and Caitlyn got along (that could have been gold). Awesome story. Definitely a one click must read. I would love to see Williams story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: PlayaPup Reusable/Washable Male Dog Belly Bands; Brand: PlayaPup; Review: Awesome! Totally helped my pup to potty train following his surgery. It didn't bother him at all and the print is darling. I highly rec. even if you are jsut worried about yoru pup pottying in the house by accident.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 8in1 Ultra-Blend Select Hedgehog Diet, 22-Ounce; Brand: Eight In One (8 In 1); Review: Great price! But unfortunately my sweet hog didn't like it . According to the ingredients, there are things that hedgies shouldn't be eating. Lots of fillers. Poor baby almost broke his tooth trying to eat this the first time. We ended up having to get high end cat food, but hey, he loves it!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Kaytee Natural Tree Trunk Hideout, Small; Brand: Kaytee; Review: Mr. Boots the hedgie LOVES it! He sleeps in there often. Nice quality and easy to clean!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prevue Pet Products Multi-Color Small Pet Playpen 40090; Brand: Prevue Pet Products; Review: This was PERFECT for what we needed it for. Our hedgehog does know where to open it, so we have to monitor, but overall for the price and quality, it's awesome! Can't complain!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sunseed Company Vita Prima Hedgehog Treat-Wigglers & Berries 2.5 Ounce; Brand: Sunseed Company; Review: He likes them ok. He actually pics only one out of the bag to eat. He's a pretty picky eater. Use them as snacks every once in a while.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Ivy House; City: Dolgellau Snowdonia National Park North Wales Wales; Review: ; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The White Swan; City: Arundel Arun District West Sussex England; Review: I have to say it was a little disappointing and definitely not a 4* hotel. Arrival was good and we were put in room 4 which was very dark with a tree immediately outside the only window which blocked all the light coming through and there was a fire door immediately outside the room in the corridor which banged the whole time (very loudly!!!). So we went to the bar to escape the noise where the drinks were quite pricey, the food fairly expensive and very bland. We didn't eat or drink there again in the evenings. The breakfast however was very nice the next morning. Our towels weren't changed overnight and with the room being so dark and no warmth they were still wet when we went to use again, not very pleasant. The location is quite good though and only 1 mile from the centre of Arundel itself. Not a complete disaster of a holiday as we were able to make the best of it, but we wouldn't book this hotel again.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Greystones Guest House; City: Keswick Lake District Cumbria England; Review: We stayed for 2 nights and this B&B is lovely. Only 5 mins walk in to Keswick, it's centrally located for both the town and the lake. There is on site parking, which is a relief as the roads around are very narrow. The rooms are lovely and very clean and tidy. The owners are really nice and helpful and the breakfast is good too. Would recommend and this is good value for money.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Guildford North A3 Hotel; City: Guildford Surrey England; Review: I stay in quite a few Premier Inns for business and, whilst this one was very expensive, it was one of the best ones I've stayed in for comfort and lack of noise. The breakfast in the adjoining Beefeater was also the best I've had by far. Recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tivoli Marina Vilamoura; City: Vilamoura Quarteira Faro District Algarve; Review: Visited this hotel 8 years ago and always wanted to return. Have just done so, but it wasn't as good as it used to be. It has been well maintained, but in my opinion the modernisations it's undergone are not improvements. Enjoyed the holiday, but won't be rushing to return again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Glasgow City Centre Buchanan Galleries Hotel; City: Glasgow Scotland; Review: I've stayed here a couple of times now for both work and personal. My most recent stay was a stopover on the way to a family holiday at Loch Ness. The hotel is modern, centrally located and very comfortable. For a city centre hotel it's very quiet and we had a good night's sleep. Step out of the door and you are in the heart of the city centre so excellently located for shopping, eating and drinking. The breakfast is gorgeous and the only draw back is that parking is not included and even with the hotel discount it's quite expensive but this isn't unusual in town centre locations. Would recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Park Lodge Hotel; City: Stirling Scotland; Review: I hadn't booked to stay here, I'd booked in at the Golden Lion but had an e-mail a couple of days before my visit saying I'd been moved to this "hotel". Well it was no more than a B&B, certainly not a hotel but that wouldn't have been a problem in itself as we only wanted a bed for the night as a stop over from a family holiday in Loch Ness. However, it has to be one of the most awful places I've stayed. I won't list all the faults here and there were many, the worst being there was no hot water whatsoever, however I would most definitely NOT recommend staying here and I think the GM for the Golden Lion ought to visit himself before moving his guests here again.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Samsung BD-J5100 Curved Disk Blu-ray Player + Remote Control + Xtech Blu-Ray Disc Laser Lens Cleaner; Brand: HeroFiber; Review: Realy love it. Did wat it says and so much more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NuPro Fire HD 8 Screen Protector Kit (2-Pack), Clear; Brand: Nupro; Review: Love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 1-Year Protection Plan plus Accident Protection for Fire HD 8 (5th Generation - 2015 release); Brand: SquareTrade; Review: Love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: designed by many, CURB Universal & Portable Ergonomic Laptop Stand, Lightweight Dual Viewing Position, Black; Brand: designed by many; Review: This laptop stand is Okay. It keeps your laptop a little off the desktop so it lets air circulate underneath to cool it off better. It is only useful on a flat surface (table or desk) which is why I say it is okay. If you use your Laptop on your lap (like I do) it is very uncomfortable and almost useless. Yes it is very portable and would fit in any bag along with your laptop but like I said you have to use it only on a flat surface. I recieved this item at a discount for an honest unbiased review.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fire HD 10 2015 Screen Protector - Pasonomi® [3-PACK] [HD; Brand: PASONOMI; Review: I am glad there are 3 in this pack because it took me 2 to get one on straight. It was hard to get it on straight and I had to take it off several times to get it right.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: JASSINS Circular Pocket Collection Hard Case Earphone Headphone Cable Storage Case Bag Many color random delivery; Brand: ReNext; Review: Great case for your earphones. I really like this case to keep my earphones in. I also keep my charging cord in here too. It helps keep my purse organized and the cords don't get all twisted up and tangled. I received this item at a discount for my honest and unbiased review. My reviews are based on how I see the item, how I can use it and how well it works for me. I don't get told what to write by anyone. I do give both good and bad reviews, whatever the items deserve. If this review has helped you in any way please check the button below.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: For Amazon Kindle Fire HD 6 / Fire HD 8 / Fire HD 10 / Fire HDX 7"; Brand: Life-Tech; Review: Works great. Helps keep my Kindle charged up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MoKo Case for Fire HD 8 2015 [Previous 5th Gen ONLY]; Brand: MoKo; Review: I love my Fire HD 8 Slim Folding Cover. It has a hand strap that makes it so easy to hold for reading. The auto sleep is a life saver for me too, I can't seem to remember to turn off my Kindle and my battery always is dead the next time I use it. With this Auto on and sleep feature, I don't have to worry about that anymore.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Izzy's Bakery & Cafe; City: Mesa, AZ; Review: I liked their dessert, and I'm a person that will go back and re-review. But as a first impression, the place did not impress me much. The style of the cafe is either you can have Chinese food, Boba drinks, coffee, tea or you can go get a tray to buy desserts. The desserts are good. My husband and I had a chocolate mousse and an eclair to go. We had asked for a taro milk tea with Boba and a milk tea with Boba. Luckily, my husband saw the sign about sweetness levels, and we had asked for no sweeteners because I can imagine it can be very sweet. The taro tea was good but the boba to tea ratio was off. We talk about the Street is the top Boba drink producer in the valley because it's the perfect amount of sweetness if they do make it sweet and what's great about their Boba ratio is when you're down to almost the bottom, you have an equal amount of drink and boba. This one we had no drink halfway and a lot of boba. Also, the young man who was in charge of the register was super distracted trying to get the attention of the girl behind the counter making our drinks. He kept talking to her and we had to ask him three times for our desserts, then after he gathered them, he set them on the table and continued talking to the girl. We paid for our stuff while he continued talking to her and when I went to grab the desserts because I thought he was done with us, he saw as he was talking to the girl and said to me like I was crazy, "I need to bag that for you." I bet if maybe there were less distracted employees, it could've been better but not sure. I want to support small businesses and they had strong social media presence, but I don't know. I hope this place changes my expectations next time. But after the second time, it's a no return for sure. There is the Street for boba by Asiana, and Tous Les Jours at Asiana and Ozzy bakery at Mekong that are better and consistent.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Izzy's Bakery & Cafe; City: Mesa, AZ; Review: I liked their dessert, and I'm a person that will go back and re-review. But as a first impression, the place did not impress me much. The style of the cafe is either you can have Chinese food, Boba drinks, coffee, tea or you can go get a tray to buy desserts. The desserts are good. My husband and I had a chocolate mousse and an eclair to go. We had asked for a taro milk tea with Boba and a milk tea with Boba. Luckily, my husband saw the sign about sweetness levels, and we had asked for no sweeteners because I can imagine it can be very sweet. The taro tea was good but the boba to tea ratio was off. We talk about the Street is the top Boba drink producer in the valley because it's the perfect amount of sweetness if they do make it sweet and what's great about their Boba ratio is when you're down to almost the bottom, you have an equal amount of drink and boba. This one we had no drink halfway and a lot of boba. Also, the young man who was in charge of the register was super distracted trying to get the attention of the girl behind the counter making our drinks. He kept talking to her and we had to ask him three times for our desserts, then after he gathered them, he set them on the table and continued talking to the girl. We paid for our stuff while he continued talking to her and when I went to grab the desserts because I thought he was done with us, he saw as he was talking to the girl and said to me like I was crazy, "I need to bag that for you." I bet if maybe there were less distracted employees, it could've been better but not sure. I want to support small businesses and they had strong social media presence, but I don't know. I hope this place changes my expectations next time. But after the second time, it's a no return for sure. There is the Street for boba by Asiana, and Tous Les Jours at Asiana and Ozzy bakery at Mekong that are better and consistent.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Izzy's Bakery & Cafe; City: Mesa, AZ; Review: I liked their dessert, and I'm a person that will go back and re-review. But as a first impression, the place did not impress me much. The style of the cafe is either you can have Chinese food, Boba drinks, coffee, tea or you can go get a tray to buy desserts. The desserts are good. My husband and I had a chocolate mousse and an eclair to go. We had asked for a taro milk tea with Boba and a milk tea with Boba. Luckily, my husband saw the sign about sweetness levels, and we had asked for no sweeteners because I can imagine it can be very sweet. The taro tea was good but the boba to tea ratio was off. We talk about the Street is the top Boba drink producer in the valley because it's the perfect amount of sweetness if they do make it sweet and what's great about their Boba ratio is when you're down to almost the bottom, you have an equal amount of drink and boba. This one we had no drink halfway and a lot of boba. Also, the young man who was in charge of the register was super distracted trying to get the attention of the girl behind the counter making our drinks. He kept talking to her and we had to ask him three times for our desserts, then after he gathered them, he set them on the table and continued talking to the girl. We paid for our stuff while he continued talking to her and when I went to grab the desserts because I thought he was done with us, he saw as he was talking to the girl and said to me like I was crazy, "I need to bag that for you." I bet if maybe there were less distracted employees, it could've been better but not sure. I want to support small businesses and they had strong social media presence, but I don't know. I hope this place changes my expectations next time. But after the second time, it's a no return for sure. There is the Street for boba by Asiana, and Tous Les Jours at Asiana and Ozzy bakery at Mekong that are better and consistent.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Twisted Cactus Brew & BBQ; City: Chandler, AZ; Review: We went here late one night because it had lots of good reviews on Yelp, and we decided to take a chance. We were not disappointed. The service was great! The waitress was attentive and refilled drinks when she saw it getting low but not like a helicopter where she would hover or ask me how the food is mid-bite. She would do temperature checks with us to make sure the food was to our liking and we talked about local beers (they had Cider Corps which is a plus in my book). We think the owner and her family was here because a woman came in like a customer with a large group at a table in the back, but she also stopped by to ask us how we liked the place and if this was our first time. If she wasn't the owner, then she was a super fan, I guess. Lol. The portions are slightly on the larger side, but I think that's good because men tend to have a large appetite and you want to ensure you're not shorting anyone. For me, I just got a nice to-go box after the meal. I had the Twisted Cactus burger and hubby had brisket I believe. We had poutine to start off, and it was all delicious. Again, local beers are a plus. Loved this place and will come again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Burgerim; City: Gilbert, AZ; Review: My husband and I weren't sure of where to go for lunch, and we saw this place off to the side, so we pulled over. When we walked in, we saw it was moderately busy and the cashier greeted us warmly. There is nothing worse than coming to a new place with a new style of ordering, and having the cashier be annoyed with having to explain everything - which a lot of places tend to have. And we weren't disappointed here. The cashier walked us through how to order, and she answered our questions and was super friendly. For the record, you are able to get a duo or triple sandwich combo and can get different meats and styles, which is super cool. They have the custom coke drink machine, and while I was there, these two kids were struggling to reach the buttons, so an attendant asked to help them get their drinks. While we waited, someone came to check on us and gave us updates on the food and asked if we needed anything. She was very friendly and nice as well. We also had another person - think she was the manager - come by and ask us how we were as well towards the end of our dining experience. The food was really good. I am not sure if it was initial opening issues they had prior (based on some Yelp reviews) but the crispy chicken was fresh and juicy. The burger meat was also not like a frozen patty and seemed made to order. The onion rings are perfectly crispy with a crisp yet soft onion in the middle. And the fries were so original. They look like potato chips, and they're crispy on the outside but the inside is soft like a French fry. It's topped with some salt and it is good. Also, it says it's fast food, but I would not say the quality is at all like fast food and is above that quality. It's more like quick service dining. And the prices aren't bad for the amount of food you get. They say those meat patties are 3 oz, but they almost feel as big as a regular burger (say 75 percent the typical burger size) and they give you 2 to 3 dependent on your order. Plus the combo of fries and a drink, hubby and I spent about $20. That is not bad at all. The staff was attentive and friendly. The food was great and moderately priced. I will be returning.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Temari Fine Japanese Cuisine; City: Gilbert, AZ; Review: I love this place. I have never really had a problem with service or food here.
There are two sushi Chefs that are always working, and it's a chef and his apprentice that we fondly call Sushi Man because his powers of creativity on the palate are amazing. The Chef in charge is super friendly and he loves to share his different creations with you/gives great recommendations.
What I love about this place is 1) the 80s music rocks my world, 2) the sushi Chefs are always trying to challenge the idea of traditional sushi and play with different toppings, fillings, sauces and flavor combinations to keep you coming back for more. They have a huge sushi menu (like 40 combinations), but you are NEVER disappointed. We love everything we have tried with the Cowboy Roll being one of the best surf and turf rolls ever. 3) That homemade strawberry ice cream that is served at the end of your meal. It is creamy and perfectly strawberry, you didn't know you didn't need it in your life and will find yourself thinking about it on a hot summer day. 4) the sushi fills you and is moderately priced. About $12-$16 for specialty rolls and usually my husband and I get 3, and we are stuffed.
They also have good bento meal options, but you come for sure for the sushi. This is the best sushi stop in the valley!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: David E Isaacs, DDS; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: Let me start by saying that I was one of those unlucky people who inherited terrible oral genetics -- my teeth never developed enamel. Ya know, the thing that protects your teeth from immediately turning into a dimpled, cavity-riddled nightmare. I don't have it. Every cleaning looks like a crime-scene. My teeth make the dentist and his crew work for it. + TEMPERAMENT / BEDSIDE MANNER + That said, I've been to over a dozen dentists in my 31 years. They've all done their best, but they've all been average. That's not the case with Dr. Isaacs. He's an even-tempered guy with integrity and compassion. He's never made me feel ashamed of the state of my teeth. Every visit to the dentist for me has always required a new treatment, and he and his staff -- from my hygienist, Tracy, to the front office gals, like Tayler -- they are all sensitive to financial constraints when deciding what to do next. + FRONT-OFFICE / FINANCIAL EXPECTATIONS + The way he runs his office is exemplary. The woman at the front, Tayler, printed out my entire treatment plan and then hand-wrote notes on each visit to clarify exactly what was being proposed AND at what point my insurance would run out. I have complete and total clarity on what to expect financially. + PROCEDURES / EXPERTISE + So far, I've had periodontics done at his office. That is the scaling and root planing (the cleaning of infected root surfaces) and root surface debridement (the removal of damaged tissue). It's a super painful procedure, but my hygienist, Tracy, is an angel. After Dr. Isaacs thoroughly and painlessly numbed me, she took over and was gentle, warm, and comforting. I can't imagine going to anyone other than her ever again. I have to get a tooth pulled from an old root canal from a prior dentist who did me wrong. But before scheduling me for that, he referred me to an Endodontist for a second opinion (he agreed). This demonstrated to me that not only is he humble enough to invite outside expert input, but he is clearly an expert in his own right since the Endodontist concurred with Dr. Isaacs. I'm on the hook for an extraction, a crown, and several deep cavities (and a replacement filling), so I will update this review as my treatment plan progresses. At this point, it's been as smooth as a trip to the dentist can be hoped for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: City Nails; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: Closes at 630, tried to come in at 530 for a pedicure and they said they were done for the day because "we just are." I'll take my business elsewhere (and tell friends to to the same.); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Zionsville Eyecare; City: Zionsville, IN; Review: Customer service by the front desk is ridiculously substandard. Super disappointed since the reviews seemed so good. Beware is all I can say. I scheduled a glasses and contact exam here to establish care. On my way to the appointment, I realized I forgot my checkbook and had to turn around. Knowing this was my fault and the 10 minute delay could cause me to lose my appointment, I called to check in and see if this would be okay. I live 25 minutes away and obviously didn't want to waste a trip in the middle of my work day if my delay would force me to reschedule. I arrive exactly 10 minutes late, as I told Tasha on the phone, only to be told that I had to reschedule. I was upset and said I spoke to Tasha to notify of the delay and find out if it was a problem. Tasha agreed she spoke to me and offered a shrug as consolation for my trouble. The three women at the front all were annoyed that I was upset about having to reschedule. I layed the charm on thick hoping to perk them up, but it did NOT work. The older lady, with a clear attitude, huffed that she could wait for the eye doctor to get done and ask then but couldn't promise anything. Obviously I'm not going to wait around for an indeterminate amount of time without even knowing if I will be seen. So I told them I'm very frustrated that after calling to see if it was too late and not being told it was, driving 25 minutes away and using my lunch hour for nothing. I told them to forget it, and I'll establish cate elsewhere. I don't have time for the incompetence and flippant disregard I experienced at Zionsville Eyecare.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Thunderbird; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: I've been here too many times to count and have always had a great experience with drinks, atmosphere, food, cleanliness, and overall feel. Drinks are mixed by competent bartenders achieving the balance of tasty with a Kick! Definitely a little on the pricey side, but it's a hipster vibe in Fountain Square with above average food and so I'm willing to pay for that. The wait staff is accommodating and patient, even in the face of louder (read: drunk) customers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nada; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: Very cool atmosphere with lots of interesting textures and lighting. It's communal seating so be prepared to potentially share your table with strangers. Resist that midwestern urge to leave a seat between you and the next person and just embrace it. :D Food is always tasty with lots of fusion varieties. The mac and cheese is PHENOMENAL and I really cannot say enough good about it. I always get an order to go to take home to my husband or for myself for later in the week. My only complaint is that the servers are pretty aloof and disinterested -- like they're too cool to be there. I've been here about half a dozen times and in those times, I have had one pleasant server. They should probably spend a little more time training up their wait staff on hospitality basics to quickly curtail this. The service isn't bad, it's just not friendly. Not enough to prevent me from coming back.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 3 Sisters Café; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: This was my first visit to 3 Sisters Cafe and I was not disappointed. I had just come out of a physical therapy appointment for my spouse down the road at Athletico and wanted a tasty, fast breakfast -- with FAST being the operative word here. I took a chance on 3 Sisters and it really paid off. We were in and out of there with great service in about 35 minutes total. It's a small place with friendly servers. I had a classic breakfast: 2 eggs, toast, and bacon. This was called "The Don" and came with potatoes but they swapped the taters for bacon at no additional cost. What an unexpected surprise! Everything was cooked to perfection: eggs over medium, wheat toast perfectly toasted, and crispy bacon. My husband ordered a "half" order of pancakes which was a single giant pancake that took up literally the entire platter. He also had a side order of eggs. The portions were so generous that he wasn't able to finish it all despite having just worked up an appetite from the physical therapy. The only thing I wish I could change is the acoustics in the place. I love that it's a converted old cottage house, but the echoes of nearby diners is pretty disruptive. There were only 4 groups of people counting us and it was pretty loud. We considered moving to their nice outdoor dining area but it's 85 and humid so we stayed put. I'll definitely be back with friends!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Athletico Physical Therapy - Broad Ripple; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: My husband had ACL replacement surgery a little over a week ago and we've come here for PT four times so far (twice a week). He can't drive yet so I take him and stay onsite while I work. I have been sitting literally right next to him during each visit and it's been great. Jenna is amazing -- very cheerful, a motivating coach, has a great humor, and also very competent and focused on results. She is thorough with her review of the surgeon paperwork and strives to ensure that the goals he set are being met. He has met all of his recovery milestones so far and will continue to do so thanks to Jenna. She also sends us home with clear and easy instructions for exercises between visits including handy one-pagers with visuals in case we forget what's what. The entire staff here is phenomenal. They offer coffee to those of us who need a pick-me-up while waiting during those early morning appointments and great conversation to that really seems to help distract patients from the inevitable pain of physical therapy. I highly recommend these folks.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ritter's Frozen Custard; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: We nom here all the time. Freshly made waffle cones and delicious ice cream. The waffle cone bowls and banana splits are incredible but the Italian ice is just OK. But it's an ice cream stand so what are you doing getting Italian ice! If I had to change anything, the kids who work there need some better customer service training. They don't greet customers, no niceties (thanks, you're welcome, have a nice day), and they are very slooooow to do anything. But I also get that it's a little ice cream stand staffed with a bunch of angsty teenagers who can't be bothered with basic professionalism. Pretty much what you'd expect and not enough to stop me from enjoying their tasty frozen treats!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sangrita Saloon; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: Good luck getting a table at this overpriced pub with slow and lazy service. Today was my last time giving this place a chance. My husband and I tried to grab early dinner at 6pm and the host said it would be a 90 minute wait. I pointed out that there was literally eight people at 2 tables, so how is it an hour and a half wait when we called ahead? He offered zero hospitality and with a sharp tone said, "yep, an hour and a half wait." We left and will not be back.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Georgetown Cinemas; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: PRICE Ticket and food costs about 15% higher than AMC Trader's Point just down the road (which is a much nicer theater). How? Why? ACTUAL MOVIE EXPERIENCE Blown speakers and super small screens. Seats had some yuck on them. STAFF + FACILITIES Staff was nice and it was clean, but do yourself a favor and skip this overpriced and underperforming cinema in favor of the one 15 minutes away.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: eXplore Brown County; City: Nashville, IN; Review: CAMP CABINS Great option for summer camping. Bring everything except a tent. The cabins were in decent condition but did have a pretty musty smell. The carpet in the cabins should probably be ripped up in favor of wood or tile. The window unit AC is a welcome reprieve from sweltering summer heat when camping in the summer and the mini fridge with freezer worked great to keep 3 days' worth of groceries cold. The beds have a protective plastic wrap on them but I'd still give them a good wipe with a Clorox wipe. They're reasonably comfortable and way better than an air mattress or the hard ground. The cabin was a perfect size for the two of us and we were able to use the other beds as a place to put our stuff. It seems like this would be way too cramped for a family of more than three, but your mileage may vary depending on your tolerance. PROPERTY & STAFF The spacing and privacy between camp cabins leave something to be desired. Also, there is a bright light on the big barn convention center that points directly into one of the sites. Sadly, ours was that site. It was impossible to get in contact with anyone at the company after business hours. Randomly, there was a seasoned regular camping nearby who happened to have the number for the grounds manager who lived nearby so he came by to turn it off. There are also two adorable and sweet dogs who live there and they camped out with us the whole weekend. STUFF TO DO We booked the evening zip line and it was so great! The instructors were fantastic and the final zip over the lake was picturesque. The costs were competitive to other zip line excursions and it was so convenient. I've recommended this place to friends and family and would certainly give them another go.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ale Emporium; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: I've been here a handful of times with colleagues over the lunch hour. The service is generally friendly and prompt which is great when you have limited time to eat and get back to work. This place is pretty big and appears to have a stage area that maybe has live music in the evenings or on weekends. Outside seating is generous and clean with a great overhang for shade. I have tried several menu items and have been pretty satisfied with everything -- but nothing to really write home about. The macaroni and cheese with chicken is tasty, but I've had better at places like Nada downtown. I will say that the Ceasar salad with grilled chicken is MASSIVE. Even after mowing down on it for 30 minutes I still had an entire lunch salad left. For only $10, you definitely get a lot for your money. My colleagues say these are the best wings in town and get them every single time we come. These guys have put away lots of wings from lots of different places so I believe them when they say these are the best. I plan on trying the deep dish pizza when I have more time since it takes 40 minutes to bake. I'll update my review when that happens!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Eagle; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: FOOD A little pricey, but generous family-style portions. The fried chicken is to die for, the cornbread is melt-in-your-mouth, and the mac-n-cheese ruined me. IT RUINED ME, GUYS. Order if you want, but be prepared to dislike all other mac-n-cheeses after letting these noodles touch your lips. SERVICE Needs work. I feel like the quality of the food makes me give lots of leniency to the wait staff because it's really not that good. Even on weekdays, it takes 30-60mins to get a table. VIBE It's probably cool when it's slow, but this place is a madhouse during dinner. The music is WAY too loud which I can only assume is meant to over-compensate for the loud table talk of a packed restaurant. People are already talking loudly to carry their voices over other diners, and when you add the super loud music over the top of it, people are just straight shouting at each other over dinner. It's weird and not chill at all. If chill is not your thing and loud ambience doesn't bother you then you're all set.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Broad Ripple Computer Repair; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: He's great. Yes, he conducts his business from his home, but as soon as you step inside you can tell he takes this very seriously. I know a few other folks on here said he was weird or not professional, but I think they must have some really old school definitions of those words. He stands behind all his work with a repair warranty so if he "fixes it" and it still doesn't work then he will repair it again at no cost to you. He can sometimes be a little slow to respond to emails regarding a current or potential job, but I imagine that's due to how super busy he is all the time. He generally follows up with profuse apologies if you send a follow up email. I had him fix a charging issue with my laptop and it was $120 without any new equipment. A few weeks later the charging port failed and I took it back to him. He wanted to fix everything at no charge since he felt responsible for not catching the hardware failure in advance, but I insisted on paying for the materials but took him up on the warranty for the labor. Andy is a super nice guy running a great business with good customer service. Highly recommend this trustworthy fella. I've attached a picture of the house so you can be sure you're walking into the right place. There is a teeny sign on the front door that you'll see once you're on the porch, but from the street, this is what you're looking for.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Studio Movie Grill; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: Snagged a Groupon for tickets and was excited to hit up Studio Movie Grill for the latest flick. Allow me to set the scene of a completely full restaurant at dinner time. Can you hear the sounds of silverware scraping plates? Table talk? Folks talking to their servers about the quality / issues with their meals? Or the lip-smacking and chomping of the person in the seat next to you? Now, add that, the expense of dinner, the expense of a movie, and drop all that noise into a packed theater. Don't forget that this is dinner, after all, and so there are servers walking in front of your view to bring refills while keeping the lights on just enough to reflect into your eyes so diners can view their plates. Aesthetically it was a cool place and it was reasonably clean. The prices were sky-high for grub, but they regularly run Groupons that may help offset this cost if you don't think the sounds of dinner will disturb you. There is a reason that Dinner and a Movie is a classic date night -- but for me, these things aren't meant to happen at the same time.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Granite City Food & Brewery; City: Carmel, IN; Review: My colleagues and I often stop here for lunch or a quick drink after work. This is also a pretty reasonable spot to take clients for a business lunch. THAT SAID, if you are here for lunch, I recommend making it clear to your server that you are at lunch and need fast service. Otherwise, it kind of drags on -- no real sense of urgency over the lunch hour which is kind of a bummer. The atmosphere is casual yet bustling. Everything is very clean and the servers are friendly and prompt. I've never had bad service here -- although it does tend to be a little on the slow side. The outside patio is always clean and so any place that has one gets an extra star from me. I will say that my group has been forgotten about on two occasions when we sat outside, so be prepared to be a super low priority if you're the only ones outside. The food is pretty standard in terms of taste but massive in size. I always leave here full with plenty of leftovers for another meal.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: MassageLuXe; City: Carmel, IN; Review: My first visit to MassageLuxe in Carmel was from a promotional deal offered to me from a Facebook ad. I did a little research on the company and discovered that they are a monthly membership business model exactly like Massage Envy -- a franchise I have had terrible and inconsistent experiences with in the past. My experience with MassageLuxe has been a pleasant surprise and nothing at all like Massage Envy, despite their similar business models. I have had many firm Swedish massages by Samantha Jones (there are 4 Samantha's at this location) and she is wonderful. She's actually pretty hard to book because she is so popular -- and for good reason! Her head massages are heaven! This past week, Samantha Jones wasn't available on the date I was, so I took a chance with a new-to-me therapist, Joseph. You never know the quality of the therapist you're going to get and it always feels like rolling the dice when you go to a new person, but Joseph did not disappoint either! He did not make me feel uncomfortable and went out of his way to put me at ease and soothe my awkward edges. He is definitely a master of his craft. I immediately booked another massage with him for next week. So I have seen two therapists at this locations and both have been extremely competent, professional, and consistent. I absolutely recommend this MassageLuxe location and especially Joseph or Samantha Jones as your therapist. A NOTE ABOUT THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM You do get a cheaper rate if you sign up for the monthly membership program to be deducted automatically from your account. This is fine for me because it forces me to practice self-care -- something I am not good at doing. Any unused hours are banked to your account and you can use them at anytime for any service (facial, foot massage, extended massage, etc.). You can cancel anytime without penalties. I do wish I could transfer a massage to a friend as a gift (something Massage Envy allowed), but it's not a big deal.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ruth's Chris Steak House; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: It's so hard for me to rate Ruth's Chris at only 3 stars considering I've been a faithful customer of theirs for literally 15 years. I am regularly telling friends and family to splurge on the best steak they've ever had. But the Ironworks location -- this location -- has been consistently underwhelming us since it moved here from Carmel. We've eaten at this new location six times and I'm sad to say that they've all failed to impress us. It was so bad during my birthday a few months ago that, without us even complaining, they comped our entire $150 meal and threw in another free dessert (you already get a free dessert on your birthday). Speaking of the free dessert, you used to be able to pick what you wanted, but now it's pre-determined. No big, but worth noting. The steaks used to be generously-sized, but the 11oz strip that my husband has loved for 15 years has visibly shrunk in size at this new location and his medium-well steak (light pink in the center) is always well-done grey like worn shoe leather. He is too nice to send it back, but at $40, it needs to be right. My medium filets have been so under-cooked that they are deep maroon throughout. I do ask for them to be cooked longer and they then come back over-cooked. By this time I am so hungry and have already eaten all my sides so I just eat the over-cooked filet. We used to prefer the NW Ruth's Chris because it was a more intimate setting with exceptional service. It's clear that this new location is focused more on high-society events and so the service has suffered. We will still dine with Ruth's Chris, but we will go to the one Downtown where the meal quality and service has remained consistent.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eagle Creek Park; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: Love this place! Trails of varying difficulty, a beach, the nature center, bark park, playgrounds for kids, the water rentals... can't say enough good about it! Only 4 stars because you have to pay a gate fee PLUS individual activities, no matter how seemingly minor. Want to use the bark park? Gate fee plus bark park fee. Lounge at the beach? Gate fee plus beach fee. Put your own kayak in the water? Gate fee plus craft fee. I understand fees for rentals, but it really feels like nickel and diming. I love nearby and really enjoy it, but sadly don't go as often as I'd like due to the expense.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Kicker 43DSC4604 4x6" 2-way Speaker Pair; Brand: Kicker; Review: Easy install and sound great!!! Thank you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: mobiBLU Cube DAH-1500i 1 GB Digital Audio Player Black; Brand: mobiBLU; Review: Works great...thank you!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AUTOTAIN Car Headrest Audio Universal Wireless IR "2; Brand: Autotain; Review: Exactly what I needed. Thank you!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VXi BlueParrott B350-XT Bluetooth Headset - 203475 | Bonus Mic Cushions | NFC Enabled - Smartphones, iPad, Android, iPhones; Brand: Global-Teck; Review: I have a 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Soft Top. No more complaints from people hearing me. But, note, I also added some sound barriers on top and bottom...which also helped!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Laptop Backpack, WInblo 15.6 Inch College Backpack with USB Charging Port; Brand: Winblo; Review: Perfect size, nice and compact, nice and thick padding, and even fits my gaming laptop plus my iPad!!! Thank you; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Say You'll Be Mine: A Second Chance Romance (A NOLA Heart Novel) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Maria Luis Page; Review: I absolutely loved this book! The characters are so interesting and creative. The story kept me guessing. A wonderful book to add to your library! I voluntarily received this ARC and opted to leave a review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Take A Chance On Me (A NOLA Heart Novel) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Maria Luis Page; Review: I absolutely loved reading this book! The characters are so amusing and fun to read about. I look forward to reading more from Maria Luis in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Balkan Magic; Author: Emigh M. Green; Review: A great read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Last Risk (Oak Grove Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Nancy Stopper Page; Review: Loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Last Dance (Oak Grove Series Book 2) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Nancy Stopper Page; Review: Loved it!! Great read!! I found Brittany and Joey's chemistry to be perfect...and the storyline was lovely.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Courted: Gowns & Crowns, Book 1 (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Jennifer Chance Page; Review: I really enjoyed reading Gowns & Crowns. I felt like the author may have changed a cousins name or something which confused me with a character mid-reading....but otherwise it was a lovely story. Perfect for those who love fairy tales.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Tobacco Roody/Southern Comforts; Brand: Jack Richesin; Review: I am a fan of vintage/ cult films and I think this is great! We have the ability to see and view adult content without the government telling us as leagle adults what we can view. It's very campy and funny and down right good old fashion love making at it's finest (given the times- the mid 60s' and 70s').; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Joys of Jezebel / My Tale is Hot; Brand: Christine Murray; Review: For a cult classic, these films are pretty good. I wish there to be more sex and nudity and the plots are very funny and raw. I am a collector of "Something Weird" videos.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Love of Siam; Brand: Sinjai Plengpanich; Review: This budding romance is a bit...slow. I was a bit disappointed with the story line but then again, I find it quite difficult for Asians to do a well coming out or coming of age story. This is my opinion. I would reccomend that you save your money and not view it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Phantom Images [DVD]; Brand: ; Review: The movie is good if you enjoy the telling of it in a theatre sence. However; the image I think is misleading for many will purchase it for the thought of showing lots of nudity which isn't the case. I am tired of the gay industry selling movies with misleading content to sell their movies. I think this could have showed more... skin without it being...a porno. There is somewhat a plot but it could have been developed more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ribald Tales of Canterbury / Tasty; Brand: Hyapatia Lee; Review: I really enjoyed this movie for it was all that I thought it woulld be and more. I think too many times Hollywood censers movies because of sex, but this is exactly what this is all about and I am glad we as adults and can view it. We can watch a lot of horror, violence, and unspeakable crimes but when it comes to love making, we are simply too prudish. Well enough of this. As adutlt, we have the right to view such things and if you don't like it, then don't watch it! But the film is great!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CB Hustlers; Brand: Uschi Digard; Review: All the major sex scenes have been edited out!!!! Buyers be ware you are not getting the original movies as they were when they were released!!!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fantasm Comes Again; Brand: Rick Cassidy; Review: Films like these are old pornos that have had all the major sex scenes edited out!!! I hate this!!!! As an adult and a paying person, I expect to get what I paid for and a collector of rare and vintage films. We the customers are being cheated!!! Buyers be ware!!! Don't line filthy film makers pockets if they can't deliver the goods.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sexploitation Double Feature; Brand: Jerry Gross; Review: The film maker or producer re-edited the movie and cut out all the real sex scenes making decisions on what we should and should not see!!! As a paying customer and adult, I'm highly offended that I am not getting what I paid for to see!!! I'm trying to collect rare and vintage films as they were made and can't for ever sex scene is taken out!!! This makes the movie jump all over the place!!!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Expectations / Confessions; Brand: Chris Cassidy; Review: The movies are great! They really capture an era of the times. I would love to see more of these films. Please produce them! It's very rare to see a love film with a decent plot. I love them!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Suckers / The Love Garden; Brand: Barbara Mills; Review: It's very rare that you see a sexploitation film with a plot and decent acting these days. This reflects the times which is late 70's. It looks as if some scenes may have been edited out, but over all the movies are good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lost Films Of Herschell Gordon Lewis; Brand: Sharon Matt; Review: The films were ok, but it is clear that some of the film has been cut or edited out. I feel as if I was cheated for it says "lost films" which implies that you will see everything that was deleted or missing, not true in this case. All these films are producers trying to get more money and Not give paying Adults the entire film! As an adult, I should be able to view and see all materials, that is what I'm paying for!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Women Ordered To Love; Brand: Marisa Mell Maria Perschy; Review: All I can say that it lacks a true Nazis film with all it's exploitations that they did at that time in history. Save your money. No sex! and barely no skin shown.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Emanuelle In Bangkok; Brand: Chris Avran; Review: The movie has a good plot and the acting is good, but when it comes to the hetro-sex scenes, they cut it out and the movie jumps to another scene. The film shows some lesbian sex, but doesn't show the straight sex and Laura Gemser shows off her beautiful body as she always does in most of her films. Too many times these directors cut their films (edit out all the real and straight sex) and we the adults who purchase their films are cheated, for we don't get what we deserve. Especially if you want to add these so called missing films to your collection. They make decisions for us (that we are not allowed to view the film in its entirety do to real sex- as if not to offend us) If we don't like films that have real sex scenes, we have the option not to purchase and view such materials, but don't punish the rest of the paying customers who wish to view such things. So I say save your money for we get cheated!!!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Roger Corman's Cult Classics: The Nurses Collection (Candy Stripe Nurses, Private Duty Nurses, Night Call Nurses, Young Nurses); Brand: Candice Rialson; Review: These films are all about nurses who seduce their patients and have sex with them, but you don't see the real sex! Roger Corman has edited out all the real sex and is trying to make money and not deliver the goods. The films have been edited out and you can tell. Very bad for the producers for when these films first came out, they included all the sex and it was acceptable then and now we are being short changed. You better off finding people who have the original films on vhs and making copies from them. The quality may not be so great but at least you will view the films in its entirety.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The New Adventures of Snow White; Brand: Marie Liljedahl; Review: First of all, it is a movie that has been transferred onto dvd with poor quality and very un professional. This movie tells the story of Snow White with a tiny bit of skin, but No sex! The acting is poor and not worthy of viewing. If you want to line the pockets of whoever the money goes to, it's your business but be ware you were Warned!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Sexualist / Wendy's Palace; Brand: Jennifer Welles; Review: "The Sexualist" indeed is a good film that captures a moment in time particularly the late 60's mid 70's era. When everyone was having free sex and tried to film it. This shows a lot of real straight sex scenes and raunchy humor. I like it, but a few scenes I believe have been edited out. In "Wendy's Palace" again this film captures the times of the early 70's with a bit of a story line and plot. Lots of lesbian sex, while a lot of the straight sex has been edited out. Over all this film gets a 4 star rating for I like vintage films and this one is a keepers sake.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Out of the Dark VHS; Brand: Cameron Dye; Review: I really enjoy the true intensity of the film, I just wish their could be... a bit more skin and eroticism (for it is a gay film). The film explores the harsh reality of what it means to be gay and the consequences many gay people face everyday of their lives.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Solo; Brand: Mario Vern, Carlos Echevarra, Laura Agorreca Patricio Ramos; Review: The acting is very good and the drama is very intense! You seldomly see good gay suspense films with a good plot, acting, and full frontal nudity (a major plus!) that will hold you and keep you on the edge of your seat!!! I wish there could be more films like this. I love it and will recommend it too many of my friends and straight people alike. Oh, did I mentioned there is a twist to this film? Now you must have to view this for your curiosity but be... aroused (smile).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: No Night Is Too Long; Brand: Lee Williams; Review: This is a great film!!! It has sex, confusion, love, romance and murder with a surprising twist. This film is very contemporary and deals with peoples real emotions and the possible consequences of our actions. I just love it and will view this many times to come and share it with my friends to view. Can anyone recommend me more that very similar to this? Victor; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Strawberries Need Rain; Brand: Monica Gayle; Review: I get so sick and tired of films that as an mature adult I purchase to view in full content, only to discover that sex scenes has been edited out (as if I can't handle such scenes). This is why I purchase the film to view it in its entirety but is cheapened for someone has determine to cut such material for viewing. Is this not censorship? Stop buying films that producers are trying to get more money but not deliver on the goods!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Night of the Pumpkin; Brand: Kimberly DiPersia; Review: Don't waist your time or money on this film!! Be for warned!!! This is so stupid that it doesn't even make sense or even have a decent plot. The sex is so ridiculous that it isn't worth viewing. I don't want to waist any more energy on this rubbish piece of crap so I will end here for now.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Land of Storms anglais; Brand: ; Review: This film is excellent!!! A Great plot with plenty of nudity and realism. Great cast and drama. I would like to see more films of this quality and realism.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Land Of Storms; Brand: Andras Suto; Review: This film is excellent!!! A Great plot with plenty of nudity and realism. Great cast and drama. I would like to see more films of this quality and realism.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Dremel 225-01 Flex Shaft Attachment; Brand: Dremel; Review: I read other comments about this tool, so I reservations. But I ordered it anyway. The first day I tried to use it, it did nothing. I thought I could've done something wrong. So I went through the process again. I turned the Dremel on and again nothing, except this time I heard a very quiet high pitched squeal coming from my dremel. Within 2 seconds, before I could turn it off, I had smoke coming out of the dremel. Apparently, the tool was in some kind of bind which is is why the flex wouldn't turn but that bind also burned up the dremel. So, if you get a bad flex, depending on what's wrong with it, you might end up replacing both of the tools. Bad thing is you won't know til it's too late. There are other brands of the flex type that are pretty universal. They fit many brands of Rotary tools. I haven't tried any of them yet. I just got a replacement. of both tools(Dremel brand)...we'll see; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dremel 220-01 Rotary Tool Workstation Drill Press Work Station with Wrench; Brand: Dremel; Review: I put it together, placed my Dremel in, and it worked perfectly! Seems very well built. Very sturdy base plate. The movement of the arm, as I pulled down was fluid and smooth. I've already mounted and am using it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dremel 8220-1/28 Rotary Tool with 160-Piece All-Purpose Accessory Kit; Brand: Dremel; Review: I got this 2 days ago and have been using ever since. I've used it with the flex tool and the Dremel work station. I used to cut some 5\/16 steel bolts off and had no problem. It works good with all the Tools I have for it. If you use the right attachments, cutting wheels, sanding discs, or whatever, this powerful 12-V Dremel can do the job!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Porter-Cable PCCK614L4 Power Tool Combo Kit; Brand: PORTER-CABLE; Review: I love this! Everything has worked like it should. Strong. Batteries holding good charge. Charger gets it's job done. BUT, I have no idea how well the drill works...It was missing! I didn't notice at first because I had been using my B&D. No drill, no battery for the drill. But, they managed to give me the manual,lol. I've ordered things before that has had items missing, usually small things. Just never something that was this hard to miss. But Amazon is taking care of this for me. I'm getting a new kit by Sat., 5\5. We'll see if Porter gets this new one right. But how do you miss putting a drill in a box? But this wasn't Amazon, this was totally Porter.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: WEN 6552 3-Blade 15 Amp Benchtop Thickness Planer, 13"; Brand: WEN; Review: Powerful and clean cutting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Duma Key; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: Great book. Fabulous characters!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Only Enchanting (Survivors' Club); Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Balogh Page; Review: Mary's books are lovely. I enjoy the pictures they paint in my mind! I always look forward to reading her works.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Counterfeit Betrothal/The Notorious Rake: Two Novels in One Volume; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Balogh Page; Review: I loved the characters and the storyline. Mary did a wonderful job with this romance. Once again, a lovely tale of love.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ukulele Song Book: In Notation and Tablature; Author: Ron Middlebrook; Review: It would have helped if the notes (finger placement) had been listed at the top of each song so that we would remember how to play them. As this is a beginners book, that would have been great. Thanks.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beyond the Sunrise; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Balogh Page; Review: The characters in this book are wonderfully rich, their dialogues delightful and captivating. I loved this romantic story. I didn't want it to be over.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Someone to Wed (A Westcott Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Balogh Page; Review: This is a beautiful love story. The characters in the book were delightful. The interaction between them all was very good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: You & Me 12-15 inch 5-in-1 Doll Fashions; Brand: You&Me; Review: Clothing for dolls is difficult to find locally. I am so grateful in knowing I can always count on Amazon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chuggington StackTrack Skylar; Brand: TOMY; Review: The versatility of this track keeps it from becoming boring to a young boy. When fascinated by trains, cars and trucks, this appeals to all, and is perfect for that special young man.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chuggington StackTrack Wilson's Wild Ride; Brand: TOMY; Review: For those boys who are fascinated by trains, cars and trucks, this is a perfect venue for satisfying their sense of speed and motion. The fact the track has sever configurations prevents the young man from becoming bored with "the same old thing."; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LAMAZE - Musical Inchworm Toy, Encourage Tummy Time while Baby Learns and Plays with Music, Bright Colors and Fun; Brand: Lamaze Organic Baby; Review: Wasn't quite sure about this when I ordered it, but the reaction from my great-granddaughter convinced me I made a wise choice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Westminster Mr Robot Remote Disc Shooting Robot; Brand: Westminster; Review: This is a Christmas gift for my grandson, who asked for a robot for Christmas. I feel sure this will put a big smile on his face.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney Frozen Deluxe Elsa Baby Doll; Brand: Frozen; Review: This is a Christmas gift for my granddaughter, and I am anxious to give it to her. I know she will be thrilled.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney Frozen Anna Baby Doll; Brand: Disney Frozen; Review: Although it is a Christmas gift for my granddaughter, who has not yet received it, I am very pleased. The doll lived up to my expectations, and I am sure Hailie will be thrilled.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Toysmith My Sweet Baby Magic Baby Bottles; Brand: Toysmith; Review: These were ordered for my granddaughter's birthday in June. Therefore, they have not yet been opened. However, just by turning the package, it is obvious the bottles live up to their claim. I highly recommend them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Deluxe Raphael Figure; Brand: Nickelodeon; Review: Pleased. Exactly what I expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Movie Deluxe Michelangelo Figure; Brand: Nickelodeon; Review: Pleased. Exactly what I was looking for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Baby Alive Real Surprises Baby Doll(Discontinued by manufacturer); Brand: Baby Alive; Review: There is no doubt in my mind that my granddaughter will be absolutely thrilled with this baby. As her birthday is next week, she has not yet received her.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Donatello Basic Figure; Brand: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Review: Exactly as I expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Leonardo Basic Figure; Brand: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Review: Lived up to my expectations.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My First Doll Stroller Super Cute with Front Table and Storage Basket; Brand: Doll Strollers Pro; Review: It lived up to my expectations, except for one small aspect. My two-year-old granddaughter could not open the seat belt. Closing it was no problem, but she does not seem to be strong enough to open it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic World Bashers & Biters Pachycephalosaurus Figure; Brand: Jurassic Park; Review: The dinosaur figures were Christmas gifts for my grandson. He loves them ... which makes me happy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Glow Show S1 Sticker Launcher; Brand: GLOW SHOW; Review: The above two items are for upcoming birthdays of grandchildren...so I am unable to determine their reactions at this time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dress Along Dolly Back to School Doll Clothes for 18" Dolls: "School Days" Outfit - (Includes Skirt, Shirt, Shoes,; Brand: Dress Along Dolly; Review: My eight year old granddaughter has an American Girl doll ... and these clothes are a perfect fit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Melissa & Doug Deluxe Pounding Bench Wooden Toy with Mallet, Developmental Toy, Helps Fine Motor Skills, 5.25" H x; Brand: Melissa & Doug; Review: A well-made toy with a purpose. Unfortunately, my two-year-old granddaughter lost interest rather quickly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VTech Little Apps Tablet, Black (Frustration Free Packaging); Brand: VTech; Review: This was for my granddaughter's second birthday. She loves it, which is my reward.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Janod Story Box Circus; Brand: Janod; Review: Christmas present for my granddaughter, but I am certain she will love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Janod Story Train Circus; Brand: Janod; Review: A Christmas present for my granddaughter, so she hasn't seen it yet. I am positive she will love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box 10698; Brand: LEGO; Review: Christmas gift for grandson. Know he will be thrilled.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DreambuilderToy Classic Building Base Plates 32x32 pegs or 10" x 10" Baseplate - Compatible with All Major Brands (2green/2blue); Brand: DreambuilderToy; Review: This was purchased as a Christmas present for my grandson, to accompany a set of Legos. I am sure they will be perfect for his needs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Peg Puzzles, See-Inside Alphabet & Numbers, and Fish Mix & Match Colors, 3-Pack; Brand: Melissa & Doug; Review: Great for helping my grandchildren to learn ...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Melissa & Doug standard Mine to Love Brianna 12-Inch Soft Body Baby Doll with Hair and Outfit; Brand: Melissa & Doug; Review: s very excited to receive this doll.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney Frozen Pop Up Board Game Styles Will Vary; Brand: Frozen; Review: My granddaughter was excited to play this game.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LeapFrog Scout's Learning Lights Remote; Brand: LeapFrog; Review: Present for my granddaughter. She enjoys learning with it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic World Hero Mashers Tyrannosaurus Rex Figure; Brand: Jurassic Park; Review: My grandson really enjoys playing with these.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lamaze Freddie The Firefly; Brand: Lamaze Organic Baby; Review: Lived up to my expectations ...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ugglys Pet Shop Toy Figure (8-Pack); Brand: THE UGGLYS PET SHOP; Review: Perfect for my granddaughter ...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The New York Doll Collection Magic Juice & Milk Bottle Set for Baby Dolls; Brand: The New York Doll Collection; Review: Just what my three-year-old wanted.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price Little People Figures - Girl, White Poodle & Suitcase; Brand: Mattel; Review: Just what I wanted ...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 18" Collector Baby Doll Playset w/ Plush Lamb; Brand: Kingstate Doll Crafter; Review: Exactly what my granddaughter was wishing for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: STX International STX-3000-TF Turboforce 3 Speed Electric Meat Grinder & Sausage Stuffer - Heavy Duty 1200 Watts - Size; Brand: STX INTERNATIONAL; Review: This product does everything they claim and does it better. It is rock solid and easy to clean. I have had mine almost two years. It still looks and runs like new.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GAMA Electronics 20 oz ThermoServ Foam Insulated Coffee Mug Black/Green Two Pack; Brand: GAMA Electronics; Review: Hot things hot and cold things cold for hours. Exactly what we need at the beaches on Treasure Island. Blowing sand can't get in either. We have been using these for 20 years.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lipper International 8847 Bamboo Wood Bread Box with Tempered Glass Window, 15-1/2" x 9-1/2" x 9-3/4"; Brand: Lipper International; Review: It came out of square. SO I put in glue, leaned on it, and clamped it. If you do not have clamps or glue, hit it harder.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cuisinart DCC-2650 Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker; Brand: Cuisinart; Review: It shipped on March 2nd so I got it soon after. This is my second one of these. The first one brewed GREAT coffee for a few months, then just coffee. It died after 14 months. This one brewed great coffee for 2 months and died on May 23rd. At the most I got 11 weeks of use. I am all done with this company as far as coffee. I am assuming the element went bad as it does not really perk, it just bubbles and takes way, way longer to brew. The 6 minute brew time has now become an In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida drum solo of pain! Fool me twice!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Linden Sweden Original Jonas Vegetable Peeler – Made In Sweden- Great for Apples, Carrots and Potatoes; Brand: Linden Sweden; Review: Sharper than sharp effortlesly peel all your vaggies and your fngers too!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chip Clip- Heavy Duty 4 Jumbo Stainless Steel Bag Clip (Set of 6 ); Brand: Bon Bini Kitchen; Review: These came on time. I was unsure of the size per clip. They are 4 inches wide. That is wide enough for kitchen usage and they are strong enough for other jobs as well. I only wish they were 5 in. wide. They do close tightley.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ironton High-Velocity Floor Fan - 20in., 4,414 CFM; Brand: Ironton; Review: At 4,414 cfm this is approx. 30% more powerful than the average high velocity fan. The noise level is about the same as other fans with lower cfm. Love it so far.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bonavita BV1800 8-Cup Coffee Maker with Glass Carafe; Brand: Bonavita; Review: One year and 8 days later it is still making great coffee. We have had no issues at all. It still brews hot and fast.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ThermoServ 520A02201A1 Foam Insulated Mug, 20-Ounce, Red; Brand: ThermoServ; Review: redder than red!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Why Suze Orman keeps exactly $170 in her wallet; Abstract: Personal finance expert Suze Orman believes that your wallet is a reflection of your attitude toward money. Here's exactly what she keeps in hers.; Category: finance
Title: 'I'm Gonna Get You Out': Man Finds Bear Cubs Trapped in His Van; Abstract: A home security service man was in for an ursine surprise when he left a customer's home in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to find two bear cubs had trapped themselves in his van. Jeff Stokely had heard the insistent honking of a car horn from inside the home, so he expected to find that his van was blocking another motorist's way. Instead, he found two bear cubs trapped inside his van and pressing on the horn. Stokely told Storyful, "They had opened the door and climbed in and closed the door and locked it with my key inside. I had to call my office to get the keypad door code to unlock it and let them out." In this video, Stokely views the events alongside the homeowners who, he said, were "amused and excited" by the event. He tells the impatient bear cubs, "I'm gonna get you out!" as they paw the van doors from the inside. When Stokely opens the back doors, they run away into a wooded area, before "disappearing." Stokely and the homeowners were concerned about the possible hidden presence of a mother bear nearby who, as Stokely says in the video, "could come running out from somewhere" to protect her cubs. Stokely told Storyful, however, that he "never saw mama bear anywhere." Credit: Jeff Stokely via Storyful; Category: video
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: Hawk Can't Understand Why This Little 'Bunny' Isn't Scared Of Him; Abstract: This fearsome bird of prey has clearly never met a bunny nearly as brave as this one.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Beagle nurses kittens like they're her own babies; Abstract: This dog didn't birth these kittens, but she nurses them as though she did.; Category: video
Title: 2021 Chevy Bolt: Everything We Know - Interior, Seats, Range & More; Abstract: Is another major refresh in store for 2021?; Category: autos
Title: California sheriff's deputy shot dead, ride-along injured in 'active shooter incident,' officials say; Abstract: A police officer in Northern California was killed and another deputy was injured after an "active shooter" incident early Wednesday, according to officials.; Category: news
Title: The Best Potato Recipe from Every State; Abstract: We scoured the Taste of Home recipe library to find the best potato recipes in America. Submitted by local home cooks, these dishes are our highest-rated and best-loved in every state.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: New Hyundai Azera Looks Pretty Gorgeous; Abstract: The full-size sedan quietly left the U.S. market a few years ago, but now we're hoping it returns.; Category: autos
Title: 20 Things You Should Never Do When Cooking Bacon; Abstract: Cooking bacon can be tricky, but it doesn't have to be. Here are some common bacon mistakes and the tricks you need to avoid them.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Deputies Report Being 'Shot At' While Enforcing Tick Fire Road Closures; Abstract: The deputies were at a road closure located at Sierra Highway and Soledad Canyon at the time of the alleged incident.; Category: news
Title: Trump tweets fake image of him putting medal around dog from al-Baghdadi raid; Abstract: The U.S. military dog was injured in the raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.; Category: news
Title: Infamous food hacks you need to ignore; Abstract: ; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Science Says: How daylight saving time affects health; Abstract: Many sleep scientists and circadian biologists are pushing for a permanent ban.; Category: health
Title: Chick-fil-A Apologizes to Customers for Promoting National Sandwich Day Which Is on a Sunday; Abstract: Chick-fil-A Apologizes for Promoting National Sandwich Day; Category: foodanddrink
Title: 13 Ways You're Shortening the Life of Your Car; Abstract: Put the brakes on these all-too-common mistakes to help keep your car on the road and out of the shop.; Category: autos
Title: How To Avoid These 14 Home Renovation Horror Stories; Abstract: Creating your dream home? Avoid these costly nightmares.; Category: finance
