Seasonlife Turntable Record Player Review

 For Fran's birthday this year, our daughter got her a Seasonlife turntable record player. It is something Fran has wanted for a long time. We have a huge collection of vinyl records that have been in storage for years, and now, we are enjoying them again.

In an age where digital music dominates, there's something uniquely satisfying about listening to vinyl records. We are old enough to remember when vinyl records were all we had for music besides the radio. 

Let's look back at how we listened to music over the years. After vinyl records came the 8-track tape players, cassette players, CDs, and digital downloads. I believe vinyl records are making a comeback. Our 18-year-old grandson Bobby, has a turntable and has started his own collection of vinyl records.

Features of our Seasonlife Turntable:

3-Speed Operation, It can play at 33 1/3, and 45 RPM a wide range of vinyl records.

Built-in Speakers: The turntable has integrated stereo speakers, providing a decent listening sound quality.

Bluetooth Connectivity: Bluetooth capability lets you stream wirelessly from your smartphone or other devices. 

Auto-Stop Function: This feature stops the turntable when the record ends, protecting your vinyl, and ensuring the needle doesn't wear down.

Our Seasonlife turntable delivers a warm rich sound and is easy to set up. We are now enjoying those wonderful sounds of the 70's along with some new vinyls we have purchased.

This Seasonlife Record Player is a perfect choice, whether you're looking to start or expand your vinyl collection, without breaking the bank.

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Record Player High Fidelity Turntable for Vinyl Records Built-in 4 Stereo Speakers All-in-One Vinyl Player Belt Drive Turn table MM Cartridge ATN-3600L Stylus 33 45 Speed BT Wireless Classic Black

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Eufy Robovac Review

Intrigued by Robovacs? I was hesitant to purchase a robovac as the units can be expensive particularly if the vacuums did not perform as promised. The Eufy robovac is an affordable brand that definitely delivered as promised. It is a very nice addition to the cleaning collection of tools and a purchase I recommend.

How Does The Eufy Clean?

The Eufy did a very good job on carpet, rugs and hardwood floors. I did not notice any difference between what the upright vac would pick up and the Eufy. Changing the storage container will quickly show how much dust is collected from the hardwoods.

One feature I frequently use is the spot cleaning setting where the Eufy cleans in a circle about two feet in radius from where the unit is started. This is a handy feature when one section of carpet or area of a rug needs extra attention. I particularly used this setting when cleaning up tracked in salt during winter.

Finding "Home"

For a smart vac the Enfy is not the smartest  robovac in the closet when finding its' home base. If the vac is guided by remote to the room the charging station is located then the vac can find its' way home. Unknown if the vac operates the same way in every home? It's more of a very slight inconvenience.

The vacuum also did a great job at avoiding pieces of furniture and detecting doors or entering and exiting through doors. The one object I found the Eufy could not detect well were electrical cords; I'd advise either monitoring the vacuum or lifting up electrical cords in a home office. 

Maintenance

What type of maintenance is required? There are two necessary maintenance tasks and each are located on the bottom of the unit.

A roller brush will work less effectively when hair is wrapped around the brush hindering the brush to work well. This is the same as a regular vacuum to clean or remove the brush. 

The second area is a small storage area for what is actually picked up by the unit. This fills fairly quickly and usually needs emptying per use. The storage container is very easy to remove, empty and then reinstall.

Remote Control

This is a very easy what you see is what you get remote. On the rear of the remote is a legend to the six remote settings. Very easy to operate.

The Charging Station

The charging station definitely needs to brace itself against a solid background whether it be a door, wall or piece off furniture. There does need to be a little clearance around the charging station due to the way the Eufy finds the station and will lock itself into the station to charge.

No Tools

The vac does not have any tools as one may be used to with other vacuums such as dust, crevice or extension tools.  

Sound

I found the unit very quiet. In an adjacent room I could hear a faint hum the majority of the run of the vaccum.

