This book is the first in a projected 2-volume series about Luftwaffe pilots during World War II as told both by surviving veteran pilots themselves, many of whom Christer Bergström had befriended through the years through his work as a researcher/aviation historian -- and from accounts left from a number of Luftwaffe pilots (e.g. the ace Hans Philipp, who was credited with 206 victories) who were either killed during the war or died later before Bergström could interview them.

"Luftwaffe Pilots in World War II: The Veterans' Stories (Volume 1)" contains a lot of worthwhile, insightful, and revelatory information about the Luftwaffe fighter arm and some of its most distinguished pilots that had, hitherto, been little known or largely unknown. (For example, the case of captured Luftwaffe pilots who defected to the Soviet side.) There are also several photographs not to be found in other books on this subject. That is what makes this book a valuable resource, especially now that there are few veterans left to tell the stories first-hand.

But I must hasten to add that what detracts from the quality of this book is how poorly written it is in several instances. I don't know if this volume was translated from Swedish. If that is the case, the book was very poorly translated into English. I could bear with a handful of poorly written passages in English. But to have to deal with glaring grammatical errors across the chapters, along with sentence fragments and crudely constructed sentences --- that was too much. For that reason, I am giving "Luftwaffe Pilots of World War II: The Veterans' Stories (Volume 1), THREE (instead of 5) STARS.

Door 1- Dia De Los Muetos (Task 1): Compose a limerick or short poem in honor of a favorite book character.

Door 1- Dia De Los Muetos (Task 2): If you like Mexican food, treat yourself to a favorite dish – and / or make yourself a margarita – and share a photo

Door 1- Dia De Los Muetos (Task 3): Write an epitaph for the book you most disliked this year.

Door 1- Dia De Los Muertos (Task 4): Do you have any traditions or mementos of happy memories of a loved one that you feel like sharing?

Door 2- Japanese Culture Day (Task 1): Tell us about a cultural festival or event in the area where you live.

Door 2- Japanese Culture Day (Task 3): Try your hand at folding a paper crane. Instructions: https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-Paper-Crane-1/

Door 3 - Melbourne Cup Day (Task 1): Pick your Ponies (Il Paradiso placed 3rd) - one of the horses I picked. (+1 Bonus Point)

Door 3 - Melbourne Cup Day (Task 2): Roses are the official flower of Flemington Race Track; write your own “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue” poem for one of your favorite or most hated books of all time.

Door 3 - Melbourne Cup Day (Task 3): Aussies shorten everything, so Melbourne Cup Day is just called “Cup Day” – post a picture of your favorite cup or mug for your daily fix of coffee, tea or chocolate.

Door 3 - Melbourne Cup Day (Task 4): Prepare your favorite dessert – in a cup! Post a photo of it for us to enjoy vicariously.

Door 4 - Guy Fawkes Night (Task 1): Make a list of the top 3 treasonous crimes against books that an author can commit.

Door 4 - Guy Fawkes Night (Task 2): Start a revolution: What one thing would you change about the book reading world? (Be it publishing, distribution, editing, cover art, bookstores – anything having to do with books.)

Door 4 - Guy Fawkes Night (Task 4): How do you order the books on your shelves?

Door 5 - Bon Om Touk (Task 1): List / tell us about your favorite rainy day reads.

Door 6 - Veterans / Armistice Day (Task 1): Sunrise services are a staple of this day: Take a picture of the sunrise where you live and share it with us.

Door 8 - International Children’s Day (Book): Read a children’s or YA book or a book where children or teenagers play a significant role, or written by an author who was under the age of 18 at the time of publication.

Door 9 - World Philosophy Day (Task 1): Share your reading philosophy with us – do you DNF? If so, do you have a page minimum to read before you declare it a DNF?

Door 9 - World Philosophy Day (Task 2): Share your reviewing philosophy with us – how do you rate a book? Do you have a mental template for reviewing? Rules you try to follow, or rules you try to break?

Door 9 - World Philosophy Day (Task 3): How do you stay zen / sane over the holidays or in other stressful periods?