Title: Broadway Actress Laurel Griggs Dies at Age 13; Abstract: Broadway star Laurel Griggs has died, according to multiple reports. She was 13.; Category: music | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Elf Stor 83-DT5026 Premium Christmas Poly Large Storage Bag 9' x 6' for 9' Trees, 9 Foot; Brand: Elf Stor; Review: I don't remember this item.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elf Stor 83-DT5025 Premium Christmas Poly Large Storage Bag 9' x 4' for 7.5' Trees, Foot, Clear; Brand: Elf Stor; Review: I don't remember this item.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Honey-Can-Do HNG-01519 Over The Door Hanger Holder, Folding, 1-Pack, Silver; Brand: Honey-Can-Do; Review: Actually, only one step above trash, where it ended up...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: My Pillow Classic Series [Std/Queen, Firm Fill] Now Available in 4 Loft Levels | Patented Adjustable Interlocking Fill; Brand: MyPillow Inc; Review: Unfortunately, I bought Classic when I should have bought Premium... My Bad.!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: KitchenAid KCM0812OB Siphon Coffee Brewer, Onyx Black; Brand: KitchenAid; Review: Makes good coffee, but very poor design when unit cleanliness is factored in. Kitchenaid could have made a smarter move by buying the Bodum design, and upgrade it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Darice 24" Canadian Pine Artificial Christmas Wreath - Unlit; Brand: Darice; Review: Acceptable, considering that they were one-third the cost of the unavailable wreaths...; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Heart of the Soul: Emotional Awareness; Author: Visit Amazon's Gary Zukav Page; Review: didnt like this book. very disappointed. will continue to try and read it again............................who knows, maybe i ll like it better 120th time around; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Go the F*** to Sleep; Author: Visit Amazon's Adam Mansbach Page; Review: my family was in stitches, howling while i read this heartwarming rendition of what it is like to have little children and how exhaustion makes you crazy. it is a great gift.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: If You Give a Kid a Cookie, Will He Shut the F**k Up?: A Parody for Adults; Author: Visit Amazon's Marcy Roznick Page; Review: this wasn't as funny as one would think or want - sorry but the other go the f to sleep book was better. waste of $$; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Where Are You? A Child's Book About Loss; Author: Visit Amazon's Laura Olivieri Page; Review: very well written. bought this for co worker and children when they lost grandfather. highly recommend it. wish i didn't have to use so many words for this rating.........good is good enuf said; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Witness Above (Frank Palvicek Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Andy Straka Page; Review: Great beach book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Summer's Child; Author: Visit Amazon's Diane Chamberlain Page; Review: Good read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Do You Want To Play With My Balls?; Author: Unknown; Review: hilarious; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rheumatology Secrets; Author: Sterling West MD MACP FACR; Review: not for nursing as i was told. MD fellows recommended it -; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Things Not Seen; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Clements Page; Review: have you ever 'felt' invisible to the world ? this is a great read; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Juniper Springs Resort; City: Mammoth Lakes California; Review: Juniper Springs was a good stay- I recommend it without a doubt. It's not a fancy resort but it's quite comfortable for a stay in Mammoth. My family and I stayed in a two bedroom condo. It came with everything we needed: pots, pans, blender, utensils, cups, etc. The resort, condo, and pool area were very clean. I really enjoyed how JSR allows their guests to have drinks pool/hot tub side. Many people brought down wine and beer from their condos. The fire pit was also great, we roasted marshmallows and made s'mores at night. Pros: Clean, affordable, distant from the town and shopping areas but close enough for a run, great views, "game room" with table tennis, and other fun outside areas for adults and kids. Oh, and a gym ... that we didn't use. The staff is also really friendly and helpful. Cons: No A/C (which wasn't that bad as leaving a window open will usually keep the place cool) and inconsistent housekeeping (it could have been an off week). Also, they close the pool, hot tubs, fire pit, and BBQ area at 10:00pm. That could be a pro or a con. Personally, I wish they closed it a bit later, at least on the weekend. Overall, I enjoyed my stay. I'll be staying in the future. Thanks JSR!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Suites Otay Mesa; City: San Diego California; Review: This hotel is a great value and deserves a solid 3.5. We stayed at QSOM as we were in town for a concert in Chula Vista. Our room was clean and the staff was very friendly. The lady in the front desk was kind enough to explain directions, the toll system, etc. Thank you! Cons: This hotel is located off the last U.S. exit along the border with Mexico. Mexico is literally across the street! With that being said, QSOM is isolated and any shopping (even for personal care) or dining locations are a good drive away; many of which require you to use the toll road. This is by no means their fault, I should have paid closer attention to the miles/distance between locations. Also, their continental breakfast seems to have a difficult time handling large groups, the service area and dining room are rather small. You can always grab your goodies and go back to your room, it's not big deal. :) Pros: Affordable, clean, with friendly staff. If you need to stay in the area that borders Mexico, this is a great deal. It's clean and safe. However, if you need to conduct more business in Chula Vista or similar area, you may want to book a different hotel. I'm very happy with our stay and service. . .; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Suites Chowchilla Yosemite Park Area; City: Chowchilla California; Review: My sister, mother, and I stayed at this hotel while visiting family in Chowchilla. The hotel itself was immaculate and their staff members were extremely helpful and friendly. Their breakfast area was large and the hotel had great amenities such as a work out room. The rooms were spacious, modern, and clean. We had an excellent stay!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Las Sirenas Hotel Condos; City: West Bay Roatan Bay Islands; Review: My sister and I stayed here for my 30th birthday. Overall, it was a good stay. Pros: The beach is beautiful! Crystal clear blue (on clear, sunny days with little wind and no rain) but not as warm as I was expecting, perhaps because it was the beginning of the "winter" season. The grounds and rooms are clean and well maintained. The pool is warm and has a bar so music is often played and bartenders come to take your orders. It's a smaller resort/hotel so the crowd isn't too loud - I liked this. The drinks are very good. OK: I have mixed feelings about the food. The breakfast and lunch are both buffet with average food, which was often not warm enough (often cold). The dinners at Luna Maya and Club San Simon were delicious! I wished they were open for a la carte meals during lunch as well. Guests do have to create reservations for dinner or you will have to go to the buffet ... it's somewhat of a nuisance but not horrible. Also, there are very specific breakfast and lunch hours. If you miss them, you will have to pay for food or get snacks from the "snack shack," which we never saw open. There are a lot of vendors on the beach. They quickly go away if you ignore them or say no, they weren't too persistent. But realize that this is not a private beach so you must be careful with vendors and your things. Remember to keep a watchful eye on your things from the water. Needs improvement: The service at the restaurants and bars is great! A special shout out to Mario with the tours and Mario, Luis, Vanessa (our favorite), Jaime, and Brian at the bars and buffets! They made our stay extra special. HOWEVER, the staff at the front desk are rude and truly need to work on their customer service. They are the face of the hotel and they need to be friendly. Every time we approached them (for towels or reservations or a question in general), it seemed as if we were bothering them. The front desk staff rarely greeted or acknowledged us, it was very weird. The only front desk staff that were friendly and helpful were Roberto and Douglas. FLIES: the flies at the buffet are everywhere and they are aggressive (seriously, no joke!). At first they really bothered me, but I realized that perhaps it's something the locals and staff doesn't see as a big deal. But it really is. The flies get on your food and don't allow you to enjoy your meals. I truly wish they made an enclosed patio or allowed breakfast or lunch to be had a Luna Maya (enclosed restaurant). Would I come back? I'm not sure. The flies and the customer service are somewhat of a big deal. If they could remedy these situations, I'd go back in a heart beat. But it was an affordable hotel with a great stretch of the beach. Overall, we had a great time!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Days Inn by Wyndham Chowchilla Gateway to Yosemite; City: Chowchilla California; Review: My family and I rented two rooms. The hotel itself is located off the highway (99) so it's convenient. The rooms are nonsmoking and very clean, we appreciate that. The hotel offer complimentary breakfast from 6-9am. While other reviewers have said that you can hear a lot of the noise from the highway - we did not notice it. My sister, on the other hand, did get a lot of street noise. I recommend you turn on the heater/ac and get a room on the second floor. You can also try the Holiday Inn that's nearby but that's usually about $40 more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bahia del Sol Beach Front Boutique Hotel; City: Playa Potrero Province of Guanacaste; Review: My sisters and I stayed at Bahia del Sol for 5 nights. Overall, we had a great stay! Pros: ~Breakfast is included and it's delicious. ~The rooms/suites are clean and spacious with strong A/C. ~The staff is great (Maik, Carol, and the other reception staff are very helpful; Pablo and Victor at the bar are amazing! Super friendly, and they make delicious drinks!). ~The food at Nasu, while somewhat overpriced, is rather good (venture out of the hotel for more affordable food). ~The pool has a beautiful backdrop and the water is rather warm. We truly enjoyed it! ~The hotel is nonsmoking, but beware that other guests try to smoke. ~Few insects! Cons: ~The beach is open to the public so visitors can smoke and the smell and smoke can come to the pool and restaurant. ~The beach is not very warm or tranquil (it's described as so). I realize that it may be relatively warm or tranquil to other beaches in the area. But it really isn't. Obviously, this is not the Caribbean sea - so don't expect that type of beach. :( ~The sand is super hot and somewhat sharp so walking to the beach barefoot can be very painful! ~Wifi is limited, not a big deal - you're there to relax anyway! Suggestions/Tips: ~Arenal and Monteverde are a long drive from there. So, if you want to visit, plan accordingly. ~Transportation is expensive. For arrival, we used the hotel's taxi provider but found our own for departure. I encourage you all to do the same. ~We booked the trips through the hotel; not sure if that made it more or less expensive. You may want to try booking your own trips. We used the Lazy Lizard for Catamaran/Sunset/Snorkeling - they were amazing. APA tours for ATVs on the beach. ~ TRY A COCO NASU - DELICIOUS! We had a great stay! Beautiful hotel with a great pool, beautiful views, a good restaurant, and helpful staff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saddleback Inn; City: Lake Arrowhead California; Review: We came here for a short getaway and really enjoyed our stay. The rooms are like mini cabins (albeit small) so I felt like we had a good amount of privacy. The rooms are also super clean and nicely equipped. The bathtub, as many reviews have mentioned, is wonderful! It helped make the stay more relaxing! The Inn is also super close to the Village. We walked each night to get dinner and enjoyed our short strolls. In addition to all of this, the staff is very friendly and helpful. It was a great experience and we are glad we selected Saddleback Inn for our trip. Some limitations: the breakfast is limited in options and underwhelming. This location is not beachfront as mentioned. However, you can obtain beach access cards from the front desk with a deposit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Krylon K01010A07 Premium Metalic Original Chrome 8 Ounce; Brand: Krylon; Review: Definitely not a "chrome" finish, but I guess you can't really expect that from a spray paint. Have tried 3 or 4 silver spray paints and this one is pretty much on par with the rest. It's slightly lighter in color, but no more reflective or shiny than the others. 3 stars because false advertising. Adheres well, dries fast.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Krylon K01050007 Premium Metallic, Gold Foil, Gloss, 8 ounce; Brand: Krylon; Review: Definitely not a "chrome" finish, but I guess you can't really expect that from a spray paint. Have tried 3 or 4 silver spray paints and this one is pretty much on par with the rest. It's slightly lighter in color, but no more reflective or shiny than the others. 3 stars because false advertising. Adheres well, dries fast.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Etekcity Remote Control Outlet Kit Wireless Light Switch for Household Appliances, Pair Freely, Up to 100 ft.; Brand: Etekcity; Review: These are okay. One of them stopped working out of nowhere, but I did have something plugged in that may have been pulling too many amps on it. Was glad I opted for the 5-pack because I had back-ups to spare. The rest work well and come pre-programmed to match certain numbers on the remotes, but they don't look difficult to re-program. They are somewhat big and bulky, only one can be plugged in to any outlet and it blocks the lower outlet from being used even by a small two-prong plug.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Occhio 20.5" Flush Mount Ceiling Light - Bronze w/a Sandstone Fabric Shade - Linea di Liara LL-C253-BRO; Brand: Linea di Liara; Review: Great light! Super easy to install, did it myself. Only thing I don't love is the fabric seam on the shade is very visible and prominent when this is on at night and it's hard to disguise since the light is centered in the room. Other than that it is a nice looking light.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stanley 42-324 24-Inch I-Beam 180 Level; Brand: Stanley; Review: Love this thing. Was hesitant to buy it, thinking my little 12in level was enough, but it turns out, size matters. Bigger is better. This thing rocks. 24in of pure leveling heaven.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Briwax Furniture Wax Polish-Clear; Brand: Briwax; Review: Very happy with this wax! Used it to put a clear protective finish on my "salvaged pine" Restoration Hardware dining table based on the reccomedation of the company to specifically use this wax. I applied it with a "chalk painters oval wax brush" (also from Amazon - see my other reviews) and it went on great. It has very strong fumes, similar to an oil based primer or a polyurethane, but they disappated quickly. At first when it dried, after about 24-72 hours, it still had a very waxy candle-like feel and I wasn't extremely happy with that (posted pictures are from 1 day after I finished waxing it). However, after about 2 or 3 weeks it really cured and the waxy feel is almost not noticeable. I actually really like it now. It gives a nice hard matte finish to the table. I used about 3/4 of the can for a 72" X 33" table, including the fairly intricate table base. I haven't experienced it turning white in crevases or when it gets wet whatsoever, and we eat dinner with our 2 year old daughter every night on the table. In fact, she spilled water all over the table last night and it just beaded up and wiped off with zero problems. I will definitely be using this wax for other furniture projects in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milescraft 5337 1/4-Inch Dowel Kit; Brand: Milescraft; Review: AMAZING! I wish the blog and Pinterest world would catch on to dowel joinery instead of the WAY too popular kraig jig/pocket hole joinery. I own a kraig jig and have used it many times before I learned that pocket holes are not the way to go. I wish I never wasted my money on that thing and researched proper joinery from the start. This kit has been perfect for a complete dowel joint beginner such as myself, and I've seen no need to get a dowel jig. When you buy this, buy lots of dowels to go with it! And get a few clamps in different sizes and some wood glue. Honestly that's all you need. You'll want to build and fix everything.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chalk Painter's Choice-LG Oval Professional Paint & Wax Brush {O15}; Brand: Chalk Painter's Choice; Review: This brush worked great. I used it to put a protective wax coat (Briwax clear original) on my Restoration Hardware dining table. As other reviewers have said, it does shed some hairs as you go, which is why I took off a star, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. I had to pick out a total of maybe 7 or 8 hairs off of the wax coating on my entire project (72" table, including the fairly intricate table base). As long as you pay close attention, you'll be able to easily spot them as you go.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: iThird E26 5W LED Motion Sensor Light Bulbs PIR Infrared Motion Detection Light Warm White Indoor/Outdoor Lighting Lamp for Porch; Brand: ; Review: The sensor has to be pointed in the direction of the movement. If it is correctly aimed, these work perfectly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Ifseen Villa; City: Pelling West Sikkim Sikkim; Review: Mt. Kanchandzonga range is visible with a very close view from the window. This hotel is calm, soothing and at a relaxing place in Pelling. Mr. Pradhan maintains this property extremely well, he serves food of guest's choice. Everything is well placed. Things are better than what available in pics on different websites. I would say close your eyes and just book this property for your stay and I guarantee you will never regret your decision.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tara Palace; City: Gangtok East Sikkim Sikkim; Review: I stayed in Tara Palace from 19th December 2015 to 22nd December 2015 with my wife. We were on our honeymoon trip to Sikkim and Tara Palace Management did everything to make it awesome and a memorable stay. Rooms are very good, clean, well placed and decorated. The images on website are the correct and similar to the actual room conditions. No falsification. The Reservation Manager Diksha Moktan was very helpful since I was trying to finalize this hotel. She explained clearly about rooms with view and without view (honesty and no falsification). We had a room with view and a big balcony with mesmerizing view of valley. You can enjoy your morning tea sitting into your balcony from these types of rooms. The ambiance in hotel was very soothing and relaxing. The hotel location is the best possible location. 2 min walk and you are at MG marg. So you are away from the crowd but very near to the most happening place in Gangtok, so I would say that the best possible location of Tara Palace. Food: Deliciously amazing food. Restaurant has again amazing view of the Vally. Restaurants staffs are very courteous and well mannered. They are well trained to serve the food like we observe in a 5-Star Hotel in Metro cities. They also arranged the candle light Dinner for us and decorated the room on request. I would always stay in Tara Palace whenever I come to Gangtok and suggest everyone the same. I thank management and all the staff particularly Diksha Moktan for making our stay memorable at your hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lindsay Himalayan Heights Hotel; City: Gangtok East Sikkim Sikkim; Review: The stay in Himalayan Heights was just OK. Nothing special. The food/restaurant was not good. Restaurant staffs are not trained to serve food as well. The hospitality business should be run with genuine heart, to give better services to guests, not just to behave mechanically. This was a typical 'mechanical hotel'. First they ask me to pay 250 per night extra for heater (I visited during third week of December 2015), I was shocked by this welcome and became very upset but later on it was settled at no extra charges when I talked to another Manager. They generously provided an extra blanket. Bathroom was nice and clean with jaguar fittings. Hot water was also coming. Room (Super deluxe) was big enough with a small balcony with stadium view. However, the bed/cot was smaller. It was 5 feet x 6 feet (Queen size). They should have installed king size bed for better comfort. Location I guess was OK since I had no issues because I had my private vehicle.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Temple Citi; City: Kanyakumari Kanyakumari District Tamil Nadu; Review: Temple citi hotel is good. Neat and clean. Rooms are spacious and bathroom is clean with nice fittings. Location is very good. Everything is close by. Breakfast was just OK. Working staff is not courteous. They give a expression that they are giving us services free of cost. This hotel is good as for as room and location are concerned. Madam Parvathi was very generous and polite. Reception desk staff behavior was not up to the mark what I have observed in other professional hotels and hospitality business. you have to treat you guest in a very special way in hospitality business, does not matter your hotel is full. If today it is full, tomorrow it can be vacant as well. The hotel transport person was not good. Dont take transport services from him. He asked us to skip few tourist destination and persuaded us to a private boating club which was over expensive. The guest comes from a distant place, one should not misguide the guest.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel MCM Towers; City: Rameswaram Ramanathapuram District Tamil Nadu; Review: Hotel MCM tower is a good hotel in its tariff range. Room service is also good, room are good enough. Bathroom was clean. I would recommend this hotel and will stay again when travel to Rameshwaram. It is very close to temple.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anurag Hotel; City: Katra Reasi District Jammu Jammu and Kashmir; Review: This hotel is at good Location. The Katra Market is walk-able distance.. Room was Big enough and bathoom was good and big... The only problem is that this hotel does not have elevator.. We had to climb to third floor after Vaishno Devi Yatra...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tourist Guest House; City: Rishikesh Dehradun District Uttarakhand; Review: We stayed just for a night. AC was working properly. Although Location is excellent in Rishikesh, I wont recommend this hotel for family stay. It is best for Guys... Frnds group... I feel price is too much seeing its condition.. though Mr. Bisht was friendly and helpful...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Palace Plaza; City: Mysuru Mysore Mysore District Karnataka; Review: There is only one thing best about this hotel is its Location. Walking distance from palace and city bus stand. This hotel is over priced. You can get a better hotel in lesser money. I stayed with my wife in the best category room (Royal plaza room), room was clean and well maintained but is smaller room (when it is the highest category room). Bathroom fittings are older and bathroom itself was smaller. Flush was not working properly. During entire stay the cable connection was not working, I had to go for movie for entertainment. Let me also mention that I checked in early approximately 4 hours before and I have been charged 500 RS extra however this has no role to play in this review. This is a very honest review. My advice to Hotel Management is that they should install new fittings in washroom and reduce the price of room. Complimentary breakfast was waste. Very very few things and that too with out any taste, however tea served at the time of breakfast was really nice. Final comment is that Don't book this hotel because you have better hotels in lesser tariff.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Altius Nest; City: Kodaikanal Dindigul District Tamil Nadu; Review: Altius nest hotel is a cute, sweet hotel. Smaller properties but rooms are good, spacious and with wooden floor. Bathroom was also good in my case. Staff was courteous, genuine and helpful. Room service was good and fast. Few negative points: Restaurant is not good. Breakfast is monotonous and not tasty. Location is far from city center. If you don't have a vehicle you have to walk a lot. However the place is away from noisy street convent road.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rudra Plaza; City: Dwarka Devbhumi Dwarka District Gujarat; Review: I stayed here with my family and booked 2 suit rooms for 5 persons. The room was big, comfortable with a big balcony. Bathroom was clean and bigger. Hot water was coming 24 hours, room service was fantastic and prompt. Mr. Aniruddha is very nice manager here and very friendly. I would stay again in this hotel and recommend others to stay. I am a genuine reviewer not a friend of the hotel people. The only problem I faced that the road on which this hotel is located was not good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Sumith Palace; City: Pondicherry Union Territory of Pondicherry; Review: Sumith Palace Hotel is located at prime location which would be of Tourists intrest. Beach is 400 mts left side straight road when you come out of hotel. Mission Street is also very close. Breakfast was tasty. Hotel is neat, clean and well maintained. Staffs were courteous. Bathroom was clean with all toiletries. Hot water-24Hours. In short I would definitely stay at Sumith Palace next time I visit Pondichery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prince Gardens Hotel Coimbatore; City: Coimbatore Coimbatore District Tamil Nadu; Review: This hotel is very good and decent tariff. I like everything about this hotel. Clean rooms, fast room service, good food. I recommend this hotel to people travelling to coimbatore. Reception staff was very cordial. Rooms are equipped with all accessories. Hot water was also there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Apartamentos Bahia de San Antonio; City: Sant Josep de Sa Talaia Ibiza Balearic Islands; Review: We arrived at this hotel about 2am after a long day only to be told by a man at reception that it was full and no room for us,you see we had booked this 5 months in advance so they had plenty of time to tell us that they had given our three rooms to some one else.I my wife,my daughter,my son inlaw,and my 4 grandchridren were then marched down the road for about 150 meters with all our cases to the Maritm hotel this dump was full of groups of boys and groups of girls on a bender not a very nice place at all.The company had (in thier words)had upgraded us to half board a canteen like the one we ate in I have not seen the like of since I stayed to school dinners back in the 60s.The food was full of grease so we ate out all the holiday.My advise to you is to phone and check if they had a place for you first.We looked forward to this holiday for so long only for it to turn out to be a nightmare from start to finish.I myself have been through open heart surgery and cancer cut out of my left lung so to have to drag a full suitcase 150 meters down the road at 2am is a bit thoughtless of the company not that they cared.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: BelleVue Club; City: Port d Alcudia Alcudia Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: Me my wife,daughter in law,son and two grandchildren stayed here from 31st aug to 7th sept 2011. We were given a two bed apartment in Federa 2 block as soon as we walked in the door the ants greeted us on the walls, floors, beds and bathroom it was a nightmare.We tried to phone reception but the phone did not work so we had to do the ten minute walk back to reception,they then came and sprayed the room with ant killer(awfull smell).We hired a safe key only to find it did not work. We stayed bed and breakfast what a terrible experiance that was food rough and packed out,not good value as you can get a breakfast cheaper any where else and much much better.I am so sorry i did not take heed of all the remarks other people made on here.My legs are still aching from all the walking you have to do because of the distance between every thing on the sight its huge they need a little train running around the site or something like that.As for the entertainment it does,nt start until far too late,gone ten at night and its rubbish.The only good thing i can say is i managed to live through it and got home.Just be sure before you book it please; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ona Garden Lago; City: Port d Alcudia Alcudia Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: I went here on the 2nd of september for ten days with my wife,son, daughter in law and two grandchildren,we stayed in apartment 228 and it was the cleanest and most well equipped we have ever been in.It was so clean that we tried to find a place that the cleaners had missed so we looked under the beds for dust only to find a note under thier saying yes we do cleaner under the beds.From the time we got there the staff were great. The entertainment man called Darren is pure gold he can not do enough for you and helped to make our holiday even better,I hope they know what a star they have working for them.The restaurant is very very good at great prices too again with great staff who look after you so well.Most holidays I go on I am not too bothered when it is time to go home but I did not want to leave here.Our flight home was not untill eleven at night so the bus to take us to the airport was coming at about seven in the evening,this was awkward as you have to be out of your apartment by ten in the morning for the cleaners to clean before the next people come but reception sorted it for us to stay in ours and the next people to stay in another apartment.I can not praise this hotel enough and I hope we will be able to stay again next year. .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nicon; City: Kos Town Kos Dodecanese South Aegean; Review: even though we stayed a few years ago we still cant get this awful place out of our minds,the man in charge is ignorant cant wait to charge extra for any thing he can,the apartment looks like some thing from the fifties,its in an awful spot,no beach any where near.all these people who say its nice is beyond us we had to book into the place next door just to get some hot water to shower in as there was none in this place also you had to hire the air conditioning remote to use it in our apartment.DONT GO.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Piscis By Blue sea; City: Port d Alcudia Alcudia Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: What a lovely place to visit the food was very good and plenty of it,the lady on the front desk was very helpful and polite,the waiting staff were the best you will ever find one called Oscar worked so hard to make our stay perfect it was our 50th wedding anniversary and he came to the table with a bottle of bubbly in an ice bucket,this hotel is so much better than what we pay for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Viking Hotel; City: Blackpool Lancashire England; Review: Having been here from June 17th to June 22nd the stairs and change in levels every where have left me exhausted the corridors are like a maze getting lost all the time a simple layout map would be handy.In the dining hall we were sat under the air con my food was cold instantly so we asked to be moved to another table but when we got there in the evening it was under another air con and the couple on the next table said that the people before us had asked to be moved as it was too cold makes one think do they really care the whole place needs lifts they should not use it until they get them as it is far too much for older people and most people there are older.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Piscis By Blue sea; City: Port d Alcudia Alcudia Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: this is the third year we have been to this hotel in October and it has always been great but I have never seen such a change in a hotel as this year,the food is so bad and cheap as to be horrid in the ten days we were there English sausage on only three days the bacon was in one lump could not get a slice off nothing went together only cheap mixture of food.it is so crowded now you have to wait at the door to get a seat this new owner must be advertising every wear to get them in.What a shame to see this place change so much older people will not find this place any good for them any more the younger rowdy have taken over now we won,t be back any more.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Annia Park Hotel Venice Airport; City: Tessera Veneto; Review: I had a great stay. It is located very close to the airport (the closest hotel in fact I believe).The staff is friendly and helpful. The room was very nice, spacious and confortable. They have a restaurant which is moderately priced but well worth it. They offer a good breakfast early in the morning. There is an airport shuttle that goes every 30 minutes which is great and confortable and it takes it like 3 minutes to get to the airport. I also believe that they have transport to the turistic Venice. To round it up, its a great and confortable option for travelers who wish to be really close to the airport which is in the mainland.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel dell Urbe; City: Rome Lazio; Review: I stayed in a single private room on The Urbe which is a separate building offered from The Beehive hostal. The staff at The Beehive main building is very friendly, that building is very close to Roma Termini, and The Urbe its like a block away from the main Beehive building. So to round it up, a more than excellent price for a very clean and comfy hotel room, with good Wi-fi, nice shower and all you would need. I have been in Italy for 2 weeks, and those 4 nights I spend there were the best ones price/quality wise. I totally recommend this option, and wished every major city had this option!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Artiem Madrid; City: Madrid; Review: I simply loved my stay here. Their concept is fresh and very welcoming. All their staff is friendly.The check in was really fast. The room was spacious and very confortable, spotless. The wifi (which is free) had full-great coverage in every space I was around the hotel and the tv room was excellent too. They have this snack bar called "The green" which is open 24 hrs where they put at your disposition coffee, tea, bottles of water, juices, sodas, yoghurt, soup, mini salads, a variety of sandwiches, some tapas, desserts and probably more that I am forgetting, what Im trying to say with this is that you don't need the breakfast pack, if you wanted you could do your breakfast, lunch and dinner there. They also have a cardio exercises gym and offer a "gym take away" so that you exercise in your room. The hotel is in a very quiet neighborhood which might not be the most centrical, but its close to public transportation. If I ever come back to Madrid I will stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Bel Sito; City: Venice Veneto; Review: Its of great value! Check in really fast, very friendly and helpful staff, the room was a single and it had everything I needed: single bed, tv, window with a view, bathroom with its ammenities, and even a dryer (which I didnt need) also in my case the room had a nice view (picture). The breakfast was better than most hotels I have been in Italy. Another great factor is that it is located near plaza san marco (5-7 minutes walk). Would come back!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Casci; City: Florence Tuscany; Review: Great option, Its pretty close to the principal train station, all the staff is very friendly, clean and spacious room. The breakfast is included and its ok. They also offer a "return in the same day" laundry service which isn't expensive. Im very glad I stayed there, the price (which isn't high) is more than worth it, would come back.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Piccadilly; City: Fresno California; Review: Front desk staff was VERY friendly. Rooms were clean and smelled fresh. Great location as there are many different places to eat. Had to drive to most, but we preferred to eat at a little Mexican restaurant in the strip mall next to the hotel. Easy to walk to. Great food. Had the continental breakfasts at the hotel. Was good for what we normally eat in the mornings. Only negatives we had was that the ice machines were not working and neither was the jacuzzi. We had to get our ice from the front desk, which normally wouldn't have been too bad......but it was raining. Will definitely choose this hotel again when we come back to this area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Days Inn by Wyndham Roswell; City: Roswell New Mexico; Review: Stayed here one night while travelling thru NM. Room was clean, bed was comfortable. Check in was quick and easy. Ate dinner at the little Mexican diner next door to the hotel. Very good food and friendly staff.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stevens Inn; City: Carlsbad New Mexico; Review: Stayed here one night. Large parking area. Good laundry room. Decent pool area. Room was standard for a Best Western. Basic and clean. Check in was quick and easy. 4 of us in the room (2 beds) and we were very comfortable. Bathroom was clean. Air conditioning worked well. Ate at the hotel restaurant. Old restaurant was being updated so we ate in the conference area. Food was OK and at a decent price. Our waitress was very nice. Had a good nights sleep. Had a very good breakfast buffet there at the hotel. Bar is a little rough. Bartender was not friendly at all. Had one drink and left.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Travelodge by Wyndham Williams Grand Canyon; City: Williams Arizona; Review: Pulled in after a 13 hour drive from CA. Parking area is not "spacious" as stated on website. Had to park our truck & trailer out on street. Not really a big deal. Check in clerk was pleasant and it was an easy check in. We had a room with two beds for 4 adults. Room, including bathroom was clean and comfortable. Could be updated, but I'm sure Williams is a high use area. Little restaurant across the street had decent food with large portions. Only spent one night. Bed was comfortable. Would stay here again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crockett Hotel; City: San Antonio Texas; Review: Stayed here for one night. Pulled into the parking area with our friends pickup truck and 26 foot enclosed motorcycle trailer. First valet attendant said we couldn't park in there. I explained that I had talked to the reservation desk when selecting this hotel and told her exactly what we'd be pulling in with. She in turn, talked to a valet person that said yes, we could be accomodated. He went and got another valet guy that lead us to a great parking spot and was apologetic about the first guy we talked to. Parking is $20.00 (18.50 + tax) and since we were a truck and trailer, had to pay $40.00. Only fair I guess. I had checked other places close to the Riverwalk and most were even more to park. With that little episode behind us....everything else about the hotel was great. Check in staff was friendly and fast. Our room (for 4 adults) was just the right size and very comfortable. No complaints. The Riverwalk is very close. About a 3 minute walk. And as others have said, The Alamo is right across the street. Breakfast was very satisfying. We will be coming back to San Antonio and we will definitely be staying at the Crockett Hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Stateline; City: Wendover Utah; Review: They need more housekeeping staff during high occupancy times. They overlooked a few things during our 8 day stay for a Bonneville time trial event. The hotel was full and it looked like there was only 2 housekeeping staff. On different occasions during our stay: our bathroom was not swept, we were left without hand towels, rug was not vacummed and one major incident...our door was left open all day. That freaked me out a bit. From that day on, I took all valuables with me out to the salt and locked them in the truck. I told the desk clerk to let the manager know about it. When I went to check out, he said he had no knowledge of the incident. Poor communication between staff. Would I stay there again..yes. Most of the incidents were minor, but none the less, happened. And it seemed to be because staff was in a hurry. Friends that stayed in the more expensive casino hotels nearby had more problems...so cost doesn't always mean a better stay.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Suites Ukiah; City: Ukiah Mendocino County California; Review: This is our second time staying here in 3 months. Failed to review it the first time, but it would have mirrored this review. The front desk staff were fast and very cordial. The rooms are CLEAN and very comfortable. A nice selection of hot foods for breakfast. Many places nearby to eat lunch and dinner. Grocery store and Wal-Mart across the street. It's also pet friendly, which is a huge plus. Great value for the price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: St George Hotel; City: Volcano California; Review: After a year of being closed, the St. George Hotel in Volcano CA is once again open. Did not get to meet the new owner, but met several staff members. Some of which are returnee's from the hotel's previous management. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. We stayed for two nights in the main hotel. Room was clean and very comfortable. New mattresses in all of the rooms. When one stays at the St. George, you have to remember, the floors and walls are original. The floors do squeek when you walk on them and the walls are thin. If you can't deal with that, then stay in one of the cottages or the "annex"....which is a single story addition to the hotel. The restaurant that is right there at the hotel serves some fantastic food and wine. You need to have at least one meal there. The Whisky Flat Saloon has some pretty good bartenders and they pour a decent drink. Bar grub is really good too. They must be doing something right because the place was packed on Friday and Saturday night. We've been going to the St. George Hotel for many years and were very happy to learn that they would be re-opening on almost the same weekend that they closed in 2012. We were there with several other couples and there were no complaints from any of them. Is this style of hotel for everyone...no. But it definitely works for us and most of our friends. We simply love this place and will returning.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harris Ranch Inn; City: Coalinga California; Review: Our 4th time staying here. Really like this place. This time we got the Triple Crown Executive Suite. Nice view of a garden area, whirlpool bathtub, large flatscreen TV, comfortable recliner loveseat, Keurig coffee maker and close to the outdoor Jacuzzi. Check in was fast & easy, front desk, housekeeping staff and landscapers. all very friendly. There was an issue with the pool water. A bit discolored but staff were aware and working on the problem. Pool water was very swimmable as shown by all of the people in the pool. No odor, just a bit discolored. Problem was taken care of.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sharon Motel; City: Wells Nevada; Review: Ride your motorcycle right up to your room. That's always a plus for me. Woman that checked us in was very nice. Gave us a map of scenic rides in NV. Room was clean and spacious. A/C worked very well. The bed...OMG, the bed. I seriously didn't want to get out of it in the morning. Restaurants are a mile or so away. Eat before you check in if you don't like to put the helmet back on once you've arrived at your destination. There is a train track behind the motel. The only time I heard it was at 4:30 a.m., but we quickly fell back asleep. We'll definitely stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Inn; City: Lovelock Nevada; Review: Was glad that the casino across the street wouldn't let us check in an hour early. We heard about this place from some contract workers that were eating lunch at the same place we were (Cowpoke Café). Counter person was very nice. Asked for and got a lower level room (it's 2 stories) so we were able to park our motorcycles right outside our door. Rooms were huge. Had a full kitchen. A/C worked excellent, which made us happy because we had been on motorcycles and it was hot outside. Bed was very comfortable. It certainly isn't fancy, but if it's clean and I feel safe.....that's all I need. There were a large group of contract workers there. They started rolling in around 4:30 p.m.. Most of them sat outside their rooms or in the gazebo to eat dinner....which they BBQ'd right there at the hotel. Yes, they drank beer, but never got loud. I had no problem with a group of hard working men and women, getting together after work, eating and drinking to relax before going to bed....which was early. Most were in their rooms by 8:30 and completely in their rooms by 9:00. The only down side to this place was that there were a lot of cigarette butts and some litter around the exterior of the rooms. If they could clean up the hotel grounds, it might look more appealing to people who go by first impressions. We'll definitely stay here again if in the area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The German Genius: Europe's Third Renaissance, the Second Scientific Revolution, and the Twentieth Century; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Watson Page; Review: The book is intended as a history of German ideas over the last 250 years or so, and specifically not a political, economic, or comprehensive "national" history of Germany. The narrative begins near the end of Bach's life (1685-1750), well prior to a German nation having been achieved (1871), and continues beyond the events of 1989 and the subsequent re-unification of what we recall as East and West Germany. The book considers German ideas as being those of German people, which exceeds the bounds of citizenship in any German nation but instead also includes people of German cultural background from Austria, Bohemia, Moravia and other territories where German-speaking peoples lived en masse. A reader may no doubt quibble with some of the persons who are included as being "German" by the author, but a disagreement over any one person is indeed a quibble, not an indictment of the underlying premise. The book would seem to have at least three purposes: 1) By documenting the immense fertility of German culture in generating powerful advances in the arts, science and the humanities the author attempts to restore (for those for whom it is needed) a wider, more balanced perspective on Germany than apparently currently exists. Without any attempt to minimize, dismiss, or overlook the evil of the Nazi's and the Holocaust (for which "Germany" has been stigmatized), the narrative offers a reminder of great achievements that were not accidental, but a product of German culture and society. 2) By explaining the elements of German culture that gave rise to those fertile developments, an explanation is also proposed for reasons that some of those same elements could ironically allow or make possible the barbaric (and distinctly uncultured) Third Reich. The exploration of these German cultural elements that "cut both ways" seems even-handed, and consistent with a mature perspective that there is much in life that is ambiguous, with the potential for both good and unintended, tragic outcomes. Again without minimizing the horror of the Holocaust or the role of the German people, the author offers a nuanced view of the cultural ground soil within which the Nazi's were allowed to grow and seize power. 3) To follow the widening influence of German ideas throughout the Western Civilization, part of which reflects the mass emigration of talented Germans during the Third Reich (principally Jewish-German artists and scientists) and part of which reflects the sheer impact of notable Germans. As a quote from Erich Heller presented as an epigram to the book states, "Defeated in two world wars, Germany appeared to have invaded vast territories of the World's minds" or in the author's own words, "The United States and Great Britain may speak English but, more than they know, they think German." Of noteworthiness is the scope of this book. Reporting that it is 849 pages (plus an author's note, an appendix, and end-notes) does not adequately convey the amount of information contained within. Short biographical sketches for noteworthy individuals pepper the text, usually arrayed to tell the story of the development of a branch of science,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War; Author: Visit Amazon's Karl Marlantes Page; Review: It is reassuring to have several reviewers vouch for the authenticity of this book's descriptions of the U.S. combat soldier's experience in Vietnam. It certainly reads as a very real depiction. The vividness with which these experiences are described and details about military matters seem very credible. A novel with a compelling narrative (both meta-plot and sub-plots) as well as sound characterization that also expresses with such verve the experiences of the courageous soldiers who fought in Vietnam has merit in and of itself. Having said that, this is a book upon which reasonable people could disagree. If this book is viewed as nothing more than a war novel, relating a fictionalized but seemingly accurate account of the author's experience, it could be considered exhilarating to some, long and tiresome to others. An extended and intense exposure to fear, death, voracious leaches, conversations laced with more bleeps than a Rod Blagojevich phone tap and incompetent commanders (no matter how authentic) is not to everyone's taste. But in addition to being a Vietnam War veteran, Karl Marlantes is a scholar, and this novel reflects a fine appreciation for the power of myths and the value of updating those myths to make them relevant for contemporary audiences. It is purposeful, of course, that the book begins with an epigram from Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival. What makes the book particularly special is the skill with which the Parcifal myth is updated and integrated into the story. The transformation that Mellas, the protagonist, undergoes during the course of this story is Parcifal's, too. A young and brave person begins the tale seeking the Grail, believing that it is an object (a relic, or a medal and 'cred' back home). After a series of adventures, well layered by the most recent author so as to achieve a gradual transformation, the person realizes the Grail is not a tangible object, but something else entirely. Mellas' focus upon the tangible is finally and completely shed with the sword of Vancouver (abandoned, like Vietnam was abandoned, too), and he returns to the jungle a truly compassionate, empathetic man. It could be that several of the episodes in the novel that other reviewers have found unrealistic (i.e., the tiger episode, or scaling a cliff after 11 days without adequate food or water) are attempts to echo the more fantastic episodes that occur in the Middle Ages source; it could certainly account for the chaste relationship Mellas has with the nurse aboard the ship. So the book can easily be enjoyed as more than a good war novel (just like Moby-Dick is more than a tale of a whaling adventure), it is a work of literature that offers another level of enjoyment. For those who otherwise lack an appetite for the graphic retelling of war stories, persevere in good faith and you will be rewarded. Matterhorn is a very good book, on the verge of greatness.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What Technology Wants; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin Kelly Page; Review: There is much in this book that is thought-provoking and interesting, and there are no regrets for having invested the time and effort in reading it. While the book is not a difficult read - Mr. Kelly's prose is clear and pleasing - it is a challenging read in that it requires an occasional pause to fully consider what exactly is being proposed in the author's seductive writing style. It is hard not to admire the author's deep knowledge of and passion for the subject, but reasonable people will disagree as to the content. First, the positives. There are excellent overviews of the historical development of science as well as the concept of convergence that recurs in scientific and technological development (and also, as the author points out, in film-making). The case for considering technology as a self-perpetuating organism is forcefully made, and examples of parallels between evolutionary development and technological development are treated in depth. There is also a helpful discussion about man's relationship to technology, covered in three chapters collectively called Choices. Here Mr. Kelly views the perspective of the Unabomber, the Amish, and a proposed contemporary search for a convivial relationship. As odd as it sounds to use the Unabomber as a lens through which to view technology, it is extremely powerful. The obvious point is that it is quite unthinkable to live without technology (Ted Kaczynski typed his manifesto and rode a bike), so that finding a personal balance with it should be the goal (preferably one that does not include bombs - either mail-bombs or the nuclear variety). Second, the controversies. If I correctly interpreted what Mr. Kelly has to say about technology, it is something like this: technology (or his word, technium) is the sum total of man's progress, or "8,000 years of embedded human knowledge" and that it includes all the progress man has made (resulting in extended life spans, creation of leisure, etc.). Because this technium is "an outgrowth of the human mind" it is an extension of life itself. Further, this technium has reached such an advanced stage that it has now developed into an independent organism. From there Mr. Kelly stretches for his ultimate conclusion, "the technium expands life's fundamental traits, and in doing so it expands life's fundamental goodness." What does technology want? Goodness, apparently. Technology is postured as some benevolent god, created by man in man's own image (which is an idea that should be terrifying). For technology geeks and techie true believers I can understand how this book could rate five stars. Mr. Kelly is a compelling evangelist for technology. But as for the rest of us, while we acknowledge technology's benefits, we probably have already made our peace with technology at less than unqualified love (perhaps a "love-wariness" relationship?). Looking back to the editorial review on the product page, the book is described as a "visceral" expression, and that is absolutely correct. This book contains Mr. Kelly's personal, inward feelings on technology, not, despite the trappings, a consciously scientific study of the subject. Read this book and enjoy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto; Author: Visit Amazon's Jaron Lanier Page; Review: Jaron Lanier has written an insightful and fascinating book that is both topical and timeless, evaluating the implications of software design decisions on human behavior and ultimately on man's self-conception. He writes compellingly about a subject he understands well and that is central to all of our lives. For low level techies like myself it is both a textbook and a tract. In many ways, however, it is a book with a meta-theme that exceeds Mr. Lanier's focus on software design and the possible consequences. Reading this book can't help but trigger memories of the classic television show The Prisoner, with Patrick McGoohan shouting, "I am not a number!" Mr. Lanier, too, seems to be saying we are human, we are individuals, and our humanity is under seductive threat by Web 2.0, cloud computing and anonymity on the net. His case is a good one. The title on the cover shouts "You Are Not A Gadget" while a rephrasing of the sentiment is quietly whispered in the tiny font of the footnote on page 31 regarding Alan Turing's metaphor that humans are "mansions for the soul He creates." Reasonable people can disagree as to exactly who "He" is, and intelligent, rational people can even argue the existence of a "He". It is noteworthy, however, that in 1950 a genius of Turing's stature could recognize the existence of man's soul. Ultimately, we all must decide for ourselves if we (and the people around us) are gadgets or souls, and Mr. Lanier's fine book is a reminder that slipping into a Web 2.0 induced cloud/coma is to risk deciding without thinking. It is a good counterpoint to Kevin Kelly's What Technology Wants which appears to invert this viewpoint and instead vest technology with a beneficent soul. Both are visceral expressions by knowledgeable, passionate people. Read both ... and decide. Addendum 7/24/12: Excerpts from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's 1993 address to the International Academy of Philosophy - "Time passed, and it turned out that Progress is indeed marching on, and is even stunningly surpassing expectations, but is doing so only in the field of technological civilization ... Progress was understood to be a shining and unswerving vector, but it turned out to be a complex and twisted curve, which has brought us back to the very same eternal questions that loomed in earlier times, except that facing these questions then was easier for a less distracted, less disconnected mankind." Food for thought, perhaps.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World; Author: Visit Amazon's David Deutsch Page; Review: 'The Beginning of Infinity' is a fine book with much to admire within it, four stars being proof that it is possible to recognize an author's achievement while having reservations about (if not fundamental disagreement with) portions of the content or the full implications of his premise. As of today there are 20 reviews of the book, many which accurately (and enthusiastically) describe its content. There is no need to repeat details of his clear exposition of Good Explanations, Optimism, Universality, or the Multiverse. The tone of the book is very positive (and there is nothing wrong with that) and he focuses upon the power of the human intellect that asserted itself primarily in the Enlightenment of the eighteenth-century. This book was recommended as an antidote for Kevin Kelly's What Technology Wants that posits a much different view of the importance of man's contribution to technological development (and that it is). While much of what Deutsch writes seems so perfect for the realm of science and technology, there will be those of us who will have deep reservations about applying those same prescriptions to the realm of human behavior and social issues. Anyone with a passing familiarity with Dostoevsky and 'Crime and Punishment' will appreciate the alternate view that a 'scientific' approach to human behavior can be treacherous ... never fully accommodating the complexity of the human condition. Dostoevsky's concerns were realized in Soviet Russia to an appalling extent. This shortcoming is not likely to be overcome by more powerful computers, due to the world's ambiguities and paradoxes (not to mention humanity's wholly selfish and power-seeking nature at times). In a chapter on "Optimism" Deutsch tells an amusing story of a prisoner who avoids death by promising to teach the king's horse to talk within a year, a ploy to buy one year's life and the possibility of more (pg. 214). The prisoner is characterized as an optimist and banking on possibilities that presently seem inconceivable. A good story, but the prisoner is an example of cleverness more than anything else. I don't think the horse is going to talk, does Deutsch? And on the subject of talking horses ... the chapter on "Optimism", which Deutsch defines "in its most general form" as, "All evils are caused by insufficient knowledge" seems to foresee a time when evils will be eliminated (pp. 212-13). Hitler? Stalin? Merely "parochial" evils, apparently. Yeats got it right, "The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity." Assuming mankind can be ruled by reason, education, and goodwill alone is a dangerous concept, or as Deutsch himself warns, "ideas have consequences" (pg. 210), which also happens to be the title of a notable book by Richard M. Weaver (Ideas Have Consequences) where he writes, "Hysterical optimism will prevail until the world again admits the existence of tragedy, and it cannot admit the existence of tragedy until it again distinguishes between good and evil." Deutsch makes mention of the "mini-enlightenment" that was fifth century BC Athens, which he says (accurately) was "one of the first to; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Song at at the Scaffold; Author: Gertrud von Le Fort; Review: The Song at the Scaffold is a short book of about 110 pages, but potentially contains more riches and pleasures than suggested by its length. The book (1931) is what it is, while its potential depends a great deal on the openness of the reader to Le Fort's transcendental message. Ostensibly this is the historically-grounded tale of Carmelite nuns dying at the guillotine during France's Reign of Terror. But Le Fort's story is a timeless one of the struggle for faith, which is portrayed as an interior, personal struggle compounded by that struggle taking place within a culture often hostile to it. The story is told by means of a letter written subsequent to the events from a French nobleman who remained in Paris to witness those events; the epistle is sent to a pre-revolutionary friend who had emigrated, and therefore did not. The central events of the tale involve 16 Carmelite nuns, all of whom are based upon fact with the exception of the key character Blanche, who is Le Fort's own creation. Blanche is, in one possible reading, a doeppelgnger of another nun, Constance. The two enter the monastery together as novices (Constance: "Dear little Sister Blanche," she says, "let us always hold together, you and I.." is only one of many such repeated suggestions). Le Fort wrote the book at the tail-end of the Weimar era, in a Germany being roiled from both the right and the left, National Socialists and Communists. Should she stay, or emigrate? If one stays, how should one conduct oneself? One choice made in the book is made by the First Commissioner, a former sacristan: "... I've got to howl with the wolves!" The Carmelites, of course, make another. And the letter writer who relates the events? Le Fort's literary style is often referred to as "sacramental realism" or the literary portrayal of dynamic transformations of a transcendent nature, rather than conventional material realism. These depicted transformations reveal an outward conduct that is an expression of a living faith, which in turn holds the potential to resonate and ripple throughout the wider world. Another book may prove worthwhile: William Rush's To Quell the Terror: The Mystery of the Vocation of the Sixteen Carmelites of Compiegne Guillotined July 17, 1794 provides a concise, but wonderful history of the actual events (including important parallels between the historical Constance and the fictional Blanche). If you found this book as a result of opera, to further appreciate Poulenc's 'Dialogues of the Carmelites' (1957), a little extra digging into the background of the multi-step transposition from novella to libretto will also pay-off as there are several alterations from the source (some necessitated by the change in genre). Poulenc's correspondence helps, too, particular regarding the character of Mere Marie. Individual reaction to the opera will likely range as widely as to that of the book. For some it is a pleasant evening at the opera enjoying Poulenc's craftsman-like score with its emotionally jarring finale; while to others it is a revelation, both affirming and challenging. To that extent, it is; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: For the Soul of France: Culture Wars in the Age of Dreyfus; Author: Visit Amazon's Frederick Brown Page; Review: 'For the Soul of France: Culture Wars in the Age of Dreyfus' by Frederick Brown is an engaging overview of French history focused largely on the years between the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) and the brink of World War I. At the heart of the story is the continuing tension between Church and State, or in Zola's biased words, "the endless duel between science and the longing for supernatural intervention" (as quoted by the author on pg. 3). Like the French Revolution from which the issue "went viral", the contest between science and spirituality becomes tangled with issues of governance (monarchists, republicans, etc.) and with personal ambitions, which, certainly in this telling, tend to be driven by opportunity more than ideology or principle. The book does not pretend to be an exhaustive chronicle of 'fin de siecle' France, but instead uses broad strokes to paint a portrait of an age undergoing shifts and swings in mass consciousness and political power. It is not a very pretty sight, and few heroes emerge from Brown's tale. The story is sometimes framed around public monuments such as the statue of Joan of Arc at the place des Pyramides (1874), the Sacre-Coeur (begun in 1875, it wouldn't be finished until 1914), or the iconic Eiffel Tower (1889). As Brown quotes a contemporary Frenchman, the Eiffel Tower is, "a monumental political argument" (pg. 124). Well, it seems everything else was, too. Brown tells us how the Union Generale (1889-92), a financial institution associated with Roman Catholics, and the secular Panama Canal Company (1880-90), after flourishing briefly as a result of widespread enthusiasm, both collapsed miserably as a result of gross mismanagement with great loss to many. The Dreyfus Affair certainly takes center stage for much of the book, and it suits the author's apparent purpose of exposing the dark side of the cultural wars (including deeply rooted anti-Semitism, a prejudice shared by some on either side of the debate). As the book winds down there is a distinct feeling of cynicism and fatigue. As we all know, the forces of modernity ground forward (for both good and ill). In France (as elsewhere in Europe) the ordeal was perhaps exhausting, leading people to seek other outlets for identity and community. Towards the end of the book Brown quotes Maurice Barres (on August 4, 1914 upon the declaration of war with Germany), "... I've wanted nothing more than for Frenchmen to unite around the great ideas of our race. So they have. Blood has not yet rained upon our nation and war has already made us [at the Assembly] feel its regenerative powers. It is a resurrection." (pg. 265). About 1.3 million Frenchmen would die in the war, and that grind could only lead to more cynicism and fatigue. Read this book if you get the chance.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: On the Beach; Author: Visit Amazon's Nevil Shute Page; Review: Nevil Shute's 'On the Beach' imagines mankind on the very verge of utter apocalypse, with only the population of southern Australia temporarily surviving the effects of a colossal nuclear war that has already extinguished human life in the Northern Hemisphere. Lethal levels of radioactive fall-out are spreading throughout the Southern Hemisphere and the characters have "maybe" three months to live when we are introduced to them, their life span dependent upon wind patterns and personal choices. Commander Dwight Towers, a U.S. submarine captain is the central character around whom Shute spins the intertwined stories of a ship's officer Peter Holmes and his wife Mary (along with their newborn); Moira Davidson, a pretty young woman; Moira's cousin John Osborne, a scientist/race car enthusiast; and a collection of other related persons in Melbourne (c. 1963) as they anticipate the extinction of man and, necessarily, their own deaths. The novel begins with an epigraph from T.S. Eliot's 'The Hollow Men', in part: "We grope together/ And avoid speech/ Gathered on this beach of the tumid river ... This is the way the world ends ..." A close reading of the poem will likely cast a distinct interpretation of the novel, different from the "facing the end of the world with a stiff upper lip" reading. Like the "hollow men" of Eliot's poem, the characters of Shute's 'On the Beach' confront mortality together, and yet alone. Their stories provide a range of choices (overwhelmingly influenced by deeply ingrained habits): from the path of duty and faithfulness to family, a final fling at a life's goal and the opportunity for grand achievement, or a good-faith effort to properly exhaust the club's supply of port! Published in 1957, 'On the Beach' recalls the immanent danger nuclear holocaust represented then (it continues to exist, its just that we have become inured to it), but also retains a certain civility in its representation of the Armageddon. We are not vividly told the details of horror and destruction, nor does the book dwell on the primitive behaviors modern cinema has conditioned us to expect under the circumstances. Although there is mention of those who abandon themselves to drinking or despondence in their final months, these portrayals are brief and remain on the periphery. Decency ... how quaint! The advantage of such decent characters is that it is easy to empathize with them, and to care about their fates (and to realize they represent the bulk of modern humanity). Shute is an effective storyteller and includes several sub-plots (like the main mission Towers and crew are assigned) that complement the meta-theme of confronting mortality. The quiet decency of the characters also serves to better relate to the "hollow men" of Eliot's poem. The characters largely occupy themselves with routine activities, while dwelling upon an imagined future that denies the pending end. Their daily activities mask their fundamental passivity. They await their certain death like the "hollow men" in the poem: "We whisper together/ Are quiet and meaningless/ As wind in dry grass/ Or rats' feet over broken glass/ In our dry cellar."; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Immortality: The Quest to Live Forever and How It Drives Civilization; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Cave Page; Review: 'Immortality' by Stephen Cave is an okay book that most thoughtful people should enjoy and benefit from reading assuming they accept the author's caveat in the preface, "it was my intention to keep the book short and succinct" and where he admits to "simplifications of complex debates." This warning spares us the quibbles and objections inevitably arising from a 288-page gloss of "life, death and civilization." Presumably a reader will come to the text with some preconceived beliefs and may therefore take exception to Cave's rather abrupt dismissal of any notion of immortality. Believers in a faith that includes a form of resurrection (largely all the Abrahamic religions) may become uneasy with his blithe association of resurrection with Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein', and all of which are discarded by Cave by means of 'the Cannibal Problem', 'the Transformation Problem' or 'the Duplication Problem'. (Nobody knows the problems he's seen.) On the other hand believers that the ultimate salvation is available through technology and science (see Deutsch's The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World) may cringe at his quick dismissal of that prospect for immortality. (Personally, I was relieved to learn I would not be subjected to watching a 1,030 year old Bruce Springsteen perform at halftime of Super Bowl MXIV.) The existence of souls and immortality through achievement receive similar shrift. Essentially all belief in immortality is subjected to the treatment we have come to expect from smug, secular British intellectuals for whom life holds no mystery. All is not lost, however, as Cave proposes a basis for a rewarding life by relying upon ancient Wisdom Literature as a guide. You know, like the Book of Job, "On earth there is not his like, a creature without fear. He sees everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride." (Job 41: 33-34), or the Book of Isaiah, "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!" (Isaiah 5: 21). Cave's suggestion to use Wisdom Literature as a guide to living is an example of the 'Confused Author Problem' (call him Ishmael). This is a worthwhile book to read if you have some spare time, even if (or particularly IF) you disagree with the author. Unexamined or unchallenged faith hardly counts as faith at all.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A History of Opera; Author: Visit Amazon's Carolyn Abbate Page; Review: An important question to ask when selecting a history of opera to be purchased is, "How am I intending to read it?" (a sub-question may be, "Will I ever really read it?"). That is, will it primarily sit on a shelf and be consulted before some performances (i.e., used as a reference book), or will it be consumed as a single text, with an eye to a broader narrative, including the underlying themes and fundamentals of opera, a complex art-form that rewards thoughtful study? If the latter suits your purpose and you are willing to trade comprehensiveness for some outstanding insights, "A History of Opera" by Abbate and Parker is a solid recommendation. If you prefer breadth, or can afford both, then By Donald Grout - A Short History of Opera: 4th (fourth) Edition (ironically nearly 200 pages longer) by Grout and Williams is also recommended. Each has their own distinct strengths. The distinctions between the two books are evident from their explicit purposes. In their Introduction, one major issue that Abbate and Parker propose to investigate is the fate of opera, that is, in restatement, "Can contemporary opera balance the demands of an 'established' reportory while also producing new and relevant works?" They pursue that matter (and others) with their own style, one of an almost conversational quality, nearly shorn of references to musical scores, and focused upon the composers and works that most readers will have encountered (such as Handel, Glck, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner) while practically overlooking many others (for instance, there is only a passing reference to Vivaldi, and no mention of either of the Gershwin brothers, let alone Scott Joplin - all of whom receive comment by Grout et Williams). In the Preface to the Fourth Edition, Williams recalls Grout's original intentions, and by extension his own, of writing a book "to offer a comprehensive report on the present state of knowledge about the history of opera" (xi). As such, it is focused upon scholarly research and has a tone more consistent with musicologists rather than accessible historians (this is not intended to denigrate the work of Grout and Williams - I would assign that book five stars, and it would be the first choice for many people seeking a reference text). Examples of Abbate and Parker's conversational style: "Opera can change us: physically, emotionally, intellectually. We want to explore why."(1), "Minor works from the [18th century] that were unearthed belonged to history. Mozart's operas belong to 'us'."(36), " ... Grand Opera in 1946 was not so much a genre as something you associate with a long-deceased great aunt, fondly recalling the ropes of pearls, the mink and the whiff of mothballs."(262), and "Richard Strauss' 'Elektra' may have shrieked, raved and jumped up and down in dirty rags, struggling to make herself heard over an enormous, blaring orchestra; but never mind."(92). In comparison, the Grout 'History' offers concise language and an academic, respectful tone. With regard to Abbate and Parker's emphasis upon the most popular composers, the benefit is that their approach includes, in many cases, a more; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Faithful Executioner: Life and Death in the Sixteenth Century; Author: Visit Amazon's Joel F. Harrington Page; Review: First of all, this book is a better than average read due to the skilled research and craftsman-like writing by the author, but it is a pain-staking and exhausting account of the career of Meister Frantz Schmidt, the "Faithful Executioner" of Nuremberg for nearly a half century (1578-1618). Sustaining one's interest in the text will largely depend upon having a specific reason to delve into the subject matter, it would seem. In my case the book caught my attention because of the operatic connection to Nuremberg, i.e., Wagner's 'Meistersingers of Nrnberg' set in a slightly earlier period (c. 1550-75). In the absence of this or a like interest (fascination with this specific period of Germanic history or a fixation for executioners?), the parade of crimes, tortures, punishments and, yes, healing of prisoners so they can die a "good death" gets repetitive and pretty tiresome. Schmidt's achievement of a reputation for moderate conduct and piety is postured as his near heroic attempt to redeem his family's reputation (lost when an ancestor was "drafted" to become an executioner, a profession of low regard, with such professionals and their families essentially shunned by mainstream society). So despite the beheadings, breaking at the wheels, and floggings there is a moral and happy ending of sorts to the tale. His personal life journey and that of his family is noteworthy. The detailed story serves as a clear counter-weight to the idealized Nrnberg of Wagner and other Romantics. It was a violent and perilous world, not the happy and conciliatory playground of Hans Sachs and Walter von Stolzing. Of course it comes as no surprise that Wagner, albeit a talented composer, idealized much of what mattered to him. This book is a reminder of how large the gap between reality and his idealization was. There was a pay-off for me as there is a direct reference to the intersection of Schmidt's life and the Meistersingers Guild, which effectively reinforces the humanity that the executioner is able to maintain while performing his brutal duties. A four star rating is conditioned upon a very personal compelling interest in the subject, without which it is entirely foreseeable that many readers would end up "speed reading" or scanning the last third (which gets repetitive) in order to get to the Epilogue (I was sorely tempted). Occasionally, less is more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Unintended Reformation: How a Religious Revolution Secularized Society; Author: Visit Amazon's Brad S. Gregory Page; Review: To-date there are at least 34 reviews of this book on amazon.com, overwhelmingly featuring very positive remarks. The book deserves a five-star review, but as a slight twist I would add an additional reason to read it: This book provides one of the best backgrounds for a satisfactory and meaningful reading of Melville's 'Moby-Dick' found in a single volume. The young man who eventually calls himself Ishmael is the product of the same (largely unintentional) historical forces that Gregory describes. He lives in a world divided by doctrinal disputes and the industrialization of Western Civilization that occurred prior to Moby-Dick being published in 1851 (and exist in a more exaggerated form today). Ishmael's attempts at understanding the whale are echoes of biblical and theological debates that both anticipated and followed the Roman Catholic-Protestant fissure. He is in search of answers to the Life Questions (Gregory's term for metaphysical enquiry), but finding none he becomes literally and metaphorically 'at sea' (see Ch. 4, 'Subjectivizing Morality'). The Quaker ship-owners are modern man incarnate, as Pelig and Bildad live comfortably within the bifurcated worlds of their religion and the values of the marketplace (see Ch. 5, 'Manufacturing the Goods Life') ... and the parallels go on. The two books complement one another beautifully and are examples of how a "truth" can be found expressed in different genres, in this case proper historical writing and, in Moby-Dick, great literature. This is terrific historical writing that illuminates the modern human condition with clarity that one might find embarrassing. Sadly, like Melville, the author offers no remedy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Russias First Civil War: The Time of Troubles and the Founding of the Romanov Dynasty; Author: Visit Amazon's Chester S. L. Dunning Page; Review: Chester Dunning's 'Russia's First Civil War' offers a microscopic look into "history", not only the period known as Russia's 'Time of Troubles' but also, as a by-product, into the very nature of "history" itself, that is, the shifts that take place in historical judgments based upon re-evaluation of evidence, new evidence, and changes in the perspectives of historians. In the case of the 'Time of Troubles' that means, among other things, sifting through the layers of propaganda produced by successive regimes from Boris Godunov's to the Romanov dynasty, and confronting the long-accepted version of events interpreted through the lens of Marxism (i.e., the 'Time of Troubles' was a conflict between social classes). To-date there are two reviews of the book, and BOTH are fair based upon the POV of the reviewers. The four-star review (9/7/03) points out a strength of the book, specifically "Dunning's analysis into the underlying social, economic, and political causes of the Time of Troubles" yet warns that the book best serves "Russophiles" (and general readers less so). Agreed. The three-star review (10/19/13) emphasizes that the book "seems to be more a critical survey of the history literature of the period than it is straight historiography". That also seems right and could be off-putting to some readers. Certainly there are books that present a smoother general narrative of events while touching upon the salient features of the time. So why five stars? Dunning reveals the complexity of personal motivations for both the key players and many of the "interest groups" involved in those tumultuous times. Rather than a simplified Tsar vs. Boyars vs. serfs narrative we are shown the varieties of aristocrats (high-born, low born, service gentry, et al), bondsmen (serfs, slaves, et al), cossacks (Volga, Don, or others who have "gone cossack"), and military personnel (pomeshchiki, streltsy, et al), not to mention "pretenders" (false Dmitri I, II, and III, as well as Tsar Petr, et al) that intersected as temporary allies or enemies. History is a vortex of persons jockeying for a chance at advancement, prosperity, or personal freedom not as monolithic groups, but as individuals within a Russia expanding, confronting unrest across its extended borders, grappling with dynastic changes, and subject to the effects of the "little ice age" that impacts all of Europe. One is left with the real sense that throughout this period people were constantly recalculating their best bet as tsars come and go, and as "pretenders" come and ... well, they never seem to go, they miraculously survive and then reappear! Towns are conquered and oaths are sworn to the victors and those oaths remain binding until circumstances change (that is, if you hadn't been thrown out of a tower or cudgeled and stuffed under the ice before reconsidering). The deep cultural and spiritual influence of the Russian Orthodox Church within the populace is also ever-present. History is rarely simple and straightforward, but rather multi-dimensional. So the beauty of Dunning's book is that it presents the complexity of this history (and by extension all 'history') - persons navigating immediate circumstances within the context; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Diary of the Dark Years, 1940-1944: Collaboration, Resistance, and Daily Life in Occupied Paris; Author: Visit Amazon's Jean Guhenno Page; Review: A remarkable record from an extraordinary observer, this abridged version of Guehenno's diary is not just about surviving in Paris during the Nazi Occupation, but doing so while retaining one's integrity and, in his translated words, "To have some soul" (p. 143). He is fortified by a Churchill speech, he's repulsed by the hypocrisy of the Vichy officials, he respects the valor of the determined pilots amidst the Battle of Britain, and he exposes the shallowness and vanity of certain men of letters. He considers the nature of freedom, and its requirements. He reflects on Goethe and the Greek tragedians, whose art reveals the human condition as it intersects with their respective time in history. In short, this is a work that speaks to Paris in 1940-1944 and to French history, but it is also a deep and knowledgeable look at what it means to be human. This book is a nice complement to Joachim Fest's Not I: Memoirs of a German Childhood, as both give testimony to the difficulty of maintaining decency and a credible sense of self-worth during horrendous and threatening conditions. Fest, in 'Not I', quotes his father as saying, "One sometimes has to keep one's head down, but try not to look shorter as a result." Guehenno writes this beautiful sentence, "A great book is a rhythm that imposes itself on the reader: the reader necessarily adopts the rhythm without even realizing it, the way one follows a companion's steps" (p. 199). As readers we are lucky to have a companion of Guehenno's caliber. Take a walk with him. Addendum 1/31/15: Looking again at some of the other reviews, there are several comments regarding the absence of entries on the physical conditions in Paris by Guehenno. This is certainly true, because it was not his intent. He is describing his intellectual experience. As Gerhard Nebel wrote, "... the last weapon remaining to the individual defending his freedom" was the diary.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Crusade Years, 19331955: Herbert Hoover's Lost Memoir of the New Deal Era and Its Aftermath; Author: Visit Amazon's George H. Nash Page; Review: Chances are that if you have searched for this book and have taken the time to read multiple reviews of it, you already have some understanding of Herbert Hoover and are aware of his many accomplishments as well as the rather unfair image he has in the popular mind. This book is helpful in demonstrating the extent of that unfairness. Herbert Hoover, a person of extraordinary accomplishment and experience saw the world with remarkable clarity as a result of his native intelligence and common sense. That clarity was grounded in his training as an engineer and burnished during his career as a keen businessman (as well as manager of enormous relief efforts). The clarity with which he saw the weaknesses of Roosevelt's New Deal is made plain in this memoir, ably edited by the esteemed George H. Nash. Hoover's understanding exceeds the cause and effect of economics, but also extends to the effect of New Deal-type policies upon man's psychology and "soul" (a word some think of as archaic). The book consists of Hoover commentary regarding the New Deal era and its aftermath, much of it quoted from earlier speeches or writings he made contemporaneous with events. Although this style does not always flow naturally but rather presents an impression of "cutting-and-pasting" (which it is, of course), it lends great credibility to Hoover's consistency of viewpoint. He's no revisionist. There are better books for general readers about Hoover, and better books for those just beginning to explore Hoover in more depth, but few are as good as this one for capturing the man's pragmatic vision. His vision was based upon a deep understanding of the world, not wishful thinking. For those who admire the real Hoover, it is a terrific read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Better Angels of Our Nature; Author: S. Pinker; Review: There is much of value in Steven Pinker's book "The Better Angels of Our Nature," including an attempt to objectively review violence through an historical and statistical lens. He makes a compelling case that despite the contemporary "headlines" (in the broadest sense) regarding terrorism and war, we are living in a comparatively peaceful age as a result of centuries of change. He attributes this long-term arc toward a less violent world to the expansion and preponderance of stable democracies throughout the world, the bonds between nations created by international commerce, and a growing awareness and appreciation of the wider world ("Cosmopolitanism"). So far, so good. But then ... Pinker's historical narrative becomes a tale of "exclusive humanism" and a prime example of what Charles Taylor has labeled a "subtraction story" (see A Secular Age). A subtraction story, in brief, is one that explains modernism and its many benefits as a function of mankind shedding traditions, religion, and superstitions by virtue of exercising "reason." There is a vague sense that mankind will continue muddling down this path and achieve a near utopia of Reason and Human Goodness (absent a global ecological disaster beforehand). What Pinker has done is to use the demonstrable evidence of reduced global violence to support his own narrative ... a narrative that is almost comically simple (despite the nearly 2,000 endnotes). For instance, regarding the Enlightenment he labels it a "new ideology" that had a "sudden impact on Western life in the second half of the 18th Century ..." (p. 133) and that "... the Enlightenment had emerged from the intellectual bazaar of cosmopolitan cities" (p. 329). Pinker appears to believe that all of this change is the fruit of the Enlightenment, which just burst upon mankind in the 18th century. Not so fast. The history of Western Civilization (Pinker's focus) is far more complex. The source of "new ideas" and developments are generally anchored in the past. Many scholars would suggest that the roots of the Enlightenment are found in various Christian reforms that were intended to emphasize personal faith. Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy traces its source to the tenth century and the monastery of Cluny, which established All Soul's Day. All Soul's Day postulates that each and every person must stand before the judgment of God ... in effect a concept of radical egalitarianism: all souls were equal (see Out of Revolution: Autobiography of Western Man (Argo Book)). For others, such as Brad S. Gregory, "the Reformation era constitutes the critical watershed" by virtue of its emphasis on the individual and such concepts as justification by faith alone (see The Unintended Reformation: How a Religious Revolution Secularized Society). It was ideas such as these that shifted the focus from collective and mediated faith to individual responsibility and that ironically gave secular humanism its foundational legitimacy. The point, of course, is not who or what should be given credit for Enlightenment ideals, rather it is that there be a recognition that the past, a vast body of experience, can't simply be crafted into a neat little narrative like Pinker's that; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Pursuit of the Millennium: Revolutionary Millenarians and Mystical Anarchists of the Middle Ages, Revised and Expanded Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Norman Cohn Page; Review: Norman Cohn's book 'The Pursuit of the Millennium' is a classic work for a reason: it is outstanding history and well written. Like most very good histories, it illuminates the past and has implications for the present as well. Cohn's topic is 'Millenarianism' in the Middle Ages, or the recurring emergence of a collective of "faithful" under the leadership of a charismatic prophet (or prophets) who believe that the world will imminently be transformed into an earthly paradise inhabited by the "select" (i.e., themselves). This Edenic existence will last 1,000 years and then the Last Judgement will forever sort all mankind into the camps of Heaven and Hell. The basis of the millennial paradigm is rooted in the Book of Daniel (Ch. VII: Daniel's Dream) and the Book of Revelation (Ch. XX), as well as the enduring legend that there could be a return to what was wishfully assumed to be mankind's original egalitarian and plentiful existence. Millenarianism flourished in the Middle Ages in response to anxious and disorienting social conditions, such as rapid population growth and widespread agricultural failures in the High Middle Ages and the Black Death of the Late Middle Ages. The most fervent followers were the marginalized poor whose place within the social structure and whose very survival was under threat. A prophet, who assumed the role of messiah, offered the poor a chance to be among the "select" or elite. Cohn surveys a series of Millenarian outbreaks, from the poor's participation in the First Crusade (c. 1100), to the English Peasants' Revolt (1381), to the Hussite Rebellion, and it's offspring, the Taborites of Bohemia (c. 1425), to the German Peasants' War fostered by Thomas Mntzer (c. 1525), and through the Anabaptist Revolt at Munster (c. 1530). Modern corollaries of millenarianism are not difficult to conjure; one need only think of Nazi Germany and Hitler's "Thousand-Year Reich" for an obvious echo. Its' "select" - the Volk - largely supported a martial spirit and an intent on conquering "lebensraum" (not unlike the First Crusade). Of course the Nazis grasped power out of the disorienting economic and social conditions of the Weimar Republic. Perhaps no one made better use of these parallels between the Middle Ages' phenomenon and more recent history than Friedrich Reck did in his novella A History of the Mnster Anabaptists: Inner Emigration and the Third Reich: A Critical Edition of Friedrich Reck-Malleczewen's Bockelson: A Tale of Mass Insanity (an edition which also includes background commentary and critical exposition). Cohn concludes his book with reference to the present, where he claims the enduring underpinnings of millenarianism continue to exist in secular forms.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Coming of the Terror in the French Revolution; Author: Visit Amazon's Timothy Tackett Page; Review: Tackett's 'The Coming of the Terror' is historical narrative at its finest. Going far beyond the recitation of dates, names and places, as well as the broader swale of forces that are available in more general histories, he instead focuses upon the human texture of the political culture during the French Revolution that made the Terror a possibility and a reality. To achieve this insight Tackett emphasizes the analysis of surviving correspondence and diaries from many of the political protagonists, which not only flesh out the story but also, by their personal nature, provide a window into the emotional component common to the revolutionaries. Individual response and conduct, within context, is ultimately at the root of the story. Importantly, Tackett approaches the Terror from the perspective of contingency, that is, as a dynamic process driven by ambitions, rivalries and emotion (utopian enthusiasm as well as fear). Reason, as it turns out, works pretty well in theory, but it often fails to suppress the baser impulses of human nature. In many ways emotion (" fear was one of the central elements in the origins of Revolutionary violence" - p. 7) and staunch self-righteousness propelled the French Revolution, converting 'reason' into a killing machine. Tackett writes of a "quasi-millennial fervor" (p. 39) that inspired many of the revolutionaries. Underlying this fervor, as in many examples of millennial episodes in earlier periods, was the impact of severe weather and therefore paltry harvests (contingency sparks combustion). The threat of starvation following the winter of 1788-89 fed the flames of discontent and postured revolutionary change as a source of salvation. Peasants and the urban poor were likely more concerned with their 'daily bread' as they were with 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity' (" the great majority of the common people, especially outside Paris, were functionally illiterate" - p. 24). Tackett weaves the fundamental concern for survival with the well-founded regard of authority as unjust, the uncertainty that accompanies such rapid structural change, a legitimate fear of counter-revolution, etc. as prevalent motivations for both 'sans-culottes' and radical revolutionaries. The combination of these various strands created an environment where rumor, fear, and even hatred could flourish. As Tackett quotes Shakespeare, "In time we hate that which we often fear" (p. 140). Denunciation would follow hard on those heels, with the guillotine not far behind. The text's final chapter (pp. 340-49), a taut conclusion to the many strands detailed throughout, provides a clear sense of summation and synthesis to what Tackett claims was, "a concatenation of developments emerging out of the very process of the Revolution itself" (p. 342). For a like approach, but one that more narrowly focuses upon the fates of the factional Jacobins and the Terror, see Marisa Linton's excellent Choosing Terror: Virtue, Friendship, and Authenticity in the French Revolution. Linton explores the emphasis upon 'virtue' or the demand for complete selflessness on the part of politicians. In a paradoxical environment of such abstract and yet exacting standards, as Tackett writes, "Moderation and passivity could be treated as crimes" (p. 315). These books are terrific companions. An historian necessarily; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leisure: The Basis of Culture; Author: Visit Amazon's Josef Pieper Page; Review: A gem of a book consisting of two essays, one provides the title for the text, while the other ('The Philosophical Act') is quite complimentary. At the heart of each is the issue of seeking "wholeness" as an individual, which in Pieper's telling is found in the ancient examples of leisure's association with worship and spirituality. Written in Pieper's post-WW II Germany, the essays are concerned with the fixation upon re-building that devastated country, but also serve as important reflections for our contemporary world where Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and other commercial centers celebrate "hero culture," workaholics, and scorekeeping by paycheck. Part of the appeal of this short book is its simplicity and accessible style. This is not a book of philosophy where one gets lost in the rhetoric, but rather is left in awe of the author's (and translator's) ability to be both profound and clarion clear. Early on the author states, " it is essential to begin by reckoning with the fact that one of the foundations of Western culture is leisure" and along the way we read of love, gifts, receptive attitudes, wonders, and the capacity to marvel, as well as the idea that there are "unknowables" or truths beyond mankind's understanding. One is reminded of Melville's 'Moby-Dick' retelling Narcissus' fate and then declaring, "But that same image, we ourselves see in all rivers and oceans. It is the image of the ungraspable phantom of life; and this is the key to it all." Pieper devotes attention to those who fail at leisure and remain fettered to work. He writes, "No one who looks to leisure simply to restore his working powers will ever discover the fruit of leisure." Standing Marxist class structure on its head, he assigns the label 'proletariat' to all who are fettered completely to work. Whereas the classic definition of proletariat is a person who must ceaselessly toil to obtain the bare necessities of life, Pieper also includes those whose whole identities are devoted to work, including those of significant incomes. He is describing impoverishment of a very different sort. Like most good works of philosophy 'Leisure: The Basis of Culture' is not just a tract, but it is also a challenge to each reader to test their values and, if necessary, re-orient or re-dedicate ones-self. Multiple readings are rewarding as the challenge never ends. Edith Hamilton wrote in 'The Greek Way': "We are composite creatures, made up of soul and body, mind and spirit. When man's attention is fixed upon one to the disregard of the other, human beings who result are only partially developed, their eyes blinded to half of what life offers and the great world holds." Amen.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shape of the New: Four Big Ideas and How They Made the Modern World; Author: Visit Amazon's Scott L. Montgomery Page; Review: Fairness would seem to demand that a book be evaluated according to its authors' intentions, and to do so for this book one must look no further than their brief preface (pp. ix-x). The authors profess that the book "is about key ideas that have built the modern world" and that the "principle effort has been to illustrate and clarify this theme by looking at particular thinkers and their system of thought." Importantly, they admit that the book is almost entirely based on secondary sources and that they "cannot claim that we have found new facts or even that we have as yet undiscovered insights about the individuals we have examined." It is, in short, an introductory text. That is well and good, but the low bar that they establish is not fairly described in the book's marketing blurb. Many readers with a basic understanding of the last three centuries (and the principle thinkers thereof) will find little new here and be disappointed. There is no disagreement with the historical figures they have selected for their study. Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, and the "Odd Couple" of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, would be on most thoughtful peoples' short list of most impactful persons of the modern age (suggesting other names for study would be to quibble). Of course, most persons interested in such eminent thinkers will have already read a good deal about them, and this book will cover little new ground. A central theme of this book is that it suggests a world of little subtlety, where big ideas (perhaps once couched in some degree of nuance) are unleashed and seem to rattle about, playing out in extreme forms. Capitalism and free-markets, when unfettered, can be inhumane check. Communism, well-intentioned, has proven "nightmarish" (p. 147) for mankind check. Evolution has undermined the basis of scriptural creation stories check. Democracies are in a constant tension as to individual freedom and centralized power check. As for "counter-Enlightenment" forces such as nationalism, fascism, and religious fundamentalism (both Christian and Islamic), these are sketched out and critiqued. Of course, any devotees of these "counter-Enlightenment" philosophies are quite unlikely to read this book and accept its bromide: study the humanities so as to reconsider mindsets and to "critically read and understand foundational texts, to analyze belief systems, and to discover the complex arguments that have produced different movements, wars, institutions, national identities, and the like" (p. 435-36) in order to confront the challenges of the future. The premise that big ideas are an historical force and, in a significant way, influence our lives is credible. The idea that most people govern their lives by imbibing "foundational texts" and then rationally choose a path of conduct is naive, if not nonsensical. History is complex because lives are lived in response to circumstances and, largely, emotion and instinct. There are reasons that both capitalism and communism have produced ill-consequences human nature resists "Reason" and seeks self-interest, individuals desire status and/or power, and emotional appeals to group bonds are seductive even when illusory. That; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fracture: Life and Culture in the West, 1918-1938; Author: Visit Amazon's Philipp Blom Page; Review: 'Fracture' is a beautifully crafted piece of historical writing. Focused upon the period between the two world wars, there is a themed chapter for each year from 1918 to 1938. The book documents a transition from "shell-shocked" survivors of WW I to disillusioned nihilists and converts to fascism or communism "hanging ten" at the precipice of the next one. What does it mean to be "beautifully crafted"? For one thing, the epigraphs are poignant. Here are some short excerpts: " World history has broken into two halves. There is time before me. And a time after me " (Hugo Ball, p. vii) or " the abyss of history is deep enough to hold us all." (Paul Valery, p. 39). And then suddenly there are chapters without epigraphs, because those chapters highlight topics such as Stalin's ravaging of the Ukraine by both starvation and purge, episodes that defy easy or pithy encapsulation. Blum realizes that no quip can do that type of inhumanity justice. For another thing, the best writing often conveys not just information but also viscerally impacts the reader (who didn't experience sheer horror while reading Bugliosi's "Helter Skelter" or a sense of oppression and anger while reading Victor Klemperer's diaries?). So too with Blom's effort. As Western Civilization desperately searches for something to believe in we feel the anxiety and restlessness of people turning to fascism and racial nationalism as central tenets (and like a Greek chorus who foresees the outcome we want to shout, "No"). The book appropriately places extraordinary emphasis on avant-guarde and nascent political cultures as leading indicators of mass sentiment. The consequences seem to flow quite naturally from their lead. Ideas matter and narratives matter, while unintended consequences lurk nearby (which is something to keep in mind, perhaps). The writing is superb throughout, while the author expresses an impressive historical sensibility. A sentence from the book's excellent Epilogue serves as a good example: "Modernity, it turns out, stubbornly remains morally neutral as it continues to unfold and to change our identities with every passing day" (p. 406). 'Fracture' cannot serve as a stand-alone history of the interwar years and readers will benefit from knowledge acquired from other credible sources, but 'Fracture' achieves something rare: it expresses a perspective on those years in an original and powerful way, it frames this fateful era, and it can cause us to confront the "drivers" of history (then and now). Read it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Age of Atheists: How We Have Sought to Live Since the Death of God; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Watson Page; Review: Peter Watson has authored several very good books, including the brilliant "German Genius' and the impressive 'Ideas'. Both of those efforts combine a remarkable breadth of knowledge with a nuanced sense of history and an appreciation for the complexity of life and thought. In 'The Age of Atheists' he delivers the breadth of knowledge, but sheds the nuance and objective sensibility. While it is a good survey of the Post-Enlightenment search for meaning in what is, for many, a life without an orthodox God, he appears to reveal a staunch anti-religious bias (which is the significant flaw of this book). In doing so he undermines any appearance of objectivity and forfeits any claim upon thoughtful consideration of the human condition and what exactly atheism is an alternative to. Early in this book he offers up a reading of Charles Taylor's 'A Secular Age' and this reading is itself seriously flawed, claiming that Taylor posits, " a fulfilled life - can be achieved only via religion" (p. 6, a footnote directs us to pages 20 and 44 of 'A Secular Age' where that sentiment can't be found). A fairer reading of Taylor might conclude that Taylor writes that for religious-minded souls the ultimate "fullness" of life is achieved through transcendence and is made possible by their relationship with God, while for non-believers the ultimate "fullness" is achieved entirely within an earthly existence. Contrary to Watson's claim, Taylor does not insist "fullness" is only achievable through religion, but rather that supernatural transcendence, or rising above our corporal lives, is. Watson's attitude toward Taylor is fully revealed by following up his convoluted (and intentionally comic) reading of Taylor with a sarcastic dismissal, "Phew" (p. 6). Watson's dismissal of Taylor reflects his dismissal of all religions, which is made obvious by various comments: - "What are we to make of this state of affairs, in which atheism has the better case " over religion with its "manifest horrors and absurdities" (p. 11). Well, it may be possible to make a good case for atheism, but Watson never makes it (and if I'm not mistaken, "manifest horrors" have been committed by atheists, too) and instead assumes the conclusion is a priori. Any consideration of religion must admit to "horrors" performed in its name, but one would also think of the many benefits mankind has reaped from persons inspired by their religion. In Watson's own 'German Genius' he writes admiringly of Dietrich Bonhoeffer who, along with about 2,000 Lutheran pastors, organized an alternative church to the Nazi's state church and then he went on to actively participate in resistance efforts (GG, p. 680). He also provides a short account of Albert Schweitzer's life, where his religion inspired him to become a missionary and conducting his life in such a way that he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (GG, p. 681). The list could go on and on from other sources see Adam Hochschild's 'Bury the Chains' about religion's influence upon the abolition movement or see Martin Gilbert's 'The Righteous' for examples of moral behavior by religious persons; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Toward Democracy: The Struggle for Self-Rule in European and American Thought; Author: Visit Amazon's James T. Kloppenberg Page; Review: John Adams famously wrote that the American Revolution took place "in the minds of the people, and this was effected, from 1760 to 1775, in the course of fifteen years before a drop of blood was shed at Lexington" (p. 289). As Adams knew well, the American Revolution's antecedents reached much further back. The ideas hatched by Americans in the Revolutionary era were the inheritance of a long intellectual history, and this longer history comprises James T. Kloppenberg's narrative. Kloppenberg's 'Toward Democracy' is a book that by means of rigorous research, acute insight, and clear prose illuminates the history of democracy in the North Atlantic region. The author closely traces modern democracy back to the Protestant Reformation (the Ancient Greek version of democracy is tread on very lightly). As we know, modern democracy first took full root and corporal form in America, where the early New England settlers, in Tocqueville's words, "hoped for the triumph of an idea" that encompassed both religious freedom and fledgling democratic impulses. Modern democracy is treated not exclusively as a political phenomenon reflected in institutions of governance, but very much an ethical ideal that was grounded in egalitarian religious sentiments and, subsequently, the slow development of widespread religious tolerance. A critical component of the story told in this book is the importance of forbearance, humility, and an emphasis upon reciprocity (the Golden Rule) as essential components of democracy (virtue could be spelled with a capital V in the eighteenth century without a trace of irony). The ever-present tension between self-interest and reciprocity rooted in human nature plays its part, too. As Tocqueville recognized, democracy emerges from a culture ("habits of the heart" and "character of [the] mind") and then, in turn, democracy dynamically influences culture. Kloppenberg writes, "The history of democracy, in addition to being a story of social movements and political and economic developments, is also a story of ideas" (p. 2) and, ""Whereas the theorists of social compacts had only imagined people coming together from a state of nature to frame governments of their own choosing, the [American] colonists now found themselves in such circumstances" (p. 318). Modern democracy was a marriage of ideas and circumstances. The author does a remarkable job of identifying and documenting the economic, social, political, and intellectual forces within that complex equation that was the American colonists contingent existences. The focus and emphasis is largely on America, but comparisons and contrasts with British and French cultures that are relevant to the prospects of democracy in each country are reviewed. The chapter titled 'Delusions of Unity and Collisions With Tradition' (pp. 457-507) is a marvelous "quick sketch" (p. 462) of France at or about the time of the French Revolution. There is great irony in the fact that a material portion of the American Revolution was financed by a French monarchy imposing taxes upon a strained and poor peasantry and by incurring debt that would, in turn, accelerate that very monarchy's failure. Subsequent chapters "Virtue and Violence in the French Revolution" (pp. 505-546) and "Democracy in the Wake of Terror" (pp.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reformations: The Early Modern World, 1450-1650; Author: Carlos M. N. Eire; Review: In his Preface, Eire writes, "This is a narrative for beginners and nonspecialists" (p. xii). With all due respect for the author, this book is certainly more than that. One of its primary attributes is the integration or synthesis of a remarkable two-hundred-year period of Western Civilization, 1450-1650, into a single narrative that emphasizes the human impulse to analyze and understand, create a sense of personal distinctiveness, assert an identity, and defend our convictions. In the process, both then and now, men and women are vulnerable (in some degree or another) to self-righteousness and stridency. These impulses and vulnerabilities of the human condition are at the root of both the Renaissance (or Italian Humanism) and the multiple reformations that we often conveniently lump into 'The Reformation' associated with Martin Luther. Both the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation of Eire's story are also grounded in the idea of "looking back" in time and attempting to regain the perceived purity and glory of an earlier era. In the case of the Renaissance it was Ancient Greece, and in the reformations (both Catholic and the several Protestant variants) it was primitive Christianity. A critical step in each was to return to foundational texts and "recover" unvarnished truths. Of course, such attempts at change necessarily create tension with those who have a vested interest in the "varnished" status quo or their own version of the truth. Eire's treatment of Martin Luther is representative of the author's historical sensibility. He writes, " he was as much a product of change as an agent of it" (p. vii) and, "He was but one of many reformers in his generation, some of whom pressed for more radical changes than he was willing to accept" (p. 131). Luther's relationship to other reformers, both preceding and contemporary, is assayed, as are the conditions that permitted Luther to emerge as a Reformation "rock star" (timeliness of Gutenberg's printing press, rising literacy, popular resentment of the Roman Catholic Church's wealth, powerful prose, and a fractured political situation in the Holy Roman Empire that created safe havens for him). In Luther's case, theology successfully met circumstance (just such intersections are at the heart of history). Eire uses the concept of fractals to illustrate the nature of the Protestant Reformation. He elaborates, " the history of the Protestant Reformation can be systematically comprehended only through multiple narratives that parallel each other in time and even mirror each other, but sometimes interlace or branch out" (p. 219). In this telling, history, rightfully, has depth and texture. Consistent with the above, Eire writes of humanism spread among elites throughout Europe by "diffusion" (p. 86), or with regard to the impulse for Catholic reform he writes, " [it] had been simmering throughout the Middle Ages " (p. 128). Descartes, he writes, belonged to an "amorphous movement" (p. 662), while in discussing the Enlightenment (or "enlightenments"?) he likens it to a "rogue wave" (p. 686). Throughout the book we are given the sense that new ideas are seeking receptive minds and when they reach a critical mass, history comes; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Resurrecting the Idea of a Christian Society; Author: R. R. Reno; Review: Because the adage "Don't judge a book by it's cover" is so often ignored, it is likely that Reno's 'Resurrecting the Idea of a Christian Society' will occupy a small niche of readers, and be reflexively dismissed by many others. That is a shame because the content is so critical and pertinent to our world today. Importantly, although Tocqueville does not rate a single mention in this book, the state of America in 2016 as described by Reno is one of the possible outcomes Tocqueville foresaw, and feared, in the 1830's. Echoes of Tocqueville's foresight appear throughout this book. In other words, this book is grounded on a respected tradition of thought. Reno surveys contemporary America and notes the familiar troubling trends (divorce rates, out-of-wedlock births, etc.) in our contemporary society (he characterizes our society as a "post-Protestant WASP" culture - p. 172) and attributes many cultural failings to a failure in moral leadership. He also makes the case for how the burdens of "moral chaos" (p. 81) fall disproportionately upon the "poor and vulnerable" (p. 54). In a clever turn of phrase he describes this lack of moral leadership as "moral deregulation" (p. 85). Reno's concern is consistent with Tocqueville's, of whom Alan S. Kahan wrote, "For Tocqueville, religion was the most powerful, possible moral, intellectual and spiritual influence on human beings, and he wanted to enlist religion in the service of the highest ends, freedom and human greatness" (see Tocqueville, Democracy, and Religion: Checks and Balances for Democratic Souls - p. 4). For both Reno and Tocqueville, it appears, "democracy" is only one of the necessary tools to achieve real freedom and human flourishing and that in the absence of a "moral anchor" (see below) the 'logic of egalitarianism' can lead to social dysfunction and the diminishment of freedom. Tocqueville wrote, "After the general idea of virtue, I do not know any more beautiful thing than that of rights, or rather, these two ideas merge. The idea of rights is nothing more than the idea of virtue introduced into the political world." Reno's chief concern appears to be restoring a sense of virtue into our culture and to again recognize that freedom requires the linkage of virtue with politics. Virtue and normative social mores, of course, are seldom-used terms today. Again, Tocqueville wrote, "Religion is considered the guardian of mores, and mores are regarded as the guarantee of the laws and the pledge for the maintenance of freedom itself." In 1995 Vaclav Havel said regarding Dutch resistance fighters, "To me personally, their endeavor serves as proof that the roots of a free, democratic, and equitable society lie deep in the sphere of morality - that such a society would in fact be unthinkable without a moral anchor" (see The Art of the Impossible: Politics as Morality in Practice - p. 189). The echoes continue Reno writes of the imperative for "a thick local culture" (p. 120), of an "ever-cruder mass culture [which] normalizes dysfunctional behaviors" (p. 1), and of how "Materialism denies the existence of higher things " (p. 148).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The French Revolution: From Enlightenment to Tyranny; Author: Visit Amazon's Ian Davidson Page; Review: Ian Davidson's "The French Revolution' is a major disappointment, serving up a shallow and stale historical analysis of limited insight. As evidence one look no further than the introduction which states, "The most fundamental fact about [the French Revolution's] opening phase is that Louis XVI simply surrendered to the advancing tide of the bourgeoisie" (p. 6). This is just a tepid restatement of something the Marxist historian Albert Soboul wrote in 1953, "The essential cause of the Revolution was the power of a bourgeoisie arrived at its maturity and confronted by a decadent aristocracy holding tenaciously to its privileges." Now the author states, "I have made no attempt to register the latest refinements in academic research" (p. 7), but what he has actually failed to do, apparently, is to have made an attempt to consider the last sixty years of academic research, during which time a rich and more robust imagining of the origins and unfolding of the French Revolution has occurred. The 'bourgeoisie' Davidson so blithely refers to are actually the focus of a most lively debate, where not only is the definition of the bourgeoisie a point of contention, but the very existence of a bourgeois social class of meaningful mass has been questioned. The 'social imaginary' of pre-Revolution France, it is claimed by some, did not include a class that consciously thought of itself as bourgeois and, importantly, the goal of those Davidson now considers to be bourgeois was to achieve some form of privilege (as many did). For someone who wants to explore this argument in some depth, Sarah Maza's The Myth of the French Bourgeoisie: An Essay on the Social Imaginary, 1750-1850 1st edition by Maza, Sarah (2003) Hardcover is a little quirky, but thoroughly provocative. For an inexpensive and concise exploration of the issue, see T.C.W Blanning's The French Revolution: Aristocrats versus Bourgeois? (Studies in European History). In fact, much historical writing for the period of pre-Revolutionary France has focused upon the permeability of social designations that renders the stratified, ossified portrait of 18th century France society by many Marxist historians inadequate. Nobles engaged in commerce, prosperous merchants sought (and achieved) nobility and privilege, and wealthy peasants might have more resources than impoverished rural nobles. The reality of 18th century France bears little resemblance to the simplistic portrayal of social classes marching in lock-step according to their presumed economic interests. In another instance, Davidson writes, "In 1786, Louis XVI found himself, once again, in deep financial difficulties and turned for help to his traditional class allies: he called a meeting of nobles, but they refused to help" (p. 5). Presumably he is referring to the Assembly of Notables that Louis XVI convened in 1786 and met in February of 1787. Far from refusing to help, the Assembly of Notables was too reform minded, not obstructionist. Simon Schama writes in 'Citizens', " the merest glance at the debates confirms that something extremely serious was in the offing" (p. 244); "The debates over the land tax do not at all suggest a group of rich landowners (for that; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Revolutionary Ideas: An Intellectual History of the French Revolution from The Rights of Man to Robespierre; Author: Jonathan Israel; Review: There is much to admire in Jonathan Israel's 'Revolutionary Ideas' (2014), not the least of which is the tremendous amount of research and information that it contains, as would be expected from an elite scholar of the Enlightenment. A quick glance at the Bibliography reveals nearly 270 primary sources and an estimated 425 secondary sources, much of which was probably material also used in the previous volumes he authored on the subject of the Enlightenment. There is no question as to the level of erudition of the author it is impressive and illuminating to a reader. As a resource for comprehending the Enlightenment in France, or more properly, Israel's primary focus of the Radical Enlightenment in France, the text is outstanding. He rises to the challenge of his sub-title, 'An Intellectual History of the French Revolution from 'The Rights of Man' to Robespierre'. If approached as a general history, however, 'Revolutionary Ideas' presents a distorted perspective on the French Revolution (which Alfred Cobban called "the strategic center of modern history" a sentiment with which Israel would likely agree). In arguing his case, Israel appears to overstate the singular importance of "ideas" over other critical dynamics that originated and drove the Revolution forward. In his closing argument Israel writes, " Radical Enlightenment was incontrovertibly the one "big" cause of the French Revolution" (p. 708). 'Incontrovertibly' is a very bold claim. Several years earlier Israel authored A Revolution of the Mind: Radical Enlightenment and the Intellectual Origins of Modern Democracy (2011), which you could consider as an easy warm-up lap for the more recent marathon-like tome, 'Revolutionary Ideas'. In it, he observes, "Spinoza's role as a key progenitor of the Radical Enlightenment was unparalleled" (p. 240). Spinoza's materialism and monism, in Israel's analysis, underpinned the Radical Enlightenment, or "the system of ideas that, historically, has principally shaped the Western World's most basic social and cultural values in the post-Christian age" (p. xi). When applied to government, the Radical Enlightenment, "sees the purpose of the state as being the wholly secular one of promoting the worldly interests of the majority and preventing vested minority interests from capturing control of the legislative process" (p. viii). In 'Revolutionary Ideas' Israel sees this Radical Enlightenment thinking as the engine that drove early revolutionaries to seek "democracy, freedom of thought, expression, and the press, human rights, secularism, sexual liberation, gender and racial emancipation, individual liberty, and equality before the law" (p. 9). In this, perhaps, he is correct. The Enlightenment mattered (and still matters), and ideas have consequences. Certainly "ideas" offered mankind alternative 'social imaginaries' that served to spur changes to existing political and social structures. What seems problematic, though, is the severing of such ideas from any kind of lived reality. Israel cites both Diderot and Rousseau (the latter, per Israel, "taught readers to think about .. the rights of man" - p. 9) as two of several influences upon revolutionary leaders, and writes, " the two great thinkers nurtured one particularly subversive political doctrine that Rousseau derived from Diderot, namely, that all of the ills and crimes; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Catholic Enlightenment: The Forgotten History of a Global Movement; Author: Visit Amazon's Ulrich L. Lehner Page; Review: Ulrich Lehner's 'The Catholic Enlightenment' is a perfectly good book that presents a survey of reform-minded Catholicism spanning the sixteenth century through the end of the eighteenth century, along with a nod to the Second Vatican Council of 1962-65 when the Roman Catholic Church formally addressed the relationship of the Church and modernity. In keeping with the book's subtitle, "The Forgotten History of a Global Movement" there is evidence of Catholic Enlightenment thinking from around the world e.g., France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Central Europe, the Americas, China, Italy, et cetera. The scope of the book is both its strength and its Achilles heel, as it covers a tremendous amount of territory, but can't do so to any great depth in its 218 pages of text. 'The Catholic Enlightenment' is strongest when addressing the period of the French Revolution, offers a pretty good introductory treatment of Jansenism, and outlines the pan-European tensions with the Jesuits. There is a very satisfying sketch of the Carmelite nuns guillotined in France's Reign of Terror, as well as a brief look at the Knights of Malta that proved fascinating (and timely). The Enlightenment, of course, is a highly contentious topic with historians frequently constructing narratives that serve their own ideological purposes. Jonathan Israel's Revolutionary Ideas: An Intellectual History of the French Revolution from The Rights of Man to Robespierre is an example of one end of the spectrum. Israel writes of Radical Enlightenment thinkers as the prophets of modernity, while the French Revolution they inspired "denied the validity of ideas, customs, institutions, or laws inherited from the past absolutely and totally" (p. 11), thus founding modernity itself. Israel recognizes that this repudiation of the past was "opposed or uncomprehendingly regarded by most of the population and even most of the National Assembly" (p. 11). Israel's conceited brand of valorizing the Radical Enlightenment is captured perfectly in Pierre Manent's Beyond Radical Secularism: How France and the Christian West Should Respond to the Islamic Challenge. Manent characterizes a current prevalent viewpoint among the worshipers of modernity: "Humanity is irresistibly carried along by the movement of modernization, and modern humanity, humanity understood as having finally reached adulthood, is a humanity that has left religion behind" (p. 10). He writes of such "modern humanity" as incredulous that any religion could be the source of personal animation in the enlightened 21st Century. This secular posture leaves "modern humanity" smugly "waiting only for the slower ones to kindly join him" (p. 61). Manent concludes with these words: To declare or even to guarantee the rights of human beings is not sufficient to bring men together. They need a form of common life (p. 116) that can, perhaps, be found in religion and spirituality. Another book that offers an interesting perspective on the Enlightenment is Darrin M. McMahon's Enemies of the Enlightenment: The French Counter-Enlightenment and the Making of Modernity. McMahon focuses upon those who articulated reservations, objections, or, in many cases, outright hostility to the Enlightenment's animating 'philosophie' of progress and radical change reliant solely on reason. The book's title, "Enemies of "; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reading the Bible with the Founding Fathers; Author: Daniel L. Dreisbach; Review: Daniel L. Dreisbach's book is an interesting investigation of the influence the Bible, particularly the King James Version (1611), had upon the generation of the nation's "Founding Fathers." Most of us would intuitively conclude it was significant, since the Bible was essentially ubiquitous in Colonial America. As Dreisbach writes, "[The Bible] was integral to their education - both formal and informal - and it shaped their worldview, values, and habits of mind in diverse ways" (p. 49). While some Founders came to the Bible as believers, others thought of the Bible's moral teaching's as utilitarian. What Dreisbach contributes is a more intense look at specific examples of Scripture upon which the Founders likely relied. Intellectual histories in general, as well as the effects of sources upon subsequent actions or expressions in particular, are notoriously difficult to "prove" but Dreisbach builds a very strong circumstantial case for several examples. For instance, statements bearing the influence of Micah 6:8 are explored. Frequent paraphrases of "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God?" populate the quotes of Founding Fathers, who saw parallels between the terms of Israel's compact with God after its deliverance from Egypt and the terms upon which the young United States should abide in order to prosper. Another example focuses on the biblical basis for civil disobedience and, of course, the American Revolution (Acts 5:29, "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than man") over the traditional biblical citation for the justification of monarchies (Romans 13:1, "Let every soul be subject unto the highest powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are of God"). The book continues in a like fashion. Dreisbach sees heavy traces of the critical biblical literature of the Protestant Reformation embedded throughout the Declaration of Independence (p. 133). He does not claim that the Bible was either the key or the primary source for American Revolutionary doctrine, but it certainly was significant and understanding that significance is crucial to understanding the Founding Fathers (p. 231, 234). Dreisbach also admits that, "The bible was employed for literary, rhetorical, and political purposes, in addition to theological and spiritual reasons" (p. 231). This book is not an apologia, but a reasoned argument. An important reason for reading this book is to remind oneself just how much wisdom is contained within the Bible and that its wisdom was, and still can be, applied to politics. I found myself returning to two items: 1) Benjamin Franklin referenced Genesis 47 with these words of warning about the ways of tyrants, ".. get first all the people[']s money, then all their lands, and then make them and their children servants forever" (p. 85); and, 2) A statement made by Samuel Langdon on June 5, 1788 about choosing representatives by referencing Proverbs 28-29, "Fix your eyes upon men [or women] of good understanding, and known honesty; men [or women]; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Liberty or Death: The French Revolution; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter McPhee Page; Review: Peter McPhee's 'Liberty or Death' is a masterpiece of accessible historical writing, with deep research and, seemingly, a comprehensive overview of both the events and the historical actors that brought life to the Revolution (or 'revolutions', but more about that later). Like all great history books, 'Liberty or Death' is not a litany of facts and names presented to support an ideology, but a thoughtful probing of the motivations of people caught in circumstances greater than themselves and the contingent consequences of their acts. Occasionally it is possible to quibble with Prof. McPhee's conclusion regarding some element of the Revolution (e.g., he seems to have arrived at a very charitable opinion of Robespierre), but that merely means that the author and the active reader are playing their respective parts. The text begins with the setting of the stage, portraying a pre-Revolutionary France as the largest kingdom in Europe outside Russia "stitched together" (p. 1) over eight centuries. A 'divine monarchy', France was a warren of orders and privilege. The people of France are 97% nominally Catholic (p. 3) and overwhelmingly rural. "[M]ost people inhabited the 40,000 rural communities or parishes with, on average, a population of 600" (p. 3) and "people's deepest sense of identity was attached to their particular province or 'pays" (p. 2). Critically, "... France was a land of mass poverty in which most people were vulnerable to harvest failure" (p. 12). The story of the French Revolution, particularly as told by Prof. McPhee, is the imperfect and oft violent transformation of that fragmented kingdom into an embryonic nation, and how that history played out within a vortex of forces: anxiety and fear; material self-interest and "virtue"; religiosity, spirituality and militant secularity; tradition and the encroaching philosophy of the Enlightenment; "ancient resentments" (p. 97) and "accumulated hatreds" (p. 315) ... but precious little forgiveness. The Revolution presents a full range of human emotions, interests, and various bases of personal identity. In this narrative, the French Revolution is an epic event told on the granular level of humans. The author mines the 'cahiers de doleances' for insight, grapples with the role of religion in the Revolution ("... a key cause of the violence of the revolutionary decade" - p. 359), as well as carries the narrative through the Thermidorian Reaction of 1794-95 (including its easy-to-overlook bloody "White Terror"), the Directory, and on to Napoleon. Throughout, former subjects of a divine monarchy must find their footing as citizens. Chapter Ten, 'Liberty or Death: Choosing Sides in Violent Times, 1793' presents the stark reality many people faced. Prof. McPhee writes, "People made individual choices ... By mid-1793 ... what had been differences of opinion before the outbreak of war and armed counter-revolution were now matters of life and death" (p. 188). Human choices, human consequences. The concluding chapter, 'The Significance of the French Revolution' is a 30-page treat where Prof. McPhee ably summarizes the toll the Revolution took upon the French and the consequences associated with the formation of large nation-states in the conduct of war (p. 346). He also successfully presents; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Hand Crafted] HemingWeigh Himalayan Round Crystal Rock Salt Votive Candle Holder; Brand: instecho; Review: Very attractive and the perfect size. Love the subtle glow.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pure Copper Hammered Water Jug | Copper Pitcher for Ayurveda Health Benefit by HealthGoodsIn; Brand: HealthGoodsIn; Review: Gorgeous, arrived in perfect condition, I love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WindowAlert Butterfly Decals; Brand: WindowAlert; Review: Very attractive and easy to use. Fast shipping, too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: New York Candle and Company Unscented Candles Set, Tealight, White 125 ct; Brand: New York Candle and Company; Review: Great price and they burn very nicely.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WindowAlert Maple Leaf Decals; Brand: WindowAlert; Review: These are great and work very well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 1" Bulk Rough Brazil Assorted Materials: , By JIC Gem (Blue Sodalite, 4 Lb); Brand: JIC Gem; Review: The pieces are varied size and shape, exactly what I was looking for!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Richland Unscented Tealight Candles, White, Set of 125; Brand: Richland; Review: These are great. They burn evenly and slowly, no smell and no smoke.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: FLY London Women's Yile Dress Pump; Brand: ; Review: I like the style can pair with jeans and casual dress, I'm suffering from plantar facitiis and heel spur and this shoe is heaven for me. And thank you to amazon you made my day for the first communion of my daughter.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flower Girl Cap Sleeved Big Girls' White Dress First Holy Communion; Brand: BNY Corner; Review: My daughter so beautiful she wears this dress, she can wear it on special occasion like weddings and on her confirmation. I bought her little bit bigger size so she can use it longer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: New Balance Women's Fresh Foam Hierro Trail Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Can't wait to use for our vacation, I love it !!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kipling Sherpa; Brand: Kipling; Review: Perfect for summer and travel. I love the color and for me I can use it for everyda!!! Thank you!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FunkyJunque C.C. Trendy Warm Oversized Chunky Soft Oversized Cable Knit Slouchy Beanie; Brand: FunkyJunque; Review: Comfortable and stylish love the color!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ReliBeauty Women's Backless Splice One Piece Swimsuit Black; Brand: ReliBeauty; Review: thank you!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NEOSAN Womens Beach Cover up Oversized Printed Swim Bikini Pool Wear; Brand: NEOSAN; Review: too much disappointed on this! I order May 31 came June 8 and it' too small !!!! I'm suppose to use this on June 10 for my vacation but its was to late to return exchange! I ordered like this long time ago and it said OVERSIZE and I like it, but this time I'm so disappointed!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kipling Johanna Solid Tote; Brand: Kipling; Review: thank you!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Up and Away Boys' MA-1 Flight Jacket; Brand: Up and Away; Review: thank you! my son look like real NAVY hahaha; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Twilight Saga: New Moon; Brand: Kristen Stewart; Review: It was a bit too hokey for me, but it did keep my attention, I am 51 so likely a younger crowd would really love it; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse; Brand: Kristen Stewart; Review: It was a bit too hokey for me, but it did keep my attention, I am 51 so likely a younger crowd would really love it; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Twilight Saga - Breaking Dawn - Pt 2 Edizione: Regno Unito italien; Brand: Kristen Stewart; Review: It was a bit too hokey for me, but it did keep my attention, I am 51 so likely a younger crowd would really love it; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes; Brand: Andy Serkis; Review: I enjoyed it; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Into The Woods; Brand: Meryl Streep; Review: awesome, loved it !; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Courtyard by Marriott Berlin City Center; City: Berlin; Review: I used Marriott Rewards points for this hotel, they worked quite well. We stayed at the end of September because I was running the Berlin Marathon. The hotel is near a U station, and a nice walk from several attractions. There aren't many attractions near the hotel at night, but you can always dine somewhere else and use the U to get back to the hotel. Rooms was exactly what I was looking for.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Prague Marriott Hotel; City: Prague Bohemia; Review: The hotel is exactly what you would expect for a Marriott Hotel. Rooms were spacious and with usual ammenities. Service is good but not amazing. As a Marriott Rewards Elite member I was able to use the executive lounge which was an excellent option for breakfast. It is a shame that they still allow smoking inside the hotel, because the lobby was quite "smelly"; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites Houston The Woodlands; City: The Woodlands Texas; Review: Stayed there for a night last weekend and was amazed! Great property, totally new. Very good service,. Rooms are quite confortable, free wifi. Didn´t have breakfast at the property but it looked like a standard breakfast buffet. Exercise room had brand new equipment, treadmills were great an all of them had cable TV. Location is great with restaurants and shops nearby.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tambo del Inka a Luxury Collection Resort Spa Valle Sagrado; City: Urubamba Sacred Valley Cusc; Review: This is an amazing place where to stay in your trip to the sacred valley or Macchu Picchu. The staff was amazing and the property is first class. You should plan at least two days in the hotel to enjoy all the features it has to offer. A couple of things they should improve: service at the restaurant and bars was a bit slow. They should let you know in advance about the private train station they have within a five minute walk from the hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel Towers; City: Hong Kong; Review: Hotel service was very good and it is very close to the MTR and the Ferry pier. Lobby, restaurant and rooms are what you would expect from a Sheraton, nothing less nothing more. Concierges were always very friendly and knowledgeable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Westin Miyako Kyoto; City: Kyoto Kyoto Prefecture Kinki; Review: The westin is a large hotel a bit away from the city center but just a hundred meters away from a subway station. I'm a gold SPG member and my room was upgraded to a corner room with lots of space. Yes, the hotel is a bit old and in some areas may need an update, but we found that those things are merely cosmetic. Our room was very clean and service in the hotel was really good. The breakfast buffet was good (I was kind of worried due to reviews in tripadvisor) with different offerings and prices (i.e. full buffet, american, continental, etc); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Tokyo; City: Nishishinjuku Shinjuku Tokyo Tokyo Prefecture Kanto; Review: Overall great service and hotel. Hotel in the shinjuku area very conveniently located for that part of town. Subway station is a couple of blocks away. Service was amazing from the moment we arrived to the hotel to the minute we departed. Breakfast buffet was very good with both japanese and western offerings. We used this hotel for the Tokyo marathon, if you are planning to use it for that event it is just a block away from the start line.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Search for a Soul: Taylor Caldwell's Psychic Lives; Author: Visit Amazon's Jess Stearn Page; Review: This book was absolutely fascinating and eyeopening. I have read alot of books about psychics but this one about reincarnation is incredible. I am so glad I bought it. Thanks!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Initiation in the Great Pyramid (Astara's library of mystical classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Earlyne Chaney Page; Review: Reading this book about initiation in the Great Pyramid was very interesting. I have read Edgar Cayce books over the years. In one of his books he said Jesus was initiated in the Great Pyramid into the Great White Brotherhood. For awhile, I have been trying to figure out what it meant to be initiated in the pyramid. Since reading this book, it has given me some idea as to what it means to be initiated and also, what the pyramid was used for during a certain time period.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lives of the Master: The Rest of the Jesus Story; Author: Visit Amazon's Glenn Sanderfur Page; Review: Wow, this is quite interesting. I don't know much about reincarnation but I'm still reading to find out as much as I can. If these stories about Jesus prior incarnations are true (I truly believe they are) then he has come here to earth many times. Not the one time as Jesus we have been lead to believe.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edgar Cayce's Story of the Bible; Author: Robert W. Krajenke; Review: I haven't read all this book yet. I'm hoping that it will help me to understand the Bible a little bit more. I love to read about Edgar Cayce.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edgar Cayce a Seer Out of Season: The Life of History's Greatest Psychic; Author: Visit Amazon's Harmon Hartzell Bro Page; Review: I gave this book five stars because I love reading about Mr. Cayce and his readings. Reading about his early years and later about about his adult life was quite interesting. His psychic abilities were second to none. His abilities and how they were used for the betterment of mankind captivated me as I read each page. Buying this book was worth every penny! I have been reading about him and his incredible abilities for about eight years or more. This man was incredible and truly blessed!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In God's Name; Author: Visit Amazon's David A. Yallop Page; Review: Reading this book about John Paul 1 was interesting. Albino Luciano seemed like such a nice man and would have been perfect for the position of pontiff. He only served 33 days. I wish he could have served longer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The stargate conspiracy: Revealing the truth behind extraterrestrial contact, military intelligence and the mysteries of ancient Egypt; Author: Visit Amazon's Lynn Picknett Page; Review: I am avid reader of conspiracy books. Anything about extraterrestrial life interest me. I haven't completed the book yet but so far so good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ec Story Of Jesus; Author: Jeffrey Furst; Review: This book is a handy little notebook to go along with the bible. I enjoy reading Edgar Cayce work. This is a good book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Total Money Makeover; Author: Visit Amazon's Dave Ramsey Page; Review: My brother purchased this book. He is looking for ways to control his spending..Hopefully, this book gives him some ideas.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: No Death: God's Other Door; Author: Visit Amazon's Hugh Lynn Cayce Page; Review: I love this book. I am an avid reader of Edgar Cayce's books. This book has some interesting stories in it. This is an interesting world we live in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edgar Cayce's Egypt: Psychic Revelations on the Most Fascinating Civilization Ever Known; Author: Visit Amazon's Edgar Cayce Page; Review: I love to read about Edgar Cayce's work. Egypt is an interesting civilization that I want to get to know about. This book is a start. Thanks!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Gone: Book 6 in the Chop, Chop series.; Author: Visit Amazon's L. N. Cronk Page; Review: The books just get better and better. If I could go 10 stars I would. They make you feel like you are in the story along with every word written. I recommend this series to all my friends.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Not Quickly Broken - Book 7 in the Chop, Chop series; Author: Visit Amazon's L. N. Cronk Page; Review: After. Reading one book it seems like you are with the characters and you don't want it to end. I have finished #7 and starting #8. I can't believe I only have one more. I already don't want it to end. Each book has left a very strong message. Believe in yourself and God. And everything else will fall into place; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alone: Book Eight in the Chop, Chop Series; Author: Visit Amazon's L.N Cronk Page; Review: After having finished this series. I have a better look into the relationship I have with God. I feel everyone should have the wisdom in which this series has given. It has been such a long time since I have read a series that has kept me so captivated and not wanting it to end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tomorrow's Sun (Lost Sanctuary); Author: Visit Amazon's Becky Melby Page; Review: This book is so well written. I think it is well deserving a five star. Can't wait to start the next.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gift; Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: Very well written. Enjoyed how you felt you were there with them. Feeling each adventure along with them and their love and pain.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: At First Sight; Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholas Sparks Page; Review: Very well written. Great characters.. they are real as any can be. Was caught up in each chapter. Enjoyed very much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: True Believer; Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholas Sparks Page; Review: Very well written. Great characters.. they are real as any can be. Was caught up in each chapter. Enjoyed very much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Raan Pah Muang RaanPahMuang Brand Full One Piece Long Afrikan Color Dashiki Sac Dress; Brand: Raan Pah Muang; Review: Good quality and color is true to picture. I didn't try it on yet, but I can tell it will be exactly what I expected. It is a little long, but that didn't come as a surprise (I am 5'4"). This will make an awesome house dress! I purchased a small, and it will be a loose fit, but that is how this dress is designed. Update: tried it, and I am in love!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Frumos Womens Long Batwing Sleeve Drape Jersey T Shirts Tunic Top; Brand: Frumos; Review: I got a medium and I am 125 pounds and 5'4". I generally wear a S-M. This shirt provides me with the modesty I desired and us incredibly soft. Not bad at all for the price! The sleeves are a tiny bit too long for me and the material is a little thin, but I still like it. (:; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Frumos Womens Long Sleeve Handkerchief Hem Tunic Top T Shirts; Brand: Frumos; Review: I am new to ordering clothing online, so honestly I didn't know what to expect. This shirt is soft, flowy, and the color is beautiful and arrived on time. I just love the way it drapes! It looks exactly the way it does in the picture. I am 125ish pound, 5'4", and typically wear S-M size shirts. I ordered the medium, and it fits a tad loose, but that's what I was aiming for since I prefer to dress modestly . My only complaint is that the material is a little thin, so I may need to wear it with an undershirt. But yeah! It's nice and breezy and can easily be worn year round (:; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mordenmiss Women's New Round Collar Stripes Plus Size Dresses; Brand: Mordenmiss; Review: Great, quality material. It's reeeeally keeping me cool this summer. My family members call it the 'bag dress' haha! I love that it has pockets. I need to buy a necklace to balance the look a little more I think, but I do think it's very pretty! My only real complaint is that the lighter stripe is not white as it appears in the photos, but instead a cream or beige color. I did not know this until I read other reviews. Still, super cute!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Frumos Womens Contrast Color Long Sleeve V Neck Loose Tunic Tops; Brand: Frumos; Review: Beautiful shirt for those looking for a modest, elegant shirt!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Up2date Fashion Women's Print Caftan, One Size, Style#Caf-18; Brand: Up2date Fashion; Review: I like the fabric, but I think this dress is ideal for people who are overweight or just bigger in general. As a 120 lb 5'4" woman, the size is just too large. I can still use it, but I run the risk of flashing people because the neckline comes down so far on me. That being said, it is super soft and comfy and I do like it - I just don't think it's too great for: 1. People who are petite -or- 2. People who must stay very cool. The fabric is polyester, so it doesn't breathe too well. Not an issue for me, but I thought I'd add that as well!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Polare Men's RFID Blocking Cowboy Genuine Natural Crazy Horse Leather Bifold Wallet; Brand: Polare; Review: I hope my man will like it. He loooooves leather!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avidlove Women Deep V Lingerie Lace Babydoll Mini Bodysuit; Brand: Avidlove; Review: Love the color! Soft fabric. Overall very pleased.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ALLureLove Womens Sexy Lingerie Open Crotch Leotard Teddy Nightwear Lace Miniskirt Babydoll; Brand: ALLureLove; Review: I am 5'4" 120 pounds and ordered a M. I have a small torso but have D cup breasts, so I typically wear S-M on top. I am glad I didn't get a small, as this is perfect for me and would not have worked if it were any smaller. Beautiful, soft fabric and vibrant color. lovely design. Easily my new favorite piece of lingerie!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Queen.M Lace Sling Show Nipples Open Crotch Floral Sexy Lingerie Flirt Nighty,White,Medium; Brand: Queen.M; Review: I got this in white because I don't have any lingerie in lighter colors. Over all, I am satisfied. It is excellent quality for the price. I got a medium, and it fits perfectly on my 5'4" 120 lb frame. Design is true to the photos. Fabric is pretty soft, too!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sakkas Wren Lightweight Circle Poncho Top Blouse with Detailed Embroidery; Brand: ; Review: Gorgeous! I love the vibrant color :) fits me perfectly!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Headcovers Unlimited Slouchy Snood-Caps for Women with Chemo Cancer Hair Loss; Brand: Headcovers Unlimited; Review: It's a little more expensive than what I would've liked for a plain hat, but I really think it is good quality and an excellent design so I guess it's not too bad. The back if the hat is loose and able to hold large buns if you have a lot of hair. If not, is has a slouchy look as described. The hat stays on super well, and is soft and comfy! Awesome. Also, this is just about the cutest company ever! They send a magnet along with the hat - how sweet! This is a great hat and adorable company (:; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Generic Fashion Retro Bracelet Finger Ring Bangle Slave Chain; Brand: AutumnFall; Review: I love this. It's gorgeous! The person who rated it one star and said it didn't fit totally wasn't wearing it the right way. Admittedly, it is a bit confusing to put on at first. I am super happy with my purchase!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Choies Women's Chiffon Pleated Plain Elastic Waist Wide Leg Palazzo Pants; Brand: CHOiES record your inspired fashion; Review: Woah I love this more than I thought I would; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Asher Women's Bohemian Style Elastic Waist Band Cotton Linen Long Maxi Skirt Dress Waist 23.0"-35.0"; Brand: ASHER FASHION; Review: This is a beautiful skirt!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TrendyFashionMall Women's Printed Kaftans Maxi Dress Multiple Colors & Designs; Brand: TrendyFashionMall; Review: Wow!!!!! For some reason I expected this to not be as soft and silky, but it feels great and flows so nicely! I love love love it! I am 5'4", 120 pounds and the S fits me perfectly. I typically wear a small in shirts.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ksweet 4 x Hijab Caps Women Full Cover Hijab Bonnet Islamic Head Scarves; Brand: Ksweet; Review: Nice, but on the blue one the stitching was off. They don't really all seem to be the same size. Alright for the price, though :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Paisley Luxury 100% Silk Square Scarf - Extra Large Size 40" X 40" (100 cm X 100 cm); Brand: Tanu Collections; Review: It's an alright size and the patterns are nice, but mine was fraying at the edges and very, very thin. Not terribly happy and not tereibly disappointed either... Just "meh".; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Anekaant Women's Cotton Lycra Free Size Indian Chudidar Legging; Brand: Anekaant; Review: Really different from regular leggings, but in my opinion far better. They are not suitable if you wear super tight tops, as the part around the waist is, er, somewhat strange. Basically, the design is a fusion of granny panties and leggings. What I mean by this is that the leggings go up above the belly button and also have a seam before it hits the thigh. This sounds weird but is actually really comfortable and perfect for tunic tops. There is also extra fabric in the leg area which is meant to be bunched up once they are put on, as seen in the photos. Material wise they are nice, too. These are quite stretchy and soft. I like how they are at least part cotton! Strange design, but I find myself ordering more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Gran Hotel Torre Catalunya; City: Barcelona Catalonia; Review: This hotel is in the perfect location for exploring La Rambla, the Gothic area and major shopping. The hotel is across from a beautiful and lively city park (plaza), that is alive 24/7. The decor of our room was modern, which means an open concept bathroom, which is great for one person, but not a lot of privacy for two.The hotel was immaculate overall, and the service was great. It is worthy of the four star rating.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Brunelleschi; City: Florence Tuscany; Review: I'm not sure why this hotel doesn't have a 5-star rating. It is first class in location, service and decor. It is located in a quite plaza with little foot traffic right between the Duomo and the Ufizzi. The breakfast buffet was incredible. My room had high ceilings, stairs down to the maon sleeping area and modern finishings. I would not look at staying at any other hotel in Florence.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Olivia Plaza Hotel; City: Barcelona Catalonia; Review: This hotel is in the perfect location for exploring La Rambla, the Gothic area and major shopping. The hotel is across from a beautiful and lively city park (plaza), that is alive 24/7. The decor of our room was modern, which means an open concept bathroom, which is great for one person, but not a lot of privacy for two.The hotel was immaculate overall, and the service was great. It is worthy of the four star rating.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Melia Habana; City: Havana Ciudad de la Habana Province Cuba; Review: The room was large with a very large balcony. The hotel was very nice and has several restaurants that were pretty good by Cuban standards. The beach was rocky with large waves crashing down; we never ventured down to the beach. The buffet had a huge selection of food, but the quality was 3-star by north american standards, My biggest concern with this hotel is that is a long way from downtown Havana; about 20 minutes by cab. If you are coming to explore Havana, then I suggest you find a hotel closer to the city.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus Silverdale Beach Hotel; City: Silverdale Washington; Review: I've stayed at this hotel about 5 times now, It is an older hotel, but it has been well kept up and renovated. The best room that I stayed in is ground floor on the inner court yard. This room has a small patio, and a beautiful ocean view. It;s definitely worth the nominal upgrade charge to get the ocean view. Very comfortable. The bar has good food and live entertainment on weekends. I would stay here again, as this seems to be the top hotel in Silverdale.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Marina Fiesta Resort Spa; City: Cabo San Lucas Los Cabos Baja California; Review: This resort has a great location right on the hustling, bustling Marina. The service was excellent from all staff. It has high security so only guests are allowed in through a locked gate directly off the Marina. There is an amazing selection of restaurants right outside the gate, and several of them are included in the all-inclusive program. My favourite was Jack's Steak House. They had a great menu and live entertainment nightly. We had no issues getting same-day reservations at any of the restaurants including the Baja Lobster Company. For lunch, I recommend the Sushi restaurant and the Oyster Bar. Our dinner at the Italian restaurant was the least impressive; we were in no hurry to go back. This resort is on the quieter side, which is great, since you can get all the partying you want downtown Cabo just a 10 minute walk away. The biggest downside is that it is a 10 minute walk to the beach, so we ended spending most of our time by the pool. Why wouldn't you in an all-inclusive though? My biggest suggestion for this resort is to get in-room Wifi.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Intown Luxury House; City: Rome Lazio; Review: The location is great near the Spanish steps, but the rooms are tiny. Not at all like the pictures. They led us to a room that wasn't in the main building; it was across the street in separate building. We were on the third floor and the elevator was tiny and very slow. We ended up using the staircase every time. There was a small breakfast outside our room, but somewhat meager. The rooms are nicely finished, but there was very little room for our suitcases. Maybe ok for one person, but very tight for two. There was a view from our room almost directly into another room across a tiny courtyard.I'm not sure how this is rated as four stars. The only possible way is if the rooms in the main building are larger and there is a better elevator. I would not stay there again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: InterContinental New York Barclay; City: New York City New York; Review: The hotel is in a great mid-town location within walking distance to most tourist attractions including Time Square and Central Park. The building has been beautifully renovated and is 5 star in my opinion. Staff were great; especially the bartenders who were very engaging, and true professionals. I would stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Riu Emerald Bay; City: Mazatlan Pacific Coast; Review: The resort is on a beautiful stretch of beach and you can walk a long distance in either direction. This resort is situated north of the Golden Zone and is not within walking distance to any amenities. If you are looking for night life and activities, I suggest you stay in the Golden Zone. We stayed on the sixth floor, and had amazing beach and sunset views. It appears that all rooms have about the same view. I was a little disappointed as this resort was oversold and in reality, is at best a four star resort. The beds are quite hard, the pillows are flat and we had to request extra pillows. They definitely need an upgrade in their linens. The staff in the bars and restaurants were very friendly and did a great job. We had issues with the towel staff and front desk staff when we left one of our towels by the pool one night. They insisted that we buy a new towel card for $10 when the towel was obviously picked up by one of their clean up crew. Like we would be interested in stealing one of their ugly orange towels that has been washed about 1000 times. Other than that, the service was good. The food good, not great. Very good selection, but no a la carte restaurants. There are four restaurants, but they are all buffets and everything was fairly similar at each. The elevators are quite small and sub-standard for a resort of this size. Several times the doors of the elevator opened to a full capacity group and we had to wait for the next one. I was a little disappointed that there is no hot tub at this resort, and the pool is not heated. Overall, I would not stay at this resort again since my expectations are higher for both luxury and locale amenities.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swissotel The Stamford Singapore; City: Singapore; Review: This is one of the nicest hotels I've stayed in. It was first class in every way. Our room way huge, and we didn't even opt for the upgrade. It is in a great location close to parks and tourist areas. We walked to Chinatown from here. We stayed on the 55th floor and had amazing views of the harbour and Marina Sands and Gardens. There is a huge shopping mall connected to the hotel with a great food court and lots of restaurants. I can't say enough about our stay here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Jen Hong Kong; City: Hong Kong; Review: The hotel and amenities were quite nice. Good value. The location is a little remote at the end of the train line, yet only four or five stops from the tourist area of hong kong island. All of the restaurants closed pretty early around the hotel, so not much going on at night in this area. I would try and stay closer to the tourist area next time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tropical Beach Resorts; City: Siesta Key Florida; Review: Great location with a short walk to an amazing beach. Walking distance to a few restaurants and bars. Property is in excellent conditions and rooms are very nice. Our room had a small kitchen and was perfect for our short trip.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Empires Hotel Bhubaneswar; City: Bhubaneswar Khurda District Odisha; Review: Excellent inner environment, very good services and peaceful place to stay. The food served is also of very good quality and quantity. It was a pleasureable stay at Bhubneshwar due to the very good hospitality services of the hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Abad Chullickal; City: Kochi Cochin Ernakulam District Kerala; Review: Nice to stay, nice ineer environment nice services Choice for staty in Kochi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Babylon Inn; City: Raipur Raipur District Chhattisgarh; Review: Excellent place for holding a conference meeting, very nice tasty food with nice hospitality. Worth staying and worth spending the time with excellent inner ethos of the hotel and restaurant. the rooms are quite spacious, The room service is also very good and quick ancillary services helps to make the stay comfortable. Well in the midst of city and nearer to railway station, the location is ideal for stay in Raipur. I participated in the conference in the hotel, I wish next time I get the opportunity to stay in the hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Nirmala; City: Imphal Imphal West District Manipur; Review: In the midst of capital city Imphal, this is a good hotel having restaurant, and the conference hall with all the facilities. The food is of good quality though the restaurant at the first floor is of average look. Nice place to stay for few days; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Donyi Polo Ashok; City: Itanagar Papum Pare District Arunachal Pradesh; Review: In the capital of Arunachal Pradesh on a hilly area there is nice location of a mahal in Itanagar where the rooms are of good quality, conference venue is also available and quite peaceful area surrounding the hotel. Staff is cordial and attentive. however, the food services are of average quality. The rooms on the basement area are quite peaceful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Classic Hotel; City: Imphal Imphal West District Manipur; Review: Classic hotel in Imphal the capital of Manipur is really a classic hotel, at easy location not far away from Airport and middle of the city, safe and secure place. Food is of good quality and served with grace and respect. the rooms on left side are large and quite peaceful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Japfu; City: Kohima Kohima District Nagaland; Review: Hotel Japhu is one of the best hotels in Kohima to stay. The rooms are good and having good quality decor and furniture. The rooms in the basement are quite peaceful and quiet. Restaurant is delivering good food with the availability of room service. There is nice conference hall good for parties as well as meetings and conferences. However, the cleanliness needs more attention in this hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Capitol Residency; City: Ranchi Ranchi District Jharkhand; Review: Good inner etho, peaceful and clean hotel. It is advisable if you book through internet so that you can have sure accommodation. Noise due to passing trains can disturb in front rooms as it is near the railway line. Though the space outside the hotel is not sufficient to have easy movement of vehicles as the parking place is limited.You feel rich to be in Ranchi in Capitol residency; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ratna Palace Residency; City: Thane Thane District Maharashtra; Review: Space is less, rooms are small, but clean, the levels in rooms are uncomfortable, Food is good and available in the restaurant attached with the hotel. Rates are reasonable. Services are thik-thak chhe.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Swosti Premium Hotel; City: Bhubaneswar Khurda District Odisha; Review: Excellent hotel in Bhubaneswar a city of temple. Clean inner etho, warm welcome, excellent services excellent food, excellent exercise facility and on top of all excellent rooms are the characteristic of this hotel which is worth for the value; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Hindusthan International; City: Bhubaneswar Khurda District Odisha; Review: HHI is having average inner etho, All channels not available, Room maintenance is good, Food is average, though served with decor. You have to check whether the milk product is of good quality or not. Staff is courteous and room servixw is prompt. However, if better option is avaialble at the same rate, it should be tried.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: OYO 1220 Casa Broadway; City: Kolkata Calcutta Kolkata District West Bengal; Review: It seems like you are staying in a flat and not in a hotel. It may give a homely feel. The food is good but you have to tell in advance that it should not be spicy. The claims maade on internet shoud be varified in advance.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Le Meridien New Delhi; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: NIce inner etho, Clean, soft, nice food, but internet services are very costly. It is avaialble at a lower rate /free in many hotels even in small towns. Good conference rooms with professional services.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: New Marrion Hotel; City: Bhubaneswar Khurda District Odisha; Review: Feel good, satisfactory experience, luxary at cheaper rate available in Bhubaneswar. Food is good, room service is good, but services on demand. It is almost in center, near to railway station and airport.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swosti Palm Resort; City: Gopalpur On Sea Ganjam District Odisha; Review: In Gopalpur, the resort is having average inner environment with average rooms and average food. the location is little away from sea shore. The room rate are higher and not as per the value for money.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Leela Palace New Delhi; City: New Delhi National Capital Territory of Delhi; Review: Excellent room, excellent bathrooms, comfortable, helping staff, very good food and the best place to stay in Delhi if you want to fill that you are a king and born to enjoy the best of lifestyle and best of services; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Nandan; City: Guwahati Kamrup Metropolitan District Assam; Review: A good hotel to stay in Guwahati in central place with good food and peaceful, with quality room services. However, the wi fi services though given free of charge, will not work automatically and you have to repeatedly remind about it; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Afia Beach Hotel; City: Accra Greater Accra; Review: For those who are beach loving and enjoy the beauty of the sea shore at the door step this is one of the coolest and calm hotel having good food and services. But there can be maintenance problems such as ac not working.