Price Point

I found the Eufy a good value for its' price point. Advertised in the budget category of robovacs, I found the vacuum worked very well. If vacuuming is a chore then the Eufy can help lighten the chore load at at a price significantly more affordable than a few of its' competitors.

 eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S MAX, Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Super Thin, Powerful Suction, Quiet, Self-ChargingCheck Price

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A Fun, Feel-Good Romantic Comedy - A Five-Star Movie Review

Storyline Overview

"The Accidental Husband" is a delightful romantic comedy that delivers precisely what you'd expect from the genre—charm, humor, and a touch of whimsy. 

The movie centers around Emma Lloyd, a successful relationship expert and radio show host whose advice leads a listener to break off her engagement. 

The jilted fiancé, Patrick Sullivan, decides to take revenge by tampering with Emma's life in a way she could never have anticipated. Through a series of comedic mishaps, Emma discovers she is accidentally married to Patrick, even as she prepares to marry her fiancé.

The movie takes us on a lighthearted journey as Emma tries to undo the mess, only to find that love has a funny way of surprising us all.

A Quality Cast - Check Out the Talent

Uma Thurman shines as Emma Lloyd, bringing her signature blend of grace and comedic timing to the role. 

Jeffrey Dean Morgan is wonderfully charming as Patrick Sullivan, the fireman with a mischievous streak who manages to win Emma's heart and the audience's. I'm a fan of Jeffrey Dean Morgan, which made the cast even more appealing.

Colin Firth plays Richard, Emma's original fiancé, embodying the perfect gentleman with just the right amount of stiffness. 

The quality supporting performances by Sam Shepard and Isabella Rossellini add depth and humor to this delightful film.

Why I Enjoyed 'The Accidental Husband'

What I loved most about "The Accidental Husband" is that it's a light, clean movie that offers a much-needed escape from the negativity and darkness that often dominates today's world. 

While the plot may be predictable, that predictability is part of its charm. Sometimes, it's nice to watch a movie where you know things will work out in the end, and this film delivers that satisfaction. 

If you're in the mood for something that will make you smile, laugh, and forget about the stresses of everyday life, this is the perfect pick. It's an easy, enjoyable watch that left me feeling good, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to relax with a fun romantic comedy.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Have a Look at the Trailer:

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LOST by James Patterson - Book Review

 

Lost is a mystery novel in the police procedural, organized crime thrillers and suspense thrillers genres. 

Synopsis of Lost

Detective Tom Moon, the main character in Lost, is a Miami PD officer who is now the new leader of an FBI task force combining the FBI, DEA and Miami police. Called Operation Guardian, Moon and his team investigate International Crime.  

Lost

The Lost novel focuses on two Russian nationals - brothers Roman and Emile Rostoff unofficially known as the ‘Blood Brothers’ - who are building a powerful and deadly crime syndicate in Miami, with ties to Amsterdam.

As the story begins, Moon and his team are at Miami International Airport observing a Dutchman attempting to go through customs with six children being brought in from Amsterdam for the purpose of child sex trafficking. The man is arrested and the children taken into protective custody. 

Lost takes place primarily in Miami, Florida, with a side trip to Amsterdam when Moon accompanies the rescued children back to where the crime began. There, he meets with Marie Meijer, his counterpoint in the Dutch National Police who is working on the European end of these international crimes being organized by the Rostoff brothers. Working together, Tom & Marie discover that a large group of human trafficking victims are about to be sent by ship from Amsterdam to Miami. Now all they have to do is figure out when this will happen, what ship will be used, and in which one of dozens of Florida ports the ship will show up. 

Miami is Tom Moon’s backyard. A born and raised local, he knows the area well. But the task before him is huge. Will he be able to guess right and save the victims before it is too late?

Summary

Lost is written by James Patterson, in conjunction with author James O. Born. Born, who is a crime and science-fiction novelist as well as a career law-enforcement agent, is a native of Florida. 

I really enjoyed and readily recommend this book about Detective Tom Moon and his multi-talented team who worked to defeat an international crime ring trying to seize control over Miami.