Door 9 - World Philosophy Day (Task 4): Did you love or hate the books you had to read for school? Looking back, which ones (good or bad) stand out to you the most?

Door 11 - Thanksgiving Day (Book): Read a book with an autumnal cover, set in New England, where a turkey shows up in the story, with a turkey or pumpkin on the cover, or with the theme of coming together to help a community or family in need.

Door 12 - St. Andrew's Day (Task 1): Tell us: Who is your favorite Scottish (or Scots-born / -descendant) writer?

Door 13 - Advent (Task 2): Tell us: What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Door 17 - Winter Solstice (Book): Read a book that takes place in December, with ice or snow on the cover, where all events take place in a single day or night, that revolves around the solstice, set in Persia / Iran, China or the American Southwest or prominently featuring Persian / Iranian, Chinese or Native American characters, or a collection of poetry.

Door 18 - Hanukkah (Book): Read a book about light, miracles, featuring Jewish characters, set in Israel, that is the second book in a series, with the word “two” in the title, or with a light on the cover.

Door 20 - Christmas (Book): Read a Christmas book.

Total Points: 27 Points

Door 6:  Veterans / Armistice Day

Task 1: Sunrise services are a staple of this day: Take a picture of the sunrise where you live and share it with us.

Yesterday was the only sunny day we had. Today of course we have rain. Here you go!

Task 2: In keeping with the minute of silence, tell us about the authors who have passed this year that you will miss the most.

For me it's going to be Toni Morrison. Her voice was and still is much needed when discussing the African American experience via literature. Books like "The Bluest Eye" and "Beloved" are must reads. 

Task 3: Rosemary is for remembrance, but it’s great for chasing away moths, silverfish and other bugs that can damage books (and linens). Make a sachet with some rosemary, lavender, dried basil, etc. to keep on your bookshelves – post a picture of the results and let us know what combinations of herbs you used. A list of possibilities can be found here: https://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/12-plants-that-repel-unwanted-insects

Task 4:The Forest of Compiègne, just outside Compiègne, France, is the site of the signing of the 1918 Armistice. It was also the site of the signing by the French of a truce with the Germans following the German invasion in 1940. – Find a green space in your local area (or favorite area) and go for a walk or bike ride of a mile (or 1.61 km) and post a picture or screenshot of the map of where you walked / biked.

So on Saturday I did a Turkey trot run that was almost 3 miles and Sunday went to Shenandoah. I did Dickey Ridge Area and had a fun time. See the trail map and some pictures I took below. 

Book: Read a book involving a war, battle, or where characters are active military or veterans, or with poppies on the cover, or honor the ‘unknown soldier’ of your TBR and read the book that’s been there the longest.

[X]

Tasks Completed: 3

Today, I am going to join former Marine Reid Griffith and PR expert Naomi Starr bring Vets on the Go! into the spotlight and just maybe witness shine the light on a new romance! Enjoy and don't forget to add THE WHOLE PACKAGE, the 2nd book in the Veteran Movers series by Marie Harte to your shelves!

Always the caretaker, former Marine Reid Griffith wants to help his brother adjust to civilian life...and help other former servicemen. What better way to utilize their brawn, discipline, and charm than a moving company that hires veterans? But although Reid prides himself on being strategic, he certainly doesn't plan to fall in the spotlight of one brilliant―and beautiful―PR whiz...

PR expert Naomi Starr is determined to bring Vets on the Go! into the spotlight. But when she meets Reid, it might mean breaking her rule to never mix business with pleasure. Especially once she discovers that underneath Reid's sexy rough-and-tumble exterior is a vulnerable man who just might need what she's got to give.

Naomi Starr is a PR expert and she is determined to bring Vets on the Go! into the spotlight, but meeting Reid, might just mean breaking her rule to never mix business with pleasure. Determined to help his brother and other former servicemen, former Marine Reid Griffith finds himself caught up in trying to get a moving company off the ground, but he certainly doesn’t plan on falling in the spotlight of the brilliant – and beautiful – PR whiz. 