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ibis budget Geneva; City: Cointrin; Review: This is a real budget hotel in Geneva with clean, peaceful and quiet. The rastauran is costly, but the food of good quality is just avialable in the market mall just opposite the hotel and is a good place to pass the time; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sierra Lighthouse Hotel; City: Freetown Western Area; Review: Visited the hotel in Freetown for stay. Unfortunately, it was full. However, observed that on the bank of River merging in Atlantic ocean, there was beutiful view from the balcony of the hotel.The place is having security ane peaceful, but just near the slum area; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jam Lodge Hotel; City: Freetown Western Area; Review: In Capital city of Sierra Leone this is one of the best budget acomoodation and very good place which is on main road but just behind the first row and so cool and quiet place to stay with good food and homely feeling; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Golden Star; City: Surat Surat District Gujarat; Review: dark environment, bad lift and poor services are the trademark of this hotel. You should clarify the rates and the mode of payment before you enter in rooms. The etho is not as per the value charged by the hotel; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Super 8 by Wyndham Charlotte Airport North; City: Charlotte North Carolina; Review: Near to the Charlotte international airport, it is a good value for money hotel at a cheaper rate available with all amenities. The hotel is clean, staff is courteous and service is very good in this hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wusum Hotel; City: Makeni Northern Province; Review: Very good hotel in Makeni with swimming pool and restaurants and conference room services. The food is very good and the service is excellent. Very good place for organizing meetings and conferences and occasions; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: M Plaza Hotel; City: Accra Greater Accra; Review: A standard hotel with good etho and peaceful environment with courteous staff and very good restaurants on different floors, with swimming pool and exercise facilities. However, electric supply needs to be continuous and appliances need to be perfect working condition all the time for all the guests; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Nokya 9005 JDM Yellow Light Bulbs NOK7611; Brand: Nokya; Review: I purchased 2 pairs, one for my 2010 Camry and the other for my 2002 Maxima. Both are used as daytime running lights and high beams. I'm very happy with the crisp yellow colour. They also look great when the car's off as the yellow reflects off the chrome inside the headlight. If you're looking for that JDM look, these will give you that. I bought them from Next Level Motoring, who shipped them immediately to my home in Toronto, Canada.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: First Alert LED EB1-R Road Flare - Red; Brand: First Alert; Review: In my search for an alternative to flares, I came across the 9.1.1R lights and purchased 2 based on the positive reviews. I just received them and I'm very pleased. They use 3 AAA batteries (not included) and the batteries can be installed and removed easily. The red light is bright (I have not tested it outdoors) and it gives you the option of flashing or glowing solid. The switch is a small, black rubber button on the top which is easy to use and feels good. The magnet is strong and the 4 rubber feet should protect a cars' paint from potential scratches. I ordered from Amazon.com who shipped quickly to my home in Canada. My only complaint is the manufacturers packaging which was difficult to open.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gates 31412 Radiator Cap; Brand: Gates; Review: My OEM Suzuki radiator cap got deformed and couldn't be removed from my radiator, so I bought this as a cheaper alternative to the costlier OEM cap. It fit perfectly and after driving with it for 1 week, I've had no issues. My only complaint is that it's made in China, but then again, what more can you ask for at this price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: uxcell 20 Pcs Elastic Trim Disposable Truck Car Steering Wheel Covers Films; Brand: uxcell; Review: These do exactly what they're designed for, to protect the steering wheel from dirty hands. I purchased them from uxcell and it arrived at my home in Canada extremely quick, considering it shipped from Hong Kong. I used the cover on a trip to my mechanic and it saved me a lot of time that I would have spent to clean my steering wheel afterwards. I taped the cover with Scotch tape at a few spots so that my mechanic's fingers would not get underneath the cover. The cover is very flexible so it should fit a wide range of steering wheels. I'm surprised garages in my area aren't using these.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blk Leather Armrest Center Console for Suzuki SX-4 New; Brand: phgiveu; Review: I have a 2008 Sport sedan from Canada without any armrests. Shipping from "PhgiveU" was extremely fast and it was well packaged. It came with 4 self tapping screws which I plan to use to secure it. The armrest fits fairly well without screws so thick double sided tape might be enough. The quality of the leather and padding on the cover is great. The latch is cheap but works. The plastic exterior has a decent texture to it. I like the removable tray which divides the inside. I was disappointed by the height of the armrest, which I find too high. I have long arms and a short torso which doesn't help. The height makes it more difficult to move the shifter and hand brake. If you have a manual, I wouldn't buy it. Since I have an auto, it's not a deal breaker.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gates K050658 Multi V-Groove Belt; Brand: Gates; Review: I have a Canadian SX4 Sport 2.0L sedan and have been experiencing belt squeel for a while. I decided to replace it at 150,000 kms as per the service manual. The price of an original Suzuki belt is ridiculous at $90CAD, so I bought this belt instead. Installation was a bit tricky since there's not enough room for a ratchet. I used a 14mm monkey wrench to loosen the belt tensioner. The belt fit just like the original. Initially, the new belt resulted in a low idle (around 500 rpm), but eventually the idle went back to normal. I highly recommend this to other SX4 owners.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NGK (5464) BKR5EIX-11 Iridium IX Spark Plug, Pack of 1; Brand: NGK; Review: I used these on my 2008 Suzuki SX4 sedan with the 2.0L engine. It was my first time replacing plugs on the car, but it was very simple. I installed them at 150,000 kms. I needed to adjust the gap a little to get them to OEM specifications, but besides that, they were a perfect fit. I also applied anti-seize lube to the threads to make them easier to remove in the future. The engine runs and starts flawlessly with these plugs. I highly recommend them to other SX4 owners.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: The Natural Cafe; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: Oh SB. How I miss you soooooo much. And I miss you too Natural Cafe. With your good sized menu full of healthy food at affordable prices. And your pretty little purple tortilla chips. And your water coolers with lemon wedges. And your nice patio. I miss you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cajun Kitchen Cafe; City: Goleta, CA; Review: Cajun kitchen! Where are you when I need you?? How many hangovers have you cured for me with your yummy breakfast selections and ever flowing coffee?? Even though you do get busy and sometimes your seating is awkward, your menu makes it worth it. Your so cheap in a good way. :) I wish you delivered to LA.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Woodstock's Pizza Isla Vista; City: Isla Vista, CA; Review: Honey wheat veggie pizza with a pint of beer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silvergreens; City: Isla Vista, CA; Review: I loved this place when I was still in school. Totally addicted. Haven't been there in a few years, but from what I remember the half sandwich, half salads were awesome. Or get the BBQ Chicken Salad. I loved the water and lemon. And the people watching. And the rolls are yummy too. I think it's a honey wheat oat thingy. Pretty good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Freebirds; City: Isla Vista, CA; Review: Free birds chicken burrito with everything on it. Definitely a must have for late night cravings. If I remember correctly, it's open 24 hours. Be warned though that if you come here late on a party night you might be harrassed by some drunk Gauchos. I think one time this guy threw his food onto my friends food after he had already eaten most of it. Needless to say, she was super grossed out and majorly pissed off. Still, their bbq sauce on the burrito is quite brilliant.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Original Habit Burger Grill; City: Goleta, CA; Review: Best burgers ever. And for a place like this, the sandwiches were quite tasty too. Big portions. Nice patio seating although sometimes it gets hard to find a spot, especially during lunch time. I also really digged the onion rings. A must try if you're visiting SB.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kahuna Grill; City: Goleta, CA; Review: Not bad, not bad. The cheese fries are pretty good. The chicken sandwiches are yummy too. The owner is really nice and so are the servers. But then again, what can you expect from SB. It's full of shining happy people. This place is right next to Borders so feel free to book shop afterwards.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Flavor of India; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: You can't go wrong with Indian buffet. This was the first place I ever tried Indian food at, and I still remember the day. We tried the buffet, which is always nice for a newbie. The food was amazing. The service friendly. The restaurant's clean. Parking was simple especially since you're a little north on State, a ways away from downtown. Excellent food. I'm glad to see this place is still going strong. The complete dinners were also good too if you missed the buffet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Your Place Thai Restaurant; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: Ah your place. It's funny because my friend and I used to always go to either Your Place or My Place. With the cozy atmosphere and the cute location, it's hard to go wrong. The food was super yummy. We used to always get Red curry with pineapple and shrimp, pad thai, and soup. Soooooo good. Gotta try it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hibachi Steak House & Sushi Bar; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: Something's fishy here!! This place is too good, darn it. Ah the memories. You can get super wasted, pig out on BOMB Japanese food, and get a show all in one. Afterwards, you can wander around State. And it always helps when you're friendly with the servers. This place has teppan so if you're into fried and flames, check it out. Definitely a good place for groups. You can sake bomb until tomorrow and it's all good. Sometimes it can get kind of crowded, but it's worth checking out atleast once. Of if you just want to sample the food in peace, the lunch hours are always good and they have specials.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Asian Cafe; City: Goleta, CA; Review: This place is AMAZING. The service is really wonderful. It's a mom and pop shop and you can tell the owners really work hard and they do a great job, which is totally evident by how this place fills up. The food rocks. The pho here is almost as good as my mother's and probably the best I've had at any restaurant. But for me, this place is all about the Vietnamese Pancakes. If you haven't had them, try them. In college, this used to save me so many times. And they're very generous about the veggies if you ask for more. Just a feel good place. Parking is street parking or on the side of the building. TRY TRY TRY TRY TRY.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cal Taco; City: Goleta, CA; Review: Oh Cal Taco. I love that I used to live right down the street from you and used to have your yummy burgers. Never tried the tacos, which is pretty weird, but the burgers and fries are super good. Plus, I love that you were located next to the liquor store that was owned by a very disgruntled man. Too cute. :) A whole in the wall, nothing fancy. Good times.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Philadelphia; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: 3.5. I had lunch here on Tuesday afternoon with the brother. We both have never had it before but decided to try it on account of hearing really good things about this place. The food and drink were awesome. The ambiance was really nice. The service was quite friendly. He got the steak sandwich with plantains, and I got the Coca de Lomo, which was this flatbread pizza-like dish that had some smoked pork on top. Both plates were 13 dollars on the lunch menu and worth every penny. Along with our meals, we ordered a half jug of white Sangria which was 15 bucks and pretty tasty. We got about 2 and a half glasses each from that. Unfortunately, when our waiter was pouring us our first glasses, the wine kept spilling along the side of the jug. Had that not happened, we probably would have gotten 3 glasses each, but what we had was nice enough. Improvements: - It being 40 degrees outside and somewhat empty inside, I didn't really see the need for the fans overhead. We were both really cold when we were eating and they had all the fans on. - The menu was very limited, and I wished there were more options. Also, it was a bit more pricey than I was expecting for lunch. They were closer to dinner prices. - It would have been nice to be given more Sangria to compensate for the amount that spilled. Overall, it was an enjoyable dining experience and I would recommend this place to others. It's the first meal in Philly that I was really impressed with and look forward to much more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pat's King of Steaks; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: This place is pretty good. It's right across the street from Geno's and since the line looked really long at Geno's, I thought I'd try Pat's instead. There are clear instructions at the side of the ordering window so you know how it works. Step 1: Wit or witout onions. Step 2: add ons/ type of sandwich Step 3: pay Next window is for sides, drink, etc. Tables are outside and fairly clean when I was there. You're pretty much surrounded by neighborhood traffic. There's a pepper and condiment bar that consists of big, yummy pickled peppers, ketchup, mustard, and black pepper. My sandwich of choice: provolone wit onions. Pretty good. I've actually had better in California, though I'm excited to try some Philly Yelp recommends for better cheese steak. I know that Pat's and Geno's are more for tourist and there are better finds elsewhere in the city. Pat's was good for a lazy afternoon after the Italian Market. Cheap, fast, filling, and yummy. Worth a try.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Claudio's Specialty Foods; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I decided to stop by this place on an afternoon exploration of the Italian Market. I noticed the cheese counter and that was enough of a draw to get me in. Once inside, I was pleased with the size of the store. It was pretty big, nicely stocked, well-organized, and the customer service is amazingly good. Everybody was super friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and enthusiastic about their products. Aside from the large selection of packaged items offered, you can also sample their cheeses and meats, a lot of which is homemade. The homemade spicy salami was really delicious, and fyi, they're generous with their samples. Go hungry so you can fully sample their array of stock. In the end, I left with two types of salami and a great balsamic vinegar for under 20 bucks. These guys won't push stuff on you, will treat you like family, and in the end, the experience here will leave you wanting to come back. I highly recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Isgro Pastries; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I had my first cannoli here and all I can say is I'm both happy and sad that I waited this long before trying one. Oh cannoli - you are soooooooo delicious and I love you. At Isgro you get a cannoli for 3 bucks each, which is totally worth it considering how good the darn pasty is. They have a few different kinds, but the woman behind the counter told me that the cheese and chips is the best so that's what I got. I was well advised as the cannoli was delectable. I had mine lightly dusted with powder sugar which was perfect because it made the whole thing complete, but if you're counting calories, you can ask for yours without. I'm not sure how much of a difference it would make as the cannoli itself is pretty rich. But you haven't lived until you've had a cannoli. The rest of the bakery is also pretty great. You can smell the goodness from the corner of the block. And once inside, you'll find the showcase nicely stocked with all sorts of cupcakes, cookies, biscotti, etc. Just a tip, it's not on 9th so you might easily miss it, but ask around and you're sure to be pointed in the right direction. This is a definite must stop if you're out in the area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sarcone’s Bakery; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Sarcone's is a really great bakery, if for nothing else, the friendly service. They were incredibly helpful, sending me to Isgro for my cannolis. I think I might have stopped in a little too late in the day for the best of their stock. I actually walked by once, and it was packed so I decided to wait. Then about an hour later, when I ducked in, the shelves were fairly empty. There were a few loaves left so I snagged one for $1.30. It was very yummy, even later in the day so I can only imagine how good it must have been fresh out of the oven. Anyway, I brought it home to my brother, the bread lover, and he had nothing but great things to say about it. As I was leaving, a few more people were coming in for breads. They also have pizza behind the counter too. I'll have to try it again in the morning.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia's 9th Street Italian Market; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: This is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Come around mid-morning so you can have a meal and time to shop as well. I came here during a weekday and the place was pretty empty. Apparently, the time to go is on the weekend when it turns into a bigger experience. That being said, I still had a lovely and lazy time. I spent a good couple of hours here on a sunny Tuesday and left with a bag of the sweetest oranges (8 for a dollar), 2 types of homemade salami, a delicious balsamic vinegar, a great loaf of bread, and some heavenly cannolis. I even had a cheese steak sandwich for lunch at Pat's. If you don't have a car, the key is to come with a backpack and stuff those goodies in there. I was able to walk from Olde City and it only took about 20 minutes to get here. There's also a bus that drops you off right around the corner. Everybody's really friendly here. The food is great. It's a fun little experience, and I highly recommend it. There wasn't as much here as I expected, but the stuff they did have was enough to make it worth your while. Tips: There are some Mexican and Asian restaurants in that area if you're craving that. There are also some great finds along the side streets (not on 9th) so keep your eyes open. I think most of the produce on the street you can only buy in the deals that they sell them. In other words, if it's 8 oranges for a dollar, you can't ask for 4 and pay .50 cents. You have to get all 8. And they pick it for you. There's a Rite Aid nearby where I'm assuming you can get cash back if you need it, but a lot of the shops there take credit cards. It's good to ask questions because most of the people there are looking to help. Enjoy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Massage Arts Center Of Philadelphia; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I was trying to find a massage place and most of the stuff I found through Philly Yelp were a little on the pricey side. Being from LA, it's really easy to find a place that will give a great massage on the cheap. Thank goodness I kept searching because I eventually stumbled on this listing, which led me to their website. I was happy to learn that not only do they offer student massages, but they also have certified professional masseuses there as well for really cheap. I booked an appointment with an apprentice and paid 40 bucks for an excellent 1 hour massage. She really paid attention to my problem areas, was really friendly and helpful, and the best part, she wasn't trying to have a conversation with me while I was being worked on. You could tell she really cared about giving me a great experience, which is great considering sometimes you can get a seasoned professional that could care less about how you feel. They take credit card, but are unable to accept the gratuity that way so make sure to bring some cash with you to tip. Also, this place is located in a big building with other businesses in there so make sure to jot down the address because you won't be able to see it from the street. Also, just because it's a clinic, doesn't mean you'll be in a cold, stale room with florescent lights. Their place is actually quite nice. It's definitely not a spa/salon, but it's pretty comfortable with scented oils, dimly lit, and quiet. Water is available in the front. And once you get inside the rooms, it's definitely relaxing and salon-like. You get the music, comfy sheets, aromatherapy, etc. I've gotten plenty of massages in my lifetime, and I can honestly say if you're simply looking to get your body worked on, this place is totally worth it. For 40 bucks for an hour, it's quite a steal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Asia Supermarket; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I've definitely visited better places on the West Coast. That being said, this place does have your basic Asian market needs. It's located in Chinatown, tucked away inside a building so it's a little hard to find. I think you have to go through some doors and down some steps to find it, but once inside, it's really easy to navigate. The layout is a little awkward but I think it's more due to the lack of space and the larger size of inventory. The prices weren't too cheap nor was it expensive - sort of in a gray zone. I personally feel that one of the benefits of shopping at an Asian market are the cheap prices, but I wasn't really impressed with the prices here. Plus, it wasn't brightly lit and was a little dingy. Apparently, this is my brother's favorite Asian market in the area. I am curious what others are out there and will have to explore a little more on a later date. Good enough, but nothing spectacular.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Zhong Gang Bakery; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Unlike some of the other Yelpers, I really enjoyed this place. That being said I did not try the boba. Instead I purchased a sesame ball, a raisin bun, and an egg tart to go. This place doesn't strike me as a sit in and relax spot considering when I went, there were a lot of older men hanging out. It's probably more of a regular spot for them to come have some dessert and tea in the afternoon. It is a very casual, no pressure spot, and I liked that. And for some reason, even though one could easily find the same stuff elsewhere, there was something about the vibe of this place that made me want to buy from here. The prices were clearly labeled over the food in the showcase that looked pretty fresh, and the lady behind the counter was friendly and attentive. Overall, I spent less than 3 bucks and left with a bag of goodies that all tasted really good. I'll definitely come back for more.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Au Bon Pain; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Located inside 30th Street Station, it's a great go to spot for breakfast on the run. They have a decent selection of bagels, pastries, fruit, drinks. There's even a sandwich bar where someone can make you a quick, hot, customized breakfast sandwich. Some sandwiches and specials are only offered on weekdays so be prepared to reorder. The customer service is pretty friendly. It's not as nice as other Au Bon Pain, but it does the trick and it's easy. Cheap, hot, and reliable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Glick’s Rib Shack; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Who knew the Amish could make such a mean rib sandwich? This place is located inside Reading Terminal, along the wall next to the Amish bakery. For about 6 bucks, you can pick up a truly delicious rib sandwich, with perfectly tender meat and dripping with juices. They give you the option of regular or hot sauce. The hot isn't extreme by any means, but it does have a teeny little kick and can serve as a really great dipping sauce. I'd go with that. Cheese is 50 cents extra, but definitely worth it. The bread is your typical store bought roll, it seems, but it does soak the juice really nicely. Can't complain about that. Overall, the sandwich alone was more than enough to be really filling, but if you have an appetite, they do offer a couple of combo meals that come with sides. There are a few bbq places inside Reading, but I highly recommend this place. Give this a try and then next time check out DiNic's.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kabul Afghan Cuisine; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: 4.5 stars. This place was really good. It was my first Afghani cuisine experience. It wasn't quite mind blowing, but it was pretty close. Located at Chestnut and Front, it's a great place to grab a lovely meal in Old City. It's BYO so unfortunately you won't be able to try Afghani spirits, but the food here is more than enough to keep you satisfied. The entrees start at a little over 10 bucks and go up from there. The chicken dishes are pretty yummy. I ordered the chicken and green beans, my brother got the chicken and eggplant, and his girlfriend ordered the chicken and tomatoes. We did a little pass around so we could sample each of the dishes. All were very good in their own right. The entrees come with bread, white rice, and a salad. My only complaint was that the size of the dish was significantly smaller than the portion of rice. That being said, I'm only complaining because it was so good, and I wanted more! :) Overall, it was a great experience and makes me want to try more. Go check it out!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Doggie Style Pets; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: This is a very cute pet boutique located on Market in Old City. Out front of the shop, they have cute cats, usually asleep in the window display. These kitties are waiting for adoption so if you're looking for a cat, go check this place out. They seem to be a little bit older but definitely still lovable. The interior is fairly small, but they'll definitely have most of what you'll need. The owner works there and she's very friendly so if you can't find something, make sure to ask. Also, the owner's cat is usually chilling in the store too, also asleep. This place is great as your neighborhood pet store. If you go often enough, they'll remember you. Everybody is really friendly here and the prices aren't too expensive. it's fun to hit up if you're in the mood to pamper your pet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hong Kong Bakery Shop; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Friendly, clean, and cheap. This place is probably my favorite Chinese bakery so far in Philly. I stopped by after reading some good reviews of it on Yelp and picked up a couple of egg tarts and pineapple coconut buns. Both were exquisite. The egg tarts were the best I've had in my life. Unfortunately, they were a little mushed on the walk home. They didn't seem as firm as at other places, but they did melt in your mouth and that was worth way more than holding its shape. I'd recommend getting a bunch of those if you come by here. They're addictive and only 70 cents each. The pineapple coconut buns were also ridiculous. Soooo good! Flaky, soft, and sweet, these buns were delicious, huge, and 80 cents a pop. I couldn't even wait to get home with these things and started to munch on them as soon as I walked out the door. The service was friendly too. I have to give props to the lady behind the counter who suggested the coconut pineapple bun. She guided me well. The only thing I wish was different is their raisin bread. It's a little more expensive than at other places and comes in sliced bread form, whereas I like mine more in bun/roll form. I'll probably have to pass on it here but that just gives me an excuse to hit up multiple bakeries and that's never a bad thing. Go here for yumminess!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cafe Saigon; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: It took me awhile to find the place. My GPS kept sending me in circles, and it was very difficult to find; however, I've only been in Philly for a few weeks. I'm sure if you're a native, it probably wouldn't have been difficult. I came in on a Friday morning around 9 AM. There was one other patron in the restaurant, but otherwise, it was empty. I got the phnom penh rice noodle soup, cut up chinese donuts, and an iced condensed milk coffee. Food came out after about 5 minutes. The food was hot, really delicious, and there was lots of it! I'm usually one to add condiments to my soup, but the broth here was so yummy, I ate it just as is. FYI, for the hoisin fans out there, they didn't have it at any of tables so don't ask, just go with it. Also, there may or may not be MSG. Drink lots of water. I was in here for about 40 minutes. I noticed that while I was there, they had a steady stream of to go customers. It was pretty much non-stop, which is quite impressive for a Friday morning. The employees were really friendly and since the food was so tasty, I'm not surprised. I probably won't be back for awhile because it's kind of out of the way for me. If I lived closer, I'd probably be there at least twice a month. Plenty of parking, no fuss, good food, quiet. Perfect place to enjoy breakfast alone. It wouldn't be a bad idea to bring a newspaper or magazine. Credit card: Major Credit Cards, $15 minimum Parking: Free Lot Location: Strip Mall Purchased: Phnom Penh Rice Noodle Soup, Chinese Donut, Iced Condensed Milk Coffee Total: $ 11.00+; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ground Zero Salon; City: Mt. Airy, PA; Review: This was my first visit. Same day appointment wasn't an issue. There's metered parking out front on Germantown Avenue, but you can do street parking in the neighborhood. About 3 or 4 stylist stations. I had Sarah as a stylist. She was really nice, gave a great cut, and was very personable. She gave me a consultation before we started and listened to my preferences. I felt very comfortable the entire time. $50 for the cut. Bring cash for tip since they don't allow it on credit card. I'll definitely come back. Credit card: Major Credit Cards, Cannot add tip on card Parking: Metered parking out front, Neighborhood street parking Location: Germantown Ave. Purchased: Women's haircut Total: $ 50.00 before tip; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brewers Outlet Of Mt. Airy & Chestnut Hill; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Pretty sweet place and does the trick. I'm new to Philly so I'm still adjusting to the beer/alcohol laws. A little more costly than what I'm used to in California, but it's fine. It's basically a small warehouse full of beer. It was kind of warm in there when I went so I didn't really want to stay in there and peruse. I don't remember any of the beers being refrigerated except for possibly a walk-in fridge for kegs so make sure to plan for that. There was only one checker open and there was a line, but people were patient. They take credit card. Everything was really convenient. There's a parking lot with plenty of parking. The only carts I saw were like the ones at Costco for larger loads so if you're planning for just a few cases, I'd recommend coming with a buddy to help you carry some things. They also have chips and other munchies but not a huge selection. Credit card: Major Credit Cards Parking: Free Lot Location: Corner Location on Germantown Ave. Meal purchased: Blue Moon 24 bottle case. Total: $ 36.71; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Daly Angkor; City: Bryn Mawr, PA; Review: I haven't Yelped in awhile, but after eating here a few times and reading some of the reviews, I feel compelled to write. Khmer restaurants are few and far between in the area. As a Cambodian, I've spent many hours searching online for something - anything - that might resemble my mother's cooking. One glorious day, Daly Angkor came up in one of those searches. The restaurant is located on Lancaster Ave., right on the main strip. It's easy to miss driving by but not hard to find on foot. For parking, there are meters right out front and street parking in the neighborhood. The interior of the restaurant is on the smaller side, with seating for approximately 50+ people. There are two seating options: regular dining tables and traditional floor dining. It's a good place to go for a low-key meal, on a date or with friends and family. It's definitely not a scene. Typically, the food is AMAZING!!! The flavors are a little different than what I'm used to at home, but it's subtle and sophisticated and worthy of praise. However, I will say, I've been there once when the owner wasn't there, and sadly, the food was mediocre. I'm not sure what that was about, but I WOULD RECOMMEND DINING THERE WHEN THE OWNER IS IN. I'm pretty sure she's usually there most of the time. She's a very friendly and welcoming woman, and she's always happy to make suggestions and modifications, if she can. Some tasty dishes: Somlaw Machu Yourn Soup (off-menu), Jungle Shrimp, Lemongrass Beef with Pickled Mustard Greens, Fried Fish with Young Mango, Pineapple Chicken, and if you're daring, Prohouk Khteas (off-menu). I am a huge fan of this place. I've been here 3 times already in the past few months, and I live in Philly and I don't have a car, which should tell you how amazing this place is. If you're craving Khmer food or interested in trying it for the first time, I would suggest giving this place a shot.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beiler's Bakery; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: After spending some time in Philly, I've become quite addicted to the cheesesteak and other sandwiches that involve delicious, fluffy, yummy, bread rolls. Unfortunately, living in CC, it's almost impossible to find a place that sells decent rolls in the city. Note: PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!! I would love to buy rolls close to Penn Center (and no, I don't have a car so the Italian market isn't that convenient for me). Low and behold, after some Googling, I found out that Beiler's in Reading Terminal might have the answer. I showed up at 5:15 PM after my haircut at Kevin's Salon (I'll save that review for another day), and they were packing up. Incredibly enough, they still had a line. When it was my turn, I asked the gentleman behind the counter for sandwich rolls. I was offered several different kinds, including buns, baguettes, and traditional club rolls. Everything cost $2! I picked up the club rolls for the sausage sandwiches that I had in mind and promptly returned home to get my cook on. The results: ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. Almost as good as Amoroso's. In a pinch for 2 bucks? DONE. I highly recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BurgerFi; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Not bad. Pretty much tastes exactly the same as Shake Shack IMHO. They have a bar though, which is sweet. Saturday happy hour and draft beers for $3 a pop. Can't beat that. Two TVs, plenty of seating, fast service, chill vibe. I would come back if I was in the area and had friends craving burgers. Probably not if I had to go out of my way. Less than $5 for a single build your own burger. I'm a petite lady, and a single burger and beer didn't really fill me up. Next time, I'll share some onion rings or fries. Give it a try. It wasn't bad.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dim Sum Garden; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Did somebody say soup dumpling??? OKAY, PURRRFECT! This is my go to dim sum spot in Philly. It's clean, tasty, reasonably priced. It's not a cart serving, chaotic, dim sum place, but it gets the job done, and it's easier to have friends (that might not be as adventurous) join. It also has a lot of veg options so that's a plus. You order off a menu. The food comes out relatively quickly. It's BYOB if you're so inclined. I've been known to come solo and polish off an order of soup dumplings from time to time. There's no shame. Plus, the table sauces are delicious, and you won't really get enough with a take-out order. What's there to be said that hasn't already been said in all the other reviews? This place is delicious. Great anytime of the day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Franklin Fountain; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Pricey but cute. Every time I've been here, the lines are usually super long. It's definitely a tourist spot, but it's also fun for an occasional treat. It has this old time, charming, soda shop feel to it. They also have free, cute Franklin Fountain advertising cards, which make for an easy souvenir. I'm pretty sure it's cash only, but I can't recall. $20 should cover it. Last time we were here, we got two shakes and strolled around Old City. Perfect for a chill, sunny summer day. If you're in Old City, it would be worth checking out, but there are also tons of yummy ice cream shops in the city if you're further away. Enjoy!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Transgender 101: A Simple Guide to a Complex Issue; Author: Nicholas Teich; Review: Hmm. I can read this because I've been to college, though quite a while ago. This is not a "Simple" guide. It IS a very organized guide. Seems more like it's meant for a college class than a mom in her 50s.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Peanuts Philosophers (4 vol. set); Author: Perseus; Review: My cousins' sons love these. On cousin's son had to sleep with one of the books and take it to preschool to show everyone. I think the size is so appealing!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Why I am an Atheist Who Believes in God: How to give love, create beauty and find peace; Author: Visit Amazon's Frank Schaeffer Page; Review: Bought this book for a class at my Unitarian Universalist church. So glad that the book wasn't mandatory. I couldn't see the point. Frank is no atheist. Maybe he used the word to sell the book. I also just couldn't stomach his writing style. I know others have enjoyed the book. I made it two chapters, I think.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Get It Done When You're Depressed; Author: Visit Amazon's Julie A. Fast Page; Review: I thought I'd lost my other copy that I bought years ago. I love this book. Julie really gets how hard it is to do needed tasks when one is depressed. She also gets how hard it is to read a self help book when depressed! This book is written exactly for a depressed person to process. She wrote it while depressed. I have been so impressed at the ultra short chapters and their easy to read and process format. One can take the book in small bites, which is how a depressed person has to take life in general.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Idaho Mountain Wildflowers: A Photographic Compendium, 3rd ed.; Author: A. Scott Earle; Review: My great-aunt is a naturalist in southeast Idaho. She feels that this book does not give enough coverage to the southeastern mountains. She still enjoys the book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nutrient Power: Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal Your Brain; Author: William J. Walsh; Review: I learned about the Walsh Protocol from a friend and accessed DHA Laboratory online to have my zinc and copper tested. The same tests can be ordered by your doctor. They are run by Labcorp in both cases. I was found to have incredibly low zinc and sky-high copper. Why haven't doctors been testing me? I bought this book for more detail. The book is very detail oriented. The title is very pop-medical sounding, but the book is not that way at all. I have an engineering background, and I found the book fairly difficult at times! This is a scienced-based book. Please read the book, and know that you can order your own tests online at the lab mentioned above. I have no monetary connection to DHA Lab. It's just a good resource.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Barnes & Noble Replacement Charging Sync Cable for Nook HD and HD+ (5 Feet); Brand: Barnes & Noble; Review: Since we still have original Nooks we thought we still had a need for these chargers. We found Nook chargers to be very delicate and not long lasting but they did charge the Nook quickly. Now we use a regular charger and just let the Nooks charge over-night when we want to use them. Only three stars since I would buy another one depending on the need and for quick charging. Minus two stars for being too delicate.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Polaroid PIC-300 Instant Film Camera (Red); Brand: Polaroid; Review: Purchased this product for my teenager as an easy point and shoot camera. Solid camera, light carry, fits easily in a purse. She had some trouble at first adjusting the settings - so minus one star for a hiccup in ease of use. Overall a good purchase for a first time teen camera owner.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crosley CR8005A-PI Cruiser Portable 3-Speed Turntable, Pink; Brand: Crosley; Review: Vinyl is all the rage. Pulling out old records and buying new is bringing back great memories and retelling of scandalous stories from the 70's. Good times!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fujifilm INSTAX Mini Instant Film Twin Pack (White); Brand: Fujifilm; Review: Fuji is always good film. Only rating it because unless you order the film on line, but the film can be hard to find. The camera is just way to much fun.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fujifilm Instax Groovy Camera Case - White; Brand: Fujifilm; Review: Very hippy sixties. Camera is a bit hard to get out but protects well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FITUEYES Universal TV Stand Base Swivel Tabletop TV Stand with Mount for 32 inch to 55 inch Flat Screen Tvs/Xbox; Brand: FITUEYES; Review: easy to assemble. very sturdy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ZAGG InvisibleShield Glass Screen Protector for Apple iPad mini 4; Brand: ZAGG; Review: Save my six year olds Ipad that had hairline cracks. Great product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: El Jalapeno Mexican Restaurant; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: El Jalapeno has become my "go to place" for Mexican food. They have good queso and guacamole dip. It is easy to get to just of 465. The waiters and waitresses and friendly and helpful. Their prices are reasonable. They have a punch card you can get at checkout and after you buy 10 meals you'll get $6 off. The restaurant is clean and has a peaceful and laid back atmosphere. Its casual dress and kid friendly. I highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beech Grove Chiropractic; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: The staff is friendly and personable. They care about you and take their time. Dr. James is great. I wouldn't go anywhere else for care since I trust them so much. They take insurance but even their cash price is very affordable. The office is clean and a nice relaxing atmosphere.They always fit me in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stacked Pickle Southport; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: The best fried pickles ever! It's the main reason I go there but all of their food is great! I've been to 3 different Stacked Pickle locations near Indianapolis. This one wasn't as busy or as loud which I really liked. The waitress was great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Robby's Pub; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: I love the food and atmosphere. The have 3 different kinds of fries to choose from which I think is cool. I really like the tenderloin and the wraps. The prices are good and the waitresses are quick and nice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tibbs Drive-In Theatre; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: I had not been to a drive inn in years. We brought the kids out to see Incredibles 2. It was a great time. The kids really liked the playground which helped the time pass until the movie started without kids getting bored. The concessions are a little high on some things but not bad on others. The bathrooms were clean and the staff at concessions were friendly and helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Corsair Apple Certified 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3 1333 MHz (PC3 10600) Laptop Memory for Mac Model CMSA16GX3M2A1333C9; Brand: Corsair; Review: My 17" MacBook Pro was operating intermittently. I purchased and installed these memory cards, but the problem continued. Finally, I took my MacBook to apple, and they said that the logic board had failed. They replaced the logic board, but they also installed 4GB of Apple RAM and returned my 16GB cards. The Apple genius says they are not compatible. Too bad.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mediabridge HDMI Cable (6 Feet) Supports 4K@60Hz, High Speed, Hand-Tested, HDMI 2.0 Ready - UHD, 18Gbps, Audio Return Channel; Brand: Mediabridge; Review: Bought it for my 4K TV. Didn't disappoint.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mediabridge HDMI Cable (10 Feet) Supports 4K@60Hz, High Speed, Hand-Tested, HDMI 2.0 Ready - UHD, 18Gbps, Audio Return Channel; Brand: Mediabridge; Review: Bought it for my 4K TV. Didn't disappoint.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SP Silicon Power 64GB SDXC UHS-I Memory Card, Elite Series; Brand: SP Silicon Power; Review: Quality product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DHT Electronics Handheld Antenna Cable SMA male to UHF SO-239 Female Connectors 6''; Brand: DHT Electronics; Review: Nothing to go wrong.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maxmoral 5-Pack PL-259 UHF Female to UHF Female Coax Cable Adapter S0-239 UHF Double Female Connector Plug; Brand: Maxmoral; Review: Nothing to go wrong.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pelican 1450 Case with foam; Brand: Pelican; Review: Quality product. Easy to use.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pelican 1200 Camera Case With Foam (Desert Tan); Brand: Pelican; Review: Quality product. Easy to use.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DHT Electronics 2pcs RF coaxial coax adapter BNC male to UHF female SO-239 SO239; Brand: DHT Electronics; Review: Perfect adapter.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DHT Electronics 2pcs RF coaxial coax adapter BNC female to UHF male PL-259 PL259; Brand: DHT Electronics; Review: I need more of these.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Super Power Supply® BNC Male to 2 Dual Banana Binding Female Posts Plug Jack RF Coax Coaxial Connector Adapter; Brand: Super Power Supply; Review: Exactly what I needed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Gran Melia Palacio de Isora Resort Spa; City: Alcala Guia de Isora Tenerife Canary Islands; Review: Best hotel I've ever stayed in. The pool areas are stunning, the food and drinks are fantastic and the staff very friendly. We stayed in the Red Level area and the additional cost was well rewarded. Will be going back without a doubt.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Homefield Grange Retreat; City: Rushton Northamptonshire England; Review: I knew I'd write a positive review for Homefield Grange the moment I arrived. The location, decor, staff and bedroom were all great. It only got better from that point on. So I could write an essay on all the great things but the comment from my neighbour when I arrived home from my 5 day detox I think sums it up better than my words. 'You've come back looking healthier, more relaxed, more positive and more energetic than you have done after any holiday' He's been my neighbour for 7 years. Thank you to everyone there both from Homefield Grange and guests. I'll be back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Travelodge Manchester Central Arena; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: Who would think, lovely staff, spotlessly clean, cheap and in a great location. Plus parking. It will be my next 'better than a taxi there and back' Manchester hotel! And the parking was 24 hour so OK to leave my car there for shopping tomorrow.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel UR Portofino; City: Palma de Mallorca Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: Stayed in a small single room at last minute. It was as small as the picture. However stayed the day eating on the pool patio area and had the best food and service for a very low price (especially if £ to Euro exchange was better). Every plate of food that came out looked amazing. If you're in the area I'd fully recommend lunch.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grande Real Santa Eulalia Resort Hotel Spa; City: Albufeira Faro District Algarve; Review: Had booked via email for a treat meal for 3 girlfriends. They didn’t have our booking when we got there but tables were available. Instead of just seating us we were made to wait for about 10 minutes whilst the waiters ignored us until we asked again. We were then seated. Had an OK but far from outstanding meal. Starters were good but main courses must have been left out for a while before serving as they were cold. Compared to other places we ate on our trip it was over priced for what we got. Service was slow. We did mention the cold meals but were exhausted from the slow service and arrival so didn’t pursue this point.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Hunter; Author: Visit Amazon's Mercedes Lackey Page; Review: Great read for the right price. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series. D d d d; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon's Children (The Genesis of Shannara, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Terry Brooks Page; Review: Good read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rithmatist; Author: Visit Amazon's Brandon Sanderson Page; Review: Good read as usual from Mr Sanderson . A a a a a a a a a a a a; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gods of Blood and Bone (Seeds of Chaos) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Azalea Ellis Page; Review: Good read with some original ideas. Well worth the time spent reading.i am going to start reading the second book now.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Perilous Waif (Alice Long); Author: Visit Amazon's E. William Brown Page; Review: Lots of original ideas that sets it apart from other books in the genre. Worth the time spent reading it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Super Powereds: Year 1 (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Drew Hayes Page; Review: Good story within the super power genre. I will be reading the next one as I certainly enjoyed this one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Izod Womens Low Cut Cool Max And Toe Stripe 3 Pair Pack Sock; Brand: ; Review: These are comfy, soft and just what I wanted. (dark socks to go with my darker shoes) I wish the IZOD lettering weren't visible across the top, but whatever. Didn't bother me enough to send back. these are keepers; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Women's Pansy; Brand: Merrell; Review: these are sporty but still attractive. I had another pair of Merell flip flops that were looking old and beat so I got these to replace them. Perfect fit, no break-in period required. Very happy with these!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KUT from the Kloth Women's Diana Skinny Jean; Brand: ; Review: The denim in these jeans is the typical dense, denim feel you'd expect from jeans. I have the same jeans in a dark wash, same size, but the fabric is lighter, different and they fit great. Normally I can wear any size 8 from Kut from the Kloth, but these are definitely tighter than the dark ones I already own so these are being returned.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fruit of the Loom Women's 4-Pack Cotton Fashion Bikini Panties; Brand: ; Review: You should be able to choose the colors/patterns you're getting. These were odd. I ordered according to my hip size and they fit around the hips, but they barely covered my rear (which is not particularly large) and the elastic rides up my cheeks. I'll go back to my trusty Jockeys. They cost a little more, but they're worth it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Jockey Men's Underwear Classic Full Rise Brief - 3 Pack; Brand: ; Review: I was trying to buy new underwear for my husband and used the sizing on his pants as an indicator of what size to buy in these briefs. Since he wears his underwear slightly below the waist (where he's not at his widest), these were WAY too big.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Rieker Women's 74563 Kendra 63-W; Brand: ; Review: I needed low heeled boot for winter that was nice enough to wear with work clothes. this worked great. I wore them all day in DC, walking from meeting to metro to museums and they felt great. I could probably wear thicker socks for a more snug fit but i like the extra room vs too tight a fit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bella Ladies Flowy Racerback Tank; Brand: Bella; Review: I bought 3 of these for yoga. they do not cling at the belly like other yoga clothes! They are a little too long for my short torso, but that's better than too short!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mens Hanes Comfortsoft Dyed Crew 4 Pack - 2165BK; Brand: ; Review: my husband wanted an undershirt that didn't glare out from underneath dark shirts or sweaters. it's a nice layering piece; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Ultimate Men's 3-Pack FreshIQ Crew Neck Tee; Brand: ; Review: my husband wanted an undershirt that didn't glare out from underneath dark shirts or sweaters. it's a nice layering piece; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Ultimate Men's Classics X-Temp Crew-Neck Soft Breathable T-Shirt; Brand: ; Review: my husband wanted a basic tee for working out. the fabric is nice - not too thin but breatheable; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jockey Men's Underwear Seamless Waistband Boxer Brief - 2 Pack; Brand: ; Review: my husband loves the seamless style and this cotton is nicer than similar styles in another brand; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Ultimate Men's 3-Pack X-Temp Boxer Briefs; Brand: ; Review: My husband wanted cotton, seamless boxer briefs. these are so long they are almost like bike shorts.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: KEEN Women's Presidio Shoe; Brand: ; Review: I would wear nothing but tennis shoes or flip flops everywhere if left to my own devices. These are at least a bit nicer looking and sturdier. Love them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Ultimate Women's 3-Pack Soft Stretch Hipster Panties; Brand: ; Review: the elastic at the legs feels awkwardly tight as you pull them on but they fit well and stay in place.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swatch Matelot White Dial Blue Plastic Band Quartz Woman's Watch LN149; Brand: Swatch; Review: Other reviewers described this watch as too small, like for a child. That makes it perfect for me! I have tiny wrists and usually have to get metal bands and have links removed, which is an ordeal. This one fits me right out of the box! And the face is not gigantic like most Swatches are. It's cute and comfortable. Very happy with it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsonite Wheeled Underseater Small; Brand: ; Review: This is a nice sized bag and met nearly all my requirements but I ended up returning because it does not fit over the handle of my larger rolling suitcase. The strap on the back does not stretch at all. The other concern I had was that the sides are hard, so I wouldn't be able to squish it under a seat with less room underneath, which was the primary reason I wanted this bag - to be my second piece of luggage to fit under seats, or to be my primary piece when I don't want to gate check a bag.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Women's Wear Around Nightshirt; Brand: Hanes; Review: I had one of these many years ago and don't know if I lost it or gave it away. I ordered it recently to be part of my Halloween costume and it was perfect, and I intend to sleep in it for many years to come!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EDENKISS Women's High Waist Artificial Leather Legging; Brand: PINKISS; Review: bought these for a costume party and they were PERFECT! I've also worn them to parties and always get compliments! Love them; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Altra Women's Intuition 3.5 Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: looks a little like a clown shoe and feels a little like a platform shoe. in the end, my PT recommended another type of shoe anyway so I returned these.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Women's Convertible Seamless Wire Free Bra; Brand: ; Review: Comfy. just what I wanted. great value; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Best Western Plus French Quarter Landmark Hotel; City: New Orleans Louisiana; Review: First time to New Orleans. So glad we found this hotel. It is right across from Louis Armstrong park. A beautifu park. We stayed 8 nights. Very reasonably priced. The staff were all super friendly and helpful. The room was perfect. Unusual to have walls painted dark but we really liked it. The breakfast was a perfect variety. Waffle maker saw a lot of action. They were good. Eggs every day and different breakfast meat each day. Cereal yogurt toast fruit. Couldn't ask for more. Such a convenience. We really appreciated it. Staff made tour reservations which was a huge help. Most tours pick u up at hotel. Really felt like the tourist industry and the hotels had it all worked out ..which meant it all worked for us. Hotel was a straight shot down st Anne's which ended at cafe dumonde. So easy to find our way back. Stop for bengiets every night and roll on back down st Anne to n rampart. Turn right walk a couple blocks and ahhhh just like being home.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Glacier Park Lodge; City: East Glacier Park Montana; Review: I admit this was not an upscale room. In fact first time ever hive had them not make my bed because I had left my pillow on the bed. Found note that said they could not make bed with personal belongings on it. The floor kinda tilted and windows stuck. But to me that is part of the ambiance. If they were to update and make this more upscale it would be loosing so much historic feel. We had a great outdoor porch which is where we spent a lot of our time. Had a great view. Bell hops were friendly in their cute little nickers. We slept well and enjoyed our time here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites Medford; City: Medford Oregon; Review: Very nice room. Very clean very quiet. Buffet breakfast adequate. Pool and spa unviting. Forgot my suit. Coffee bar a nice addition. People very friendly. If u need a place in medford here's where to stop.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard Portland Tigard; City: Tigard Oregon; Review: This courtyard was extremely nice. Especially after a day of driving from sacramento. We were tired so rather than go out had a bite in the bustro. Was pretty good burger and fries. Bed was huge and wonderful. Liked the decor and the hide a bed. Just stayed a night. Very quiet room. Had breakfast in the bistro. It was made to order delicious. I tried the egg white fritatta. It was delicious. I would definitely recommend. I wasn't even trying to be healthy but it was and I was hap o y that's what I ordered. Know I will never be able to duplicate at home. Thanks marriott for a wonderful stay. P.s. keurig in the room was a nice touch.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Carmel Mission Inn Fuse Lounge Cafe; City: Carmel Monterey County California; Review: Good location out of the hubbub of downtown. Easy t get to. Nice rooms. We were in the building with elevator. Elevator worked great. And the door faces the barnyard shopping and restaurants. So literally just step out the door and shop and eat. We tried Lafayette bakery which was fabulous. Had pizza at allegro, chicken at SUR, breakfast at skratch ( my niece swears thy have the best eggs Benedict anywhere, and also had dinner at Robata sushi (I thought the tempura was wonderful). That said must say the buffet breakfast at the hotel was very very good. Highly recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Holiday Inn Express Hotel And Suites Carlisle Harrisburg Area; City: Carlisle Pennsylvania; Review: My first recommendation would be to call the hotel for prices. I looked on several sites and was told there were no discounts available only to hear the front desk clerk quote a price to someone for one of the nights we were there at half of what we were paying! We were in town for an event at the War College so we needed something close by and just paid what we could find. There was apparently a car show in town which negated the weekend discounts but, we stayed until Tuesday. That being said, it was a very quiet hotel overall. The staff was nice and breakfast was good. Rooms were clean and well maintained. However, on Monday morning we had planned to sleep in as we had been busy and needed a few extra hours. There were probably only 9 other rooms occupied that morning and they decided to have the carpet cleaner start at 9am right in front of our door! So much for that "do not disturb" sign on the door as he banged the nozzle against our door several times. I probably would only rate this as a good hotel, better than average but, just short of very good, but, that is not an option I gave them the benefit of the doubt.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: AmericInn by Wyndham Fairfield; City: Fairfield Iowa; Review: We stayed here for one night while traveling to a family event in Iowa. This is a very clean, comfortable, quiet hotel. Jo at the front desk was so friendly and helpful giving us recommendations for restaurants nearby. They had a good breakfast in the morning and a nice little bar area behind the front desk. We have never stayed at an AmericInn before but, will definitely stay at another one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Manhattan Times Square Central; City: New York City New York; Review: This hotel has been opened since June and it is wonderful. Spacious rooms for NY standards and reasonable prices. Just a few blocks from Times Square. Plenty of food places nearby from nice restaurants to pizza and fast food and everything in between. The hotel breakfast that is free is pretty good with hot and cold items. We stayed here one night before a cruise and it was the perfect location. We would stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Country Inn Suites By Radisson Port Canaveral; City: Cape Canaveral Brevard County Florida; Review: We stayed here for one night before going on our cruise. The hotel is the closest to the port and we could see our ship from our window. The hotel is nice, good breakfast in the morning, clean and quiet for the most part. It was extremely busy when we were there and lots of kids running wild but, still a good stay. If you are going to use their shuttle to the port make sure you book that asap. We had a later time that we had hoped but, were able to get on an earlier one. There is a Burger King in walking distance but, not much else. Was a perfect one night before the cruise and would stay here again when going out of Port Canaveral.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Andaz Savannah; City: Savannah Georgia; Review: This was a perfect location, one block from city market and river street. We could walk to everything but, it was still a quiet hotel. We had a king room which was a decent size, not huge but, not tiny. They have free soda, juice and water in the mini bar in the room!! Beds were very comfortable and had nice bathrooms and tv. Really couldn't ask for more in a room. The staff was very friendly and when our AC wasn't working well they got right to it and was fixed when we came back. The hotel has a nice bar and restaurant area but, we didn't eat there. There is a pool area with lots of chairs and cabanas on the second floor. Too hot for us during the day and it closed at 10pm, would've been nice to be open later on Friday and Saturday nights especially when it was still so hot. Would definitely stay there again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Watcher in the Shadows; Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon; Review: CARLOS RUIZ ZAFON IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS. HE IS NEVER DISAPPOINTING.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Italian Pocket Dictionary: Italian-English/Inglese-Italiano (Berlitz Pocket Dictionary); Author: Berlitz Publishing; Review: FABULOUS LITTLE POCKET DICTIONARY. TAKE IT WITH ME ALL THE TIME.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: El Palacio de la Medianoche; Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon; Review: RUIZ ZAFON IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS. I JUST RECEIVED THIS BOOK, SO I HAVE NOT READ IT YET, BUT I KNOW I WILL LOVE IT. I HAVE READ MOST OF THIS AUTHOR'S BOOKS AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN DISAPPOINTED. EVEN HIS YOUNG ADULT BOOKS, LIKE THIS, CAN BE ENJOYED BY EVERYBODY. AND THERE IS NOTHING DIRTY IN THEM. VERY REFRESHING.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Werewolf of Bamberg (A Hangman's Daughter Tale); Author: Visit Amazon's Oliver Ptzsch Page; Review: OLIVER POTZSCH IS AN INCREDIBLE WRITER AND NEVER DISAPPOINTING. I HAVE READ ALL OF HIS BOOKS, STARTING WITH "THE HANGMAN'S DAUGHTER" (A COSTCO MONTHLY SELECTION THAT INCLUDED A VERY POSITIVE REVIEW THAT GENERATED MY INTEREST IN THE BOOK. ) THIS IS HIS FIFTH IN THE HANGMAN'S DAUGHTER SERIES, SO I AM ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE NEWEST BOOK. I ALSO HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIS "LUDWIG CONSPIRACY" ABOUT BAVARIA'S MAD KING AS WELL AS AN ON OUR TIME PLOT. BEST THING ABOUT HIS SERIES, YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ THEM IN ORDER, SINCE THEY ARE EXTREMELY WELL WRITTEN AND RESEARCHED, BUT YOU APPRECIATE HIS STORIES MORE IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE CHARACTERS AND PREVIOUS PLOTS. I RECOMMEND IT WITHOUT RESERVATIONS. AFTER I AM DONE, I SHARE THE BOOKS WITH MY SISTERS WHO ENJOY THEM JUST AS MUCH.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Time Must Have a Stop (British Literature); Author: Visit Amazon's Aldous Huxley Page; Review: A very different book. It takes time to get used to the style. It has excellent comments and advise, but the ending left me hanging. Well, British writers do that. Not always a happy ending.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Vatican Cookbook: Presented by the Pontifical Swiss Guard; Author: David Geisser; Review: A beautiful book with wonderful recipes, history and anecdotes. I was so impressed when I first saw the preview on Fox and Friends, that I ordered four books. One for me and three for very unique gifts that have been greatly appreciated. I recommend it very highly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Play of Death (A Hangman's Daughter Tale); Author: Visit Amazon's Oliver Ptzsch Page; Review: As usual, Oliver Potzsch has done an outstanding job. I have read every book in the Hangman's Daughter series, and have nothing but fabulous comments about them. So many cliffhangers in his books, it is almost unfair. What a ride?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Sombra del Viento (Spanish Edition); Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon; Review: I READ THE ENGLISH VERSION, AND LOVED IT. RECOMMENDED IT TO EV ERYBODY AND THEY ALL LOVED IT. NOW, I AM ENJOYING IT IN SPANISH, THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Late Show; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Connelly Page; Review: AS USUAL, A GREAT BOOK. MICHAEL CONNELLY IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS. I HAVE READ ALL OF HIS NOVELS. THIS ONE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BECAUSE IT WAS FROM A FEMALES' POINT OF VIEW. WOMEN WILL LOVE IT.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Sombra del Viento (El cementerio de los libros olvidados nº 1) (Spanish Edition) eBook; Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon; Review: I READ THE ENGLISH VERSION, AND LOVED IT. RECOMMENDED IT TO EV ERYBODY AND THEY ALL LOVED IT. NOW, I AM ENJOYING IT IN SPANISH, THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Birkenstock Amsterdam Soft Footbed Clog; Brand: Birkenstock; Review: LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these super-comfy and super-cute shoes! Perfect fit, unique and pretty color, soooooo comfy, and excellent price! Loved so much that I ordered the red/brown pair too!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Birkenstock Florida Blue Synthetic Sandals Regular Width; Brand: Birkenstock; Review: Felt they ran a bit large, but tightening the straps made them work just fine. Purchased for my daughter and she was happy...good transaction!!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Birkenstock Women's Mules; Brand: Birkenstock; Review: Purchased for my daughter and she loves them! But, we already knew that because we wear Birks...she wears a narrow 40, momma wears a medium 40...COMFY!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Birkenstock Women's Mules; Brand: Birkenstock; Review: Purchased for my daughter and she loves them! But, we already knew that because we wear Birks...she wears a narrow 40, momma wears a medium 40...COMFY!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Invicta Women's 16326 PRO DIVER Analog Display Japanese Quartz Silver Watch; Brand: Invicta; Review: BEAUTIFUL watch, I LOVE IT! If I didn't already own a gold watch, I'd buy that one as well! HECK, I may buy it anyway because you certainly can't beat Amazon's price!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Isotoner Women's Terry Ballerina; Brand: ; Review: Nice comfortable travel slipper. Appears to be well made. Solid purchase!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Travelpro Luggage Maxlite3 22 Inch Expandable Rollaboard, Blue, One Size; Brand: Travelpro; Review: LOVE this lightweight roller board! It glides quietly and almost effortlessly. Will DEFINITELY purchase again when needed!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sebago Women's Claremont Chukka Boot; Brand: ; Review: Sebago boots are quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Stylish and comfortable!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sebago Kowloon; Brand: ; Review: LOVE THESE BOOTS! Very comfortable and a relaxed stylish look.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Teach Yourself VISUALLY Photoshop Elements 7; Author: Visit Amazon's Mike Wooldridge Page; Review: When I wanted to learn how to use my new Photoshops elemment 7. I went to Teach Yourself visually. I have used those books to learn just about everything I know about my computer and the programs I use. I was not disappointed in this one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dancing with Max: A Mother and Son Who Broke Free; Author: Visit Amazon's Emily Colson Page; Review: It was inspiring. Emily Coulson has a wonderful way with words. Her descriptions made yu see exactly was was going on and how she felt about it. She is an awesome lady. Max is a remarkable young man.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Racketeer; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: It was an easy read. I finished it in a day. I enjoyed it but his best stories are his lawyer stories.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Voice Bible, Personal Size, Paperback: Step Into the Story of Scripture; Author: Ecclesia Bible Society; Review: I have one and I bought this as a gift. It is a great translation of God's Word. It has a good plan for daily reading.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Teach Yourself VISUALLY Word 2013; Author: Marmel; Review: It was very helpful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Light Between Oceans: The heartbreaking Richard and Judy bestseller; Author: Visit Amazon's M L Stedman Page; Review: It is a great story with a complicated moral dilemma.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Where the Wind Leads: A Refugee Family's Miraculous Story of Loss, Rescue, and Redemption; Author: Dr. Vinh Chung; Review: One of the best books I have read. It is an amazing story of strength and courage.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Rangers Reserve Corbett; City: Ramnagar Jim Corbett National Park Nainital District Utta; Review: Amazing resort deep in jungle. No proper road to the resort, but once you enter the resort it's really amazing. Big and spacious Lobby welcomes you with a welcome drink. There is a pool beside the Lobby. Rooms are far from the entrance, Battery cars are available to take you to all around the resort. I opted for a duplex room, which was really Luxurious, our balcony is right into the jungle. For me it's a right place to be but as I was traveling with my wife and two kids below 5 Yrs, they get scared in the night. I had booked three nights in this destination but I had to withdraw my trip after one night stay. No telephone network in this place. If I go along with my friends, then it's going to be an amazing destination. Resort has lavish restaurant, bar, swimming pool, spa. Few employees of resort were helpful and few were like characters in Ramsey brothers serial...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Athidhi Grand; City: Nellore Nellore District Andhra Pradesh; Review: Booked hotel by looking at the label of three star assuming that the hotel will be good but, rooms are not bright, for food it doesn't have its own restaurants hotel is dependent on other restaurants. Have difficulty in identifying the hotel as it's entrance is located in the back of a mall. Can't say hotel is bad but it's okay.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Yesh Park; City: Nellore Nellore District Andhra Pradesh; Review: This hotel is very close to the RTC bus stand in Nellore and accessible to all places in the town. Ambiance is reasonable and breakfasts served was good compared to all other hotels in Nellore except DR Uttam. Rooms are clean and good with good AC and cleaner bathrooms. One thing that this hotel dissatisfied me was the service. Room service takes too long.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alpine Club; City: Nainital Nainital District Uttarakhand; Review: It happened to stay in Hotel Alpine Club when I visited Uttara Khand early this year with my family. Hotel was under renovation when I visit. Hotel staff was very helpful. Didn't had a power back up, due to rain there was a power cut. We had to stay in dark for a long time. Rooms are clean and good, economical hotel very close to the Horse riding spot.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mountain Club; City: Bhimtal Nainital District Uttarakhand; Review: I have been to Bhimtal with my family, I opted in Mountain Club because my travel club offers free stay facility in this hotel. I had lot of questions in my mind that how it is going to be before I reach hotel, but felt so happy to be there once reached hotel. I have requested hotel guys to arrange a car for picking me up from main road. They did arranged a car and the driver Phakir Ram, was so helpful and good guide for us. He was with us until we finish the whole trip. Nice Location, nice food, good hotel staff. Best hotel to stay in in UK.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: D R Utthama Hotel; City: Nellore Nellore District Andhra Pradesh; Review: I stayed in DR Uttam several times, feel it's the only one good hotel to stay in Nellore. Complimentary Breakfast served is too good, rooms are at 3 star standards, Room service is good and nice food. I will recommend this hotel highly bcz it's the only good hotel to stay in Nellore; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Elanza Hotel; City: Bengaluru Bangalore District Karnataka; Review: It's a nice place to stay in Bengaluru, Richmond Road. It was very close to the place where I had my business meeting. Rooms were clean with high quality interiors. Felt Room that I stayed was Lil contested but rest is all superb.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Bloem Promo Bird Bath with Pedestal, 25" x 17", White (270-10); Brand: Bloem; Review: Very good product, birds love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2wayz 2 X Metal Body Hose Splitter. Newly Upgraded (2017): 100% Secured, Bolted & Threaded. Easy; Brand: 2wayz; Review: Very good valve good quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Suncast SC1300 18-Inch Snow Shovel/Pusher Combo; Brand: Suncast; Review: Good shovel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pix With Kevlar MTD Craftsman Belt, 754-04050, 954-04050; Brand: MTD; Review: Great fit on my snow blower.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Snap Clamp 1/2 Inch X 4 Inches Wide For 1/2 PVC Pipe White 10 per Bag; Brand: Circo; Review: Intend to use these to make my tomato cages into a green house for early planting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bloem Grecian Bird Bath with Pedestal, 24" x 19", White (BB2-10); Brand: Bloem; Review: Good birdbath, easy to clean. looks very nice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Patio_Lawn_and_Garden |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Beekeeper's Apprentice: or, On the Segregation of the Queen (A Mary Russell Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurie R. King Page; Review: Good reading. At times I found the plot lagging although overall a very clever and well written work. The ending weaves all the strings together in a wonderful tapestry.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness; Author: Visit Amazon's Susannah Cahalan Page; Review: Articulately recounted and so reassuring for all of us who have ever experienced our own vulnerability or the vulnerability of a loved one. A hopeful guidebook regarding leaving no stone unturned and advocating for advances in the medical aspect of mental illness. Thank you!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When I Found You; Author: Visit Amazon's Catherine Ryan Hyde Page; Review: Simply written but meaningful message. A worthy read for both young adults and older folks. Speaks to the reader about what really matters in this life. Caring, sharing and loving; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The chaperone.; Author: Visit Amazon's Laura Moriarty Page; Review: Heartwarming and hopeful. Speaks to all that is possible when we let ourselves be all we can be and aren't victimized by our past.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Breath of God: A Novel of Suspense; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeffrey Small Page; Review: Jeffrey Small weaves together theology with suspense. Ultimately I took away the inanity of religious ideals that preach one belief over the other. Perhaps this due in part to my Buddhist bias that so strongly emphasizes oneness but I found this book both engaging and philosophical at the same time. A pleasure to read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Traitors Wife (Thorndike Press large print Christian historical Ffction); Author: Visit Amazon's Allison Pataki Page; Review: Wonderfully written and very engaging. Allison Pataki artistically creates characters that are both compelling and credible. A fear read for anyone who wants to learn history in an extraordinary narrative; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: a walk across the sun: a novel. corban addison; Author: Visit Amazon's Corban Addison Page; Review: An accurate portrayal of the international sex trade and the objectification of desperate young girls. A story that needs to be told and in this book is told so well! A clarion call to action...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A gentleman in Moscow; Author: Towles Amor; Review: Both humorous and tragic this work brings the reader into a journey of experience that heightens awareness of the magnitude of change ushered in as a result of the Russian revolution. An excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy; Author: Sheryl Sandberg; Adam Grant; Review: Sheryl Sandburg hits all the buttons and in the most sensitive and caring way. Loss is inevitable but how we deal with loss is a choice. Option B eloquently offers ways to live after loss and does it beautifully! Thank you...