Other James Patterson Book Reviews:

• The Christmas Mystery, reviewed by Brenda Little
• The Golf Miracle Trilogy, reviewed by Wednesday Elf
• Shattered, reviewed by Wednesday Elf
• The President is Missing, reviewed by Brenda Little

For more Book Reviews on ReviewThisReviews, 

check out ReviewThisBooks.com

*Book Review of James Patterson’s ‘Lost’ written by Wednesday Elf

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A Healthy Place to Die - Episode 2 of Gourmet Detective Series Reviewed

I have really been enjoying the Hallmark Mystery Series, the Gourmet Detective.  Last week I reviewed the pilot movie of the series where we first met Detective Maggie Price and the "Gourmet Detective", Henry Ross.  

When forced to work together to solve a murder, the duo provide a light touch of comedy with their snippy comments to each other. 

The murder in this movie takes place at a gourmet convention.  Of course,  Henry is already attending and has two rooms, but it turns out his assistant is unable to go.  When he offers one of Maggie's co-workers the option to take his assistant's "already paid for" room at the conference, he ends up getting roped into taking Maggie instead.  Maggie's police captain believes it will provide the perfect opportunity for Maggie to take a much needed and earned vacation.  Henry offers the room to Maggie and she somewhat reluctantly agrees to go when she is assured they would not be going as a couple, just in tandem to the same place.

There is no way either of them could know one of the other conventioneers will be murdered.  Once again, Henry is immediately involved because he is the one to see the body floating in the mineral baths from his balcony.

A Healthy Place to Die Synopsis

Gourmet Detective: A Healthy Place to Die

Kathleen Evans is a magazine writer who doesn't hesitate to reveal nasty personal information about the notable people she features in her articles.  She previously taped an unflattering video that she shared, along with her article, on a popular actress and convention guest, Danielle Stark.  When aired, that article and video had cost Danielle her acting contracts for 3 years.  

Kathleen's tenancy to tell all, makes her a very unpopular attendee, especially after Danielle publicly confronted her at one of the convention's meet and greet events.  When Danielle stormed out of the room, the confrontation continued when Danielle's agent took it up, demanding that Kathleen leave the convention.   

It comes as no surprise that Kathleen is the murder victim.

Identifying the killer is much harder.  Both Detective Price and Henry Ross witnessed the confrontational scene which initially gave them their first set of suspects.  But, that would be too easy!

Be sure to watch how Henry Ross uses his skillet in this episode.  It gives any cook a new appreciation for their cookware.  It is close to the end of the movie, so you will need to watch the whole movie to see his unique cookware skill.

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You may also enjoy reading my review of the pilot movie, Gourmet Detective, here!

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A Healthy Place to Die - Episode 2 of Gourmet Detective Series Reviewed by:

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Reviewing Fun Facts about the Great Lakes

 

Lake Michigan Lighthouse- Point Betsie

The Great Lakes are a series of 5 freshwater lakes found in the north central United States.  In this post I will share some fun facts about each of the lakes and I will also share some photos of lighthouses that I have taken while visiting the Great Lakes.  Did you know that there are over 200 lighthouses that are currently active along the over 11,000 miles of coastline?  Each lighthouse is unique, and my husband and I spent several years exploring these lighthouses and photographing all that we could reach by car.

Lake Michigan

The lighthouse above is Two Harbors lighthouse and is found on the shores of Lake Michigan in Minnesota.  This lighthouse is currently an active lighthouse that is also serves as a bed and breakfast inn.  We were fortunate to be able to stay there two nights and I was able to get up and take this photo at sunrise.

Here are a few fun facts about Lake Michigan.

• Lake Michigan is the third largest of the Great Lakes.
• Along the shores of Lake Michigan you will find the largest freshwater sand dunes in the world.
• In the 19th century, Lake Michigan had a pirate problem and the booty they were seeking was timber.
• The first recorded "Big Great Lakes disaster" happened on Lake Michigan when a steamer carrying 600peole collided with a schooner delivering timber.  450 people died.

