Fascinating. A well-crafted adventure revealing intimate knowledge of events ...
937246
Fascinating. A well-crafted adventure revealing intimate knowledge of events, place and time. As others have noted, I look forward to a continuation or sequel featuring the Cape Cods Cranberry Flying Service as a focus for the foibles of the rich and famous on Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket.
4893238
Vinland shares many elements with Dan Browns adventure stories about symbologist Robert Langdon, including a mystery of historical significance, ancient maps, scholarly disagreements about historical events, Freemasons, Knights Templar, archeological discoveries, ancient artifacts, sinister cabals, religious fanatics, conspiracies, murders (ritualistic and otherwise), corrupt officials and one college professor turned adventurer. The story is quite a bit sexier, with several seductive femmes fatales. The author presents fascinating bits of historical information without bogging down the story and weaves historical events into a contemporary mystery.

story also presents a bit of a travelogue on Cape Cod, with particular emphasis on the food, entertainment venues and historical landmarks. The characters are complex and often duplicitous, adding elements of intrigue. Protagonist Dan Burdett is a man who wears several hats. A disgraced and possibly burned-out prosecuting attorney and former lifeguard, he now divides his time between a struggling private law practice, teaching medieval history at a community college and renovating a beach home. His understanding of medieval history and contacts in academia prove most valuable in this adventure, involving an ancient map that may cast light on a mystery that has puzzled academics and archaeologists but that fanatics will kill to keep hidden and a fabulous treasure that others will kill to plunder.

Vinland is an enthralling read that will keep the reader guessing. Like the Dan Brown novels, it is imbued with intriguing and fascinating historical tidbits.
1067105
This is a fascinating look at an obscure historical event,  The author deftly builds tension while giving us a clear portrait of the city, the times, and the people involved in this disaster.  The story moves along steadily, and the richness of detail makes it seem as though the tragedy is about to happen, rather than something from the far past..
1943749
I am not a history buff, nor a passionate reader of novels. But Redemption was a delightful experience for even this sedate reader, who normally confines such activity to current events, facts-figures etc... I was initially aware of what seemed-like excess detail, but quickly became accustomed to the style, realizing that I was being thrust into a "virtual reality" that allowed me to "see" the characters and scenes in an extraordinary, realistic manner - that my imagination wouldn't normally  elicit from a printed page...
The riveting story-line is fast-moving and enticing - keeping the reader involved to the point of constant anticipation of "what's around the next bend."... The chronicle also contains subtle (and some not-so-subtle) messages related to moral issues and human nature - in addition to the exhilarating "adventure".
828777
On the surface, "The Time Cavern," appears to be an average, YA Sci-Fi adventure tale. The plot initially simplistic: A young boy (Aaron) and his tomboy girlfriend (Jake), discover an ancient mystery of the universe, a time machine. Yet, the story is more than a fiction-adventure for young boys (and girls). It is also a learning tool. For, nestled within the pages of his story, Todd Fonseca subtly weaves an abundance of life-lessons.

I was pleasantly surprised to find "The Time Cavern" overflowing with factoids involving astronomy, science, history, religious acceptance, and family tolerance...all intertwined into an intriguing tale of mystery, discovery and suspense.

One of my favorite chapters involved a brief, but heartfelt, father-son talk...climaxing with ten-year-old Aaron's realization that he indeed needed to take responsibility in his being grounded. Sprinkled throughout the book, precious gems of knowledge and wisdom are as abundant as the hidden clues propelling Aaron and Jake's quest to solve the ancient mystery.

I highly recommend "The Time Cavern," for parents that are looking for an intellectual story that neither talks over the heads of its readers, or talks down to them. It is easy to tell from Todd Fonseca's tale, that he possesses the wisdom of the ancients, and the soul of eternal youth.

Dee Marie
4472010
A fascinating, true life adventure of a woman whose humble beginnings were no deterrent to a life filled with hope and courage that reflected her own character as well as that of the times in which she lived. Kudos to the author and the translator for telling the story and shedding so much light on world history and one woman's participation through it.
333286
An exciting read that delves into the history and drama of this unique micronation. A real page-turner! I loved the first-hand accounts of overcoming obstacles ranging from governments, to criminals, to the sea itself. Plenty of close calls, lucky escapes, and daring exploits. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in Sealand, pirate radio, or just real-world adventure!
1368628
An rousing adventure both internal and external. A quest, a true hero's journey within. A must read for all of those who seek to know what is it all about. A journey with a most authentic and genuine guide and fellow seeker. If you do not mark up this book with highlights, page tabs etc. you are going to be flipping through it for the rest of your life saying, "where was that part about...?" Clearly a book about which you can say "If this book is falling apart, you can be reasonably sure your life is not."
887930
This book details a fascinating account of one of the world's largest but little-known voyages of discovery. In 1733 Vitus Bering is commissioned by the Russian government to begin a ten-year journey that eventually encompasses Siberia and the coast of North America. The saga is written in a concise manner, and I learned a lot about Russia of the era, which I found very enjoyable. This was an adventure that I knew little about so nearly every aspect of the journey was a revelation. I had no idea that the men who embarked on it endured so much and suffered so much hardship. The opening chapter foreshadows how it all ends, but I won't  give anything away.

Suffice it to say that if you love historical accounts, especially those such as the journeys of Lewis and Clark, travelogues in general, or accounts of shipwreck and survival against insurmountable odds you will certainly love this book. My only complaint is that at 242 pages it was too short. The author is a fascinating writer, and I found I could not stop reading this fascinating volume.
1938906
Excellent read......a fascinating story unfolds
657369
This is not taught in school... ANYWHERE.  Fascinating insight into a different time and place, addressing an age-old issue.
3651831
Highly recommend this fascinating story of behind-the-scenes history of the battle and the human logistics before, during and after.  As a female reader I am not particularly interested in reading every small detail of how a battle unfolded.  For me, this book brought it all into context in a human way, bringing it close to home and heart on a real scale.  A small battlefield and big aristocratic egos - a great read.
1323834
Fascinating story!  A good read.  So glad I stumbled across this book.
1079195
a bit unusual but timelines woven very well. Some surprises, well, lots of surprises. All connected into a fascinating tale.
1380781
A fabulously interesting non-fiction tale of an individual delving into his family's past and coming up with a fascinating story.  Highly recommended.
2963133
I am a fairly educated individual and admittedly an anthropology guru. Not to mention when it comes to books about history, they are frequently dry and repetitive, little fun to read and merely present raw facts. Patrick Hunt, however, weaves eloquent tales of discovery with hard facts and ancient evidence to create a learning adventure.

I can only say this infrequently, but this was quite a page-turner! I highly recommend this book to adventure connoisseurs, history buffs, and anyone intrigued by pieces of out human legacy.
2335919
A fascinating, well written look into a little-known threat to civilization. Who knows how far-reaching or unique this threat may be. Perhaps, the author's insights can generate some useful formal investigation. It is certainly worthwhile reading.