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ditch Your Inner Critic At Work: Evidence-Based Strategies To Thrive In Your Career; Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Peppercorn Page; Review: Its not often that you find a resource that combines the personal and the practical in such an easy to use guide. Ms. Peppercorns personal experience is interwoven throughout the book lending validity to the struggle that is familiar to many of us. The cognitive distortions and the negative stories we tell ourselves about ourselves are clearly defined and challenged in the service of recognizing self-sabotaging beliefs. A must-read book for all who are seeking direction and guidance in their professional endeavors and, more broadly, in their lives in general.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: We Were the Lucky Ones; Author: Visit Amazon's Georgia Hunter Page; Review: The strong bonds of this family and their determination to survive the horrors of the holocaust are so sensitively conveyed in this beautifully written narrative. So necessary as a reminder to make sure we never forget the horrors of hate; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daughters of the Dragon: A Comfort Woman's Story; Author: Visit Amazon's William Andrews Page; Review: The narrative takes the reader on a journey that begins with the beauty of youth and familial love and ends with a bitter sweet reunion. What happens in between is a story of survival that takes the reader through the horrors of war and the objectification of its victims in a heartbreaking story that continues today. All should read this important work of historical fiction; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Before We Were Yours: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Wingate Page; Review: A very enlightening and disturbing expose about children as commodities. What makes this even more upsetting is that it is true! Important for all of us to know this truth; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Ask the Animals: A Vet's-Eye View of Pets and the People They Love; Author: Visit Amazon's Bruce R. Coston Page; Review: Bruce Cost on has the Gift in multiplies A man with a heart for his family (human and animal), for his patients and their owners, and a love of his work (or rather calling) he also shows his gift (heart) as he cares for patients, cries with clients and his love fear joy and sorrow he shares with his family. He also shows his gift in writing with warmth and compassion; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: War Brides; Author: Visit Amazon's Helen Bryan Page; Review: An invaluable lesson about women during WWII. This book has it all - intrigue, suspense, romance, history plus it is a great read .The formatting of the book doesn't work well with the text to speech (it locks up at the beginning of each new chapter) This book is a must read for those who enjoy reading about this era and what women and men are capable of doing in times of crisis. I only wish the author would have gone more in depth on issues of the time (a woman's role in war, convert acts by the government etc). Unusual ending. Thumbs up to the author and write more boos!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Horse Vet - Chronicles of a Mobile Veterinarian; Author: Visit Amazon's Courtney S. Diehl Page; Review: A bit depressing All voc ations have some negative aspects. Perhaps Dr Diehl hopes by bringing them to light improvements can be made Perhaps by venting these issues she can relieve the enormous stress that must come from caring for our beloved pets. I wish her the best..; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bear in the Back Seat II: Adventures of a Wildlife Ranger in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Author: Visit Amazon's Kim DeLozier Page; Review: In 1 1/2 hour after entering Yellowstone I watched a parent sending his child closer to a huge moose for pics, men ((15?) Chase buffalo across a field and another group chasing a herd of elk. Kudos to Ranger Jane? Arriving in a cloud of dust sliding sideways across the road between men and elk screaming in her mike GET IN YOUR CARS IMMEDIATELY!! My husband says we're leaving before I have to see someone hurt. .15 minutes later we saw a rescue helicopter coming in. Two more came in the next two hours . (Buffalo gorings ) . We watched Old Faithful and then drove out of the park. A trip we had planned band expected to enjoy ruined almost by humans and shortened to only one day. How sad that otherwise intelligent people can become so stupid. Old Faithful made it up for us by having the biggest blow in years! What power and majesty! I hope people begin to respect our Parks and the rules. By telling way first piece of information handed to us on entry bright orange sheet saying DO NOT CHASE THE BUFFALO. Thanks for a great book ,doing your job protecting us and trying to educate people about safety in our Parks!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jack of Spies; Author: Visit Amazon's David Downing Page; Review: Downing had me from the first I couldn't put it down. I found his of portrayal of the the world at that time very interesting although I would liked it to have gone deeper into the struggles of the time. Unfortunately I wasn't taught much about WW I and hope he continues this as a series. I like the way he deals with the killing without being gory but gives you enough to realize horrific it was The mill town uprising was especially well written. write fast I can't wait for the next installment; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Lavender Ribbon; Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Burch Page; Review: I loved this book. A love story but so so much more. . Words of wisdom through out this book . Some. passages are exquisite - "no one is guaranteed a tomorrow. Life is a precious and delicate thing. At best item is a vapor. . . Love is always the right thing. Sometimes it comes with pain but you can't stomp loving. Thank you so much Heather for your talent in writing such a wonderful story. Bless our wonderful warriors who protect our country. May they come hone safely!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Road To Tibet; Author: Visit Amazon's John Dwyer Page; Review: Unbelievable trip to make ,full of adventure and probably dangerous at times What a fantastic trip. . I only wish I could make a trip like this to view our rich and beautiful world and know other people of different cultures; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel James Brown Page; Review: Extremely interesting .As a woman who doesn't follow sports closely (although I do watch the Olympics) I found this book fascinating. So Hitler was upsetting only by Jesse Owens but by eight young men with one of them very ill and also placing them in the worst lane. It makes you wonder if they had been placed right and one was not sick how much more they would have won. I do wish that you had checked both someone how to say the names of towns and rivers (I listen to books because of poor vision) Sequim is said by dropping the e [Squim] , Euphrates [Efrayta ] .and so on. I am sure this has been pointed out to you already Thank you Mr Brown for a delightful read. Susan on the Sol Duc; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: War and Remembrance; Author: Visit Amazon's Herman Wouk Page; Review: I first read these books when they were first published. At that time I was truly awestruck by the power of Wouk's writing and his ability to cover such a vast subject. This second reading was harder although surprising to me how much I remembered from the first reading I was struck much more by the horror ;of the inhumanity of mankind, the millions of lives lost, the separations of families,the egotism of some of the men in power. It still astounds me how Hitler was able to gain such power although Wouk explains why he he thinks it happened. History does repeat itself- Saddam Hussein for instance..I would like to say how much more this makes me appreciate our service men and women for defending our freedom. MAY THE ALMIGHTY watch over them and bring them home safe. HURRAH; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Northwest of Eden; Author: Visit Amazon's Yancy Caruthers Page; Review: God bless each and every soldier whatever job they do in our services for keeping my country safe. I respect all of you As for flight nurses they are truly angels.. I especially Hope the ones who have been there when my family needed them know how much we appreciated them. Thank you Yancy Caruthers for putting your life on the lions both in war and at home. I am not a political person and don't understand the need for war. Maybe someday as John Lennon wrote it will come true and we will be as one Imagine!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Be My Eyes; Author: Visit Amazon's Dustin Stevens Page; Review: An exquisite story about two very different characters. Ruby, a mere child, stronger in mind Han in body. And Cole whose spirit is weak.. Each help the other face life and death. This book is both heart warming and tragic. My heart is heavy with sadness for Ruby but hopeful for Cole. May GOD grant a cure for deadly disease s.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wise Woman (Appalachian Journey); Author: Visit Amazon's C. C. Tillery Page; Review: I have just finished this series and recommend reading it. A true and beautiful story about one woman's life from 1881 - 1970. As a healer, teacher and wife in the mountains of North Carolina .it follows he life through triumph and sorrow. This is a riveting story about life during great changes in the world . There are lessons about life to learn in these books. These are well written books . As I read these books I could not put them down and I came to admire this woman who loved her God life and her family and world. Thank you goes to the authors for sharing her story!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Grape Year (The Grape Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Laura Bradbury Page; Review: This author gave me the chance to live vicariously through her coming of age, travel a an exchange student, and falling in love. A fascinating look into a young Canadian girl's view of life in France and finding her soul mate. What more could you ask for? Bring on the next book in this series!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Black Orchestra: A WW2 Spy Story (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's JJ Toner Page; Review: If you enjoy reading books by David Downing and Ken Follett you will like this author's spy series.. The escapades of the main character are quite spectacular though it is a little unbelievable that he is able to evade his pursuers so many times.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leaving Pimlico; Author: Visit Amazon's P B North Page; Review: A great story well written about treachery, betrayal, and love. A traitorous spy betrays a naive girl and her German lover during WWII. Vindication comes for the couple years later when their son learns their story and rights the wrong done to them. This book makes a very good read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Return of the Eagles; Author: Visit Amazon's James Follett Page; Review: Why was so much of this book blacked out? The series was a good read. How much better the English treated their prisoners than Germany!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Dog That Talked to God; Author: Visit Amazon's Jim Kraus Page; Review: What a wonderful bittersweet story. I would recommend this book for anyone with a special dog in their lives. The characters in this book, Mary and her dog Rufus, are beautifully written. Jim Kraus is an inspired author; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Me Without You; Author: Visit Amazon's Kelly Rimmer Page; Review: A gripping love story that takes you on a heartbreaking journey. This book gives a view into human mortality, quality of life, euthanasia and the grieving process - things we must all face in the end and maybe by reading books like this will help us face death with dignity; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shave My Spider! A six-month adventure around Borneo, Vietnam, Mongolia, China, Laos and Cambodia eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony James Slater Page; Review: I enjoyed reading all of Tony Slater's books. His tongue in cheek humor made me laugh I am looking forward to reading new books describing future travels; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Once Bitten: The adventures and misadventures of a young veterinary surgeon; Author: Visit Amazon's Nick Marsh Page; Review: Interesting look at young man entering the real world of his profession and the difference between his preconceived view of being a vet and the reality thereof; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Operation Ironman: One Man's Four Month Journey from Hospital Bed to Ironman Triathlon; Author: Visit Amazon's George Mahood Page; Review: I admire George's tenacity in recovering from surgery. I'm truly impressed by what he accomplished in four months. The kindle book needs some editing as the first part of the book reappears in the middle of the book; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Keeper of Secrets; Author: Visit Amazon's Julie Thomas Page; Review: I loved reading this book and had a hard time putting it down. The author drew me into the story. The characters seemed so alive. Julie Thomas wrote with a sensitive hand about hard issues including prejudice, persecution and love; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daffodils: Katy always longed for freedom, but never expected the price would be so high; Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Martin Page; Review: A historical romance that is well written with well developed characters. I liked the historical content. Even though the story took place during WWII there was an underlining anti-war message telling of the massive loss of young lives and injuries sustained during conflict. Also this book pointed out how women were so essential to the war effort.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Looking Past; Author: Visit Amazon's Katharine E. Smith Page; Review: This book and also Writing the Town Read were "brilliant". They were both well written and kept me interested throughout. Definitely recommend both books for long cozy winter reads; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cute Poodles, Sweet Old Ladies, and Hugs: Veterinary Tales; Author: Dr P J Miller; Review: I didn't put the book down until the end, and then wished it wasn't done. Tales from vets are always interesting but often not written well, PJ Miller has the gift for writing I would like to read more tales from him!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hurry up Nurse: Memoirs of nurse training in the 1970s; Author: Visit Amazon's Dawn Brookes Page; Review: Nurses are the best. This book brought back memories of my training to become an RN and it truly is a rewarding profession!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Two Old Fools in Turmoil (Volume 5); Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Twead Page; Review: As someone with wanderlust and a stay at home husband I have enjoyed reading all of Victoria Twead's books. It has somewhat satisfied my desire to travel and live abroad. Her books are entertaining and hard to put down!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In The Blood Of The Greeks: Intertwined Souls Series, Book 1 (Intertwined Souls Series: Eva and Zoe); Author: Visit Amazon's Mary D. Brooks Page; Review: This is one of only a few books I have read about the Greek resistance during WWII I found the characters were well rounded I especially liked the priest's role in the book, a flawed but selfless man. A book that draws the reader into the story and keeps her/him intrigued; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fire by Night: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Teresa Messineo Page; Review: This is one of the most interesting books I have read . There are too few stories about the nurses who served during wartime. We need to recognise these women of valor. What courage it must have taken to be in a war zone unarmed . War is horrendous . No one wins, the loss of even one life is too great a loss . Our world has become too small to survive another war of this magnitude; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Tuscan Child; Author: Visit Amazon's Rhys Bowen Page; Review: Two stories woven together. Although there are two stories intertwined this book flowed very well and was a joy to read. It kept this reader involved in the storyline. Once I started this book I couldn't put it down and read it in one night.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angels in Our Lives: A Pearl Maker Short Story; Author: Visit Amazon's Melissa Storm Page; Review: I have a special angel living with me. She is older now and I know she will not be with me in this life for long but I like to think we'll be together forever. This short story is bittersweet but full of hope for love to continue on after death; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love Letters Home; Author: Visit Amazon's Chapman Deering Page; Review: At times I felt I was eavesdropping on a private moment as the characters developed. Jim was a man of his time with beliefs about a woman's role that would be considered chauvinistic now. As the storyline developed Ruth expressed her thoughts on a woman's femininity. Having a relationship that survived through difficult times and separation was truly remarkable, a tribute to love. I liked this book very much and would recommend it to others.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Rancher Takes a Cook; Author: Visit Amazon's Misty M. Beller Page; Review: outstanding. I really enjoyed this book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ranger Takes a Bride (Texas Rancher Trilogy) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Misty M. Beller Page; Review: very good book. Book one was The Ranger Takes a Cook and it was very good, too; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars Character Encyclopedia; Author: DK Publishing; Review: Birthday gift for my nephew . He loved it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Random Acts of Deceit (Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Christy Barritt Page; Review: I enjoy reading this authors books she is writer for thy Gabby St Claire series which I enjoy. This book is the second in a series of Holly Paladin mysteries. You will find laughter, suspense, mystery and inspiration in this book. I strongly recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Boden Birthright: Novella (The Cimarron Legacy Novella); Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Connealy Page; Review: After reading several series from this author I was anticipating an excellent read. This book met all my anticipated expectations and now I am anxiously awaiting the next; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Accidental Bride (A Big Sky Romance); Author: Visit Amazon's Denise Hunter Page; Review: There is a beautiful story here and lots of inspiration. I am on book of the series; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: No Way Up (The Cimarron Legacy); Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Connealy Page; Review: absolutely reading the works of this author; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trusting God to Get You Through: How to Trust God through the FireLessons I've Learned about Grace,; Author: Visit Amazon's Jason Crabb Page; Review: I had this paper book and shared it with friends because it was such an inspired book. I recently purchased it to my kindle and also bought a used physical copy. Thank you so much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Surrendering to Joy: My Year of Love, Letting Go and Forgiveness; Author: Visit Amazon's Suzanne Falter Page; Review: This book did not deserve any stars and I did not finish it. Beware of this book It is NOT truth; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Buried (Mountain Cove); Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Goddard Page; Review: I really enjoyed this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Undercover Bride (Undercover Ladies); Author: Visit Amazon's Margaret Brownley Page; Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it. It is ,humorous and inspirational. I recommend it good , clean; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Coffee Girl; Author: Visit Amazon's Shanna Hatfield Page; Review: This is a delightful book. It is the kind of cozy comfortable book that leaves you smiling . I recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love's Unfading Light: Historical Christian Romance (Eagle Harbor) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Naomi Rawlings Page; Review: I enjoyed reading this novel it has great insight into God's love and forgiveness I recommend this book to you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Christmas on My Mind (A Cowboy Christmas); Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Dailey Page; Review: This book was a light heart warming story. It had humor inspiration and love through out. I definitely recommend it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love's Sure Dawn: Historical Christian Romance (Eagle Harbor) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Naomi Rawlings Page; Review: In this dog eat dog daily grind of life I found this book to be very refreshing. This makes several of this series that I have read they are very inspiring and cozy I highly recommend; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Pony Express Romance (Sweetwater River Tales) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Misty M. Beller Page; Review: this is a very good book set in historical times. I read it over very quickly because it kept me wanting to see the end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secret Of Deadman's Coulee; Author: Visit Amazon's B. J. Daniels Page; Review: This is Avery interesting book. It is filled with sorrow and pain but also has a happy ending and shows the freedom in forgiving; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wild Montana Skies (Montana Rescue); Author: Visit Amazon's Susan May Warren Page; Review: This is by far the best fiction I have ever read. I highly recommend it. It is a clean inspirational romance with characters that are flawed but find trust in God to be the answer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rescue Me (Montana Rescue); Author: Visit Amazon's Susan May Warren Page; Review: I have just become familiar with this author. So many pluses to this book. I enjoy search and rescue, inspiration, romance, and the fact that the characters are so realistic. This is another highly recommended book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Baking is Murder: A Bee's Bakehouse Cozy Mystery; Author: Visit Amazon's Kathy Cranston Page; Review: fair; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Wicked Will Rise (Dorothy Must Die); Author: Visit Amazon's Danielle Paige Page; Review: fabulous book! excellent sequel. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: She's Come Undone (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Wally Lamb Page; Review: one of the best book in print!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Collector's Encyclopedia of Fiesta: Plus Harlequin, Riviera, and Kitchen Craft, 7th Revised & Updated Edition; Author: Sharon Huxford; Review: love this book! has helped with my collection!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Diabetic Living The Ultimate Diabetes Cookbook: More than 400 Healthy, Delicious Recipes; Author: Diabetic Living Editors; Review: love this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Diabetes and Heart Healthy Cookbook; Author: American Diabetes Association; Review: love this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Artist Trading Cards (Twenty to Make); Author: Visit Amazon's Leonie Pujol Page; Review: love this guide! :); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Jefferies Socks Organic Cotton Turn Cuff Sock, 3 Pack, Light Pink/Natural/White; Brand: ; Review: These socks STAY ON. I love them! Maybe not the most stylish things, but for socks to stay on baby feet is good enough for me. They are a little on the thin side, more like a good sock for summertime. I will either double up or add another kind of sock over these for the winter time. They are great for wearing around the house though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Paul & Taylor Men's Leather Front Pocket Credit Card ID Wallet - Multiple Colors!; Brand: Paul & Taylor; Review: Been using this for 5 months now and I really like it! Good quality, cards go in and out easily, and fits in my clutch bag perfectly. Glad I bought it!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brinley Co Women's Hilton-wc Slouch Boot; Brand: ; Review: I LOVE these boots. I've had them for about 3 years now as my only boots and they are still going strong! Things I love: 1) Price - Style without the price tag?? Yes please! 2) Fit - This is the biggest for me. I've tried on so many boots/shoes and my feet almost always hurt after awhile (and in case your wondering I am a short/skinny person with wide feet - hard to find small shoes with enough space for my toes!). I've walked all around London in these and they won the prize for the most comfortable. 3) Style - I guess it's personal taste, but these are classy (can go with dresses) and yet casual (can go with jeans) which is something I was looking for. Even though I love love love the look of high heels I can't wear them due to the pain it causes me, so that was another plus about these boots for me. They are fancy without the heel. 4) Material/Color - Lots of options! My "leather" ones hold up well in light rain and snow which is great. I'm planning on just continuing to buy these because they go with all my outfits and fit me so well! I'd give it 10 stars if I could!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Smart Cups Bra Inserts 1530100 Black & Nude; Brand: Smart Cups; Review: Good quality, can tell it'll last a long time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Altra Women's Torin 2 Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: I just started running and I love these! My feel have been bad ever since I was a teenager which is part of the reason I haven't been a runner. But I realized that maybe a good shoe would work. I'm pretty picky about my footware (since I have bad feet). I have wide and small feet so having a big toe box is a must for me. These had it all! Lightweight, cushioned, and big toe box. I spent hours researching and Altra had the only cushioned shoes with a wide toe box. They really make running so much better for me now!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Women's Vintage Inspired Wool Floppy Winter Hat; Brand: FLH; Review: I've had this hat for more than a year now and wear it A LOT. I love it! Funny that it was crushed in some peoples pictures - I stuff it in my diaper bag all the time and it has yet to loose it's shape. It looks as good as the day I bought it and you can't beat the price!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: KIND Bars, Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt, Gluten Free, 1.4 Ounce Bars, 12 Count; Brand: KIND; Review: High quality snack bar. All natural ingredients make me feel less guilty about snacking. A little too small and a little too expensive, but very tasty.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clif Bar Variety Pack, Chocolate Chip, Crunchy Peanut Butter, 2.4 oz. Nutrition Bars, 24 Count; Brand: Clif Bar; Review: I bought a box of these and put them in my desk at work. Now, whenever I am too busy to eat, I can grab one of these to tide me over. I'm a big fan.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KIND Bars, Dark Chocolate Chili Almond, Gluten Free, 1.4 Ounce Bars, 12 Count; Brand: KIND; Review: High quality snack bar. All natural ingredients make me feel less guilty about snacking. A little too small and a little too expensive, but very tasty.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kind Bars, Madagascar Vanilla Almond, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, 1.4oz; Brand: KIND; Review: High quality snack bar. All natural ingredients make me feel less guilty about snacking. A little too small and a little too expensive, but very tasty.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: KIND Bars, Caramel Almond and Sea Salt, Gluten Free, 1.4 Ounce Bars, 12 Count; Brand: KIND; Review: High quality snack bar. All natural ingredients make me feel less guilty about snacking. A little too small and a little too expensive, but very tasty.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amy's Organic Chili, Medium Black Bean, 14.7 Ounce (Pack of 12); Brand: Amy's Organic; Review: This chili is pretty tasty, but it is not nearly spicy enough to be labeled, "Spicy." Also, it's very high in sodium since it claims (absurdly) that there are two servings per can.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stash Tea Moroccan Mint Green Tea 20 Count Box of Tea Bags (Pack of; Brand: Stash Tea; Review: Definitely a high quality tea and a good price. Be prepared, though, it is very strong. I happen to enjoy it, but the mint flavor is particularly strong.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Annie's Homegrown Organic Arthur Loops, 15.0 Ounce Tins (Pack of 12); Brand: Annie's Homegrown; Review: Pretty bad. I mean, it is my fault for expecting canned ravioli to be tasty, but Annie's stuff is usually pretty good. This tastes like spaghetti-o's sort of and is kind of mushy. Way too sweet. I bet kids would like it, though.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Annie's Real Aged Cheddar Microwavable Macaroni & Cheese, 30 Packets, 2.15oz (Pack of 6); Brand: Annie's Homegrown; Review: Although Annie's brand is theoretically known for being healthy, this stuff is definitely not healthy. That being said, it is probably better than the typical kraft brand. In spite of this, it is really quite tasty. I love it. It's definitely a guilty pleasure.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Matt Lauer allegations: Megyn Kelly lauds Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry; Abstract: Former NBC host Megyn Kelly is recognizing some of the females whom she described as "forces for good" in the Matt Lauer scandal.; Category: news
Title: Here's Exactly What Happens to Your Body When You Skip a Meal; Abstract: You think you're burning calories, but you're actually damaging your metabolism.; Category: health
Title: 25 Cars No One Wanted to Buy; Abstract: Along with cars so bad they become icons and the models that should have worked but never caught on come a slew of vehicles that'll have you scratching your head. Remind yourself of the disasters that were the Cadillac Catera, Buick Reatta, Volkswagen Phaeton, Lincoln Blackwood, Chrysler Executive Limousine, and more.; Category: autos
Title: Nearly 900 women's health clinics have lost federal funding over gag rule; Abstract: More than half of the patients accessing health care through Title X clinics are women of color and a third are Latina.; Category: news
Title: Former KNCI DJ Dan Cheatham Found Dead In His Home; Abstract: Former KNCI afternoon DJ, Dan Cheatham, died on Tuesday.; Category: music
Title: Teenage driver dies trying to turn onto Highway 65 in Wheatland; Abstract: WHEATLAND, Calif. (KTXL) A 17-year-old driver died in a collision Wednesday afternoon while trying to get onto Highway 65 in Wheatland. The California Highway Patrol reports the teenage girl from Plumas Lake started to turn onto the highway from Oakley Lane just after 3 p.m. The teen was driving toward the northbound lane by going across the southbound lane when the CHP says a 2017 Hyundai ...; Category: news
Title: Lawsuit blames Tesla motorized door handles for death of driver stuck in burning car; Abstract: Car's owner died in a fire when a police officer couldn't open the doors; Category: autos
Title: Mississippi woman found after being missing for days by writing S.O.S. with rocks; Abstract: "S.O.S" spelled out with rocks saved a woman missing in a national park for days, according to a release from the National Park Service.; Category: news
Title: 'DWTS' Recap: A Fan Favorite Goes Home In Yet Another Crazy Elimination; Abstract: So many epic performances filled Halloween Night on 'DWTS' and the night ended with another jaw-dropping elimination when two of the best performers were in the bottom two. Len Goodman decided who went home.; Category: tv
Title: Taylor Swift can't shake 'Shake It Off' copyright suit reinstated by federal court panel; Abstract: A federal appeals court panel Monday reinstated a dismissed copyright lawsuit claiming Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" infringed on an earlier song.; Category: music
Title: 4 habits that could wreck your finances beyond repair; Abstract: Avoid these at all costs.; Category: finance
Title: Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween Costume Transformation Is Mind-Blowing But, Like, What Is It?; Abstract: You might say she's scary good at playing dress-up, because Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween costume is even more impressive than we could have imagined and that's saying a lot, considering transformative Halloween costumes are kind of her thing. But this year Klum took it up one more notch as she shared her metamorphosis into,; Category: lifestyle
Title: Missing woman found dead after her truck falls down embankment in Nevada County; Abstract: NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. A family member found a missing woman dead Thursday after her pickup truck went off the road and down an embankment near Nevada City. Crystal Ashworth was last seen Sunday as she was leaving Uncle Sonny's in Cedar Ridge, according to a family member. She was meant to drive to a friend's house 10 minutes away. The Nevada County Sheriff's Office reports Ashworth's 2004 ...; Category: news
Title: Pamela Anderson gets backlash after wearing a Native American headdress for Halloween; Abstract: Pamela Anderson is under fire after posting risqué photos of herself wearing a Native American headdress in honor of Halloween. The Canadian actress and animal rights activist, who rose to fame for her role as a lifeguard on the series Baywatch, took to Twitter like many other celebrities to post photos of herself in her Halloween costume. In the first photo, the 51-year-old sports a pair of high-waisted underwear, and appears to be drenched in...; Category: tv
Title: Ian Ziering's Wife Erin Ludwig Files for Divorce Days After Split Announcement; Abstract: Ian Ziering's Wife Erin Ludwig Files for Divorce; Category: tv
Title: Dean Martin's Daughter Speaks Out About John Legend's New Version of 'Baby, It's Cold Outside'; Abstract: Dean Martin's Daughter on New 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' Version; Category: music
Title: College gymnast dies following training accident in Connecticut; Abstract: Melanie Coleman, 20, of Milford, was practicing on the bars when she suffered a spinal cord injury.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Black Friday: Exposed (Urban Books); Author: Visit Amazon's Ashley & JaQuavis Page; Review: Ashley and Jaquavis remain unchallenged! Who'd think a street hustler could fall in real LOVE? What are the odds that one could walk away from the possibility of a very long prison sentence? These questions and others are answered, when Kasheef decides to take the high road when dealing with the eyewitness to his crime. When all is said and done you'll have a hard time determining who's the victim and who's the perpetrator. Black Friday Exposed was a quick read because I could not put the book down. The story is relayed with precise timing and all the nuts and bolts that tie it together are revealed in startling detail.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Down For The Count; Author: Visit Amazon's Nicole Shephard Page; Review: This book had me reading at stop lights! I just couldn't put it down until the last word was read. Ashton has that hood swag that good girls love to see in bad boys. Kyree seems like he might be sneakier than first glance would let you believe. Tocari is a hood guy's dream minus that mouth! I can hardly wait to see how things move along in part 2. I don't like Val and her husband one bit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gank Masterz (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's King Benjamin Page; Review: Gank Masterz was my introduction to the pen of King Benjamin. After taking and emotional ride with Stink, JT and Toya, I am thoroughly exhausted! These characters are so well developed that I started talking to them, like you yell at the television or the screen at the movies when it's a great story and you've gotten caught up in it. Hustling takes guts, but ganking the hustlers takes guts, skill and nerves of steel. This trio is over qualified and have honed their craft "Gank" down to a science. But what happens when your tracks aren't covered as well as you thought and you end up cleaned out? Read Gank Masterz to find out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Renee: All Hail The Queen; Author: Visit Amazon's Brandie Davis Page; Review: Brandie Davis hit a lick with the plot and emerging style of Renee: All Hail the Queen. Renees black heart made you want to find out how she would fare in the end as the drama unfolded around her. Between dual identities, family members out for her head and two men decidedly in love with her, can she survive? This story is a wonderful mix of urban drama and romance. Both Julian and Jared love Renee. Both Paige and Carmen hate the "Queen". As Renee tries to maintain her Queen-Pin status and delicate relationships, background forces seek to de-throne her. Who will be the victor? In this interesting piece of urban lit, there were some proofreading and editing issues. For instance, is Renees business based on the sale of heroin or cocaine? And how many times should the trauma of her youth be discussed? Yet, the story line kept my eyes glued to the pages. On a more positive note, the cover art is perfect and typesetting immaculate. The story flowed well and characters showed great promise. Im looking forward to seeing them again. Don't you want to meet them? Any seasoned reader of urban lit, would truly enjoy this drama filled tale in spite of the few bumps in the road. And while you're being introduced to Renee, Ill be reading part two Renee 2: The Protg. Happy Reading!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Renee 2: The Protege; Author: Visit Amazon's Brandie Davis Page; Review: In this sequel to Renee: All Hail the Queen, author Brandie Davis stepped up to the plate and knocked the ball right out the park! The authors execution and style of the build-up are almost brilliant in Renee 2: The Protg. After having her life in serious jeopardy, Renee is ready to step down from her throne. But, will circumstances allow her that luxury? The grass was low enough for a couple of snake to reveal themselves. But it could still use a trim. Ride with the Queen as more snakes are revealed and her lightened heart returns to its former icy state. Both Julian and Jared are keeping secrets. Blood ties are severed. Carmens hidden agenda is challenged. Dane is on the war-path and the Queen still reigns. This urban lit drama kept rolling as Brandie flawlessly led this reader on a rollercoaster ride through the mind of Carmen. The twists and turns unfolded without a hitch. Once again the cover art was remarkable and well suited to the contents of its pages. The editing was vastly improved from the previous novel. And the clarity and cohesiveness of the story made a testament to the authors strive to the top of this genre. Brandie Davis means business! If anyone into urban lit is looking for a novel that gets the blood pumping and has them talking to the characters, pick up a copy of Renee 2: The Protg. You certainly won't be disappointed. This author has definitely stepped up her game and earned a lifelong fan!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: No Limits: Viewers Discretion Advised. (Volume 1); Author: Ross; Review: Ross is definitely on to something with Travis Marks. In this nicely crafted erotic tale we discover a man who is broken by his inability to be faithful to the woman he really loves and desires to marry. Once his infidelity is revealed and she bounces and he stumbles upon the opportunity to just be who he really is. For cold hard cash! Travis revels in his newly found freedom to get his freak on without the constraints of guilt or shame. Join Travis as through the betrayal and heinous acts of his best friend and former fiance he finds the women that not only accept him as he is but pay to do so. Will he eventually find the mental, spiritual and physical connections that every man needs in just one woman? The erotic scenarios in the novel were raw, enticing and most importantly, plausible. The cover art was original, nostalgic and very inviting. Typesetting, editing and proofreading were appropriately addressed. I would have liked to see some further character development of Denise. I am unapologetically upset by the ending. LOL! But cliffhangers are supposed to make you feel this way, right? Come on Ross, where's part 2? If you're a fan of erotica with a little levity thrown in, grab a copy of "No Limits". Actually grab two copies, it's a ride you shouldn't take alone.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Til My Casket Drops; Author: Visit Amazon's Ca$h Page; Review: Awesome love story. Skillfully crafted main characters that were everything except one dimensional. This is the first work I 've read by Cash. But I assure you I'll be tracking down the entire catalog of works.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Joe the King (1999); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gone with the Wind (1939); Genres: Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: L.A. Confidential (1997); Genres: Crime, Film-Noir, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Iris (2001); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jeffrey (1995); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dick Tracy (1990); Genres: Action, Crime; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Urbania (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rain Man (1988); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Goodbye Girl, The (1977); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ratcatcher (1999); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Betsy's Wedding (1990); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blair Witch Project, The (1999); Genres: Drama, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Boys Don't Cry (1999); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boiler Room (2000); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: But I'm a Cheerleader (1999); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chuck & Buck (2000); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clerks (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Happiness (1998); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gods and Monsters (1998); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghostbusters (a.k.a. Ghost Busters) (1984); Genres: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Little Voice (1998); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Magnolia (1999); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Next Best Thing, The (2000); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Out of Africa (1985); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Out-of-Towners, The (1999); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Priest (1994); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Poseidon Adventure, The (1972); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Run Lola Run (Lola rennt) (1998); Genres: Action, Crime; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rushmore (1998); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shakespeare in Love (1998); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sixth Sense, The (1999); Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut (1999); Genres: Animation, Comedy, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Summer of Sam (1999); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Taking of Pelham One Two Three, The (1974); Genres: Action, Crime; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999); Genres: Comedy, Thriller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Talented Mr. Ripley, The (1999); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Crime, Fantasy, Mystery; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bowfinger (1999); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flawless (1999); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Election (1999); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spellbound (2002); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spanish Apartment, The (L'auberge espagnole) (2002); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (2003); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mighty Wind, A (2003); Genres: Comedy, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Whale Rider (2002); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Capturing the Friedmans (2003); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Angela's Ashes (1999); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Handmaid's Tale, The (1990); Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Death in Venice (Morte a Venezia) (1971); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Camp (2003); Genres: Comedy, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Pretty Things (2002); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Secret Lives of Dentists, The (2002); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wait Until Dark (1967); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Punch-Drunk Love (2002); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hours, The (2002); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casablanca (1942); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What's Up, Doc? (1972); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Frida (2002); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Never on Sunday (Pote tin Kyriaki) (1960); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Umberto D. (1952); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York (2002); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: There's Something About Mary (1998); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Fame (1980); Genres: Drama, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Night of the Shooting Stars (Notte di San Lorenzo, La) (1982); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, The (Charme discret de la bourgeoisie, Le) (1972); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Strada, La (1954); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Out of Towners, The (1970); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: 21 Grams (2003); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Triplets of Belleville, The (Les triplettes de Belleville) (2003); Genres: Animation, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Monster (2003); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In America (2002); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: House of Sand and Fog (2003); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Shattered Glass (2003); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Fish (2003); Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Elf (2003); Genres: Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Good bye, Lenin! (2003); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Hoop Dreams (1994); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Bowling for Columbine (2002); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Celluloid Closet, The (1995); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport (2000); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: 42 Up (1998); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Roger & Me (1989); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crumb (1994); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Startup.com (2001); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Triumph of the Will (Triumph des Willens) (1934); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Last Waltz, The (1978); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Paris Is Burning (1990); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: My Architect: A Son's Journey (2003); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Eyes of Tammy Faye, The (2000); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Endless Summer, The (1966); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (1993); Genres: Drama, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brandon Teena Story, The (1998); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Koyaanisqatsi (a.k.a. Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance) (1983); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Man of Aran (1934); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Get Bruce (1999); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Marcello Mastroianni: I Remember Yes, I Remember (Marcello Mastroianni: mi ricordo, sì, io mi ricordo) (1997); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Trembling Before G-d (2001); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991); Genres: Documentary, Musical; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Woodstock (1970); Genres: Documentary, Musical; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shawshank Redemption, The (1994); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Wo hu cang long) (2000); Genres: Action, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Splash (1984); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Silence of the Lambs, The (1991); Genres: Crime, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Brazil (1985); Genres: Fantasy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Batman (1989); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Psycho (1960); Genres: Crime, Horror; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Postman, The (Postino, Il) (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Casino (1995); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964); Genres: Comedy, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Misery (1990); Genres: Drama, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Arthur (1981); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (a.k.a. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone) (2001); Genres: Adventure, Children, Fantasy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: River Runs Through It, A (1992); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (1998); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pecker (1998); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Children of a Lesser God (1986); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Cocoon (1985); Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Dr. No (1962); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three Days of the Condor (3 Days of the Condor) (1975); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Desperately Seeking Susan (1985); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: In the Heat of the Night (1967); Genres: Drama, Mystery; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Manchurian Candidate, The (1962); Genres: Crime, Thriller, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Purple Rose of Cairo, The (1985); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Gandhi (1982); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mirror Has Two Faces, The (1996); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Popeye (1980); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Musical; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Godfather: Part III, The (1990); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: My Best Friend's Wedding (1997); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Carrie (1976); Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: In the Name of the Father (1993); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1990); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Six Degrees of Separation (1993); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Streetcar Named Desire, A (1951); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993); Genres: Comedy, Mystery; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The (1948); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Western; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Everyone Says I Love You (1996); Genres: Comedy, Musical, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Antonia's Line (Antonia) (1995); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blue Angel, The (Blaue Engel, Der) (1930); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953); Genres: Comedy, Musical, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nine to Five (a.k.a. 9 to 5) (1980); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2000); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Musical; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Battleship Potemkin (1925); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Harry and the Hendersons (1987); Genres: Children, Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Quills (2000); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948); Genres: Comedy, Horror; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Taming of the Shrew, The (1967); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blow-Up (Blowup) (1966); Genres: Drama, Mystery; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fabulous Baker Boys, The (1989); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Psycho (1998); Genres: Crime, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Lolita (1962); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Marnie (1964); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Frenzy (1972); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Love! Valour! Compassion! (1997); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Old Man and the Sea, The (1958); Genres: Adventure, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Boys of St. Vincent, The (1992); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sleuth (1972); Genres: Comedy, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: L.I.E. (2001); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Ishtar (1987); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Hotel New Hampshire, The (1984); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Avalon (1990); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974); Genres: Action; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Woman in the Dunes (Suna no onna) (1964); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Autumn Tale, An (Conte d'automne) (1998); Genres: Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Adventures of Sebastian Cole, The (1998); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: If.... (1968); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Genres: Action, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jaws (1975); Genres: Action, Horror; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Super Size Me (2004); Genres: Comedy, Documentary, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Vertical Ray of the Sun, The (Mua he chieu thang dung) (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Together (Tillsammans) (2000); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dances with Wolves (1990); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Western; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Genres: Adventure, Drama, IMAX; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Toy Story (1995); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Independence Day (a.k.a. ID4) (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Aladdin (1992); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Musical; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fargo (1996); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Beauty and the Beast (1991); Genres: Animation, Children, Fantasy, Musical, Romance, IMAX; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Usual Suspects, The (1995); Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Babe (1995); Genres: Children, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Lion King, The (1994); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Drama, Musical, IMAX; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) (1981); Genres: Action, Adventure; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Back to the Future (1985); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Godfather, The (1972); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mrs. Doubtfire (1993); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982); Genres: Children, Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Get Shorty (1995); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994); Genres: Drama, Horror; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Birdcage, The (1996); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Leaving Las Vegas (1995); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sense and Sensibility (1995); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Man Walking (1995); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Quiz Show (1994); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Natural Born Killers (1994); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Men in Black (a.k.a. MIB) (1997); Genres: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Groundhog Day (1993); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Home Alone (1990); Genres: Children, Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blade Runner (1982); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Taxi Driver (1976); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Line of Fire (1993); Genres: Action, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Addams Family Values (1993); Genres: Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Godfather: Part II, The (1974); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Jerry Maguire (1996); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Wizard of Oz, The (1939); Genres: Adventure, Children, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Piano, The (1993); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: When Harry Met Sally... (1989); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Client, The (1994); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia (1993); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Goodfellas (1990); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Good Will Hunting (1997); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Fish Called Wanda, A (1988); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Breakfast Club, The (1985); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: English Patient, The (1996); Genres: Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stand by Me (1986); Genres: Adventure, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937); Genres: Animation, Children, Drama, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Ed Wood (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: As Good as It Gets (1997); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Contact (1997); Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Trainspotting (1996); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Clockwork Orange, A (1971); Genres: Crime, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Amadeus (1984); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Much Ado About Nothing (1993); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Apocalypse Now (1979); Genres: Action, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Graduate, The (1967); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Face/Off (1997); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Annie Hall (1977); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969); Genres: Action, Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Full Monty, The (1997); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Big (1988); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Beetlejuice (1988); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Full Metal Jacket (1987); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Genres: Action, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Citizen Kane (1941); Genres: Drama, Mystery; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: North by Northwest (1959); Genres: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Dead Poets Society (1989); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Truman Show, The (1998); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Sting, The (1973); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Young Frankenstein (1974); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Life Is Beautiful (La Vita è bella) (1997); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Remains of the Day, The (1993); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Boot, Das (Boat, The) (1981); Genres: Action, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grosse Pointe Blank (1997); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Rear Window (1954); Genres: Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Sling Blade (1996); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Mighty Aphrodite (1995); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: This Is Spinal Tap (1984); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crying Game, The (1992); Genres: Drama, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (2001); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eyes Wide Shut (1999); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chinatown (1974); Genres: Crime, Film-Noir, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: M*A*S*H (a.k.a. MASH) (1970); Genres: Comedy, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984); Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Few Good Men, A (1992); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Tin Cup (1996); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Mary Poppins (1964); Genres: Children, Comedy, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Romancing the Stone (1984); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Platoon (1986); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Muriel's Wedding (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Almost Famous (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Sound of Music, The (1965); Genres: Musical, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chasing Amy (1997); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Unforgiven (1992); Genres: Drama, Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: High Fidelity (2000); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Rocky (1976); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cast Away (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: My Cousin Vinny (1992); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: It's a Wonderful Life (1946); Genres: Children, Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Pinocchio (1940); Genres: Animation, Children, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maltese Falcon, The (1941); Genres: Film-Noir, Mystery; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vertigo (1958); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lawrence of Arabia (1962); Genres: Adventure, Drama, War; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Genres: Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: African Queen, The (1951); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Romance, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Field of Dreams (1989); Genres: Children, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Bridge on the River Kwai, The (1957); Genres: Adventure, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rocky Horror Picture Show, The (1975); Genres: Comedy, Horror, Musical, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Garden of the Finzi-Continis, The (Giardino dei Finzi-Contini, Il) (1970); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Strawberry and Chocolate (Fresa y chocolate) (1993); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crime of Father Amaro, The (Crimen del padre Amaro, El) (2002); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: M. Hulot’s Holiday (Mr. Hulot's Holiday) (Vacances de Monsieur Hulot, Les) (1953); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bourne Identity, The (2002); Genres: Action, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Genres: Action, Crime, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: About a Boy (2002); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Ghost World (2001); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: That Obscure Object of Desire (Cet obscur objet du désir) (1977); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, The (1988); Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thelma & Louise (1991); Genres: Adventure, Crime, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Blazing Saddles (1974); Genres: Comedy, Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wonder Boys (2000); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Psycho (2000); Genres: Crime, Horror, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Man on the Moon (1999); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Bull Durham (1988); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Deliverance (1972); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grapes of Wrath, The (1940); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Toy Story 2 (1999); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Year of Living Dangerously, The (1982); Genres: Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thin Red Line, The (1998); Genres: Action, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pelican Brief, The (1993); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: American History X (1998); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 2.5/5.0
Title: Joy Luck Club, The (1993); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Addams Family, The (1991); Genres: Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Driving Miss Daisy (1989); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Breaking the Waves (1996); Genres: Drama, Mystery; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dangerous Liaisons (1988); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Lady and the Tramp (1955); Genres: Animation, Children, Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dazed and Confused (1993); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Before Night Falls (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three Colors: Blue (Trois couleurs: Bleu) (1993); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Dancer in the Dark (2000); Genres: Drama, Musical; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Once Were Warriors (1994); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Decline of the American Empire, The (Déclin de l'empire américain, Le) (1986); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Rose Tattoo, The (1955); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Dirty Shame, A (2004); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: We Don't Live Here Anymore (2004); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City of God (Cidade de Deus) (2002); Genres: Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: All the President's Men (1976); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Incredibles, The (2004); Genres: Action, Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Pianist, The (2002); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sideways (2004); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Maltese Falcon, The (a.k.a. Dangerous Female) (1931); Genres: Mystery; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rashomon (Rashômon) (1950); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Station Agent, The (2003); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wedding Banquet, The (Xi yan) (1993); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Before Sunset (2004); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Europa Europa (Hitlerjunge Salomon) (1990); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Double Indemnity (1944); Genres: Crime, Drama, Film-Noir; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Insider, The (1999); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Animal Crackers (1930); Genres: Comedy, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Splendor (2003); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: You Can Count on Me (2000); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Night at the Opera, A (1935); Genres: Comedy, Musical, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Play It Again, Sam (1972); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Sunset Blvd. (a.k.a. Sunset Boulevard) (1950); Genres: Drama, Film-Noir, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dog Day Afternoon (1975); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monterey Pop (1968); Genres: Documentary, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City Lights (1931); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Day at the Races, A (1937); Genres: Comedy, Musical; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Network (1976); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Nowhere in Africa (Nirgendwo in Afrika) (2001); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Talk to Her (Hable con Ella) (2002); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gallipoli (1981); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Wild Strawberries (Smultronstället) (1957); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dresser, The (1983); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Strangers on a Train (1951); Genres: Crime, Drama, Film-Noir, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blood Simple (1984); Genres: Crime, Drama, Film-Noir; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Raise the Red Lantern (Da hong deng long gao gao gua) (1991); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Lion in Winter, The (1968); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hannah and Her Sisters (1986); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Conversation, The (1974); Genres: Drama, Mystery; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Notorious (1946); Genres: Film-Noir, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raging Bull (1980); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On the Waterfront (1954); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Some Like It Hot (1959); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Paths of Glory (1957); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Third Man, The (1949); Genres: Film-Noir, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ran (1985); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: All About Eve (1950); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Paper Moon (1973); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Day for Night (La Nuit Américaine) (1973); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Lenny (1974); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Odd Couple, The (1968); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Babette's Feast (Babettes gæstebud) (1987); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Smell of Success (1957); Genres: Drama, Film-Noir; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: It Happened One Night (1934); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lady Vanishes, The (1938); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Salaam Bombay! (1988); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Importance of Being Earnest (1952); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bicycle Thieves (a.k.a. The Bicycle Thief) (a.k.a. The Bicycle Thieves) (Ladri di biciclette) (1948); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: And Your Mother Too (Y tu mamá también) (2001); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Shadow of a Doubt (1943); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Spartacus (1960); Genres: Action, Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Breaking Away (1979); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Hope and Glory (1987); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Virgin Spring, The (Jungfrukällan) (1960); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Rome, Open City (a.k.a. Open City) (Roma, città aperta) (1945); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Love and Death (1975); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Breaker Morant (1980); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: All About My Mother (Todo sobre mi madre) (1999); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: King of Comedy, The (1983); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Touch of Evil (1958); Genres: Crime, Film-Noir, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Sweet Hereafter, The (1997); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: French Connection, The (1971); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Producers, The (1968); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Cinema Paradiso (Nuovo cinema Paradiso) (1989); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Midnight Cowboy (1969); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: American Graffiti (1973); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Central Station (Central do Brasil) (1998); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Bad Education (La mala educación) (2004); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: To Catch a Thief (1955); Genres: Crime, Mystery, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: High Noon (1952); Genres: Drama, Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bonnie and Clyde (1967); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Lone Star (1996); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Western; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Singin' in the Rain (1952); Genres: Comedy, Musical, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rebel Without a Cause (1955); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: 39 Steps, The (1935); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Croupier (1998); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Duck Soup (1933); Genres: Comedy, Musical, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: House of Games (1987); Genres: Crime, Film-Noir, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Harold and Maude (1971); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Bedroom (2001); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Silkwood (1983); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Last Picture Show, The (1971); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seventh Seal, The (Sjunde inseglet, Det) (1957); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Man Who Knew Too Much, The (1956); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Juliet of the Spirits (Giulietta degli spiriti) (1965); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dolce Vita, La (1960); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Manhattan (1979); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Diner (1982); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: East of Eden (1955); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Take the Money and Run (1969); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 400 Blows, The (Les quatre cents coups) (1959); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rules of the Game, The (La règle du jeu) (1939); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Grand Illusion (La grande illusion) (1937); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Secrets & Lies (1996); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Prick Up Your Ears (1987); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pieces of April (2003); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Life as a Dog (Mitt liv som hund) (1985); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Winter Light (Nattvardsgästerna) (1963); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Husbands and Wives (1992); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Mildred Pierce (1945); Genres: Drama, Film-Noir; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Marty (1955); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Farewell My Concubine (Ba wang bie ji) (1993); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spanish Prisoner, The (1997); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Zorba the Greek (Alexis Zorbas) (1964); Genres: Adventure, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Room with a View, A (1986); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sleeper (1973); Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cabaret (1972); Genres: Drama, Musical; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fantasia (1940); Genres: Animation, Children, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 8 1/2 (8½) (1963); Genres: Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios) (1988); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Five Easy Pieces (1970); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Persona (1966); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stolen Kisses (Baisers volés) (1968); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Summertime (1955); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Favorite Year (1982); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Nights of Cabiria (Notti di Cabiria, Le) (1957); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Longest Day, The (1962); Genres: Action, Drama, War; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Conformist, The (Conformista, Il) (1970); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Women in Love (1969); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Nashville (1975); Genres: Drama, Musical; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Cries and Whispers (Viskningar och rop) (1972); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Howards End (1992); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Smiles of a Summer Night (Sommarnattens leende) (1955); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Jules and Jim (Jules et Jim) (1961); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Atlantic City (1980); Genres: Crime, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American in Paris, An (1951); Genres: Musical, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Silence, The (Tystnaden) (1963); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bananas (1971); Genres: Comedy, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: The Magician (1958); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reds (1981); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tom Jones (1963); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Shame (Skammen) (1968); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bullfighter, The (Matador) (1986); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maria Full of Grace (Maria, Llena eres de gracia) (2004); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amelie (Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le) (2001); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Control Room (2004); Genres: Documentary, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi) (2001); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Fantasy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: 28 Up (1985); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Garden State (2004); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Sea Inside, The (Mar adentro) (2004); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Ray (2004); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Requiem for a Dream (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Au revoir les enfants (1987); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Monty Python's And Now for Something Completely Different (1971); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Murder on the Orient Express (1974); Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cotton Club, The (1984); Genres: Crime, Musical; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: 1969 (1988); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Punchline (1988); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Barbarian Invasions, The (Les invasions barbares) (2003); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Million Dollar Baby (2004); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Capote (2005); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Brokeback Mountain (2005); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Battle of Algiers, The (La battaglia di Algeri) (1966); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Munich (2005); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Match Point (2005); Genres: Crime, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Diabolique (Les diaboliques) (1955); Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: History Boys, The (2006); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hairspray (2007); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sicko (2007); Genres: Documentary, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ratatouille (2007); Genres: Animation, Children, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Quinceañera (2006); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Once (2006); Genres: Drama, Musical, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Don't Look Back (1967); Genres: Documentary, Musical; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Hoax, The (2007); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lookout, The (2007); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Johnny Got His Gun (1971); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Taste of Honey, A (1961); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Notes on a Scandal (2006); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lives of Others, The (Das leben der Anderen) (2006); Genres: Drama, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Queen (2006); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Sorrow and the Pity, The (Le chagrin et la pitié) (1969); Genres: Documentary, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ju Dou (1990); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bourne Ultimatum, The (2007); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Last Laugh, The (Letzte Mann, Der) (1924); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scenes From a Marriage (Scener ur ett äktenskap) (1973); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cleo from 5 to 7 (Cléo de 5 à 7) (1962); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Gospel According to St. Matthew, The (Vangelo secondo Matteo, Il) (1964); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Musical, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Motorcycle Diaries, The (Diarios de motocicleta) (2004); Genres: Adventure, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Michael Clayton (2007); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Eastern Promises (2007); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Across the Universe (2007); Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Musical, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Death at a Funeral (2007); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless Router (WNR1000-100NAS (G54/N150)); Brand: NETGEAR; Review: Easy to install, makes the basis for a small GIgabit network, with sufficient bandwidth getting out into the world as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Western Digital Caviar Black 1 TB Bulk/OEM Hard Drive 3.5 Inch, 32 MB Cache, 7200 RPM SATA II WD1001FALS; Brand: Western Digital; Review: This is a NON-ADVANCED-FORMAT drive, which some controllers require. This met my expectations, and is installed in an older server that I manage.