Lake Ontario

Fort Niagra lighthouse is found along the shores of Lake Ontario in New York.  It is close to Niagra Falls. 

Here are some fun facts about Lake Ontario.

• Lake Ontario is the smallest of the Great Lakes in surface area.
• The province Ontario was named after the lake.
• Babe Ruth hit his first major league home run in Toronto, and it landed in Lake Ontario where it is still believed to be today.
• A lake on Saturn's moon is named after Lake Ontario.

Lake Superior

The above is Big Bay lighthouse which sits on the shores of Lake Superior in northern Michigan.  This lighthouse houses a bed and breakfast that my husband and I stayed in for two days.  I enjoyed having plenty of time to photograph the lighthouse from various settings.  This photo is one that I had printed on canvas, and it sits on our mantle.

Here are some fun facts on Lake Superior.

• It is the largest of the lakes and in fact all of the other Great Lakes could fit inside of it with room to spare.
• It is estimated that there are 100 million lake trout in Lake Superior.
• Lake Superior contains 3 quadrillion gallons of water.
• Lake Superior is actually not a lake at all, rather it is an inland sea.

Lake Erie

Marblehead lighthouse is found on the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio.  We stayed near there on night and I was able to get up early and photograph it in the early morning light.

Here are some fun facts about Lake Erie.

• There is said to be a monster in this lake.  It is 30-40 feet long and was first seen in 1793.  It is named Bessie.
• During the war of 1812 a naval battle called the Battle of Lake Erie was won by the US over the British, forcing the British to abandon Detroit.
• Lake Erie is the fourth largest in surface area.
• Lake Erie is surrounded by more industry than any of the other Great Lakes.

Lake Huron

Tawas Point lighthouse is found on the shores of Lake Huron in eastern Michigan.  I found it to be a very picturesque setting.

Here are some fun facts about Lake Huron.

• If it were not for the Straits of Mackinac, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan might be considered to be one lake.
• Goederich Mine is the largest salt mine in the world and part of it runs under Lake Erie.
• Lake Huron is second largest of the Great Lakes and is the fifth largest lake in the world.

Lighthouse Reviews

The links below are reviews of lighthouses that I visited on the Great Lakes.

• Reviewing Lighthouses in Erie Pennsylvania (reviewthisreviews.com)
• You Too can be a Lighthouse Keeper (reviewthisreviews.com)
• Photographic Review of Buffalo New York Lighthouse (reviewthisreviews.com)
• Review of Small Town Fun in Conneaut Ohio (reviewthisreviews.com)

Footnote

Facts for this article were gathered online at targetwalleye.com/things-you-probably-never-knew-about-the-great-lakes

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Have You Heard? A Fantastic New Kitchen Helper Is Here! A Product Review

There are some things in life that make me happy!  They are little things that don't cost a fortune but put a smile on my face whenever I see them.  

My son, who came for a visit just recently, put me onto one of these things that make me happy!   Have you heard about "Scrub Daddy's"?  

I love my little kitchen, everything has a place and everything I need is within reach.  But, here's the catch! In a small kitchen, you can also have a problem with smelly things!  Yeah, you know what I'm talking about!  It doesn't take much to have a smell "grow" in a small kitchen.  That's okay if you are talking about coffee or some new recipe for cakes or dinner, but when you are talking about dish cloths, well that's another whole story.

So back to my son's visit.  He happens to go into the kitchen and sure enough earlier in the day I had been cleaning out the fridge, stove top and counters.  The dish cloth I was using was in the sink and sure enough it had started to give off an odor that was not pleasant at all.

Mom, you need a Scrub Daddy!  Well , I just looked at him and told him I already had one of those and he doesn't work that well.  After a good laugh, he says, "Seriously, I found these Scrub Daddy's and they are fantastic in the kitchen! Needless to say, a few days passed by and sure enough the aforementioned son returns with a little package in hand!

Here you go Mom, these will help you in the kitchen and maybe make you smile too!  

