A compelling version of what could have happened
919542
This was one of those, "I don't want to put this down" books. I don't usually like this narrative style, but it works here quite well.

An excellent story with wonderful twists...
4727798
There are interesting things in this book as to what actually could have happened during the timeline of Jesus and the area in which he was actually from.
2512694
Alana Cash's novel, Tom's Wife, is a compelling read. The character descriptions were palpable, and the events depicted were easy to imagine. I read on voraciously wanting to know the outcome yet dreading what appeared to be the inevitable end. The ending was a pleasant surprise. I could not put it down. I read straight through it.
2324500
This book is a very good fictionalized account of the events leading up to the fall of the Soviet Union.  You know that some parts actually happened (albeit not with Jack Ryan of course) and some parts are fiction to fill in the gaps, but which is which?  The ending (which I won't give away) would explain an awful lot if it's true.
Treat the book as a fun history lesson and you won't be dissapointed.
52599
This is one hell of a true story, which the author makes more relevant to current events. What happens in this book could happen to any one of us.
2696317
If you give thought to resisting tyranny or the occupation of your country, this constitutes a textbook, in the tradition of John Ross' UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.  The nautical scenes are completely realistic, for Bracken is writing from experience.  If you find some of it unbelievable, and it is, well, hey, it's fiction!  The plot is compelling, and the good guys seem to have a hard time missing, while the bad guys seem to have a hard time hitting, at least in the case of the heroes.

All the same, there's a lot of education here, in terms of the growth of Big Brother, and the obligatory sex scenes fade nicely into darkness, are not too explicit, unlike the next volume, DOMESTIC ENEMIES, which is unnecessarily explicit.

I'll be giving this as a gift to several whom I think will appreciate it.
546428
What is written in this book can indeed happen....no doubt about it and it is very worth the read to give a better understanding of what one will possibly do in case it does.
4367286
TWA Flight 800, a Boeing 747 that had taken off only 12 minutes earlier from New York's JFK airport, exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island on July 17, 1996, killing all 230 people who were on board.  There was much initial speculation that terrorism was involved, particularly since there were several eyewitness who reported seeing what they thought was possibly a ground-to-air missile launch directed at the aircraft. Ultimately, following extensive investigations by both the FBI and NTSB, the official cause was deemed to be a spark from a faulty wire in the center fuel tank. Mr. Picciano, a former FBI agent himself, has written a compelling novel based on a "what if" scenario involving a terrorist plot and resulting government cover-up.  As with any  good novel, "Liam's Promise" explores the lives of the surviving family members, the complexity of their relationships, and, most prominently, the emotional struggles experienced by a son whose father has been tragically and unexpectedly taken from him at a time when serious differences between them remained unresolved.  But Mr. Picciano does not dwell solely on emotional ties. He has also written a truly satisfying tale depicting the inner workings of the FBI as well as political intrigue at the highest levels in Washington that will keep the reader eagerly engaged from start to finish.
4420731
This book is very reminiscent of "The Help," which makes it a little less exciting. However, the story is compelling, and the fact that it is based on true events makes the book even better. I enjoyed the story very much, especially because it is based near where I live.
4451350
Very compelling explanations of the past, and thought provoking for what may come!
120377
Dan McMillan's "How Could It Happen" is a well-written explanation of how and why the Holocaust happened, and how we should not be so foolish or arrogant to believe that it could not happen again.  Recorded history reveals many instances of genocide--but Mr. McMillan explains why the Holocaust was different, and how a number of specific events led to its initiation.  This is a thought-provoking work, and not an easy book to read, since it leaves you questioning what other horrors are being brought to their implementation in the world at this very moment.
387835
When this novel was recommended for our book club the presenter said, "This is not a political book." I reluctantly agreed to its selection, and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. O'Reilly (or his co-author) has done a fine job of creating a compelling tale about a story we all know. I've read quite a few books about Lincoln and didn't think there was much new to add, but Killing Lincoln has a human perspective that's not possible in a more "historical" presentation. I think by bringing the characters to life, the authors have engaged a new audience for this American tragedy. While I was familiar with much of the information there were several new insights that made this a worthwhile read.
1866423
So,  the alternative history genre typically imagines a huge historical event turning out differently. What if the Nazis won WWII? Or what if the Confederacy won the Civil War? But who really wants to think about horrible things like that?!

What I love about Bryce Zabel's Once There Was a Way is that it imagines a parallel universe in which the Beatles' acrimonious disputes of the late '60s almost tore the band apart but they valued their 'brand' enough to keep it together, at least on a part-time basis for several more years. The result is entertaining, imaginative and extremely poignant - thinking of what the Fab Four might have done together if they'd had more time.

It's not always a pretty picture, but it's a very enjoyable ride!
3906243
A very interesting and compelling story. Apparently based on true events, but at times it appears more fiction than truth. On the other hand, sometimes, reality, can be more complex and intriguing than anything that Hollywood may be able to come out with.
3687996
It has been a pleasure to read a true account of history as opposed to a manufactured reality. I am sorry the professor is not around for our time period, although I seriously doubt the powers that be would allow a similar work from 1964 to the present.
4975744
With MANHUNT, Swanson provides a romanticized account of the most notoriously "romantic" of American Presidential assassinations and its aftermath. Part of the intrigue surrounding John Wilkes Booth's dramatic killing of Abraham Lincoln stems from the fact that, barring some bad luck and misjudgments, Booth might very easily have gotten away with his crime. In tracing Booth's long, painful journey from the floorboards of Ford's Theatre to Garrett's Tobacco Barn, where the assassin was cornered and shot, Swanson demonstrates why he did not. Swanson does take sides regarding some of the latest historical research (e.g., he portrays Dr. Samuel Mudd, the man who set Booth's broken leg, as being far more of a knowledgeable accomplice of Booth's than the old historical and pop-culture consensus would have it), but, in most particulars, he approaches the project as a simple story-teller, rather than as an academician with a point to prove. The manuscript could have done with one final proofread -- tenses are sometimes mixed up, and the same telegram is quoted twice in two separate places in the narrative -- and a few more detailed maps of Booth's escape route would have been appreciated. Still, this is an excellent and, at times, hair-raising read.
4186714
Although historical fiction is not something I typically read, I read this based on a recommendation. The alternative reality presented in the book is plausible, but compelling. And most importantly (for me), the author clearly researched the events surrounding his story, and I found myself quickly engrossed. I think this is a must-read for anyone with an interest in Civil War history.