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Creative Labs SB0880 PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Sound Card; Brand: Creative; Review: Exact replacement for one that failed in a cilent's Dell PC. Plugged it in, and it worked. That's what counts!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ViewSonic TD2220 22 Inch 1080p Dual-Point Optical Touch Screen Monitor with DVI and VGA; Brand: ViewSonic; Review: Very nice monitor, qood quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cisco Systems Gigabit Dual WAN VPN 14 Port Router (RV325K9NA); Brand: Cisco Systems; Review: This is a very nice mid-range router. Capable of dual WAN, load balancing, multiple VLAN, and both Gateway to Gateway and Client to Gateway operation, it's a worthwhile successor to the RV042 that it replaced.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alarm.com Smart Thermostat; Brand: Alarm.com; Review: This became part of the security/remote control system at my shop. Lets me turn up (or down) the temperature at the shop an hour or so before I arrive, which is what I needed to do.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crucial 16GB Kit (8GBx2) DDR3/DDR3L 1333 MT/s (PC3-10600) SODIMM 204-Pin Memory For Mac - CT2K8G3S1339M; Brand: Crucial; Review: This gave new life to my older MacBook Pro - replaced the 4 GB that came in it. That, and a new Solid State drive, and it's going strong and fast.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crucial 4GB Single DDR3/DDR3L 1600 MT/s (PC3-12800) SODIMM 204-Pin Memory For Mac - CT4G3S160BM; Brand: Crucial; Review: I put them in a 2010 A1286 MacBook Pro, and they're doing the job very nicely. A good value for the price, and well worth, because upgrading makes the machine a bit faster.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Etekcity 5 Pack Power Extension Cord Cable, Outlet Saver, 3 Prong, 16AWG 13A, UL Listed (Black, 1 Foot); Brand: Etekcity; Review: This did exactly what it was supposed to do - freed up outlets on my power strip.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rankie DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable, DP to DP, 4K Resolution, 30Hz, 6 Feet, Black; Brand: Rankie; Review: Works very nicely, does exactly what it's supposed to do.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A-Tech For Apple 8GB Kit 2 x 4GB PC3-12800 Mac mini iMac Late 2013 Late 2012 ME086LL/A A1418 ME087LL/A ME088LL/A; Brand: A-Tech Components; Review: This was used to upgrade the memory in a MacBook Pro. It made a major difference in the speed of the machine.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Instapark LCL Series Battery powered Flameless LED Tealight Candles 4 Dozen Pack; Brand: Instapark; Review: Very happy with purchase. Used these to decorate a pool for a wedding. After a few hours the lights sank to the bottom but stayed lit. Next morning pulled them out and they were still lit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elbee Home EBH-613 Set of 2 Silicone Ice Cube Trays Easy Release Pop Out; Brand: Elbee Home; Review: Had some difficulty getting the ice out of theses trays and the trays stick to the shelves in the freezer.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Serenta Damask 4 Piece Bedspread Set, Queen, Light Green; Brand: Home Soft Things; Review: Extremely happy with purchase. Color is true to picture very vibrant. Material is lightweight and soft. Excellent quality and great price. I'm very tempted to buy a few extra in different colors and just stash away! Appreciate the free shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PeachSkinSheets Night Sweats: The Original Moisture Wicking, 1500tc Soft XL Twin Dorm Sheet Set Harvest Gold; Brand: PeachSkinSheets; Review: These sheets really do keep you cool at night. Very pleased with purchase and would buy again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heavy Duty White Plastic Tubular Hangers, Adult Size, Set of 24 Made in The USA (Heavy Duty); Brand: Hangorize; Review: Very good quality. Was looking for durable hangers for jeans and coats. Would buy again; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Son (The Giver, #4); Author: Lois Lowry; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I don't think I'll be finishing this book anytime soon, which makes me sad. I love The Giver, and enjoyed Gathering Blue and Messenger, but... Son is overly long and outright boring, as far as I can tell. I finished the first section, and it was so incredibly slow, and it changed pace so suddenly at the end. I want to finish the story, but I don't want to force myself to go on. Makes me sad.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4); Author: George R.R. Martin; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Took me a while, but this book is definitely a 5/5 read! I wasn't sure about all the new POV characters, but my love for both Asha and Arianne increased greatly by the end. I loved finally seeing inside of Cersei's head, and loved getting more of Jaime and Brienne. Three of my favorite characters! And Maester Aemon's death almost brought me to tears; first death in the series to really hit me hard. Martin's writing is beautifully professional, as always, and I can't wait to see how the television series adapts this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2); Author: J.K. Rowling; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I just reread this -- again -- and it's such a good story! I love how the stakes are so high. And although everything works out in the end, it doesn't feel unearned. Very satisfying! Onto book three!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #1); Author: Lemony Snicket; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Just finished the show and felt the urge to listen to the audiobooks! Very well done! Gotta love Tim Curry. 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Burning World (Warm Bodies, #2); Author: Isaac Marion; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I received this advanced readers copy from the author, Isaac Marion. This has been one of my most anticipated books for years now! My expectations were high, and they were definitely met. I love where this story has gone, and the writing is still beautiful. That said, this book suffers from being the stereotypical middle-of-the-series book. It's a lot of getting from point A to B and setting up for the next installment. There wasn't much closure to plots that had been strung along throughout the entire book, which is only as irritating as it is because I'm impatient. I had two pay-offs I was hoping for by the end of this, and neither of them happened. You can tell that the upcoming sequel is the second chunk of this story that was cut off for publishing reasons. I would compare reading this book to watching only the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was great, but had very little closure and was mainly setting up for the conclusion. Can't wait for the fourth book, and a big thank you to Isaac Marion for allowing me to peer pressure this ARC out of him. 4.3/5 stars!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1); Author: James Dashner; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I read the first hundred pages, and I've decided to stop. I hate the protagonist's personality, and I can't find it in me to care about anything that's happened. Everything seems random and carelessly explained afterwards. And from reading other reviews, apparently it doesn't get any better. It's hard to read something when you can't connect to any of the characters. The concept is interesting, but the author didn't make anything support it. I have faith that the film version will be better, since the cast is pretty great, and I could see this being a neat movie if done right.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1); Author: Rick Riordan; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this book overall. I could definitely tell it was written for an audience younger than what I'm used to though. That said, I still appreciated the humor and characters. Greek mythology really isn't my thing, but I still liked the aspects here. At some points, I was really into this, and at others I just wasn't. It was an odd ride. I don't think I fell in love with the world or the story, but I definitely did with Percy himself. I think I'll come back for more, mainly because of him. Hopefully I get more into it because I'd love to read all of the books and be in the in-crowd. So I'll rate it 5 stars because I think it's a great book for kids, but for me? I would really rate it like 4 stars based on my personal enjoyment. The main thing it has going for it is a strong narrator. Pacing was fast, almost too fast and convenient at times.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Every Day (Every Day, #1); Author: David Levithan; Genres: young-adult, romance, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: There is a lot to say about this book, but I'll try to keep it simple. It did a lot right and a lot wrong. And I think it deserves a rating right around 4 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: An Abundance of Katherines; Author: John Green; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: EDIT 2017 - Changing to 3/5 Stars. I can't think of this book without feeling repulsed. LOL! It took me forever to read this book because it was so hard to read! I was surprised because I love all of Green's other books, but this one didn't do it for me. The characters annoyed me most of the time, and running jokes got old. There were a few enjoyable moments though, and a few great lines. Green is fantastic writer, and his prose are great; the overall plot and characters are just really weak most of the time in this one. I rated it 4/5 stars, but I was tempted to give it 3. It got easier to read towards the end though, so I gave it some slack. I wouldn't recommend starting Green's work with this one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Book Thief; Author: Markus Zusak; Genres: history, young-adult, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This may possibly be my new favorite book; if not, it's definitely up there. Death's narration was so interesting, and I loved his character; having such a character as a narrator was very unique and clever. All of the characters were very complex, and I especially loved Rudy. The ending of this book killed me, in all the good ways. The tragic endings for some characters were revealed about 1/2 through the novel, which took me off guard, but that only made me dreading the ending as I neared it. I knew what was coming, but I had to see it play out. The final chapter was so perfect, and I couldn't think of a better ending. This book was truly phenomenal. That being said, it was a bit slow at times, but the writing was always so strong that I kept reading. Specifically, I mean the beginning, maybe the first 100 pages or so. But soon enough, I fell in love with all of the characters, and every single one of them broke my heart at some point. I was surprised to see as many negative reviews as I did, after I looked through them after I'd finished. But it seems what I loved about the book, those people disliked. I thought Death's narration was brilliant, and I thought the book flowed pretty well with it. The book was horribly sad and depressing, but these things did happen to real people; that's really the most horrible part. In the end, though, this book brings hope. Horrible things happened, and lives were stolen away, but those stolen lives still touched people, and that mattered. I want to phrase that better, but I truly can't find the words right now. I loved The Book Thief; Death's narration was extremely entertaining, the characters were all beautiful, and the author's writing in general was flawlessly gripping. I'd recommend this book to anyone. In my opinion, it's a must-read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Monster Calls; Author: Patrick Ness; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, children, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: REREAD 1/8/17 Had to reread this after seeing the movie. Still a work of art all around. One of my absolute favorites, a must read. The movie did it justice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eleanor & Park; Author: Rainbow Rowell; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: 'Eleanor & Park' definitely did what it was supposed to do. It was about, well, Eleanor and Park. The entire book was about their relationship, and it was a pretty satisfying relationship. It was outright gooey and mushy a lot of the time, but I was prepared for that. Sometimes when novels get too much like that I start to roll my eyes, but I never did that with 'Eleanor & Park'. Their relationship felt genuine and believable, and I really appreciated their shared nerdiness. And while I personally loved all of the pop culture references, I can't help but feel like someone outside of the comics-loop will be very confused throughout reading this. So I'd only recommend it to people I know will appreciate it as much as I did. That said, at its core, I feel like anyone could appreciate the main concept of this story. The concept has been done to death -- boy and girl fall in love, first love -- but its been re-imagined for this generation, and it works so very well. Like Park states about 'Romeo & Juliet' in this, 'Eleanor & Park' itself will be remembered for some time because people can take so much enjoyment from this love story. Not only are both Eleanor and Park fascinatingly relatable characters; Rainbow Rowell also throws in so many great lines throughout the book, lines that make your heart want to explode with unicorns and cupcakes. She manages to balance those mushy-gooey lines with the very serious atmosphere of Eleanor's life outside of Park's comfort, so whenever the book may be about to cross the line of too-much-perfect-romance-feelings, Rowell evens it out with some intense family drama. This book, to me, comes down to showing how two people can be affected by their home life. Eleanor, suffering through her parents' divorce and the man who replaced her father, doesn't foresee a lasting relationship with Park. She's seen relationships only fall apart and she thinks it's destined for her as well. Park, on the other hand, has very loving parents who also love one another; their relationship is practically ideal. This leaves Park with an outlook on love and relationships that is so different from Eleanor's. At the end of the novel, the characters really show how different they are and how their lives conditioned them to handle love. And maybe, just maybe, Park touched Eleanor enough to make a true difference. So I really did enjoy this book. I went in expecting a love story and I got one. I'd heard really great things about 'Eleanor & Park' and it delivered. I laughed out loud at Eleanor's dry sense of humor and "aw"ed so many times at Park's adorableness. I related to Eleanor's home life more than I would have liked, and I related to Park's relationship with his father. Maybe I've just had a crappy life so far in particular, or maybe Rainbow Rowell managed to convey all the struggles teenagers really go through. Let's go with the later (although my life may be a; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fangirl; Author: Rainbow Rowell; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: I'll keep this short: I really enjoyed 'Fangirl'. Rainbow Rowell can definitely write a good book! And props to her for making this feel like an actual life. Like, it felt real. I admire an author that can convey real life into a novel. That said, I got kind of bored the last hundred pages or so. Once the romance took off, Cath's platonic relationships were all pushed aside, and I was more interested in them. And I felt like certain plots weren't tied up as neatly as I would have liked. Still, I'd give this book a very positive rating.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave, #1); Author: Rick Yancey; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: 'The 5th Wave' was a very enjoyable book, but it was also a very frustrating one too many times. I loved the first part of the book, which explained how the world fell to shit because of aliens. I loved Cassie and her state of mind. I was rooting for her and I felt like she had a lot of heart. When Ben was introduced, I started off being uncomfortable with him because I could literally feel the inevitable YA romance on the way, and his survival felt like too big of a coincidence, especially when you're reading the book knowing that he and Cassie will cross paths at some point. Surprisingly, Ben's POV became the more enjoyable one for an extremely long portion of the book. Once Evan was introduced, Cassie's side of things went downhill. Evan was creepy, and the romance with Cassie formed way too quickly. As a reader, I did not feel comfortable with the romance at all, ever. It was rushed and is easily the worst thing in this novel. Evan had the potential to be an interesting character, but he felt more like a mix of characters I'd already read, cliches, and forced insta-love. He dragged Cassie down too much, and that severely hurt my rating for this book. Other than the unfortunate romance, the book was pretty decent. Like I mentioned before, Ben's inclusion with the other main characters felt a bit too coincidental, but it's possible to overlook that. There are a few times when the author tries to be clever or witty and it made me cringe instead, but his humor was on point more than not. I enjoyed the world created here, although I wish motives and reasons for certain actions had been explored more. I enjoyed Cassie as a character when she wasn't dealing with her horrible romance with Evan or thinking slightly creepy things about Ben. As for Ben himself, I really enjoyed him and his development, and I felt more natural flow with his relationship with Ringer (though it was also a bit cliche), so I hope that's touched on in the sequel, which is sitting on my shelf waiting to be read. And Evan, well, you can tell I'm not a huge fan, but that's mainly because of how he was written; he had potential. So I'll rate this 4/5 stars. I can see why a lot of people love it. Did I? No, but I enjoyed a lot of it. Enough to want to see where the story is headed next. The sequel seems to be shorter, so maybe that means the unneeded romance is cut down some? Wishful thinking.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children, #1); Author: Ransom Riggs; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I did not enjoy this book much! I really wanted to, but I just didn't. It was slow, and the narrative was awkwardly built around the pictures, which disrupted the flow of the story. There were a few funny lines, and I enjoyed the invisible character, but other than that... Not much to love here! At least, for me. It was a challenge to get through this one, especially when the "romance" came in, which was way too cheesy and even a bit cringe worthy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Burnouts (Quarantine, #3); Author: Lex Thomas; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: I had a hard time deciding how I felt about this book the entire time reading it. I was a big fan of the two previous novels in this trilogy, and I really enjoyed this one as well. But I feel like there was a lot of untapped potential. The book was pretty short (under 300 pages), and a lot of time was glimpsed over. For example, going into this book, I was expecting interesting confrontations in the outside world with David and Will and seeing the new world with them. I was also mainly interested to see Lucy fending for herself in the school, without ANY one to fall back on. But the interesting stuff outside of the school was pretty much nonexistent, and Lucy's month or so spent alone in the school was skipped. It felt like the authors wanted to head straight into the final act of this story, and didn't wait for anything to build up to it. It was entertaining, but it didn't feel like a complete novel; it felt like something was missing. Probably all that potential talking. That said, I had a few other issues with the book that didn't relate to the length of it or the missed opportunities. The characters went out things in ways that made me roll my eyes on a few occasions, and honestly, I hate to be that person, but the love triangle was truly overdone. I wasn't looking forward to the love triangle stuff, and unfortunately it took up a good chunk of time, and left me feeling bitter towards a character or two that shall remain unnamed. A lot of people don't like the ending, but I'm okay with it. I'm not sure I like how we got there 100%, but the ending is satisfying. There was a nice surprise, some cheesy 'knew-it-was-coming's, and a really horrible tragedy which made for a nice mixture of emotions at the end. I'll give this one 4/5 stars. The main things holding this back were the untapped potential, the somewhat clumsy handling of the romantic relationships, and the rushed atmosphere. If you enjoyed the previous books, you'll enjoy this one as well, and I hope you find it at least as satisfying as I did. SPOILERS: My poor Will could not catch a break this entire book! Just... everything he went through! Was horrible! And then he had to go out like that. I love me some sudden, tragic death, but Will was leading a tragedy before his death! It felt like he was kicked to death when he was already down. Really brutal, as someone else said. I was a huge Violent fan, so I jumped for joy when she was alive at the beginning... but then almost cried when it showed her dying. Loved her character so, so much. I really wish she'd been more involved in the story, but I think I'm just biased because I enjoyed her so much. I got a little choked up too when her boyfriend found out she died at the very; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In The Afterlight (The Darkest Minds, #3); Author: Alexandra Bracken; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: While this may be my least favorite out of the three novels, 'In the Afterlight' is on par with what we've come to expect from Ms. Bracken and does a fantastic job leaving readers satisfied. My main issues with this one have to do with the pacing, at times, and those moments that happened way too frequently that made you stop and think, "But... why don't you just do this instead? Why did this happen? Why didn't /that/ happen? Oh right, because this is convenient for the plot." Those moments pull you out of the story when you're reading, but I can forgive them because the overall plot of this was very entertaining; and like I said, satisfying. Finally, I'd diagnose this book with 'Mockingjay syndrome', which is when a book is limited to one characters' perspective and because of that, the reader misses out on really important and emotional sequences and only sees the aftermath. That happened at least twice in this one. I get it; it was a lengthy book, and Ruby couldn't be in every scene ever. But I still felt like I'd had a few great scenes stolen from me because of this handicap. Oh, and the romance drama got a bit frustrating here and there. So while this book isn't perfect, it's still really good! It's a solid final act in this trilogy. I was hoping for a few more shocks, as nothing too mind blowing really happened in this one, but I can't complain at all with how it ended. It wrapped everything up very nicely and did its job better than most final novels do.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wonder (Wonder #1); Author: R.J. Palacio; Genres: children, young-adult, fiction; Review: 'Wonder' by R.J. Palacio was truly -- cue the drums -- wonderful. I've been stuck on the same book for a month, finding it hard to get into, but decided to pick up 'Wonder', hoping it would give me a breath of fresh air; and it did. I was hooked from the first page. The main character, August, is very lovable. He's a character you'll remember. But the other characters, many who were POVs, were also extremely great. They were all human, they all made mistakes and said stupid things, but I loved each and every one of them. Jack, Miranda, etc. They were interesting as people. The only thing I would "complain" about is: the younger children spoke very maturely for their age. But you can forgive that because they're cute and witty. 'Wonder' is easily 5/5 stars. A new favorite, and a book that should be shared among everyone, especially children.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Night Circus; Author: Erin Morgenstern; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I'll be generous and give 'The Night Circus' 4 stars. I'll be honest, for me, it was a tough book to get through. It was so, and I hate to say it, boring. The writing was beautiful, and the story had loads of potential, but things that interested me were never delved into. All of the characters were likable, but that's merely because most of them barely had any sort of character depth or personality; the reader is never given the chance or substance to connect deeply with any character. If you're looking for a character driven book, this isn't for you. If you're looking for an exciting book, this isn't for you. If you're a fan of the circus and are only wanting to read pretty sentences, give this a try. But don't expect compelling characters or explanations to the overall story. Like I said, this book had a lot of potential; the problem, in my opinion, was completely with the author, as she didn't develop her characters or story enough to please. But hey, maybe she wasn't interested in writing relatable characters or a plot you could understand. Maybe she was just setting out to write a mysterious book about the circus. Either way, the mystery didn't thrill me, not when there's no answers to be given. And the pacing was horrible, just plain horrible, sorry to say. Too bad there weren't characters to actually ground the story and make it worthwhile. I could see this making a good film; but if/when developed, they should advertise the film for what it is. The novel summary definitely was misleading, and set expectations way too high.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Young Elites (The Young Elites, #1); Author: Marie Lu; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I can't finish this one. It was rough. Never got better. I got to page 200 and then finally dropped it for months, hoping I could bring myself to pick it back up one day. But it just makes me miserable every time I look at it. It's sad because I expected a lot from this one; I loved the Legend trilogy. But this one was a total miss, at least for me.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, #1); Author: Patrick Ness; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Patrick Ness is one of my favorite authors. He has never disappointed me. So, inevitably, 'The Knife of Never Letting Go' gets a 5/5 stars rating from me. Todd, the protagonist, is so likable. It's extremely easy to relate to him, and you really feel sucked into his story when he's telling it. Viola, the other main character, is also a great character. For readers looking for a "strong female character", they'll definitely find one in her. The relationship between Todd and Viola is very genuine, and I like how it's handled here. They need one another to survive, and it's just brilliant how Ness writes the evolution between them. He also stole my heart with Manchee, Todd's dog. Ness' stories usually start off sounding extremely original. But then once you get into it, you realize you've read about these types of themes and plots before. Only-- you really haven't; at least, not through the window Ness writes through. Some of the elements in his stories, including this one, are very familiar, but they never feel like a rip off of any other story. He takes a basic story idea and writes it the way it SHOULD be written, and combines it with others. All of his threads weave together and work. I couldn't sit this book down; Ness' books are always like that (so if you haven't guessed already, I'm suggesting you read his other works!). The pacing in this book was excellent; something was always happening and it was always interesting. And in the later half of the story, a few things happened that actually made my mouth drop. I couldn't believe Ness went to some of the places he did, especially in a "YA" novel. But I guess I forgot: Ness doesn't dumb down his stories. He writes mature, compelling characters and writes circumstances that compliment them. I may have teared up a few times, and that ending was just... Read it for yourself. You won't be disappointed either.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: More Than This; Author: Patrick Ness; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I went into this book not knowing what to expect. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, this book surprised me. I was a fan of how the book would point out cliche moments in the narrative, and either went with it or turned it on its head; either way, it wasn't cliche at all. Those moments are what grounded this story. The characters were fantastic, and the overall theme of the book is a very inspirational one. This book is the definition of "It's not about the destination; it's about the journey." This book answered enough questions, but in a way that left it open for interpretation. I liked that; it worked. The book dragged some scenes out, and they felt slow, but in a way that made the suspense more affective. I can understand if someone got bored at some points in this story, but it worked for me. I was always on the edge of my seat. Patrick Ness is a fantastically gifted writer, and I cannot wait to read the rest of his published books and the ones to come. This book is a new favorite of mine and easily deserves 5 stars, in my opinion. SPOILERS UNDER THIS POINT: I had no idea going into this story that the protagonist was gay. Words cannot describe how pleased I am that this book wasn't advertised in the way most books featuring LGBT protagonists are. Seth's sexuality was only one bit of his character and only one small fact in the scope of this huge world. I liked that his sexuality wasn't pointed out to the reader too soon; the reader sympathized with him and cared for him for over 100 pages before his love interest was really established. Sure, I definitely picked up on the subtext, but I didn't expect it to turn into actual text. I was pleasantly surprised. One small hope I have after reading this book is that someone out there will be attracted to its story and love Seth and then realize he's gay; and maybe that realization will change that person's point of view about gays will change, see that all people are just that: people. Sexuality doesn't define someone; anyone can be a hero. Seth was definitely a hero. I applaud Patrick Ness. Not for writing an LGBT character well, but for just simply writing a character well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1); Author: Marissa Meyer; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed 'Cinder'! There weren't many surprises, but it was an extremely entertaining ride, and I cannot wait to see where it goes from here. This series has the potential to be a favorite of mine! This first book did everything right, it just didn't have the "wow" factor needed to make it extraordinary. I could totally see the sequels reaching that level though, and I hope they do. Easily 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Iron Trial (Magisterium, #1); Author: Holly Black; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was a hard book to get through, but once it picked up, it picked up. I expected a lot from this book, but I feel like it didn't start delivering until the few final chapters. It was definitely just building up to the big reveal at the end, and setting up the next four books. And I can forgive it for that, because that reveal, man; that reveal. I did not see it coming. The entire book, I had my own theory, but that theory was pointed out in the text and proved wrong; I was so glad. The actual twist is so interesting and I cannot wait to see how it's dealt with in the following books. I liked all of the characters. Did I love any of them? No. But they all have the potential to reach that love status, for sure. Both Cassandra Clare and Holly Black are great when it comes to characters, so I'm not surprised that there isn't even one character I don't like. I hope the next books will flesh them out more. And given that they will be growing up with every year, and the drama they'll have to deal with, I can't wait until I love these characters, because I know I will. I just honestly feel like the book was too short for me to develop anything more than 'like.' Here's hoping for longer, deeper sequels. So yes. I'll give The Iron Trial 4/5 stars. The writing was good. The characters were good. But it was slow. It felt like a rehashing of things I'd already read about for about 90% of the story. But in the end, it shocked me. It was obviously a set up for the following books, where the REAL meaty stories will happen. And I cannot wait to read them. I just hope as the audience grows up every year, as well as the characters, the story can mature to keep up as well, because this could turn into a truly great story if given the right mix of angst and drama. I don't want the middle grade label to hold it back from the potential it has.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices, #1); Author: Cassandra Clare; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this one! I mean, it's Cassandra Clare; how could I not? I'd been anticipating "Lady Midnight" for forever (or so it felt like), and it definitely lived up to my expectations. Is it Cassie's best Shadowhunters novel? No. But it's still darn good, a great beginning to the trilogy, and a solid novel by itself. As we know by now, Cassie is the queen of creating lovable characters, and she knows how to break our hearts with relationships. I walked into this book expecting Mark to be my hardcore favorite because I thought he was so interesting, but I ended up connecting to other characters much more than him; I think that has to do with the limited time with spent in Mark's head though. He's one of the most interesting characters here, arguably only overshadowed by Julian. Julian. Oh, Julian. He ended up being my absolute favorite character in this book. My heart broke for him in so many ways, I admired him, and I connected with him. He's also pretty interesting in his own right. Cristina was my runner up. She was such a great person, and I just really liked her. Ty was also an interesting character, but just like Mark, he didn't get a ton of POV here; I'm sure that'll change in later books, and I'm super excited for his love story. Emma was a great lead character, and I liked her wittiness, but like I said, I preferred all the previously listed characters more than her. Besides those five though, the rest of the characters weren't too fleshed out, and there were so. many. of. them. I liked them all, but they were mainly just siblings in the background. I'm sure they'll get more depth over time, but as of this story, too many of them are underdeveloped. That's the main issue with having a huge cast. And ships. Boy, did Cassie bring on the ships! I left this book with two new OTPs, and two others I love. If you've enjoyed the Shadowhunter books up until this point, you'll love "Lady Midnight". There's no way you can't. Like I said, it's not the best in the entire series, but it definitely is setting up following stories that COULD potentially be the best. There's so many amazing characters, and the world is just so fun to live in. "Lady Midnight" gets 5/5 stars from me, and it's a the beginning of a new favorite trilogy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1); Author: Maggie Stiefvater; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I loved "The Raven Boys"! I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but I did end up loving it as much as I did. It was quite different from what I've read recently, in that it went against a lot of the tropes I've come to find in YA supernatural fiction. I assumed a good many plot points would come full circle by the end of the novel (and some did!), but most of them were stretched out, obviously for the sequels. That said, they didn't feel stretched too thin! What this novel covered was really satisfying, and I can't wait to see all of the foreshadowing visions followed through with in the next book(s). The dialogue was a little wooden at parts, but it's really just how it was written sometimes. I just have a personal problem when, i.e., "What's up?" is written as "What is up?" It pulls me out of the conversation, and that happened a good many times in this book. Other than that, I have mostly nothing but praise for this one, guys! I really enjoyed it; and I'm starting to sound like a broken record by this point, haha. My favorite character was easily Adam. He was just really lovable, and I related to him a good bit. Gansey was a really interesting character as well, and Blue was a lot of fun. Ronan took some time for me to get into to, which is ironic because I usually love his type of character; but I think Maggie tried too hard to make him /mean/. I like a good brooding, sarcastic character filled with angst, but Ronan came off as trying too hard to be a dick for a good portion of the story. Maybe that was the point though? Either way, I did come to like him by the end, and he made me laugh a few times. Hopefully chapters written through his POV will help with getting to know him more in the sequel. I have high hopes that I'll come to adore him. So there you go! "The Raven Boys", while not flawless, was a really solid read, with a great story and really fun characters. It's easily 5/5 stars and even a new favorite! Can't wait to binge the next two books!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe; Author: Benjamin Alire Saenz; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I could not put this book down. I fell in love with both Ari and Dante and the genuine relationship they shared together. And not only them; each parent was a complex and interesting character as well. They all felt like real people. Few books can do that, but 'Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe' definitely did. The writing in general was supremely enjoyable. There were deep, thought provoking lines, and amazing humor scattered throughout the book. I, personally, related to Ari's point of view on a lot of things. There were a few instances between him and his mother, where I just thought, "Yes. I've had that feeling. I know." And it felt like a shared secret between me and the narrator, the author. I won't get too specific, but I'm sure others will pick up on those moments when reading as well. I connected with this raw story on so many levels. Read this book. It's an important book, and it's enjoyable. Extremely so. It gets 5/5 stars from me, without a doubt. A new favorite.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ask and the Answer (Chaos Walking #2); Author: Patrick Ness; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Another knockout from Patrick Ness. 'The Knife of Never Letting Go' was a fantastic book, and 'The Ask and the Answer' is just as great. It turned into a very different story, but it felt natural. The mirrored character arcs for Todd and Viola were brilliant, and seeing them come together in the end was very satisfying. It ends with an ending just as crazy as the last, but then again, it's not truly an ending, is it? I feel like there's so much more story to tell in this world and with these characters. And there's only one more book left (and two more short stories)! And yet, I trust that Patrick Ness does all that's needed in the final book. I have no doubts, and I cannot wait to read it. I have to take the time to shout out to the standout character in this book: Davy Prentiss. I was so surprised to see Davy and Todd paired up at first, because I hadn't expected it, but it made a lot of sense once it happened. I hated the way Davy treated Todd, of course, but I snickered at his comments. And then I started to pity him for his relationship with his father. And THEN I started to like his character because he truly grew from his friendship with Todd. Patrick Ness showed more to the relationship he had with his father, and it was just so disgusting and sad. And Davy turned out to be just a boy trying to impress his father; his father, who didn't love him or want him, and mind controlled him! Davy, just... I feel like he was a good person. His father was just really messed up, and his morality was distorted to some degree because of that. But in his heart, he knew what as wrong and right, and he came through in the end. He really did. I wanted his character to stick around because I found him so interesting and redeemed, but alas. I knew it was coming. Davy Prentiss played his part well, did what he needed to do as a character. True brilliance behind him; the brilliance that is Patrick Ness!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Landline; Author: Rainbow Rowell; Genres: young-adult, romance, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this book! Rainbow Rowell is a great writer; she nails characterization, comedy, and has great skill for swoony one liners. 'Landline' is the third book I've read by her, and her pattern continues here. I really loved the dynamics between the characters, and the humor was top notch, especially when it came to the scenes between Georgie and her younger sister, Heather. Georgie interacting with her younger husband (or not-yet-husband?) over the landline introduced truly cute scenes; they were very dialogue heavy, and the dialogue was enough to convey the tone Rowell was going for between the two characters. It took the main character too long to catch onto some possible elements of the "time travel" aspect of the story, and the story didn't really do anything too mind blowing, but overall 'Landline' did what it was supposed to do rather well. It's easily 5/5 stars for the enjoyment level, but it also just as easily isn't Rainbow's strongest novel (but she has a couple invincible ones, so they're hard to beat). Still, if you're looking for a very cute, funny magic realism standalone, or if you're just a fan of Rainbow's previous books, you should check this one out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I'll Give You the Sun; Author: Jandy Nelson; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: I really enjoyed "I'll Give You The Sun." I found it very unique and thought the artistic approach was fun. I did enjoy the first half of the book more than the second, but that's only because the second love story (which took up a big portion of the second half) was a bit too cliche for my liking; it wasn't bad -- I still had fun with it -- but I enjoyed the first blossoming romance much more, found it more intense and realistic. That said, this was a book about siblings, and I loved their relationship; I kind of feel like the story got distracted from them sometimes, but it all worked out in the end -- almost too gracefully. The ending was a bit too smooth for my liking. So while there are some imperfections here, it's still a very enjoyable book. Certain characters and relationships will stick with me, whereas a few others probably won't. But I will be checking out the other book(s) by this lovely author! I give this book 4.5 stars; because there's no denying it had me turning the page like a madman, and I got pretty invested in it. EDIT: I've come back to add this book to my favorites list. Honestly, I feel like I gave this book too much of a hard time towards the end of the road. I wanted to find things to complain about, and I read criticisms from other readers before I'd finished myself! I stand by the 'Oscar was a huge cliche fest' argument, but other than that... this truly was a great book. Everything about it popped. It's been a few days since I finished it, and I cannot stop thinking about it! I keep reflecting on the breathtaking writing. I feel like I need to read it again. And I think that speaks wonders in itself about how good this book is. Like I said, this book isn't /perfect/, but it's "hella" (oh, Noah, you ARE perfect) enjoyable and memorable and cute and keyboard-smash worthy. The author said this was a book about "split-aparts" and it is; I want to go into this book knowing that this time. I plan on rereading it sooner rather than later. I think that qualifies for a favorite, yes?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Four: A Divergent Collection (Divergent, #0.1-0.4); Author: Veronica Roth; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Apparently my enjoyment of this world is too far gone, but I'm sure others who still possess great love for this world will enjoy the heck out of these short stories. There were a few good moments that stuck out, but then there was also one that was really awkward. And I really didn't walk away from this knowing anything too new. And if I'm being honest, Tobias' POV still resembles Tris'. Maybe Veronica just has one voice that she can't help but rely on. So I'll give this 4/5 stars even though I personally could have lived without it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The New World (Chaos Walking, #0.5); Author: Patrick Ness; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, young-adult, fiction; Review: A great short story! Learned a few things about Viola, and I loved getting inside of her head. Looks like her POV will be in the sequel as well, so I'm curious about that. Onto the second book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Last Night I Sang to the Monster; Author: Benjamin Alire Saenz; Genres: young-adult, fiction; Review: Such a talented author! Really knows how to make you feel things. This one took a little bit for me to get into, but I never doubted the genius behind it! This book in particular reminded me of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and that's a compliment! 5/5 stars! Can't wait to check out more by this author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sparks Rise (The Darkest Minds #2.5); Author: Alexandra Bracken; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Another fantastic story from Ms. Bracken! I really enjoyed it. That ending! Why?! It could have ended so much more positively! It hurt so good though. I hope we see Sam in the final novel. I wanted to be in her head a bit more than we were given here. I may have liked the other novella more, but this one is still a great read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sky Is Everywhere; Author: Jandy Nelson; Genres: poetry, fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: I've noticed a pattern in Jandy Nelson's novels; a portion of them are great, and another portion of them are "eh." 'The Sky Is Everywhere' was 2/3 "eh" and 1/3 great. I did not enjoy the first bit of this novel, plainly put. I only started to like it towards the ending, once the romances where sidelined. I honestly think the story would have been more enjoyable (for me) if the Joe romance hadn't existed at all. I get why it did, but I just wasn't interested in it. The romance with Toby was more interesting because it was complicated; I would have liked to seen their relationship fleshed out more. I liked the outcome, and I loved where Lennie was left emotionally as a character at the end of the novel. Sadly, her character arc was full of cluttered, eye-roll worthy romance for the most part. I really loved her relationships with her grandmother and Sarah; her poems were hit or miss (mostly miss) for me. So while I had major issues with this one, I can see why people like it; it just didn't do as much for me as I wanted it to. Nelson's 'I'll Give You The Sun' is a far better novel, in my opinion, and I would recommend that one to readers interested in her, not this one. I'd give 'The Sky Is Everywhere' 3.5/5 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monsters of Men (Chaos Walking #3); Author: Patrick Ness; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: You can look at any of my past reviews for Patrick Ness' novels and know I'm going to rave on and on about how brilliant he is. Because he is. And 'Monsters of Men' continues to show his brilliance. This is the final book in the trilogy, and I found it very satisfying. I liked the ending, which is more than I can say for a lot of other stories. I do wish we'd gotten to see a bit more of the aftermath, but I'm assuming the final ebook is for that. I'll be going to read that right... Now. *****\*****; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rest of Us Just Live Here; Author: Patrick Ness; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: My expectations for this book were extremely high, as Patrick Ness is consistently amazing. He's yet to disappoint me, and 'The Rest of Us Just Live Here' continues his perfect record. The book didn't do anything too crazy, and it was basically what I was expecting to get: a tight story filled with great characters, Ness' witty humor, and much needed diversity in literature. The structure of the story is very unique and different, and it's also different in that it focuses on more personal relationships amidst all of the craziness most stories would rather focus on, but that's the entire point of this novel, and readers are aware of that fact going into this book. So while 'The Rest of Us Just Live Here' doesn't do anything too crazy, it's another fantastic story from Patrick Ness. His writing is as remarkable as ever, and his new characters are just as fun as his past ones. It's a very unique concept, and while it may not appeal to certain readers, I really enjoyed it, and it's easily a new favorite. If you enjoy very - very - character driven stories and can take a step back and take a non-serious look at most YA story tropes used today, you'll enjoy this one as much as I did! There's also great focus on a handful of mental illnesses, and the characters are very diverse in race, sexuality, and sex. How the characters' relationships are written in general comes off as very post-modern, and that appealed to me a lot, especially, again, with how relationships are usually presented in YA literature today. 5/5 stars! And extra points because Patrick Ness is apparently a huge 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' fanboy; ditto. And his new character, Jared, deserves a spinoff/sequel companion novel. Please?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carry On; Author: Rainbow Rowell; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This. Book. My. God. 'Carry On' was everything I wanted and more. Like, I honestly can't think of anything I didn't like about this book. It was entertaining, had great characters, and it's just naturally what you would expect from Rainbow Rowell if she wrote a fantasy novel. I think you could definitely read this without having read 'Fangirl' first. It comes off as a world obviously designed from 'Harry Potter', but that's kind of the point, especially with 'Fangirl' in the picture. The reader just has to go into this aware of the fact that it's heavily inspired by JK Rowling's material, to the point that it's almost humorous. As I was reading, I was thinking to myself, "This is like a more mature 'Harry Potter,'" and that's exactly what I was eager for! I'm happy Rainbow Rowell delivered. The romance between Simon and Baz lived up to the hype, and if I have to complain about something, I'll say that I wanted more fluffy scenes between them! The book is fairly lengthy, so I expected a good many fluffy scenes, but most of the story is building to that point, and then even after there's so much else going on that the romance is never overwhelming. Probably a good thing overall, but I personally just greedily wanted more Simon/Baz to devour on page. The characters of Penny and Agatha surprised me a lot. I adored Penny; she's truly the best friend anyone could ask for. And Agatha was very relatable. I liked being inside her head most of the time; her opinions were interesting, and I love where she ended up by the ending. Honestly, where all the characters end up is perfect individually. Read this book! I can confidently say that it's now my favorite Rainbow Rowell novel. I would demand a sequel, as I looooved being with these characters, but I'm really satisfied where the story left them. There was ONE lose character thread I was left wondering about (Nico), but besides that this novel had nothing but closure, I felt. And that's mainly the problem I had with 'Fangirl'; I adored that novel, but I didn't feel full closure at the ending. This one? 100% closure! Much applause! 5/5 stars and a new favorite!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Darkest Part of the Forest; Author: Holly Black; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I really enjoy Holly Black's books. They're always fun, always with a great cast and interesting ideas. BUT. But. I'm almost always left feeling unsatisfied, as if all potential hadn't been used. 'The Darkest Part of the Forest' was no different. I liked the cast, the different plot threads, and even the romances. But nothing felt fully tapped. Each relationship, each character, was underused but bursting with potential. I feel like that could have been different if the book had been like 100-200 pages longer, with more point of views from the other main characters. Besides that, I never truly felt drawn in by the threats in the story, and it ended way too quickly and neatly. It was fun, but her stories still read like lesser Cassandra Clare books to me; similar writing styles with similar characters and humor, but Holly just isn't able to fully use a character to its fullest, not like Cassie. Hoping their collaboration will make Holly a stronger storyteller.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ready Player One; Author: Ernest Cline; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: "Ready Player One" had a ton of hype around it, and it definitely managed to live up to it all. It took a little bit to get going, because there was a lot of world building and information needed to understand the whole plot, but it was worth it. Once it took off, I was always interested to see where it was going to go. There were quite a few sharp turns in the story and I loved that, because they mostly shaped each part - the story is made up of three parts. The third and final part was easily the most rewarding and thrilling. The humor in the book was great, and I'm curious to check out more from this author. Many of the 80s pop culture references were over my head, but I understood them enough to get the gist of things, and a few of them I totally got and I loved those ones. So if you're more knowledgable on that era, you'd probably enjoy that layer of the book more than I did. If you're a huge gamer, you'd probably enjoy this book a bit more than I did too. But overall, this is a new favorite for me, even if I'm not well equipped in those two areas of nerdiness. I just happen to appreciate a good story!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vicious (Villains, #1); Author: V.E. Schwab; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This book is easily five stars and a new favorite of mine! It was written beautifully! Not just the prose, but the evolving characters and how they changed positions throughout the story. It's hard to word that without spoiling anything! I'm definitely going to be checking out more books by this gal, and I plan on reading the prequel e-book to this in a few minutes. Can't get enough of this world and its characters! And while I adore how this book ended, I would accept a sequel if it was written decades later. I think it'd be interesting. SPOILERS: I just would love to read about Eli decades later, after he'd been locked away for so long. I felt like prison did Victor good, let him grow morally. Eli is frikkin nuts throughout this book, but he's interesting and it's easy to see why he functions how he does. I feel like he's destined to realize how wrong he is and live with it forever, what he's done. I'd love a short story or something through his perspective in the future. I'd eat that up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, #1); Author: Cassandra Clare; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this! I liked it way more than most, possibly all, of the Bane Chronicles. Simon is truly in an interesting position, and I love being in his head. I was grateful for the few Sizzy scenes and Simon's growing friendships with George and Catarina. Catarina has always been interesting and cool, but I like getting to know her on this level; and George is such a cute, fun character! The Simon/George bromance is probably my favorite I've read for a while. Cannot wait for the next one!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Copper Gauntlet (Magisterium, #2); Author: Holly Black; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I expected a lot from this series, as Cassandra Clare and Holly Black are two of my favorite authors. The first book didn't quite live up to my expectations, but it ended on a high note, setting up the rest of the series perfectly. Luckily, and as expected, the authors followed through on that. This second book is everything I wanted to begin with; only now I realize we couldn't begin with this. We had to build up to it. And while it did take a whole book to get here, it was worth it. 'The Copper Gauntlet' sucked me in from the very beginning and didn't stop until I'd finished the last syllable; and even then I was itching for the next chapter. I won't be able to wait until the next one is released! This series is a new favorite, finally something I can say. I can't wait to read the next three books. I received an advance reading copy of this book, but in a way that was a blessing and a curse. I got to read this masterpiece early, but now I have to wait longer for the sequel! Agony! This one is easily 5/5 stars and a favorite. The plot was fast paced and gripping, the characters and their interactions were great, and a few lines made me laugh out loud; everything I knew this could deliver. Words can't describe how satisfying this one was for me. Check it out, especially if you got through book one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3); Author: Marissa Meyer; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I loved this one! Easily my favorite out of the Lunar Chronicles so far. Marissa has said repeatedly that 'Firefly' was an inspiration for her (let me love you), and that definitely shined through here. I enjoyed the character interactions, especially once they were all together in the same place. And when they weren't, it was still so much fun to see them divided and how they were moving towards one another. The final act of the story was really gripping; I literally couldn't sleep because I had to know what happened next! The final book should be really crazy and fun, so I'm looking forward to it as much as the next reader is. 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4); Author: Marissa Meyer; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This was the perfect ending to the series. It took me forever to finish (because my reading slump formed halfway through), but I'm glad I got to savor the characters because I'll miss them. 5/5 stars, easily.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Warm Up (Villains, #0.5); Author: V.E. Schwab; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I enjoyed this! It was extremely short; I'm not sure what it added to the story or this world though.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skins: the Novel (Skins, #1); Author: Ali Cronin; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this! I'm a huge Skins fan, and I'm currently in the middle of rewatching the series. I figured it'd be nice to finally read this in between Series 3 and 4. The characterization was fairly on point. There /were/ a few times when I thought, "Would Effy really say/think that?" But that's a minor issue. I mean, it's Effy Stonem; writing her POV in first person is a pretty solid thing to attempt, and I feel the author for the most part succeeded. Either way, I really had fun with this story! I just really needed some new Skins in my life. The show has been off the air for two years now, and it was just nice to breath in some new Skins. During reading, it was really interesting to see some details while knowing the characters' futures, namely Naomi and Emily's characters. Especially Naomi's. I'll leave that there, because I don't wanna get too far into spoiler territory for the final series of the show! After reading this, I really wish they would release another novel or two, focusing on the first two generations of characters! It'd be so awesome to read about their lives post-college, before the final series of the show. I'd love to read about Tony (hey, he got three mentions in this book; score!), Effy, Naomi, Emily, Cassie, and Sid! And those are only a few of the characters the novels could revisit. The final series of the show touched on some of them, but it left the door wide open to explore all of their lives at some point. That's my dream, you know, if we can't get a reunion film in a few years. (Please?) So my verdict is: you'll enjoy this book if you're a big fan of Skins. If you're a casual fan, you probably won't enjoy it as much. And if you haven't seen the show, you'll definitely be lost. Bonus like points if you're a fan of Effy, Katie, and/or Naomily, as they have a lot of focus in this story. And I also hope you enjoy lesbian smut, because there's a few hardcore scenes in this. Hey, I'm not complaining! 5/5 stars for filling the lack of new Skins in my life.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda; Author: Becky Albertalli; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: This book felt like me, and I don't think you can ask for more from a story or author. I'll leave this review at that. Bravo, Becky, and many thanks.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1); Author: Sabaa Tahir; Genres: history, young-adult, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This book was great. I really enjoyed it, especially the further I got into it. The two main characters were really complex, and rooting for them was so rewarding. All of the characters and relationships in general were intriguing, which is rare. Honestly, every romance subplot grew to be something more than I thought it would be, so that says a lot. This could have turned out to be another 'Throne of Glass', but thankfully it didn't. (And some people will argue that's a bad thing, or they'll think it did and that it's a positive comment.) But here we are: left with a great world, story, and characters worth returning to. You can tell I'll be waiting for that said sequel. This is easily 5/5 stars, and I'd recommend it to anyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Through the Dark (The Darkest Minds, #1.5, #2.5, #3.5); Author: Alexandra Bracken; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I read the first two novellas when they were released online, and their quality still stands. Having a print version of them is great, but having the new, third novella "Beyond the Night" was the biggest treat here; and fortunately it took up about 1/2 of the entire book. It was a very satisfying story, wrapping up Sam and Lucas' plot from the "Sparks Rise" novella. I got very emotional towards the ending, and seeing all of the old characters return was fantastic. The best part was watching Sam, Lucas, and Mia becoming apart of the group. That said, I got to the final ten pages and thought to myself, "How is this not leading into a sequel?" Bracken ended the trilogy well, but definitely left the world in shambles. Our characters won their war, but it wasn't sunshine and rainbows in the aftermath. Very realistic, but I wanted to see areas of this "reformed" country explored. Obviously that isn't possible without a sequel, and I accepted that. It was overall a nice ending. BUT then we had to have characters in this novella (post-final trilogy installment) bring up scenarios that were highly likely to happen: and I wanted to read about them! It sounded like a new war entirely could begin at any time, and the current government wasn't exactly doing a swell job handling the children! I wanted more! Buuuuut Bracken did end this one on another fine ending, enough to feel like closure even with the possible scenarios in the future. It felt like the point was to just hope for the best. War was over; have faith in that. And it worked. The epilogue wrapped up the Sam and Lucas perfectly. And this even gave some closure to Liam and showed where some of the characters found themselves after the final book. But I wouldn't argue against a sequel if it was ever announced. ;) And I guess those are the best types of series; they leave you satisfied, but always wanting more! 5/5 stars here. Definitely pick this book up if you love the trilogy. But read them in publication order in between the main books! That's the best way, in my opinion. (Also, I thought Bracken said she was writing a Clancy novella at some point? I'd be all for that. He was super interesting and I loved to hate him.); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: More Happy Than Not; Author: Adam Silvera; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: I started this book with expectations as to where the story would go. Actually, no; I think I mean that I underestimated where it COULD go. You think you know where this book is going, but trust me, you have no idea. I was completely surprised with a good handful of plot points, something I wasn't expecting going into this book. It was well thought out, clever, and immensely heartbreaking. It takes a good while for the story to truly reveal just what it holds, but once it does -- mind pretty much blown. And even before that, the story is still enjoyable, even if it doesn't end up going in the direction you assumed it would. I literally just finished 'More Happy Than Not' just a few minutes ago, so my face is probably still tear stained, and my thoughts are still racing and settling. I just have to say... read this book, because it was definitely an experience worth remembering (pun?). 5/5 stars and I think a new favorite. Possible reread material.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes, #2); Author: Sabaa Tahir; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This was a perfect sequel. I cannot express how overjoyed I am that there's at least two more books in this series. 5/5 stars, easily!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: History Is All You Left Me; Author: Adam Silvera; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: Another fantastic story from Adam Silvera! It's very raw and real, and so unique. If you've ever felt grief, this book will strike a nerve with you. It's a piece of art, a true experience to read. I recommend it to anyone who can handle emotionally heavy content, but also loves nerdy pop culture and realistic, cute relationships. If you enjoyed "More Happy Than Not", you'll love this. 5/5 stars and a new favorite.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saga: Book One; Author: Brian K. Vaughan; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Fantastic story and characters. Love the art. This is THE book to be reading right now. Brian is probably the best comic writer in the business right now. His books 'Runaways' and 'Y: The Last Man' were both mind blowing as well. I recommend 'Saga' and his other works 100%.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pale Kings and Princes (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, #6); Author: Cassandra Clare; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Loved it! Everything about it.; 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: I had the honor of meeting Felicia Day on the day her book came out. The line to meet her was crazy, and we waited in a scorching hot basement for about two hours -- It was worth it. Obviously. I mean, it's Felicia Day, and she acknowledged my existence for about 30 seconds. Score! She signed my book(s), told me I was a "great friend" for getting my BFF a signed copy for his birthday, and thanked me for waiting in a "furnace" just to meet her. Just a few, short sentences, but like I said: worth it!! I was introduced to Felicia when I was around six years old, as she was a recurring character on the final season of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", my all-time favorite show. I reencountered her when I was slightly older, when her web series, "The Guild", came out on YouTube. (Said BFF is a huge gamer and introduced me to her show!) Now, I'm not a huge gamer myself, but I've dabbled enough to get the gamer lingo and humor used in "The Guild". In other words, I loved it, and it's hilarious, and I followed Felicia through it for all the following seasons and years. I loved her on "Dr. Horrible" and "Dollhouse" as they came out (still behind on the "Supernatural" bandwagon, sorry), and she cemented her place on my "idols" list, just under Joss Whedon (Felicia, I'm sure you understand). So when I heard she was writing a book, like everyone else I instantly knew I was going to buy and read it. I had no idea I would get to meet her in person and receive my copy from her own hands (!!!), but I'm lucky enough to coincidentally work with friends who happen to love her as much as I do. So that happened, and I'll forever treasure that experience, especially after reading her book. "You're Never Weird On The Internet (Almost)", is the first memoir I've ever read. I'm not really into true stories set in the real world; I'm a fiction kinda guy. But I have loved Felicia's wit and humor since I was a small child; I literally grew up watching her. So it's no surprise that I enjoyed her book. And 'enjoyed' is an understatement. I frikkin' /loved/ this book. The reviews on the cover state that reading it is like, "Having a conversation face-to-face with Felicia," and that's exactly right. There's no better way to describe this book. I heard Felicia's voice in every syllable. I laughed, I was inspired, and I now kind of want a Santa in a tutu (inside joke with Felicia, you know how it is). So if you are a fan on any level of Felicia Day's you will definitely enjoy her book. If you're an elderly man who has never used the internet in his life? Probably not. And you'll probably not recognize the brilliance of Santutu. But for me personally, and for many, many others out there, Felicia Day's "You're Never Weird On The Internet (Almost)" is; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle, #2); Author: Maggie Stiefvater; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This sequel did everything I needed it to! I did feel like there wasn't enough buildup to the climax, but it was still satisfying! It just seemed to happen somewhat suddenly, whereas the first book was pretty good with the building atmosphere. I really like Ronan now, as I figured I would, after reading his POVs, but I kind of want more Adam in the next one! I missed reading about him. Like, he still had a good portion in this one to himself, but I just really feel comfortable in his head, and I especially want to see how he's dealing after some of the last events. And just: more Helen. Make her the star. Always. (Kidding.) ((No I'm not.)) 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle, #3); Author: Maggie Stiefvater; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Another awesome story! I love where the characters are going individually, and their relationships are great. I can't wait to see how they develop in the final book. The climax of this one was way more satisfying than the last too, so that pleased me. And that ending! I can't. It was one facepalm after another, that epilogue. It really set up the final book; so excited. The series has a lot to cover in one book left. I hope it's a satisfying ending. 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aftermath (Star Wars: Aftermath, #1); Author: Chuck Wendig; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: If it wasn't for me being in a Star Wars mood, I probably wouldn't have made it through this book. I just wasn't a fan of the format, all the interludes. It definitely didn't work. That said, I liked the main story, and I liked all of the main characters. There was some diversity in the group, and I really appreciated that. I will definitely check out the next book, mainly for Sinjir Rath Velus. But I hope the author notices the flaws in this book and chooses to fix them. There's potential. 4/5 stars for effort and heart.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lost Stars; Author: Claudia Gray; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This book was fantastic. It's the second Star Wars book I've read, the first being Aftermath. Lost Stars was much more enjoyable than Aftermath (not that Aftermath was as bad as some people make it out to be), and not just because "YA" is more my forte. Lost Stars was just well put together, with two great lead characters. It was also neat to see the original trilogy events through new perspectives. The Empire officers and soldiers were given much more depth here than ever before (that I've read or seen, at least), and it was a treat to read about the few months set post-RotJ. I recommend this book to any Star Wars fan, and I'd be curious to see how someone not very educated on Star Wars would enjoy it, as this book is fairly stand-alone. It's easily 5/5 stars (I want to make a title pun here, but I'm failing) and possibly a new favorite!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, #4); Author: Maggie Stiefvater; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: **SPOILER FREE** The Raven King is filled with beautiful writing, much like every other Maggie Stiefvater book I've read so far. If you're reading this review, it's because you loved the first three books in The Raven Cycle series. I'm assuming you loved the characters and their relationships, and if that's the case, you'll continue to enjoy this book as well, although it is not a perfect finale. If you're a big shipper from tumblr, you may be let down with this read. But as Maggie Stiefvater has stated repeatedly, this is a series mainly focused on friendships, not romance. That said, there is definitely closure involving most of the romantic relationships the series gradually built up, whereas I can think of one romance that was shafted somewhat majorly. But honestly, this novel shafted a good many characters. The core four (Blue, Gansey, Ronan, and Adam) receive decent page-time, as they naturally should, but every other character introduced in the previous books is basically sidelined. That fact adds to the oddness of Maggie introducing MORE characters to focus on in this final novel. While I liked everything she presented us with in this book, some of it felt very narratively odd. Other readers may handle the odd focus on newer characters badly when some of their already established favorites are barely mentioned. I feel like this book could have benefited from an extra hundred pages or so. Because on top of many characters being ignored, I was not completely satisfied with how certain plot points were handled, especially near the very end of the book. There was a ton of build up throughout the novel towards a big "showdown", but the way the novel resolved it felt somewhat anti-climatic. Personally, I needed more confrontation with the "big bad" of this individual story, something that probably needed a few chapters dedicated to it to give off a better sense of resolution. Although this book does just barely enough to satisfy the plots introduced in it, it does do a decent job at delivering on those certain plots introduced all the way back in The Raven Boys. While they may feel rushed near the ending, they're still satisfying. And as for certain elements/relationships introduced in The Dream Thieves and Blue Lily, Lily Blue, like I said, this book doesn't really indulge on those plots too much unless they directly affect the four main characters. The ending is definitely ambiguous in many areas, something I'm still working on accepting. Like I said, I wanted an extra hundred pages, and one reason for that is because I wanted a few more chapters near the end that dealt with the aftermath of the series. Big things happen in the final chapter, and they are not explained. At. All. They're left for your interpretation, something Maggie Stiefvator is apparently good at doing. While I personally wanted more here, and many people probably will, I wasn't left feeling like it didn't work, because it did. It was a strange narrative choice, but it worked, and I feel that way; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1); Author: Leigh Bardugo; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Loved it! Going right on into the sequel. Every character is so much fun! I also highly recommend the audiobook for this one. Each POV has a different actor! 5/5 stars and a new favorite.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Giver: A Play; Author: Eric Coble; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I'm taking part in a production of this! 'The Giver' is one of my all time favorite books, and I think this is a great translation of it. If I'd written it (Welp lol) I may have written some of the final scenes slightly differently, but there's nothing wrong here! And I like the fluidness of the scenes. 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: November 9; Author: Colleen Hoover; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: I was torn between giving this 4 or 5 stars, but settled on 5. It's a sappy book, and I usually don't do those, but it was done very well. I didn't expect the twist, and I really enjoyed that it was almost meta, that the characters spoke of themselves as if in a novel. If sappy romance is your thing, this book is for you. Even if sappy romance isn't, maybe check this out; I still enjoyed it quite a bit. I know which author to turn to when I'm itching for a good romance story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last Padawan (Star Wars: Kanan, #1); Author: Greg Weisman; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Loved it! Everything about it was great; art, writing, etc. It was very cool to see more background to Kanan. 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vader (Star Wars: Darth Vader #1); Author: Kieron Gillen; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: So I'm living and breathing Star Wars right now in preparation for the new movie, and I read this earlier! I'm a fan of Gillen's writing, and Darth Vader/Anakin is easily the most interesting character in the Star Wars universe. I thought this volume was great! The art was beautiful, and there were a few moments that really touched me! It's neat to see Vader's point of view, and the new characters are fun. 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Upside of Unrequited; Author: Becky Albertalli; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: You done good, Becky. While 'Simon' was a story specific people needed to hear, the same can be said about 'Upside'. I have never related to a book more than 'Simon', so I didn't expect to see myself as much in 'Upside', but I was surprised by the amount of "me" in this book. I think most people struggle with feeling beautiful, and I've had many of the same thoughts as Molly about my self worth. Experiencing her falling in love for the first time reminded me of my own story and that it'll happen again. This was a story about finding beauty in yourself and the loss of childhood/adventure of emerging adulthood. I loved it! Easily 5/5 stars and a new favorite! Becky's trademark wit is also a plus. Also, Simon cameos!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nimona; Author: Noelle Stevenson; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I had to check this out because of all the hype around it. I expected a fun, short read, but I didn't expect to discover a new favorite story. This is probably the best stand alone graphic novel I've ever read! It was just perfection, everything about it; the characters, the art (I was super excited when I realized Stevenson did the cover to Fangirl), and even the unexpected plot twists! The world was super unique and interesting; I honestly would love more stories set in the world itself. The art was just so different and unique, and really, you could just say that about this entire book. Easily 5/5 stars and a favorite. (This is the first graphic novel to make my favorites list FYI.) Also, extra points for outstanding LGBT representation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ahsoka; Author: E.K. Johnston; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I had high hopes for this! I really loved the other YA Star Wars book, Lost Stars, and I find Ahsoka intriguing. I was expecting a story covering years of her time, a very personal story, but I was let down with what I was given. For a book titled "Ahsoka", I felt like I was reading other characters' POVS just as often as her own, and I didn't care about them. There were a few cool scenes, but overall I was bored during this one. The idea had a lot of potential. But hey, the book cover is pretty at least. 