The series starts off with a sweet, moving romance that gets readers motors running and pulses pounding. The characters are strong, endearing and easily captures readers’ hearts and attentions. The chemistry between Naomi and Reid sizzles with lots of electrical current but Naomi is determined to keep to her rule about not mixing business with pleasure which keeps the relationship interesting to say the least. Lots of emotions flow from the pages of this story from the intensely emotional feelings that comes from falling in love and interfering past issued to fun and laughter in the interactions of this delightful and eccentric moving crew that most readers will agree, can move anything they want, anytime they want.

The plot is steady paced and has a bit of suspense and intrigue that comes from building up businesses, hiring and firing, siblings and general friction between coworkers and ex-coworkers, in other words a realistic feeling, sweet, cute and fun read that readers can sink their teeth into.

Author's Book Page

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GBooks > ebook   *   print

THE WHOLE PACKAGE is the 1st book in the VETERAN MOVERS series.

Author   *   Goodreads   *   Amazon

1 The Whole Package   *   2 Smooth Moves    *   3 Handle with Care

Veteran Movers #4 - DELIVERED WITH A KISS - soon

Single Title - THE KISSING GAME - February 4, 2020

AVAILABLE in print, ebook & audio

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Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.

Website   *   Facebook   *   Twitter   *   Goodreads   *   BookBub   *   Amazon

Door 1- Dia De Los Muetos (Task 1): Compose a limerick or short poem in honor of a favorite book character.

Door 1- Dia De Los Muetos (Task 2): If you like Mexican food, treat yourself to a favorite dish – and / or make yourself a margarita – and share a photo

Door 1- Dia De Los Muetos (Task 3): Write an epitaph for the book you most disliked this year.

Door 1- Dia De Los Muertos (Task 4): Do you have any traditions or mementos of happy memories of a loved one that you feel like sharing?

Door 2- Japanese Culture Day (Task 1): Tell us about a cultural festival or event in the area where you live.

Door 2- Japanese Culture Day (Task 3): Try your hand at folding a paper crane. Instructions: https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-Paper-Crane-1/

Door 3 - Melbourne Cup Day (Task 1): Pick your Ponies (Il Paradiso placed 3rd) - one of the horses I picked. (+1 Bonus Point)

Door 3 - Melbourne Cup Day (Task 2): Roses are the official flower of Flemington Race Track; write your own “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue” poem for one of your favorite or most hated books of all time.

Door 3 - Melbourne Cup Day (Task 3): Aussies shorten everything, so Melbourne Cup Day is just called “Cup Day” – post a picture of your favorite cup or mug for your daily fix of coffee, tea or chocolate.

Door 3 - Melbourne Cup Day (Task 4): Prepare your favorite dessert – in a cup! Post a photo of it for us to enjoy vicariously.

Door 4 - Guy Fawkes Night (Task 1): Make a list of the top 3 treasonous crimes against books that an author can commit.

Door 4 - Guy Fawkes Night (Task 2): Start a revolution: What one thing would you change about the book reading world? (Be it publishing, distribution, editing, cover art, bookstores – anything having to do with books.)

Door 4 - Guy Fawkes Night (Task 4): How do you order the books on your shelves?

Door 5 - Bon Om Touk (Task 1): List / tell us about your favorite rainy day reads.

Door 6 - Veterans / Armistice Day (Task 1): Sunrise services are a staple of this day: Take a picture of the sunrise where you live and share it with us.

Door 17 - Winter Solstice (Book): Read a book that takes place in December, with ice or snow on the cover, where all events take place in a single day or night, that revolves around the solstice, set in Persia / Iran, China or the American Southwest or prominently featuring Persian / Iranian, Chinese or Native American characters, or a collection of poetry.

Door 18 - Hanukkah (Book): Read a book about light, miracles, featuring Jewish characters, set in Israel, that is the second book in a series, with the word “two” in the title, or with a light on the cover.

Door 20 - Christmas (Book): Read a Christmas book.

Total Points: 19 Points