Well I must tell you that they did indeed make me smile and having used my Scrub Daddy for over a year now, I am in love with this little gizmo.  

What is this Scrub Daddy?  Well it's a kitchen sponge, but not really a sponge!  It is make of polymer foam, that is BPA Free, as well as being stain and odor resistant.  When it is not in use it is has a firm composition, but put Scrub Daddy into warm water and he is very soft and pliable, yet still firm enough to do any job you set him to!  This Scrub Daddy can be used on any number of surfaces and will not scratch or mar even the most delicate surface!

I have used my Scrub Daddy for everything from scrubbing refrigerator shelves, to washing my crystal vases that have become gungy from the last bouquet.  Scrub Daddy does it all and leaves thing shiny and spot free!  What more could you want?  The best part is that after a particular messy work out with my Scrub Daddy, he goes into the dishwasher for a deep clean and comes out smiling.  

If you haven't yet had a chance to try these fantastic little guys, I would suggest that you do and do it soon.  With a 5 Star rating and thousands of people purchasing these little guys, there must be something good here.

Oh and just for a little extra fun, you can also purchase Scrub Mommy's as well.  They are similar to Scrub Daddy but they have a sponge side to them that is also very strong and yet resists odors.  

All these can be put into the dishwasher if needs dictate.  Well, I would suggest that if you haven't heard about these Scrub Daddy and Scrub Mommy's, give them a try and I'm sure you will find another reason to smile while doing those everyday chores in the kitchen!

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Reviewing Sensory Garden For A Person With Sight Loss Part One

 

My husband has been gradually losing his sight and this is something we both need to learn and adjust to.

One of the areas I have been looking into recently is how to have a garden that will be beautiful, fun and interesting to him as his sight declines. We are also anticipating a house move in the next few years  to make life easier long term so I am looking into what will work and how I need to change my gardening style. 

There are always five elements to take in to account when making a garden and these revolve around the five senses of

Smell, Hearing, Sight, Touch and Taste and then the next important area is safety.

It is vital that we work together on this project so that I understand what he wants and needs from the garden. Our aim is to retain his independence as much as possible in all areas of life and that includes the garden.

We aim to arrange it so that he will know where he is in the garden by the location of key plants and structures and take notice of the five senses.  

In Part One we will discuss the senses of Smell, Touch and Sound and in Part Two we will discuss Sight, Taste and Safety. 

I have presented these elements in the order my husband would like me to concentrate. I find the best approach to be led by him in what he needs and wants in the garden. 

In this article we will be using the terms sight impaired, blind, low vision, partially sighted and sight loss as these are the current acceptable terms in my country for people with sight loss. This may change over time and be different in different countries. No offence is intended by any of these terms.

Elements To Address in The Garden

Smell : Scent: Scented Plants

Touch : Different textures and feel. Safe to Touch Plants

Hearing : Sound: Windchimes Water Features and Birds

Sight : Colour and form, Light

Taste : Fruit, veg and herbs Edible Plants. Avoid poisonous plants. 

Safety : Moving around independently and safely

Sense Of Smell-Scent

Scented Sweet Peas

Scented plants are very important in any garden but particularly when thinking of a person with sight loss. I am aware of many scented plants. The next step was to ask which scented plants he preferred, so I made sure I included those. 

I will not be limited to these plants though as I always think it is good to have surprises. Some plants are all year round scent from leaves, others only have scent for a part of the year they are in flower. 

We discussed having these plants mainly in raised beds so that it is easier to smell them and easier to maintain, plus better to be able to give them the conditions they like. In addition, the plants that have Mediterranean origins like free drainage, difficult to provide on our mainly heavy clay soil.

So we will plant:-

Lavender

Lemongrass

Basil

Thyme

Rosemary

Jasmine

Salvia

Scented Sweet peas

Artemisia

Curry plant

Scented roses

Thyme

Honeysuckle

Chamomile

Scented Daffodils

Cushion Bush/Silver sand 

Rosemary

Sense Of Touch

Although I love plants like Holly and pyracantha, they are both very prickly and  it is not a great idea to have them central in a garden suitable designed for a sight impaired, partially sighted or blind person. 