3.3/5 stars.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bronze Key (Magisterium, #3); Author: Holly Black; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was a good read, but I feel like it did a lot of wandering aimlessly. It felt like filler, leading up to the last fifty pages. This entire book was only there in order to set up the next two. It was an awkward transition book, and really the last three chapters were the only solid ones. And even then, I'm not sure how I feel about some of the decisions made. I like that I don't know what to expect going forward, but I had a lot of theories and expectations that were blown out of the water, and not really in a good way. The "plot twist" concerning the spy was also really obvious from a certain point onwards, but the LAST plot twist was way more interesting. And even then, it was still just a huge info dump, something I wasn't a fan of. So in comparison to the other books in this series so far, The Bronze Key is more exciting than the first one, but it lacks the flawless narrative that The Copper Gauntlet had. All three books have amazing conclusions, setting up the next installment, but as with the first book, it felt like this one was just a lot of filler leading up to the climax. And again, I'm not sure how I feel about certain things that happen during the final act. I'm very conflicted, much like I was with The Iron Trial. I know Cassie and Holly have a heck of a story on the way, but this middle book was more miss than hit for me. Still, it's 3.5/5 stars for me. Great characters, and a jaw dropping ending, but little more than that.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two (Harry Potter, #8); Author: John Tiffany; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was a really fun read, and being back inside this world was fantastic! I adored the new characters and the development the original characters got. That said, this story really messed with some things that probably shouldn't have been messed with. Honestly, it read like a high quality fanfiction at times. A part of me is glad I knew beforehand what I was about to read; I had a month or so to accept where the plot was going. Still, it was super fun, and I'm sure it's amazing on stage. 4/5 stars from me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Because You Love to Hate Me: 13 Tales of Villainy; Author: Ameriie; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I'll be honest: I read the three short stories I wanted to read -- by Marissa Meyer, V E Schwab, and Adam Silvera -- and then called it a day. The other stories were by authors I was not familiar with and/or not interested in reading. And let's be real: anthologies like this are always hit or miss! Meyer's story about the Sea Witch (basically Ursula from the Little Mermaid) was fantastic! It was so clever and heartbreaking, and seriously makes you reevaluate the character. Schwab's was extremely well written, per usual, and also clever. Silvera's was surprisingly my least favorite out of the three, but it was still an interesting read! His character was the one I felt the least amount of sympathy for, but perhaps that was the point! This book is definitely worth checking out, if not only for these stories themselves! 4/5 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: They Both Die at the End; Author: Adam Silvera; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Singin' this'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die a(tm)a a(tm)<< Welp, this one had me weeping by the end, as all Adam Silvera books do! I think this one might have gotten me the worst (or best?) though -- if you haven't read More Happy Than Not or History Is All You Left Me yet, go rectify that. I was loving this book the entire time, but definitely needed to know how it ended before I passed my final judgement... I can say that this book ended exactly how I wanted and needed it to, personally. There were some amazing pay offs, and the book as a whole is just so clever. The world building here is incredible! The apps and organizations stemming from Death-Cast are so creative. The characters are so raw and real, their relationships so deep. Part of me was afraid I wouldn't fall in love with this book as much as I have Adam's others, but that was silly of me. I still can't choose a favorite, this one included. They Both Die at the End is definitely 5/5 stars and a new favorite. Rating: a~...a~...a~...a~...a~... EDIT (4/27/17) - When Adam likes your review, literally, and sends you an amazing tweet! Followed by a punny exchange! Made my night as much as it made his, I hope! Precious human being!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Scorpio Races; Author: Maggie Stiefvater; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I was very certain that I would rate 'The Scorpio Races' four stars the entire time while reading, but the final act won me over completely. The first half of the book was extremely slow, but I flew through the second half. And the race itself and the aftermath were fantastic, very satisfying. I almost cried during the final chapter, and I'm not an animal person, really! Just goes to show that Maggie Stiefvater is amazing. While this book isn't a new favorite, it's still darn good. The writing is beautiful, and the payoffs toward the ending make the slow portions worthwhile. Also, Puck's younger brother, Finn, was like reading about sunshine; he was so cute and I wanted more of him! So I'd give this one 4.5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All-New Wolverine, Volume 1: The Four Sisters; Author: Tom Taylor; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I'm a huge "X-23" fan, so I was extremely nervous about this series. Laura taking over the Wolverine title is very exciting and a natural path for her character, but I'm skeptical when someone is writing her who isn't either Craig Kyle or Chris Yost. That said, there is no need for Laura fans to worry because Tom Taylor writes her beautifully. Laura has always had a certain way of speaking, a way that shows just how logical and socially awkward she is. But she's been trying to embrace society for years now; it would only make sense that her way of speaking has evolved. Tom Taylor is the first writer to maintain Laura's voice while incorporating elements of modern speaking. Other writers have tried and failed, and those series can be ignored. This one should definitely not be. The art here is also fantastic; one of my favorite art styles I've seen recently. It meshes very well with the plot, which is also top notch. Laura may be Wolverine now, but her X-23 past is what drives this story forward. It was very interesting seeing new and old pieces of Laura's history. This volume is easily 5/5 stars! It's the best story featuring Laura that's been published in years, since her X-Force run ended in 2010. For fans looking for a strong female lead in comics, I highly suggest picking up this title and the previous ones featuring Laura co-written by Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost (X-23: Innocence Lost, X-23: Target X, New X-Men, and X-Force).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carve the Mark (Carve the Mark, #1); Author: Veronica Roth; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I really just want to be done with this book, so I'm not going to write a full review. I think that speaks for itself; but if not, look through my updates while reading for some further bitching on my end. 3/5 stars. Probably won't touch the sequel with a ten foot poll.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow; Author: Washington Irving; Genres: history, young-adult, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: This was the first short story I had to read for my American Literature class. It was sooooo boring, although I did enjoy how comedic the ending was. Very different from the adaptions I've seen!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Paul's Case; Author: Willa Cather; Genres: children, young-adult, fiction; Review: I loved this story on a personal level. Very, very deep and can be applied to issues still ongoing today, sadly. 5/5 stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kick-Ass (Kick-Ass, #1); Author: Mark Millar; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I loved this! The film was fantastic, and the source material is just as good. I can't wait to read the other volumes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1); Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Did not finish, and have no plans to. Stephen King's stories are super interesting, but I'm not a fan of his writing style. I feel so disconnected from his characters. There's a wall of text between me and them, and it just makes reading about them so emotionally dull. I had the same feeling reading his Cell novel. I just don't want to make myself sit through it. Sorry to any King super-fans!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Little Prince; Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupery; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is one of the hardest books I've ever tried to review! It's written "for children", but it's written for adults. It's extremely clever, deep, and it's hard not to admire it. It touched upon so many subjects which will forever be important, and there are amazing quotes scattered throughout. This book made me sad, and I can't help but wonder how I would have reacted to it as a child. Either way, I'm glad I got to experience it now. Because this story really is just that: an experience. You have to read it for yourself to appreciate it. I think it's a new favorite; very complex and creative.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Song of Achilles; Author: Madeline Miller; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was an amazing book. The first half was the forming of a beautiful relationship, and the second half was seeing it tested throughout a decade of war. The writing was always beautiful, and I definitely cried throughout the last fifty pages. The final scene is one of the most emotional, poetic I've ever read. 5/5 stars and a new favorite, easily!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timekeeper (Timekeeper, #1); Author: Tara Sim; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This was such an original idea! I loved how creative it was, and the romance was very cute! Not one of my absolute favorite books of all time, but by the end, I definitely was convinced to come back for the sequel to get more of Danny and Colton! 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: We Are the Ants; Author: Shaun David Hutchinson; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I wanted to read this the moment I heard about it, but it took me forever to finally pick it up. I had pretty high expectations, and I feel like they were all met! This is a very deep and heavy story, but it's also very funny! I love me some dark humor, so Henry and I got along very well. Every character was so, so well developed! And the relationships were amazing, so real. This reminded me of other coming of age books like Catcher in the Rye (which is even mentioned in this book) and Perks of Being a Wallflower, although We Are the Ants is far more unique with its alien plot, which surprisingly works flawlessly. 5/5 stars and a new favorite! I'd recommend it to anyone who likes emotionally heavy yet inspiring stories, coming of age stories, and/or gay literature that doesn't revolve around characters' sexualities.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Own It (Season 10, #6); Author: Christos Gage; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was a very strong ending to the season, which was overall fantastic! It was a little on the nose with the metaphors and somewhat anticlimactic depending on how you look at it, but it set up the next season SO well. It was an overall satisfying ending. Fans of the show: if you gave up on Season 8, push on because this most recent season (and last season of Angel & Faith) has been brilliant! Christos Gage and Rebekah Isaacs are the dream team right now! 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons, #2); Author: Marie Lu; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really liked this book! I was not disappointed whatsoever. I wanted YA Bruce Wayne, and that's exactly what this is! The dynamic between Bruce and his Arkham friend is fantastic, and an interesting story. I wish we'd seen a bit more of Bruce's everyday life, especially with his friends, but this story was understandably more focused on his relationship with Madeleine, who I really enjoyed. That said, I wish the main villain of the book was handled a bit differently, and I even wish it had been a different person altogether. Hard to go into detail without spoilers! Still, definitely check this out if you're a Batman fan! 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Release; Author: Patrick Ness; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: TODAY EVERYTHING CHANGES. Release is a book that begs to be devoured in one sitting. Honestly, that's the only appropriate way to experience it. While I am a self-diagnosed extreme Patrick Ness fanboy, it's very apparent that this book is something special, although what more do we expect from Ness at this point? (No pressure, Patrick!) I was under the impression that Release was going to be a straight-up gay contemporary story, and while it was, that's not all it is. The novel's synopsis leaves out quite a bit of what makes Release so different from other novels with similar premises, and I think that is definitely intentional, so I will also do my best to leave that aspect of the book mysterious. If I had to compare Release to previous works I've read, I would go with a mixture of Rafi Mittlefehldt's It Looks Like This , Holly Black's The Darkest Part of the Forest , and of course, Patrick Ness' own past novels, namely More Than This . While I compare Release to More Than This, I do so keeping in mind that the stories are very different from one another. They are similar in that they have fantastic characters, relationships, and humor, all of which Ness is obviously now known for. Both books also deal with teen sexuality, although in completely opposite ways. (Get you a man who can do both!) While the main character's sexuality in More Than This was not integral to the overarching plot, it definitely is in Release, understandably. In Release, we follow Adam Thorn, a young man at odds with his extremely religious family because of his homosexuality, among other reasons. The story takes place over the course of one day, which makes it very binge worthy. Within that time, Adam encounters some life changing experiences, having to do with his family, friendships, love interests (both ex and present), and himself. It's an extremely personal (and sometimes sexually explicit) story, heavily inspired by Ness' own teenage years, something I would have guessed anyways had I not read that elsewhere beforehand. Because of the ingenuity of this story, it's very easy to connect with, not just for people who have gone through similar situations. I would argue that Release is an extremely important book, and I know it took a huge amount of strength for Patrick Ness to dig into his childhood and forge it into the text on these pages. This is a story that needed to be told, one that only Ness could, and many people need it in their lives, especially during those crucial teenage years. I know I sure did. While my own parents were not as extreme as Adam's, I too suffered from a father's sporadic religion and how that upbringing affected my own self-worth. I remembered having many of the same thoughts Adam did and going through some scarily similar scenes. But on the other hand, I also had my own friends, just like Adam's, who helped me through it. I had similar sexual encounters, a similar first love; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forbidden; Author: Tabitha Suzuma; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this book; it challenged my perspective on certain topics. It was well written and the characters were great. That said, the romance was all-consuming once it started. I get that this was mainly a love story, but I personally just got tired of the repetitive "we can't be together, but we're so in love" thing. It was rephrased as many times as possible. And I began skimming the more graphic scenes; not because they made me cringe (they did a little), but because I'm not a huge fan of intimate, romantic scenes to that degree. This book was pretty much exactly what I was told it would be, but I think I would have liked it more if the romance was toned down slightly, and more focus was given to the family dynamic. There was still a lot of attention on the family, but I was just really interested in that aspect of the story. So while this one was a little out of my taste at times, I really appreciate it for what it is. I'd give it a solid 4.5/5 stars. It took itself a little too seriously for me at times, but it did end up making me cry. Props for that.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gwenpool, the Unbelievable, Vol. 1: Believe It; Author: Christopher Hastings; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I was surprised at how fantastic this was! Making Gwen-based characters could get old super quick, but not this one! Gwenpool is a fantastic book! The art is lovely, the writing is full of heart, and the character herself is so fun. I'm arguably enjoying this (currently) more than Spider-Gwen, because this book is more grounded (currently). Definitely check it out if you're on the fence! 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silk, Volume 0: The Life and Times of Cindy Moon; Author: Robbie Thompson; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I'd heard good things about Silk, and it lives up to the hype! Really awesome character, and the art is fantastic. I can't wait to read more about Cindy Moon! And I love that she's a POC and suffers from anxiety; adds so much depth to her! And her inner dialogue is great! 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Drama; Author: Raina Telgemeier; Genres: young-adult, comics, children, graphic, romance, fiction; Review: This was great! It really deals with themes that are important for children to be exposed to, and I personally loved all of the theater stuff. A super cute, important story that manages to turn expectations on their heads. 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Demon Street - Volume 1; Author: Aliza Layne; Genres: graphic, comics; Review: Aliza's art is super cute and creative! She's so talented! Check her out if you haven't already. 5/5 stars! [?][?][?]; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghosts; Author: Raina Telgemeier; Genres: young-adult, comics, children, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: While I loved the art and the inclusion of deep topics and diversity, I was not satisfied by this story at all, especially when comparing it to Drama. This felt unfinished, like we'd only been given half of the story we deserved. I felt no closure whatsoever. And the characters were all forgettable, besides Maya. I really admire where this story tried to go, but it barely scratched the surface of what it could have been. It was afraid to define itself, afraid to tackle the mature topics it touched upon. It also felt very awkward in terms of atmosphere and setting; I never felt like I knew what the author was trying to establish in this world. I'm just really disappointed in this one, guys. It had a ton of potential and the art is great, but it totally flopped for me. I'll be generous and give it 3.5/5 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children Graphic Novels, #1); Author: Ransom Riggs; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this! I needed a refresher for the movie coming out tomorrow, and I'm so glad I chose to read this! I had issues with the novel, one of them being pacing. The graphic novel was, as expected, much faster paced, which benefited the story. I still think the love story is cringe worthy, but I really love Cassandra Jean's art, and her adaptation makes me want to read the sequels! I can't wait until her Shadowhunters graphic novel comes out! 5/5 stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milk and Honey; Author: Rupi Kaur; Genres: young-adult, poetry, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Really deep stuff! A handful of poems here will stick with me for a long time. 5/5 stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Silver Mask (Magisterium #4); Author: Holly Black; Genres: young-adult, romance, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I found the first 2/3 of this one really dragging, but then the last 1/3 was the best this series has been! Clare and Black really know how to end a book! Every ending in this series has been incredible, especially this one! I can't wait to see how they end this story. 4.4/5 Stars!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blankets; Author: Craig Thompson; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This was an interesting read! The art was beautiful, and the themes were deep. That said, this was a story about a young man discovering life for himself. The love story was the least important factor, in my opinion, and it spent way too much time on it. Still, very unique book! 4/5 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: It Looks Like This; Author: Rafi Mittlefehldt; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: This is a very important book. It shook me to my core. I felt as if I was actually living the events in this story; possibly because my life echoed it once. It's a story about self acceptance and the pressures of unsupportive family, also friendship and first loves. Beautiful book. A new favorite. 5/5 stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reindeer Boy; Author: Cassandra Jean; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Super fun concept with great humor and lovely art! That said, this felt like it's only Act I of a much larger story. It was all set up. I hope more volumes are planned! 4/5 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Diarist; Author: Carrie Fisher; Genres: history, comics, poetry, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: Carrie Fisher is so witty, and I love her writing! This makes me want to check out her other novels. 4/5 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Inexplicable Logic of My Life; Author: Benjamin Alire Saenz; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: I was lucky and received an ARC of this book from my work. I flew through it, as expected! I loved 'Aristotle and Dante', and enjoyed 'Last Night I Sang to the Monster'. I'm not sure how to describe how I completely feel about this new book though. It's been described as "a very important book" and it is. As someone who is going to form a non traditional family in the future, this book meant a lot to me. It's about family, what shapes us, and growing up. It's beautiful. I highly recommend it. Saenz is one of the best contemporary YA authors nowadays, and so poetic. He writes about important issues without sounding preachy. His characters are so real. And his books have a 'Perks of Being A Wallflower' vibe, something I've realized I've consistently said in my reviews for him; a compliment, to be sure. 5/5 stars and a new favorite!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows, #2); Author: Leigh Bardugo; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: These books were fantastic! I cannot wait to read Leigh Bardugo's other books, especially the ones set in this world! Every character was so good. The audiobook here was also just as good as the first. I hope some characters are revisited in future books, specifically Nina. I feel like she has so much story to tell going forward, and I want to read about her home place! Please!!! 5/5 stars. PS: Wylan is bae.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wires and Nerve, Volume 1 (Wires and Nerves, #1); Author: Marissa Meyer; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was SOOOO good. It was such a natural transition from the novels. And I had no idea this was going to be more than one volume! Honestly, this one leads into the story I was expecting to get in this one, but I'm fine with that. It flowed so well, and I'm glad the story has room to breathe. It read like another novel in the series; the art just sucked me in and was so cute. Iko is a great character; she reminded me of Buffy in this (compliment). A girl yearning for a normal life, fighting wolf creatures while attending a party, all the while making witty comments throughout, also with grade A fashion sense. I'm not complaining. Can't wait to see where her character goes from here! 5/5 stars, easily. The next volume can't come fast enough; I hope it's a trilogy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wishful Drinking; Author: Carrie Fisher; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I read this in one sitting; I also listened to the audiobook. I absolutely loved it. I think the general opinion is that this was Carrie's best biography, and I can see why. I laughed so many times! Hysterical. And she touched on so many important issues. Only makes me sadder knowing she's gone; a few lines were hard to read knowing she'd passed already, like when she spoke of the dress she'd want from her mother when she died. The passages about her daughter were also heartbreaking. But even without all of the media attention Carrie is currently getting, this book is definitely a new favorite all on its own. It's witty and fantastic. Hearing Carrie read it was great. Truly one of a kind. 5/5 stars and a new favorite, definitely.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot (Captain Underpants #12); Author: Dav Pilkey; Genres: comics, children, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I was a HUUUGE Captain Underpants fan when I was younger! Unfortunately, there was a six year gap between books, and I never got to see how the story continued. Finally though, I've picked up the final volume (skipped the middle three I missed because logic, right?). I'm not sure if Pilkey was straight up giving the middle finger to his critics more than usual in this one because it was the final volume (I think so, but I can't remember exactly the extent in the earlier ones), but I was DYING from laughter. 2016 just officially ended, and I could feel his "doneness" with the year (let's ignore the fact that this came out in 2015). I love his commitment to diversity in these books, which includes POC and LGBTQ leads. The fact that I grew up on this man's sense of humor and morals (a positive thing) probably defined me to a degree. This was a cute conclusion to the Captain Underpants series! I enjoyed it, and it brought back great memories. 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love Is Love; Author: Marc Andreyko; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, poetry, crime, paranormal, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This is a tribute to the people lost at the Pulse night club. It's full of a ton of short stories, and while a few were not my favorite, most of them were so creative and full of heart. A few brought tears to my eyes, as a line of dialogue just struck me. Some very powerful stuff here. Personally, the Batman shorts got me the most; the final one made me cry. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys comics and wants to pay their respects to those lost. 5/5 stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hate U Give; Author: Angie Thomas; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said? It definitely lived up to the hype, and I loved it. I expected to really enjoy it, but I didn't expect to love it as much as I do. 5/5 stars and a new favorite, easily!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Love Interest; Author: Cale Dietrich; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book! This was a really fun, fast read! I loved the concept, and by the end, I really enjoyed all of the characters! I wish the LIC organization had been fleshed out a little bit more, but besides that, my only "issues" have to do with the occasionally odd transitions and the fact that all the characters use one another's names constantly in dialogue, a pet peeve of mine. But those are really small things in the scope of all there is to love here! The story went to some places that surprised me near the end, and I liked that! It did wrap up a bit quickly, but I admire the fact that the author didn't try to drag this into a trilogy or anything like that. I think 'The Love Interest' would be a great film, and I think it'll be an enjoyable read for anyone who is wanting a fast, cute, meta gay read with an original premise. Its strengths are ironically all of the cliches! While this isn't an absolute favorite of mine, I do feel like I need to reread it at some point, which is something rare for me! I also would definitely recommend it to anyone with my same reading tastes! It's a good time! 4.2/5 stars from me!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Edge of Everything; Author: Jeff Giles; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This book started out so strong, but I ended up wanting to like it more than I did in the end. The concept is very intriguing, but the two narratives really did not mesh well together, especially when they didn't relate to one another... ever (which was surprising)! The characters were all extremely fun, and Giles' sense of humor is fantastic, but the romance in this book also drags it down. The romance was the definition of insta-love, and it was ridiculous. That said, there's a lot to love here! Although extremely flawed, 'The Edge of Everything' is a fun read, and I'll probably check out the sequel at some point. I also got to meet Jeff Giles during his tour; just as funny in person! Very nice guy! 3.65/5 stars for humor and good characters, with an intriguing story!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Wicked + The Divine: Year One; Author: Kieron Gillen; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Loved this creative team! Their Young Avengers was great, and they continue the trend here! I definitely have no idea where the story is going from here... cannot wait to find out!! 5/5 stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga; Author: Chris Claremont; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: While this isn't a personal favorite of mine, it's definitely required reading for anyone getting into the X-Men. The art is good, and there's some great moments. This also introduces so many important characters and plot points that are still super relevant today. That all said, there's way too much text on every page, too much exposition, and it drags miserably in the middle. This covers nine issues, but it probably could have been told in about 6. 4/5 stars on my first reread; I rated it 3/5 upon my first reading though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: All the Crooked Saints; Author: Maggie Stiefvater; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This book was extremely difficult for me to get through. It's a very slow read, with way too many characters to keep track of. I never got to know any of the characters, which is sad, as a few of them had potential to be outstanding. I probably wouldn't have finished this book if I didn't love Maggie Stiefvater so much! That said, her writing here is as beautiful as ever; her prose are flawless. The atmosphere of the book is captivating, and the premise is intriguing. The way this story was told just didn't work for me though, apparently, which I hate to say! I wish there'd been more focus on fewer characters, if not more "action", as I felt like nothing particularly happened in this book to keep me interested. I also wasn't a fan of the ending, which felt rushed and unearned, or the romances, which were insta-love-y and underdeveloped. In my opinion, the beautiful writing wasn't enough to make me ignore all of these blatant flaws, although the character of Pete was a nice takeaway (if a little like Adam from The Raven Cycle). So I'll give this one a 3/5 star rating. I would only really recommend it to previously established Maggie fans who are curious about it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Backstagers #1; Author: James Tynion IV; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: A big thank you to NetGalley for supplying me with this ARC! This was only the first issue of 'Backstagers', but I really enjoyed it! The art was incredibly cute and fit the tone of this story perfectly! In the end, this was not 100% what I expected, but perhaps that's a good thing! It's on a much bigger scale than I assumed it would be, and I'm sure that opens up the world to many possibilities going forward. The characters are extremely diverse, which is also always nice to see in comics! I hope they are fleshed out more in future issues. 4/5 stars!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: E is for Extinction: Warzones; Author: Chris Burnham; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This was fun, but it really only had nostalgia driving it. The dialogue was awful at times and it felt like it adapted the worst film-verse tropes. It was a jumbled mess, mainly, but it had some neat ideas behind it. 2/5 stars.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Miles Morales; Author: Jason Reynolds; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This wasn't exactly what I expected it to be, but it was still a really great read! It might be a bit slow for those mainly interested in the Spider-Man action scenes, as it's 95% Miles Morales dealing with his home and school life. He only puts on his Spidey suit twice, if I'm remembering correctly, and the first time is well over 100 pages in. That's not to say that's a bad thing! Reynolds is obviously interested in the challenges Miles faces being a black student in American schools, and the passion is conveyed well on page. The villain of the book takes overly long to establish itself, but once known is extremely clever -- although the climatic fight scene is a bit strange. So while I enjoyed this one and how it showed a minority superhero dealing with challenges related to race, it did read a bit preachy in certain moments, and I feel like 90% of the content could have been established just as well outside of the Spider-Man setting. I have some mixed feelings here and there, but overall I really enjoyed Reynolds' story and what it had to offer! 4.5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue; Author: Mackenzi Lee; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This book had a lot of hype, and it so lived up to it! I don't read much historical fiction, so I was very intrigued to try this book out. I've seen GGTVV described as a mix between Pirates of the Caribbean and Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, and that's a fairly accurate description! Monty is a fantastic narrator with a great sense of humor, and his relationship with Percy is so, so well explored. Percy is a complex character all on his own, but seeing two men romantically involved in the 1700s was very interesting. It made for awesome drama, had you rooting for them, and obviously put some light on how far LGBTQ rights have come since then. Monty's sister, Felicity, was also a standout character, which surprised me, and apparently she's getting her own novel next year, which is kind of a sequel to this book! I'm super stoked for it! GGTVV was fast paced, endearing, and extremely funny while still managing to educate me on this era of history and a tad of magic! Highly recommended to fans of Rainbow Rowell and Becky Albertalli and anyone who is wanting a lovable read in general! Easily 5/5 stars and a new favorite!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dark Congress (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 7-8, #8); Author: Christopher Golden; Genres: paranormal, fiction, fantasy, young-adult; Review: This is only the second Buffy novel I've read, but I really enjoyed it! I was intrigued to read an AU Season 8, and there was some really fun stuff here. There were a handful of great scenes, and the character interactions were so fun! I loved when everyone was together! The Gentlemen/Faith scene will stay in my mind for some time, as well as a few of the one liners that had me rolling (most from Faith, I think). The Tara stuff was complete fan service, but done fairly well. I found myself really into the Faith and Oz point of views, which surprised me a little as Oz was never one of my favorite characters. The chemistry between those two in this book was also great; I kind of ship it now? Also, Faith was super bi in this book; just wanted to point that out. 4/5 stars! There was a lot to enjoy here, but I did find the ending a bit sudden. Left a little to be desired from the Dark Congress itself. I actually wanted to see more of the event with Buffy in the middle of it! The allusions to human politics could have been way more present.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1); Author: Sarah J. Maas; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: DNF at 65%. I figured I'd give Maas another shot, but this time around has only made me certain that I'm not a fan of her writing. The worlds she creates are interesting, but her characters are flat and her writing isn't doing it for me in general. This book in particular has been described as softcore erotica, and that's exactly what it is; that's just not for me. The romance was frustrating and unrealistic; every character interaction felt forced and staged. I hear the sequels are better, but the thought of forcing myself to finish this one is agony. I also don't care to read another romance scene by Maas ever again, so I doubt I'll be continuing with this series or her Throne of Glass one. I wanted to like them so badly, but alas. 2/5 stars.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Spread of Their Evil (Season 11, #1); Author: Christos Gage; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is such a cool season! It's very relevant to modern day politics. I'm so happy that the creative team is still going strong! While the tighter focus on Buffy, Willow, and Spike is nice, I definitely feel the loss of Xander, Dawn, Giles, and Andrew! I hope we get them all back together by the end! I think Season 10 is still my favorite (besides Angel & Faith Season 9), but Season 11 is a great follow-up! Can't wait to see Faith in the next volume! 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angel: Out of the Past (Season 11, #1); Author: Corinna Bechko; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The idea of Angel and Fred/Illyria having their own adventures sounds AWESOME... But not this like! The entirety of this story is so NOT logical, especially not in terms of the established continuity and mythology. Illyria should not be able to travel that far back in time. This is not how time travel works in this universe! Illyria does not have half of the powers she's been shown using in this book; or at least they haven't been mentioned before. I know there's "new magic" and "new rules", but this all just seems like lazy writing and plotting. It feels like it could be a decent story if done in another universe with different characters. This just isn't a story that was meant to be told in the canon Buffyverse -- maybe fan fiction? Also, this just wasn't the story that needed to be told or that fans wanted. It has absolutely nothing to do with the previous seasons, which had so much left hanging last time around. I'm 100% for more focus on Fred/Illyria, especially since they didn't get the attention or explanation they deserved last season, but this story is just some fan wank. The writer does a decent job with Angel's voice and even Fred's, but butchers Illyria's. (I HATE that Illyria is suddenly 100% female and refers to herself as such. Goddess?!) This writer just suffers from lack of grasping the universe and its rules. They were too worried about telling the story THEY wanted to tell, one that didn't mesh with these characters. Honestly, I blame the people who hired them. They straight up should have known this was not the way to take this season, and even then, they should have told the writer "no, you can't write that" over and over throughout their scripts. So much is just so out of place and out of character, and does not make sense in continuity. We deserved a season focused on Angel and Fred/Illyria, but not like this... How can you do a season focused on Fred/Illyria and completely ignore how she came back to life? How can you ignore Illyria's sudden personality glitches both last season and this season? It's just so lazy! I'm tired of laziness. These characters deserve better. Side note, the art is alright, sometimes, so there's that.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: One of Us Is Lying; Author: Karen M. McManus; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: This was exactly the book I needed to read to pull me out of my reading slump! I was soooo into it from the very beginning! I loved all of the characters!! I bought the audiobook about a quarter in because it also looked so good, and it so was! Highly recommended listening to the audiobook, as the cast is awesome! I wasn't 100% satisfied with the ending here, but it gave me enough to feel well fed (a weird metaphor to use here). I wanted it to get a bit more intense than it did, and I wanted a crazy plot twist on top of another. Maybe I'm just hard to please! I thought this would be a new favorite, but alas, I don't think I'd rank it with the other books I adored so far this year! This was a fun, fast read with great characters, but I wanted a little bit more punch near the end. And I do feel like the book starts leaning too much into the romance as it goes on, losing sight of the core plot. 4.5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls: A Novel; Author: Micol Ostow; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: This book is exactly what you assume it is! It's the Mean Girls script, but with a few more prose. It says there's deleted scenes included in the book, but I only noticed two short "scenes" that weren't in the film, so don't expect too much new material. I watched the film right before reading this, and I think that was a mistake, as I did get a little bored halfway through because I knew what was going to happen word for word. But still, this is a good adaptation of the movie; is adaption the right word to use here? If you're a huge fan of the film, you'll find something to enjoy! There are cute text messages and emails scattered throughout the novel, which was a grool aspect to add. 4/5 stars!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 27 Hours (The Nightside Saga, #1); Author: Tristina Wright; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I ended up really enjoying this book! Once I heard about it, I knew I had to read it ASAP. A cast made up of entirely LGBTQ+ characters? Set in a sci-fi world? Sounds like my kinda thing! That said, it did take me a bit to get into it. The action starts right away, and I totally can understand when people say they don't think there was enough world building here. Personally, I loved the cultures though, and I can't wait to see what the future installments hold. The planet seems incredibly interesting. And yes, while set so far in the future, it does still read like a contemporary atmosphere for the most part; and I'm okay with that, although others have taken issue there. The best things in 27 Hours are the characters! They were definitely the most hyped aspect, and they lived up to my expectations! All of the relationships were well established, and the ships had me rooting for them. There was a nice scatter of romance scenes here, done well in the fashion of the like of Cassie Clare, IMO, which is hard to pull off. I loved reading about young people who weren't defined by their sexualities, races, or disabilities. Some people have also taken issue with that, but I applaud it. If you want race to play a huge part of this book, you'll be disappointed. All of the characters' races are referred to constantly, but their lives are too busy revolving around war to revolve around them. There's some complex relations between species though, obviously a mirror for past situations with race in our human history. So yeah, if you're looking for a fast paced adventure with awesome, diverse characters, give 27 Hours a try! Like I said, it took me a bit to get into it, but once I did, I was IN IT! The action had me gripped, and the characters had me swooning. I can't wait for the sequel(s)! 4.5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gwenpool, the Unbelievable, Vol. 3: Totally in Continuity; Author: Christopher Hastings; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, non-fiction, fantasy; Review: This book continues to impress! Gwen is such a fun character, and her supporting cast is just as fun! This book makes me laugh more than any other I'm following! While the art is a little inconsistent issue to issue sometimes, the writing is always hilarious. This volume also REALLY pushes the boundaries of what comics can do, and it only looks like it'll continue to do that in future issues. Somehow, I prefer this book over "Spider-Gwen" nowadays, probably because "Gwenpool" has a more focused storyline and is not distracted with major guest arcs! (When there are guest appearances here, they're limited and never draw attention away from Gwen and her story.) 5/5 stars!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hawkeye: Kate Bishop, Vol. 1: Anchor Points; Author: Kelly Thompson; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, romance, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: A great continuation of Matt Fraction's Hawkeye! It's so cool seeing Kate in her own book! Her voice is spot on, and the art continues to be just as impressive. 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: X-Men: Gold, Vol. 1: Back to the Basics; Author: Marc Guggenheim; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: I enjoyed the first half of this far more than the second, but it was still the best flagship X-Men title I've read in many years! Maybe I'm biased because I love Kitty, but it's so exciting to see her in a leadership position! I'm also a huge fan of Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men, and this really was kind of a rehashing of that first arc at times, but I enjoyed those qualities, personally. The art is pretty great here too! I'm excited to see where this book will go. 4/5 stars!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Turtles All the Way Down; Author: John Green; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: I liked this one! It was pretty slow, but there was enough there to keep me reading. I enjoyed Aza and her BFF Daisy, and they were really what grounded the story for me. Aza, as pointed out in the text, was exhausting to read about at times, but I think hers was an important story to tell. While this was a story mainly about mental illness and how to live with it, it felt awkward at times when it also tried to be a detective and love story, but would then proceed to forget that it had those elements as well. Aza's romance had some cute moments, and while I appreciate that the love story wasn't the main focus here, I personally did find the super deep~ conversations between them 24/7 repetitive after a while, especially since that's kinda a trope John loves to milk. So verdict: this is an important book, written well, but also quite slow and unsure of what it wanted to be at times. If you're a John Green fan, you'll enjoy it! It's great for anyone looking to see through the eyes of someone with a mental illness. But it definitely isn't perfect, falling somewhere between Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines (I know, quite a difference in quality there) in terms of the Green scale, with Fault in Our Stars still far in the lead. 4/5 Stars!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Serenity: No Power in the 'Verse; Author: Joss Whedon; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I enjoyed this, but at some point they need to stop ending these with "the end" because it's so not the end! I was a bit frustrated with where they left off the relationships of Mal/Inara and Zoe/River. If this was "the end" there should have been some positive reconnection between them, and the relationship drama between Kaylee and Simon was a continuous thing throughout this book, but it was never really dealt with, oddly. I expected to see a certain bounty hunter in this book once more, but was let down. And the mention of a red haired companion excited me, but was just a tease. The Mal/Inara revelation at the end was... fine and I guess interesting, but I when the hell are they going to acknowledge that Inara is dying of frikkin cancer?! Previous comics heavily indicated they'd tell that story eventually, but I'm still waiting. I thought this book was building up to that, finally, but nah. I'm starting to think it's been forgotten. So while this was a well done book, it suffers from not paying off things it should have in order for the inevitable next one to. Stop with "the end"s until it's actually the end! Also, why isn't this book labeled "5" on the side? What was the point of numbering all of the Serenity volumes up until this one? 4.5/5 stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Torchwood: Aliens Among Us - Part One; Author: James Goss; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: The best Torchwood has been in nearly a decade! Anyone hesitant about this being advertised as the fifth series needs to let those worries go! Big Finish creates audio dramas that are so immersive; I close my eyes and it's like I'm experiencing a high quality television episode, only my brain creates the visuals, guided effortlessly by the amazing sound effects and acting. The new characters here are fantastic! Mr. Colchester was OUTSTANDING, a fabulous addition to the main cast, and easily the best thing to come out of these episodes. Tyler was fun as well, but the writers are definitely setting him up to earn audience approval slowly. Orr was extremely interesting, and I'm eager to see how they fit in with the new Torchwood team. This said, I did feel like these episodes lacked the heart of the series: Jack and Gwen's relationship. They're the two headlining characters, but they barely shared any scenes together, and when they did, they weren't very emotionally driven or in depth. Given some revelations that come for Gwen's character in these episodes, I feel like one or two intimate Gwen/Jack scenes were needed to re-establish their strong friendship, but I don't think we got them. I'm sure we'll get more scenes with them in the future, but I was really eager to see two of my favorite characters back in action side by side, and I'm still left yearning for that, which is a bit baffling. That said, both Jack and Gwen have amazing scenes, just not many together. I'm surprised that my biggest love here is for the new characters -- although I'm still curious who Alexandria Riley is playing/played? She's on the cover, billed as starring, and I assumed she voiced Orr, but apparently not? -- as I wasn't a big fan of the new characters introduced in Miracle Day and was mainly excited for more Jack and Gwen, but these newbies are something special, and I can't wait to see how they grow and develop in future episodes. Torchwood may not be back on screen, but it's better than it has been in years, and Big Finish is the perfect place to tell these stories worthy of being labeled the fifth series! I hope these sell well and that we can look forward to many more series to come with this cast! Easily 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angel: Time and Tide (Season 11, #2); Author: Corinna Bechko; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The art is fine even though no one resembles who they should. Angel's nose is basically the main character here. And Illyria continues to be a plot device, none of the depth that has made her interesting in the past here anymore; although, let's be honest, her character has been on a slow downward spiral ever since her appearance in Season 9 because no writer has been able to write her well. Also, Illyria appears to be controlling lava in this volume? Her powers appear limitless, with no regards to her past limitations. This entire story is a horrible mess, but I'm so unforgiving about how Illyria, one of my favorite fictional characters, has been treated over the last few years; this iteration of her is just the nail in the coffin (no pun intended). Dialogue is awful for literally everyone, btw. Again, I appreciate the focus on Angel and Fred/Illyria this season, but it's been done all wrong, from story to simple characterization. The Angel comics really need some new life next season (assuming there is one; I wouldn't be shocked if it got canned after this one). I hate to suggest ignoring "canon", but at this point, this "Season 11" of Angel just needs to be scrubbed from existence and forgotten. It's really the /one/ just straight up awful Buffyverse story that's come out of Dark Horse since Season 8 started. I still can't believe this stuff got through to publishing, no one being like, "Um, this is garbage and doesn't make sense anywhere in the context of the Buffyverse..." Still disappointed in what I have to read each issue, but I don't expect anything else from this title at this point. I'm just hoping someone can fix all of this one day... 2/5 stars, being generous.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Generation X, Vol. 1: Natural Selection; Author: Christina Strain; Genres: graphic, comics, fiction; Review: I was hesitant about liking this series because I'm not a huge fan of any of the characters chosen for the main cast, but it's actually super fun! While I wish we could have included other characters like Dust, Hellion, and Elixir, these other kids have grown on me! Quentin is fun, Benjamin is super cute, and I ship them super hard! All the other characters are fun too! Silly powers, for the most part, but their interactions are what makes this series work! 5/5 stars! I can't wait to see where this goes! And maybe it'll show that there's a market for other young X-Men stories!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Iceman Vol. 1: Thawing Out; Author: Sina Grace; Genres: non-fiction, graphic, comics, fiction; Review: I've never been a huge Iceman fan. I always thought his powers were pretty neat and that Bobby's significantly funny, but I never gave him much thought until he came out a few years back. I knew there was fan speculation about his sexuality for decades, but I never expected Marvel comics to actually out such a big name such as Iceman! Being gay myself, I was instantly curious to see where they took Bobby going forward. A guy in his late twenties (assuming here) realizing he's gay is hardcore and too real. That's a hard situation to be in, and I'm glad to say that this book deals with it in a fantastic way. You can tell the writer has gone through similar situations and poured much of himself into Bobby's journey. I'm a huge X-Men fan in general too, so it's cool to see their world through Bobby's perspective, and see him more fleshed out than just a wise cracking supporting role. I love the shared themes between being gay and a mutant. I love the guest stars here and how they push Bobby's story forward. I love his too real relationship with his parents. Some people are complaining that this book is too focused on Bobby's sexuality, but when it's the biggest revelation of his life at the moment, it's obviously going to play a huge part in it. Once we get through all the coming outs, it will be nice to see Bobby more comfortable with himself and how he moves forward. This is easily one of my favorite titles right now! 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: X-Men: Season One; Author: Dennis Hopeless; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I thought this was fantastic! Great introduction to the X-Men, and the art is so pretty!! 5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills; Author: Chris Claremont; Genres: young-adult, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Scary how this is still relevant in 2017. William Stryker even looks like Mike Pence! But I guess he's just modeled to look like every racist white dude ever. Kitty at one point wonders how people can eat up every hateful lie Stryker feeds them about Mutants, and it's very similar to how people view Trump in America today. But Trump isn't planning to mass murder the minorities he's spoken out against... as far as we know. 5/5 stars. Arguably the best X-Men story, along with Days of Future Past and the Whedon run, IMO.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tokyo Ghoul, Vol. 1 (Tokyo Ghoul, #1); Author: Sui Ishida; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this!! I loved the art, although the action scenes were hard to decipher at times. I love urban fantasy, and this is such a fun AU world to explore! I love the two main characters and their friendship. I also was reading into some bisexual/transgender/agender subtext within the ghoul as a metaphor, mainly from the dialogue, which I found intriguing. 4.5/5 stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer 20 Years of Slaying: The Watcher’s Guide Authorized; Author: Christopher Golden; Genres: paranormal, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: A fantastic overview of the series, with trivia even this huge fan didn't already know! There's also summaries of what has happened in the comics thus far, which is cool! The highlights definitely include the samples from various episode scripts and the interviews conducted within the last year with actors, writers, and crew members from the show. 5/5 Stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 9, Volume 1; Author: Joss Whedon; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: Rereading some of the Buffy comics! I didn't love Season 9 of Buffy when it originally came out (Angel & Faith was flawless), but this is my third time reading through the entire season, I believe, and it really grows on me the more I return to it. This IS a fairly slow burn season, and it's all over the place, so I can see why I was so unforgiving while reading it month to month. Those problems aren't as apparent when you binge it though, obviously. Season 8 has too many characters, debatably, whereas Season 9 has too few (at least for long stretches of time). Buffy is always the main character of her book, but you really feel the lack of her supporting cast here. Spike is really the only other player by her side in this volume, with Willow acting standoffish and then leaving, and with Xander and Dawn kinda off doing their own thing too. And of course, Spike also leaves in the end. (Giles need not be mentioned.) So yeah, this season is flawed, but it's a much better read for a binge. And it's so good to see Buffy back in a "small town" environment. 5/5 Stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Torchwood: Aliens Among Us Part 2; Author: James Goss; Genres: fiction; Review: Everything I said about Part One is still true: this is incredible quality and the best Torchwood has been in nearly a decade. I possibly enjoyed the first set of episodes more, but that in no way means this set isn't great. The development of new characters is fantastic, especially Mr. Colchester. He's still the best character here, surprisingly. I also have a soft spot for Tyler; I hope he officially joins the team in the end of this season. Answers about Gwen are needed soon, and I hope they tie into the overall plot. I can't wait for the final set of episodes in February!! And there better be a season 6 to follow! 5/5 Stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Little Tikes Cook 'n Store Kitchen Playset - Pink; Brand: Little Tikes; Review: Very disappointed....so flimsy but my 2 year old is still happy. Wish it was as heavy duty as other Lil tykes toys; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Disney Minnie Bows-a-Glow Plush; Brand: Minnie; Review: my 2 year old LOVES this minnie; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: D-FantiX Cyclone Boys 2x2 Speed Cube Stickerless Magic Cube Puzzles Toys 50mm; Brand: D-FantiX; Review: Easy to use. It turns easily and my 9 yr old son loves it!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hello Kitty Tea Time Set; Brand: Hello Kitty; Review: My daughter love this and can't get enough tea parties in one day!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WWE Elite Seth Rollins Figure; Brand: WWE; Review: My son LOVED it!! He had been wanting this figure for so long and wasn't disappointed!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Shangri la Hotel Shenzhen; City: Shenzhen Guangdong; Review: My recent stay in this hotel was clearly more average than previous TA contributors'. This is a nice hotel - but I would not say it was "wow, I really like staying in 5 star hotels" experience. It was, in fact, functional - and a hotel where you know that you are just renting a portion of the bricks and mortar. That is ok. There are definitely times when you do not need the hotel to adopt you! The warmest staff members were the charming women who open and close the front doors. The rooms are more than adequate, but again not the sumptuous indulgence one looks forward to. On returning to the hotel at one time, I watched a clearly senior member of the hotel from areas staff completely loose his temper with a driver in the driveway. For the first minute or so the experience was entertaining watching ranting and raving in a foreign language and body language. But after a few minutes..... the performance art aspect turned into a very ugly display of less-than-professional behaviour by an employee who is clearly in the the public eye. Upon reflection, I know it was this experience that made me want to distance myself from staying at this hotel. This experience was followed up with an amazingly expensive cup of tea. Seriously, keep the cost of simple indulgences in perspectives. I had read that the spa was good value, so yes I did indulge. The massage, at best, was a 'laying on of the hands' type of massage. The wee masseuse was clearly untrained and not intuitive. If the owner wants honest feedback, may I suggest that you ask the client privately, not have the masseuse standing next to you! Neither experience will encourage return business or the delivery of a tip. So as i started, great hotel, but not outstanding.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Westin Kuala Lumpur; City: Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan; Review: This hotel deserves every bit of praise that comes its way! I have stayed here a couple of times and have never been disappointed. The hotel is welcoming and personal in an non-intrusive way. The staff are always smiling -- it creates a warm atmosphere. Thank you for making the stay so comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: London Hilton on Park Lane; City: London England; Review: Such a well located hotel. We stayed a week and found the location truely brilliant! Do be aware, however, the night service will enter your room at night if the 'do not disturb' sign is not used! After a long day of sight seeing, we retired early. Oops, no sign hung out...... And then awoke to someone in the room telling me to use the sign. Sheesh, I could have told you that, post heart palpatation! The higher level rooms do have spectacular views. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. The park being just across the road is a true blessing traveling with kids, they can burn off excess energy!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park; City: Sydney New South Wales; Review: I booked this hotel as I was driving to Sydney - so not a lot of preparation time! But I was thoroughly and pleasantly surprised. The hotel is welcoming and comfortable with spacious rooms that are very well appointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Auto Lodge Motor Inn; City: New Plymouth Taranaki Region North Island; Review: We stayed here for two nights. The rooms are sufficient and comfortable. The vertical blinds and mounded bath/shower are a blast from the past! But hey - who can complain? The rooms were clean and quiet - all that you need. I would recommend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fountain City Motor Inn; City: Hamilton Waikato Region North Island; Review: We stayed in the family two bedroom apartment. It was a wild eclectic mix of brand new and classic motor inn circa 1970. The added fun element was that any one swimming in the pool could look directly into the apartment (so close the curtains!). The stand out was the bathrooms - brand new and perfectly appointed. Best shower throughout rural NZ! The apartment was huge, and had a massive kitchen (but its age did not inspire any cooking!). I thoroughly appreciated the plunger coffee!! The bedrooms were spacious and the beds a wee tired. But each room had AC available and were a quiet retreat.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Doubletree By Hilton Wellington; City: Wellington Greater Wellington North Island; Review: Travelling with family around NZ is always fun. But every now and then one needs a couple of days of unabashed comfort. This hotel delivers. We stayed in the 2 bedroom apartment which is located on the top floor. It is a pity the elevator only travels to the 6th floor - but I suppose the exercise is fine! The rooms were spacious and the beds heavenly. I appreciated the kitchen and the fabulous bathroom. All aspects were spotlessly clean and fresh. The staff and fantastic and helpful but not intrusive. We used their Valet car service and there were no issue with waiting times for our vehicle. The location of this hotel is brilliant - right downtown. Walking anywhere was possible. Lots of shops and amenities surround the hotel. I really can not find anything critical to say about this hotel. Stay there and enjoy!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Gyros Pizza; City: Hermitage, TN; Review: We love this place and the owner is super friendly! Everything is always fresh and absolutely delicious no matter what you choose. Best falafel sandwiches!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tavern; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Horribly overpriced and the food is less than desirable. Service is slow but ok. Nice decor but uncomfortable atmosphere.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Marie Gabriel Couture Bridal; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: Jorie and Young were wonderful! The salon is bright and cheery. Everyone is professional and friendly. Jorie really helped me find exactly what I was looking for and that worked with my budget. Unfortunately, my family and friends couldn't be there for the dress buying experience, but Jorie made me feel comfortable and answered all of my questions as well as offered great advice. They really made it a great experience for me and I highly recommend them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Enrich & Co. The Nail Lounge; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Loved, loved my gorgeous wedding nail art and mani/pedi. They helped me pick the perfect colors and I received so many compliments! Everyone was so friendly and it was a calming environment. Professional and detail oriented. Highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hairvoyant Salon Suites; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Elizabeth is the best! Hands down, I love her. She's a true talent and cares deeply about the quality of service and her clients. I've referred many friends to Liz and they've all loved her too. Her eye for color is perfect. She is artful and creative when it comes to her work with a fine attention. My wedding day hair was fab as I expected it would be. Thank you for everything, Liz!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Liberty Party Rental; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Liberty is the best. Hannah is the best! Hands down, she and her team worked wonderfully to help plan our destination wedding for Labor Day weekend. Everything was perfect and their relationship with other vendors made planning much easier. Hannah was incredibly helpful and flexible with our out of town schedule and always so friendly. Everything came together perfectly!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hutton Hotel; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Amanda, Barry and the entire staff at Hutton made our wedding weekend absolutely wonderful. Despite the torrential rains and late arrivals, the entire staff was so helpful and friendly, greeting all of our guests and ensuring our shuttles and transportation were on time. Everything was clean and tidy even though we were a whirlwind of wedding crazy. The Hutton even sent us a bottle of champagne, strawberries and a card when we arrived after our wedding. A big thank you to the valet service for our awesome getaway Tesla!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Yong's Alterations; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: Amazing work! Perfectly done. I was referred by Marie Couture Bridal and the wonderful ladies at Yong's did an amazing job with both the alterations and bustle. I requested a piece of lace from my mother's dress sewn into the lining and it was just beautiful. I received nothing but compliments on my gown and how beautiful it was. They were so flexible with my crazy schedule and so helpful with feedback. Thank you for making our day special and for your lovely work!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: P & G 1-Hour Cleaners; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: Wonderful and friendly service! Beautifully preserved gown and thoughtful attention to detail! I was referred to P&G by Marie Couture Bridal and it was a wonderful recommendation. They were reasonably priced and so friendly. My husband even left the wedding day letter I wrote him in his suit pocket and they neatly pinned it to the outside of the bag for him. It can be a little nerve wracking dropping off expensive suits and gowns to dry cleaners, but I highly recommend P&G. They not only do wonderful work, but care quite a bit about their clients and their service. We will definitely be returning clients! Thank you for preserving our wedding clothes so perfectly!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Carthage Must Be Destroyed: The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Civilization; Author: Richard Miles; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: The rise of Rome seen from its greatest nemesis. A page-turner.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The American Revolution; Author: Edward Countryman; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: This history of the American Revolution helped explain, above all, what was so revolutionary about it. Although it may not have had the novelesque feel of, say, David McCullough's "1776" or the intimacy of one of Joseph Ellis's biographies, Countryman's work provided the sort of grand sweep that is fun - without the incredible detail that can make a book by Gordon Wood a challenge. In other words, this book was intellectual without losing a sense of pace. Countryman is especially good at placing the Revolution within a global context, while also drilling down into the ordinary lives of farmers, craftsmen, women, blacks, and everyone else caught up in the tides of the time. It's a terrific balancing act that delivers a highly informing read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth’s Past, #1); Author: Liu Cixin; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Pros: great imagination. Clever idea. Engaging way to introduce complex philosophical and technological concepts. Cosmopolitan in outlook. The Red Guard period gives this sci-fi story an interesting setting. Cons: Other than one woman character featured in the Cultural Revolution flashbacks, the characters are one-dimensional. The main protagonist is really cardboard, a non-entity whose job seems to just explain things. The quality of the writing is mediocre. Summary: Sci-fi fans will enjoy this - the vision is exciting. For readers in the West, a Chinese perspective on science fiction is refreshing. It's a book full of ideas but, with one exception, short of interesting characters or an especially engaging plot.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Soumission; Author: Michel Houellebecq; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: A shaggy-dog of a novel by French writer Michel Houellebecq. What happens when a seemingly "moderate" Muslim is voted President of France? Pros: This satire takes aim at France's conservative elite, not at Muslims. The author has a way of turning the knife in the ribs. Thought-provoking. Captures today's fears, especially in Europe, in an era of Marine Le Pen and Donald Trump. Cons: The writing is just okay. The initial passage of the book is so much about the protagonist, a second-rate French intellectual/university lecturer, that you think the whole thing is going to be about the obscure work of a second-rate French intellectual/university lecturer. Once the actual story gets going, it's engaging. Not sure: His characters' attitudes toward women is ambiguous. Worth a discussion. Upshot: Recommended for readers interested in an in-your-face look at the tensions in Europe, and especially France, as it comes to terms with its multicultural reality.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red Sparrow (Red Sparrow Trilogy #1); Author: Jason Matthews; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Pros: A fun spy-versus-spy romp, CIA versus KGB, focused around a 'sparrow', i.e., someone trained in the sexual arts of espionage. Author Jason Matthews has 30-plus years of operational experience in the CIA, which gives this story true authority. Any reader of espionage will enjoy this. Cons: The Russians are clownish or sadistic idiots, to a man, except for the brave heroine. The CIA guys are mostly all heroic. After a while this unvarnished black-and-white outlook undermined the author's otherwise well-deserved credibility and made the story more entertainment than a vehicle for social commentary. Cartoonish, in other words. Also, a bit too long. Upshot: recommended for genre fans but that's it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians; Author: Peter Heather; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Pros: hugely impressive work on understanding why Rome fell to the barbarians. In depth analysis of Roman society and how its internal contradictions unravelled it in the face of external pressures that it should have been able to control. A harrowing look at an empire that dominated and endured for centuries, only to come massively unstuck in a short period of time. Although direct lessons should not be assumed, it definitely should challenge contemporary ideas about the durability of our own societies. Cons: Not many cons except that it is long and detailed, and so the casual armchair reader of pop history may not welcome the commitment. Serious readers will be delighted. Upshot: history readers, and anyone into barbarians - recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mulberry Bush; Author: Charles McCarry; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: Awesome espionage thriller. Pros: McCarry worked for more than a decade at the CIA so he knows his stuff. Literary quality: high; he is a terrific writer, very lean. A long book with many plot turns but he keeps things brisk. His story and characters are complex and multi-dimensional. He has a point of view but allows a lot of color to shade his perspective on the world of politics, war and espionage. Compelling. Cons: Teeny one: his story really flits among locations. For the most part, McCarry choses not to bog things down with setting. Mostly a good thing, but sometimes a little color might be welcome. Upshot: five stars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The City of Mirrors (The Passage, #3); Author: Justin Cronin; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Third and final book in Cronin's high-brow vampire trilogy. The pros: Cronin brings literary talents to this pop genre. He takes his time, building characters and settings, and then lets rip with the mayhem. The first half, maybe two thirds, of the book are page-turners. Obviously a must-read for anyone who enjoyed the first two installments. The cons: It's too long, too lugubrious. He keeps going even when the story is over. The big final battle has aspects of grandeur but can't escape the inevitable tropes of the genre. Unlike the first two books, "The City of Mirrors" is not scary. The tension in the first half cannot be sustained. The upshot: This trilogy as a whole is terrific. The final installment is necessary, and Cronin ties up all the loose ends, so in that sense it is a satisfactory ending. But the surprise and tension is gone halfway through, making the second half of this book a perfunctory and joyless read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Act of War (Scot Harvath, #13); Author: Brad Thor; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: The pros: Thor knows how to plot a bestselling thriller. He presents a central, urgent question, and I had to keep turning the pages to get the answer. When it comes to understanding military intelligence and terrorism-related activities, the author is credible. The cons: He may know about US military, intelligence and special forces - and all the hardware. But he falls down on his understanding of China and foreign places in general. His attempt to back up a plot with a financial angle is laughable - he doesn't know anything about finance. And the writing is very cliched. The upshot: for people who just want to keep drinking the Kool-Aid, it's a fun thriller. For anyone looking for more than two dimensions in their books, this will disappoint. For a more detailed review and analysis of Act of War, see my blog at www.jamedibiasio.com .; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Money Shot (Angel Dare #1); Author: Christa Faust; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Pros: Great addition to the L.A. noir canon, featuring Angel Dare, former porn star and turned hardboiled avenger against human-trafficking sleaze bags. Pulp gold. Cons: As a pulp thriller, it does all the right things. Its main limitation is that of the genre. It's not trying to be more than what it is. The upshot: I really enjoyed this fast-paced, fun thriller. Christ Faust's Angel Dare is a great character, hell hath and all that. Don't take it too seriously, just enjoy. You can find a longer review on my website at [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Killer Inside Me; Author: Jim Thompson; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: The pros: Jim Thompson explores the psychology of criminality better than anyone else, which is why he is the godfather of pulp fiction. The Killer Inside Me packs a ton: an analysis of what goes on behind the scenes of small-town America that would make David Lynch envious; a page-turner; a true anti-hero, a character we want to see fail so badly, we keep turning the pages. A masterpiece in the study of the serial killer as a big-time loser. Plus Thompson's usual good writing. The cons: The character is so despicable that it takes an initial commitment to stick with him. Once you're in, Thompson's writing does the rest. The upshot: Nobody writes pulp like Jim Thompson. To call him a pulp fiction writer is fine, but also limiting: he was a masterful analyst of mid-20th century America. This is a disturbing and powerful novel, despite its superficial lightness. See my full review at [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ghost War (John Wells, #2); Author: Alex Berenson; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: The pros: Alex Berenson knows enough by China, Korea and the world to pull off a global military/espionage thriller. He writes interesting, credible characters, bringing a bit of flesh and blood to his CIA hero. His stories may not be very ambiguous but he is aware of the crimes and foulups committed in the name of fighting terrorism. Overall a good ride, delivered by an author that seems to know what he's doing. The cons: Not many cons. The Ghost War does not attempt to go beyond the genre. The idea of a rogue Chinese politicians subverting the country into war is a cliche. Shows the limits of the author's creativity or understanding of China. The upshot: A fun read that I blew through pretty quickly. A little more cosmopolitan than many others in this genre, and better characters. Good set-up for the next installment.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Master of Go; Author: Yasunari Kawabata; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Kawabata is one of my favorite 20th century Japanese authors. "The Master of Go" was his last major work, a mostly non-fictional (with tweaks) account based on Kawabata's work as a journalist in the 1930s covering a seminal match in the game of go. We know from the start that the master will lose, and shortly thereafter he will die. The heart of the book is documenting and understanding the transition this means, not just in the world of professional go, but in Japan's society and its shift from tradition to Western-inspired ways. Kawabata is uneasy with democracy, equality and basing rules on rational arguments rather than on tradition, deference and a quality of "Japaneseness" that he struggles to define. The result is a very good book that is as much an elegy for a lost Japan as it is an absorbing account of a tournament like no other.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rival Queens: Catherine de' Medici, Her Daughter Marguerite de Valois, and the Betrayal that Ignited a Kingdom; Author: Nancy Goldstone; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: The pros: Great narrative history writing about France's two most influential women of the 16th century. Well researched and written with flair. Great story. Goldstone is bent on reshaping history's verdict about both Catherine de'Medici and, especially, that of Queen Margot, last of the Valois family. For anyone interested in queens, in French history, in Renaissance Europe and so on...a good addition. I learned a lot and had fun doing so. The cons: I sometimes think Goldstone is a little too convinced of Margot's capabilities and importance. She has a hard time learning from her mistakes. The narrative downplays the true greatness of her husband, King Henry IV (Henry of Navarre), and the influence of his lover, Gabrielle d'Estrees. This is the problem with personalizing broad history on the basis of a catchy idea. The author also sets up the book's premise as a struggle between mother and daughter, but again I'm not convinced this particular tension can hold up the entire story. The upshot: A good, entertaining and informative history, with a strong point of view. Recommended. But with the caveat that the author is shoehorning her subjects a little too neatly into the history she wishes to tell.