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The Artist and the Soldier – Angelle Petta
Two young men come of age and fall in love, set against the backdrop of true events during World War II.
It’s 1938. Bastian Fisher and Max Amsel meet at an American-Nazi camp, Siegfried. Neither have any idea what to do with their blooming, confusing feelings for one another. Before they can begin to understand, the pair is yanked apart and forced in opposite directions.
Five years later, during the heart of World War II, Bastian’s American army platoon lands in Salerno, Italy. Max is in Nazi-occupied Rome where he has negotiated a plan to hire Jews on as ‘extras’ in a movie—an elaborate ruse to escape the Nazis. Brought together by circumstance and war, Bastian and Max find one another again in Rome.
Exploring the true stories of Camp Siegfried and the making of the film, La Porta del Cielo, The Artist and the Soldier is intense, fast moving, and sheds light on largely untouched stories in American and Italian history.
The Artist and the Soldier was right up my alley. A historical novel set in the WWII era featuring two young men who fell in love. And it started as idyllic. Max and Bastian met and became close in Camp Siegfied, a real life American-Nazi summer camp for young boys of Aryan descent. I think of it as idyllic even though they have to deal with bullies and other unpleasantness. This is the part where the two boys, in their relative innocence, felt drawn to each other though they don’t fully understand it yet.
The summer was interrupted by the pronouncement that Max’s father was death. This is followed by tedious scenes of dealing with grief and Max’s mentally ill mother which was made worse by Bastian’s monumental fuck up just right after the boys admit their feeling to each other. This effectively killed my enthusiasm for the book.
I understand this is a ME problem and maybe I’m so used to romance where HEAs are a given. Age-gap makes me cringe but I could shrug it off, abuse, dub-con or non-con might be pushing it but the ultimate turn off for me is cheating. And I couldn’t fathom what in the fucking hell made Bastian meekly follow that woman to her bedroom right after having sex with Max. Also, Bastian is possibly bisexual (he has been with girls) and if so, here we go with the cheating bi thing. Can we not with this trope, please?
And so with a heavy heart, I tried to read the rest of the story but like I said, the impetus is dead.
Objectively (because I need to take a step back from my own stupid biases), I love the premise. It combines two real historical events, the film La Porta del Cielo and the American-German camps. Stories about how Jews escape the Nazis are always fascinating and it always amazes me how resourceful and resilient people can be in order to survive. I think most readers would love this book. I recommend this for history buffs, especially those into WWII stories, and those who, unlike me, can move past Bastian’s mistake. Because deep in my heart, I know there’s more to the story than their love affair.
P.S.
I received a copy of The Artist and the Soldier from
Warren Publishing
via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating:
No stars because it’s a ME issue.Edit: Netgalley is asking for stars so I will give it 2 Stars – it’s a struggle to finish the damn book
Soundtrack: Submarine
Artist: The Drums
Album: Summertime(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39170800-the-artist-and-the-soldier)
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[spotify id=”spotify%3Atrack%3A3XT0LhWGvGUiiS6mD1RHWC&view=coverart” width=”540″ height=”620″ /]Soundtrack to The Artist and the Soldier by Angelle Petta
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They thought we were stupid to do it, (hide Jews) of course; in fact, it was beyond their comprehension that we would risk so much for Jews.
Diet Eman -
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt03bo5GYh4?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=281]
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Koi no Hajime – Katou Setsuko
The recent newcomer at Naitou’s work is none other than Tsutsui, who despite being a University student, is also the son of a famous rich man. Naitou realized how different their common knowledge was as he saw Tsutsui struggling with cleaning material, and greeting the customers as if it was a high-class store. However, against all odds, he embraced the good impression that the hard-working, serious Tsutsui had left on him. Even so, as Tsutsui tried treating Naitou to dinner and offering him things to become his friend, circumstances caused a mood of servility to sprout between them.
Also included, the love story of Tsutsui’s butler, Fujiki.Blooming Love + Continued Love: Naitou and Tsuitsui work out their class conflict and stumble into a somewhat awkward romance.
Budding Love: The manager and the butler show the young ones how it’s done as they fall in love amidst busy schedules and restricted lifestyles.
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Death and the Devil: Devil in the Details – L.J. Hayward
If there’s one thing assassin Ethan Blade knows, it’s how to plan a job. How to study a target, find the weak spot, and strike. He keeps his guns clean, his knives sharp, and his heart sealed away behind more locks than his precious cars. Alone but safe. Until Jack Reardon burrowed his way into Ethan’s life, his car, and his heart. This may just be the deadliest mess he can’t plan his way out of.
Jack wasn’t sure he’d see Ethan again—not after the less-than-stellar ends to their previous hookups. Even finding the assassin skulking about his apartment isn’t as reassuring as it should be, especially when he works out Ethan’s motive for being there might not be personal. That said, Jack will take any chance he can to salvage their relationship, assuming he survives whatever plan Ethan is cooking up.
Ethan and Jack had a bargain, but the parameters changed and neither are certain how to move forward—together or apart. But before they can start to renegotiate, lives, trust, and hearts are endangered by ghosts from the past. Even if they dodge their enemies’ bullets, there’s a risk of friendly fire, and when you let someone get too close, even small knives can cut deep.
Today is also the release date of Devil in the Details which is another excuse to celebrate.
I adore the Death and the Devil series ever since the first novel came out and Devil in the Details, the third novella, certainly gave us some of what we ask for and things to look forward to on the next book.
Squees reach unprecedented levels as Jack and Ethan go on a holiday in Vietnam. Both Ethan and Jack had their fair share of insecurities and major miscommunications issues but their chemistry remains off the charts. I was right there cheering them on to please, talk for fuck’s sake and was ridiculously happy when Jack finally blurted it out. Ethan, the poor thing, was waiting for it for the longest time.
Prior to that, death flags flew high as Jack and his second, Harry, deal with a bomb threat and declare BFF status. Explosive gunfights and cool fight scenes happen as bad guys tried to get our operative and our favorite assassin out of the picture. There were also somber and highly emotional moments when tragedy struck.
And,oh hell yeah! The thing I’ve been waiting for! That teeny tiny peek inside Ethan’s head!!!
Devil in the Details is full of edge-of-your-seat thrills, death-defying action scenes, sizzling unconventional romance and adorable characters.
It’s a high-octane emotional roller coaster and I love every moment of it.
P.S.
Make this a movie, please!
More glowing commentary on Death and the Devil books here.
Thank you to the author, L.J. Hayward, for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfectSoundtrack: Move Together
Artist: James Bay
Album: Chaos and the Calm(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42289935-devil-in-the-details)
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[spotify id=”spotify%3Atrack%3A0GDQXt7qRJIDDUmcufomrU&view=coverart” width=”540″ height=”620″ /]Soundtrack to Death and the Devil: Devil in the Details by L.J. Hayward
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I licked my lips and whispered, “Is this where you say you’ll kill me?”
One corner of his lips curled. “If you like,” he murmured, a flicker of amusement finally crossing his face. “Though it’s gotten far too interesting for that.”Julie Kagawa -
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6O2kNzCmy8?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=281]
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Crimson Cross –
Negishi Kyoko , Maeda Sakae
Carl van Hellsing has vowed to hunt down the vampire Elliot for eternity. But, that’s exactly what Elliot wants.
Implicit shounen-ai.Love, hate and OBSESSION!