A better idea is to have plants that can be touched safely and that do not mind being touched. 

Some of these plants can be the same as the ones with lovely distinctive scents, many have leaves that are evergreen and release amazing scent when touched. Also they are not harmed by being touched.

So we will plant:-

Choisya Shrub

Curry plant

Artemisia

Lavender

Rosemary 

Chamomile

Lambs ears

White Scented Roses

A reality check are our love of roses. Now roses usually have thorns which is not a great idea. However we both adore roses and do not want to give them up so we worked on what we hope is a solution by planting roses in raised beds and surrounding them with lavender and chamomile. 

That way my husband will know if he smells or feels lavender or chamomile he has a safe space before he gets to roses. However once in flower the roses will have a gorgeous scent he can enjoy safely.

Sense Of Hearing -Sound

Plants

In the garden sound can be achieved by  plants making the sound such a bamboo or grasses. The distinctive rustling in the wind or a gentle breeze is a lovely sound for anyone and makes it a restful place for a bench to sit and listen. 

Wind Chimes

Materials are also useful in making a sound such as wind chimes.  They can be a useful item in the garden to provide a different element and even announce a separate area.

Bamboo

Water In The Garden

Water is an important element but while we both want a pond for wildlife it can be a real danger for someone who is sight impaired.

 So our solution is to have elements near the pond that will alert him to the water such as a physical barrier of a fence around the pond, a windchime near it and for added safety we will add a grid over the pond in case he does walk onto it.

We may have a small running water feature pump, not so much so that it disturbs wildlife but enough for it to be heard.

We will change the ground near the pond to something very different so if there is grass mainly near the pond we will put slabs down. 

Bird Bath

We will also continue to have a bird bath. Even if he eventually cannot see the birds very well, he can hear them having a bath as they splash around. We love our garden birds so we intend to have maybe three bird baths in different areas.

A Bird In The Bath
by RaintreeDesigns

 

So with a little thought and discussion and some plant knowledge it is I believe very possible to make a beautiful sensory garden with Touch, Sound and Scent for a person with sight loss and being an interesting garden for everyone. 

See Part Two in a few weeks, which will cover Sight, Taste and Safety. 

Read More Gardening Articles

Essential Wildlife Gardening Gifts

Diary Of A Wild Country Garden

Raintree Earth Design

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Book Review Coming of the Storm: Book One of Contact: The Battle for America by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear

Coming of the Storm: Book One of Contact: The Battle for America begins in the company of an exiled trader and his pack of dogs during their travels. Black Shell, the trader, is able to move through the lands of various Indian groups under the Power of Trade. His dogs are his family, his protection, and his pack animals. Other than his dogs, he is alone. He is trading through Florida as usual, until he meets a beautiful woman named Pearl Hand and until he hears about the Kristiano visitors; whom he is literally dying to see.

Black Shell is of the Chicaza clan but he was banished after telling others he heard the voice of a Spirit Being named Horned Serpent. His people were sure he had lied. After being banished from a people who are known to be superior warriors he could only support himself through trade and gambling. Being a trader, he was able to travel onto the lands of all Clans; even those who war with the Chicaza.

Black Shell desires Pearl Hand the moment he sees her. His desire is unlike the desire of men who wish to own her. But she is a possession of the Irriparacoxi leader of the village he has just entered. She has been the possession of a variety of different groups of people. The only way Black Shell can be with Pearl Hand is to win her in gambling.

Pearl Hand is an exquisitely beautiful woman. Her beauty makes her the target of all men who wish to own her. She wishes to leave the Timucua Irriparacoxi and the village. She wants to be free.

Even if Pearl Hand is freed from her Irriparacoxi owner will she able to be free while De Soto is alive and pillaging the area?

Read more reviews for The Battle for America; Book One on Amazon here. 