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Motherless Brooklyn; Author: Jonathan Lethem; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: "Motherless Brooklyn" is a fun homage to the detective/PI novels of yore, explored through a two-bit errand runner for a New York hoodlum. What sets Lionel Essrog apart from other heroes in the genre is his Tourette's syndrome, which author Jonathan Lethem uses both as a device to get into Lionel's head as well as for comedy and suspense: the Tourettic outbursts seem to come at the most embarrassing or dangerous moments. The book, published in the 1990s, is already something of a museum piece, because Brooklyn has changed. Just as Marlowe's L.A. would be hard to spot today, Lethem's Brooklyn has yet to be transformed into a hipster Mecca. But just like the Raymond Chandler novels that Lethem tips his hat toward, "Motherless Brooklyn" has earned its place in American crime fiction...and letters more generally.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Story of Angkor; Author: Jame DiBiasio; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction; Review: This isn't a review - I wrote this book. It is designed for busy travelers visiting the Angkor ruins at Siem Reap, Cambodia. It's short and concise, and offers a bird's eye, chronological history of the rise and fall of Angkor civilization. Unlike academic books, it keeps the focus on the monuments themselves - the places you are visiting. Angkor's ruins are haunting and beautiful, and surprisingly relevant to our modern world. I hope you get the chance to visit, and that my book will provide you with easy-to-understand, provoking insights into the temples and the people who built them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bloody Paradise; Author: Jame DiBiasio; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: This isn't a review - I wrote this novel, which I think of as 'tropic noir'. Trav Mitchell lands on the Thai resort island of Koh Samui with a bag of cash, a broken wrist and an angry Hong Kong crime boss on his tail. I was inspired to write this story by the allure of Samui, a popular travel destination that I love to visit. I was also eager to write an intimate, gritty thriller that brought trouble to the island's palm-studded beaches and sun-blessed villas. Whether or not you have visited Samui, I think in BLOODY PARADISE you will be transported to a world of beauty and danger. Published by Water Street Crime in 2016.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tropical Ice; Author: K.L. Smith; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: What an opening: no one's ever revealed a corpse like this before! A travel writer with an ecological bent shows up in Belize only to find his old buddies in trouble, getting squeezed between shady real-estate dealings, compromised cops, two-bit hoods, and industrial trawling of sea life to sate Asian palates for endangered "delicacies". And a hot blonde, natch, although one with some secrets of her own. Smith writes with confidence. The story's a page turner. He uses the genre's devices, along with some welcome humor, to describe a real-life apocalypse. It's what fiction is useful for: entertainment disguising a vital message, one that leaves the reader unsettled even as the plot drags them in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Target (Will Robie, #3); Author: David Baldacci; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: My first Baldacci. He's a pro, and I enjoyed the book. I liked the North Korea story line, and Baldacci has done his research, although he commits a few errors, too. The multiple story threads are put together well. My problem was that the two heroes, CIA assassins Will Robie and Jessica Reel, are basically the same character. This book features a backstory about Reel but I felt it could have been adapted to Robie and the result would be the same. The heart of the story, and the most interesting character by far, is the enigmatic North Korean agent, Yie Chung-sha. My full review is here: [url]...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Hell of a Woman; Author: Jim Thompson; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: In true Thompson fashion, we follow Dolly down his spiral: sex, conspiracy, murder, lies, paranoia and ultimately madness, drugs, and perhaps something sinister involving a pair of scissors and a leap out a window. The ending chapter is renowned among Thompson cognoscenti for its split personality. Thompson unleashes his obsession with evil and madness in the American heartland. Read my full review here: [url]...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Slayground (Parker, #14); Author: Richard Stark; Genres: mystery, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, fiction; Review: Parker quickly figures out the mob is going to come after him, and the cash, but the amusement park is a trap, with only one gate. The bulk of the story involves Parker taking on twenty goons inside the park. There's no question of Parker's surviving. Richard Stark (Westlake) has painted him as a machine. He's smarter and more ruthless than anyone else, so he'll make it. No, the fun is in how. Westlake isn't going to let Parker off easy. Read my full review here: [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Ocean View Dive Resort Tulamben; City: Tulamben Bali; Review: I have visited Bali many times over the last 15 years and know the prople are freindly and helpful and fun. So where did the management of this resort get their staff? They were unhelpful, surley and had attitude. Apart from this my dive buddy and I had equipment stolen from our locked rooms! What was done = nothing. first time this has ever happened to me in Bali. I have had 120 dives on the Liberty so know the area and people well. So I thought. Diving was excellent as usual but that is not the resort! Get new management and train the staff and it would be heven.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shangri La Hotel Xian; City: Xi an Shaanxi; Review: Located in the heart of this city of 23 million people, the hotel is highly recommended. Although English is spoken by some of the staff not all actual;ly understand. Always make sure you have a tour guide or if you venture out on your own have your destination written down in Mandarin by the conciege.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hyatt Shanghai; City: Shanghai; Review: Reception on level 54 (about). Excellent sky bar with views for cocktails. Atrium is amazing. Probably the best Grand Hyatt we have stayed in. Views of the river and Bund which you get from most rooms. Location is also good for tours and even for walking.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sir Stamford at Circular Quay Hotel Sydney; City: Sydney New South Wales; Review: Staying here for 13 days over Christmas as it is a great location within a few minutes of circular quay and the Opera House and Botanic gardens. We checked in at 9.30pm and were immediatly told that the bar was closing! That should have told me what the rest was going to be like. This is a very tired hotel and the same must therefore be said for the management and operations of the place. Apart from wall paper peeling off some of the walls, the biggest battle was with house keeping. There has to be standards for any hotel and this is not a cheap one either. So we start with four bath towels and then get down to two but after asking for 4 again which we get after asking three times no less. I ring housekeeping and speak to them-nothing happens then I call later in the day and leave a voise mail then I have to go to reception. Another day and we are back to two!! We drink tea in our room but does this get replaced? No. So we ask for replacements and we get coffee we ask fro tea bags, twice. Why can this not be done every day without a hassle. We ask for extra coat hangers as we are here for nearly two weeks. We have to ask twice in the same day then we get them. Does nobody listen the first time? We leave one morning at 8.30am and there is a food tray out in the hall with empty glasses. It is still there when we return at 11am and still there when we leave again at 4pm!! Bad hygene and bad house keeping. Try to have breakfast but not enough tables so we have to wait in reception. OK, it's Christmas but should a hotel not have sufficient facilities to manage with all their guests? We are told that our credit card will only be charged AUS$2,500 and once this is used they will ask for my approval and top it up. But no, without my authoiry they charge AUS$5,000 to my card. Reception says this is not possible as I did not authorise it but someone there obviously disagreed and charged the entire amount plus incidentals.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pan Pacific Singapore; City: Singapore; Review: I have stayed here many times but they have kust finished a refurbishment that cost SIN$80 million and what a difference. The entrance is far more welcoming with bars and great oval boths to lounge in. The overal decor is more modern than previously with lots of bright colors and funky shapes to the receptions desks. Most of the rooms have also been upgraded with new TV's, larger showers but no bath anymore. window blinds are electic controlled and a great blackout if you want to sleep all day. The spa and pool have not been upgraded but they were good before and still highly recommended for a massage and a swim in their lap pool and not just a plunge pool.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Regency London The Churchill; City: London England; Review: Stayed on level 9 which is part of the Club but rooms are slightly small. Next time will get a suite. Club lounges are spacious with hot breakfasts and drinks after 5.30pm with canapes. Staff were exceptional at all levels and very helpful but more than just interested they were genuinely sincere. This is not seen in many hotels. Downstairs bar also has a good atmosphere with an excellent cigar shop and a place to smoke outside and in winter they have heaters and rugs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Kayana Bali; City: Seminyak Kuta District Bali; Review: Located on one of the main Seminyak roads of Jalan Petitinget, you could still be in the Bali rice fields once you step through their doors. We have visited Bali many many times over the years and Kayana hit all the "must have" buttons that we like. All of the staff were typical Bali friendly from the front office to butlers, security gaurds and gardeners. Nothing was too much trouble and all with a smile. There is only one two bedroom villa but all the villas either have a small pool or a plunge pool. We had the latter and it was no problem because if you wanted to swim laps they have a full size pool at the club area where you can have breakfast and drinks in the evening.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Galle Fort Hotel; City: Galle Galle District Southern Province; Review: Only 12 rooms and all different in style. I stayed in L3 which is a two level with the four poster up stairs and lounge downstairs with shower and loo. Beautiful colonial style with all rooms around the swimming pool. The food was excellent for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Set courses for dinner and something unique each night. The main lounge has high ceilings and comfortable lounges. All staff friendly but that is when you could find them. So appeared under staffed. Overall I would highly recomend trying this place. The Fort itself is great to explore and walk around the ramparts and watch the rough ocean. All of the buildings within the walled area are kept in colonial style which is excellent for quirky craft shops, cafes and bars. No bar fridges in the rooms.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saman Villas; City: Bentota Galle District Southern Province; Review: Set on a small peninsula jutting into the ocean with two beaches stretching either side of the hotel, it is a great location. Only 28 villa / rooms so small enough to be very personal where all the staff recognize you and have the typical friendly Sri Lankan approach to service. Dining room has views from all sides and the food was exceptional, with the chef coming around to introduce himself and check on your satisfaction. Wide selection of courses of international and local fare - curries are nice and spicy. Rooms are spacious with good size balconies unless you have your own pool and then you have a garden. Take a walk along the beach to the north and stop at a turtle hatchery - you can watch them being released in the evenings. Takes about 1.5 hours to get to the very end of the beach but hardly a sole on the beach with you. The spa is also excellent but as with some places only a male to massage a male and female for female. It's a religious matter.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apex Temple Court Hotel; City: London England; Review: Converted only a year ago in a very old building this new and modern hotel is great if you need to be in or near the City. Rooms can be small unless you upgrade and breakfast is large and English - no congee on the menu! Get the taxis to drop you off at the main entrance which is not on fleet Street but around the back ally way otherwise you have a load of stairs to carry your luggage down. Has a very small gym and a bar which is semi in a corridor.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Regency London The Churchill; City: London England; Review: Stayed here on a number of occasions and service in the bars is excellent and very friendly, concierge was very helpful as well but reception need a refresher on customer service. Check in and our reservation could not be found then they could not see that we had pre paid! We tried to get two more days the following week but the charges were far more than we had just paid for 4 days. Went on line and cheaper than the reception offered. I was then told that they have no flexibility on pricing as if I had never stayed in a hotel before - quite patronizing. The gym is small and no swimming pool. Only three lifts and one broke on one day then all three stopped working, really in a 5 star hotel1 Overall - even though I am a Hyatt member (which they also missed) we will stay somewhere else next week.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saman Villas; City: Bentota Galle District Southern Province; Review: Second visit and we will go back again on our next visit to Sri Lanka. Staff are very friendly, from room boys to reception and waiters, nothing is too much a problem for them. Food is excellent and varied each day. Location is ideal for access to Galle Fort, only 1 hour 20 mins south. Best to have a private driver. Long walks along beaches at either side of the hotel, visit turtle farm 1000 meters along the beach and return for a fantastic spa treatment before you watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean. Congratulations to the owners for their continued high standards.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Taj Samudra Colombo; City: Colombo Western Province; Review: Centrally located on Galle Green in Colombo, this 5 star hotel offers everything for the discerning traveler whether on business or pleasure. We went to the Japanese restaurant which was good value and very tasty. Services on the Club floor were very well presented and very good meeting rooms. Level 6 club rooms were more like small suites and we had a great view over the Indian Ocean.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Atlantis Dive Resort Puerto Galera; City: Puerto Galera Oriental Mindoro Province Mindoro; Review: Never met such friendly staff and service is often the make it or break it factor. The "50 Bar" on the beach was excellent after diving and exceptionally well managed by Ton Ton who has a music collection to really get you going. Stayed in an executive room which has a few steps to reach but hay, we are divers and supposed to be fit. Clean large room with great private deck. Diving was awesome with everything within 8 minutes by boat. I was there a week and did the same dive twice which was a shame as so many more to do. Get their video guy to follow one of your dives as well, he has great results. I will be back without fail.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Westin Denarau Island Resort Spa Fiji; City: Denarau Island Viti Levu; Review: We had an Ocean view room which although not directly looking at the ocean it was still a good view. Probably second most expensive room apart from suites. Suggest you ask for a first floor room as this gives far more privacy on your balcony. Recommend the Spa as the treatments are FJ$200 for an hour (HK$733 or US$94) There were only two restaurants and one bar. Get the Bula Bus to the Denaru Marina for more activity and bars. The staff are excellent and friendly with Fijian sincerity. Two pools and the one at the gym is for a real swim as the ocean front one is full of inflatable sharks and dolphins and the kids that go with them. Overall a great hotel and can recommend it for anyone; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wanjia Hoilday Hotel; City: Sanya Hainan; Review: I would classify this as a three star hotel. It is aimed at the China market as are nearly all hotels in Sanya. There is a mini bar in the room but it is locked and was empty anyhow. Ask for room service on the in room phone and you get a blunt "no". So ignore the in room service menu in the room. Breakfast is very Chinese but I identified fried eggs, now where are the knives and forks? Ah, yes, no knives and forks only chop sticks. Try eating slippery fried eggs with chop sticks. Rooms are spacious and good size balcony looking to the sea.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Divers Cafe Bungalows and Dive Center; City: Amed Abang Bali; Review: I have stayed here many times over the years and seen the expansion of their facilities, they now have a nice swimming pool and extended the eating area which is all along the beach with great views. BUT... the rooms and service are not even to the normal Bali laid back standards. The staff do not really understand English. What should be difficult about ordering water? There is a sign that says order their house specialty 4 hours in advance! I suggest you order everything 4 hours in advance and then be prepared to eat at separate times and not with anyone else at your table! Breakfast is included in the price but be advised to go somewhere else and eat first! Scrambled EGG means just that, one tiny little egg sitting all by itself looking very lonely. The rooms have only cold water and if you want to get wet in the shower you will have to run around. Heavy rust on all the taps does not make you feel like cleanliness is a priority either. In summary, need a manager to look after the place and get the services running and staff working with a smile which is traditional for Balinese. Too many other places to stay in Amed that are value for money; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Puri Lumbung Cottages; City: Munduk Bali; Review: A return visit to this great location after an enjoyable drive from Seminyak and through Ubud. Driving here is not for the faint hearted but it is good fun and a great way to see more of the island. The cottages are quite basic with only cold water showers but the small balcony overlooking rice fields is idyllic. They have added a Sunset Bar which is nicely presented as it is only seats on a lawn. Full buffet Breakfast was included and price was US$95 per night. There is nothing in the village of Munduk so take one of the organized hikes either to the waterfalls or through the rice fields and forest. It is always cooler in the mountains so no matter what time of year be prepared; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SO Sofitel Bangkok; City: Bangkok; Review: Very friendly staff and always with a smile. Club lounge offers drinks and canapés in the evening with comfortable chairs and good for working. Infinity swimming pool is also a good length for doing laps. Good gym but no free weights all machines. Buffet breakfast offers a wide variety. Roof top bars have great views at night. Club rooms are very spacious with excellent views of the Park. The park is worth a visit or for a run, full of activity and 2.4k per circuit. Only odd aspect is main reception on level 9 and club reception on 25.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Arizona International Resort; City: Olongapo Zambales Province Central Luzon Region Luzon; Review: Have been here twice now as a couple and as a family. Rooms are good size and family room 11 has own terrace on the beach. Careful about security though. Good showers and AC. food is really good with large selection made even better by very friendly staff. Good dive shop here as well. Dived with them on last trip. Only criticism is that the beach is dirty. Why does each beachfront accommodation not clean the beach in front of its property or the council have a clean up program.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: AETAS lumpini; City: Bangkok; Review: Hotel room was very spacious but facilities are not great. The gym was tiny and the pool quite small. They have one bar which was quite standard and boring. On the menu stick with Asian dishes. Steak tough as leather. At breakfast only go for what is offered do not ask them for anything difficult such as a latte. Breakfast restaurant is in the basement so not light and poor wi-fi connection. Waiting staff could be more friendly and bar staff have poor English; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: I, Frankenstein Digital; Brand: Aaron Eckhardt; Review: I, Frankenstein is a movie by the creators of Underworld. The strange thing is that having enjoy Underworld a lot, I am between "I hate it" and "I don't like it" when it comes to this movie. It is not about the special effects, which are good. It is about the logic of the storyline. And here, do not get me wrong, I am pro-fantasy movies and like Science Fiction, vampire movies, etc. But this particular movie, I Frankenstein, does not make ANY sense. For instance, there is a secret war being wage since centuries ago (yes, like in "Underworld") between demons and ...gargoyles?! (is not suppose to be between DEMONS and ANGELS?) Then, it is suppose to be a SECRET war and despite of that both sides clash on giant battles in a big European(?) city in the middle of the night and sometimes during day light at plain sight. Okay gentlemen, what happened to all those Asian tourists with their iPhones, iPads, camcorders, etc. So, there's a beautiful gothic cathedral and nobody notices huge gargoyles flying in attack formation while decapitating demons, and red lights going into the ground and blue ones going into the sky? Not a single civilian human being is anywhere nearby any of these places? Now what about Frankenstein himself, he flees, then decides to go back, then he is on the run again, and then, he goes back and, so on, a few more times... And the gargoyles (second class angels) decide to spare Frankenstein life and then to kill him, and then to make him their ally, then to get rid of him, and so on a few more times. In a nutshell, it seems like a cheap copy of Underworld (movie which I enjoyed very much). The arguments are weak, the storyline does not have any logic and has serious flaws, characters show a lot of indecision, I do not know where do gargoyles come from or what do they do fighting demons (for that case, it would have been just to same to have some of Dr. Who's races to be on a total frontal war against them). Do not waste your time on this movie. Nice special effects but lacks of common sense and logic.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Legend of Hercules (Blu-ray); Brand: ; Review: Worst Hercules movie ever! It does not follow at all the Greek mythology. In fact, I was reading another review and he was true, it looks like a mixture between Sanson, Thor, Spartacus and Gladiator, but not to Hercules. Acting is bad and cheesy. Script is bad and does not have any logic. It has cheap special effects. It seems like Hollywood movies are becoming more and more like Chinese movies where heroes and villains flight in the air. Nowadays, all heroes flight in the air and are experts in martial arts from Conan to Hercules (funny how old Conan version can be very slow but not bad at all compared to the newer version or to this movie for that case). Watch this movie under your own risk, it seems like a cheap budget TV movie or something that you would watch during a Svengoolie show ;); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Croods; Brand: Catherine Keener; Review: First of all, thank you DreamWorks for a trilingual DVD (French, Spanish and English); we are teaching French and Spanish to our toddler and this feature really dictates whether we buy or not a DVD (thanks Disney for influencing DreamWorks into having multilingual products.) About the movie, this is a great movie with lots of action and funny situations but also with a great message about family and what is important in life. I just can say that as you know, toddlers do not have a long attention span, nevertheless ours made through pretty much all the movie and was hypnotized whenever the big carnivore prehistoric cats made any apparition in the movie. Regarding the quality of the image/animation... it is excellent!!! We bought the DVD and I only wonder how better could the Blue Ray be, I mean the DVD quality is superb in this movie... maybe we should upgrade to a Blue Ray just to see if there's any difference. We do not have the latest TV set model and anyways the image quality is EXCELLENT! Buy this movie you won't regret it. Thanks for reading; I hope this review was helpful to you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Smurfs 2; Brand: Neil Patrick Harris; Review: My toddler loves it! The storyline starts when the first movie left. We can see more of Azrael and Gargamel alone which I think is a lot of fun. Additionally, it is one of the few movies available in multilingual version, meaning that you can have the audio/subtitles in Spanish, French and English. After all, the Smurfs were created in Europe! Viva los Pitufos!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Predestination; Brand: Ethan Hawke; Review: ; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: The Force Awakens; Brand: Harrison Ford; Review: Disappointing that Disney and George Lucas couldn't choose a more interesting Star Wars universe story. This was basically, the exact same story line as Episode IV A New Hope. Another "Death Star", another "Luke" (but now is a girl). I think that Disney is disappointing the Star Wars fans trying to get the girl market. I have two daughters and they like Star Wars BECAUSE I LIKE IT not because of Disney new movies. In fact, my toddler dressed as Darth Vader last Halloween and we watch Episode IV, Episode V and Episode VI at least once a month, because they want to watch them. Being a Star Wars universe fan I really am not buying this Blu Ray, the story is way too predictable, they eliminated one of Han Solo and Princess Leia's sons and they are not following the story line of Star Wars "official" books. Disney have done the same to the Marvel universe to some extend, at the very least the first Avengers movie was good, but then they started making changes as well. Do not get me wrong, the special effects are great, but I have watch A New Hope close to 120 times now and , if you have done the same, you won't like The Force Awakens either. It seems like Disney/George Lucas did not learn anything from the horrible film "The Phantom Menace". Disney did well on the office box of theaters, but is loosing business on sales of Blu Rays, DVDs and even on action figures. My toddlers think that the new bad guy is Vader, and they do not quite understand why is that he is so lame!.... P.S. I and my two daughters are watching The Empire Strikes Back as I write this review. We do not mind Luke being white and Vader not being a girl at all!!!! P.S. I doubt we will be buying Barbie Rey EVER!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Tunguska - The Russian Roswell : UFO Report VHS; Brand: ; Review: This movie is based on the second book on the 2001 Odyssey series by acclaimed Scientist, Astrophysicists, Knight of the British Empire, and Inventor Arthur C. Clarke. The saga is about 1/3 of the story of "2010: Odyssey Two". It is an interesting hard-science fiction genre story from 1984. Unfortunately, some of the facts are not accurate because the book was written in 1984 and much has been discovered since by new missions and probes launched around and after the 1980's decade. However, it is an intelligent plot and if you excuse some inaccuracies and the fact that this a low-budget film, you will enjoy it very much. Hard-Science Fiction is not for everyone, which does not mean that it isn't good. My favorite authors were Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury before being introduce to Arthur C. Clarke but now, I think that I prefer Clarke over the aforementioned, and Ray Bradbury shouldn't even be consider as a SF author but more on the realm of fantasy (because really, if you criticize the facts of this movie, then what would you think about the "Martian Chronicles" TV series based on Bradbury's best seller.) I wish Hollywood would take more projects like this one. This film will make you think about how tinny we are, the possibilities for other forms of life in the Galaxy and of the perils to come for the first generations of human space settlers. We are far from that, as politicians and Humanity are more concerned with day-to-day pressing needs (maybe my great-grandchildren ). It is a very interesting film and I really enjoyed it. It is a 4 stars movie to me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Elijah in Jerusalem; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael D. O'Brien Page; Review: Simply outstanding. A sobering reflection on the eternal battle between good and evil and the need to trust in His Truth.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Island of the World; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael D. O'Brien Page; Review: I have now almost finished re-reading this wonderful book (I first read it about five years ago.) Once again I am convinced this is one of the best books ever written!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Night of Flames: A Novel of World War II; Author: Visit Amazon's Douglas W. Jacobson Page; Review: Compelling story of courage amid terror. Well written and engaging.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Katyn Order: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Douglas W. Jacobson Page; Review: An important historical novel, written with power and depth. Highly recommend; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Salt to the Sea; Author: Visit Amazon's Ruta Sepetys Page; Review: Beautifully written and important historical fiction with timeless truths.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: ALEX Discover My First Scribble; Brand: ALEX Toys; Review: Nice product. Although I would wouldn't recommend for a child under three. My two year old normally doesn't year up things but this didn't last but a few weeks before the pages were falling out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster High Getting Ghostly Spectra Vondergeist Doll; Brand: Monster High; Review: Nice product as usual from this maker. Very sturdy. My 9 year old plays with all of her Monster High dolls a lot. They stand up to her two year old sister as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monster High Boo York, Boo York Frightseers Operetta Doll; Brand: Monster High; Review: Nice product as usual from this maker. Very sturdy. My 9 year old plays with all of her Monster High dolls a lot. They stand up to her two year old sister as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fashion Angels Make-up & Hair Design Sketch Portfolio; Brand: Fashion Angels; Review: Bought this for my 9 year old daughter. SHE LOVES IT! Lots of quiet time with this project. She has made many designs and I even ended up getting another one for her younger sister. Very sturdy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ALEX Spa Sketch and Sparkle Tattoo Pens; Brand: ALEX Toys; Review: These were toys that my daughter bought with her gift card from her birthday. She LOVES amazon. She was very very disappointed that two of her pens in her Alex tattoo kit were dried out and didn't work. The other lady were great. But the purple and blue (her favorite colors) did not Work. We attempted several things to get the ink flowing with no success. We will not buy another from this brand again.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Crazy in Paradise; Author: Visit Amazon's Deborah Brown Page; Review: Light and easy read. Great characterization. I will definitely. Look this author up again! I breezed through it in a couple days!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Upside of Fear: How One Man Broke the Cycle of Prison, Poverty, and Addiction; Author: Visit Amazon's Weldon Long Page; Review: Endearing, personal story of a life completely turned around. Shows that hard work, determination and changing the way you think can change the trajectory of your life.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Be Bold and Win the Sale: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone and Boost Your Performance; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Shore Page; Review: Honestly, this book gives you a step by step, easy to implement and logical strategy to getting the sale closed by being bold. As I read it, I realized that I took the tidbits of info and implementing them. Honestly, it's been eye opening to read. Keeps it simple...THANK YOU for this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Go-Giver: A Little Story about a Powerful Business Idea; Author: Visit Amazon's Bob Burg Page; Review: I read this book on a day. I plan on applying it to my life in work and home. Looking forward to reading the Sales and leadership books next.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Husband's Wives; Author: Visit Amazon's Faith Hogan Page; Review: Well developed characters, great wording and enough twists and turns at all the right points to keep it interesting! I hated it to end!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NIV, Life Application Study Bible, Large Print, Leathersoft, Pink/Purple; Author: Visit Amazon's Zondervan Page; Review: I don't like how I can't go back to my place I was reading after looking up a reference scripture. I can't see the "life applications" at all. It's nothing like the paper book in that respect. I am disappointed in this purchase. It's not easy to jump from book to book either....updating these would be great!; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Iberostar Bavaro Suites; City: Bavaro Punta Cana La Altagracia Province Dominican Republic; Review: Just returned from a week at the IB Bavaro. It was our first trip to the DM but I have been to the Bahamas and Aruba. I picked the DM after reading some reviews and falling down when I got a quote on a trip back to Aruba. The resort is 5 star. There are more activities, food, bars, pools, beach and fun than you can pack into 7 days. The people were friendly and hospitable. English is a problem with most but they speak more English than most visitors speak Spanish. Regardless, you could always get your point across. Food was about 3 stars in quality, 5 stars in quantity. If you went home hungry or sober it was your own doing. The weather was perfect, 80's in the day and 60's at night. It can get chilly in the evening if the trade winds are blowing. We had 6 days of sunshine and one day of clouds. The grounds are absolutely beautiful. Tropical plants and birds galore. The bars were well stocked and the restrooms were always clean. A couple of points that I read before in other reviews that I think I should emphasize. The DM is poverty-stricken. I would not recommend leaving the resort unless you have a tour. We were on the edge of the property and there were armed guards walking the fence line at night. We felt safe but it was a bit scary. To wit, the people live in poverty. We brought some crayons and coloring books to give out to the service people at the resort. It was like given them $100, very appreciative in broken English. Also, prepare for a day on the crapper. Almost everyone I talked to ended up with some sort of stomach ailment, some worse than others. I had my doctor give me some pills in case but when I got there I read the instructions that said, "Do not take with alcohol or go into direct sunlight while on this medication". Some doctor! I would pay the $10 co-pay and get something prescription strength just in case. The casino is small but proved to be quite lucrative for me. They do mess up on the deal from time to time so keep your eyes pealed. I felt is was ignorance, not fraudulence. Be sure to bring plenty of everything. My wife spent $15 on a bottle of Pantene conditioner (about $4 at home). There are mini-bars in the room if you want to bring some special drinks with you. People who had purchased cigars and cigarettes at the beach shops said they were stale, a guess sitting in the sun will do that to them. I would go back to the IB in the future and would recommend anyone else to do so also.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blue Marlin Motel; City: Key West Florida Keys Florida; Review: Picked this joint on the recomendation of a friend who had stayed there. One block off of Duval, about a mile or so walk to the "party" area of Duval. At $95 a night it was clean, staff was friendly, pool was happening and it felt secure. I would recomend it and stay there again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Coyote Point Inn; City: San Mateo California; Review: Great location (of of 101) and not a bad price for bay area. Friendly staff. Parking sucks. Breakfast and PM snacks are always pentiful as is wine and beer at happy hour. Have stayed there several times and will be heading back.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Washington Square; City: Tigard Oregon; Review: Stayed there 3/22 on business. Location right next to mall, walk to dinner and shopping. BIG rooms, free hot breakfast buffet (delicious)and a friendly staff. I would go back.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton San Diego Hotel Marina; City: San Diego California; Review: Only spent 5 hours and most of it was sleep. Great view, location next to airport, friendly staff. All in all not that bad for a comp'd airline room. I would recomend to anyone laying over in S.D. overnight.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard Fairfield Napa Valley Area; City: Fairfield California; Review: Reading Napa Valley in the description led me to believe the hotel was in Napa Valley. Try 20 miles away. I think they should list their hotel as the Holiday Inn No Where Near Napa Valley. To boot - their restaurant / lounge "Vinyards" carried an impressive selction of 10 wines, of which they were out of 3 of them. I have seen a better selection at the VFW in Medway, MA. The staff was polite but too young to know where to eat or entertain in that area. The room was comfortable and it was easy access to the Highway.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kapaa Sands; City: Kapaa Kauai Hawaii; Review: After reading several reviews on Trip Advisor we booked 9 nights at the Kapa'a Sands - unit #11 in little Kapa'a Town. The location is great - 10 minutes from the airport and off of the main road. Our oceanfront room was literally 100 yds from the ocean. With the windows and doors open at night the sound of the waves crashing lulled us to sleep nightly. Property is in great shape, landscaped well. The pool is brand new, the grill out in that area was a top of the line Vermont Castings (reminded us of home - we are from MA). Kitchen was well equipped. We left in the AM - came back before happy hour (4PM) and the room was always made up. The bathroom was small - similar to a suite bathroom on a cruise liner. Only complaint was leaving. Recomend a second floor ocean view for anyone staying. Can keep the doors and windows open at night risk free (not that there is crime in that area). Grocery stores about a mile down the road as well as restaaunts. Happy Hour at the Trade Winds in Coconut Plaza (1/4 mile walk) rocked - $2.50 beers. They open at kickoff (7 or 8AM) on Sundays for any football fans out there. PoiPu Beach is the best for sun and snorkelling - we tried them all trust me. Drive to Ke'e beach and walk the first 1/2 mile of the Na Pali train - not a bad trail. The 2 mile hike to the beach is more challenging and muddy - be preapred to lose a pair of cloths from the red dirt. Highlight was the helicoptor ride - most money I had eveer spent for one hour of fun but worth every penny. We used Island Helicoptors (internet rate $150 pp) but I think all the carriers are about the same. Did the Holo Holo sunset cruise up Na Pali but the ocean is rough in November. Half the boat tossed bait before we turned around prematurely. Finally, go to bed early - sleep late and enjoy paradise!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club; City: Kapolei Oahu Hawaii; Review: The resort is lovely and secluded. Immaculate grounds, great lagoons and pools as well as property. It is in a gated community about 30 minutes west of Honolulu - way out of the way. If you want a resort that you plan on not leaving or traveling 30 minutes to dinner this is for you. If you want the shopping, action and food of Wakiki, this is not it. Also note - they are constructing 2 new towers at the resort. The waves crashing and birds chirping have been replaced by bang, bang, bang, beep, beep, beep.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston; City: Boston Massachusetts; Review: I have traveled the world and seen many a bar in my life. The Oak Bar in the Fairmont Copley Hotel is absolutely amazing! Style, class and service are exceptional here. I recomend it for an after dinner cocktail while out on the town. The drink list is extensive, the service was great, the band was incredible and the atmosphere was A+.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Victor; City: Victor Finger Lakes New York; Review: New, clean and convenient off of HWY 90. Chili's in the parking lot and a gym next door ($5 cover). Confortable beds, free internet and very comfy. Great for business travelers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard Atlanta Midtown Georgia Tech; City: Atlanta Georgia; Review: This hotel is kind of the middle of no where. All the restaurants are across the highway - the hotel is located next to a residential neighbohood. The area is also under major construction on the street level - tough to get to the hotel as you get into town. Hotel itself was clean and quiet and very night view of HWY 85. Fitness Center had free weights which were a nice change from the ordinary caardio only machines.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown; City: Oklahoma City Oklahoma; Review: After reading other reviews of this property I agree with everything said about this hotel - it is a great find. Modern hotel with clean rooms and an exceptionally friendly staff. Minutes from Bricktown (I also suggest Tapwerks for beers and also Micky Mantles for a great steak). Fitness center was state of the art with 3 tredmills, a couple of bikes and free weights. The lounge was full evertime I passed by but with so much to do in Bricktown I passed on it. I would recoemnd this hotel and it is now #1 (ahead of the Hilton Skirvin) on my list for Oak City.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clarion Hotel Tulsa Broken Arrow; City: Broken Arrow Oklahoma; Review: My sales rep booked me at the Clarion while in Tulsa - I hd not stayed in a Clarion in the past 10+ years and my past experience was not so nice. Surpisingly the room was clean and relatively updated. All ammenities were in working order. The fitness center surprised me the most - totally updated with nautilus and plenty of areobic stations. Their 2nd floor lounge needs some work - has the feel of a cheesy hotel bar but the bartender was a hoot. This place is definitely not the Marriott or even a Holiday Inn but for $64 it was above average.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard by Marriott Orlando Downtown; City: Orlando Florida; Review: This hotel is listed as downtown but it is a good mile to the entertainment district of downtown Orlando (Church St.). Not a bad walk during the day, actually quite scenic, but kind of sketchy at night. The hotel itself is clean and quiet. The staff is nice enough but not familiar with the area. The fitness center is under renovation also and looks to be a while before it is complete.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Aurora Park Cottages; City: Calistoga Napa Valley California; Review: Stayed 2 nights at Aurora Park - June 7&8. It is a hidden gem in Calistoga. The cottage had enough room for all of our suitcases and bottles of wine we had collected. There was a small fridge with water stocked. They brought breakfast by every morning ~8:30 just before we headed out to the wineries. Joe (owner) was a hot [--] and spent some time on our deck talking wine and local spots. He had a lot of good advise and discount coupons. Calistoga has a slight pulse of nightlife and the cottages are walking distance to town (under a mile). Overall no complaints and a very positive experience - would definitely stay again on a future stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Birmingham Pelham; City: Pelham Alabama; Review: Typical Hampton Inn with clean comfortable rooms and a hot breakfast. Located within walking distance from several eating establishments. Fitness center was comfortable and had a Nautilus station in it. Had a small issue with the room (flashing light) and was told that there was no one there to fix it. End of story. Customer service could use a lesson in the service part. There are several other hotels within minutes of this one.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hilltop Inn Suites; City: North Stonington Mystic Country Connecticut; Review: Stayed for a weekend golf trip with friends Aug15-17. Room was OK - above motel standards but not quite up to a Courtyard or Fairfield Inn. Staff was A+ - everyone there went out of their way to help. Fitness center was small and needs an update. Breakfast was good. Shuttle service to Foxwoods was prompt and courteous - certain times they do bump people due to overcapacity. If you are looking for an inexpensive place to stay and play near Foxwoods I recoemend this joint. If you are a first timer or looking for the Foxwoods expereince spend the extra $100 and stay there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Le B Club Boutique Terrasse; City: Buenos Aires Capital Federal District; Review: Let me preface by saying it was my first trip to Argentina - I don't have a comparison to other local hotels. The hotel is old, no doubt, but renovated. Internet, electical, etc all all up to date. The rooms, expecially bathrooms, show some wear. The evevator is scary - I used the stairs. Staff spoke adaquate english for me to get by. They provide fitness center pass for a place 5 blocks down the road free of charge. There are no clcoks in the rooms. Hotel is right in the heart of the shopping distrcit and walking distance to Ricoletta. Some pictures are attached for reference.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites Charlotte Airport; City: Charlotte North Carolina; Review: This is a good property - I stay here everytime I am in Charlotte. I ignored the warning on the Hilton website that the hotel is under construction. They are recarpetting and wallpapering the joint. It is a mess tought to get through the materials and workers in the halls and elevators. I would avoid this property until contruction is over. After that I am sure it will be back to it's dependable self.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Suites Dallas Addison; City: Addison Texas; Review: Older property up in Addison - near a few restaurants if you need to walk out to get dinner. Fitness center is beat - old tredmill and crickety old multi - nautilus machine. Service was poor - asked for remote in fitness center (use the TV buttons) and toothpaste (they were out). Noticed some other hotels in the area that looked a little nicer.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Homewood Suites by Hilton Austin South; City: Austin Texas; Review: Newer hotel with clean rooms and friendly people. Fitness center is modern with a tredmill and a couple of stair climbers and bike + some free weights. Hospitality hour had foamy bud draft and some pretty good wings. Breakfast was hot (and cold) and was very busy. Overall a great stay - location is middle of nowhere but only 10 minutes to downtown.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sonesta ES Suites Parsippany; City: Parsippany Morris County New Jersey; Review: Stayed one night 4-21-09. Upon check in two guests ahead of me were turned away due to overbooking. I was sent to a smoking room (when will Hilton join Marriott and 86 smoking rooms?). 20 minutes later I was relocated to a handicap accessable room which was not great but got the job done. Breakfast was good. Location is good. Hotel is pretty new.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Poland Spring Resort; City: Poland Springs Maine; Review: When you pay $99 for two nights hotel and 3 meals you are not going to get Marriott accomodations. A lot of past reviews seem to have overlooked that point. A group of 6 of us rented a cottage w/e of June 6th. Cottage was old, a little beat up but for $99 pp for two nights it was what we paid for. Breakfast's were similar to what you would get at Holiday Inn Express. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Dinner was similar to a $5.99 Vegas buffet special but it hit the spot after 18 holes. The course was in great shape and the pace of play for a resort on the weekend was not that bad. I would highly recomend this to any golfing groups or social groups who are looking for a low cost get away. It is not for newlyweds, 20 somethings or people who stay at Hiltons. It is what it is.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Staybridge Suites Allentown Bethlehem Airport; City: Allentown Pennsylvania; Review: Clean comfortable room, friendly staff, location just off of the highway. Airport road is under construction (June 2009) it is a hassle to get in and out of the hotel. Fitness center is dated with two tredmills, bike, 4 station nautilus and one TV that can not be seen from anywhere in the room.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn by Marriott Miami Aventura Mall; City: Aventura Florida; Review: Great location if you want to stay by the mall and only 15 minutes to Dolphin/Marlins stadium. Found the rooms to be a little dirty for Marriott standards. Breakfast and happy hour food was typical. Fitness center was well equipped with free weights and cardio but no H2O station. Overall not a bad stay but the #2 rating on TA I expected more.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Homewood Suites Dallas Addison; City: Addison Texas; Review: Clean, comfortable, hot breakfast and cocktail hour daily. Fitness center with free weights, 2 treds and eliptical. Location on baseline has dozens of restaurants in walking distance. Advise - take an upstairs room to avoid the noisy neighbors walking on your head in the middle of the night.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chicago Marriott Suites O Hare; City: Rosemont Illinois; Review: Shuttle every 20 minutes to the airport. Fitness center that is well equipped. Large rooms with comfortable bed - clean and modern. Good choice for an overnight at ORD.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Ontario Airport; City: Ontario California; Review: Location is next to Convention Center if you ever have a reason to go there. Room was a little on the unclean side for a higher end Marriott property. Fitness center was hardly that - 2 tredmills, a bike and 23" box TV. Breakfast was extensive and staff was very plesant.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport; City: Burbank California; Review: New, clean, walking distance to airport, modern rooms with flat screen TV's. Fitness center cardio and weights - very impressive. $12 a day to park and you need to have your room key at all times to get in or ot - pain in the.... Overall a great stay - recomeded.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites Tempe; City: Tempe Arizona; Review: So many things make this a great hotel. Location next to a huge mall. Clean rooms. Fitness center with free weights. 50" flat screen in the room. Typical HI XPRS hot breakfast. Rooms were clean and everything was up to date including free fast wireless. Highly recomend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Hotel Suites Albuquerque North I 25; City: Albuquerque New Mexico; Review: Pulling into the parking lot (after paassing the strip club and used truck dealer) the hotel looked great. The staff was friendly, the rooms were recently refinished, everything appeared to be in great shape. But after you got past the glare you could notice all the refinishing was hack work. Tiles were moldy, shower was new but the head was old, ditto with the towle rack etc... Fitness center had two old tredmills, a bike and a small nautilus machine. Value was good - paid $109 for the night. There are a lot of high end restaurants in the area to choose from and mall about 1 mile down the road.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ramada by Wyndham Kent Seattle Area; City: Kent Washington; Review: Old motel style property. 19" tube TV's, dated fitness center. Stafff is super nice which helps.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Southaven Central; City: Southaven Mississippi; Review: Surprised to hear that this hotel was 2 years old, looks to be 2 months old. Great staff, comfort rooms, secure and not a bad rate. Fitness center has 2 tred mills, eliptical and free weights (no bench). Free internet and theme nights (2for1) at the bar. I would recomend and stay again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Staybridge Suites Kalamazoo; City: Kalamazoo Kalamazoo County Michigan; Review: Nice new clean hotel - friendly staff. Great breakfast. Fitness center needs some free weights but other equipment is new. Not a great location, next to a run down strip mall and I saw a B&E in the parking lot as left.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Kansas City Shawnee Mission; City: Shawnee Kansas; Review: What you would expect from a Hampton Inn, breakfast was good, staff was very friendly and the rooms got the job done. Fitness center was small but had a multistation nautilus as well as a some cardio machines. Proximity to a couple of bars/restaurants in the area made the lack of a rental car a non issue.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites Irvine John Wayne Airport Orange County; City: Irvine California; Review: New property with the "trendy" lobby. Fitness center had some free weights which was a nice change. Flat screen TV in room with all modern ammenities. About 2 miles from John Wayne makes it very convenient.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn St Louis Galleria; City: Richmond Heights Saint Louis Missouri; Review: Got into town late (thanks US Air) and checked in after 10PM. When I entered my room there were already people in there snoozing. Oops. Front Desk moved me elsewhere, FU'd with a phone call and the Manager e-mailed the next day with an appology and some Marriott points. Hotel itself was a typical RI. Fitness center was smaller than my closet at home which surprised me for an extended stay hotel. Breakfast was very good and had some healthy choices to choose from.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fairfield Inn Suites by Marriott Washington DC Downtown; City: Washington DC District of Columb; Review: Grat location near Verizon center and a few blocks from the National Mall. Rooms are clean, staff is polite, breakfast was crowded but quality was fine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Portland South; City: Wilsonville Clackamas County Oregon; Review: Although it has had a recent facelift once you get inside you can see this is a very old property. Rooms have new carpet and beds but still a 24" tube TV and a clunky old AC unit. Bar/Lounge is still circa 1970 and the food is nothing to be desired. Fitness center is old, weak and in the middle of the lobby with glass walls for all to watch?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel; City: Hilo Island of Hawaii Hawaii; Review: 1st - the hotel. Trapped in 1962 - I was waiting for Frank Sinatra or Elvis to walk through the lobbby. Free parking. Dated rooms but very large, if you removed the bed you could play tennis in the room. Bathroom from 1979. Small flat screen TV in the room (welcome to the 21st century). Average breakfast buffet. Ton's of asain's and elderly on busses here. 2nd - we stayed in Hilo to have proximity to the volcano. If you are in Kona it is under 2 hours - make the drive back to civilization and avoid Hilo. Nice town, but little night life, food options, thnigs to do. Time has forgotten Hilo; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Ontario Airport; City: Ontario California; Review: At first glance the flat screen tv makes the room look modern but the shower and kitchen are dated. Fitness center has no free weights. Wi fi cuts out often. Staff is top notch and and bfast is standard for a RI.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Embassy Suites by Hilton Montreal; City: Montreal Quebec; Review: Just a couple of blocks off of St. Catherines St. Fitness center had free weights and cardio equip. Rooms were large, clean and odern with large flat screen TV's. Underground parking was tight. Staff was super friendly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn by Marriott Minneapolis Edina; City: Edina Minnesota; Review: Stayed end of May and the hotel had major construction going on. Hotel is still in nice shape but big hassle with workers all over the place. No fitness center, got a pass to a municiple 1/16 mile track with a big pool and 4 free weights.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miyako Hotel Los Angeles; City: Los Angeles California; Review: I have to assume that this was the cats meow back in 1985. Not much has been done since then. Old tube TV's, loud AC's, dark wood and wallpaper, etc... This place needs a remodel. If you are Asian, this is a great location for you and the hotel offers Japan TV as well as Japanese bathroom amenities. If you are a American, go find a newer more modern hotel. PS - July 2012 fitness center is under renovations.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fairfield Inn Suites Bridgewater Branchburg Somerville; City: Branchburg New Jersey; Review: Hotel is on the newer side, flat screen TV's in the room and an updated lobby. Manager's reception from 5:30-7 nightly with a selection of beer/wine & food. Super friendly staff from the top down. Fitness center has some outdated tredmills and a multi function nautilus.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Houston Intercontinental Airport; City: Houston Texas; Review: Good: Timely shuttle to hotel. Breakfast buffet (for a cost). Nice fitness center but crammed. Flat screen TV's in the room. Black out shades. Plenty of free parking Bad: Thin walls and proximity to the runway. Older property, a bit aged. HIghest priced hotel in the area?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Hammond; City: Hammond Louisiana; Review: Newer hotel with flat screen TV's and many electrical outlets in the room. Lobby is the new HI trendy look. Full bar with Bfast and dinner. Free internet is spotty. Fitness center is a joke but they have passes to a local place. Near a few fast food spots and strip malls if you need to get out, not a long walk to the mall.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Homewood Suites by Hilton Cincinnati Milford; City: Milford Clermont County Ohio; Review: Location right off of the highway so it is a little noisy. Rooms were clean but not up to Hilton standard in my opinion (HH Gold Member). Staff is super nice. Bfast was typical HWS fare, good selection. Finess center has one tredmill and one eliptical. $129; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard Atlanta Suwanee; City: Suwanee Georgia; Review: Stole that line from a past poster but it is right on. Super nice staff, I can give them that much but the beds are worn, the walls are thin and the amenities are lacking. Fitness center had some free weights and bench which was a plus but the tred mill was very old and worn. Walkiing distance to an Applebees and Outback.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Suites South; City: Calgary Alberta; Review: Staff is pretty nice as is the location if you want to stay outside of downtown. Hotel is worn. Breakfast was below average and the area needed a cleaning. Fitness center has a tredmill, some free weights and a stair climber in a 8x8 room. Plenty of parking. Ton of places to eat in walking distance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hyatt San Francisco; City: San Francisco California; Review: Can'r beat the location right in Union Square. Recently renovated with new bar/restaurant on floor 2 and fitness center (that rocked) up on the top floor. Super friendly staff, clean and comfortable rooms, big flat screen TV's. This is my new favorite hotel in SF.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Mystic Groton; City: Mystic Connecticut; Review: Hotel is located very close to I-95 amongst a block of other highway hotels. It is a good 2 miles from downtown Mystic. Room had some good updates like a flat screen TV but the bed and bathroom were outdated. The AC unit sounded like a turbo prop plane starting up everytime it turned on. One of the worst nights sleep in a hotel I have ever had (and I avg 80 nights a year). Fitness center was average at best. Staff was super nice. Breakfast was good and well maintained given how busy it was that AM. Hotel is per friendly so dog noise is a bit of a problem.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Senator Hotel; City: Timmins Northeastern Ontario Ontario; Review: I would add that the place would film a great 1970's horror movie. Very dark and drab. Rooms are "remodelled" meaning they added a small flat screen and a new matress. Free breakfast was one of the worst I have had and the bfast room was flat out haunted. Fitness center was a joke. They have a sports bar in the lobby that is A+ but you could walk to it from any other downtown hotel and save yourself hte scary elevator ride to your room.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard El Paso Airport; City: El Paso Texas; Review: Newer hotel with updated lobby, business center and guest rooms. Fitness center had some free weights and carbio equipment. Noticed a pool outback but did not use it. Good CS. Not a lot around this location except other hotels. You need a car or a shuttle to get you to dinner or a store.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Suites Saint Hyacinthe; City: Saint Hyacinthe Quebec; Review: Nice HI property in the little town of Saint Hyancinthe. Bilingual staff, new rooms, flat screen TV's, small fitness center, hot breakfast. Next door to Scores where you can walk to dinner. Lots of parking and close to the highway.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Le St Christophe Hotel Spa; City: Granby Quebec; Review: Business traveler. Good sized room, up to date and comfortable. Clean, friendly and bi lingual. Parking is a hassle. Nice little restaurant / breakfast place downstairs. Mini bar and fridge in the room.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Downtown Sudbury Centreville; City: Sudbury Northeastern Ontario Ontario; Review: The BW Sudbury has some new updates like flat screen TV's in the room and a pretty comfortable bed. The fact the walls are paper thin makes it for a tough nights sleep. Staff is super nice and you are in the middle of downtown. There is not much around to do in the city except count homeless people. Bfast was very low end but what is to be expected at a BW bfast.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Staybridge Suites Charlotte Ballantyne; City: Charlotte North Carolina; Review: Nice location walking distance to many restaurants and bars. Convenient off of the highway. Close enough to Charlotte to visit but not in the city. Friendly staff. We stayed Sat-Tues and could not move from a double to a king due to occupancy - this place sells out fast and often so reserve your room (type) early. Be preared to dop a couple of bucks as Ballantyne is an expensive part of Charlotte.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Pittsburgh Airport Coraopolis; City: Moon Township Pennsylvania; Review: Anyone who has stayed at an airport location knows the hotel is there for functionality only. This RI is a little beaten and the rooms show it. Walls are pretty thin. Location is in the middle of an office park. They run a shuttle to PITT airport but it does not start until 6AM. Staff is super nice and go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. The price half of the full service Marriott down the road.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Pittsburgh North Shore; City: Pittsburgh Pennsylvania; Review: Great location I only wish the Pirates were playing yesterday! New hotel, friendly staff, shuttle that will run you downtown although I think you could walk it weather permitting. Room was clean. A little on the pricey side but you get what you pay for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn McHenry; City: McHenry Illinois; Review: Friendly service, clean room , resonable price. Large room, flat screen TV, free wifi. I heard from many this place sells out often (Medical center across the road) so book early. The cookies at the front desk are fat free.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites Chicago O Hare; City: Rosemont Illinois; Review: When I checked in there were a dozen people with airline vouchers for a free night. This usually indicates a sub par (inexpensive) hotel but the place was in good shape. Room was updated and clean, service was average at best. There is an Outback attached to the property that is open until 10AM and a hooters walking distance open till 11 or 12. Fitness center was really nice but lacked free wights (had nautilus machines in place).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Denver Downtown Convention Center; City: Denver Colorado; Review: I would give this place 6*'s if I could. The good: Location - right in the heart of Denver. 2 minute walk to convention center Rooms - LARGE. Big 50" flat screen that pivots to desk and bed. Black out shades Clean The bad: Could not find any.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard San Jose South Morgan Hill; City: Morgan Hill California; Review: Just off of 101 or THE 101 as Californians call it. Updated property, clean rooms, friendly staff. They need more parking. Fitness center has some freeweights and cardio in a small room. Everything else is cookie cutter Courtyard.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Studio East Motel; City: Ogunquit Maine; Review: Updated and clean hotel a super nice staff. Right in the heart of downtown with free parking. Pet Friendly for a additional $15 night. Must warn walls are paper thin. Flat screen TV in room with several hundred channels.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Select Memphis Downtown Beale Street; City: Memphis Tennessee; Review: Location is great - right in the meat of Memphis and at a fair price. That is all of the good. Slow, uncaring staff. Elevators are circa 1950 - prepare to leave or arrive 10 minutes around your schedule. Hotel is dated. Very dated. Rooms were not dirty but certainly not clean. Pipes leaked in bathroom. Toilet could use a power wash. Walls are paper thin. Circa 1970's furniture.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Homewood Suites by Hilton Toronto Mississauga; City: Mississauga Ontario; Review: Very modern hotel with a well trained staff. Location is ideal for people without a car - there is a small mall across the street with many restaurants as well as multiplex. Breakfast was a step better then most I have seen at similar properties. Fitness center was well equipped.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites Louisville Downtown; City: Louisville Kentucky; Review: Recently renovated hotel right downtown next to the convention center. 4 block walk to 4th st. entertainment district. Friendly staff and parking garage on site. Easy access off of the highway. As you would expect fitness center and breakfast.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Evansville; City: Evansville Indiana; Review: Good location with several eating options walking distance. Friendly staff and modern amenities. Fitness center has 3 tred mills and 3 elipticals with free weights although the equipment is showing wear.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Indianapolis Carmel; City: Carmel Hamilton County Indiana; Review: Newer property that is well kept. Staff is very pleasant. Hotel is under construction and appears it will be for some time. No amenities in the area without a car you need to utilize the in house restaurant.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brandon Center Hotel; City: Tampa Florida; Review: Typical HI property with updated clean rooms. Located in the industrial area of town but there are a couple of restaurants within walking distance. Convenient to the highway. Staff was super friendly - good management is evident here. Fitness center was a joke, 2nd floor closet with no free weights just a couple of machines. Breakfast was average.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Houston Pearland; City: Pearland Texas; Review: Great experience from the staff to the clean comfortable rooms. Fitness center was top notch with plenty of floor space and free weights. Breakfast staff was super nice and the menu was typical to HGI. Not a lot in this area for restaurants but close to the highway.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Indianapolis Carmel; City: Carmel Hamilton County Indiana; Review: Newer HI property. Walking distance to a handful of restaurants including Italian, Mexican, burgers, Chipolte, subway etc.. Lots of construction in the area along with traffic. Staff is super nice. Fitness center is very modern with machines, free weights and nautilus. Breakfast was your standard HI gourmet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Calgary Airport; City: Calgary Alberta; Review: What stood out about this property was that it was half way between the airport and downtown which worked out perfectly for my trip. Hotel is updated, rooms were clean, staff was less than pleasant but efficient. Fitness center was small and adjoined the pool area. Small parking lot.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Homewood Suites by Hilton Charlotte Ballantyne Area; City: Charlotte North Carolina; Review: Great hotel located in a small mall / community with plenty of eating options. Newer hotel with a very friendly staff and clean quiet rooms. About everything you would expect from a HWS but in a new property with pride of ownership; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Knoxville Papermill Drive; City: Knoxville Tennessee; Review: New hotel in an area where they seem to be springing up. Walking distance to a couple of restaurants both quick food and sit down. Fitness center is all new equipment. Rooms are new so naturally clean. Staff is a little green but try hard.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn and Suites Charlotte Pineville; City: Pineville North Carolina; Review: Nothing special here except the location next to the mall. Rooms are average and in fact could use a little work. Staff is well trained and friendly. Typical HI fitness center. As of August 4th the exterior is under some serious renovations effecting parking. Despite the proximity to the mall you can not walk there without taking roads without sidewalks - dangerous !; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Spartanburg I 26 Westgate Mall; City: Spartanburg South Carolina; Review: If a typical Hampton Inn scores a 7 on a scale of 10 this one is s 6. Staff seemed disengaged and little under trained. Rooms were in good but not real good shape. Breakfast was not very good like every Hampton Inn. Location is at a mall but there are little dining options in walking distance. Fitness center was as of HI standards.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crowne Plaza Houston Near Reliant Medical; City: Houston Texas; Review: Had a small conference at the hotel so spent a night there. $209 was high for this dated property. Rooms were clean and grounds were well kept. Walking distance to the stadium but no other restaurants or shops in walking distance.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Portland Lake Oswego; City: Lake Oswego Clackamas County Oregon; Review: Newer property that is clean with a very friendly staff. Workout center needs to be expanded. Walking distance to a couple of restaurants. Parking garage is confusing but convenient. Breakfast was typical to a HGI.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Los Angeles Burbank Airport; City: Burbank California; Review: Tucked in a neighborhood slightly away from the noise of Burbank Airport. Need to Uber to any restaurants in the area. Nice friendly staff, clean rooms and free valet parking. Breakfast was typical HI grub.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Chicago; City: Chicago Illinois; Review: Great location on Michigan Ave. 25 story behemoth of a hotel. Restaurant and Irish Pub in the lobby. Wait for an elevator can be a while. Consigner floor offered snacks and free breakfast. Staff was very accommodating. Rented a small conference room for a meeting and it was amongst the worst I have ever had. $65 to valet your car. Rooms were small but updated.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Houston Galleria Area; City: Houston Texas; Review: Clean and comfortable sum up this place. Service was very friendly and the typical HGI amenities were in place. It is about a 5 minute walk to the Galleria and a 1 minute walk to a small strip mall next door to the hotel. 30 second walk to the Men's Club that they share a parking lot with also.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Jackson; City: Jackson Michigan; Review: Small property off the highway midway through the state of Michigan. Nothing impressive here. Small rooms, average breakfast, fitness center with 3 machines and some medicine balls. AM staff was super friendly, PM staff who checked me in could take a lesson. Average hotel to crash in but nothing stood out here.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Home2 Suites by Hilton Austin North Near the Domain; City: Austin Texas; Review: New hotel walking distance to the shops and restaurants at the Domain. Top golf shares the parking lot, I wish I had my sticks with me. Great service, breakfast and especially the fitness center. Highly recommended; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Naperville Warrenville; City: Warrenville DuPage County Illinois; Review: Nice property, relatively new and located near restaurants and a movie plex. Service was top notch and the rooms were modern and clean. Everything you expect from a HGI. Pool was under construction but fitness center was well equipped.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport; City: Houston Texas; Review: All the amenities of HGI. Clean room at a fair price. Plenty of parking and convenient for getting to the beltway and I-45. Breakfast was a step below most HGI but acceptable. Staff was very friendly the couple of times I interacted with them. Fitness center had free weights and a couple of machines.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Long Beach Dwtn Area; City: Long Beach California; Review: I will give the staff an A+ but that is where the praise ends. Not a good part of town the hotel is next to medical center that, it appeared, it only frequented by the homeless. Elevator (singular - one was out of order) was circa 1970 as was the air conditioner in my room and bathroom fixtures. I stay in 50+ hotels a year and this is by far the most outdated property I have seen in years.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Denver Airport; City: Aurora Colorado; Review: About a 20 minute shuttle ride from the airport - shuttle runs every 30 minutes. Check in was efficient and friendly on a late Monday night. Room was a little beaten especially the bathroom. Fitness center was tiny, one of the smallest I have seen at HGI. Several chain restaurants in the area to walk to. Breakfast was better than most HGI offerings but service was non existent.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Chester; City: Chester Virginia; Review: Older property with some minor facelifts but still showing its age. Nestled off of I95 with limited amenities in the area without transportation. Staff was friendly and the rooms were clean - price was not too bad for a Hampton Inn. Breakfast was your standard HI quality.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kauai Beach Resort; City: Lihue Kauai Hawaii; Review: You can not walk 100 ft without someone saying hello to you. Their service is beyond the norm and very appreciated. Grounds are well maintained and the beach is a stones throw from the common area. The $25 parking fee is unneeded but everyone has to make a buck a suppose. I will be back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn by Hilton Toronto Airport Corporate Centre; City: Toronto Ontario; Review: Nice property that is shared with the TownHouse Suites connected to the building. New, clean, friendly and a really big fitness center. Shuttle to the airport if needed and ample parking if not. Ask for the Bell Canada rate at check in $139.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites Woodstock; City: Woodstock Ontario; Review: Checked in real late on a Monday for a few hours of sleep. Noticed in the AM the bathroom was far from clean but not the worst I have ever seen. Breakfast was your HII typical buffet. Staff was super nice especially at breakfast.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Homewood Suites by Hilton Toronto Vaughan; City: Vaughan Ontario; Review: Super nice staff, convenient location and very clean. Breakfast was typical HS standard with a friendly staff. Fitness center was well equipped. Plenty of parking and local restaurants to eat at (not walking distance).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Cartersville; City: Cartersville Georgia; Review: Not a whole lot of choices up in Cartersville so I chose the #1 property. Nothing within walking distance to the property except a Shoneys. Driving distance to some chains restaurants. Nice fitness center hidden on the 3rd floor. Typical HI breakfast. Entrance to property is hidden off the main road. Walls are paper thin.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Home2 Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Eden Prairie; City: Minnetonka Minnesota; Review: Less than a month old but no chinks in the armor that I could find. Very friendly and well trained staff. Obviously the rooms and common area are brand new with no issues. Breakfast was standard Hilton fare. Grounds are still under construction and there is a building being erected across the parking lot leading to lots of contractor traffic. Great spot.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Atlanta Airport Gateway; City: College Park Georgia; Review: This is the spot if you want to stay near the airport. The tram that takes you to rental car stops at the convention center where this hotel and the full service Marriott are located. SHS is half the price of the Marriott and only a few steps away from it. Great fitness center, friendly staff and comfortable rooms.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Remm Akihabara; City: Chiyoda Tokyo Tokyo Prefecture Kanto; Review: The photos tell the story. Small room even by Tokyo standards but very efficient. Clean rooms and polite staff although slightly challenged with English. Breakfast was very good but never changed over our 5 day stay. Great sleep quality - never heard a peep or even say anyone in my hallway over the course of a week. Convenient to shopping, train and restaurants. Good value for the area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Windsor Sonoma Wine Country; City: Windsor Sonoma County California; Review: Typical Hampton Inn amenities and layout. Super friendly staff. Convenient location in Windsor close to many Sonoma wineries. Applebees in the adjoining parking lot for a convenient quick dinner or lunch.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Juniper Hotel Cupertino Curio Collection by Hilton; City: Cupertino California; Review: From the moment you walk through the door they are welcoming to their guests. Wine thirty every day from 5-6. Walking distance to many restaurants. Spacious, clean rooms and friendly staff. Near Apple so it is full of techies, I stayed on a Sunday for a great rate but I assume workweek is pretty pricey.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Home2 Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Bloomington; City: Bloomington Minnesota; Review: Nice location near the MofA with plenty of retail and restaurant choices in walking distance. Service is A+ and little touches like a ton of snacks in the room (don't stay here if you are dieting) and extra waters.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Suites Duluth North Miller Hill; City: Hermantown Minnesota; Review: New hotel with things you don't see that often in hotels like LED lighting and cool accents around the property. Room was clean and as mentioned new. Staff was very nice. Typical HII breakfast. 3 tredmills, free weights and elipical in fitness center. Plenty of shopping and restaurants within a short walk.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
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