Why I Enjoy Historical Fiction Novels

My knowledge of history is limited. Native Americans in North America and Europeans did not make first contact when settlers came around the time of the Mayflower landing, as I had thought. They made first contact long before that. One of those times was when the Kristianos led by Hernando de Soto, Spain, came into Florida in 1539. That information surprised me. 

De Soto led a brutal expedition from southern Florida into Arkansas. His military was considered the most advanced at that time.  He arrived in Florida via ships and traveled across the region with a huge number of soldiers and staff. He took slaves, which he considered temporary and easily replaceable. They labored in metal collars and chains until the couldn't then they were brutally killed. His army with guns, metal swords, lances and other tools of war easily cut through the Indian warriors village after village.  De Soto decimated village after village. He was, in large part, looking for gold. 

Part love story, part epic tale of survival against the odds, part mythical miracles, and part historical lesson, this book kept me engrossed. And I learned just how little I truly know about the beginnings of the country in which I was born.

Authors W Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear

I was introduced to author W Michael Gear when I read his western series  Saga of the Mountain Sage. I highly recommend that story. I enjoyed it so much that I recommended that series to a co-worker who is extremely knowledgeable about history and enjoys reading.  He read it and loved W Michael Gear's writing and knowledge. My co-worker then read The Battle for America series by Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear and told me that it is a must-read.

That was a lot of rambling to try to say that these books are written for both people like me, who know little about history but would like to know more, as well as people who are history buffs. 

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Why I Love the Movie "Letters to Juliet" - A Five Star Review

Discovering "Letters to Juliet"

Released in 2010, Letters to Juliet is a romantic drama that captures viewers' hearts with its blend of love, adventure, and nostalgia. 

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Verona, Italy, the movie follows the journey of Sophie, an aspiring writer who stumbles upon a 50-year-old letter addressed to Juliet Capulet. 

This letter, written by a woman named Claire, sparks a quest for a long-lost love that has been dormant for decades.

The Cast: A Talented Ensemble

The movie features an ensemble cast that brings the story to life with charm and authenticity. 

Amanda Seyfried stars as Sophie, the inquisitive and hopeful lead who embarks on a journey of discovery. 

The legendary Vanessa Redgrave joins her as Claire, whose poignant portrayal of a woman seeking closure resonates deeply with audiences.

Christopher Egan plays Charlie, Claire's skeptical yet protective grandson and Gael García Bernal rounds out the cast as Victor, Sophie's fiancé, whose culinary dreams often take precedence over their relationship.

A Beautiful Setting and a Timeless Premise

One of the most enchanting aspects of Letters to Juliet is its setting. 

Filmed in the picturesque countryside of Italy, the movie transports viewers to a world where romance feels tangible. 

The story's connection to the legendary tale of Romeo and Juliet adds another layer of depth as it explores the timeless themes of love, fate, and second chances.

The Perfect Soundtrack

Taylor Swift's mega-popular hit song "Love Story is the theme song for the film's trailer, adding to the movie's romantic atmosphere. 

The song's lyrics and melody perfectly capture the essence of the story, making it an ideal choice to set the tone for what unfolds on screen.

Why I Enjoyed the Movie Letters to Juliet

I enjoyed the movie Letters to Juliet for several reasons. 

The cast, led by Amanda Seyfried and Vanessa Redgrave, delivered heartfelt and relatable performances. 

The gorgeous setting of the Italian countryside added a sense of magic to the story, making it feel like a true escape. 

The romantic premise, inspired by the tale of Romeo and Juliet, was captivating and emotional. 

Perhaps most importantly, the film's exploration of lost love and the idea of second chances struck a chord, especially with older viewers who may have experienced similar feelings in their own lives. 

All these elements combined create a movie that is enjoyable and reflective.

I Have My Own Story of Lost Summer Love

Perhaps I relate to this movie mostly because I have my own personal Romeo and Juliet story. 

In 1978, when backpacking through Europe for two months, I experienced unforgettable summer love that is still frozen in time to this day. I wrote about it here if you're curious. 

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